he should, you will manage with some
one for the other children. I am quite willing to trust my patients
with this careful little person, since she is not afraid. The little
fellow seems quite fond of her. I suppose you don't mind being kept
awake a little for one night?" he said, as he again stooped over the
flushed face of the little boy.

"Oh, no! And even if I go to sleep, I wake very easily. The least
movement wakes me. I think you can trust me, ma'am; and I can call you
or Mrs Greenly at any moment, you know."

"I have trusted her all the winter, as I have never been able to trust
any one with the children before," said Mrs Lee to the doctor.
"Christie has been very good to the children, and to me too. I am only
afraid I have put too much on her--such a child as she is."

Christie's face, which had been pale enough before, crimsoned all over
with pleasure at the words of Mrs Lee.

"I am quite strong; at least, I am much stronger than I look," she said.

"Well, you are to stay with little Harry to-night, at any rate, and I
hope I may find him much better in the morning," said the doctor.

He gave some further directions about the child's drink and medicine,
and went away. Christie heard him in the passage urging upon Mrs Lee
the necessity of keeping herself quiet and taking rest. The child, he
assured her, was in no danger; but he would not answer for the
consequences to herself should she suffer her over-anxiety to bring on a
return of the illness from which she had only just recovered. He did
not leave her till he saw her resting on the sofa in her own room; and
Christie did not see her again till the house had become quiet for the
night. Mrs Greenly had paid one brief visit to the sick-room, and
then, weary with the exertions of the week, betook herself to the
attic-nursery to rest. Christie was left quite alone but her solitary
musings were not so sad as they had been many a time. And sitting there
in the dim light of the night-lamp, she said to herself, "I can never,
never have such sad thoughts again."

CHAPTER TEN.

THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

It was past midnight when Mrs Lee entered the nursery again. Little
Harry was on the bed, and his weary nurse was preparing to lie down
beside him.

"He seems to be sleeping quietly," said his mother, as she bent over
him, "Yes, ma'am--much more quietly than he did last night. I think he
will have a good night," said Christie.

Mrs Lee seated