Christie was but too glad to be off

　　Christie was but too glad to be off; and when Mrs. Saltonstall askedwhen she would prefer to leave, promptly replied, "To-morrow,"received her salary, which was forthcoming with unusual punctuality,and packed her trunks with delightful rapidity.

　　As the family was to leave in a week, her sudden departure caused nosurprise to the few who knew her, and with kind farewells to such ofher summer friends as still remained, she went to bed that night allready for an early start. She saw nothing more of Mr. Fletcher thatday, but the sound of excited voices in the drawing-room assured herthat madame was having it out with her brother; and with trulyfeminine inconsistency Christie hoped that she would not be too hardupon the poor man, for, after all, it was kind of him to overlookthe actress, and ask the governess to share his good things withhim.

　　She did not repent, but she got herself to sleep, imagining a bridaltrip to Paris, and dreamed so delightfully of lost splendors thatthe awakening was rather blank, the future rather cold and hard.

　　She was early astir, meaning to take the first boat and so escapeall disagreeable rencontres, and having kissed the children in theirlittle beds, with tender promises not to forget them, she took ahasty breakfast and stepped into the carriage waiting at the door.

　　The sleepy waiters stared, a friendly housemaid nodded, and MissWalker, the hearty English lady who did her ten miles a day, criedout, as she tramped by, blooming and bedraggled:

　　"Bless me, are you off?""Yes, thank Heaven!" answered Christie; but as she spoke Mr.

　　Fletcher came down the steps looking as wan and heavy-eyed as if asleepless night had been added to his day's defeat. Leaning in atthe window, he asked abruptly, but with a look she never couldforget:

　　"Will nothing change your answer, Christie?""Nothing."His eyes said, "Forgive me," but his lips only said, "Good-by," andthe carriage rolled away.

　　Then, being a woman, two great tears fell on the hand still red withthe lingering grasp he had given it, and Christie said, as pitifullyas if she loved him:

　　"He has got a heart, after all, and perhaps I might have been gladto fill it if he had only shown it to me sooner. Now it is toolate."
Chapter 5 Seamstress
BEFORE she had time to find a new situation, Christie received anote from Miss Tudor, saying that hearing she had left Mrs.

　　Saltonstall she wanted to offer her the place of companion to aninvalid girl, where the duties were light and the compensationlarge.

　　"How kind of her to think of me," said Christie, gratefully. "I'llgo at once and do my best to secure it, for it must be a good thingor she wouldn't recommend it."Away went Christie to the address sent by Miss Tudor, and as shewaited at the door she thought:

　　"What a happy family the Carrols must be!" for the house was one ofan imposing block in a West End square, which had its own littlepark where a fountain sparkled in the autumn sunshine, and prettychildren played among the fallen leaves.