words.

"Breakfast, Karen. What's to be had?"

"Breakfast? La!" -- said the old woman, -- "if you had told me
you's coming -- What do you expect I'll have in the house for
my breakfast, Governor?"

"Something --," said Winthrop, taking the tongs and settling
the sticks of wood in the chimney to burn better. Karen stood
and looked at him.

"What have you got, Karen?" said Winthrop, setting up the
tongs.

"I ha'n't got nothing for company," said Karen, grinning.

"That'll do very well," said Winthrop. "Give me the coffee and
I'll make it; and you see to the bread, Karen. You have milk
and cream, haven't you?"

"Yes, Governor."

"And eggs?"

"La! yes."

"Where are they?"

"Mr. Landholm, don't trouble yourself, pray!" said Elizabeth.
"I am in no hurry for anything. Pray don't!"

"I don't intend it," said he. "Don't trouble _your_ self. Would
you rather go into another room?"

Elizabeth would not; and therefore and thereafter kept herself
quiet, watching the motions of Karen and her temporary master.
Karen seemed in a maze; but a few practical advices from
Winthrop at last brought her back to the usual possession of
her senses and faculties.

"Who is she?" Elizabeth heard her whisper as she began to
bustle about. And Winthrop's answer, not whispered,

"How long ago do you suppose this coffee was parched?"

"No longer ago than yesterday. La sakes! Governor, -- I'll do
some fresh for you if you want it."

"No time for that, Karen. You get on with those cakes."

Elizabeth watched Winthrop with odd admiration and curiosity,
mixed for the moment with not a little of gratified feeling;
but the sense of desolation sitting back of all. He seemed to
have come out in a new character, or rather to have taken up
an old one; for no one could suppose it worn for the first
time. Karen had been set to making cakes with all speed.
Winthrop seemed to have taken the rest of the breakfast upon
himself. He had found the whereabout of the eggs, and ground
some coffee, and made it and set it to boil in Karen's tin
coffeepot.

"What are you after now, Mr. Winthrop?" said Karen, looking
round from her pan and moulding board. "These'll be in the
spider before your coffee's boiled."

"They'll have to be quick, then," said Winthrop, going on with
his rummaging.

"What are you after, Governor? -- there's nothin' there but the
pots and kittles."

One of which, however, Winthrop brought out as if it was the
thing wante