d, and put upon the fire with water in it. Going
back to the receptacle of 'pots and kittles,' he next came
forth with the article Karen had designated as the 'spider,'
and set that in order due upon its appropriate bed of coals.

"La sakes! Governor!" said Karen, in a sort of fond
admiration, -- "ha'n't you forgot nothin'?"

"Now Karen," said Winthrop, when she had covered the bottom of
the hot iron with her thin cakes, -- "you set the table and
I'll take care of 'em."

"There's the knife, then," said Karen. "Will ye know when to
turn them? There ain't fire enough to bake 'em by the blaze."

"I've not forgotten so much," said Winthrop. "Let's have a cup
and saucer and plate, Karen."

"Ye sha'n't have _one_," said Karen, casting another inquisitive
and doubtful glance towards the silent, pale, fixed figure
sitting in the middle of her kitchen. He did have one,
however, before she had got the two ready; despatched Karen
from the table for sugar and cream; and then poured out
himself a cup of his own preparation, and set it on Karen's
half-spread table, and came to Elizabeth. He did not ask her
if she would have it, nor say anything in fact; but gently
raising her with one hand, he brought forward her chair with
the other, and placed both where he wanted them to be, in the
close neighbourhood of the steaming coffee. Once before,
Elizabeth had known him take the same sort of superintending
care of her, when she was in no condition to take care of
herself. It was inexpressibly soothing; and yet she felt as if
she could have knelt down on the floor, and given forth her
very life in tears. She looked at the coffee with a motionless
face, till his hand held it out to her. Not to drink it was
impossible, though she was scarcely conscious of swallowing
anything but tears. When she took the cup from her lips, she
found an egg, hot out of the water, on her plate, which was
already supplied also with butter. Her provider was just
adding one of the cakes he had been baking.

"I can't eat!" said Elizabeth, looking up.

"You must, --" Winthrop answered.

In the same tone in which he had been acting. Elizabeth obeyed
it as involuntarily.

"Who is the lady, Governor?" Karen ventured, when she had
possessed herself of the cake-knife, and had got Winthrop
fairly seated at _his_ breakfast.

"This lady is the mistress of the place, Karen."

"The mistress! Ain't you the master?" -- Karen inquired
instantly.

"No. I have n