hat had been
meant by that queer speech of Winthrop's. Then she reminded
herself that it was of no sort of consequence what had been
meant by it, and she trotted on again.

Asahel as usual came out to hold her bridle when she returned.

"Asahel, who takes care of my horse?" she said as she was
dismounting.

"Ain't it handsomely done?" said Asahel.

"Yes, -- beautifully. Who does it?"

"It's somebody that always does things so," said Asahel
oracularly, a little in doubt how he should answer.

"Well, who?"

"Don't you know?"

"Of course I don't! Who is it?"

"It's Winthrop."

"Winthrop!" --

"Yes. He does it."

Elizabeth's cheeks burnt.

"Where's that man of yours -- why don't he do it?"

"Sam? -- O he don't know -- I guess he ain't up to it."

Asahel led away the horse, and Elizabeth went into the house,
ready to cry with vexation. But it was not generally her
fashion to vent vexation so.

"What's the matter now?" said her cousin. "What adventure have
you met with this morning?"

"Nothing at all."

"Well, what's the matter?"

"Nothing -- only I want to lay my whip about somebody's
shoulders, -- if I could find the right person."

"Well 'taint me," said Rose shrinking. "Look here -- I've got a
delicious plan in my head -- I'm going to make them take us in
the boat round the bay, after huckleberries."

"Absurd!"

"What's absurd?"

"That."

"Why?"

"Who'll take you?"

"No matter -- somebody, I don't know who; -- Rufus. But you'll
go?"

"Indeed I won't."

"Why?"

"The best reason in the world. I don't want to."

"But I want you to go -- for my sake, Lizzie."

"I won't do it for anybody's sake. And Rose -- I think you take
a great deal too much of Rufus's time. I don't believe he does
his duty on the farm, and he can't, if you will call upon him
so much."

"He's not obliged to do what I ask him," said Rose pouting;
"and I'm not going to stay here if I can't amuse myself. But
come! -- you'll go in the bay after huckleberries?"

"I shall not stir. You must make up your mind to go without
me."

Which Rose declared was very disagreeable of her cousin, and
she even shed a few tears; but a rock could not have received
them with more stony indifference, and they were soon dried.

The huckleberry expedition was agreed upon at dinner, Mr.
Landholm being, as he always was when he could, very
agreeable. In the mean time Winthrop took the boat and went
out on the bay to catch some f