and spoke with his
usual calm clearness of tone, entire and unchanged.

"Then they aren't as clear-sighted as I am, Asahel, for I
always know when you are looking at me."

"Ah, I don't believe you do!" said Asahel laughing up at him;
"I very often look at you when you don't look at me."

"Don't trust to that," said Winthrop.

There was in the little boy's laugh, and in the way he wagged
his brother's hand backwards and forwards, a happy and
confident assurance that Winthrop could do anything, that it
was good to do.

Everybody was at the supper-table; there was nothing for
Winthrop then to do but to take his place; but his _countenance_
to his mother, all supper-time, was worth a great deal. His
cool collected face at her side heartened her constantly,
though he scarcely spoke at all. Mr. Landholm played the part
of host with no drawback to his cheerfulness; talked a great
deal, and pressed all the good things of the table upon Miss
Cadwallader; who laughing, talking, and eating, managed to do
her full share of all three. She was certainly very pretty.
Her "light-coloured" hair was not so light as to be uncomely,
and fell in luxuriant ringlets all round the sides of her
pretty head; and the head moved about enough to shake the
ringlets, till they threatened to form a mazy net to catch
men's eyes. The prettiest mouth in the world, set with two
little rows of the most kissable teeth, if that feature ever
is contemplated in a kiss; and like the ringlets, the lips
seemed to be in a compact to do as much mischief as they
could; to keep together and mind their own business was the
last thing thought of. Yet it was wonderful how much business
they managed to transact on their own account, too. The other
girl sat grave and reserved, even almost with an air of
shyness, eat much less, and talked none at all; and indeed her
face was pale and thin, and justified what her father had said
about her wanting the country. Rufus seemed to have got back
his good-humour. He quite kept up the credit of his side of
the table.

Immediately after supper the two girls went to their room.

"Well, how do you like 'em?" said Mr. Landholm. "Did ye ever
see a prettier creature, now, than that Rose? Her face is like
a rose itself."

"It is more like a peach-blossom," said Rufus.

"The little one don't look well," said Mrs. Landholm.

"I wonder who'll go strawberrying with them," said Asahel.

CHAPTER IX.

_Mat_. "He is of a r