A heavy, shoe-leathery step came down the street--it was Squire Deacon. Reuben knew who it was before the Squire came near, for he flushed up, and for a moment stood with his back resolutely turned towards the gate; then with an air as resolute, but different, he turned round and bowed as courteously as he knew how--far more so than the Squire did to him; for the combination of Faith and Reuben did not seem to fall pleasantly upon Squire Deacon's organs of vision; nor indeed could he have quite forgotten last night. "Reuben, come in," said Faith touching his shoulder and smiling,--"I want to speak to you. But first answer my question--why don't you feel quite well now? You ought, Reuben." "Yes, Miss Faith--I know I ought,--at least I oughtn't to feel just as I do," Reuben answered. "Mr. Linden told me so to-day." "Then why do you feel so?" Faith asked with increased earnestness. Reuben coloured and hesitated. "Folks vex me--" he said in a low voice. "And--and Mr. Linden says I love him too well if I'm not willing to let him go when God pleases. And I know it's true--but--" and Reuben followed Faith into the house without another word. "What do you mean about Mr. Linden's going?" "Just that, ma'am," said Reuben simply. "Because we can't make ourselves feel well by thinking things are going just as we want 'em to--he says that's not strong enough ground to rest on." "But does he talk of going away, Reuben?" "O no! Miss Faith I never heard him,--he only talked so to me because of what other folks said." "Well," said Faith with a change of tone, "you're a foolish boy. You come and see me whenever you get feeling bad again. Folks can't hurt Mr. Linden. Now look here--Wait a minute, will you!"-- Faith ran upstairs; speedily came down again with a little blue-covered book in her hand. "Is this the arithmetic you study?" she said softly, coming close to him. Reuben took the book with some surprise in his face. "Yes, ma'am, this is the one." And he looked up at her as if to ask, what next. "How far have you gone?" "I am through this now," said Reuben, "but some of the others are here--and here." "Then you can tell me," said Faith. She turned over to a certain page, far on in the book too, and putting it into Reuben's hands, said quietly, "I am studying it, and I cannot make anything of this. Do you remember how it was explained?" "The book's wrong," said Reuben, after a glance at it,--"I remember, Miss Faith. See--it ought to be so--and so--" Reuben went on explaining. "All the books we could get here were just like it, and Mr. Linden said if he found any more mistakes he would send to Quilipeak and get good ones. He shewed us how this ought to be." "That's it!" said Faith. "Thank you, Reuben. And you needn't tell anybody I asked you about it." Reuben looked a little surprised again, but he said "No, ma'am," and made his bow.