When Dr. Lavendar went back into the study he found David curled up in an arm-chair in profound meditation.
"What are you thinking about so hard?" Dr. Lavendar said.
"Yesterday. After church."
"Thinking about yesterday?" Dr. Lavendar repeated puzzled. David offered no explanation, and the old minister searched his memory for any happening of interest after church … but found none. He had come out of the vestry and in the church David had joined him, following him down the aisle to the door and waiting close behind him through the usual Sunday greetings: "Morning, Sam!" "Good morning, Dr. Lavendar." "How are you, Ezra? How many drops of water make the mighty ocean, Ezra?" "The amount of water might be estimated in tons, Dr. Lavendar, but I doubt whether the number of minims could be compu—" "Hullo! there's Horace; how d'ye do, Horace? How's Jim this morning?"—and so on; the old friendly greetings of all the friendly years…. Surely nothing in them to make the child thoughtful?
Suddenly David got up and came and stood beside him.
"What is your name?"
"N. or M.," Dr. Lavendar replied.
"What, sir?" said David, in a troubled voice; and Dr. Lavendar was abashed.
"My name is Edward Lavendar, sir. Why do you want to know?"
"Because, yesterday everybody said 'Dr. Lavendar.' I didn't think
Doctor could be your front name. All the other people had front names."