“I am ready to go to work to-morrow, and will do any thing I can find, but I should love to stay here a little while, if I could; I do so dread to be alone.  Is it possible?  I mean to pay my board of course, and help you besides if you’ll let me.”

Mrs. Wilkins glowed with pleasure at this compliment, and leaning toward Christie, looked into her face a moment in silence, as if to test the sincerity of the wish.  In that moment Christie saw what steady, sagacious eyes the woman had; so clear, so honest that she looked through them into the great, warm heart below, and looking forgot the fuzzy, red hair, the paucity of teeth, the faded gown, and felt only the attraction of a nature genuine and genial as the sunshine dancing on the kitchen floor.

Beautiful souls often get put into plain bodies, but they cannot be hidden, and have a power all their own, the greater for the unconsciousness or the humility which gives it grace.  Christie saw and felt this then, and when the homely woman spoke, listened to her with implicit confidence.

“My dear, I’d no more send you away now than I would my Adelaide, for you need looking after for a spell, most as much as she doos.  You’ve been thinkin’ and broodin’ too much, and sewin’ yourself to death.  We’ll stop all that, and keep you so busy there won’t be no time for the hypo.  You’re one of them that can’t live alone without starvin’ somehow, so I’m jest goin’ to turn you in among them children to paster, so to speak.  That’s wholesome and fillin’ for you, and goodness knows it will be a puffect charity to me, for I’m goin’ to be dreadful drove with gettin’ up curtins and all manner of things, as spring comes on.  So it ain’t no favor on my part, and you can take out your board in tendin’ baby and putterin’ over them little tykes.”

“I should like it so much!  But I forgot my debt to Mrs. Flint; perhaps she won’t let me go,” said Christie, with an anxious cloud coming over her brightening face.

“Merciful, suz! don’t you be worried about her.  I’ll see to her, and ef she acts ugly Lisha ’ll fetch her round; men can always settle such things better’n we can, and he’s a dreadful smart man Lisha is.  We’ll go to-morrer and get your belongins, and then settle right down for a spell; and by-an’-by when you git a trifle more chipper we’ll find a nice place in the country some’rs.  That’s what you want; nothin’ like green grass and woodsy smells to right folks up.  When I was a gal, ef I got low in my mind, or riled in my temper, I jest went out and grubbed in the gardin, or made hay, or walked a good piece, and it fetched me round beautiful.  Never failed; so I come to see that good fresh dirt is fust rate physic for folk’s spirits as it is for wounds, as they tell on.”

“That sounds sensible and pleasant, and I like it.  Oh, it is so beautiful to feel that somebody cares for you a little bit, and you ain’t one too many in the world,” sighed Christie.