into their future! And yet perhaps it is better as it is."

"It is better to trust than to know, I once heard Effie say." Christie
spoke shyly, and with hesitation, as though she were not quite sure that
she should speak at all.

Mrs Lee smiled, and said, kindly:

"I see you are very fond of your sister Effie."

Christie's face spoke; but she did not trust her voice.

"I suppose she is the eldest of your family?"

"Yes. She's twenty-two. Oh, I wish you could see Effie! She is very
different from what you would think from seeing me--or Annie, even."

"How so?" asked Mrs Lee, greatly amused at the eagerness of one usually
so quiet and self-restrained.

"Oh, I can hardly tell you. She looks so different--from me, I mean.
Annie's more like her. But it's not so much her looks. She is so brave
and cheerful and strong. She is not afraid. And yet she is gentle, and
has patience with us all."

"Is she one of those you were speaking about just now--a child of God?"

"Yes; she is," said Christie, gravely. "She doesn't say much about it;
but I do believe it is that which makes the difference. No wonder that
she is strong and brave and cheerful always, when she is quite sure that
_all things_ will work together for her good."

Christie spoke the last words rather to herself than to Mrs Lee. The
lady listened with much interest, however. She had long ago learned to
value her little nurse for her faithfulness and her desire to do right;
but this glimpse she was getting of her inner life was something new.

"It's no wonder I love Effie," continued Christie, whose heart was
opened. "When my mother died, I was sickly, and different from the
rest; and she gave me to Effie as her special care. I think I should
have died if it hadn't been for her. Oh, if I could only see her, just
for one minute!"

Christie was in danger of forgetting all else for the moment. But she
checked herself by a great effort, and said:

"I don't mean that I am discontented here, or that I would go home if I
could. I know it is best I should be here."

"What do you mean by all things working together for good?" said Mrs
Lee, by and by. "I suppose Christians have trials and sorrows as well
as others?"

"Oh, yes! I don't mean that. But a Christian may be sure that even his
trials are sent for the best. That is what John Nesbitt said to Effie
and me once. He said, if we had a friend of whose love we could be
sure, a friend wh