the servants have attended to all
your wants?"

"Oh, sir, and dear lady," she exclaimed, "how good, how kind you are to
us! what more could we possibly ask than has been provided us by your
orders?"

"Our orders were that you should be well cared for," Edward said, "but we
feared that for lack of an interpreter you might not be able to make your
wants known."

"Indeed, sir, every want was anticipated," she answered, with grateful
look and tone.

"That is well," he responded. "And now we will leave you to take your
rest. Good-night."

"Good-night, sir," she said; then turning to Zoe, "And you, dear lady,
will let me do some work for you to-morrow?"

"Yes, if you are quite rested by that time," was the smiling reply.
"Don't be uneasy; work and good wages will be found in abundance if you
prove capable."

So Christine went to bed with a heart singing for joy and thankfulness.

Elsie and Evelyn drove over to Ion next morning and found Zoe attending
to her housekeeping cares with a pretty matronly air that became her
well; Aunt Dicey receiving her orders with the look and manner of one who
is humoring a child, for such she considered the youthful lady.

"There, Aunt Dicey, I believe that is all for to-day," said Zoe; and
turning from her to her callers, "Sister Elsie, how good in you to come
over so early! And you too, little maid," to Evelyn: "I'm delighted to
see you both."

"Thank you," returned Elsie, brightly. "How do you like housekeeping?"

"Very much so far, and my efforts seem to amuse Ned immensely," laughed
Zoe. "It's too absurd that he will persist in looking upon me still as a
mere child. Just think of it! when I've been married more than a year;
yes, a year and a half."

"Ah, my dear little sister, don't be in too great a hurry to grow old,"
said Elsie, "or you may be wanting to turn about and travel back again
one of these days. How do you like your new helpers, or rather their
work? But I suppose you have hardly tried them yet."

"Yes; they are busy now in the sewing-room. I wanted them to take a few
days to rest; but their pride of independence rose up so against it that
I was fairly forced to give them something to do, and I find they do sew
beautifully. Suppose you come and examine their work for yourself. You
are included in the invitation, Evelyn," she added, as she rose and led
the way.

In the cheerful, sunny sewing-room, beside a window that looked out upon
the beautiful grounds, no