was finished softly. "Now I'm ready,
doctor--O Faith, I had a message for you, but Mr. Linden will tell you.
Good-bye. No, doctor--I'm not going to trust myself with you,--you're
going to trust yourself with me."

Dr. Harrison was for once quiet, and went off without a repartee.

Other eyes looked with a different anxiety at Mr. Linden then, and
another voice, more grave as well as more timid, asked, at his side,
"Are you not so well to-night, Mr. Linden?"

He smiled, and gave her his hand by way of answer, before he spoke.

"I think I am, Miss Faith--you know Mrs. Stoutenburgh has not seen me
before since I was quite well."

She brought both hands to test the feeling of his, for an instant,
without speaking.

"Mr. Linden, I heard what Dr. Harrison said--Don't you think I can do
instead of Dr. Limbre?"

"Yes, Miss Faith--if you will be so good," he answered without
hesitation and with the simplest tone and manner. Her brow lightened
immediately; and happy and quiet as usual, and that was very happy, she
began to make her preparations for tea, clearing the table and rolling
it to its last night's position. In which last operation she had
assistance. Then she went off for her tea--and the lamp and the
fire-light shone again presently on the pleasant scene of last night.

"Don't you want to hear your message, Miss Faith?" Mr. Linden said.

"Yes, but I wasn't in a hurry, Mr. Linden. I supposed it would come."

"It is in three parts. The first is nothing new; being merely that the
birthday of the young heir of the house of Stoutenburgh occurs on the
29th of November. Whether the second part is new, I--being a
stranger--cannot tell; but the day is to be graced with various
suitable festivities."

"It's all new to me," said Faith laughing.

"Of the novelty of the third part you also must judge," said Mr. Linden
with a smile. "The aforesaid young heir will consider the festivities
entirely incomplete without your presence--nay, will perhaps refuse to
have his birthday come at all, and wish that these 'happy returns' had
never had a beginning."

Faith's laugh came with its full merry roll now, and she withal
coloured a little.

"What must I do then, Mr. Linden?"

"I generally incline to the merciful side, Miss Faith--I believe I
should advise you to go. Then I, not having such power in my hands, may
not appreciate its fascinations."

"Such power? As what, Mr. Linden?"

"I ought in conscience to tell you--"