"Is that all? Well it will do her good to go again. Sophy Harrison and I made up our minds that she and I and Faith would spend the day together—and so I've come to fetch her. Do you believe in the possibility of ladies falling in love with ladies, Mr. Linden?"
"I have more knowledge of gentlemen's possibilities. Who is supposed to be in danger, Miss Essie?"
"Faith cannot go out to spend the day," said Mrs. Derrick decidedly.
"Is it danger?" said Miss Essie. "Mrs. Derrick, why can't Faith go with me? Faith, won't you go?"—She had come up close to the table and stood by Faith's side, whom her eyes were now reading, or at least endeavouring to spell out.
"Not to-day, Miss Essie, thank you."
"Thank me? you ought to apologize to me." Miss Essie took a chair in that place, where she could "rake" the whole table. "Here will be Sophy and me horribly disappointed. We had counted on you. Sophy is all alone. You know, Faith, the doctor is laid up?"
"We heard of it,"—Faith answered, not very easily.
"Well, do you know he says he is going South?"
"I heard so," said Faith. Miss Essie could not make much of the rising colour in her cheeks, it came and went so easily!
"What takes him off just now in such haste?—business?"