“You don’t know how rich you are, Winifred, to have such a good brother.”

“Yes I do,” said Winifred. “You don’t.”

If there was not a rush to Elizabeth’s eyes, it was because she fought for it.

“Perhaps I don’t,” she said quietly; —­ “for I never had any one.  Will you go and ride with me to-morrow, Winifred?”

“Ride?” said Winifred.

“Yes.  In my carriage.  We’ll go out of town.”

“O yes!  O thank you!  I should like it very much.”

“You don’t look very strong,” said Elizabeth.  “How is it that you can take such long walks?”

“O Winthrop don’t let me get tired you know.”

“But how does he manage to help it?” said Elizabeth smiling.  “Can he do everything?”

“I don’t know,” said Winnie.  “He don’t let me stand too long, and he doesn’t let me walk too fast; and his arm is strong, you know; —­he can almost hold me up if I do get tired.”

“I have —­ or my father has,” —­ said Elizabeth, “some very old, very good wine. —­ I shall send you some.  Will you try it?  I think it would make you stronger.”

“I don’t know whether Winthrop would let me drink it.”

“Why not?”

“O he don’t like me to drink anything but water and milk —­ he don’t let me have tea or coffee —­ and I don’t know whether he’d like wine; —­ but I’ll ask him.”

“Don’t let you have tea or coffee!”

“No; we drink milk, and water.”

“But don’t he let you do whatever you have a mind?”

“No,” said Winnie; “and I don’t want to, either.”

“Don’t want to do what?”

“Why —­ anything that he don’t like.”

“Do you love him well enough for that —­ not to wish to do what he don’t like, Winifred?”

“Yes!” said Winifred.  “I think I do.  I may wish it at first, of course; but I don’t want to do it if he wishes me not.”

“How did he ever get such power over you!”

“Power!” said Winnie, raising herself up on her elbow, —­ “why I don’t know what you mean!  I should think everybody would do what Winthrop likes —­ it isn’t power.”

“I wonder what is, then!” said Elizabeth significantly.

“Why it’s —­ it’s —­ goodness!” said Winnie, shutting her eyes, but not before they had filled again.  Elizabeth bit her lips to keep her own from following company; not with much success.

“That’s what it is,” said Winnie, without opening her eyes; —­ “he always was just so.  No he wasn’t either, —­ though it almost seems as if he was, —­ but now he’s a Christian.”

If outward signs had kept inward feelings company, Elizabeth would have started.  She sat still; but the lines of her face wore a look of something very like startled gravity.  There was a silence of more than one minute.  Winnie opened her eyes and directed them upon her still companion.

“Is he any better than he used to be?” she forced herself to say.