Gertrude indulged herself in a laugh when her aunt had departed. "Aunt Grena never can bear in mind," she said, "that you and I, Pan, are above six years old. Why, Christie Hall was a babe in the cradle when I was learning feather-stitch." "Laugh not at Aunt Grena, True. She is the best friend we have, and the kindliest." "Bless you, Dorrie! I mean her no ill, dear old soul! Only I believe she never was a young maid, and she thinks we never shall be. And I'll tell you, there was some mistake made in my being the elder of us. It should have been you, for you are the soberer by many a mile." Pandora smiled. "I have dwelt with Grandmother five years," she said. "Well, and haven't I dwelt with Aunt Grena well-nigh nineteen years? No, Pan, that's not the difference. It lieth in the nature of us two. I am a true Roberts, and you take after our mother's folks." "Maybe so. Will you have with us, True, to Master Hall's?" "I? Gramercy, no! I'm none so fond of sick childre." "Christie is not sick, so to speak, Bridget saith; she is but lame and weak." "Well, then she is sick, so _not_ to speak! She alway lieth of a couch, and I'll go bail she whines and mewls enough o'er it." "Nay, Bridget saith she is right full of cheer, and most patient, notwithstanding her maladies. And, True, the poor little maid is alone the whole day long, save on holy-days, when only her father can be with her. Wouldst thou not love well to bring some sunshine into her little life?" "Did I not tell you a minute gone, Pandora Roberts, that you and I were cast in different moulds? No, my Minorite Sister, I should not love it--never a whit. I want my sunshine for mine own life--not to brighten sick maids and polish up poor childre. Go your ways, O best of Pandoras, and let me be. I'll try over the step of that new minuet while you are gone." "And would you really enjoy that better than being kind to a sick child? O True, you do astonish me!" "I should. I never was cut out for a Lady Bountiful. I could not do it, Dorrie--not for all the praises and blessings you expect to get." "Gertrude, _did_ you think--" "An't like you, Mistress Pandora, the horses be at the door, and Mistress Grena is now full ready." CHAPTER THIRTEEN. A NEW FRIEND FOR CHRISTABEL. "O Aunt Tabitha! have you and Uncle Thomas been to Canterbury? and did you really see dear Aunt Alice? How looks she? and what said she? I do want to know, and Father never seems to see, somehow, the things I want. Of course I would not--he's the best father that ever was, Aunt Tabitha, and the dearest belike; but somehow, he seems not to _see_ things--"