.

But the time came when she felt that it would be vain to struggle
longer. After a night of pain and sleeplessness she rose, resolved to
tell Mrs Seaton that she feared she must go home. She was weak and
worn-out, and she could not manage to say what she had to say without a
flood of tears, which greatly surprised her mistress. She soothed her
very kindly, however, and when she was quiet again, she said--

"Are you so ill, Christie? Are you quite sure that you are not a little
home-sick with it, too? I do not wonder that you want to see that kind,
good sister of yours, but if you will have patience for a week or two, I
will send Claude with you."

But Christie shook her head. "I am not at all home-sick," she said.
"And I don't think I am very ill either; but the pain in my knee is
sometimes very bad. It grows worse when I walk about, and then I cannot
sleep. I am afraid I must go home and rest awhile."

"Is it so very bad?" said Mrs Seaton, gravely. "Well, the doctor must
see it. You shall go to him this very afternoon--or we may as well have
him here. If he thinks there is anything serious the matter, something
must be done for it, whether you go home or not. Don't be anxious about
it. I dare say you will be as well as ever in a day or two."

But the doctor looked grave when he examined it, and asked some
questions about it, and the fall on the stairs, which seemed to have
brought on the trouble. To Christie he said nothing, but his grave
looks did not pass away when she left the room.

"She must go home, then, I am afraid," said Mrs Seaton. "I am very
sorry to lose her. I don't know what Claude will do without her."

The doctor looked grave.

"Where is her home? Far-away in the country, is it not? It will never
do to let her go away there. She must go to the hospital."

"The hospital!" exclaimed Mrs Seaton. "Is it so very serious?"

"It may become very serious unless it is attended to. No time ought to
be lost. Could she go to-day, or to-morrow morning?"

Mrs Seaton looked very troubled.

"Must she go? She was brought up in the country. It seems necessary
she should have fresh air. I am afraid her health would suffer from
confinement. Could she not remain here? Of course, if she needs advice
she must not think of going home. But could she not stay here?"

"It is very kind in you to think of such a thing, but I am afraid she
will need more attention than she could possibly ge