"Well!--" said Mrs. Derrick, rocking back and forth. Then she started up. "We've got to have biscuits for breakfast, whether or no! It's good I remembered 'em!" And she hurried out of the room, coming back to kiss Faith and say, "Don't fret, pretty child, whatever happens. Go to bed and to sleep,--I'll make the biscuit." And alert and busy she left the parlour. Faith's sleep was quiet, but not unbroken. For at that time when all well-disposed people, young or old, are generally asleep (in such a well-ordered community as Pattaquasset) it pleased the younger portion of said community to be awake. Yet they were well-disposed--and also ill! For repairing in a body to Mrs. Derrick's house they gave her nine cheers for her lodger,--thence departing to Squire Deacon's, they gave him as many groans as he could reasonably want for himself. After which the younger part of the community retired in triumph. It was said, by one adventurous boy, that falling in with Mr. Simlins they impressed him--that his voice helped on the cheers, but not the groans: and indeed the whole story needs confirmation. Faith heard the groans but faintly, owing to the distance, but the cheers were tremendous. It is painful to add that Joe Deacon was vociferous in both parties. CHAPTER VII. "I hope your rest was disturbed last night," said Faith rather gaily, as she came in to the breakfast-table with a plate of biscuits and set them down before Mr. Linden. "Thank you! you have reason to be quite satisfied in that respect." "But did you hear them after they left our house?" "I heard them--really or in imagination--all night, thank you again, Miss Faith--and am as sleepy this morning as you can desire." "It wasn't I," said Faith. "Now what notice, Mr. Linden, will you think it proper to take of such a proceeding?" "That was one thing which kept me awake." "But as you are sleepy now, I suppose the point is decided?" "You are as quick at conclusions as Johnny Fax," said Mr. Linden smiling, "who always supposes that when I am not using my pen myself I am quite ready to let him have it." "Does he get it?" "What should you advise?" "O Mr. Linden!" said Faith,--"I should advise you to do--just what you do!" "Unsound!" he said,--"I thought you were a better adviser. But about this matter of the boys--I shall probably read them a lecture, wherein I shall set forth the risk they run of getting sick by such exposure to the night air; also the danger I am in of being sent away from my present quarters, because ladies prefer sleep to disturbance. Having thus wrought up their feelings to the highest pitch, I shall give them a holiday and come home to dinner." Faith laughed her little low laugh of pleasure; at least it always sounded so. It might be pleasure at one thing or at another; but it was as round and sweet a tone of merry or happy acknowledgment, as is ever heard in this world of discordances.