"I shall have to put a stop to this state of things!" he said,—"that blue ribband will work me mischief yet. Miss Faith, how can you take advantage of my disabled condition?"
"Are you better this morning, Mr. Linden?"
"The time has not quite come yet for me to be much better. But Miss Faith, if I had known that you would wake yourself up early this morning, what do you think I should have done?"
"I can't think, Mr. Linden," she said looking merry.
"I should have invited you and Mrs Derrick up here to breakfast!—which I only did not do, because I could not take the extra trouble upon myself, and because I knew you ought to sleep, till this time."
Faith shook her head a little, perhaps sorry to have missed the breakfast; then went off and brushed away the dust and chips left round the wood-box. Then came and sat down.
"I saw almost everything, last night, Mr. Linden!"
"Well before you go off to last night—will you come to-morrow morning?
Now what did you see?"
The bright smile and flush and sparkle answered the invitation; and perhaps Faith thought no other answer was needed; for she gave no other.
"I know now," she said after an instant, "what you were doing all yesterday afternoon, Mr. Linden!"