e a fair promise?" he said--"and feel bound by it?"

"I said I would go,"--she said looking at him with her fair, grave
face. "If you thought it was wrong, or that I was putting myself out of
my way, I would not, Mr. Linden. He asked if he might come for me at
two o'clock, and I said yes."

"Miss Faith--you must not make such a promise again!"

She looked at him enquiringly, very soberly, and then her eyes went to
the fire and mused there. Mr. Linden was looking at her then, though
with eyes still shielded. Once indeed the hand came with a soft touch
upon her hair, drawing it back where it had fallen a little; but the
motion was quickly checked. She started, looked round with a little
frank smile and colour, and instantly went back to her musing.

"I'm afraid I must let you go--" Mr. Linden said presently, smiling a
little too, as if it were no use to be grave any longer. "I'm afraid I
have no right to hinder you. If I had, I would. Some other time I will
tell you part of the wherefore, but the less I say to you before you
go, the better. About that,--" he added in his usual manner,--"I think
we might write another exercise."

She started up, but paused.

"Mr. Linden,"--she said timidly, "Dr. Harrison said he would not be
here this morning. Would you like to have me first--it would be only
pleasure to me, if you are not afraid,--do what he does for you?"

He answered at first rather quick, as if he knew what sort of pleasure
it was.

"O no!--I can wait,--it cannot signify very much." And then with as
quick a recognition of the real pleasure it would be, after all, Mr.
Linden compounded matters.

"I am afraid. Miss Faith!--I am naturally timid."

"What does that mean?" said she coming before him and looking with an
inquisitive smile. "I don't know, Mr. Linden!"

"Do you expect me to explain such a humiliating confession?"

"No, certainly.--I thought, perhaps, you wouldn't keep to it, after
all."

"I am a little afraid for you. What do you suppose I shall do this
afternoon while you are gone?"

"I don't know--" she said, looking a little wistfully.

"I shall lie here and study that wood-box. You see I carry out my
principles, Miss Faith--I have not thanked you for it."

"I don't think you'll study it very long," said Faith,--"there isn't
much in it."

"Somebody has said," replied Mr. Linden, "that 'in every subject there
is inexhaustible meaning,--the eye sees in it what the eye brings means
of seein