She finished what she was doing in the room and then went out, without another word and without looking towards Mrs Lee.
“You see, she takes it very quietly,” said Mr Lee. “Be sure and make her some little present, as I said before, and it will be all right.”
Mrs Lee sighed.
“It is I who have the most cause for regret,” she said, sadly; “but it is vain to speak of it. You could never, never know.”
Christie went about the house all day very quietly, but no less busily than usual. Her thoughts were by no means pleasant, however.
“It was my vanity that made me think I was of use to her and that she cared for me,” she said to herself, bitterly. “And now I must go home, when I was growing content to stay. If I had only taken John’s advice, and gone with him! Well, I suppose I was too full of my own plans, and this is the way I am to be taught wisdom and humility. I will try to be content. But it will not be very easy, I am afraid.”
Mrs Lee was out a good deal during the day, so that she scarcely saw her till the children had gone to bed. Then she came into the nursery to make some last arrangement of little garments; and in spite of herself, Christie trembled to find herself left alone with her.
“I must speak to her,” she said. “Oh, if I only need not! If I could just say good-bye, and nothing more!”
Mrs Lee sat lost in thought, not seeming to heed her, and Christie stitched away as though there were nothing in the world more important than that little Ned’s buttons should be sewed on firmly. They were finished at last, and the little garment laid with the rest. Instead of coming to her seat again, she stood a little behind Mrs Lee, and said, in a low voice:
“Is it to-morrow, ma’am?”