"Yes. But in her case you must not mind that too much. An invalid's instincts as to eating and drinking are more to be depended upon than those of a healthy person; but it is not so, I think with regard to anything involving effort. That she must sometimes be urged to. She must not judge that by inclination. I have had, in my short practice, two patients, who considered themselves _bedlars_, as you will find the common people in the part you are going to, call them--bedridden, that is. One of them I persuaded to make the attempt to rise, and although her sense of inability was anything but feigned, and she will be a sufferer to the end of her days, yet she goes about the house without much inconvenience, and I suspect is not only physically but morally the better for it. The other would not consent to try, and I believe lies there still." "The will has more to do with most things than people generally suppose," I said. "Could you manage, now, do you think, supposing we resolve to make the experiment, to accompany us the first stage or two?" "It is very likely I could. Only you must not depend upon me. I cannot tell beforehand. You yourself would teach me that I must not be a respecter of persons, you know." I returned to my wife. She was in Connie's room. "Well, my dear," I said, "what do you think of it?" "Of what?" she asked. "Why, of Shepherd's letter, of course," I answered. "I've been ordering the dinner since, Harry." "The dinner!" I returned with some show of contempt, for I knew my wife was only teasing me. "What's the dinner to the Atlantic?" "What do you mean by the Atlantic, papa?" said Connie, from whose roguish eyes I could see that her mother had told her all about it, and that _she_ was not disinclined to get up, if only she could. "The Atlantic, my dear, is the name given to that portion of the waters of the globe which divides Europe from America. I will fetch you the Universal Gazetteer, if you would like to consult it on the subject." "O papa!" laughed Connie; "you know what I mean." "Yes; and you know what I mean too, you squirrel!" "But do you really mean, papa," she said "that you will take me to the Atlantic?" "If you will only oblige me by getting Well enough to go as soon as possible." The poor child half rose on her elbow, but sank back again with a moan, which I took for a cry of pain. I was beside her in a moment. "My darling! You have hurt yourself!" "O no, papa. I felt for the moment as if I could get up if I liked. But I soon found that I hadn't any back or legs. O! what a plague I am to you!" "On the contrary, you are the nicest plaything in the world, Connie. One always knows where to find you." She half laughed and half cried, and the two halves made a very bewitching whole. "But," I went on, "I mean to try whether my dolly won't bear moving. One thing is clear, I can't go without it. Do you think you could be got on the sofa to-day without hurting you?"