ise, and thereby conclude I was a smaller affair than
they had thought me."

"Mr. Landholm! -- how you do talk! --but can I do anything?"

"Why yes, ma'am, -- or your irons can, if you have any hot."

"O that's it!" exclaimed Mrs. Nettley as Rufus held out the
crumpled frills, -- "It's to smooth them, -- yes sir, my fire is
all out a'most, but I can iron them in the oven. I'll do it
directly, Mr. Landholm."

"Well," said Rufus with a quizzical face, -- "any way -- if
you'll ensure them against damages, Mrs. Nettley -- I don't
understand all the possibilities of an oven."

"We are very glad to have your brother in your room, Mr.
Landholm," the good lady went on, as she placed one of her
irons in the oven's mouth, where a brilliant fire was at work.

"I should think you would, ma'am; he can fill it much better
than I."

"Why Mr. Landholm! -- I should think -- I shouldn't think, to
look at you, that your brother would weigh much more than you
-- he's broader shouldered, something, but you're the tallest,
I'm sure. But you didn't mean that."

"I won't dispute the palm of beauty with him, Mrs. Nettley,
nor of ponderosity. I am willing he should exceed me in both."

"Why Mr. Landholm! -- dear, I wish this iron would get hot; but
there's no hurrying it; -- I think it's the wood -- I told
George I think this wood does _not_ give out the heat it ought
to do. It makes it very extravagant wood. One has to burn so
much more, and _then_ it doesn't do the work -- Why Mr. Landholm
-- you must have patience, sir -- Your brother is excellent,
every way, and he's very good looking, but you are the
handsomest."

"Everybody don't think so," Rufus said, but with a play of lip
and brow that was not on the whole unsatisfied. Mrs. Nettley's
attention however was now fastened upon the frills. And then
came in Mr. Inchbald; and they talked, a sort of whirlwind of
talk, as his sister not unaptly described it; and then, the
ruffles being in order Rufus put himself so, and Winthrop and
he talked themselves all the way down to No. 11, on the
Parade.

Their welcome was most hearty, though the company were already
at table. Place was speedily made for them; and Rufus hardly
waited to take his before he became the life and spirit of the
party. He continued to be that through the whole
entertainment, delighting everybody's eye and ear. Winthrop
laughed at his brother and with him, but himself played a very
quiet part; putting in now an