e rest."

"That wouldn't be enough," said Winifred, gently leaning her
head upon the broad breast which she knew was hers for
strength and defence.

"Not, Winnie? -- What will you have?"

"I'll have the Bible," said the child, her thin intelligent
face looking at him with all its intelligence.

"The Bible, Winnie?" said Winthrop cheerfully.

"Yes, because there I can get strength that isn't my own, and
that is better than yours, or anybody's."

"That's true, Winnie; but what do you want so much strength
for?" he said coolly.

She looked at him again, a look very hard indeed to bear.

"O I know, Winthrop," she said; -- "I want it. -- I want it now
for your going away."

Her voice was a little checked, and again she leaned forward
upon him, this time so as to hide her face.

Winthrop set down the nuts and drew her more close, and his
lips kissed the little blue and white temple which was all of
her face he could get at.

"It's best I should go, Winnie," he said.

"O I know you must."

"I will have a house one of these days and you shall come and
keep it for me."

She sat up and shook away a tear or two, and laughed, but her
speech was not as jocular as she meant it to be.

"What a funny housekeeper I should make!"

"The best in the world. You shall study, and I will knit the
socks."

"O Governor! What do you know about knitting socks?"

"I know who has knit mine ever since I have been at
Shagarack."

"Did mamma tell you?" said the child with a bright sharp
glance.

"I found it out."

"And were they all right? Because I am going to keep on doing
it, Governor."

"Till you come to be my housekeeper."

"I don't believe that'll ever be," said Winifred.

"Why not?"

"It seems so funny, to think of your ever having a house in
Mannahatta!"

"Will you come, Winnie?"

"O Governor! -- I dont know," she said, her face full of a
world of uncertainties.

"What don't you know?"

"I don't know any thing; and you don't. O Governor" -- and she
flung her arms round his neck, and spoke words coined out of
her heart, -- "I wish you were a Christian! --"

For a minute only he did not speak; and then he said calmly in
her ear,

"I shall be -- I mean to be one, Winnie."

Her little head lay very still and silent a few minutes more;
and when she lifted it she did not carry on the subject;
unless the kisses she gave him, only too strong in their
meaning, might be interpreted.

"I should feel so m