had better take you home
with me. But I am afraid I ought to deny myself the happiness."

It was not easy to say this, as was plain enough from the tears that
fell on Christie's head as it sank down on her sister's breast.
Christie had rarely seen Effie cry. Even at the sad time of their
father's death, Effie's tears had fallen silently and unseen, and she
was strangely affected by the sight of them now.

"Effie," she said, eagerly, "I am quite content to stay. And I must
tell you now--though I didna mean to do so at first, for fear something
might happen to hinder it--Mrs Seaton said one day, if Claude still
grew better, she might perhaps send him with me for a change of air, and
then I should be at home and still have my wages to help. Wouldna that
be nice? And I think it is worth a great deal that Mrs Seaton should
think of trusting him with me so far-away. But he is better, and I have
learned what to do for him; and he is such a little child we need make
no difference for him at home. Would you like it, Effie?"

Yes, Effie would have liked anything that could bring such a glow to her
sister's face; and she entered into a discussion of ways and means with
as much earnestness as Christie herself, and they soon grew quite
excited over their plans. Indeed, all the rest of the visit was passed
cheerfully. Mrs Seaton, after seeing and talking with Effie, confirmed
the plan about sending Claude with Christie in the summer, provided it
would be agreeable to them all.

"He has become so attached to her, I hardly know how he could do without
her now," said Mrs Seaton. "And I suppose nothing would make Christie
willing to forego her visit at home when summer comes."

To tell the truth, Mrs Seaton was greatly surprised and pleased with
the sister of her little nurse. She knew, of course, that Christie had
been what her country-people called "well brought up," and she had
gathered from some of Gertrude's sayings that the family must have seen
better days. But she was not prepared to find in the elder sister that
Christie had mentioned, sometimes even in her presence, a person at all
like Effie.

"She had quite the appearance of a gentlewoman," said Mrs Seaton. "She
was perfectly self-possessed, yet simple and modest. I assure you I was
quite struck with her."

The brief visit came to an end all too quickly. The hope of a pleasant
meeting in summer made the parting comparatively easy, and helped
Christie t