over her face. Some one gently forced her into a chair.

"You are not able to stand. It is in vain for you to make the effort,"
said the doctor. Effie turned and saw him.

"I am tired with my journey," she said, "and I have eaten nothing all
day; but I am perfectly well and strong. I cannot go away. I must see
my sister to-night. It was the surprise that overcame me, but I shall
not be so again."

There is not more than one woman in a thousand whose words the doctor
would have heeded at such a time. Effie was that one. Instead of
answering her, he spoke to the nurse, who left the room and soon
returned with a biscuit and a cup of warm tea. Effie forced herself to
take the food, and was refreshed. In a little while she was able to
follow the nurse to the ward, and to seat herself calmly by her sister's
bed.

Christie was still asleep, but happily for Effie she soon awoke. She
could not have endured many minutes of that silent waiting. There was
pleasure, but scarcely surprise, in the eyes that opened to fix
themselves on her face.

"Have you come, Effie? I was dreaming about you. I am very glad."

Effie kneeled down and kissed her over and over again, but she could not
speak a word. Soon she laid her head down on the pillow, and Christie
put her arms round her neck. There was a long silence, so long that
Effie moved gently at last, and removing her sister's arms from her
neck, found her fast asleep. The daylight faded, and the night-lamps
were lighted in the room. There was moving to and fro among the beds,
as the preparations for the night were made. But Effie did not stir
till the nurse spoke to her.

"Your sister is still under the influence of the draught the doctor gave
her. But we must waken her to give her some nourishment before she
settles down for the night."

The eyes, which Effie thought had grown strangely large, opened with a
smile.

"Will they let you stay, Effie?" said she.

"Nothing shall ever make me leave you again."

That was all that passed between them. Christie slept nearly all night,
but to Effie the hours passed slowly and sorrowfully away. There was
never entire quiet in the ward. There was moaning now and then, and
feverish tossing to and fro on one or another of those white beds. The
night-nurse moved about among them, smoothing the pillow of one, holding
a cup to the lips of another, soothing or chiding, as the case of each
required. To Effie the scene w