This last remained unaltered in both of us.  As for Madge, as I had predicted to myself, she had gradually restored me to my old place in her consideration as the novelty of Philip’s newer devotion had worn off.  We seemed now to be equals in her esteem.  At one time Phil would apparently stand uppermost there, at another I appeared to be preferred.  But this alternating superiority was usually due to casual circumstance.  Sometimes, I suppose, it owed itself to caprice; sometimes, doubtless, to deep design unsuspected by either of us.  Boys are not men until they are well grown; but women are women from their first compliment.  On the whole, as I have said, Phil and I were very even rivals.

It was sometime in the winter—­Philip’s first winter with the Faringfields—­that the next outbreak came, between him and Master Edward.  If ever the broad mansion of the Faringfields looked warm and welcoming, it was in midwinter.  The great front doorway, with its fanlight above, and its panel windows at each side, through which the light shone during the long evenings, and with its broad stone steps and out-curving iron railings, had then its most hospitable aspect.  One evening that it looked particularly inviting to me, was when Ned and the two girls and I were returning with our skates from an afternoon spent on Beekman’s pond.  Large flakes were falling softly on snow already laid.  Darkness had caught up with us on the way home, and when we came in sight of the cheery light enframing the Faringfields’ wide front door, and showing also from the windows at one side, I was not sorry I was to eat supper with them that evening, my mother having gone sleighing to visit the Murrays at Incledon, with whom she was to pass the night.  As we neared the door, tired and hungry, whom should we see coming toward it from the other direction but Philip Winwood.  He had worked over the usual time at the warehouse.  Before the girls or I could exchange halloes with Phil, we were all startled to hear Ned call out to him, in a tone even more imperious than the words: 

“Here, you, come and take my skates, and carry them in, and tell mother I’ve stopped at Jack Van Cortlandt’s house a minute.”

And he stood waiting for Phil to do his bidding.  The rest of us halted, also; while Phil stopped where he was, looking as if he could not have heard aright.

“Come, are you deaf?” cried Ned, impatiently.  “Do as you’re bid, and be quick about it.”

Now, of course, there was nothing wrong in merely asking a comrade, as one does ask a comrade such things, to carry in one’s skates while one stopped on the way.  No one was ever readier than Phil to do such little offices, or great ones either.  Indeed, it is the American way to do favours, even when not requested, and even to inferiors.  I have seen an American gentleman of wealth go in the most natural manner to the assistance of his own servant in a task that seemed to overtax the latter, and think nothing of it.  But in the case I am relating; apart from the fact that I, being nearer than Phil, was the proper one of whom to ask the favour; the phrase and manner were those of a master to a servant; a rough master and a stupid servant, moreover.  And so Philip, after a moment, merely laughed, and went on his way toward the door.