“Was it?” said Babie.

“I thought not,” said Armine, “when I shut my eyes and the playing-fields and the trees and the river stood up before me.  I thought if I could have hoped ever so little, it would have been nice.  And then to think of never being able to run, or row, or stay out late, and always to be bothering about one’s stockings and wraps, and making a miserable muff of oneself just to keep in a bit of uncomfortable life, and being a nuisance to everybody.”

Babie fairly shrieked and sobbed her protest that he could never be a nuisance to her or mother.

“You are Babie, and mother is mother, I know that; but it did seem such a long burthen and bore, and when-—oh, Babie-—don’t you know-—”

“How we always thought you would go on and be something great, and do something great, like Bishop Selwyn, or like that Mr. Denison that Miss Ogilvie has a book about,” said Babie.  “But you will get well and do it when you are a man, Armie!  Didn’t you think about it when you heard all about the golden life in the sermon to-day?  I thought, “That’s going to be Armie’s life,” and I looked at you, but you were looking down.  Were you thinking how it was all spoilt, Armie, poor dear Armie.  For perhaps it isn’t.”

“No, I know nobody can spoil it but myself,” said Armine.  “And you know he said that one might make weakliness and sickness just as golden, by that great Love, as being up and doing.  I was going to tell you, Babie, I was horridly wretched and dismal one day at Leukerbad when I thought mother and all were out of the way-—gone out driving, I believe-—and then Fordham came in.  He had stayed in, I do believe, on purpose—­”

“But, but,” said Babie, not so much impressed as her brother wished; “isn’t he rather a spoon?  Johnny said he ought to have been a girl.”

“I didn’t think Johnny was such a stupid,” said Armine, “I only know he has been no end of a comfort to me, though he says he only wants to hinder me from getting like him.”

“Don’t then,” said Babie, “though I don’t understand.  I thought you were so fond of him.”

“So must you be,” said Armine; “I never got on with anybody so well.  He knows just how it is!  He says if God gives one such a life, He will help one to find out the way to make the best of it for oneself and other people, and to bear to see other people doing what one can’t, and we are to help one another.  Oh, Babie! you must like Fordham!”

“I must if you do!” said Babie.  “But he is awfully old for a friend for you, Armie.”

“He is nineteen,” said Armine, “but people get more and more of the same age as they grow older.  And he likes all our books, and more too, Babie.  He had such a delicious book of French letters, that he lent me, with things in them that were just what I wanted.  If we are to be abroad all the winter, he will get his mother to go wherever we do.  Suppose we went to the Holy Land, Babie!”