“That wasn’t what?”

“That wa’n’t it,” said Clam.  “Never to say nothin’ that wa’n’t the thing.”

“Why, did you ever do that?” said Elizabeth.

“Maybe I did,” said Clam, considering her new mistress’s dressing-table.  “Mis’ Landholm was afeard on’t.”

“Well, you must be just as careful about that here,” said Elizabeth.  “I love truth as well as she did.”

“All kinds?” said the girl.

Elizabeth looked at her, with a mouthful of answer which she did not dare to bring out.  Nothing was to be made of Clam’s face, except that infallible air of capacity.  There was no sign of impertinent meaning.

“You look as if you could learn,” she said.

“Been learnin’ ever since I was big enough,” said the black girl.  And she looked so.

“Are you willing to learn?”

“Like nothin’ better.”

“Provided it’s the right kind, I suppose,” said Elizabeth, wholly unable to prevent her features giving way a little at the unshakable coolness and spirit she had to do with.  Clam’s face relaxed in answer, after a different manner from any it had taken during the interview; and she said,

“Well, I’ll try.  Mr. Winthrop said I was to be good; and I ain’t a goin’ to do nothin’ to displease him, anyhow!”

“But the matter is rather to please me, here,” said Elizabeth.

“Well,” said Clam with her former wide-awake smile, “I guess what ’ll please him ’ll please you, won’t it?”

“Go down stairs, and come to me after breakfast,” said her mistress.  “I’ll let you make some new dresses for yourself the first thing.  And look here, —­” said she pulling a bright-coloured silk handkerchief out of a drawer, —­ “put that into a turban before you come up and let me see what you’re up to.”

Clam departed without an answer; but when she made her appearance again, the orange and crimson folds were twisted about her head in a style that convinced Elizabeth her new waiting-maid’s capacity was equal to all the new demands she would be likely to make upon it.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Never his worldly lot, or worldly state torments him:  Less he would like, if less his God had sent him.  FLETCHER.

Winthrop had taken no little charge upon himself in the charge of his little sister.  In many ways.  He had a scanty purse, and it better bore the demands of one than of two; but that was only a single item.  Winnie was not a charge upon his purse alone, but upon his heart and his head and his time.  The demands were all met, to the full.