Moving his head with care, Ben met the contemplation of Mr. Eccles, who had nothing to offer. Uncle John was accustomed to explain that the cat derived his name from a merchant Levi Eccles of Plymouth who looked and behaved just like him. But to the boys privately, after he had come to know them a little, the old man admitted this was an _ex post facto_ invention. He took them into his study and opened his much-worn Bible; over Reuben's shoulder Ben had read familiar words: _For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. Ecclesiastes iii: 19._ Reuben was displaying a different mood altogether when he returned with a pot of the blessed stuff--quiet and no longer much amused, or at least not showing it. "Drink deep, sufferer, and tell all--if you wish." The coffee was a benediction; so long as The Head did not move suddenly, all might be well. "Oh, I ran into Mr. Shawn at Uncle John's wharf--O my God! Uncle John! Why, he must have thought----" Reuben shook his head casually. "Beyond a broad statement to the effect that boys will be boys, for the which he claimed no great measure of originality, I saw no sign of severe displeasure. When he insisted on helping me remove your smelly boots, he--chuckled: this I affirm. You may get a few instructions this morning, but without pain. Proceed." "Oh--a few drinks with Shawn--dinner at a tavern--I don't seem to remember all of it." But he did. Reuben studied his finger tip that was scratching Mr. Eccles' chin. "You brought home some books. Over there on your dresser." "They're for you." "What!" Reuben was a long time at the dresser, his back turned, his hands on the books not turning the pages. "Ben--how did you know?" "I guessed right, then?" "Yes! Yes, but I--why, I only gabbled. I don't see how----" "You did. Came to me later, what you must mean. Is it a call?" Eyes wet, face shining and troubled and amazed, Reuben turned to him and started once or twice to speak, then said only: "Yes." "You can--oh, damn my head!--you can be certain?" "I'm--certain. I did go to see Mr. Welland again yesterday. He spoke of an apprenticeship." "Oh.... Well--well, good, if it's what you wish. What about Harvard, Ru?" "I don't know." Reuben sat on the floor by Ben's bed, a motion of effortless grace that made Ben's head throb to watch it. "I must speak to Uncle John of course. Maybe I can go to the college and study with Mr. Welland at the same time. There'll be the summers." Ben groped at it uneasily, with some small confusion of envy. "Pills--pills and sick people and----"