Glad of an escape, Ellen darted away that her wet face might not be seen. The brother and sister were busily talking when she returned. "John," said Alice, "this is my little sister that I wrote you about — Ellen Montgomery. Ellen, this is your brother as well as mine, you know." "Stop! stop!" said her brother. "Miss Ellen, this sister of mine is giving us away to each other at a great rate; I should like to know first what you say to it. Are you willing to take a strange brother upon her recommendation?" Half inclined to laugh, Ellen glanced at the speaker's face, but meeting the grave though somewhat comical look of two very keen eyes, she looked down again, and merely answered, "yes." "Then, if I am to be your brother, you must give me a brother's right, you know," said he, drawing her gently to him, and kissing her gravely on the lips. Probably Ellen thought there was a difference between John Humphreys and Mr. Van Brunt, or the young gentlemen of the apple-paring; for, though she coloured a good deal, she made no objection, and showed no displeasure. Alice and she now busied themselves with getting the cups and saucers out of the cupboard, and setting the table: but all that evening, through whatever was doing, Ellen's eyes sought the stranger as if by fascination. She watched him whenever she could without being noticed. At first she was in doubt what to think of him; she was quite sure, from that one looking into his eyes, that he was a person to be feared; — there was no doubt of that; as to the rest she didn't know. "And what have my two sisters been doing to spend the evening?" said John Humphreys, one time that Alice was gone into the kitchen on some kind errand for him. "Talking, Sir," — said Ellen, doubtfully. "Talking! this whole evening? Alice must have improved. What have you been talking about?" "Hares — and dogs — and about Mr. Cowper — and some other things." "Private affairs, eh?" said he, with again the look Ellen had seen before. "Yes, Sir," said Ellen, nodding and laughing. "And how came you upon Mr. Cowper?" "Sir?" "How came you to be talking about Mr. Cowper?" "I was reading about his hares, and about John Gilpin; and then Alice told me about Mr. Cowper and his friends." "Well, I don't know, after all, that you have had a pleasanter evening than I have had," said her questioner, "though I have been riding hard, with the cold wind in my face, and the driving snow doing all it could to discomfort me. I have had this very bright fireside before me all the way." He fell into a fit of grave musing, which lasted till Alice came in, then suddenly fell afumbling in his pocket. "Here's a note for you," said he, throwing it into her lap. "A note! — Sophia Marshman — where did you get it?"