Jenny hesitated--then her fear of Dr. Harrison overcoming her scruples, she walked softly to the door and opened it. But if the doctor wanted to see his patient, he was obliged to wait a little; for the group of boys--some standing, some kneeling--around the bed, hid everything else. The room was very still, very _earnest;_ even Dr. Harrison could feel that; the sound of words, very low-spoken, was all he could hear. The closing door made itself heard, however,--several boys turned round, and at once stepped aside; and the doctor saw his patient, not dressed but lying as he had left him the night before. Mr. Linden smiled--and saying some words to his class held out his hand towards the doctor; but this was fastened upon at once by so many, that the doctor again had to wait his turn; and it was not until everyone else had touched that hand, some even with their lips, that he was left alone with his patient. "What are you doing?" said he, in a sort of grave tone which did not however mean gravity. "Holding a levee?--and do you receive your courtiers at different hours according to their ages? in that case. I have come at the wrong time." "No, you shall have the time all to yourself." "I see I have it! Are the juvenile members of society in Pattaquasset accustomed to pay their respects to you at this hour in the morning?" "Not always. Once a week we meet to talk over pleasant things." "Have I interrupted the pleasant things now?" "No, I could not talk very long this morning. The boys were just going." "I wish I had come a little sooner," said Dr. Harrison. "I'm not a boy, to be sure, but I don't know that they are privileged to monopolize all pleasant things. If they are, I am against monopolies. However, if you can't talk, you mustn't talk. How do you do?" "I do well--if a man can be doing well when he's doing nothing. I will talk as long as you please--about pleasant things." The doctor however diverged to the state of his patient's health, nor would talk of anything else till his investigations on that point were made. The result of them seemed to be satisfactory. "Now Linden," he said, in atone that indicated they were free to ask and answer,--"who was that fellow last night? have you any idea?" "It is difficult to identify a man when you are only within gunshot of him--and after sundown," said Mr. Linden smiling. "Difficult--yes, it may be,--but you gathered something?" "I gathered a run." "That is," said the doctor looking at him, "you _have_ an opinion on the subject and are not willing to risk it?" "No," said Mr. Linden, "I have had risk enough for one night." "You are mistaken, Linden. A hint might be quite enough to bring out the certainty. My father is very eager about the matter, and is only waiting for you to empower him to act." "I shall give you no hint," said Mr. Linden. "I might be willing to risk my own opinion, but not another man's character." The doctor looked at him keenly and curiously.