“Anywhere is nowhere,” said Miss Davis.  “Just look round you and see all that is given to you in this house.  There is your comfortable bed to sleep in, you have your meals when you are hungry, you have good clothing, you have a warm fireside to sit at, you have the protection of an honourable home.  Yet you would fling away all these advantages because of a few wounds to your pride.  Phyllis is trying, I admit—­I have to suffer from her at times myself—­but you and I must bear with something for the sake of what we receive.”

Hetty raised her eyes and looked at Miss Davis’s worn face and the line of pain that had come out sharply across her brow, and forgot herself for the moment, thinking of the governess’s patient life.

“But, Miss Davis, you need not suffer from Phyllis; you are not like me.  Any people would be glad to get you, who are so clever and so good.  You could complain of her to her mother, and if she did not get better you could go away.”

“Should I be any more safe from annoyance in another family?  Hetty, my dear, there are always thorns in the path of those who are poor and dependent on others, and our wisest course is to make the best of things.  I might say to you, you have no one to think of but yourself.  For me, I have a mother to support, and I have to think of my dear young brother, who is not too wise for his own interests, and whose prospects are at the mercy of a rather capricious old uncle.”

“Oh that I had a mother and a brother to work for!” cried Hetty passionately.

“Perhaps that would teach you wisdom, my dear.  However, profit by my experience and be cheered up.  Take no notice if Phyllis is unkind.  It is better to be here, even with her unkindness, than straying about the world alone, meeting with such misfortunes as you never dreamed of.”

After Miss Davis had left her, Hetty sat a long time pondering over that lady’s words.  It seemed to her that the governess, good and patient as she was, had no motive for her conduct high enough to carry her through the trials of her life.  It was certainly an excellent thing to be prudent for the sake of her mother and brother; to bear with present evils for fear of worse evils that might come.  But yet—­but yet, was there not a higher motive than all this for learning to be meek and humble of heart?  Looking into her own proud and stubborn nature, the little girl assured herself that Miss Davis’s motives would never be in themselves enough for her, Hetty—­never sufficiently strong to crush the rebellion of self in her stormy young soul.  Instinctively her thoughts flew to Mrs. Kane, and seizing her hat and cloak she flew out of the house, and away down the road to the labourer’s cottage.

Fortunately it was a good hour for her visit.  John had gone out after his dinner.  The cottage kitchen was tidied up, the fire shining, the two old straw arm-chairs drawn up by the hearth.  Mrs. Kane was just screwing up her eyes, trying to thread a needle, when Hetty dashed in and flung her arms around her neck.