“It is only for a time, else I couldn’t
let thee go, my dear,” said Mrs. Sterling, with
a close embrace.
“I shall see you at church, and Tuesday evenings,
even if you don’t find time to come to us, so
I shall not say good-by at all;” and David shook
hands warmly, as he put her into the carriage.
“I’ll invite you to my wedding when I
make up my mind,” said Kitty, with feminine
malice; for in her eyes Christie was an old maid who
doubtless envied her her “lots of lovers.”
“I hope you will be very happy. In the
mean time try to save dear Mrs. Sterling all you can,
and let her make you worthy a good husband,”
was Christie’s answer to a speech she was too
noble to resent by a sharp word, or even a contemptuous
look.
Then she drove away, smiling and waving her hand to
the old lady at her window; but the last thing she
saw as she left the well-beloved lane, was David going
slowly up the path, with Kitty close beside him, talking
busily. If she had heard the short dialogue between
them, the sight would have been less bitter, for Kitty
said:
“She’s dreadful good; but I’m glad
she’s gone: ain’t you?”
“No.”
“Had you rather have her here than me?”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t you ask her to come back.”
“I would if I could!”
“I never did see any thing like it; every one
is so queer and cross to-day I get snubbed all round.
If folks ain’t good to me, I’ll go and
marry Miles! I declare I will.”
“You’d better,” and with that David
left her frowning and pouting in the porch, and went
to shovelling snow with unusual vigor.
Which?
Mr. Power received Christie so hospitably
that she felt at home at once, and took up her new
duties with the energy of one anxious to repay a favor.
Her friend knew well the saving power of work, and
gave her plenty of it; but it was a sort that at once
interested and absorbed her, so that she had little
time for dangerous thoughts or vain regrets.
As he once said, Mr. Power made her own troubles seem
light by showing her others so terribly real and great
that she was ashamed to repine at her own lot.
Her gift of sympathy served her well, past experience
gave her a quick eye to read the truth in others,
and the earnest desire to help and comfort made her
an excellent almoner for the rich, a welcome friend
to the poor. She was in just the right mood to
give herself gladly to any sort of sacrifice, and
labored with a quiet energy, painful to witness had
any one known the hidden suffering that would not
let her rest.
