"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.
"Why yes," said Winnie, — "of course — he must be. He used to be as good as he could be, except that; — and now he's that too."
"What difference does 'that' make, Winifred?"
Winnie looked keenly once more at the face of her questioner.
"Don't you know what it is to be a Christian, Miss Haye?"
Elizabeth shook her head.