ich nothing moved but the knife and
Mrs. Landholm's fingers.

"Well -- what do you say?" said her husband.

"If you think it will do -- I am willing to try," she answered.

"I know it will do; and I'll go and write directly to Haye -- I
suppose he'd like to know; and to-morrow my hands will have
something to hold besides pens."

There was profound silence again for a little after he went
out.

"How old are these children?" Mrs. Landholm said.

Neither answered promptly.

"I saw one of them when I was at Asphodel," said Winthrop;
"and she was a pretty wellgrown girl; she must have been
thirteen or fourteen."

"And that was a year and a half ago! Is her sister younger or
older?"

"It isn't her sister," said Rufus; "it's her cousin, I
believe; Mr. Haye is her guardian. She's older."

"How much?"

"A year or two -- I don't know exactly."

Mrs. Landholm rose and took up her pan of potatoes with an air
that seemed to say Miss Haye and her cousin were both in it,
and carried it out into the kitchen.

Some little time had passed, and Winthrop went there to look
for her. She had put her pan down on the hearth, and herself
by it, and there she was sitting with her arms round her
knees.

Winthrop softly came and placed himself beside her.

"Mother --"

She laid her hand upon his knee, without speaking to him or
looking at him.

"Mother -- I'll be your provider."

"I would a great deal rather be yours, Governor," she said,
turning to him a somewhat wistful face.

"There isn't anything in the world I would rather," said he,
kissing her cheek.

She gave him a look that was reward enough.

"I wonder how soon they will come," she said.

"That is what I was just asking; and pa said he supposed as
soon as the weather was settled."

"That won't be yet awhile. You must see and have a good
garden, Governor. Perhaps it will be all for the best."

CHAPTER VIII.

Hills questioning the heavens for light --
Ravines too deep to scan!
As if the wild earth mimicked there
The wilder heart of man;
Only it shall be greener far
And gladder, than hearts ever are.
E. B. BROWNING.

It was the first of June; a fair lovely summer morning, June-
like.

"I suppose Mr. Haye will come with them," said Mr. Landholm,
as he pushed back his chair from the breakfast-table; -- "have
you anywhere you can put him?"

"There's the little bedroom, he can have," said Mrs. Landholm.
"Asahel can go in the boys' room."

"