that you used to care so much about seeing her when you were
here before. If I don't forget, you set your dog on her cat. And as to
when you'll see her again, I'm sure I can't tell, doctor. She's a busy
child, and folks out of the house have to do without seeing her till
she finds time to see them." Whereat Mrs Derrick smiled upon Dr.
Harrison with the happy consciousness that she was one of the folks in
the house.

The doctor stood smiling at her, with a half humourous, quite pleasant
expression of face.

"Set my dog on her cat!" he exclaimed. "_That_ is why she would be
angry with me for calling her a cherub!--

'Tantae ne animis celestibus irae!'"

The doctor sat down.

"What shall I do!" he said. "Advise me, Mrs. Derrick."

"I know what I should have done if I'd got hold of you," said Mrs.
Derrick. "I thought I never would speak to you again--but you see I've
got over it."

"I'm not sure of it," said the doctor meditatively. "'Folks out of the
house'--well! It strikes me I've been 'in' to little purpose this
afternoon."--He rose again. "Where is Mr. Linden? is he 'out', or 'in',
this fine day?"

"He's out this afternoon," said Mrs. Derrick. "I was thinking to ask
you if you wanted to see him, and then I knew it was no use."

"Yes, I should like to see him," said the doctor; "but as he is a
mortal like myself, I suppose I can find him another time by the use of
proper precautions."

And Dr. Harrison took his departure.

Mrs. Derrick on her part went upstairs again, and opening the door
merely peeped in this time.

"What is it, mother?"

"Are you busy yet, child?"

"Not quite through."

"I thought," said Mrs. Derrick stepping softly into the room, "that
we'd go down to the shore this afternoon, and maybe dig some clams. I
don't know but it's too late for that--we might ride down and see.
You're tired, pretty child--and other people won't like that a bit more
than I do."

"I'd like to go, mother--I'm almost done, and I'm not tired," Faith
said with happy eyes. "There is time, I guess, for Mr. Linden don't
want tea as early as usual. I'll come soon."

Mrs. Derrick withdrew softly, and again Faith was entirely lost in her
business. But she had nearly done now; the work was presently finished,
the books put up in order, and the papers, with the exercise on top;
and Faith stood a moment looking down at it. Not satisfied, but too
humble to have any false shame, too resolute to doubt of being
sa