"She's like a ghost," she said downstairs, "for all she's so quiet; and she would not let me talk to her, nor tell her how sorry I am."
"Better not, my dear," said the landlady kindly; "she has been up in her mother's room this long time, for I saw her go in; and the best thing you can do is to get her a cup of tea as quickly as you can."
* * * * * *
In the long, quiet days which followed, Christina had ample time to recollect her promise to her father. Tender as was the memory of that conversation, dutiful as Christina was, she sought hard for some excuse to evade the keeping of her promise.
"He would never have asked it from me if he had known how it would add to my distress," she said to herself.
"To have fixed on her, above all people; she is so particular; and—Oh, I do wish he had not asked it!"
Still he had asked it, and she had promised it, and very soon her conscience told her there could be no evading this duty. She had given directions that this aunt should be asked to the funeral. And she herself, now her mind was made up, wrote a little note inviting her to stay with her for a while. She could not make herself give a more definite invitation.
The day before her loved ones were carried to the grave, Miss Arbuthnot came. Christina met her at the drawing room door, and led her in, looking in her face to see if she could do anything towards filling the void at her heart. Her aunt pressed her hand earnestly, but did not speak, and Christina undid her wrappings without a word.
"Shall I be able to see them?" at length Miss Arbuthnot said in a low tone.
"I thought you would wish it; they are here," she answered, drawing her aunt into the back room. Side by side, in the centre of the room, lay the two peaceful faces, prepared for their long rest till the resurrection morning. Christina made no remark; but when her aunt had printed an agitated kiss on the two faces, and they were turning away, she said solemnly, "I have come to feel it is better as it is; I do not know what I could have done with one without the other. They loved each other so tenderly. I am thankful it is as it is."