CHAPTER X.

The new home.

Before going to Amber Hill that day, Mrs. Enderby had sent for her two girls to come to her in her room, where she informed them of the fact that Hetty was coming to the Hall.

“I am going to tell you some news, my children, and I hope you will feel it to be good news.  I know my little daughters have kind hearts, and I am sure they will pity one even younger than themselves who has been left without home or protection.”

“I suppose you are speaking of Hetty, mother?” said Phyllis.

“Yes, dear.  Your father and I have arranged to bring her here.”

A faint colour passed over Phyllis’s fair pale face, and she said: 

“Did Aunt Amy not leave her any money, mother?”

“No; I am sorry to say she did not leave her anything.”

“She ought to have done so,” said Phyllis.

“Your Aunt Amy was a very peculiar person, Phyllis, and nothing would induce her to make a will.  She put off the task too long, and died without fulfilling it.”

“Could those who have got her money now not make it all right?” said Phyllis.  “Could they not settle some money on her?”

“That would be a difficult matter to arrange, dear.  Almost all Mrs. Rushton’s property has gone to her husband’s brother, who is not a very generous man, I fear, and the rest, which returns to your father, is in trust for his children.  He does not feel himself called upon to deprive you of what is lawfully yours in order to give a fortune to a foundling child.”

“I would rather give her some of my money than have her here,” said Phyllis bluntly.

“You must get over that feeling, Phyllis.  It is perhaps a little trial to us all to have a stranger among us, but we will endeavour to be kind, and all will be for the best.”

“And is Hetty to be our own, own sister?” said Nell, fixing her blue eyes on her mother’s face and speaking for the first time.

“No, my love, not quite.  That would not be fair to Hetty, as we cannot make her one of our own children.  She will be a companion for you and join in all your studies.  But it is to be understood that such advantages are to be given to her only to fit her to be a governess.  I am anxious that every one should be good to her, but I do not intend her to have such luxuries as would but prepare her for great unhappiness later on in her life.”

“Hetty will never get on with that sort of thing,” said Phyllis.  “She is too proud and too impertinent.”

“My dear Phyllis, I believe she has a good heart; and she has been, and will be, severely tried.  Any failure of generosity on the part of my good little girl will disappoint me sadly.”

Phyllis closed her lips with an expression which meant that for reasons of propriety she would say no more, but that nothing could prevent her from feeling that justice and right were on her side; that she had a better apprehension of the matter in question than mother or father, or any one in the world.