"Look at it," said Mr. Linden,--"do you see how very lovely it is?"

She did look at it, more closely, and then at him with an appeal of grave remonstrance, deep though unspoken. But it was met defiantly.

"If I am to wear this, Mignonette, you must put it in place."

Faith was a little shy of even doing so much, and besides was aware that her mother as well as the coffee-pot had come upon the scene.

However she took the flower and succeeded in attaching it securely where she thought it ought to go, on the breast of Mr. Linden's waistcoat; by which time the resemblance between the two rosebuds was perfect, and striking; and Faith drew back to her breakfast, glad to have everybody's attention diverted to coffee, which she declared was good with cowslips. It may be said that the diversion was not immediate; for though her chair was at once wheeled round to the table, yet Faith had to take her thanks then and there--in full defiance of Mrs Derrick's presence. After that, however, Mr. Linden--to do him justice--did change the subject.

Cowslips and coffee went on well till near the end of breakfast, which to say truth had been rather prolonged as well as delayed; and then there came a front door knock. It was of no use for Faith to start, for breakfast was not absolutely finished; and the next minute who should come in from the hall but Miss Essie de Staff. As fresh as possible, in white dress and black silk ap.r.o.n; her black hair from which she had drawn off the sunbonnet, in shining order; the black eyes as well!

Perhaps they dilated on first seeing the party; more sparkling they could not be. She advanced at a moderate pace towards the table, looking and speaking.

"Mrs. Derrick!--I didn't know you were such late people. I have come to run away with your daughter, and thought I should find the coast clear.

Mr. Linden! I didn't know Pattaqua.s.set was so happy as to have you back, sir."

"We have breakfast late for Faith's sake," said Mrs. Derrick, while Mr.

Linden rose and gave the lady first his hand and then a chair, remarking that the happiness of Pattaqua.s.set was pleasant news to him too.

"But Faith's well again, isn't she?" said Miss Essie, waiting to get breath, mentally.

"She's better," said Mrs. Derrick.

"She goes out?"

"She has been once."

"Is that all? Well it will do her good to go again. Sophy Harrison and I made up our minds that she and I and Faith would spend the day together--and so I've come to fetch her. Do you believe in the possibility of ladies falling in love with ladies, Mr. Linden?"

"I have more knowledge of gentlemen's possibilities. Who is supposed to be in danger, Miss Essie?"

"Faith cannot go out to spend the day," said Mrs. Derrick decidedly.

"Is it _danger?_" said Miss Essie. "Mrs. Derrick, why can't Faith go with me? Faith, won't you go?"--She had come up close to the table and stood by Faith's side, whom her eyes were now reading, or at least endeavouring to spell out.

"Not to-day, Miss Essie, thank you."

"Thank me? you ought to apologize to me." Miss Essie took a chair in that place, where she could "rake" the whole table. "Here will be Sophy and me horribly disappointed. We had counted on you. Sophy is all alone. You know, Faith, the doctor is laid up?"

"We heard of it,"--Faith answered, not very easily.

"Well, do you know he says he is going South?"

"I heard so," said Faith. Miss Essie could not make much of the rising colour in her cheeks, it came and went so easily!

"What takes him off just now in such haste?--business?"

Faith looked up and gave her inquisitor a full clear look, such as curiosity never cares for, while she answered with quiet dignity, "He did not tell me, Miss Essie."

"It's a pity Dr. Harrison's just going now that you're just come," said the lady of the black eyes, shifting her ground. "You used to be such friends."

"What is a friend?" said Mr. Linden--"By the way, Miss Essie, you should make these cresses an excuse for at least eating salt with us, and so prove your t.i.tle to the name."

"Dear me!" said the lady taking a handful,--"I thought a friend was something more--more etherial than that!"

"Than what, if you please?"

"A person who eats your salt!--I don't love cresses. I am not one of Nebuchadnezzar's family. Where did you get the fashion? It's French.

Dr. Harrison eats them. Did he teach it to you, Faith?"

"I think I had that honour," said Mr. Linden.

"I dare say you gave more lessons than were given in school," said Miss Essie significantly. "What else did you learn of him, Faith?"

Faith gave the lady only a glance of her soft eye, but her face and her very throat were charged with varying colour. Her attention went from cresses to cowslips.

"I am saucy!" said the lady.--"Mr. Linden, are you coming back to the bona fide school here? there'll be a great many glad."

A very involuntary lesson to Miss Essie herself came longingly to Mr.

Linden's lips, but except from the slight play and compression of the same she had not the benefit of it. He spoke as usual.

"She has never learned the art of self-defence, Miss Essie, therefore I pray you attack me. No, I am not coming back to the school--and to say truth, I think there would be some people sorry--as well as glad--if I did."

"Your bad scholars?"--said the lady, not intent upon her question.

"No--my good friends."

"_I_ should be glad," said Miss Essie. "Who are your friends that would be sorry? Dr. Harrison, for instance?"

"The friends who like my present work better."

"And you are going to be a clergyman?" said Miss Essie, leaning her elbow on the table and 'studying' Mr. Linden, perhaps some other things too, with her eyes. He smiled under the scrutiny, but merely bowed to her question.

"It's dreadful hard work!--" said Miss Essie.

"Dreadful?--Miss Essie, you have not studied the subject."

"No," said she laughing,--"I said 'dreadful _hard_.' And so it is, I think."

"'There be some sports are painful, but their labour delight in them sets off'--is not that equally true of some work?" said Mr. Linden, making one or two quiet additions to the breakfast on Faith's plate.

Which means of a.s.sistance Faith inadvertently disregarded and pushed her plate away.

"Do you suppose anybody delights in them?" said Miss Essie. "I can't understand it--but perhaps they do. A minister is very much looked up to. But one thing is certain--of all things the hardest, it is to be a minister's wife!"

"Of _all_ things! He must be a poor sort of a minister who lets his wife have a harder life than his own."

"He can't help it--" said Miss Essie, walking her black eyes about. "Of course he don't wish it--but women always do have a harder time than men, and a minister's wife particularly."

"It's a comfort to think he don't wish it," said Mr. Linden with a sort of resigned gravity.