Most of the guests laughed heartily and lavished praises on Hetty’s talent and beauty.  Only a few looked shocked, and shook their heads, saying it was sad to see a child so precocious and cynical.

Mr. and Mrs. Enderby, though disliking the exhibition and thinking it very bad for the little girl, were obliged to laugh with the rest, and Mrs. Rushton was delighted and triumphant.  Nell laughed more than any one and clapped her hands wildly, but Phyllis looked on all the time with a disdainful smile.

“My girls are up too late,” said Mrs. Enderby, as she bade them good night.

“Why did you send for us, then, mother?” said Phyllis.

“I did not, my dear, it was quite your aunt’s doing.  She wished to amuse you, I believe.”

“Then I wish I had known,” said Phyllis, “I would rather have gone to bed.  I did not want to see that ridiculous performance.”

“Hetty took some trouble to make us laugh.  And if she has not been very wisely brought up we must not blame her too much for that.”

“I do not like her; I wish she would go away,” said Phyllis with quiet determination.

“She is going to-morrow,” said Mrs. Enderby.

“She is not a lady, mother, and I am quite tired of her restless ways,” persisted Phyllis.  “I hope she will never come back here.”

Mrs. Enderby in her heart echoed this hope, but she controlled her feeling against Hetty and said: 

“I fear your aunt is not the sort of person to understand the bringing up of a girl; but remember, Phyllis, that I rely on you to help me to be of service to this poor child.  Go to bed now, my daughter, and be wise, as you usually are.”

Phyllis looked troubled, and thought over her mother’s words as she lay in bed.  But hers was not one of those natures that relent easily.  She tried to satisfy her conscience by assuring herself that she wished no ill to Hetty, but quite the reverse.  “Only she is different from us,” she reflected, “and she ought to keep away with the people who suit her.  I hope aunt Amy will not bring her here again.”

CHAPTER VIII.

Hetty desolate.

Mrs. Rushton and Hetty departed.  Phyllis was satisfied, and everything went on as usual at Wavertree Hall.  No one was sorry to lose the visitors, except Nell, who was secretly rather fond of Hetty.  She was not a very brave child, and was much influenced by the opinion of others, especially of those whom she loved and admired; so, though there was a soft corner in her heart for Hetty, she was a little ashamed of the fact, seeing that none of the rest of the family shared her feeling.  With Phyllis especially she was careful to be silent about Hetty, having a high opinion of her sister’s good sense, and being greatly afraid of her contempt.  And so it came that after a few days had passed Hetty’s name was mentioned no more in the house.