ut Miss Faith--just suppose for a moment that there were tears in your
eyes,--what could keep them from falling?"

Faith's eyes opened and she took a little time to consider this
proposition.

"If I were very determined, I think I could do it," she said.

"Suppose they got so far as the tip ends of your eye lashes?" he said,
with a little play of the lips.

"They must come down, I am afraid," said Faith looking and wondering.

"But why?"

"Because my determination couldn't reach them there, I suppose," she
said in unmitigated wonder. "There would be nothing to keep them up."

"Unphilosophic!" he said gravely,--"I shall have to teach you both why
your tears fall, and why they don't."

She smiled, as very willing to be taught, but with a face that looked
as if it had had few to experiment upon either way.

"I will try and not tire you out," Mr. Linden said, "but different
things go on pleasantly together. Some I should like to have you study
for me when I am away, some directly with me. And--"

"And what, sir?" she said with the gentle intonation of one to whose
ear every word is pleasant.

"How much time have you in the course of the day that can and ought to
be spent upon all these matters--without disturbing Shakspeare and his
companions?"

"I will _make_ time, Mr. Linden, if I don't find it. I have a good
deal. You won't tire me."

"You must not make time out of strength. Will you write me a French
exercise every day, among other things? Yes Cindy," he said--"I
understand,"--apparently quite aware that Faith did not.

"I will try," said Faith, with a colour again that was not of _French_
growth.

"Well baint you comin'?" said Cindy, who stood still as if she liked
the prospect before her.

"Yes, but I can find my own way," said Mr. Linden; at which gentle hint
Cindy vanished. And Faith sprang up.

"Teaching all day," she said, "and no tea either!"--And she was about
to run off, then paused to say,

"That is all, Mr. Linden?--do you want to say anything more?"

"It was not tea, Miss Faith,--Reuben is at the door. Will you see him?
Shall I bring him here or will you go there?"

"I will go there," said Faith hurriedly. But Mr. Linden followed her.

"Reuben," he said, "Miss Faith will hear you--and I am ready to answer
for your word with my own;"--then he went back into the sitting room
and closed the door.

But those words seemed to touch at least one sore spot in the boy's
heart--he had to s