“Nonsense! You can imagine how it would seem. I can imagine how it would seem to be drawn over the snow by reindeer, or to be carried away in a balloon. Now, tell me—wouldn’t you like to be beautiful and rich, and admired by everybody?”
“I can imagine something I would like far better.”
“What, the model farm, and to live at home? Oh, but if you are to wish, you know, you may as well wish for riches and beauty and all the rest at once! You would never stop short at your farm and contentment, if you had your wish.”
Christie shook her head. “I think I would not wish at all.”
“Do you mean that you are so satisfied with your lot that you would not have it different if your wish could change it?” asked Miss Gertrude, in some surprise.
Christie hesitated a moment.
“I mean that I don’t know what is best for me or for those I love, and He who has appointed our lot does; and so all things are best as they are.”
“Do you mean that you would rather be as you are, living away from home, among strangers, poor and not very strong, than to have all that we sometimes talk about, and to be able to be benevolent and live at home with your sisters?”
“Ah, that would be very pleasant; at least, it seems so now. But still it might not be best for us. If it would be best, we should have it so, I am quite sure.”
Gertrude opened her eyes in amazement.