"Well why did you tell Miss Derrick that Reuben didn't drive her down?--would not she have been likely to know." "I didn't, sir." "I thought not. What _did_ you tell her?" "She knows what I told her!"--said Phil, looking abstractedly at the corner of the couch on which Mr. Linden lay.--"I don't know as I can recollect. But that's what Reuben said, sir." "Well tell me as near as you can recollect--" said Mr. Linden. "And also just the words you used to Reuben." Phil took time to reflect. "I don't want ter," he said. "No, I see you don't--but I want to hear them," said Mr. Linden very quietly. "But tell me the truth _this_ time, Phil." "Folks has a right to speak," said Phil, stating a broad proposition,--"but they hain't a right to tell all they say!" "Well?"--said Mr. Linden, waiving that. "'Twarn't nothin'!" said Phil--"and it 'll just make folks mad--and I durstn't--" "Dare not repeat what you have dared to say? how is that, Phil? But my forgiveness always meets confession half way, as you know," said Mr. Linden. "Well," said Phil, "I jest told Reuben he'd druv her down, and Reuben said Joe was mistaken. It was Joe said it first," "And what did you say before Dr. Harrison?" "I said what Reuben said,"--said Phil feeling poorly. "And what was that?"--Mr. Linden was as untireable as a minority juror. "I said Reuben said she warn't what Joe said," Phil got out at last in a lowered tone. "And what was _that?_" "Well--" said Phil desperately--"Joe said she was--" Mr. Linden waited. So did Phil. "This is the house that Jack built," Mr. Linden remarked. "What did Joe say she was?" The answer came in articulation pretty well smothered up. "Joe said she was Mr. Linden's sweetheart." "O!--" said Mr. Linden, with a tone Phil felt to the tips of his ears,--"that was it! I really did not know, Phil, that you and Joe took an interest in such matters. Have you had much experience?" Phil shuffled and looked exceedingly embarrassed, but words found none. He had exhausted his stock, of more than words. "Well!" said Mr. Linden,--"you will find, Phil, that it is generally safe to study arithmetic before you begin algebra. There's a little mistake here. Reuben did not drive _anybody_ down to Neanticut--Mrs. Derrick drove the whole way. That explains his words. As for yours, Phil--I wish," said Mr. Linden, looking at him gravely, but gently too, "I wish I knew something you would like very much to have. Can you tell me?" If ever in his life Phil Davids mentally stared, (physically, too) he did it now. 'Something he would like very much to have'? What could Mr. Linden want to know _that_ for? In his confusion Phil didn't know himself. To take in Mr. Linden, all over, was all he was competent to. "Well?" said his teacher with a smile--it was rather a faint one, for he was tired, but very pleasant still. "What is there, Phil?--I am in earnest."