Hetty’s face, glowing with delight, sufficiently answered this last speech; but her tongue could find no words.

“In fact, I may as well tell you,” continued Mrs. Enderby, “that Reine has discovered you are some kind of relation of hers; and, as she is her own mistress and very independent, she will be disposed to make the most of the relationship.”

Hetty was turning slowly pale.  “Relationship!” she murmured.  “Am I really related to Miss Gaythorne?” and Reine’s cry, “My mother, oh, my mother!” seemed to ring again in her ears.

“I believe so, my dear.  There, do not think too much of it.  At all events, you are to go to her now, and she will tell you all about it.  But mind, you and she are to come back and spend Christmas with us.  Mark will be at home then, and he will be anxious to see his old playfellow.”

“Christmas!” echoed Hetty, in new astonishment.  This was only the end of September.

“You see, I fancy Reine will not let you go in a hurry once she has got you,” said Mrs. Enderby; “and now, my dear, don’t stand there in a dream any longer, but run away and get ready for the mid-day train.  Mr. Enderby has to do some business in London, and he will leave you in Portland Place.  No, you will not have time to go to see Mrs. Kane.  I will give her your love, and tell her you will see her when you come back.”

“I am not going to have her told till she is in her sister’s house,” reflected Mrs. Enderby; “and Mrs. Kane would be sure to pour out everything suddenly.  The child is of so excitable a nature, I do not know what might be the consequences to her.”

That she could not say good-bye to Mrs. Kane made the only flaw in Hetty’s happiness; but she left a little note for her with Miss Davis, who promised to have it safely delivered.  And then, with smiles and good wishes from everyone, and pondering over a few mysterious glances which she caught passing from one person to another over her head, Hetty took her place by Mr. Enderby in his trap, and was whirled away to the railway-station.

Mr. Enderby talked to her kindly as they went along, about the pleasures in store for her in London, especially in the picture-galleries, as she had a taste for art.

“And always remember, my dear,” he said, “that in the rules I laid down for your education with a view to your future, I acted as I thought best for your good.”

Hetty said warmly, “I know—­I am sure of that”; and then she began to wonder at his curious manner of speaking, as if all his dealings with her were in the past, and he had no longer any control over her.  Could it be, she asked herself, that Reine was going to take her and have her taught to be an artist?

The thought was too delightful to be borne with, considering the likelihood of disappointment.  She tried to put it out of her head, and listened to Mr. Enderby as he talked to her of Westminster Abbey and the Tower.