She made herself busy then, for putting both arms round his neck she pressed and kissed his face, till feeling grew too excited with the indulgence of it, and she lay with her head quite still upon his shoulder where nobody could see her eyes. The father's eyes told tales. "I think Winifred has forgotten me," observed Rufus. But Winifred was in no condition to answer the charge. "Winifred doesn't forget anybody," said her father fondly. "We're none of us given to forgetting. I am thankful that we have one thing that some richer folks want -- we all love one another. Winifred, --I thought you were going to shew me that black kitten o' your'n?" "I haven't any kitten, papa, -- it is Asahel's." "Well, let Asahel bring it then." Which Asahel did. "Have you looked at the cattle, Mr. Landholm?" said his wife. "No -- not yet -- this is the first specimen of live stock I've seen," said Mr. Landholm, viewing attentively a little black kitten which was sprawling very uncomfortably upon the painted floor. "I've heard of 'em though. Asahel has been giving me a detail at length of all the concerns of the farm. I think he'll make an excellent corresponding secretary by and by." "I was only telling papa what Governor had been doing," said Asahel. "You were afraid he would be forgotten. There, my dear, I would let the little cat go back to its mother." "No papa, -- Asahel wanted you should know that _Governor_ didn't forget." "Did you ever hear of the time, Asahel," said his elder brother, "that a cat was sold by the length of her tail?" "By the length of her tail!" said Asahel unbelievingly. "Yes -- for as much wheat as would cover the tip of her tail when she was held so --" And suiting the action to the word, Rufus suspended the kitten with its nose to the floor and the point of its tail at the utmost height it could reach above that level. Winifred screamed; Asahel sprang; Rufus laughed and held fast. "It's a shame!" said Winifred. "You have no right to do it!" said Asahel. "It _isn't_ the law, if it was the law; and it was a very cruel law!" But Rufus only laughed; and there seemed some danger of a break in that kindliness of feeling which their father had vaunted, till Mrs. Landholm spoke. A word and a look of hers, to one and the other, made all smooth; and they went on again talking, of happy nothings, till it was time to separate for the night. It was only then that Mr. Landholm touched on any matter of more than slight interest. "Well, Rufus," he said when at last they rose from their chairs, -- "are you all ready for College?" "Yes sir." A little shadow upon both faces -- a very little. "I am glad of it. Well keep ready; -- you'll go yet one of these days -- the time will come. You must see if you can't be contented to keep at home a spell. We'll shove you off by and by." Neither party very well satisfied with the decision, but there was no more to be said.