Faith stood before him quietly as if she had a great deal to say. "I am going to make bread, for mother and all of us."

"What else?"

"Sponge cake, I think."

"And after that?"

"Crust for pot-pie."

"De plus?"

"Curds,"--said Faith, looking down now.

"Pourquoi, Mademoiselle?"

"To eat," said Faith demurely. "You like them."

"Mademoiselle, I prefer you."

"Each in its way,"--replied Faith admirably well, but with a glance, nevertheless.

"There is only one in my way," said Mr. Linden. "Well does that complete the circuit?--I suppose nothing need go between cheese and bread _but_ waffles?"

"I shall wish--and I suppose you would wish that I should, look over strawberries."

"Where do you commonly do all these things?"

"The sponge cake and the strawberries in the other room--other things in the kitchen."

"We may as well begin as we are to go on!" said Mr. Linden. "If you will not come and keep me company I must do that for you. Faith, I think Miss Essie's statement of facts was much like the artistic representation of lions and men, in the fable!"

Faith did not at all dislike this compounding of matters; and so the strawberries were looked over, and the sponge cake beaten in the dining-room; with various social enlivenings. For besides Mr. Linden's calls upon her attention, and the subjects by him presented to be looked over along with the strawberries, Faith made now and then a run into the kitchen to see Mrs. Derrick or Cindy there; and if the runs up stairs were less frequent, they took more time. For Miss Bezac had arrived, and she and Miss Linden were deep in the white folds of Faith's muslin dress. There too was Mrs. Derrick, for the touch and the making of that dress stirred her very heart. Faith was often in demand,--not to use her needle, but her taste--or to be fitted, or 'tried on,' as Miss Bezac said.

Coming back from one of these "trying" visits to the three workers, Faith found Mr. Linden by the sitting-room table; before him a package, in his hands a letter.

"Faith," he said, "come and look at this." Faith ran in from the strawberries.

"Rosy fingers are not needed," said Mr. Linden, "but as eyes are first called for they may pa.s.s. Sit down here by me, Mignonette, and take off this wrapping paper."

Which very curiously and amusedly, and now with a little suspicious tinge in her cheeks, Faith did; remarking that she could not help her fingers being rosy.

"Keep the roses to their chosen location," said Mr. Linden gravely, as the first paper parted right and left and shewed a second, which bore this inscription.--"For Mrs. Endecott Linden--with the warmest regards and respects of W. and L. Olyphant." Faith suddenly jumped up, pushed back her chair and whisked back to the strawberries, where she was found diligently putting the hulls into a dish by themselves.

"Mignonette, your fingers will be more rosy than ever." Mr. Linden spoke from the doorway where he stood watching her. Then coming forward he laid a key on the table. "That belongs to you."

"Wouldn't you be so good as to take care of it? You see I am busy."

"No my dear, I will not be so good. You shall have that pleasure--as a reward for running away. Would you like to hear this letter?"

"If you please--" Faith said with a little hesitation.

"You shall read it to yourself if you like better--" but he read it to her, after all. It was a pretty letter, shewing so well Mr. Linden's place in the writer's affection that Faith could not but enjoy it.

Neither could she dislike the messages to herself though they did cost her a few roses. As to the contents of the package the letter gave no hint.

"What is that the key of, Endy?" she said, glancing up after the letter was finished.

"I don't know!"--Faith went on with her strawberries.

Through the open hall door came little uneven steps, tracking on through other open doors even to the dining-room,--there the steps and Charles twelfth came to a pause.

"Ma said," he began,--then fixed his eyes and mind on Mr. Linden with a concentration that was marvellous. The general attire and appearance of the little potentate were as usual, but both hands were in use to support a heavy ma.s.s of red coral, hugged up to his blue ap.r.o.n in the most affectionate manner. With a sigh of relief Charles twelfth withdrew his attention from Mr. Linden long enough to set the coral on the floor, then gazed anew, with his hands behind him.

"Charley!" said Faith laughing,--"what are you doing!--and what have you done?"

"Ma said--" began the child, stopping short as before.

"Charles twelfth," said Mr. Linden holding out his hand "do you never use anything but your eyes? Come here and speak to me. Who is prime minister now?"

"You,"--was the very prompt reply. "Ma said so yesterday."

The laugh in Mr. Linden's eyes as he looked at Faith, was a thing to see. "Faith," he said, "the conversation is in your hands!"

Faith was in doubtful readiness to speak. "Charley!"--she said as soon as she could,--"come here. Was that all your ma said?"

"No," said the boy, "she said a heap more."

"Well what did you come here for to-day?"

"I came to fetch that--" said Charles twelfth with another sigh.

"Poor child!--What did you bring it for, Charley?"

"Why for you," said Charley. "Ma said she didn't know when it oughter come--and she guessed you'd like it, 'cause it used to live off in the place where you said they eat up babies and people!" and Charles twelfth's eyes grew large and round with the announcement. "And ma said she's sorry 'twarnt more. I ain't."

Faith's eyes went to Mr. Linden with a flash and a burst of the uncontrollable little laugh; but after that they were suspiciously downcast, and Faith busied herself in providing little Charles twelfth with the refreshment of a good saucer of sugared strawberries, with which he sat down in a corner much consoled. And when he was setting off again, Faith gave him a whispered message to ask his mother to come and see her Thursday. Just what Mr. Linden saw in the piece of red coral he did not declare, but when Faith came back to the table he was looking at it very fixedly.

"Faith," he said, "that is not the worst token, nor the worst envoy--that might be. What a shy child you were that first time I took you down there! And you have not changed any too much," he added, carrying her off to the other room. "I am not sure that you ought to be indulged--suppose you open this box."

"You do it, please, Endecott!"--she said with a crimson rush to her cheeks.

"I do not believe there is any explosive material under such an address,--however, if there is I prefer that my hands should fire the train. Stand back, Faith!"--and with cautious and laughing deliberation the key was turned and the lid raised. It was a very plain lid, by the way--mere white pine.

"There is nothing here (that appears) but silk paper and cotton,--not gun cotton, probably," said Mr. Linden. "Faith, do you wish me to risk my safety any further?"

"Yes."--

"My dear, you must have more courage. If I am to open all your boxes I shall have my hands full, and--ne vous en deplaise--I would rather see the work in yours." And she was seated before the portentous pine box, Mr. Linden keeping his stand at her side. Faith blushed and didn't like it; but applied her fingers with a sort of fearful delicacy to the silk paper and cotton, removing one after the other.