Endy--please don't ask
me!"

"Not quite fair,"--he said smiling. "I'm sure I am willing to tell
_you_ anything. Though indeed I do not suppose you need much telling.
But Faith--is _that_ the system of tactics by which you intend always
to have your own way? I shall have to be philosophical to any point!"

"That speech is so very zigzag," said Faith, "that I cannot follow it.
How are you going to be philosophical, Mr. Linden?"

"Not by forgetting to exact your forfeit, Miss Derrick."

"That isn't fair," said Faith laughing. "I didn't for get!--I shouldn't
think you had gone all day without eating anything!--and yet you must
be starving."

"For what? little provider."

"For something to eat, I should think."

"Does that mean that you are suffering?--because if that be the case, I
will refresh you (cautiously) with sugar-plums! A very superfluous
thing, to be sure, but the most suitable I can think of."

Faith's laugh came clear now. "No indeed. Suffering! I never eat so
many dinners in one day in my life. But I am hungry though, I believe.
How many more places are we going to? I don't care how many," she said
earnestly. "I like to be hungry."

"Well, keep up your spirits,--the next turn will bring us out of the
woods, and a three-minute stay at one or two doors will end our work
for this time. Meanwhile, do you want to hear a little bit of good
poetry--on an entirely new subject?"

"Oh yes! if you please."

Demurely enough it was given.--

"'Her true beauty leaves behind
Apprehensions in my mind
Of more sweetness, than all art
Or inventions can impart.
Thoughts too deep to be expressed,
And too strong to be repressed.'"

She gave him a wistful look as he finished the lines; and then sat
among her furs, as quiet again as a mouse.

"Do you like them, Mignonette?"

"Yes--very much."

"Would you like to tell me then why the hearing of them makes you
sober?"

"Yes--if you wish"; she said gently. "I know--a little--I
believe,--what you think of me; but what I seem to your eyes on the
outside--and much more!--I want to be really, really--in the sight of
the eye that tries the heart--and I am not now, Endy."

"My dear child--" he said,--and was silent a minute, speeding smoothly
along through the starlight; then went on.

"Yes, dear Faith,--that is what I wish for you--and for myself. That is
where we will most earnestly try to help each other." And presently, as
eye and thoughts