Volume I Part 84 (2/2)
”_I_ should think I might, too,” said Dr. Harrison looking coolly over the ”young giant.” ”Allow me to observe, that 'to-night' is not come yet.”
”Did you ever!” said Sam in an aside to Reuben, who had stood perfectly still without speaking. ”Well any time since he got home then, sir?”
”No, sir.”
”Have you, Miss Faith?” said Reuben.
”No, Reuben--I am just going home. What's the matter?”
”Why he fainted in school--that's all,” said Sam,--”he said there was nothing the matter. Only we were going down to see how he got home, and I thought maybe the doctor might tell us first.” And not staying for more words the two boys walked on a few steps, then set off and soon ran themselves out of sight.
The other two quickened their walk, the doctor moderating his steps however to suit the strength of his companion. But she soon took the lead, and Mrs. Derrick's house was reached in as short a s.p.a.ce of time as the ground might be travelled without a speed which Faith did not dare a.s.sume.
There was nothing alarming in the little parlour. Mrs. Derrick sat knitting; Mr. Linden had been reading, but now was talking--half laughing, half chiding--with the two boys who stood before him. Reuben stood silent, smiling a little; Sam's energy was at work.
Faith came in quietly, with a face to which all her quick walk had not brought back the colour. She said nothing. But the doctor's tongue was free.
”Why what's this, Linden?”
”This is--Linden,” said that gentleman coolly. ”No boys--go off,--I think I can live without seeing either of you again till to-morrow.
What's the matter, Dr. Harrison?”
”Just and precisely what I was asking,” said the doctor; while Faith glided to her mother and sitting down by her whispered enquiry. But Mrs. Derrick knew nothing--had heard nothing, apparently.
”It's for you to state the case--” said Mr. Linden. ”You speak as if you had a warrant of arrest in your pocket.”
”Why!” said the doctor, standing and looking down upon him,--”here's a wind that has blown from nowhere! Do you want me to lodge information against yourself?”
”_I_ don't wish to lodge any.”
”Linden,” said the doctor changing his tone to one of serious kindly interest, while Faith's eyes from her more distant seat waited for the answer,--”what is the matter? What made you faint to-day?”
”What nonsense have those boys been talking?” said Mr. Linden--but his look carried the charge a little beyond the range of his words. ”I was faint for awhile--not quite in a 'deadly swoond,' however.”
”That young scapegrace said and declared you had fainted.”
”They are so used to their own red cheeks, they think red is 'the only colour,'” said Mr. Linden. ”However, I believe he spoke true--but it was nothing worth speaking of, after all.”
”What was the cause?”
”I presumed a little upon the successful way in which I got through yesterday--tried to do a little too much to-day, had one or two things to try me--and so. Which of my boys do you honour with that t.i.tle of scapegrace?”
”You mustn't do so again,” said the doctor seriously.
”There was no malice prepense to-day,” said Mr. Linden. ”What have you been about all the afternoon?--I expect to hear that you have sailed up the Great Pyramid in a ca.n.a.l boat, or coasted j.a.pan in a Chinese lantern.”
”Nearly right,” said the doctor. ”We have been enacting the part of the wise men of Gotham--I can't imagine where I ever heard of them!--who went to sea in a tub.”
”Went to see--what?--” said Mr. Linden laughing.
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