In a shady, sunshiny town, lying within certain bounds--geographical orimaginary,--these events (really or in imagination) occurred. Preciselywhen, the chroniclers do not say. Scene opens with the breezes whichJune, and the coming of a new school teacher, naturally create. Afterthe fashion of the place, his lodgings are arranged for him beforehand,by the School Committee. But where, or in what circumstances, the scenemay close,--having told at the end of the book, we do not incline totell at the beginning.
odestly;--"but the water is pretty, and I like to see the ships and vessels on it going up and down; and the points of the shore and the wet stones look such beautiful colours when the sun is near set."
"I like stones--whether wet or dry," said her questioner.
"Most people here don't like them," said Faith. "But there are plenty down by the sea-shore.--And plenty on the farm too," she added.
"Ah, people like and dislike things for very different reasons, Miss Faith," he answered; "so perhaps your neighbours and I are not so far apart in our opinions as you may think. Only I believe, that while there is 'a time to cast away stones,' there is also 'a time to gather stones together'--and therein perhaps they would not agree with me."
Faith looked up, and her lips parted--and if the thought had been spoken which parted them, it would probably have been a confession that she did not understand, or a request for more light. But if her face did not say it for her she did not say it for he
