Hildebrand after giving Winthrop's hand a shake, into
which there went a sort of grateful respect which he would
never have yielded to one who had laid any manner of claim to
it, dropped into his seat again and pushed off. Winthrop and
Winnie turned their steps slowly towards the house.

Very slowly; for each step now was what they had come for. How
untravelled the road was!

"How it looks as if we didn't live here, Governor," Winnie
said with half a sigh.

"Old Karen and Anderese don't come this way very often,"
replied her brother.

"Governor, I am very sorry it has got to be sold!"

They walked a few more steps up the rocky path in silence.

"O Governor, look at that great limb of that cedar tree -- all
dragging! What a pity."

"Broken by the wind," said Winthrop.

"How beautifully the ivy hangs from that cedar -- just as it
did. Dear Governor, won't you get a saw while you're here, and
take off the branch and make it look nice again? -- as nice as
it can; -- and there's the top of that little white pine!" --

"Winter-killed," said Winthrop.

"Won't you put it in order, as you used to do, this one time
more?"

"If I can get a saw, I will, Winnie, -- or a hatchet."

"I'm sorry we can't do it but this one time more," said
Winnie, with a second and a better defined sigh, as they
reached the house level. "O how funny it looks, Governor! how
the grass has run up! and how brown it is! But the cedars
don't change, do they?"

"It is August, Winnie," was all Winthrop's remark.

The front of the house was shut up; they went round. Old
Anderese was cutting wood at the back of the house; but
without stopping to enlighten him, Winthrop passed on and led
Winnie into the kitchen. There the kitchen fire was burning as
of yore, and on the hearth before it stood Karen, stooping
down to oversee her cooking breakfast. At Winthrop's voice she
started and turned. She looked at them; and then came a long
and prolonged "Oh! --" of most mingled and varied tone and
expression; hands and eyes keeping it company.

"Karen, we have come to see you."

In perfect silence she shook the hand of each, and then sat
down and threw her apron over her face. Winnie stood still and
sobbed; Winthrop walked off.

"Oh, dear," said the old woman presently rising and coming up
to Winnie, -- "what's made ye come to see me again? What did
you come for, dear?"

The tone was wondering and caressing, and rejoicing, all in a
breath. Winnie