ll take a short cut home," said Winthrop, looking round
for a place to execute his purpose.

"How can you?"

"Through the woods. Wouldn't you like it? You've had no
exercise to-day."

"O I'd like it. But what will you do with the boat? leave her
here? -- O in the Aegean sea, Winthrop!"

"That is what I am steering for," said her brother. "But I
want to see the after-glow come out first."

The 'Aegean Sea' was a little bay-like cove on the north side
of Shahweetah; to which a number of little rock-heads rising
out of the water, or some freak of play, had long ago given
its classic name. Winthrop pushed his boat to the shore there,
and made her fast; and then he and Winnie waited for the
after-glow. But it was long coming and the twilight grew on;
and at last they left the bay and plunged into the woods. A
few steps brought them to a path, which rough and untravelled
as it was, their knowledge of the land enabled them easily to
follow. Easily for all but their feet. Winnie's would have
faltered utterly, so rough, stony, and broken it was, without
her brother's strong arm; but helped and led and lifted by
him, she went on joyously through the gathering gloom and
under the leafy canopy that shut out all the sky and all
knowledge of the after-glow, if it came. But when they had got
free of the woods, and had come out upon the little open cedar
field that was on the river side of Shahweetah, near home, --
there it was! Over Wut-a-qut-o's head lay a solid little long
mass of cloud with its under edges close-lined with fine deep
beautiful red. The opal light was all gone; the face of the
heavens was all clear blue, in the gravity of twilight. Venus
and the moon were there yet, almost down -- bright as ever; the
moon more brilliant and bright; for now the contrast of her
sharp crescent was with Wut-a-qut-o's dark shadowy side.

That was the beginning of that August boating. And often again
as in old times the little skiff flew over the water, in the
shadow of the mountain and the sunlight of the bay, coasting
the shores, making acquaintance with the evergreens and oaks
that skirted them and looked over into the water's edge. Where
once Elizabeth had gone, Winthrop and Winnie with swifter and
surer progress went; many an hour, in the early and the late
sunbeams. For those weeks that they stayed, they lived in the
beauties of the land, rather than according to old Karen's
wish, on the fatness of it.

But she did her b