nconsciously on her part.

"Reuben," she whispered at his shoulder, "there are no roast clams
here--shall I give you some jelly? I see you have got substantials."

"No thank you, Miss Faith," said Reuben--adding with some hesitation,
"I believe it's ungrateful in me, but I don't want to eat."

"Are you eating your book all the while? I am so glad, Reuben! Where is
your father?"

"I think he's home, Miss Faith--he must be by this time."

"Home! I'm sorry. I've been looking for him. Sam--what can I get you?
coffee?"

"Miss Faith!" said Sam standing up in his place, "I'd rather have one
of those leaves you've been wearing all day than all the coffee that
ever was burnt!"

"Leaves! you foolish boy," said Faith, her own colour in an instant
emulating them, and as before her hand went up to shield them. "I can't
give you one of these, Sam--I'll bring you some coffee."

Away she ran, coming back presently with a cup and a piece of jelly
cake, bestowing a fellow piece upon Reuben,

"You can get plenty of oak leaves anywhere, Sam," she said laughing a
little.

"But you haven't worn 'em, Miss Faith--and I can't keep this!" said Sam
surveying the cake with a very serio-comic face.

"Well, who wants to?" said Joe Deacon. "Hand us over the other cake,
that's got nothing between. If you're settin' up to get round anybody,
Sam Stoutenburgh, you'll find there's two or three in a bunch--I tell
you." Which remark Faith was happily too far off to hear.

"Faith," said Mrs. Somers, leaning back and stopping her as she passed;
"do you know why I let Sophy keep you running about so?"

"I like to do it, Mrs. Somers."

"Well that's not the reason. You ought to sit up at the head of the
table for your skill in arranging flowers. I didn't know it was in you,
child."

And Mrs. Somers bent closer to Faith to take the breath of the roses,
but softly for she loved flowers herself.

Faith bore it jealously, for she was afraid of another invading hand;
and blushing at the praise she could not disclaim ran away as soon as
she was free. But as the tide of supper-time began to ebb, the doctor
arrested Faith in her running about and saying that his sister had had
no supper yet and wanted company, led her to the place his aunt had
spoken of, a clear space at one end of the table, where the doctor also
discovered _he_ had taken no supper. The rest of the party sat at ease,
or began to scatter again about the grounds. A new attraction was