Somers had managed to keep up with her business and him too, for she came in before Mr. Somers had well taken the measure of his chair. She walked up to Faith and kissed her, with a sort of glad energy, gave her a comprehensive glance from head to foot, and then turned to Mrs. Derrick with, "There's nothing amiss with _her_, after all.--Sophy, what excuses have you brought in your bag?--it seems to be full." "I wish you'd make some for Julius, aunt Ellen--I can see Mrs. Derrick has only half forgiven him." "Has she got so far as that?" said Mrs. Somers. "I don't know. Faith, _you_ might come and say something--you know if it isn't true; and Mrs. Derrick will hear you." Faith was busy giving Mrs. Somers a chair, and certainly looked as if _she_ had nobody to forgive anything in the wide world. "What do you want me to say, Sophy?" "Why, that Julius wasn't to blame." "I find it is still a disputed point, whether a man has a right to break his own neck," said Mrs. Somers. "I think he hasn't, myself, but most people don't agree with me. Mr. Somers thinks people may run away alone or together, just as they've a mind. I don't know whether it's the fees or the freedom that takes his fancy." "I suppose, my dear," said Mr. Somers, "a man may lawfully set out to take a ride without intending to break his own neck, or anybody else's; and find it done at the end, without blame to himself. I never was, I hope, a promoter of--ha!--flighty marriages--to which you seem to allude." "If he finds it done at the end, it isn't done very thoroughly," said Mrs. Somers. "But Pattaquasset's growing up into a novel--last week furnished with a hero, and this week with a heroine,--the course of things can't run smooth now. So we may all look out for breakers--of horses, I hope, among other things." "Oh aunt Ellen!"--was Miss Harrison's not gratified comment on this speech. "I hope Mrs. Somers don't mean that we are to look out for breakers of hearts, among the other things," said Mr. Somers. "Look out for them? to be sure!" said Miss Harrison;--"always and everywhere. What would the world be without them?" "The world would not be heart-broken," said Mrs. Somers. "Faith--which of you came to first? who picked you up?" "I don't know, Mrs. Somers. Sam Stoutenburgh was passing just at the time and Dr. Harrison called him. I don't know who picked me up." "Sam Stoutenburgh!" said Mrs. Somers,--"well, he's made, if nobody else is! He'll bless Julius for the rest of his life for giving him such a chance. Do you know how that boy watches you, Faith?--I mean to speak to Mr. Linden about it the very first time I see him." Something in this speech called forth Faith's colour. She had spoken Sam's name herself with the simplest unchanging face; but now the flushes came and came abundantly. "I don't know what good that would do, Mrs. Somers."