king.

[Note: In America, any light four-wheeled vehicle is called a wagon.]

Christie was not lazy, though her aunt sometimes accused her of being
so. When her heart was in her work, she could do it quickly and well;
and her strength failed her always before her patience was exhausted.

She knew she must finish the milking alone now, and she set to it with a
will. In a surprisingly short time she was standing between two foaming
milk-pails at the gate. To carry them both at once was almost, though
not quite, beyond her strength; and as she stood for a moment hesitating
whether she would try it, or go with one and return for the other, the
matter was decided for her.

"Christie!" said a voice--not Aunt Elsie's--from the door.

Turning, Christie saw her sister Effie. Surprise kept her riveted to
the spot till her sister came down the path.

"Dinna lift them, Christie: you are no more able to do it than a
chicken. I'll carry them."

But she stooped first to place her hands on her little sister's
shoulders and to kiss her softly. Christie did not speak; but the touch
of her sister's lips unsealed the fountain of her tears, and clinging to
her and hiding her face, she cried and sobbed in a way that, at last,
really frightened her sister.

"Why, Christie! Why, you foolish lassie! What ails you, child? Has
anything happened?--or is it only that you are so glad to see me home
again? Don't cry in that wild way, child. What is it, Christie?"

"It's nothing--I dinna ken--I canna help it!" cried Christie, after an
ineffectual effort to control herself.

Her sister held the trembling little form for a moment without speaking,
and then she said, cheerfully:

"See, Christie! It's growing dark! We must be quick with the milking."

"Why didna you come last week, Effie?" said Christie, rousing herself at
last.

"Oh, partly because of the rain, and partly because I thought I would
put my two holidays together. This is Thursday night, and I can stay
till Monday morning--three whole days."

Christie gave a sigh, and smiled.

"Come," said Effie; "I'll help you. I was waiting till you came from
the pasture. I didna see you come."

"No; I didna go in."

It seemed to Christie that a very heavy burden had been lifted from her
heart. She smiled without the sigh, as soon as she met her sister's
grave look.

"Did you walk home, Effie?" she asked.

"No; I got a chance to ride with the book-man. He was at th