d then a word that told, but
doing it rarely and carelessly; the flow and freshness of the
conversation calling for no particular help from him.

Mr. Herder was there; also Mr. Satterthwaite, who sat next to
Winthrop and addressed several confidential and very
unimportant remarks to him, and seemed to look upon his
brother as a sort of meteoric phenomenon. President Darcy, of
Mr. Herder's College, was the only other guest. Elizabeth sat
next to Winthrop, but after the first formal greeting
vouchsafed not a single look his way; she was in a dignified
mood for all the company generally, and Rose's were the only
feminine words that mixed with the talk during dinner. Very
feminine they were, if that word implies a want of strength;
but coming from such rosy lips, set round about with such
smiles of winningness, they won their way and made easy
entrance into all the ears at table. With the trifling
exception of a pair or two.

"What is the matter with you?" said Rose, when she and her
cousin had left the gentlemen and were alone in the drawing-
room.

"Nothing at all."

"You don't say a word."

"I will, when I have a word to say."

"I thought you always had words enough," said Rose.

"Not when I haven't time too."

"Time? what, for words?"

"Yes."

"What was the matter with the time?"

"It was filled up."

"Well, you might have helped fill it."

"Nothing can be more than full, very well," said Elizabeth
contemptuously. "I never want _my_ words to be lost on the
outside of a conversation."

"You think a great deal of your words," said her cousin.

"I want other people should."

"You do! Well -- I never expect them to think much of mine."

"That's not true, Rose."

"It isn't?"

"No; and your smile when you said it spoke that it wasn't."

"Well, I don't care, they _are_ thought enough of," said Rose,
half crying.

Elizabeth walked to the window and stood within the curtain,
looking out into the street; and Rose bestowed her pouting
lips and brimful eyes upon the full view of the fire.

"What's made you so cross?" she said after a quarter of an
hour, when the tears were dried.

"I am not cross."

"Did you ever see anybody so amusing as Rufus Landholm?"

"Yes, he's amusing. -- I don't like people that are too
amusing."

"How can anybody be _too_ amusing?"

"He can make it too much of his business."

"Who? -- Rufus?"

"No, anybody. You asked how _anybody_ could."

"Well I dont see how