"Do you think I have been right?" she asked presently. "He seemed to feel I was almost wicked."
"Dear Nellie," she answered softly, "I do not see what you could have done else, now."
"I did think it right all along," said Nellie; "but to-day I feel wretched, half fearing that I have acted unfairly to him; and yet I have tried so hard that he should understand without all this."
"I am sure you have; I have seen it when I have been with you. He must have been wilfully blind."
"You see he didn't want to believe I could be in earnest," said Nellie, very low.
"But he should have been willing to wait, Nellie."
"He was," answered she; "but I would not let him. Oh, Christina, you do not think I ought to have let him?"
"I do not know exactly, dear. Your father would tell you best."
"I was wondering whether it would be my duty to tell papa; it would add so to his sorrow; and I could not think of leaving them all now, Christina; it would be very wrong."
"Yes, now; but in a year or two?"