A quick, peculiar smile on Mr. Linden's face, was succeeded by a very deep gravity,--once or twice the lips parted, impulsively--then took their former firm set; and shading his eyes with his hand he looked into the fire in profound silence.
Very soberly, but in as absolute repose of face, Faith now and then looked at him, and meanwhile waited for his thoughts to come to an end.
"Dr. Harrison said," she remarked after a little while, "that you once told him he had but half learned his profession."
"What did you say, Miss Faith? I mean, not to that, but to the question?"
"I didn't know what to say!--I didn't want to go at all--I don't know whether that was wrong or right; but at last I said I would go. Do you think I was right, Mr. Linden?"
"I didn't know any other way to go," said Faith. "I don't know where the woman lives, and he said I couldn't find it; and old Crab has a lame foot. Dr. Harrison asked me to go with him. I don't think I should have minded going alone."
"Neither should I mind having you," said Mr. Linden, with a look more doubtful and anxious than Faith had often seen him wear, though it was not bent upon her.
"Do you think I said wrong then, Mr. Linden? I did not like to go--but I thought perhaps I ought."
"I don't think _you_ did wrong," was the somewhat definite answer. "I wish I had been alongside of you when the request was made."
A wish which he had not been the first to know. Faith was silent.
"You made a fair promise?" he said--"and feel bound by it?"
"I said I would go,"--she said looking at him with her fair, grave face. "If you thought it was wrong, or that I was putting myself out of my way, I would not, Mr. Linden. He asked if he might come for me at two o'clock, and I said yes."
"Miss Faith--you must not make such a promise again!"
She looked at him enquiringly, very soberly, and then her eyes went to the fire and mused there. Mr. Linden was looking at her then, though with eyes still shielded. Once indeed the hand came with a soft touch upon her hair, drawing it back where it had fallen a little; but the motion was quickly checked. She started, looked round with a little frank smile and colour, and instantly went back to her musing.
"I'm afraid I must let you go--" Mr. Linden said presently, smiling a little too, as if it were no use to be grave any longer. "I'm afraid I have no right to hinder you. If I had, I would. Some other time I will tell you part of the wherefore, but the less I say to you before you go, the better. About that,--" he added in his usual manner,--"I think we might write another exercise."