"There is no use discussing remote contingencies," interrupted Winifred, and Miss Norreys, imagining that her pride in her sister made it bitter to realise that the possibility was remote, beautiful though Celia was, said no more. "Well, then, to be practical," she replied, "what you have told me makes me feel that the proposal I have to lay before you may suit you even better than I had expected. For you cannot have Celia with you, or--or afford good teaching for her until you have made a beginning yourself, and got a home ready." "I must certainly have somewhere to bring her to," said Winifred, evasively, "and somewhere for myself too," with a smile. "I should like to get things a little in order, as it were, so far settled, for, you see, I am old enough to decide for myself, before I tell my people at home about it. It would make my mother so much less anxious if I could tell her it _was_ settled." "But," exclaimed Hertha, rather taken aback, "your people do know what you are intending? You are not acting against their wishes?" "Oh no--that is to say, they do know, thoroughly," said Winifred, with evident candour. "As for their _wishes_--why, no, mother does not _wish_ us to leave home. Mothers never do--do they? She would like us all to stay near her always, I suppose. But she _understands_, and--she is very kind." "Kind" struck Hertha as a somewhat curious word to use of a mother in such a case. "She should be very proud of you both," she said quickly, while her mind's eye pictured the overworked parson's wife reluctant to let her girls go forth to make their way, even though the relief and satisfaction of seeing them in the path of success could not but be great. "If you get on well, it cannot but be a comfort to her, I should think." "She knows Celia has great talent, and she does think it should be cultivated," replied Winifred, and again something in her tone slightly perplexed Miss Norreys. "I don't think she feels the same about me, for, you see, I have no very special line. But there are quantities of _men_ who have no very special line, and yet do well, and are of use in their generation. So why not women?" And she looked up inquiringly at Hertha.