"Are you better, sir? are you really well enough to be down stairs?"--Dr. Harrison would hardly have known the voice. And the answering tone was of the gentlest and kindest, though the words failed to reach the doctor's ears. Some directions, or commissions, apparently, Mr. Linden gave for a few minutes, and then Reuben rose to his feet with a long breath that spoke a mind very much relieved. He paused for a moment on his way out, opposite Faith, as if he wanted a word in that quarter; but perhaps the doctor's presence forbade, for all the congratulation that Reuben gave her was in his face and bow. That did not satisfy Faith if it did him. She jumped up and gave him her hand, almost affectionately. "You see I am safe and well, Reuben." "I am so thankful, Miss Faith!" And the words said not half. The doctor had finished his muffins and was standing before the fire again. "Have you found out yet, my man," he said in a somewhat amused voice,--"whose friend you are?" The words jarred--and the colour on Reuben's face was of a different tint from that which had answered Faith. It was with his usual reserved manner, though nothing could be more civil, that he said, "No sir--no more than I knew before." But the respect was from Reuben as a boy to Dr. Harrison as a man. Faith's eye glanced from one to the other, and then she said, "What do you mean, Dr. Harrison?" "Only a play of words," said the doctor lightly. "This young fellow is very cautious of making professions--as I have found." "He has no need, sir," said Faith. She quitted as she spoke, the boy's hand which she had held until then, and came back to her seat. The words were spoken quietly enough and with as gentle a face, and yet with somewhat in the manner of both that met and fully answered all the bearing of the doctor's. "You need not wait, Reuben," said his teacher--"I shall see you again by and by." "Who is that?" said the doctor as Reuben went out. "One of my body-guard," said Mr. Linden, with lips not yet at rest from their amused look. "Are you waited upon by a Fehm-gericht? or may the members be known by the uninitiated?" "I beg pardon!" said Mr. Linden,--"but as you seemed to know him, and as you really did know his name a week ago--That is Reuben Taylor, Dr. Harrison." "So do I beg pardon! His name I do know, of course--as I have had occasion; but the essence of my enquiry remains in its integrity. _Him_ I do not know. Where and to whom does he belong?" "He is one of those of whom we spoke this morning," said Mr. Linden. "True servant of God is his title--to Him does Reuben belong. His home here is a little hut on the outskirts of Pattaquasset, his father a poor fisherman." There was a minute's silence, all round. "May I ask for a little enlightening, Miss Derrick?" said the doctor. "What do you mean, if you will be so good as to let me know,--by a person who 'does not need' to make professions." Faith hesitated.