she peered quizzically over her round person at her
huge carpet slippers, and shook her head with a chuckle of amusement.
"I've watched them frisky little steam critters 'fore now, and they're
most dujeous like to a babby jest a-larnin' to walk, or a tipsy man
a-tryin' to steer straight when he sees double. No, thankee kindly,
but I guess I'll say good-by ashore, where I can cry it out comfortable
after you're gone."

"Foolish old Debby!" laughed Hope, while Faith looked with a sweet
regret at her dear old nurse, but did not speak.

"Do you know," said the stranger, who was about leaving, her business
having been long finished, "I am wondering how it happened that these
names were bestowed just as they are. Can you tell me, Mrs. Gunter?
It would seem as if the babies must have shown their dispositions when
very young--or was it a happy chance?"

Deborah laughed with unction. It was a story she was fond of telling.
They had just descended the stairs and she opened a door into a
snug-looking sitting-room off the hall as she said--

"Well, jest set you down again for a minute, 'm, if you please, and
I'll tell you. I ain't good for much at standin' long--too many pounds
to hold up. Here, 'm, this is the best chair--now I'll tell ye. Fact
is, I was in a real pupplex over them names for a time. First, I was
a-goin' to wait till their fayther got home, but they kept a-growin' so
fast thet it didn't seem right not to have 'em named. I was real
worrited for a spell till, all at once, I found out that they was
named--yes, and I'd done it myself! 'Twas like this: When they'd begin
to be a stir in the crib, and I was right busy, I'd say to my shadder,
'I hope it isn't this one, 'cause she wouldn't keep still a blessed
minute'; or I'd say, 'I've faith to b'lieve it's that one, for she'll
coo and play with her toes till I gets ready.' 'Twas allays jest
so--'I hope,' or 'I've faith,' every time. And soon as it come to me,
why, I jest named the obstreperous one Hope and the quiet one
Faith--don't you see?"

"I do. It was bright of you, too. It really means that the names came
by nature, so fit like a glove, of course. But I must be off at once.
Thank you for a pleasant morning, Mrs. Gunter! I will bring my husband
around to-morrow for his approval, if he can spare the time. At any
rate, I think I am not too hasty in saying we will take the rooms. We
will, if you please, pay by the week in advance, as he is only he