. Letty was in the
other nursery, next to her mother's room, and for several days Christie
saw neither of them. The baby missed her mother less than might have
been expected, and submitted to her privation quietly enough. By
passing the day down-stairs in the dining-room, or out in the yard when
the weather was fine, Christie contrived to keep the boys amused and
happy most of the time. Mr Lee was absent on one of his business
journeys. It was uncertain when he would return; but Nelly was equal to
all housekeeping emergencies, and no one spoke of his absence with
regret. Mrs Greenly always considered Christie as under her special
patronage, as she had been the means of bringing her to the house, and
she strove to lighten her burden as much as possible. But it was a
weary time, those first ten days after Annie went away.

Christie did not go to church the first Sabbath. It is doubtful whether
she would have found the courage, even if she could have been spared.
The next week was not so bad with them. Letty's illness, though severe,
proved less so than had been feared at first; and though Mrs Lee grew
no better, she did not grow worse. Before the second Sabbath, Letty was
pronounced out of danger, and Nelly, taking pity on Christie's pale,
weary face, offered to take her place with the children while she went
to church.

She went early, as usual, and had time for the shedding of some very
sorrowful tears before the congregation gathered. I am afraid there was
a little bitterness mingled with the sorrow. The good she had done by
staying did not seem worth the great sacrifice it had cost. Letty had
not been very ill after all. The other children were well, and might
have done with a stranger, and she might have been going to the kirk at
home with Effie that very day. Besides, Mrs Greenly did not seem to
think her staying a great matter--though she had more than once praised
her for her care of the children. As for Mrs Lee, she had scarcely
seen her; and when she had, she had not alluded to the change in her
plans which sickness had made. What had cost her so much, she thought,
was a small matter in their view; and it is no wonder that the pang of
home-sickness that smote her, as she looked at her sister's empty seat
in the kirk, was all the harder to bear because of this. She did not
gain much good from the sermon that day. Heedless of some curious--
perhaps pitying--eyes that were turned towards her, sh