"I wonder why she doesn't want to see Uncle Jasper," remarked Eric, thoughtfully, as walked home by Celia's side; "you know they had become friends again, and he's been cut up about her. How distressed she looked when you spoke of him!"
"Sick people get queer fancies, I've heard," said Celia; "oh, how glad I am we have seen her! She is really better, though she does look so ill. Oh, how thankful I am to God for sparing her life! What should we have done without Joy?"
"Don't think of it, Celia. I shall not mind going back to school now when the time comes, for mother says Joy will soon be well enough to be moved to the Moat House. Then you'll be able to help in the nursing. By the way, we won't tell Uncle Jasper that Joy doesn't want to see him."
"Of course not. He would be dreadfully hurt."
"You are his favourite, Celia," Eric said, candidly, "but I think he's fond of Joy, too, though he doesn't understand her; and yet she always seems to me so much easier to understand than you."
"Joy's better than I am," Celia admitted, with a new humility in her tone which struck her brother with surprise; "she never pretends to be what she is not."
"And do you?" he inquired, curiously.
But Celia declined to answer, and he did not ask her again. They finished their walk in silence after that.