t in not telling her."

"But you cannot mean that your sister does not know that you are here,
and that you are very ill?" said Mr Sherwood, in some surprise.

"She knows I am here, but she does not know all. I had just written to
her when the doctor told me I must come here for a while, so I waited
till I should be able to tell her I was better. When I wrote I did not
tell her how long I had been here; there was no use in troubling them
all at home, for it would make them very sorry to know I was suffering
all alone, and they cannot spare either time or money to undertake the
journey here. I kept hoping I should soon be better. She thinks, I
suppose, that I am quite well and at my work in the nursery again. But
I am afraid she ought to know just how I am. I am not better, and if
anything were to happen--"

If any one had asked Mr Sherwood if he thought Christie was likely to
recover, he would hardly have said that her case was a very hopeful one.
But when he heard Christie speaking in this way, his impulse was (as it
too often is in such circumstances) by cheerful and hopeful words to put
the too probable event out of her thoughts, and he said:

"But you are not to think anything is to happen. Why, we shall have you
ready for a race with Master Claude in the cedar walk before the winter
sets in. At the same time, I do not wonder you are anxious to see your
sister. I wish for your sake she were here."

Christie shook her head.

"I am not better, and I don't know what to do. Effie couldn't very well
come, even if I were to ask her; and it would only trouble them all to
know that I am no better after all this time. Still, they would think--
if anything were to happen--" but she could not finish her sentence.

Mr Sherwood was much-moved. It seemed only natural to him that the
poor young girl should shrink from the thought of a fatal termination of
her sufferings, though he felt sure that, as far as any one could be
prepared for the mysterious change, Christie was prepared for it. He
longed to say something to soothe and comfort her, but no words came to
his mind. Taking up the Bible, he read the very same portion again:

"`They that wait on the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, that cannot be
removed;'" and then he added, softly:

"You are in good hands."

Christie's face brightened as she turned her bright, tearful eyes upon
him.

"I know it, I am quite sure of it; and Effie too. I don't know why I