"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 look 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 a fumbling 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?" "From her own hand. Passing there to-day, I thought I must stop a moment to speak to them, and had no notion of doing more; but Mrs. Marshman was very kind, and Miss Sophia in despair, so the end of it was I dismounted and went in to await the preparing of that billet, while my poor nag was led off to the stables and a fresh horse supplied me. I fancy that tells you on what conditions." "Charming!" said Alice, "to spend Christmas--I am very glad; I should like to very much--with you, dear. If I can only get papa--but I think he will; it will do him a great deal of good. To-morrow, she says, we must come; but I doubt the weather will not let us; we shall see." "I rode Prince Charlie down. He is a good traveller, and the sleighing will be fine if the snow be not too deep. The old sleigh is in being yet, I suppose?" "Oh yes! in good order. Ellen, what are you looking so grave about? you are going too."