She liked to hear about the other boys who shared her brothers’ studies with the tutor in the nearest town. She soon learnt to know their names, their characters, and dispositions, and to take an interest in every one; and by-and-by she revealed a little plan which had long been working in her head. “Charley,” she said one evening, “do you think it would be nice to give a tea-party?” “A tea-party, Winnie?” “Yes, a sort of a tea-party on a Saturday afternoon, and ask all the boys. Do you think they would care to come?” asked the little girl. “Come here!” Charley and Ronald looked pleased and interested; and both fastened their eyes eagerly upon Winifred, as if to make sure of her meaning. “Yes, I feel as if I should like to see them, before--I mean I have heard about them and I think it would be nice to know them a little. Do you think they would come?” “I’m sure they would!” cried Ronald, “they’d like it awfully.” “Would you like it too?” “Of course we should. You’re a brick, Winnie, for thinking of it,” cried Charley. “What could have put it into your head?” Winifred smiled in the quiet way which had grown upon her of late. “I don’t quite know. I seem to think of a lot of things now.” “You do,” assented Charley with an emphasis that brought a flush of pleasure to Winifred’s pale face. “You think of everything now. I can’t think what we did before you were well enough to look after our things. I knew they were always in a horrid muddle.” Winnie smiled and sighed too. “I wish I’d begun before,” she said, “when I had more time. I wish I hadn’t been so lazy before.” “You weren’t lazy, you were ill,” said Charley stoutly. “But you’re getting better now--you’ll soon be well, won’t you, Winnie?” Charley spoke with a certain earnestness of manner which made his sister look at him to see what made him ask the question. “Oh yes, I think so, Charley,” she answered. “I think I’m going to get well quite soon.” Ronald’s thoughts were busy with the proposed plan of the tea-party. “It would be jolly,” he said, “awfully jolly. Do you think mamma will let us have it?” “Oh yes, I am almost sure she will,” answered Winnie. “I will ask her to-night. I was waiting till I had asked you, because I wanted to know first if you thought it would be nice.” “Will it be soon?” Ronald asked eagerly. “I should like it to be soon,” answered Winnie, “just as soon as we can have it. Next Saturday, perhaps. That is three days off.” “Oh, jolly!” cried Ronald. “I like things to come soon. I can’t bear to wait.” “No, I don’t think it would do to wait,” answered the little girl, her eyes turning towards the window, which overlooked the water-meadows where the swallows were beginning to gather. Charley’s eyes followed the direction of her glance, and then returned to her face. “Why wouldn’t it do to wait?” he asked with a touch of uneasiness in his voice. “What are you thinking of, Winnie?”