e leaned her head
on her hand and thought her own dreary thoughts; and when the services
were over, she rose and went away with the rest, although uncomforted.

The day passed slowly enough. It needed a greater effort than she could
make to amuse the children and keep them interested, and they were noisy
and trouble some. The baby, too, was fretful, and would by no means be
content to sit still; and Christie wandered about with her, listless and
miserable, till tea-time. After tea, thankful for the prospect of a
little peace, she put the boys to bed, and seating herself by the baby's
cot, went back to her sad, unprofitable thoughts again.

It was well for her--though she did not think so--that this moody fit
did not last long. Mrs Greenly's step upon the stairs aroused her.

"Christie," said she, "are you reading? Just take your book and go and
sit down-stairs, will you? Letty's asleep, and will need nothing, I
dare say. If she does, you can call me. Mrs Lee will need nothing
either. I don't know how it is that I am so overcome with sleep. I'll
lie down and rest a minute or two, and I'll hear the children if they
wake."

Christie took her book and went down, but she did not read. Instead of
that, she seated herself in the dark on the stairs, and began her
unprofitable musings again. Mrs Lee was not asleep. She was evidently
feverish and uncomfortable, and turned about and sighed often and
heavily. Christie had been told not to go into her room unless she was
called, so she sat still a little, beguiled from her own sad thoughts as
she took note of the uneasiness of the sick lady.

"Are you there, nurse?" said Mrs Lee, at last.

Christie rose, and went softly in.

"Oh, is it you, Christie? Are the children asleep? How's the baby
to-night? I feel very weary and wakeful. I don't know what ails me."

"Shall I call nurse?" asked Christie.

"No. Oh, no. She could do nothing for me. Are you reading? Read to
me a little. Perhaps it will quiet me and make me fall asleep."

While Christie brought the light and placed it where Mrs Lee's eyes
would not be troubled by it, she said again:

"The children are quite well, nurse tells me. It was very well that you
decided not to go home, Christie. I am very glad you stayed."

Christie said nothing.

"I am afraid your sister was disappointed," said Mrs Lee.

"Yes," said Christie. She could not say more. "Do you think you will
go soon?"

"I don't