r her basket."

Reuben heard him silently, and as silently lifted the basket from where
it stood and set it carefully on the table. But then he came close up
to Faith and stood by her side. "You are _very_ good, Miss Faith!" he
said. "I don't know how to thank you."

"Reuben!" said Faith colouring--"you mustn't thank me at all. I've just
had the pleasure of doing--but it is Mr. Linden that has brought the
basket here, and me too."

"And he must take you away," Mr. Linden said. "Reuben, you may thank
Miss Faith just as much as you please. If I had nothing else to do, I
should invite my self here to dinner, but as it is I must be off. Are
you ready?" he said to Faith, while in silence Reuben knelt down to put
on again the moccasins which she had thrown off, and then she followed
Mr. Linden. Reuben followed too,--partly to help their arrangements,
partly at Mr. Linden's bidding to bring back the net. But when there
was added thereto a little package which could only mean books,
Reuben's cup of gravity, at least, was full; and _words_ of good-bye he
had none.

And for a few minutes after they drove away Faith too was silent with
great pleasure. She hardly knew, though she felt, how bright the sun
was on the snow, and how genial his midday winter beams; and with how
crisp a gleam the light broke on ice points and crests of foam and
glanced from the snow-banks. The riches of many days seemed crowded
into the few hours of that morning. Were they not on a "shining"
expedition! Had they not been leaving sunbeams of gladness in house
after house, that would shine on, nobody knew how long! Faith was too
glad for a little while not to feel very sober; those sunbeams came
from so high a source, and were wrought in with others that so wrapped
her own life about. So she looked at Jerry's ears and said nothing.

"Faith," Mr. Linden said suddenly, "I wish I could tell you what it is
to me to be going these rounds with you!"

Faith shewed a quick, touched little smile. "I've been thinking just
now,--what it means."

"I should like to have the explanation of those last three words."

"What it means?"--and the slight play of her lips did not at all hinder
the deep, deep strength of her thought from being manifest.--"It means,
all you have taught me and led me to!--"

"You don't intend to lead me to a very clear understanding," he said
playfully, and yet with a tone that half acknowledged her meaning. "Do
you ever remember what y