d when she
was gone Effie came and kissed her too, saying:

"You ought to be very happy, Christie, with all your trouble. God has
been very good to you, in giving you a message to Miss Gertrude."

"I am very happy, Effie," answered she, softly. "I almost think I am
beyond being troubled any more. It is coming very near now."

She lay still, with a smile on her face, till she fell into a quiet
slumber; and as she sat watching her, Effie, amid all her sorrow, could
not but rejoice at the thought of the blessed rest and peace that seemed
coming so near now to her little sister.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

HOME AT LAST.

Yes, the time was drawing very near. Effie could no longer hide from
herself that Christie was no stronger, but rather weaker every day. She
did not suffer much pain, but now and then was feverish, and at such
times she could get no rest. Then Effie moved and soothed and sang to
her with patience inexhaustible. She would have given half her youthful
strength to have revived that wasted form; and one day, as she was
bathing her hands, she told her so.

Christie smiled, and shook her head.

"You will have better use for your strength than that, Effie. I am sure
the water in the burn at home would cool my hands, if I could dip them
in it. Oh, if I could just get out to the fields for one long summer
day, I think I should be content to lie down here again for another six
months! In the summer-time, when I used to think of the Nesbitts and
the McIntyres in the sweet-smelling hay-fields, and of the bairns
gathering berries in the woods, my heart was like to die within me. It
is not so bad now since you came. No, Effie, I am quite content now."

Later in the day, she said, after a long silence:

"Effie, little Will will hardly mind that he had a sister Christie, when
he grows up to be a man. I should like to have been at home once more,
because of that. They will all forget me, I am afraid."

"Christie," said her sister, "why do you say they will forget you? Do
you not think you will live to see them again?"

"Do you think so, Effie?" asked Christie, gravely.

Instead of answering her, Effie burst into tears, and laid her head down
on her sister's pillow. Christie laid her arm over her neck, and said,
softly:

"There is nothing to grieve so for, Effie. I am not afraid."

Effie's tears had been kept back so long, they must have free course
now. It was in vain to try to stay them.