"'Don't go, princess,' pleaded little Eddie.

"'But I must, for your auntie does not like me,' said Chrissy.

"'I am sure I always meant to do my duty by you. And I will do so still.--
Beware, my dear young woman, of the deceitfulness of riches. Your carriage
won't save your soul!'

"Chrissy was on the point of saying something rude, as she confessed when
we got out; but she did not. She made her bow, turned and walked away. I
followed, and poor Eddie would have done so too, but was laid hold of by
his aunt. I confess this was not quite proper behaviour on Chrissy's part;
but I never discovered that till she made me see it. She was very sorry
afterwards, and my uncle feared the brougham had begun to hurt her
already, as she told me. For she had narrated the whole story to him, and
his look first let her see that she had been wrong. My uncle went with her
afterwards to see Mrs. Sprinx, and thank her for having done her best; and
to take Eddie such presents as my uncle only knew how to buy for children.
When he went to school, I know he sent him a gold watch. From that time
till now that she is my wife, Chrissy has had no more such adventures; and
if Uncle Peter did not die on Christmas-day, it did not matter much, for
Christmas-day makes all the days of the year as sacred as itself."



CHAPTER II.

THE GIANT'S HEART.