That was Christina's reward and it helped her in the days that
followed. For they were not easy days. The heavy summer work was on,
and Ellen's ready hands had taken more than half the tasks. Her mother
missed Ellen sorely and was able to do less every day though she tried
in every way to help.

And then John went down to the corner and hired Mitty to come up three
days a week and do the heavy work, the washing and cleaning, and other
things on days when the churning and baking took all Christina's time.

Poor Mitty was delighted to come. Burke had gone to work in Algonquin
and came home only on week ends. When he was away Granny was very hard
to manage, and it was like being on a holiday to go up to the Lindsays'
and know you would not get scolded for a whole long day.

"'Ere I am again, for a 'ole day's fun," she would exclaim, her face
all radiant, and a whole day's fun it certainly was, for Mitty was the
gayest and brightest little soul in the world, and, as Mrs. Sutherland
said, certainly did not know her place. Granny complained bitterly to
the neighbours, but they all agreed that it was on the whole as
beneficial to her as to Mitty, for she went about and looked after
herself and was quite contented when there was no one there to see that
she was not suffering.

Ellen wrote brave letters that breathed the relief she felt at getting
away. The prairies were wonderful, and her days were so full she had
no time to think. She was staying with the people that worked
Allister's farm and they were so kind and good. Allister had given her
a horse and she was going to learn to ride, only all the girls out here
rode astride and it seemed so dreadful she did not think she could do
it. Neil's Mission Field was only a half-day's journey away by rail,
and she and Allister were going to see him and hear him preach.

Sandy lauded Christina as he read Ellen's letters, telling her again
and again that there was no one like her and that she was just a
corker, and that was all about it. And Christina glowed with happiness
under his praise and grew fairly radiant over Ellen's cheerfulness.

"I'm not a bit more settled down than I ever was, remember," she warned
Sandy. "You'll see I'll get away sometime yet, even if I have to get
married to do it."

"Well, I hope you will," said Sandy gloomily. "Don't settle down and
be an old maid whatever you do. You're just the sort to do it."

"Why?" gasped Christina in alarm