ery glad for Reuben and little Johnny."

"How do you know I didn't like it?"

"I don't 'know'--I thought you didn't," she said looking at him.

"You don't like to say why?"

"Yes! I thought you didn't like it, Mr. Linden, when Judge Harrison
first proposed it. You wished he would give us the pleasure without the
shewing off."

"Well, did you also know," he said with a peculiar little smile, "that
one of my best scholars was not examined?"

"No--who do you mean?" she said earnestly.

He laughed, and answered,

"One who would perhaps prefer a private examination at home--and to
whom I have thought of proposing it."

"An examination?" said Faith, wondering and with considerable
heightening of colour, either at the proposal or at the rank among
scholars assigned her.

"You need not be frightened," Mr. Linden said gravely--"if anybody
should be, it is I, at my own boldness. I am a little afraid to go on
now--though it is something I have long wanted to say to you."

"What is it, Mr. Linden?" she said timidly.

"I have thought--" he paused a moment, and then went quietly on. "You
have given me reason to think, that there are other desirable things
besides French of which you have no knowledge. I have wished very much
to ask you what they are, and that you would let me--so far as I
can--supply the deficiency." It was said with simple frankness, yet
with a manner that fully recognized the delicate ground he was on.

The rush of blood to Faith's face he could see by the lamplight, but
she hesitated for an answer, and hesitated,--and her head was bent with
the weight of some feeling.

"I should be too glad, Mr. Linden!" she said at last, very low, but
with unmistakeable emphasis.

"Then if you will let me see to-morrow what you are doing with that
other little book, I will see what companions it should have." And
warned by the kindling lamps on every side, he led the way a little
more into the open lawn, that Faith might at least be found if sought.
That allowed him to see too, the look he had raised in her face; the
little smile on the lips, the flush of colour, the stir of deep
pleasure that kept her from speaking. Yet when they had taken a few
steps on the broad lawn and other people would soon be nearing them,
she suddenly said, softly,

"What 'other' book do you mean, Mr. Linden?"

"I don't know how many there may be, Miss Faith, but I _meant_ one
which I tried to get at the store one day, and found tha