Katy."

"Never mind two dinners," cried Felix. "Better burn the roast beef
than make _him_ feel worse. I never know him cross afore."

Felix was not obliged to go far. He had hardly got outside of the
gate, when he saw his young mistress coming down the street. Walking
rapidly, he soon met her, and communicated his errand. Faith quickened
her steps, and in a few moments stood by the side of her father.

She found him contemplating the sprigs of arbutus he had picked for
her. The sight and scent of the lovely flowers had carried him back to
the moment when he plucked them, and restored, in a measure, the
tone of mind that prevailed then. It was, therefore, with his usual
sweetness he addressed her, though there was something in his voice
that made the words drop like so many tears upon her heart.

"I have brought you some flowers, my darling," he said. "They are the
first nurslings of spring. Beautiful things! looking up all night and
day, with their starry eyes, to heaven, and drinking the dew of God's
grace. Happy things! they know no sin nor sorrow, and are remembered
only for their perfume and beauty. Take them, Faith. Sweets to
the sweet. Like these flowers, your soul exhales an atmosphere of
fragrance, and they belong to you."

The mutations of Mr. Armstrong's mind were like the changes of an
April day. The softer mood was now prevailing, and as Faith kissed the
flowers, before she put them in her bosom, she felt less unhappy than
in the morning.