CHAPTER XX.  FAITH MAKES A FRIEND

Next day in school was a hard one for Faith.  Mary Vance had told the tale of Adam, and all the scholars, except the Blythes, thought it quite a joke.  The girls told Faith, between giggles, that it was too bad, and the boys wrote sardonic notes of condolence to her.  Poor Faith went home from school feeling her very soul raw and smarting within her.

“I’m going over to Ingleside to have a talk with Mrs. Blythe,” she sobbed.  “She won’t laugh at me, as everybody else does.  I’ve just got to talk to somebody who understands how bad I feel.”

She ran down through Rainbow Valley.  Enchantment had been at work the night before.  A light snow had fallen and the powdered firs were dreaming of a spring to come and a joy to be.  The long hill beyond was richly purple with leafless beeches.  The rosy light of sunset lay over the world like a pink kiss.  Of all the airy, fairy places, full of weird, elfin grace, Rainbow Valley that winter evening was the most beautiful.  But all its dreamlike loveliness was lost on poor, sore-hearted little Faith.

By the brook she came suddenly upon Rosemary West, who was sitting on the old pine tree.  She was on her way home from Ingleside, where she had been giving the girls their music lesson.  She had been lingering in Rainbow Valley quite a little time, looking across its white beauty and roaming some by-ways of dream.  Judging from the expression of her face, her thoughts were pleasant ones.  Perhaps the faint, occasional tinkle from the bells on the Tree Lovers brought the little lurking smile to her lips.  Or perhaps it was occasioned by the consciousness that John Meredith seldom failed to spend Monday evening in the gray house on the white wind-swept hill.

Into Rosemary’s dreams burst Faith Meredith full of rebellious bitterness.  Faith stopped abruptly when she saw Miss West.  She did not know her very well—­just well enough to speak to when they met.  And she did not want to see any one just then—­except Mrs. Blythe.  She knew her eyes and nose were red and swollen and she hated to have a stranger know she had been crying.

“Good evening, Miss West,” she said uncomfortably.

“What is the matter, Faith?” asked Rosemary gently.

“Nothing,” said Faith rather shortly.

“Oh!” Rosemary smiled.  “You mean nothing that you can tell to outsiders, don’t you?”

Faith looked at Miss West with sudden interest.  Here was a person who understood things.  And how pretty she was!  How golden her hair was under her plumy hat!  How pink her cheeks were over her velvet coat!  How blue and companionable her eyes were!  Faith felt that Miss West could be a lovely friend—­if only she were a friend instead of a stranger!

“I—­I’m going up to tell Mrs. Blythe,” said Faith.  “She always understands—­she never laughs at us.  I always talk things over with her.  It helps.”