There was a postscript, saying that the poor girl had been in the hospital since the end of April.
“The end of April!” echoed Aunt Elsie and Mrs Nesbitt at once. Effie said nothing, but her hands trembled very much as she opened the other letter. I need not copy Christie’s letter, we already know all she had to tell. Effie’s voice failed her more than once as she read it.
Fearing to make them unhappy at home, yet desiring to have them prepared for whatever might happen to her, the letter had cost Christie a great deal of anxious thought. One thing was plain enough to all; she was very ill and a little despondent, and longed above all things to see Effie and get home again. The elder sister having read it all, laid it down without speaking.
“Effie, my dear,” said Aunt Elsie, “you will need to go.”
“Yes; I must go. How I could have contented myself all this time, knowing she might be ill, I am sure I cannot tell. My poor child!”
Mrs Nesbitt looked at her anxiously, as she said: “My dear bairn, you have nothing to reproach yourself with. You have had a very anxious summer, what with one care and another.”
Effie rose with a gesture of impatience, but sat down again without speaking. She blamed herself severely; but what was the use of speaking about it now? She took up Christie’s letter and read again the last sentence.
“It grieves me to add to your burdens, Effie. I hoped to be able to lighten them, rather. But such is not God’s will, and He sees what is best for us all. I do so long to see you again—to get home. But I must have patience.”
“Have patience!” she repeated aloud. “Oh, poor child! To think of her lying there all these weary months! How can I ever forgive myself!”
She rose from the table hastily. Oh, how glad she would have been to go to her that very moment. But she could not, nor the next day either. There were many things to be considered. They were too dependent on her school to permit her to give it up at once. Some one must be found to take her place during her absence. Sarah must be sent for at the neighbouring village, where she had been staying for the last month. The children and Aunt Elsie must not be left alone. There were other arrangements to be made, too, and two days passed before Effie was ready to go.