"'What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.'"
Christina repeated it over to herself as she climbed the nursery stairs. She met Nurse with a glad light in her eyes.
"I've had the most lovely day, Nurse, and I don't think I shall mind very much my father and mother coming home."
"Mind!" exclaimed Nurse aghast. "I should think you oughtn't to mind, indeed! A little girl ought to be full of happiness at the very thought!"
The eventful day came. Christina wandered up and down the house rejoicing in the blazing fires and cheerful rooms. To her, before, her home had been a puzzle and a mystery. There had been so many locked doors and darkened rooms; rooms that even in the light of day were shrouded with linen coverings. Now all was changed. Curtains were drawn aside; coverings taken away; the silver and china and pictures delighted and astonished the child. She watched the gardeners fill the big hall with flowering plants; she looked on whilst Mrs. Hallam arranged flowers in every room: flowers which had come from the greenhouses, into which Christina had never been allowed to go.
"Why, Nurse!" she exclaimed drawing a long breath. "We have more pretty things than Miss Bertha has!"
And Nurse laughed outright at the comparison.
Dusk set in, and the travellers had not arrived. Christina had her tea, and sat expectantly at the nursery window; but when eight o'clock came, Nurse insisted upon putting her to bed.
"They'll not be here now till nearly ten o'clock. They must have missed the train."
And Christina did not know whether she was glad or sorry that the meeting was deferred. She was too tired with the excitement of the day to keep awake, and slept soundly till she was roused by Nurse the next morning.