careful attention to what she was about, nor the steadiest working of her quite unsteady fingers, which she knew were very likely to move _not_ according to rule. For a little while she was suffered to go on without interruption, other than an occasional word about the French part of her exercise; but presently Mr. Linden's hand began to come now and then with a modifying touch upon her pen and fingers. At first this was done with a gentle "forgive me!" or, "if you please, Miss Faith,"--after that without words, though the manner always expressed them; and once or twice, towards the very end of the lesson, he told her that such a letter was too German--or too sophisticated; and shewed her a more Saxon way. Which admonitions he helped her, as well as he could, to bear, by a quietness which was really as kind, as it seemed oblivious of all that had disturbed or could disturb her. And the words of praise and encouragement were spoken with their usual pleasure-taking and pleasure-giving effect. All this after a time effectually distracted Faith from all other thoughts whatever. When it was done, she sat a moment looking down at the paper, then looked up and gave him a very frank and humble "Thank you, Mr. Linden!" from face and lips both. If Faith liked approbation--that clover-honey to a woman's taste, so far beyond the sickly sweets of flattery and admiration--she might have been satisfied with the grave look of Mr. Linden's eyes at her then. "You are a brave little child!" he said. "I wish I could do something to give you a great deal of pleasure!" "Pleasure!"--said Faith, and what was very rare with her, not only her face flushed but her eyes, so that she turned them away,--"why it is all pleasure to me, Mr. Linden!"--'Such pleasure as I never had before,'--she was near saying, but she did not say. "Well I must not let you tire yourself," he said with a smile, "for that would not be pleasant to me. Have you been out to-day?" "No," said Faith, thinking of her brown moreen. "Nor yesterday--that will not do, Miss Faith. I am afraid I must give you up to the open air for a good part of this afternoon." "What shall I do there?" said Faith smiling. "Let the wind take you a walk--I wish I could be of the party. But the wind is good company, Miss Faith, and talks better than many people,--and the walk you want." "So I want to finish my wood-box," said Faith, looking at the corner of the fireplace. "And I should think you would be tired of seeing the wood lie there, Mr. Linden. I am. I have got to go out this evening too--" she said with a little hesitation,--"to see that microscope." Mr. Linden was silent a moment. "The microscope does make some difference," he said,--"as for the wood-box, Miss Faith, I don't think I can permit it to have any voice in the matter,--you may leave it for me to finish. But if you are going up there this evening--there are two or three things I should like to talk to you about first."