"That form of words,—'I am well'."
"It is very apt to mean nothing at all," said Diana, "for people say it without thinking."
"As you did just now?"
"Perhaps—but I am well."
"Altogether?" said the minister. "Soul and mind and body?"
The word read dry enough; his manner, his tone, half gentle, half bold, with a curious inoffensive kind of boldness, took from them their dryness and gave them a certain sweet acceptableness that most persons knew who knew Mr. Masters. Diana never dreamed that he was intrusive, even though she recognised the fact that he was about his work. Nevertheless she waived the question.
"Can anybody say that he is well so?" she asked.
"I hope he can. Do you know the old lady who is called Mother Bartlett?"
"O yes."
"Do you think she would hesitate about answering that question? or be mistaken in the answer?"