resented.

A half perception of how it was with the young lady helped her greatly
to endure her petulance. She longed to help her, but she did not know
how to do so by words. So she prayed for her and had patience with her,
saying to herself, if Miss Gertrude was in earnest to do right, God
would guide her to Himself in time.

"Do you know you speak to me just as you speak to Claude when he is
fretful and naughty," said Gertrude one day, when she had been more than
usually irritable and unhappy.

"Do I?" said Christie, looking up, gravely; but she smiled brightly
enough when she saw by Gertrude's face that the cloud was passing away
for this time.

"Yes. If you would pat me gently, and smooth my hair, and offer to tell
me a story, the illusion would be complete. Why don't you tell me to
take myself and my books down-stairs? I am sure you must be sick of the
sight of me."

Christie laughed, and shook her head.

"Come, now, confess that you were just saying to yourself, How cross and
unreasonable she has been all day!"

"No; I was wondering what could be vexing you, and wishing I could help
you in some way."

"There is nothing vexing me that you can help. It is just my nature to
be cross and disagreeable. I don't suppose there's any help for that."

Christie laughed quite merrily now.

"It's a wonder I never found out that was your nature before."

"Oh, well, you are finding it out now. I only found it out lately
myself. I never in all my life tried so hard to be good and patient and
self-denying, and I was never so bad in all my life. There are times
when I quite hate myself; and I am sure I shouldn't wonder if you were
to hate me too."

She had been gazing moodily into the fire, but she turned as she said
this, and met the wistful, almost tearful, eyes of Christie fixed upon
her.

"I wish you could tell me something to do," she added. "You know so
much more about these things than I do."

Christie shook her head with a sigh.

"Oh, no; I know very little; and even what I know I can't speak about as
other people can. You must have patience with yourself,"--"and pray,"
she would have added; but Miss Gertrude cut her short.

"Oh, yes! it is easily said, `have patience.' I would give a great deal
to be naturally as gentle and patient and even-tempered as you are."

"As I am!" said Christie, laughing; but she looked grave in a moment.
"That shows how little you know of me, if indeed you ar