“What has Hetty done?” repeated Miss Davis.

“Why, she has been getting up early in the mornings to draw flowers,” said Phyllis, unwillingly perceiving that the fault seemed a very small one when plainly described.

“I did not know she could draw,” said Miss Davis; “but, if she can, I see no harm in her doing it.”

“I think she ought to spend the time at the studies father is so anxious she should improve in,” said Phyllis; “and I imagine she knows it too, or she would not have been so secret.”

“There is something in that, Phyllis; though I would rather you had not been so quick to perceive it.”

Phyllis curled her lip slightly.  “Intelligence is given us that we may use it, I suppose,” she said coldly; “but I have done my duty, and I have nothing more to say in the matter.”

Breakfast passed over without anything being said on the subject of the great discovery; but after the meal was finished, Miss Davis desired Hetty to fetch her her drawings that she might see them.  Hetty went to her own room immediately, and returned bringing about a dozen drawings in a very primitive portfolio made of several newspapers gummed together.

Miss Davis was no artist, but she felt that the designs were good, and remarkable as having been executed by a girl so untaught as Hetty.  They increased her opinion of her pupil’s abilities, yet she looked on them chiefly from the point of view Phyllis had suggested to her, and considered them in the light of follies upon which valuable time had been expended.

“My dear,” she said, “these are really very pretty, and I am sure they have given you a great deal of pleasure.  But I cannot countenance your going on with this sort of employment.  Think of how usefully you might have employed at your books the hours you have spent upon these trifles.  I presume you were aware of this from the first yourself, and that this is why you have been so silent as to your new accomplishment.”

“No,” said Hetty decidedly; “I did not feel that I was wasting time.  On the contrary, my drawing gave me better courage to work at my lessons.  The hours I spent were taken from my sleep.  I was always at my books before Phyllis was at hers.”

“Phyllis is not to be made a rule for you, my dear.  She has not the same necessity to exert her powers to the utmost.  If you can do without part of your sleeping time, you ought to devote it to your books.  And pray, if you did not think you were committing some fault, why did you say nothing to anyone of what you were about?”

“I cannot tell you that, Miss Davis,” said Hetty, her eyes filling with tears; “I mean I cannot explain it properly.  I could not bring myself to show what I had done; but I had no idea of wrongness about the matter.”

“Well, my dear, we will say no more about it.  Take the drawings away; and in future work at your lessons every moment of your time.  I will put you on your word of honour, Hetty, not to do any more of this kind of thing.”