“Oh, mother, is it possible?” cried Faith in surprise; “but why did he leave so soon?  You had surely not finished talking!”

Mrs. Marvin shook her head in a very perplexed manner.

“He seems sadly changed, Faith.  I don’t know what ails him.  I begged him to wait and see my daughter, but he refused almost angrily.”

“Oh, well, never mind!” replied Faith blushing.  “He will probably come back again.  I would not worry about it, mother.”

“But I can’t understand it,” said Mrs. Marvin, sighing.  “It seems unnatural that Charles should not wish to see my daughter.”

Faith tried to cheer her, but she was almost crying herself.  Another shock like this would have brought on hysterics.  It had been a dreadful trial to her to keep that strange conversation from her mother, but now she was profoundly thankful that she had been able to do so, and almost involuntarily she whispered a prayer that no word of hers might ever disturb her dear mother’s confidence in her only brother.

The thought of no more work did not once enter her mind.  It was with some difficulty that her mother finally got her to talk about their good fortune.

“It is not for myself that I am most thankful,” said Mrs. Marvin, “but I am so glad that you can be at home once more!  No more wearing out soul and body in the service of others.”

Faith looked at her thoughtfully before she answered.

“How soon can we have the money?” she asked.

“Right away,” said Mrs. Marvin; “it is invested in this city.  I have only to be identified at the bank by my brother.”

“I am very glad, mother,” was Faith’s smiling reply, “for now we can hire a better flat and have a woman to do the work and look after everything, but about my working, dear, please don’t think of that just now—­really I seem to feel a little bit sorry to think that there is no need of my working.”

“You mean that you are interested in those poor girls, I suppose.” said her mother.  “Well, there will be other ways to help them now—­you need not work among them.”

“But I am sure that it is the best way to be of use to them,” said Faith quickly.  “If they thought I had money they would not accept me seriously.  They would say, as they have said of other rich women, that my interest is a ‘fad’ and that I could ’afford to talk religion with my pocket full of money.’”

“You have learned their arguments quickly,” said Mrs. Marvin with a smile, “but listen, Faith!  There is some one in the hall!  It is possible that Charles has returned for something.”

Faith opened the door, nervously, but a look of relief soon crossed her face.  The second caller was none other than young Mr. Denton.

“Thank goodness, I’ve found you!” exclaimed the young man coolly.  “I’ve been wandering around these halls for the past half hour, either I’m awfully stupid or the bells are all wrong, for I’ve rung them all and nobody has answered!  You should supply your friends with compasses and charts, Miss Marvin, so they won’t get lost when they come to see you!”