He gave her his arm, and then by skilful navigation kept clear of the groups most likely to interrupt their progress; passing rather towards the boy quarter, making Sam Stoutenburgh sigh and Joe Deacon whistle, with the most frigid disregard of their feelings. The shrubbery at the foot of the lawn was in more than twilight now, and its deeper shadow was good to look out from; giving full effect to the dying light on earth and sky. The faint rosecoloured clouds hung over a kaleidoscope of dresses, which was ever shifting and making new combinations, passing into black spots in the shadow of the trees, or forming a broad spread of patchwork on the open lawn. The twilight perspective was far more witching than the sunlight full view. "How pretty that is!" said Faith delightedly. "Thank you, Mr. Linden. I don't believe Dr. Harrison will shew me any effect so good as this. How pretty and odd it is!" "Don't you know," he said, "that you never should thank me for doing pleasant things?" "Why, Mr. Linden?" she said in a tone a little checked. "Why?--because I like to do them." "Well," she said laughing slightly, "that makes me want to thank you more." "It don't make me deserve the thanks, however. Do you perceive the distant blue of Miss Cecilia's dress? does it make you think of the blue ether over your head?" "Not the least!" said Faith much amused. "What makes you ask me that, Mr. Linden?" "I should like to hear why it does not?" "The two things are so very, very far apart," Faith said, after a moment's consideration. "I don't see what could make me think of them together. The only thing is that both are blue, but I should have to think to remember that." "You haven't answered me yet," he said smiling. "Why are they far apart?--your blue gentians there, are as far below the sky in number of miles--yet from them to the sky the transition is easy." "Yes--" said Faith looking down at her blue gentian. "Why is it, Mr. Linden? But this is God's work too," she added softly. "I suppose that is the deep root of the matter. The ruined harp of man's nature yet answers to a breath from heaven as to no other touch. Then blue has been so long the emblem of truth, that separated from truth one can scarce, as you say, realize what colour it is." "Then Mr. Linden," said Faith after a moment's silence, with the tone and the look of quick pleasure,--"is _this_ what you mean by 'reading' things?" "Yes--" he said with a smile, "'To rightly spell Of every star that heaven doth shew, And every herb that sips the dew.'" "But how far can you read?" said Faith. "And I never thought of such reading till--till a little while ago! How far can you read, Mr. Linden?"