Winthrop was at the table one evening, -- while it still wanted some weeks of the May term, -- writing, as usual, with heaps of folio papers scattered all about him; writing fast; and Winnie was either reading or looking at him, who was the book she loved best to study; when Rufus came in. Both looked up and welcomed him smilingly; but then Winthrop went on with his writing; while Winnie's book was laid down. She had enough else now to do. Rufus took a seat by the fire and did as she often did, -- looked at Winthrop. "Are you always writing?" said he somewhat gloomily. "Not always," said Winthrop. "I sometimes read, for variety." "Law papers?" "Law papers -- when I can't read anything else." "That's pretty much all the time, isn't it?" "O no," said Winnie; -- "he reads a great deal to me -- we were reading a while ago, before you came in -- we read every evening." Rufus brought his attention round upon her, not, as it seemed, with perfect complacency. "What time does this girl go to bed?" How Winnie's face changed. Winthrop answered without stopping his pen. -- "When she is tired of sitting up -- not until then." "She ought to have a regular hour -- and an early one." "You are an adviser upon theory, you see," said Winthrop going on with his writing; -- "I have the advantage of practice." "I fancy any adviser would tell you the same in this case," said the elder brother somewhat stiffly. "I can go now," Winifred said rising, and speaking with a trembling lip and a tremulous voice, -- "if you want to talk about anything." She lit a candle and had got to the door, when her other brother said, "Winnie! --" Winnie stopped and turned with the door in her hand. Winthrop was busy clearing some books and papers from a chair by his side. He did not speak again; when he had done he looked up and towards her; and obeying the wish of his face, as she would have done had it been any other conceivable thing, Winnie shut the door, set her candle down, and came and took the chair beside him. But then, when she felt his arm put round her, she threw her head down upon him and burst into a fit of nervously passionate tears. _That_ was not his wish, she knew, but she could not help it. "Mr. Landholm," said Winthrop, "may I trouble you to put out that candle. We are not so extravagant here as to burn bedlights till we want them. -- Hush, Winnie, --" softly said his voice in her ear and his arm at the same time. "Absurd!" said Rufus, getting up to do as he was bid. "What?" said his brother. "Why I really want to talk to you." "I am really very willing to listen." "But I do not want to talk to anybody beside you." "Winnie hears everything that is said here, Will," said the younger brother gravely, at the same time restraining with his arm the motion he felt Winnie made to go. "It don't signify!" said Rufus, getting up and beginning to walk up and down the room gloomily. "What doesn't signify?" "Anything! --"