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ind a thicket of sumach and laurel at her back, and belonged to some of the boys. Faith went round the thicket. There were a big boy and a little boy tugging at a casket, both tugging; the little fellow holding to it with all his might, while the big boy, almost getting it from him with one hand, was laying the other very freely about his ears and shoulders. Faith heard the little one say, "I'll tell--" And the other, a boy whose name Faith had learned only that morning, shouted in answer, "You tell! You tell if you dare! You tell and I'll kill you!--Leave hold!"-- A round blow was given with the words, which told, but the little boy still held on to his basket. "For shame, Phil Davids! you a big boy!"--said Faith. There was a stay of proceedings while they looked at her, both parties keeping fast hold however, and both tongues at once combating for hearing and belief. The little boy, Johnny Fax himself, said the nuts were his; which the elder denied. "Let him have his nuts, Phil," said Faith gently. "He must have them--they belong to him." "He aint a goin' ter, though," said Davids,--"and _you_ can't do nothin', if you air Mr. Linden's sweetheart. You air--Joe Deacon says you be. Leave hold, you!"-- Thinking Faith quelled perhaps, Phil began the struggle again fiercely, with grappling and blows. But Faith laid hold suddenly on the arm that was rising the second time, and bade the boy sternly behave himself and let the basket go. It was not immediately done. He had strength much more than hers, but something withheld him from exerting it. Nothing withheld his tongue. "Aint you Mr. Linden's sweetheart?" he said insolently. "Joe Deacon says you be." "No sir!" said Faith; "and you are a bad boy." "Joe Deacon says you be!" But Faith did not relax her hold, and spoke with a steady voice and for that time at least with a steady eye of command which was obeyed. "Let him go!--Johnny, run off with your basket and be quiet; that's a good boy. Davids, you'll be quiet the rest of the day for your own sake." The boys parted sullenly, Johnny to run off as she had bidden him; and Faith turned from the green bank, the nut trees, and the frolic, and laying one hand upon the cheek that faced that way, as if to hide its burning from eyes too far off to see it, she went into the house. She put the brands together which had burnt out, and built the fire up on the strictest principles, though no fire was w
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