the child away anywhere, and a
printed calico all that she has in the way of mourning, and her father
not buried a month yet."

"It would matter very little at Mrs Nesbitt's," said Effie,
congratulating herself on her aunt's softening tone, but not seeming to
notice it.

"Times are sorely changed with us, when the price of a gown more or less
is felt as it is," said Aunt Elsie, with a sigh. "I have seen the
day--" And she wandered off to other matters. Effie chose to consider
the affair of Christie's going settled. And so it was. No further
objection was made; and they went together the next afternoon.

If Effie could have chosen among all the pleasant homes of Glengarry,
she could have found no better place for her young sister than Mrs
Nesbitt's. It was quiet and cheerful at the same time. Christie could
pursue her own occupations, and go her own way, no one interfering with
her, so long as her way was the right way and her occupation such as
would do her no injury. But there were no listless wanderings to and
fro, no idle musings, permitted here. No foolish reading was possible.
If a shadow began to gather on the child's brow, her attention was
claimed immediately, either by Jean, the merry maid-of-all-work, or by
Mrs Nesbitt herself. There were chickens to feed, or vegetables to be
gathered, or the lambs were to be counted, or some other good reason was
found why she should betake herself to the fresh air and the pleasant
fields or the garden.

The evenings were always bright. There was no danger of being dull
where Mrs Nesbitt's merry boys were. Her family consisted of four
sons. John, the eldest, was just twenty-three--though, for some reason
or other, the young Redferns were in the habit of thinking him quite a
middle-aged man. Perhaps it was because he was usually so grave and
quiet; perhaps because of a rumour they had heard that John meant, some
day, to be a minister. He taught a Sabbath-class too, and took part in
meetings, like a much older man than he was.

The other lads were considerably younger. Lewis, the second son, was
not yet eighteen; Charles was twelve, and little Dan not more than nine.
They were neither grave nor quiet. The house was transformed into a
very different place when they crossed the threshold from the field or
the school. In a fashion of her own, Christie enjoyed their fun and
frolic very much. She told Effie, when she came to see her, that she
had heard more l