aith's eyes went to Mr. Linden with a flash and a burst of the
uncontrollable little laugh; but after that they were suspiciously
downcast, and Faith busied herself in providing little Charles twelfth
with the refreshment of a good saucer of sugared strawberries, with
which he sat down in a corner much consoled. And when he was setting
off again, Faith gave him a whispered message to ask his mother to come
and see her Thursday. Just what Mr. Linden saw in the piece of red
coral he did not declare, but when Faith came back to the table he was
looking at it very fixedly.

"Faith," he said, "that is not the worst token, nor the worst
envoy--that might be. What a shy child you were that first time I took
you down there! And you have not changed any too much," he added,
carrying her off to the other room. "I am not sure that you ought to be
indulged--suppose you open this box."

"You do it, please, Endecott!"--she said with a crimson rush to her
cheeks.

"I do not believe there is any explosive material under such an
address,--however, if there is I prefer that my hands should fire the
train. Stand back, Faith!"--and with cautious and laughing deliberation
the key was turned and the lid raised. It was a very plain lid, by the
way--mere white pine.

"There is nothing here (that appears) but silk paper and cotton,--not
gun cotton, probably," said Mr. Linden. "Faith, do you wish me to risk
my safety any further?"

"Yes."--

"My dear, you must have more courage. If I am to open all your boxes I
shall have my hands full, and--ne vous en deplaise--I would rather see
the work in yours." And she was seated before the portentous pine box,
Mr. Linden keeping his stand at her side. Faith blushed and didn't like
it; but applied her fingers with a sort of fearful delicacy to the silk
paper and cotton, removing one after the other.

The box had interior divisions, by way of help to the silk paper, its
different contents being thus more securely separated. Faith's fingers
exploring among the papers brought out first a silver chocolate pot,
then the dainty china cups for the same, then the spoons, in size and
shape just suiting the cups. Spoons and chocolatiere were marked with
the right initials; the cups--chocolate colour themselves, that no drop
of the dark beverage might hurt their beauty--had each a delicate gilt
F. L. twining about the handle.

If the givers could have seen the gift uncovered and inspected!--the
rosy deligh