"It is not an old musket, to begin with," said Winthrop laughing; "and if it goes off, it will shoot you through the heart."
"You have the advantage of me entirely, this morning!" said Elizabeth. "I give up. I hope the next time you have the pleasure of seeing me, I shall be myself."
"I hope so. I intend to keep my identity. Now as that stage- coach will not come till you get half over the bay —"
And a few minutes thereafter, the little boat was skimming back for the point of Shahweetah, though not quite so swiftly as it had come. But Elizabeth was not a mean oarsman; and in good time she got home, and moored the Merry-go-round in its place.
She was walking up to the house then, in very happy mood, one hand depending musingly at either string of her sunbonnet, when she was met by her cousin.
"Well," said Rose, — "have you been out in the woods all this while?"
"No."
"I suppose it's all settled between you and Mr. Landholm?"
Elizabeth stood an instant, with hands depending as aforesaid, and then with a little inclination of her person, somewhat stately and more graceful, gave Rose to understand, that she had no contradiction to make to this insinuation.
"Is it!" said Rose. "Did he come up for that?"