der. Now what have you to say to Miss
Faith?"

"O _she_ talks to _me_," said Johnny.

"Does she?" said Mr. Linden,--"is that the division of labour? What
does she talk about, Johnny?--let me see how well you remember." It was
said with a little acknowledging look that he was asking that to which
somebody would demur--but also with a wilful assumption that somebody
would come to no harm. So though Faith flushed and started, she sat
back in her seat again without making any word interposition. Johnny
stood and thought--for he was a real little literalist.

"She talked about heaven--" he said slowly,--"and how to get
there,--and said she was going--and we must too. That's what she said
Sunday. And at Judge Harrison's she said she was glad I'd got a red
ribband--and down to Neanticut she told me to run away."

"I'm sure that was a gentle way of dismissing you," said Mr. Linden,
stroking the child's forehead. "Well Johnny--are you trying to follow
her in that way to heaven she told you of?"

The "yes" was given without hesitation, and came with strangely sweet
effect from those childish lips. Then after a minute Johnny added, as
if he feared some misunderstanding,

"It's the same way you told me, sir."

"Yes, I trust you will see me there too," Mr. Linden said, with a
rather moved look at the little face before him.

What made Faith, at those last words of Johnny's, jump up and spring to
the fire? And after a most elaborate handling of the sticks of wood,
she did not come back to her seat, but stood still with her back turned
to the couch and the little witness who was testifying there. He was
not called upon for any more evidence, however. Mr. Linden talked--or
let him talk--about various important things in Johnny's daily life and
experience and gave a promise that he himself would be at school as
soon as the doctor gave his permission.

Mrs. Derrick's soft knock and entrance came now, she herself looking in
good truth as if a "tear-storm" had passed over her. But she brightened
up a little at the sight of Faith.

"Pretty child!" she said, coming up to her, "and so you're here? I
couldn't rest any longer without seeing just where you were."

Faith put one hand on her shoulder as she stood, and then clasped the
other upon that.

"Pretty child!" her mother repeated, in a tone that spoke more of pain
than pleasure--and Faith could feel the shudder that passed over her
then. But she controlled herself. "Do you k