Elisabeth's pride could never stand in the way of her pleasure; Christopher's, on the contrary, might.

It was a remarkable fact that after Christopher had reproved Elisabeth for some fault--which happened neither infrequently nor unnecessarily--he was always repentant and she forgiving; yet nine times out of ten he had been in the right and she in the wrong.

But Elisabeth's was one of those exceptionally generous natures which can pardon the reproofs and condone the virtues of their friends; and she bore no malice, even when Christopher had been more obviously right than usual.

But she was already enough of a woman to adapt to her own requirements his penitence for right-doing; and on this occasion she took advantage of his chastened demeanour to induce him to assist her in erecting a new shrine to Athene in the wood--which meant that she gave all the directions and he did all the work.
"You are doing it beautifully, Chris--you really are!" she exclaimed with delight.

"We shall be able to have a splendid sacrifice this afternoon.