“No; I shall have that afterwards; and it is so long since I saw any one that I ever saw before. Did Miss Gertrude like her school?”
“Yes; I think she liked it. She has grown, I think, and she is greatly improved in many ways.”
“She was always good to me,” said Christie, softly.
“Well, I don’t know. She told me she was often very cross and unreasonable with you,” said Mr Sherwood, smiling.
“Well, sometimes, perhaps. But I loved her. I sometimes wonder if I shall ever see her again.”
“As soon as she comes home you may be sure of seeing her, and that will not be long now—unless, indeed, you are better, and should go home before she comes,” he forced himself to add.
Christie made no reply to that, but in a little while she asked about the children; and though Mr Sherwood was surprised, he was not sorry that she did not speak any more about herself till he rose to go away.
“Must you go?” she asked, wistfully. “When you hear from Miss Gertrude again, perhaps you will come and tell me about her?”
“That I will,” said Mr Sherwood, heartily; “and I would come before that if I could do you any good I am sure I wish I could.”
“Oh, you have done me good already. I shall have something to think about all day—and my letter, besides. I thank you very much.”