"Not mine; I do not feel I can take any credit. I was always helped over every difficulty. At first I used to think I could never succeed in managing it all; and then I learnt gradually that every time I got perplexed, I had nothing to do but to ask for wisdom. Sometimes I felt as if the wisdom had hardly been given, as if things had not quite gone right after all; but I learned gradually to believe in the answer to my prayer being sent, and the more I trusted, the more I found I might trust." Nellie smiled brightly when she got to the end of this long sentence, and Christina looked with soft appreciating glance back at her. At this moment, a sound of merry voices came nearer and nearer. The gate creaked on its hinges, and a number of young people came quickly up the path, and entered the sitting-room. "We have had such a lovely ramble," exclaimed Ada, holding in her hand her pet brother, a sturdy little fellow of six years old. "I'm not a bit tired," said he, stumping along bravely; "and Ada says we've been six miles." "Yes, that we have," answered Arthur, "and I think Cecil has done well. So your wee birdie is asleep, Christina?" "Yes; and I must go and lay her in her cot. Ada, bring Eleanor with you." Eleanor climbed up into Auntie Ada's arms, and was carried off smiling to her nurse; while Nellie went out to Tom, and asked him if he were ready to come in. He turned his face up to hers. What a look of affection was in his eyes! "I like being here, Nellie," he said; "and now I have this, I can come in when I like, you know." He referred to his invalid chair, with its large, easy wheels, which he could move with a touch of his hand. She smiled in answer, and settling his pillow stood still, looking down upon him. "You are in pain to-day I fear, dear?" she said softly. "Only a little." "Your back?" "Yes; but I must expect it, Nellie. Don't look sad, darling. 'Neither will there be any more pain there.'" "No, dear. 'The former things will be passed away;' but I wish—" "Do not wish anything but what is sent me," he answered. "It is all love." Nellie kissed his forehead, and turned away. "All love," she repeated to herself, as she went up to her room; "all love. 'All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth.'" As she looked from her window over the sea, and thought of all these things, she saw Walter come in from his walk, with Netta and Isabel leaning on him on either side, full of life and spirits. "There's Nellie at her window," exclaimed Netta, looking up. "Nellie, Walter wants you to come down. He's cut his finger, and Christina is nowhere to be seen." "I will come," said Nellie, hastening down. "Is it bad?" she asked, as she rapidly got out rag and calendula, which she always kept handy. "Oh dear, no; a mere scratch. But where is Christina?" "Can't do without her for five minutes?" asked Arthur saucily from the sofa, where he lay luxuriously enjoying a delightful book. "No, not if I can help it; where is she?"