"No sir."
"No? What's the difference? I'm not examining you now—I am asking for information."
"I think you must know, sir," said Reuben, respectfully but firmly, after a glance at his questioner.
"Do you?" said the doctor laughing slightly. "Well, if you are not her friend, it don't signify. I was going to remark to you, if you were, that ladies don't generally care to have their private affairs talked about, and however much you may know, it is not always worth while to tell it."
"I neither know nor have said anything, Dr. Harrison," said Reuben, drawing himself up a little, and looking full in the doctor's face.
"You're Reuben Taylor, aren't you?"
"Yes sir—I'm not anybody else though."
"No," said the doctor carelessly. "Well, it isn't necessary you should be, for present purposes. I heard you quoted as authority just now, on something which touched that lady's affairs, whose friend you say you are not—and I think, your friend though she may be, she was not particularly gratified with your interference."
"Miss Faith knew it was a wrong quotation," said Reuben quietly.
"You are sure of that?"