Elizabeth hesitated, and conquered herself.

“I guess you needn’t do anything,” she said half laughing.  “I’ll try and do my part.”

There was a little answer of the face then, that sent Elizabeth’s eyes to the ground.

“What do you mean by these words?” she said looking at them again.

“I don’t mean anything.  I simply give them to you.”

“Yes, and I might see an old musket standing round the house; but if you take it up and present it at me, it is fair to ask, what you mean?”

“It is not an old musket, to begin with,” said Winthrop laughing; “and if it goes off, it will shoot you through the heart.”

“You have the advantage of me entirely, this morning!” said Elizabeth.  “I give up.  I hope the next time you have the pleasure of seeing me, I shall be myself.”

“I hope so.  I intend to keep my identity.  Now as that stage-coach will not come till you get half over the bay —­”

And a few minutes thereafter, the little boat was skimming back for the point of Shahweetah, though not quite so swiftly as it had come.  But Elizabeth was not a mean oarsman; and in good time she got home, and moored the Merry-go-round in its place.

She was walking up to the house then, in very happy mood, one hand depending musingly at either string of her sunbonnet, when she was met by her cousin.

“Well,” said Rose, —­ “have you been out in the woods all this while?”

“No.”

“I suppose it’s all settled between you and Mr. Landholm?”

Elizabeth stood an instant, with hands depending as aforesaid, and then with a little inclination of her person, somewhat stately and more graceful, gave Rose to understand, that she had no contradiction to make to this insinuation.

“Is it!” said Rose.  “Did he come up for that?”

“I suppose you know what he came for better than I do.”

“Did you know I wrote a letter to him?”

“I guessed it afterwards.  Rose!” —­ said Elizabeth suddenly, “there was nothing but about Karen in it?”

“Nothing in the world!” said Rose quickly.  “What should there be?”

“What did you write for?”

“I was frightened to death, and I wanted to see somebody; and I knew you wouldn’t send for him.  Wasn’t it good I did! —­”

Rose clapped her hands.  The colour in Elizabeth’s face was gradually getting brilliant.  She passed on.

“And now you’ ll live in Mannahatta?”

Elizabeth did not answer.

“And will you send for old Mr. Landholm to come back and take care of this place again?”

“Hush, Rose! —­ Mr. Landholm will do what he pleases.”

“You don’t please about it, I suppose?”

“Yes I do, Rose, —­ not to talk at all on the subject!”

THE END.

PRINTED BY BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ.