e, I expect. --
That's what he wants to do."

"And you want it too, I suppose?"

"Yes -- I'll do the best I can by my children. I can't do as I
would by them all," said the father, with a mixture of pride
expressed and pride not expressed, -- "but I'll try to make a
man of Will!"

"And t'other'll make a man of himself," said Mr. Underhill, as
he saw Winthrop quit the stoop. "_He'll_ never run a plough up
the side of a house. But what kind of a man are you going to
make of Will? -- a great man?"

"Ah, I don't know!" said Mr. Landholm with a sigh. "That must
be as Providence directs."

"Hum -- I should say that Providence directs you to keep 'em
both to hum," said Mr. Underhill; -- "but that's not my affair.
Well, I'm going. -- I hear you are goin' to be in Vantassel
this winter?"

"Yes -- I'm going to make laws for you," Mr. Landholm answered
laughing.

"Well --" said Mr. Underhill taking his hat, -- "I wish they'd
put you up for President -- I'd vote for you!"

"Thank you. Why?"

"'Cause I should expect you'd give me somethin' nother and
make a great man of _me!_"

With a laugh at his own wit, Mr. Underhill departed.

CHAPTER III.

But who shall so forecast the years,
And find in loss a gain to match?
Or reach a hand through time to catch
The far-off interest of tears?
TENNYSON.

The day came.

The farewell dinner was got ready -- the best of the season it
must be, for the honour of all parties and the love of one;
but it mocked them. Mrs. Landholm's noble roast pig, and sweet
chickens, and tea and fine bread; they were something to be
remembered, not enjoyed, and to be remembered for ever, as
part of one strong drop of life's bittersweet mixture. The
travellers, for Mr. Landholm was to accompany his son, had
already dressed themselves in their best; and the other eyes,
when they could, gazed with almost wondering pride on the very
fine and graceful figure of the young seeker of fortune. But
eyes could do little, and lips worse than little. The pang of
quitting the table, and the hurried and silent good-byes, were
over at last; and the wagon was gone.

It seemed that the whole household was gone. The little ones
had run to some corner to cry; Winthrop was nowhere; and the
mother of the family stood alone and still by the table in the
kitchen where they had left her.

An old black woman, the sole house servant of the family,
presently came in, and while taking up two or three of the
pl