I am sure the fresh air of the country
would do her more good than all their medicines. Oh, such a suffering
face! And her hands, Cousin Charles--did you notice her hands? I am
afraid I have come too late. But she will surely grow better again when
she is taken away from this place. It would kill any one to lie there
long in that great room among all those poor suffering creatures. If I
could only get her away! It would not cost much to take her, with a
nurse, to some quiet place, if we could not have her at the house. I
shall have money of my own some time. Cousin Charles, will not you
speak to mother for me?" She was growing very eager and excited.

"Hush!" he said, gently. "Nothing but the impracticability of it could
have prevented me from removing her to her own home, for which she has
been pining so sadly. Have patience, and we will try what can be done.
We will speak to the doctor about it."

The physician was, fortunately, disengaged, and the subject of
Christie's removal suggested to him. But he objected to it more
decidedly now than he had when Mr Sherwood had spoken of it some time
before. It was doubtful whether in her present weak state she could
bear removal, even if she could be as well cared for elsewhere. It was
becoming doubtful whether her constitution could hold out much longer.
Indeed, it could hardly be said to be doubtful. There was just one
chance for her, he said; and then he spoke low, as though he did not
wish Miss Gertrude to hear--but she did.

"You do not mean that her knee is never to be well again?" she asked,
with a shudder.

"We have for some time feared so," said the doctor. "Within a day or
two symptoms have appeared which seem to indicate an absolute and speedy
necessity for amputation. Poor little thing! It is very sad for her,
of course."

"Does she know it?" asked Miss Gertrude, steadying her voice with a
great effort.

"I think she is not altogether unprepared for it. She must know that
she is not getting better, and I fancy she must suspect the necessity
from something she once said to the nurse. Poor girl! she seems to
grieve quite as much on account of her friends as on her own."

"Have they been informed of this--of the possible result of her
illness?" asked Mr Sherwood.

"She has written to them several times during the summer, I believe.
They seem to be very poor people, living at a distance--quite unable to
do anything for her."

They were