est; and when at last Winthrop must return to
his business, and they bid her good bye and left her and Wut-
a-qut-o once more, the old woman declared even while she was
wiping the eyes that would not be dry, that their coming had
"done both of 'em real good -- a power of it -- and her too."

"He hasn't his beat in _this_ country," she said to old Anderese
her brother, as she was trying to take up again her wonted
walk through the house. -- "And she, dear thing! ain't long for
this world; but she's ready for a better."

CHAPTER V.

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make man better be,
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall at last a log, dry, bald, and sear.
A lily of a day
Is fairer far, in May.
BEN JONSON.

"What has become of the Landholms?" said Mr. Haye's young
wife, one evening in the end of December.

"Confound the Landholms!" -- was Mr. Haye's answering
ejaculation, as he kicked his bootjack out of the way of his
just-slippered foot.

"Why Mr. Haye!" said Rose, bridling over her netting-work.
"What have the Landholms done?"

"Done!"

"Well, what have they?"

"One of them won't pay me his dues, and the other is fighting
me for trying to get them," said Mr. Haye, looking at the
evening paper with infinite disgust.

"What dues?"

"And what fighting, Mr. Haye?" said Elizabeth and Rose in a
breath.

"I can't answer you if you both speak at once."

"Well, what do you mean by fighting, Mr. Haye?"

"Fighting."

"Well, but what sort?" said Rose laughing, while the other
lady laid down her book and waited.

"With his own cursed weapons."

"And what are those, Mr. Haye? you haven't told us which of
the Landholms you mean, yet."

"One of 'em hasn't any weapons but his fists and his tongue,"
said Mr. Haye. "He hasn't tried the first on me -- I have some
small knowledge of the last."

"What has the other done?" said Elizabeth.

"He is doing what he can, to hinder my getting my rights of
his brother."

"What does his brother owe you?"

"Money, --" said Mr. Haye shortly.

"I suppose so. But what for?"

"Business! What does it signify what for?"

"I should like to know, father. It must be something which can
be told."

"He bought cotton of me."

"Can he pay for it?"

"I suppose so. I'll try."

"But what is his brother doing?"

"Trying to hinder, as I told you."

"But how? How can he?"

"Don't ask me what lawyers can or can't do. They can put their