"Ah, well, keep it for me, then. I shall be happier when I wear it
so than in the gayest gown I own, for when you put it on, this poor
head and heart of mine will be quiet at last."

Motioning Hester to remove the box, Christie tried to banish the
cloud her unlucky words had brought to Helen's face, by chatting
cheerfully as she helped her make herself "pretty for the boys."

All that day she was unusually calm and sweet, and seemed to yield
herself wholly to the happy influences of the hour, gave and
received her gifts so cheerfully that her brothers watched her with
delight; and unconscious Bella said, as she hung about her sister,
with loving admiration in her eyes:

"I always thought you would get well, and now I'm sure of it, for
you look as you used before I went away to school, and seem just
like our own dear Nell."

"I'm glad of that; I wanted you to feel so, my Bella. I'll accept
your happy prophecy, and hope I may get well soon, very soon."

So cheerfully she spoke, so tranquilly she smiled, that all rejoiced
over her believing, with love's blindness, that she might yet
conquer her malady in spite of their forebodings.

It was a very happy day to Christie, not only that she was
generously remembered and made one of them by all the family, but
because this change for the better in Helen made her heart sing for
joy. She had given time, health, and much love to the task, and
ventured now to hope they had not been given in vain. One thing only