ariness,
dear child, then that is His work, because it is His will for thee. It
would not be work for God, if thou wert to arise and scour the floor,
when He bade thee 'bide still and suffer. Ah, Christie, we are all of
us sore apt to make that blunder--to think that the work we set
ourselves is the work God setteth us. And 'tis very oft He giveth us
cross-training; the eager, active soul is set to lie and bear, while the
timid, ease-loving nature is bidden to arise and do. But so long as it
is His will, it is His work."

It did not strike Christie as anything peculiar or surprising that her
new acquaintance should at once begin to talk to her in this strain.
She had lived exclusively with people older than herself, and all whom
she knew intimately were Christian people. Aunt Tabitha sometimes
puzzled her; but Christie's nature was not one to fret and strain over a
point which she could not comprehend. It seemed to her, therefore, not
only right, but quite a matter of course, that Pandora Roberts should be
of the same type as her father and her Aunt Alice.

"I thank you, Mistress," she said earnestly. "I will do mine utmost to
bear it in mind, and then, maybe, I shall not be so impatient as oft I
am."

"Art thou impatient, Christabel?"

"Oh, dreadfully!" said Christie, drawing a long sigh. "Not always, look
you; there be times I am content, or if not, I can keep it all inside
mostly. But there be times it will not tarry within, but comes right
out, and then I'm so 'shamed of myself afterward. I marvel how it is
that peevishness isn't like water and other things--when they come
pouring out, they are out, and they are done; but the more peevishness
comes out of you, the more there seems to be left in. 'Tis not oft,
look you, it really comes right outside: that would be shocking! but
'tis a deal too often. And I _do_ want to be like the Lord Jesus!"

Something bright and wet dropped on Christabel's forehead as Pandora
stooped to kiss her.

"Little Christie," she said tenderly, "I too right earnestly desire to
be like the Lord Jesus. But the best of all is that the Lord Himself
desires it for us. He will help us both; and we will pray each for
other."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

UNEXPECTED TIDINGS.

When Roger Hall came home that evening, he was greeted by Christie with
an amount of excited enthusiasm which he did not often hear from his
little invalid daughter.

"Oh Father, Father! I have a new fri