about midday of Saturday
She was as quiet outwardly as before ; she told Mrs. Derrick , who looked at her in misery , -- and told her with a steady cheerful little smile , that `` she dared say the letter would come to-morrow . '' But it is true that Faith had no power to eat that night nor the next day ; and that she did not know the hidden slow fever -- not of disease -- which was running through all her veins and making the other fever do its work again , bright in her cheek and eye and beating at her temples and wrist . But she was as still and quiet through it all -- quiet in voice and brow -- as if letters had been full and plenty . It was about midday of Saturday , when Reuben Taylor , proceeding up the main street of Pattaquasset on some business errand for his father , was joined by Phil Davids -- no wonted or favourite associate or companion . But Phil now walked up the street alongside of the basket which had come `` into town '' with fish . `` I say , Reuben , '' said Phil after some unimportant remarks had been made and answered , -- `` does Mr. Linden ever write to you ? '' Reuben started -- as if that touched some under current of his thoughts , and answered `` yes . ''