Hetty felt a rush of delight, which made the colour mount to her forehead.

“Thank you, dear Nell,” she said; “I know it is you who have got me this piece of good fortune.  I shall have some delicious hours over the work.”

“Now, mind you make it beautiful,” cried Nell; “for I have staked my reputation on you!”

Hetty thought she had never been so happy in her life before, as she went out to pick and choose among the flowers, looking for a theme for her composition.  At last she satisfied herself, and came back to the school-room, and went to work.

Miss Davis, who had been much pleased with her of late, looked on with approval.  She thought the girl had fairly earned a holiday and a treat.

Hetty was more nervous over this drawing than she had been over any of the others.  With them she had been only working to please herself, and of her own free will; but now it seemed as if the eyes of the world were upon every line she drew.  She spoiled several beginnings; and at last, flushed and feverish, had to put away the work till to-morrow.

“Drawing seems to be not all unmixed happiness any more than dates,” said Miss Davis, smiling at her anxious face.  “Come now and have some tea, or you will get a headache.”

The next day Hetty went to work again, and succeeded at last in producing a striking and beautiful design.  She was far from satisfied with it herself, and said to Nell, “I fear your friend will not think it good enough, but it is the best I can do.”

“I think it is lovely,” said Nell; “and what trouble you have taken with it!  She will be hard to please if she does not like it.”

And then Nell fled away with it, and Hetty turned to her books again with a happy feeling at her heart.  It seemed to her that she had never before had an opportunity of performing any voluntary service for those who had been so generous towards her, but now she had been able to do something which would really give pleasure to the guest in their house.  And then she wished she could see that charming Miss Gaythorne, who was said to be fond of drawing, and to know a great deal about it.  She dreamed that night that she was walking through a picture-gallery with the girl called Reine, who was pointing out all the beauties to her as they went.

In the meantime Reine was greatly delighted with the drawing.

“The girl is really a little genius,” she said; “will you not allow me to make her acquaintance?”

“I will ask mamma to invite her to the drawing-room some evening,” said Nell.  “Mother does not like her to come often, for fear of spoiling her.  Phyllis has an idea that Hetty needs a great deal of keeping down; but I think it is only because Phyllis is so good herself that she thinks so badly of Hetty.”

Reine laughed, and a look of fun remained in her eyes a few moments after this naive speech of Nell’s.  The peculiarities of Phyllis’s style of goodness had not escaped Miss Gaythorne’s quick intelligence.