"Just one word more. Your guardian, they tell me, does not attend church regularly."
"Mr. Winthrop does not profess to be a religious man."
"Could you not influence him to a better life? Have you ever asked him to accompany you to church?"
"Certainly not. He is a better judge than I as to his duty in the matter."
"I do not think so. I fear he is drifting very far from his boyhood's teachings. His mother was a perfect woman, so far as I have been able to learn."
I looked my surprise; for I had not expected to hear such words from her lips.
"You must not judge me so harshly," she said, with gentle reproach. "I hope I am not quite so bad as you think."
"I am very glad you are interested in Mr. Winthrop, for other than selfish reasons," I said, bluntly.
She bowed her head meekly. "You will try to influence him then in the matter of church going and other pure endeavors—won't you?"
"I will try," I promised, rather uncertainly.