At this moment the door opened. It happened that Dr. Harrison had encountered Cindy at the hall door, where she was either loitering to catch snatches of indoor conversation, or waiting to entrap Jem Waters. But there she was, and being asked for Mr. Linden replied that he was down stairs, and without more ceremony ushered the doctor in; and entering the whole view lay before him in its freshness. Mrs. Derrick, complacent and comfortable, sat behind the no-longer-wanted tea-tray, listening and playing with a spoon. Faith's face, though considering her unfinished muffin, was brilliant with rosy pleasure; while the fire which she had for some time forgotten to mend, lay in a state of powerful inaction, a mass of living coals and smoking brands. In the glow of that stood the easy chair, and therein Mr. Linden, although with the air and attitude of one wanting both rest and strength, was considering with rather unbent lips no less a subject than--One and Somewhat!--further the doctor's eyes could not read. The precise direction of those other eyes was shaded. The doctor came up and stood beside them. "Did I order you to stay up stairs?" he said in soft, measured syllables, without having spoken to anybody else. "Good evening, doctor!" said Mr. Linden offering his hand. "As I meet you half way, please excuse me for keeping my seat." From that hand, the doctor passed to Faith's; which was taken and held, just enough to say all he wished to say; which, be it remarked in passing, was a good deal. "May I approach Mrs. Derrick?" said he then, turning round to Mr. Linden with a cool, funny, careless, yet good-humoured, doubt upon his face. "What is the present state of your nerves?" "Depending upon your answer, of course!--which the ordinary rules of society forbid me to wait for. Madam!--are you in sufficient charity with me to give me a cup of tea?" "Yes, doctor--if the tea's good enough," said Mrs. Derrick with her usual quietness. "And if it isn't I'll have some more." So saying she got up and went towards the kitchen to call Cindy. The doctor skilfully intercepted this movement, placing himself in her way. "May I ask, where you are going?" he said with a sort of gentle kindliness he did not always put on. "Why to get some tea that's fit to give you, doctor. I don't think this is." "Will you give me something else?" "I'll give you that first," said Mrs. Derrick--"I'll see about the rest." And passing out into the kitchen she gave her orders about the teapot, and a quiet little injunction to Faith to go in and sit down. "Mother, you're tired," said Faith. "Let me see about the tea!" "I guess I will!" said Mrs. Derrick. "I'm not going to have the house stand up on one end just because Dr. Harrison wants his tea. You go off, pretty child,--if you stay here he'll think you're baking muffins for him, and I don't choose he should."