“No sir.”

“I thought it couldn’t be the same.  Well he’s a deuced handsome pair of sons, tell him.  I’m very sorry I can’t stop, —­ I am obliged to go on now, and I must put my daughter and Miss Cadwallader in your charge, and trust you to get them safe home.  I will be along and come to see you in a few days.”

“The trunks is all out, sir,” said the driver.  “We oughtn’t to stop no longer.  It’s a bad piece atween here and Bearfoot.”

“I leave it all to you, then,” said Mr. Haye.  “Elizabeth, this young gentleman will see you and your baggage safe home.  You won’t want me.  I’ll see you next week.”

He shook hands and was off, stage-coach and all.  And Mr. Cowslip and Winthrop were left mounting guard over the baggage and the ladies.  Elizabeth gave a comprehensive glance at the “young gentleman” designated by her father, and then turned it upon the black leather and boards which waited to be disposed of.

“You won’t want the hull o’ this for ballast, I guess, Winthrop, this arternoon,” remarked Mr. Cowslip.  “You’ll have to leave some of it ‘long o’ me.”

“Can’t it all go?” said Elizabeth.

“It would be too much for the boat,” said Winthrop.

“If ’twouldn’t for you,” —­ Mr. Cowslip remarked in a kind of aside.

“Isn’t there another boat?”

“There is another boat,” said Mr. Cowslip —­ “there’s mine —­ but she’s up stream somewheres; comin’ along, I guess, but she won’t be here time enough for your purposes.”

It was necessary to make a selection.  The selection was made, and two stout trunks were successively borne down to the shore by the hands of Winthrop and Mr. Cowslip and stowed in the boat’s bow.  The two girls had walked down and stood looking on.

“But I haven’t got any books!” said Elizabeth suddenly when she was invited to get in herself.  “Won’t the book-box go?”

“Is it that ’ere big board box?” inquired Mr. Cowslip.  “Won’t do!  It’s as heavy as all the nation.”

“It will not do to put anything more in the boat,” said Winthrop.

“I can’t go without books,” said Elizabeth.

“You’ll have ’em in the mornin’,” suggested the miller.

“O leave it, Lizzie, and come along!” said her companion.  “See how late it’s getting.”

“I can’t go without some books,” said Elizabeth; “I shouldn’t know what to do with myself.  You are sure you can’t take the box?”

“Certainly,” said Winthrop smiling.  “She would draw too much water, with this tide.”

“Yes, you’d be on the bottom and no mistake, when you got in the bay,” said Mr. Cowslip.

Elizabeth looked from one to the other.

“Then just get something and open the box if you please,” she said, indicating her command to Winthrop; “and I will take out a few, till I get the rest.”

“O Lizzie!” urged her companion, —­ “let the books wait!”