eautiful message too--the gracious and graceful wording
of it Faith felt in every syllable; and the lines of the old ballad
were some of the prettiest she had ever seen. But that Faith should
have _love_ sent her from Italy--and from that person in Italy of all
others!--that Mr. Linden's sister should wish to see _her_ and threaten
to do it in the shape of a midge!--and what ever _could_ Mr. Linden
have told her to excite the wish? And what of this lady's precious
things had Faith taken care of?--'such care' of! "Mother!"--Faith began
once by way of taking counsel, but thought better of it, and went on
pondering by herself. One thing was undoubted--this message in this
letter was a matter of great pleasure and honour! as Faith felt it in
the bottom of her heart; but in the midst of it all, she hardly knew
whence, came a little twinge of something like pain. She felt it--yes,
she felt it, even in the midst of the message; but if Faith herself
could not trace it out, of course it can be expected of nobody else.

CHAPTER XXII.

Phil Davids, taking his morning walk through the pleasant roads of
Pattaquasset, engaged in his out-of-school amusements of hunting cats
and frightening children, was suddenly arrested in the midst of an
alarming face ('got up' for the benefit of Robbie Waters) by the
approach of Sam Stoutenburgh. In general this young gentleman let Phil
alone, 'severely,' but on the present occasion he stopped and laid hold
of his shoulder.

"Phil Davids! I've a warrant against you."

"Hands off, Sam! and let a man alone, will you! What do you mean by
that?" said Phil gruffly.

"Yes--I'll let him alone--when I find him, if he's like you," said Sam
with great coolness and some little contempt. "But if you're tired of
your own face, Phil, why don't you make up a handsome one, while you're
about it? Keep out of his way, Robbie! can't you?"

"Guess you don't know what folks says o' yourn! Do you?" said Phil,
wriggling his shoulder from under Sam's hand, "_I_ do!"

"I guess I know as much as is good for me," replied the undaunted Sam.
"But that's none of your business just now. Mr. Linden wants to see
you, Phil--and it aint often anybody does that, so you'd better make
the most of the chance." With which pleasing sentiment, Sam released
Phil, and taking a sharp run after Robbie. Waters enticed him into a
long confidential conversation about his new Sunday school teacher. In
the midst of which Phil's voic