here. But without pausing she went in, mounted
the stairs, with the same quick footstep, and tapped at the
door, as she had been accustomed to do on her former visits to
Winifred.

No gentle voice said "come in," however, and the step which
Elizabeth heard withinside after her knock, was not
Winifred's. She had not expected that it would be; she had no
reason to suppose that Winifred was well enough to be moving
about as usual, and she was not surprised to see Winthrop open
the door. The shadow of a surprise crossed his face for an
instant, -- then bowing, he stepped back and opened the door
wide for her to enter; but there was not the shadow of a
smile.

"Well, you _do_ look wonderfully grave!" was Elizabeth's thought
as her foot crossed the threshold, -- "I wonder if I am doing
something dreadful --"

And the instant impulse was to account for her being there, by
presenting her business -- not the business she had intended to
mention first.

She came in and stood by the table and began to speak; then he
placed a chair for her, and after a second of hesitation she
sat down. She was embarrassed for a minute, then she looked up
and looked him full in the face.

"Mr. Landholm, I am exceedingly obliged to you for your
kindness in this late business, -- you were very good to me."

"It was not kindness -- I felt you had a right to ask what I
could not refuse, Miss Elizabeth."

"I have come to bring you the money which I did not like to
get to you by any other means."

She handed it to him, and he took it and counted it over.
Elizabeth sat looking on, musing how tremulous her own hand
had been, and how very cool and firm his was; and thinking
that whatever were said by some people, there certainly was
character in some hands.

"This will be handed to Mr. Haye," he said, as he finished the
counting, -- "and all the proceedings will fall to the ground
at once."

"Thank you."

"I cannot receive any thanks, Miss Elizabeth. I am merely an
agent, doing what I have been obliged to conclude was my
duty."

"I must thank you, though," said Elizabeth. "I feel so much
relieved. You are not obliged to disclose my name to Mr. Rufus
Landholm?"

"Not at all. To no one."

"That is all my excuse for being here," said Elizabeth with a
slight hesitation, -- "except I thought I might take the
privilege of old friendship to come and see your sister."

"Thank you," he said in his turn, but without raising his
eyes. Yet it