l for her pains? And on the contrary there grew up in
her mind, on the instant, a respect for the whole family that
wrapped them about like a halo.

One morning when Elizabeth came through the kitchen to mount
her horse, Mrs. Landholm was doing some fine ironing. The blue
habit stopped a moment by the ironing-table.

"How dreadfully busy you are, Mrs. Landholm."

"Not so busy that I shall not come out and see you start," she
answered. "I always love to do that."

"Winnie," said Elizabeth putting a bank bill into the little
girl's hand, "I shall make you my messenger. Will you give
that to the man who takes care of my horse, for I never see
him, and tell him I say he does his work beautifully."

Winifred blushed and hesitated, and handing the note back said
that she had rather not.

"Won't you give it to him!"

The little girl coloured still more. "He don't want it."

"Keep your money, my dear," said Mrs. Landholm; "there is no
necessity for your giving him anything."

"But why shouldn't I give it to him if I like it?" said
Elizabeth in great wonderment.

"It is a boy that works for my father, Miss Haye," said
Winthrop gravely; "your money would be thrown away upon him."

"But in this he works for me."

"He don't know that."

"If he don't -- Money isn't thrown away upon anybody, that ever
I heard of," said Elizabeth; "and besides, what if I choose to
throw it away?"

"You can. Only that it is doubtful whether it would be picked
up."

"You think he wouldn't take it?"

"I think it is very likely."

"What a fool! -- Then I shall send away my horse!" said
Elizabeth; "for either he must be under obligation to me, or I
to him; and I don't choose the latter."

"Do you expect to get through the world without being under
obligation to anybody?" said Winthrop smiling.

But Elizabeth had turned, and marching out of the house did
not make any reply.

"What's the objection to being under obligation, Miss
Elizabeth?" said Mrs. Landholm. Elizabeth was mounting her
horse, in which operation Winthrop assisted her.

"It don't suit me!"

"Fortune's suits do not always fit," said Winthrop. "But then
--"

"Then what?" --

"She never alters them."

Elizabeth's eyes fired, and an answer was on her lip, but
meeting the very composed face of the last speaker, as he put
her foot in the stirrup, she thought better of it. She looked
at him and asked,

"What if one does not choose to wear them?"

"Nothing fo