causes difficulties to
disappear. The source of her courage and patience was out of herself.
Her gentle cheerfulness, flowing evenly through long days and weeks,
sprang from some unseen fountain, pure and free and never-failing.

Sometimes it came into the young lady's mind that Christie's constant
study of her little Bible had something to do with her being so
different from any one she had ever known before. But both of them were
a little shy about speaking of these things. They talked about the
histories, and even about the doctrines, of the Bible. The stories that
little Claude so delighted in all came from the Bible; and Christie had
no shyness in speaking to him. To these stories, and the simple
comments made on them, Gertrude sometimes listened when she seemed to be
occupied with far other matters, and she would have liked very much to
have heard more on some of the themes of which these conversations gave
her only a hint. But Christie seldom talked about herself. It was only
by slow degrees that she came to understand the secret of her content.

Coming one night later than usual into the upper nursery, she found
Christie sitting with her little Bible in her hand. She shut it as
Gertrude sat down beside her, but she did not put it away.

"I suppose it is too late to begin to read anything now?" said Gertrude.
"I have been helping Miss Atherton to dress. You should have seen her!
Her dress was splendid--too splendid for so small a party, mother
thought. I wish I had called you to see her."

"I wish you had, indeed," said Christie, with real interest, for she was
a great admirer of anything pretty. "I should like to have seen her.
She is beautiful always."

"Yes, but dress makes a difference even in beautiful people. I have
seen ladies who looked quite plain at home by daylight, who were thought
great beauties by those who only saw them at parties. But Miss Atherton
is always beautiful. She will shine to-night."

Gertrude sat for a little while gazing into the fire.

"Would you like to have gone with her?" asked Christie.

"No, I think not; I am sure not. I was asked, you know, and I dare say
mother would not have objected to my going. But I find these parties
very stupid."

"Miss Atherton does not find them stupid, I should think."

"Miss Atherton! Oh, no! But she is quite different. I dare say I
should like them well enough too, if I were quite grown up, and a belle
like her. But o