Arrived at the Judge's house, the doctor led her to the library, and there unlocked the door of a little cabinet room. On a table in the window, standing in the full sunshine, was the object of their visit. It was simply a fine little Aquarium. More delightfully new to Faith's eyes nothing could be; as the same eyes shewed. While they explored the wonders of the box, the doctor at his ease proceeded to unfold to her the various meanings of them. He enlarged upon the habits and characters of the several inmates of the Aquarium; he explained to her the philosophy of keeping the balance of vegetable and animal life and thereby preserving both; he told which creature lived upon which other; what office they severally, some of them, performed for the small section of Ocean in which they lived and its vitrified shores; and then taking up the subject of Sea anemones, the doctor told stories, of natural truth, that with these living specimens before her entranced Faith out of all knowledge of place or time. Dr. Harrison asked no more. He gave her what she liked, and with admirable tact abstained from putting himself forward; any further than a quick eye, excellent speech, and full and accurate mind must make themselves known, and most gentle and graceful attention make itself felt. "Do you suppose," said he, when Faith was absorbedly watching the Anemones feed,--"that Mrs. Derrick would give this thing house-room?" Faith looked, but half comprehending. "I am not always here," said the doctor carelessly, as he was supplying another bit of flesh to the voracious flower,--"and I should like to have it somewhere that it would be taken care of. If I left it to Sophy for a week, I should expect to find on my return that the vegetables and fishes had eaten up each other. Don't you admire that crab?" "Very much," said Faith. "This little fish is just like some of the shells down on the shore." "He came from the shore somewhere," said the doctor,--"little monster! The ocean world isn't much better than the world of earth, apparently, Miss Derrick." "Do you think the earth-world is like that?" said Faith. "Don't you?" "I don't know what it is like." "If you will permit me to say so, I hope you never will--any further than as you choose to make this a miniature of that. And things in miniature--are much less," said the doctor abstractedly, looking at the Anemone. "Would you like to have this little ocean box in your house for awhile, Miss Faith?--it could just as well as not. Indeed it would be rather a benefit to me." "O I should like it!" said Faith. "But I should be afraid of its getting broken, Dr. Harrison." "I am not afraid," said he. "It would be in less danger there than here. As I told you, Sophy neither knows nor cares anything about such things; and she would either kill them with kindness or forget them altogether--most likely do both alternately. But with you they would be safe, for the simple reason that you love them."