"What, child?"
"What Mr. Linden has said to me,"—she whispered.
"I knew what he would"—but the words broke off there, and Mrs. Derrick rested her head again in silence as absolute as Faith's.
For awhile; and then Faith lifted up her flushed face and began to kiss her.
"Mother!—why don't you speak to me?"
It was not very easy to speak—Faith could see that; but Mrs. Derrick did command her voice enough to give a sort of answer.
"He had my leave, child,—at least he has talked to me about you in a way that I should have said no to, if I had meant it,—and he knew that. Do you think I should have let him stay here all this time if I had not been willing?"
Faith laid her head down again.
"Mother—dear mother!"—she said,—"I want more than that!"—
She had all she wanted then,—Mrs. Derrick spoke clearly and steadily, though the tears were falling fast.