"Well, now," said Dr. Lavendar that Sunday evening when he and David
came into the study after tea; "I suppose you'd like me to tell you a
story before you go to bed?"

"A Bible story?"

"Why, yes," Dr. Lavendar admitted, a little taken aback.

"No, sir," said David.

"You don't want a Bible story!"

The little boy shook his head.

"David," said Dr. Lavendar chuckling, "I think I like you."

David made no response; his face was as blank as an Indian's. He sat
down on a stool by the fire, and once he sighed. Danny had sniffed
him, slowly, and turned away with a bored look; it was then that he
sighed. After a while he got up and wandered about the room, his hands
gripped in front of him, his lips shut tight. Dr. Lavendar watched him
out of the tail of his eye, but neither of them spoke. Suddenly David
climbed up on a chair and looked fixedly at a picture that hung
between the windows.

"That is a Bible picture," Dr. Lavendar observed.

"Who," said David, "is the gentleman in the water?"