Say and Seal, Volume 1 — Chapter XVI

Saturday was but a half holiday to Mrs. Derrick's little family--unless indeed they called their work play, which some of them did.

It was spent thus.

By Mrs. Derrick, in the kitchen, in the bed-rooms, all over the house generally--with intervals at the oven door.

By Mr. Linden in the sitting-room, where Faith came from time to time as she got a chance, to begin some things with him and learn how to begin others by herself.

The morning glided by very fast on such smooth wheels of action, and dinner came with the first Natural Philosophy lesson yet unfinished.

It was finished afterwards however, and then Mr. Linden prepared himself to go forth on some expedition, of which he only said that it was a long one.

"I am going to petition to have tea half an hour later than usual to-night, Miss Faith," he said.

"_Just_ half an hour later, Mr. Linden?"

she said smiling.

"You shall have it when you like."

"I hope to be home by that time--if not don't wait for me.

You will find all the materials for your French exercise on my table."

Which intimation quickened Faith's steps about the little she had beforehand to do, and also quickened a trifle the beating of her heart.

It was not quiet--timidity and pleasure were throbbing together, and throbbing fast, when she turned her back upon the rest of the house and went to Mr. Linden's room.

She would have a good uninterrupted time this afternoon, at any rate.

And the materials were there, as he had said,--all the materials; from books, open and shut, to the delicate white paper, and a pen which might be the very one Johnny Fax thought could write of itself.

Faith stood and looked at them, and then sat down to work, if ever such a determination was taken by human mind.

She had been a good while absorbed in her business when a knock came to the front door, which Faith did not hear.

Cindy however had ears to spare, and presently informed Mrs. Derrick that a gentleman wished to see her.

And in the sitting-room Mrs. Derrick found Dr. Harrison.

"You haven't _forgotten to remember_ me, I hope, Mrs. Derrick," he said as he took her hand.

He looked very handsome, and very pleasant, as he stood there before her, and his winning ease of manner was enough to propitiate people of harder temper than the one he was just now dealing with.

"No indeed!"

said Mrs. Derrick; "I remember a great many things about you,"--(as in truth she did.

) "But I daresay you've changed a good deal since then.

You've been gone a great while, Dr. Harrison."

"Do you _hope_ I have changed?

--or are you afraid I have?"

"Why I don't think I said I did either," said Mrs. Derrick smiling, for she felt as if Dr. Harrison was an old acquaintance.

"And I suppose it makes more difference to you than to me, anyway."

Which words were not blunt in their intention, but according to the good lady's habit were a somewhat unconscious rendering of her thoughts.

"How's Miss Sophy, after her holiday?

I always think play's the hardest work that's done."

"I am very sorry you found it so!"

said the doctor.

"You needn't be--" said Mrs. Derrick, rocking complacently and making her knitting needles play in a style that certainly might be called work,--"I've got over it now.

To be sure I was tired to death, but I like to be, once in a while."

The doctor laughed, as if, in a way, he had found his match.

"And how is Miss Derrick?"

he asked.

"If she was tired too, it was my fault."

"I guess that 'll never be one of your faults, Dr. Harrison," said Mrs. Derrick,--"it would take any amount of folks to tire _her_ out.

She's just like a bird always.

O she's well, of course, or I shouldn't be sitting here."

"And so like a bird that she lives in a region above mortal view, and only descends now and then?"

"Yes, she does stay upstairs a good deal," said Mrs. Derrick, knitting away.

"Whenever she's got nothing to do down here.

She's been down all the morning."

"I can't shoot flying at this kind of game," said the doctor;--"I'll endeavour to come when the bird is perched, next time.

But in the meanwhile, Miss Derrick seemed pleased the other night with these Chinese illuminations--and Sophy took it into her head to make me the bearer of one, that has never yet illuminated anything, hoping that it will do that office for her heart with Miss Derrick.

The heart will bear inspection, I believe, with or without the help of the lantern."

And the doctor laid a little parcel on the table.

Mrs. Derrick looked at the parcel, and at the doctor, and knit a round or two.

"I'm sure she'll be very much obliged to Miss Harrison," she said.

"But I know I sha'n't remember all the message.

I suppose _that_ won't matter."

"Not the least," said the doctor.

"The lantern is expected to throw light upon some things.

May I venture to give Mrs. Derrick another word to remember, which must depend upon her kindness alone for its presentation and delivery?"

Mrs. Derrick stopped knitting and looked all attention.

"It isn't much to remember," said the doctor laughing gently.

"Sophy wishes very much to have Miss Derrick go with her to-morrow afternoon.

She is going to drive to Deep River, and wished me to do my best to procure Miss Derrick's goodwill, and yours, for this pleasure of her company.

Shall I hope that her wish is granted?"

Now Mrs. Derrick, though not quick like some other people, had yet her own womanly instincts; and that more than one of them was at work now, was plain enough.

But either they confused or thwarted each other, for laying down her work she said, "I know she won't go--but I'll let her come and give her own answer;"

and left the room.

For another of her woman's wits made her never send Cindy to call Faith from her studies.

Therefore she went up, and softly opening the door of the study room, walked in and shut it after her.

"Pretty child," she said, stroking Faith's hair, "are you very busy?"

"Very, mother!"

--said Faith looking up with a burning cheek and happy face, and pen pausing in her hand.

"What then?"

-- "Wasn't it the queerest thing what I said that day at Neanticut!"

said Mrs. Derrick, quite forgetting Dr. Harrison in the picture before her.

"What, dear mother?"

"Why when I asked why you didn't get Mr. Linden to help you.

How you do write, child!"

--which remark was meant admiringly.

"Mother!"

--said Faith.

"But it can be done"--she added with quiet resolution.

"I'm sure it never could by me, in that style," said Mrs. Derrick,--"my fingers always think they are ironing or making piecrust.

But child, here's Dr. Harrison--come for nobody knows what, except that Sophy took it into her head to send her heart by him--as near as I can make out.

And he wants you to go to Deep River to-morrow.

I said you wouldn't--and then I thought maybe you'd better speak yourself.

But if you don't like to, you sha'n't. I can deal with him."

"I don't want to see Dr. Harrison, mother!

--To-morrow?"

said Faith.

"Yes--I will see him."

She rose up, laid her pen delicately out of her fingers, went down stairs and into the sitting-room, where she confronted the doctor.

Faith was dressed as she had been at the party, with the single exception of the blue ribband instead of the red oak leaves; and the excitement of what she had been about was stirring both cheek and eye.

Perhaps some other stir was there too, for the flush was a little deeper than it had been upstairs, but she met the doctor very quietly.

He thought to himself the lanterns had lent nothing with their illumination the other night.

"No, sir," she said as he offered her a chair,--"I have something to do;--but mother said--" "Will the bird perch for no longer than this?"

said the doctor, turning with humourous appeal to Mrs. Derrick who had followed her.

"My birds do pretty much as they like, Dr. Harrison," said Mrs. Derrick "They always did, even when I had 'em in cages."

"Then this bird is free now?"

"I guess you'd better talk to her--" said Mrs. Derrick, taking her seat and her knitting again.

"Miss Derrick!"

said the doctor obeying this direction with an obeisance,--"you are free to command, and I can but obey.

Will you go with Sophy to-morrow to Deep River?

I am not altogether uninterested, as I hope to have the honour of driving you; but she sends her most, earnest wish."

"To-morrow is Sunday, Dr. Harrison."

"Well--isn't Sunday a good day?"

"It isn't mine," said Faith gently.

"Not yours?"

said the doctor.

"You have promised it away, and we are so unfortunate?"

Her colour rose a little, but it was with an eye as steady as it was soft that she answered him.

"The day belongs to God, Dr. Harrison--and I have promised it, and myself, away to him."

The doctor looked astonished for a minute.

And he gazed at her.

"But, my dear Miss Derrick, do you think there is anything contrary to the offices of religion in taking a pleasant drive, in a pleasant country, in pleasant weather?

that is all."

Faith smiled a little, gravely; it was very sweet and very grave.

"There are all the other days for that," she said.

"God has given us his work to be done on his day, Dr. Harrison; and there is so much of it to do that I never find the day long enough."

"You are right!"

he said--"You are quite right.

You are a great deal better than I am.

I am sorry I asked you,--and yet I am glad.

--Then Miss Derrick, will you forgive me?

and will you some other day shew that you forgive me and be so good as to go with us?"

But Faith's interest in the subject was gone.

"I am very busy, sir," she said.

"I have work to do that I do not wish to put off."

"Cannot you go with us _at all?

_ We will wait and make it any day?"

"Do not wait," said Faith.

"I _could_ go, but I could not go with pleasure, Dr. Harrison.

I have not the time to spare, for that, nor for more now.

Please excuse me."

And she went.

"Mrs. Derrick," said the doctor musingly, "this is a winged creature, I believe--but it is not a bird!"

At which Mrs. Derrick looked at him with a mingled satisfaction that he had got his answer, and curiosity to know what he thought of it.

For the further she felt herself from her child's high stand, the more presuming did she think it in any one to try to bring _her_ down from it.

"If I thought, as I came here, that I walked on a higher level than the generality of mankind, as perhaps in the vanity of my heart I did,--I feel well put down on the ground now," pursued the doctor.

"But Mrs Derrick, when may I hope to see this winged thing of yours again?"

It must be confessed that Mrs. Derrick did not admire this speech,--'a winged thing,' as she justly thought, was a somewhat indefinite term, and might mean a flying grasshopper as well as a canary bird.

Therefore it was with some quickness that she replied, "What sort of a winged thing are you talking of, doctor?"

"Nothing worse than a heavenly one, madam.

But angel or cherub are such worn-out terms that I avoided them."

He was standing yet where Faith left him, looking down gravely, speaking half lightly, to her mother.

"I don't know who'll see her when she's an angel," said Mrs. Derrick, with a little flush coming over her eyes.

"But she wouldn't thank you for calling her one now," she added presently, with her usual placid manner.

"Won't you sit down again, doctor?"

"May I ask," said he eying her, somewhat intent upon the answer,--"why she wouldn't thank me for calling her one now?

--by which I understand that it would incur her displeasure."

"Why--why should she?"

said Mrs. Derrick, who having dropped a stitch was picking it up with intentness equal to the doctor's. "True!"

said the doctor in his usual manner.

"Angels don't thank mortals for looking at them.

But Mrs. Derrick, when may such a poor mortal as I, stand a chance of seeing this particular one again?"

Mrs. Derrick laid down her work.

"Well you _have_ changed!"

she said, "there's no doubt of that!

I don't recollect that you used to care so much about seeing her when you were here before.

If I don't forget, you set your dog on her cat.

And as to when you'll see her again, I'm sure I can't tell, doctor.

She's a busy child, and folks out of the house have to do without seeing her till she finds time to see them."

Whereat Mrs Derrick smiled upon Dr. Harrison with the happy consciousness that she was one of the folks in the house.

The doctor stood smiling at her, with a half humourous, quite pleasant expression of face.

"Set my dog on her cat!"

he exclaimed.

"_That_ is why she would be angry with me for calling her a cherub!

-- 'Tantae ne animis celestibus irae!'

" The doctor sat down.

"What shall I do!"

he said.

"Advise me, Mrs. Derrick."

"I know what I should have done if I'd got hold of you," said Mrs. Derrick.

"I thought I never would speak to you again--but you see I've got over it."

"I'm not sure of it," said the doctor meditatively.

"'Folks out of the house'--well!

It strikes me I've been 'in' to little purpose this afternoon."

--He rose again.

"Where is Mr. Linden?

is he 'out', or 'in', this fine day?"

"He's out this afternoon," said Mrs. Derrick.

"I was thinking to ask you if you wanted to see him, and then I knew it was no use."

"Yes, I should like to see him," said the doctor; "but as he is a mortal like myself, I suppose I can find him another time by the use of proper precautions."

And Dr. Harrison took his departure.

Mrs. Derrick on her part went upstairs again, and opening the door merely peeped in this time.

"What is it, mother?"

"Are you busy yet, child?"

"Not quite through."

"I thought," said Mrs. Derrick stepping softly into the room, "that we'd go down to the shore this afternoon, and maybe dig some clams.

I

don't know but it's too late for that--we might ride down and see.

You're tired, pretty child--and other people won't like that a bit more than I do."

"I'd like to go, mother--I'm almost done, and I'm not tired," Faith said with happy eyes.

"There is time, I guess, for Mr. Linden don't want tea as early as usual.

I'll come soon."

Mrs. Derrick withdrew softly, and again Faith was entirely lost in her business.

But she had nearly done now; the work was presently finished, the books put up in order, and the papers, with the exercise on top;

and Faith stood a moment looking down at it.

Not satisfied, but too humble to have any false shame, too resolute to doubt of being satisfied and of satisfying somebody else, by and by.

And the intellectual part of her exercise she thought, and with modest reason, would satisfy him now.

Then she went down to her mother, quite ready for the beach or for anything else.

It was one of those very warm October days which unlearned people call Indian summer,--the foreground landscape yellow with stubble fields and sered forest, the distance blue with haze.

So soft and still, that the faint murmur of the wheels as they rolled along the sandy road sounded as if at a distance, and the twittering birds alone set off the silence.

Now and then came a farm wagon loaded with glowing corn, then the field where the bereaved pumpkins lay among the bundles of cornstalks.

Sportsmen passed with their guns, schoolboys with their nut-bags, and many were the greetings Faith received; for since the day at Neanticut every boy thought he had a right to take off his hat to her.

From the midst of his cornfield, Mr. Simlins gave them a wave of his hand,--from the midst of its blue waters the Sound sent a fresh welcome.

"I declare, child," said Mrs. Derrick, as they neared the shore, "it's real pleasant!"

"The tide's out, mother," said Faith, who had the spirit of action upon her to-day--"we can get some clams now, if we're quick."

"I don't know but you're learning to be spry, among other things," said her mother looking at her.

"I thought you were as spry as you could be, before.

What haven't you done to-day, child!"

Faith laughed a little, and then jumping out of the wagon and helping her mother down, was certainly 'spry' in getting ready for the clam-digging.

Her white dress had been changed for a common one and that was carefully pinned up, and a great kitchen apron was put on to cover all but the edges of skirts as white as the white dress, and with shoes and stockings off, basket and hoe in hand, she stood ready almost before her mother had accomplished fastening up old Crab to her satisfaction.

Mrs. Derrick on her part prepared herself as carefully for work (though not quite so evidently for play) and the two went down to the flats.

The tide was far out,--even the usual strips of water were narrow and far apart.

Wherever they could, the little shell-fish scrambled about and fought their miniature battles in one-inch water;

but at the edge of the tall shore-grass there was no water at all, unless in the mud, and the shell-fish waited, by hundreds, for the tide.

Here was the scene of action for the two ladies.

Walking daintily over the warm mud with their bare feet, which however white and twinkling at first were soon obliged to yield to circumstances;

disturbing the little shell-fish--who in turn disturbed them, by very titillating little attacks upon the aforesaid feet,--Mrs. Derrick and Faith marched up to the edge of the grass and there sought for clam holes.

The war went on after this fashion.

A clam hole being found, the hoe was struck far down into the mud to _unearth_ the inhabitant; which the clam resenting, spit up into the intruder's face.

But the intruder--proof against such small fire--repeated the strokes, and the clam was soon brought to light and tumbled ignominiously into the basket,--to be followed every second or two by another of his companions; for the clam holes were many.

The basket was soon full, but not before the cool ripple of the tide had passed the muscle rocks and was fast coming in-shore.

"Well I do think play's hard work!"

said Mrs. Derrick, bringing herself once more to an erect position--"I told Dr. Harrison so this morning.

How you and Mr. Linden stand it, Faith, I don't know."

"What, mother?"

said Faith, making a descent upon another promising clam shell.

But Mrs. Derrick always preferred to go on with her remarks.

"It's good he's doing it, for his own sake, I guess," she said,--"he's done nothing but work ever since he came to Pattaquasset."

"Doing what, mother?"

said Faith.

"What _are_ you talking of?"

"Why I'm talking of you, child!"

said her mother,--"you and Mr. Linden.

One of you played all the morning and the other's going to play all the afternoon.

But I think you've done enough, Faith--it won't do to get sick so long as we've nobody but Dr. Harrison to depend on.

I don't believe _he_'s much of a doctor."

"Played all the morning?"

said Faith taking up her basket,--"it was better than play to me.

I wish I could do something for _him_, mother!"

Very gravely, and even a little sorrowfully, the last words were said.

"Why yes," said Mrs. Derrick stoutly.

"Never tell me it's anything but play to teach you, child--he didn't look as if it was, neither.

I

thought he got his pay as he went along."

Faith knew he had looked so; but that was not Faith--it was Mr. Linden, in her account.

"Dr. Harrison ought to be a good doctor, mother," she remarked, leaving the subject.

"He has had chance enough."

"La, child," said Mrs. Derrick, untying her apron, "chance don't prove anything.

A man may have just as good a chance to kill as he has to cure.

By which I don't mean that _he_ has, for I don't know."

"The tide is coming in, mother.

We came just in the very point of the time.

How pretty it is!

--" said Faith; standing in the blue mud, with her bare feet, and with the basket of clams in her hand, but standing still to look off at the flats and the dark water and the hazy opposite shore, all with the sunny stillness and the soft enveloping haze of October lying lovingly upon them.

Faith thought of the 'glory' again, and watched to see how water and shore and flats and sky were all touched with it.

One or two sails on the Sound could not get on; they lay still in the haze like everything else; and the 'glory' was on them too.

She thought so.

It seemed to touch everything.

And another glory touched everything,--the glory of truth Faith had only for a little while come to know.

She recognized it; there was 'light from heaven' in more senses than one; the glow of joy and hope unknown a while before;

the softening veil of mind-peace over whatever might be harsh or sharp in actual reality.

She did not run out all the parallel, but she felt it, and stood looking with full eyes.

Not full of tears, but of everything pleasant beside.

Then came the drive home, with the air darkening every minute, but notwithstanding this, Mrs. Derrick stopped by the way.

"Faith," she said, "hold the reins, child--I won't be a second, but I've got something to see to in here;" and Faith was once more left to her meditations.

Not for long; for as she sat gazing out over old Crab's ears, she was 'ware' of some one standing by the wagon: it was Squire Deacon.

"I shall commence to think I'm a lucky man, after all!"

said the Squire.

"I was coming down to see you, Miss Faith,--and couldn't just resolve my mind to it, neither.

I wanted to pay a parting visit."

"Were you?

--are you going away, Squire Deacon?"

"Why yes," said the Squire, looking down at his gun--for he had been shooting,--"I've had considerable thoughts of taking a turn down to York.

Cilly says she don't think it's worth my while--but I guess she don't know much more 'n her own concerns.

Pattaquasset's a good deal come round this season," he added, without specifying which way.

"Do you mean that you intend to forsake Pattaquasset entirely?"

said Faith, noticing the comfortable supply of ducks in the Squire's bag.

"Well I can't just say--I'm not free to certify," said the Squire.

"I said I thought it was worth my while to go, and so I do.

I should like to know from your lips, Miss Faith, whether you'll make it worth my while to come back."

Faith was very glad it was so dark.

"I don't see how I can touch the question either way, sir," she said gently and with not a little difficulty.

--"Wherever you are, I hope you'll be very happy, and very good, Squire Deacon."

"I should like something a little better grown than that, ma'am," said the Squire, striking his gun on the ground.

"I can't just tell whether _that_'s wheat or oats.

It's likely _my_ meaning's plain enough."

Faith was dumb for a minute.

"I believe I understood you, sir," she said in a low voice.

"I meant to answer you."

"Well what's to hinder your doing it, then?"

said Squire Deacon.

"I thought I had done it," said Faith.

"I have nothing to do with the question of your coming or going anywhere, sir,--and can't have,--except to wish you well, which I do heartily."

"That's your ultimate, is it, Miss Faith?"

"No, sir," said Faith, conquering the beating of her heart.

"Squire Deacon, I want to see you _in heaven_."

And she stretched out to him her little hand frankly over the side of the wagon.