A knock at the door was the first interruption, a knock so low down that the latch seemed quite too high to match it; but by some exercise of skill this was lifted, and Johnny Fax presented himself. He looked very wide awake, and smiling, and demure, as was his wont, though to-day the smiles were in the ascendant; owing perhaps to the weest of all wee baskets which he held in his hand. Coming close up to Mr. Linden, and giving him the privileged caress, Johnny stood there within his arm and smiled benignly upon Faith, as if he considered her quite part and parcel of the same concern. Who smiled back upon him, and enquired "where he had come from?"
Johnny said "From home, ma'am," and looked down at his tiny basket as if it were a weight on his mind that he did not know how to get rid of.
"Johnny," said Mr. Linden, "what have you got in that basket?"
"You couldn't guess!" said Johnny with a very bright face.
"I couldn't guess!" said Mr. Linden. "Don't you suppose I can do anything?"
"Yes—" said Johnny shaking his head,—"but you can't do that."
"Then I shall not try," said Mr. Linden, "and you'll have to tell me."
Johnny put his face close down by Mr. Linden, and whispered, but not so low that Faith could not hear—
"It's two white eggs that my black hen laid for you, sir!"
"Well I never should have guessed that!"—said Mr. Linden smiling. "I didn't suppose there was a hen in the world that cared so much for me. I don't believe she would if she was not your hen, Johnny."—Which last sentence Johnny understood just well enough to feel delighted; and stood with a glad little face while his teacher opened the basket, and taking up first one egg and then the other, commented upon their size and whiteness.