"Must I go to Pequot?" was the first thought that entered Faith's mind
the next morning. And the advancing daylight, with its clear steadfast
way of looking at things, said, "Yes, you must." "Is there anything
_I_--who know most about this business--can do to put an end to it?"
That was a second thrilling question. The same daylight gave its frank
answer,--"No, you cannot--you cannot." Faith took both answers, and
then sought, in the very spirit of a child, to "leave all troublesome
things where alone they could be taken care of."
"There is a faculty in this," saith Leighton, "that all persons have
not." But the spirit of a child can do it; and the spirit of a
Christian, so far as it is right, is none other. Faith went down
stairs, in spite of inward sorrow and trembling, with a quiet brow. It
was very much the face of last night, for its subdued look, and in
spite of the night's rest, in its paleness too; though the colour
played there somewhat fitfully. Sorrowful note of that Mr. Linden took,
or the pained look of last night had not passed off from his face,--or
both might be true. So far as the most gentle, quick-sighted, and
careful attention could be of avail, the breakfast was
pleasant;--otherwise it was but a grave affair. Even Mrs. Derrick
looked from one to the other, with thoughtfulness that was not merely
of Faith's going away.
There was little time however for observations. Directly after
breakfast the wagon was got ready; and when they were bestowed in it
and Mr. Linden's farewell had bade Faith remember all his injunctions
the night before, he turned and walked on to his own place of work and
the mother and daughter set forth on their journey.
In a small insignificant house, in a by street of Pequot, was the
little, very odd household of the two, Miss and Madame Danforth. They
kept no servant; they lived quite to themselves; the various work of
the household they shared between them and made it as good as play; and
no worse than play seemed all the rest of their quiet lives. But Miss
Dilly was ill now and unable to do her part; and what was worse, and
more, she had lost her wonted cheerful and gay way of looking at
things. That the little Frenchwoman never lost; but it takes two to
keep up a shuttlecock, and Faith was welcome in that house.
What work she did there for the next two or three weeks was best
known--not to herself--but to the two old ladies whose hearts she
cheered. And they knew not all; they did not know the leap of Faith's
heart at the thought of home, whenever, morning or noon or night, it
came into her head. She kept it out of her head as much as she could.
And she went about from the top to the bottom of the house, even after
the first day she came, the same sort of sunbeam she was at home. She
took in hand Miss Danforth's broom and duster, and did Cindy's part of
setting cups and saucers; but that was a small matter. The helpful hand
which made itself so busy and the voice which ran music all up and down
the house, were never forgotten, even by the Frenchwoman. To Miss
Danforth, feeble and ailing, Faith ministered differently, and did
truly the work of an angel. More than once before the second day was
done, Miss Dilly repeated, "Faith, child, how glad I am I sent for
you!"--And Madame Danforth took to her mightily; opened heart and arms
without reservation; and delighting to have her company, carried her
down into the kitchen and initiated Faith into deep mysteries of the
science and art the head quarters of which are there. Now did Faith
learn new secrets about coffee, about eggs, about salads and about
vegetables, that she never knew before; and for some unknown reason she
was keen to learn, and liked the half hours over the kitchen fire with
Madame Danforth so well, that the little Frenchwoman grew proud of her
pupil.
It was the third day of Faith's being at Pequot. Faith was engaged in
some gentle offices about the room, folding up clothes and putting
drawers in order. Miss Danforth's eye watched her, following every
movement, till Madame Danforth left the room to go out on business.
Faith was summoned then to her aunt's side. It was the darkening part
of the afternoon. Faith sat down at the foot of Miss Danforth's great
easy chair, looked into the fire, and wondered what they were doing at
Pattaquasset.
"And so, Faith, child, you're taken to new ways, I hear."
To Faith's quick ear, Miss Danforth's voice shewed a purpose. It was
less brisk than its old wont. Her answer was as simple as possible.
"Yes, aunt Dilly. It's true."
"You don't think you're any better than you used to be--do you?"
"No, ma'am. Yet my life is better, I hope."
"I don't believe it! How could it be?"
"In this at least, that I am the servant of God now. Before, I never
thought of serving him."
"I never did," said Miss Dilly. "But"--
There was a silence. Faith's heart leapt to hear this confession, but
she said nothing and sat still as a mouse.
"How's Mr. Linden getting on in Pattaquasset?"
"Well"
"You like him as well as ever?"
"Yes."
Alert questions. Rather faint answers.
"Do you remember what he said one night, about everybody being
precious? Do you remember it, Faith?"
"Yes, ma'am--very well."
"I suppose I have thought of it five hundred and fifty times," Miss
Dilly went on. "What were the words, Faith? do you know 'em?"
Faith did not move, only repeated, and if they had been literal
diamonds every word would not have seemed so precious to her,--
"'_They shall be mine, saith the Lord, in the day when I make up my
jewels_.'"
"That's it!" said Miss Dilly. "Now go on, can you, Faith, and tell me
what it means."
"It is spoken of the people that fear the Lord, aunt Dilly--it goes on--
"'_And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own on that serveth him.
Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked,
between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not_.'"
"Tell me more. Faith," said Miss Danforth presently in a subdued voice.
"I don't understand one thing about it from beginning to end."
In answer to which Faith turned, took a Bible, and as one did of old,
preached unto her Jesus. It was very simple preaching. Faith told her
aunt the story even very much as she had told it to Johnny Fax; and
with the same sweet grave face and winning tongue which had drawn the
children. As earnest as they, Miss Dilly listened and looked, and
brought her strong sense to bear upon the words. Not with the same ease
of understanding. She said little, excepting to bid Faith 'go on,'--in
a tone that told the quest she was upon--unsatisfied yet.
Faith went on, but preferred to let the Bible words speak instead of
her own. It brought Mrs. Custers to mind again, though this time
Faith's joy of heart made her words ring as from a sweet silver
trumpet. So they fell on the sick woman's ear; nor was there stay or
interruption till Faith heard the hall door close below. She shut the
book then; then her arm came round Miss Danforth's neck, and her kisses
spoke well enough the glad sympathy and encouragement Faith spoke in no
other way. One earnest return answered her.
From that time, to read the Bible to her aunt was Faith's work;
morning, noon, and night, literally; sometimes far into the night. For
Miss Danforth, embracing what she had never known before, as the light
gradually broke upon her; and feeling that her time for study might be
made short, was in eager haste and longing to acquaint herself with the
broad field of duties and privileges, all new, now laid open before
her. Faith could not read too much; Miss Dilly could not listen too
long.
"Faith, child," she said one night, late, when they were alone,--"can't
you pray for me?"
"I do, aunt Dilly."
"No, no! but I mean, can't you pray _with_ me?--now, here. Can't you,
Faith?"
Faith kissed her; hid her face in her hands and trembled; and then
knelt and prayed. And many a time after that.