Ere not of the same size nor color," laughed the girl, "and she had a
way of dropping her head a little, and
looking up sidewise like a bird." "True, true!" breathed the lady, "and
as you say one eye was brown and one blue." Faith nodded acquiescence,
but smiled to herself,
knowing
she had said nothing of the kind. "But you cannot
remember her name?" "No, neither of us. We only saw her for a few
minutes, once or twice, you see." A little cloud fell over the lady's
face, and after a perplexed gaze, in which her eyes, fixed upon Faith,
seemed to look through and beyond
her, she rose abruptly, said in her usual reserved manner, "Thank you
for your
information," and walked away. Faith, looking after her wonderingly,
saw young Allyne standing near, his eyes turned wistfully upon herself.
She flushed a little, and so did he;
then, with an impulsive movement, he made a step forward. "Miss
Hosmer," he began quickly, "I've wanted to say a word
to your sister for some time, but no opportunity has
offered. Perhaps it will be just as well to say it to you?" Faith
bowed, not comprehending, and he went on
rapidly, as if to hurry over a disagreeable duty, "I feel that I was
inexcusable,
the other evening, in my reference to your sister,
and I can't understand myself at all. I suppose she doesn't care
what I think of her--good, bad, or indifferent--but I want you, at
least, to know that I do think her one of the sweetest, most modest,
girls I ever saw--t