“I am sure Hetty could draw one for you,” said Nell.

“But I mean something original.”

“Oh!  Hetty’s drawings are original.  She gathers a few flowers, and that is all she wants to begin with.”

“She must be very clever.  Who is Hetty, if I may ask?”

“Oh!  Hetty is—­Hetty Gray.  She lives in this house.  She is an orphan girl whom papa is educating to be a governess.  She is always in the school-room with Miss Davis.”

“Can she draw so cleverly?”

“Yes; it comes to her naturally.  I will get a bundle of her drawings from papa to show you.  He locked them up because she wanted to be an artist and he did not approve of it.”

“It is well she did not want to go on the stage,” said Phyllis.  “She used to be an extraordinary actress.  However, she gave that up and took a dislike to it.  Perhaps she has now taken a dislike to drawing, and will not care to make a design for Reine.”

“I am sure she will,” said Nell.  “Drawing is different from acting.  People don’t feel shy about drawing.  I will go directly and ask her.”

“Perhaps you would let me see her drawings first,” said Miss Gaythorne.

“Certainly,” said Nell; “papa is in his study, and I will go and fetch them.”

Mr. Enderby willingly surrendered the drawings to amuse and oblige the cherished guest, and Hetty’s work was spread out on a table before Reine.

“Why, these are beautiful,” cried she; “and they are really done by a girl of fourteen who never learned to draw!”

“Really,” said Nell, enjoying Miss Gaythorne’s surprise.  “And now, may I ask Hetty to make you a design?”

“If she would be so very good.  If it would not give her too much trouble—­”

“Why, Hetty will be simply enchanted at the request.  She is not allowed to draw, and of course the permission to do so will be delightful.”

“Not allowed to draw?” exclaimed Reine in astonishment.

“Nell, how strangely you put things!” said Phyllis.  “Father warned her not to squander her time in drawing, while she has so much need to study.”

Nell shrugged her shoulders.  “Put it as you like, Phyllis,” she said; “Hetty is a born artist, and she is going to be thrust into the harness of a governess.”

“It is well neither father nor mother is in the room,” said Phyllis.  “They would be much grieved to hear you make such a speech.  I don’t know where you get such ideas.”

“I don’t know,” said Nell; “they come to me sometimes.”

Reine listened in silence while she studied the drawings more closely.  She was something of an artist herself, and had a cultivated taste; and a keen interest in the orphan girl who had a talent like this, and could not be allowed to draw, was springing up within her.

Nell soon danced off to tell Hetty what was required of her.

“Miss Gaythorne wants you to make a design for her, of the size and style of this, and you can use any flowers or foliage you please.  Mother hopes Miss Davis will allow you time to do it.”