“Oh!” answered Christie, with an intonation of pleasure. “Please, Mistress Pandora, is she as good as you?”
Both Roger and Pandora laughed.
“How must I answer, Christie?” said the latter. “For, if I say ‘ay,’ that shall be to own myself to be good; and if ‘no,’ then were it to speak evil of my sister. She is brighter and cheerier than I, and loveth laughter and mirth. Most folks judge her to be the fairer and sweeter of the twain.”
“I shall not,” said Christie, with a shake of her head; “of that am I very certain.”
Roger privately thought he should not either.
“Well,” said Christie, “I do hope any way, now, all our troubles be over! Please, Mistress Pandora, think you not they shall be?”
“My dear little maid!” answered Pandora, laughing.
“Not without we be in Heaven, Christie,” replied her Father, “and methinks we have scarce won thither yet.”
Christabel looked extremely disappointed.
“Oh, dear!” she said, “I made sure we should have no more, now Queen Elizabeth was come in. Must we wait, then, till we get to Heaven, Father?”