_
finished his, for he came in again to take another cup of coffee while
the boys were disposing of that very ragged piece of time which the end
of a boys' feast invariably is. So much peace and quietness he gave
himself, if he did not give himself a sandwich--of which I am not
certain.

"Mr. Linden," said Faith, "I want to ask something--will you tell me if
you don't like it?"

"Don't like to have you ask me, do you mean? I do like it."

"Then," said Faith half laughing, "will you tell me it you don't quite
like what I mean?"

"I'll see--" Mr. Linden replied with a smile. "It's not safe for
teachers to commit themselves."

"But I must commit myself," said Faith. "I want to go and pick up nuts
with the boys under the trees--may I?"

She looked for her answer with an eye that thought _he_ might possibly
find an objection where she saw none.

He paused a little before he replied,

"I think you may--if I could be among them and answer for their good
behaviour I should not need to think about it; but you know a man loses
power when he is too far above the heads of his audience. Yet I think I
may trust them--and you," he added with a little smile. "Especially as
the first tree touched this afternoon is yours."

"What does that mean?" said Faith, her doubt all gone.

"Do you think I shall so far forget my office as to let them pick up
nuts for nobody but themselves? Therefore the first tree this afternoon
is for you--or if you please for your mother; the second for Mr.
Simlins. If that will take away your desire for the 'fun,' why I cannot
help it."

"I have no objection to pick up nuts for mother, not even for Mr.
Simlins," said Faith smiling. "And I am not afraid of the boys--I know
half of them, you know. Thank you, Mr. Linden!"

"You might, if I could take you up into the tree-top. There is fine
reading on those upper shelves."

Her eye shewed instantly that she liked that 'higher' fun best--not the
tree-top, verily, but the reading, that she could not get at. Yet for
Faith there were charms plenty below the tree-tops, in both kinds; and
she looked very happy.

"Well"--Mr. Linden said, "as the successful meeting of one emergency
always helps us in the next, and as it is quite impossible to tell
_what_ you may meet under those nut trees,--let me give you a little
abstract of Catherine Douglass, before you read it and before I go. The
said lady wishing to keep the door against sundry lords and gentle men