e said in a tone a little checked.

"Why?--because I like to do them."

"Well," she said laughing slightly, "that makes me want to thank you
more."

"It don't make me deserve the thanks, however. Do you perceive the
distant blue of Miss Cecilia's dress? does it make you think of the
blue ether over your head?"

"Not the least!" said Faith much amused. "What makes you ask me that,
Mr. Linden?"

"I should like to hear why it does not?"

"The two things are so very, very far apart," Faith said, after a
moment's consideration. "I don't see what could make me think of them
together. The only thing is that both are blue, but I should have to
think to remember that."

"You haven't answered me yet," he said smiling. "Why are they far
apart?--your blue gentians there, are as far below the sky in number of
miles--yet from them to the sky the transition is easy."

"Yes--" said Faith looking down at her blue gentian. "Why is it, Mr.
Linden? But this is God's work too," she added softly.

"I suppose that is the deep root of the matter. The ruined harp of
man's nature yet answers to a breath from heaven as to no other touch.
Then blue has been so long the emblem of truth, that separated from
truth one can scarce, as you say, realize what colour it is."

"Then Mr. Linden," said Faith after a moment's silence, with the tone
and the look of quick pleasure,--"is _this_ what you mean by 'reading'
things?"

"Yes--" he said with a smile,

"'To rightly spell
Of every star that heaven doth shew,
And every herb that sips the dew.'"

"But how far can you read?" said Faith. "And I never thought of such
reading till--till a little while ago! How far can you read, Mr.
Linden?"

"I don't know," he said,--"because I don't know how far I _cannot_
read! Yet if 'the invisible things of God' may be known 'by the things
which are seen,' there is at least room for ample study. To some
people, Miss Faith, the world is always (with the change of one
adjective) an incomprehensible little green book; while others read a
few pages now, and look forward to knowing the whole hereafter."

There was a pause, a little longer than usual.

"And you say I must not thank you?"--Faith said very low.

"I say I think you have no cause."

She was silent.

"Has the day been pleasant?" Mr. Linden asked, as they walked up and
down.

"Yes, very pleasant. I liked what you didn't like, Mr. Linden--all that
examination business. And I was v