“Of the swallows,” she answered still absently; “we must have it before they go, you know!” “Why?” and Charley opened his eyes wide, not seeing the connection. Winifred awoke from her daydream with a little start, and smiled. “Oh, I don’t quite know. Perhaps it is all fancy. Only it seems sometimes as if everything would be different when the swallows go.” Charley looked still half-uneasy and half-puzzled; but Ronald had so many questions to ask about the tea-party that there was no time to wonder more about Winifred’s thoughts. “Will anybody else come beside our fellows?” “I shall ask Violet,” answered Winifred. “She will be pleased to come, and can stay with me whilst you and the boys are playing in the garden before tea. We will get it all ready for you. Violet will like that; I don’t think I have been quite kind lately. I have forgotten her sometimes; and poor little Vi has no brothers, and not half so many nice things as I have. I wish I hadn’t been so selfish.” Winifred sighed a little, and Charley stood up and put his arm about her neck. “You’re not selfish, Winnie. You’re just as nice as you can be. Everybody says so. Everybody loves you--I know it, if you don’t.” “Of course they do, Win,” added Ronald, waking up to what was passing. “All the fellows ask about you. They all want to know how you are when you’re ill. They don’t know you hardly at all; but they all like you--everybody does.” Winifred was pleased to hear this, although she hardly felt to deserve praise. “People are very nice and kind,” she said smiling. “I shall like to see the boys. I know mamma will let us have a very nice tea-party. Cook will be pleased too; she will like to make us nice things.” “Jolly!” cried Ronald again, whilst Charley said more gravely: “People like doing what you want them to, I think, Winnie.” Winifred was silent a moment, thinking, then she said half-shyly: “Should you like to do something that I wanted you to, Charley?” “Yes, to be sure I should.” “So should I,” added Ronald. It was a little while before Winifred spoke: but the boys waited eagerly to hear her commands. They had been wishing one to another that they could do something to please their little sister. “I should like very much, if you didn’t mind, if you would go every week to see little Phil at the lodge. He is so lonely.” “Oh yes, I’ll go!” answered Charley. “I like poor Phil, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten him often; but he likes you best, Winnie.” “I shall go to see him as long as I can,” answered Winnie. “But--but--” “Why, Winnie!” cried Ronald, “you’re not going to be ill again this winter, are you?” “Oh no, I hope not--I don’t think so. Only--I--I fancy perhaps I shan’t be able to go and see poor little Phil very much longer. I should like to think you would go instead, and talk to him and lend him books, so that he will not miss me very much. Sometimes I think he’ll die before very long.” Charley’s face was grave and troubled; but all he said was: