"No," — said Winnie, "but because he is good I must do what he says."
"I wish I liked anybody so well as that!" said Elizabeth kissing her. "Good bye, dear, — I'll come for you to-morrow. There's no objection to that, I suppose?"
"No," Winnie said laughing; and they parted.
Five minutes Winnie was alone, thinking over her visit and visiter. They were a great novelty, and very interesting. Winnie's thoughts roved with an odd mixture of admiration and pity over the beautiful dress, and fine face, and elastic step; they were bewitching; but Winnie had seen a shadow on the face, and she knew that the best brightness had never lighted it. Five minutes were all she had to think about it; then she heard a very different step on the stairs.
"I heard her go," said Mrs. Nettley, coming in, "and I had a little more time to spare; so I thought I would spend it with you; — unless you've got enough with such a gay visiter and don't want me."
"O no indeed, Mrs. Nettley, I want you just as much. Have you done dinner?"
"George isn't ready yet;" and Mrs. Nettley took Miss Haye's chair and set her knitting-needles a going. "Has she tired you with talking?"
"No — talking doesn't tire me, —and she wasn't a gay visiter, either, Mrs. Nettley — what do you mean by 'gay'?"
"O, she was handsome, and young, and 'fine feathers make fine birds' I'm sure," said Mrs. Nettley; — "wasn't she smartly dressed?"
"Yes," said Winnie, she had handsome things on; but that didn't make her gay."