There again he had the advantage of her.
Nothing is reliable that is not tried.

"And yet," she said to herself, "I _am_ reliable.

I know I am." "What can anybody's wish make of a hindrance ?" was her reply.
"Graff it in well, and anybody can make a pretty large thorn of it." "Why Mr.Winthrop! -- but I mean, in the way of dealing with it pleasantly ?" "Pleasantly?
-- I don't know," said he; "unless they could get my mother's recipe." "What does _her_ wish do with a hindrance ?" "It lies down and dies," he said, with a change of tone which shewed whither his thoughts had gone.
"I think I never wish mine to do that," said Elizabeth.
"What then?
Remember you are speaking of hindrances absolute -- that cannot be removed." "But Mr.Winthrop, do you think it is possible for one's wish to lie down and die so ?" "If I had not seen it, I might say that it was not." "I don't understand it -- I don't know what to make of it," said Elizabeth.

"I don't think it is possible for mine." Winthrop's thoughts went back a moment to the sweet calm brow, the rested face, that told of its truth and possibility in one instance..

He too did not understand it, but he guessed where the secret might lie.
"It must be a very happy faculty," said Elizabeth; -- "but it seems to me -- of course it is not so in that instance, -- but in the abstract, it seems to me rather tame; -- I don't like it.