Then humming a song she sauntered out of the room, and Nurse sat down in her easy chair and began to cry.
"And if this is the beginning, what will be the end!" she sobbed. "And 'tis the same all over the house; but there, Miss Tina, don't you mind what a foolish old woman says. I'm not fit to have the charge of you."
Christina stood on the hearthrug not knowing what to say. She was relieved when Connie came in and asked Nurse to go to Mrs. Hallam, who wanted her.
"I think my mother won't be unkind," said Christina to herself with a wise little shake of her head, "but I should like to see my father."
She waited for some time in the empty nursery, and then, weary of her own company, determined to slip down to the library and read a book.
Very softly she crept downstairs, and was relieved to meet no one on the way; the library was empty. Christina climbed up on the steps, and took out the volume of French History that she was last reading. Then she sat down on the hearthrug, and in a few minutes had forgotten all about her father and mother. Outside surroundings had faded away; she was living inside her book.
Suddenly a voice made her start.
"Is this Christina?"
She jumped up in fright, for there, standing before her, stood her father. Very tall, and very big he seemed to her. His dark eyes were fixed upon her, and though she could not see his mouth for the heavy moustache that concealed it, it seemed to her that he was looking displeased.
"Yes," she said trying hard to be brave; "oughtn't I to be here?"