gusts of northern wind; the vessels shortened sail, or ran under
bare poles. The wind shook the village windows, and poured dry leaves
in every porch, and swept up the world generally--not much to the
comfort of the same. In Mrs. Derrick's little eating-room indeed, it
was warm enough, and the floor swept after another fashion; yet even
there did the wind rush in, whenever the kitchen door opened, after
Cindy and the hot cakes.

"Mr. Linden," said Faith after her eye had gone exploringly to the
window, the wind and the clouds,--"I wish you would give the boys only
half a day to-day!"

"I fancy you could have your wish seconded thirty times," he said
smiling. "No--not thirty times, but perhaps twenty."

"I don't think those wishes would be worth minding; but I think mine
is, Mr. Linden. I mean the reason of it."

"I think yours is--if I could mind it. What is the reason, Miss Faith?"

"I am afraid you are not quite fit for a whole day's work. In school,"
she added smiling.

"You don't know what you are asking!--if I stay at home I shall talk
nothing but French the whole afternoon."

"Well," said Faith laughingly, "I should only be still. I could bear
that."

"I couldn't--and you wouldn't. But you need not be uneasy, Miss
Faith--I must not be at home."

She looked grave, but said no more.

The wind was not more busy out of doors that day, than the people
within. Diligent and quick hands moved about in dairy and kitchen; and
a quick and diligent spirit as earnestly--(for in Faith's mind it was
all one work; _that_ was on the way to _this_)--dealt with problems and
idioms in the study room that Faith liked best and where she was most
secure. But long enough before dinner she was helping Mrs. Derrick in
the kitchen again.

"Mother," she said, "you can't think how I dread to see Mr. Linden come
home to-day! He won't speak one word of English to me."

"I guess he would, if you wouldn't speak one word of French to him,"
said Mrs. Derrick sagaciously. "What are you afraid of, child?"

"I am afraid just of that," said Faith sighing. "Of having to speak
those French words."

"Why you've been reading them to him, I'm sure," said her mother. "I
didn't know anybody was afraid of him but me, Faith. But if you don't
like it, why don't you tell him so?"

Faith however negatived that proposition with a dubious shake of the
head; which meant, probably, that neither Mr. Linden nor herself would
be satisfied with such a