She knew who called, and it was with a little startled thrill that she presented herself at the window to answer the summons. Mr. Linden stood close beneath it.
"Can you catch this?" he said, looking up at her with laughing eyes. And the soft cowslip ball came whirling up to bury its golden head in her hands. If Faith saw anything else, it was the very evident astonishment of one of the standers-by. But nevertheless she bravely put her bright blushing face out again.
"Thank you, Mr. Linden," she said. "It's too pretty to be thrown more than once."
"Are you ready to come yourself?"
"Yes, I'm coming."
He bowed and turned away, passing on into the house with so quick a step that he was at the head of the stairs as soon as she was.
"You are not going to carry me down to-day!"—said Faith starting back. "I can walk down as well as you can—or at least I can as well walk down."
"There is no one in the parlour, Mignonette."
"Then I'll not go there," said Faith smiling.
"I'll take you to the garden, if you prefer it. Is the supposed fact of your being able to walk down stairs any reason why you should not bid me good morning?"