"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.