taking off his hat began to shake the snow from it, even while he
greeted James and wished him a merry Christmas.

James liked Mr. Clark. He did not rate him very highly in the matter of
intelligence; but he recognized him as a gentleman, and appreciated his
kindly courtesy to himself. He knew it came from a good heart.

Many a man who drove up to the door in a carriage, James relieved of his
coat and showed into the drawing-room in silence; but the downcast eyes
were averted to conceal inconvenient thoughts and the expressionless
face was a mask to hide views which the caller might not have cared to
discover. Mr. Clark, however, always treated James with consideration,
and James reciprocated the feeling and returned the treatment.

Mr. Clark was giving James his hat when the butler took in that he had
come to see Mr. Livingstone.

"Mr. Livingstone begs to be excused this evening, sir," he said.

"Yes." Mr. Clark laid a package on a chair and proceeded to unbutton his
overcoat.

"He says he regrets he cannot see any one," explained the servant.

"Yes. That's all right. I know." He caught the lapels of the coat
preparatory to taking it off.

"No, sir. He cannot see _anybody_ at all this evening," insisted James,
confident in being within his authority.