“I shall be very pleased if she will join us,” said Miss Davis; and then Mrs. Enderby left the room, and Hetty was asked to take a seat at the foot of the table.

“What have you been learning, my dear?” asked Miss Davis.

“Nothing,” said Hetty; “I can read a little; but that is all.”

Phyllis and Nell had not spoken to her, and had looked at her only with sidelong glances.  This was because it was their study hour and speaking was not allowed; but Hetty thought it was because they were not glad to see her coming to join them, and she therefore felt all the more careless about trying to make the best of herself.  If nobody cared about her, what did it matter whether she was a dunce or not?  So she said boldly that she had been learning nothing; and then the two Enderby girls lifted up their heads and stared at her in sheer amazement.

Hetty’s face grew crimson, and her pride arose within her.

“After all,” she said, “it is much better fun to play and amuse yourself all day than to sit poring over books.  Study does not make people prettier or pleasanter.”

This last sentence was an echo from one of Mrs. Rushton’s silly speeches.  When people would ask her about Hetty’s education, she was wont to declare that the child was prettier and pleasanter without it.

Phyllis, listening, merely curled her lip, and bent lower in silence over her book.  Nell remained looking at Hetty with a wondering expression in her eyes.  Miss Davis drew herself up and looked much displeased.

“I hope you are doing yourself great injustice,” she said; “I cannot believe you really mean what you say.  Study not make people prettier or pleasanter!  I scarcely believe that my ears have not deceived me.”

“It does not make you prettier or pleasanter,” said Hetty persistently.  “You were much nicer yesterday when you were playing and running about.  Your face is not the same at all now.”

Phyllis opened her eyes wide and turned them on Miss Davis, as if to ask, “Is not this too much?” Nell, on the contrary, began to smile as though she thought Hetty’s impudence capital fun; and this encouraged Hetty, who had been taught to love to amuse people at any cost.  Miss Davis coloured with surprise and annoyance.

“It is of no consequence, my dear, how we look when we are doing our duty,” she said, controlling herself.

“Then I hope I shall never do my duty,” said Hetty coolly; “nobody loves people who do not look gay.”

Phyllis turned to Miss Davis and said, “Will you not send her away now?  Mother never meant us to be interrupted like this.”

“Patience, my dear!” said Miss Davis; “Hetty is perhaps giving us the worst side of her character only to startle us.  I am sure there is a better side somewhere.  Come over here to me, Hetty, and let me hear you read.”

Hetty obeyed, and took the book Miss Davis placed in her hand.  Holding herself very erect and looking very serious she began, after a glance over the paragraph that had been marked for her:—­