CHAPTER VI.
It was Mr.Clark, who as soon as the door was opened stepped within and 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.