embarrassment was all on her side.

As for the boys, they were beside themselves with delight. It was easy
to see they did not share their sister's dislike. Poor little Claude
clasped his arms about his neck and kissed him eagerly. Clement, in a
way that showed he felt sure of his sympathy, began to tell him of the
pony and the rabbits, insisting that he should come with him to the
stable to see them at once.

The next day was Sunday. After a fortnight of lovely summer weather, a
great change had taken place. The rain was falling in torrents, and the
wind was whistling through the trees in the garden, when Christie looked
out. A rainy day in the green room was by no means such a dreary matter
as it used to be in Mrs Lee's attic-nursery, with only a glimpse of
driving clouds and dripping roofs to vary the dulness within. So
Christie comforted little Claude for the want of his morning ride and
ramble in the garden, telling him how glad the dusty leaves and thirsty
little flowers would be for all the bright drops that were falling on
them. She told him how the bees, that had been so busy all the week,
must take a rest to-day, and how warm and dry the little birds would be
in their nest in the pear-tree, for all the driving rain. Setting him
in his favourite chair by the window, she amused him with talk like
this, as she went about putting things in order in the room. While she
comforted him she comforted herself; for the rain had brought a
disappointment to her too. It had been arranged that Martha should take
charge of Claude while Christie went to church in the morning, where she
had not been for several Sabbaths. But remembering Mrs Greenly's
oft-repeated warnings against exposing herself to dampness, she did not
like to venture in the rain. So she had to content herself at home.

This was an easier matter than it had sometimes been. As the morning
wore away, and the time approached for the little boy to take his usual
sleep, she was quite contented to be where she was.

"It is very pleasant, all this reading with Miss Gertrude," she said.
"She is very kind, and I like her very much. But I shall be glad to be
alone for a little while."

Claude's eyes closed at last, and she was just taking her Bible from the
table beside her, when the door opened and Miss Gertrude entered.

"I only heard this minute from Mattie that you did not go to church,
after all," she said. "No wonder! What a rain! Papa tho