Part 27 (1/2)
HAPPY HETTY.
About three weeks had pa.s.sed away. Hetty had endured the worst throes of her disappointment, and had almost succeeded in banis.h.i.+ng Reine out of her thoughts. She had steadily turned away her eyes from looking back at that beautiful evening, when, as if by enchantment, a girl who looked and spoke like a sister had held her in a loving embrace, lavis.h.i.+ng kisses and loving words upon her, Hetty, who was known to be n.o.body's child. The quiet studious days went on as if no brilliant interruption had ever flashed in upon them. Miss Davis, at Mrs. Enderby's desire, kept Hetty more than ordinarily busy, and hindered her from paying her customary visits to Mrs. Kane. Mrs. Enderby distrusted the good woman's ability to keep a secret, and, with that prudence which had always distinguished her in her dealings with Hetty, she was resolved that the girl should hear no whisper to disturb her tranquillity till such time as her ident.i.ty should be considered satisfactorily proved.
At the end of three weeks' time, however, news came from London to Mr.
Enderby which placed it beyond a doubt that Hetty was Helen Gaythorne, the baby who had been supposed to be drowned. Although Mrs. Enderby and her daughters had been prepared for this result of the inquiries that had been on foot, yet the established fact, with its tremendous importance for Hetty, seemed to come on them with a shock. The child who had been protected in their house, no longer needed their protection.
The girl who was to have been sent out soon as a governess to earn her bread, would henceforth have pleasant bread to eat in a sister's luxurious home. The dependant, whom it had been thought judicious to snub, was now the equal of those who had so prudently dealt with her according to their lights.
Mr. and Mrs. Enderby were extremely pleased at the child's good fortune, and thankful that they had not been induced to send her to a charity school.
”You are always right, dear,” said Mrs. Enderby, looking at her husband with pride. ”When I was a coward in the matter you insisted on having her here. And if she had gone elsewhere she would never have met Reine, and her ident.i.ty could hardly have been discovered.”
”And her sister may thank you that she does not receive her a spoiled, pa.s.sionate, unmanageable monkey. Your prudent treatment of the girl has had admirable results. Her demeanour has pleased me very much of late.
Meekness and obedience have taken the place of her wilfulness and pride.”
Nell was perfectly wild with excitement and delight, clapped her hands over her head and danced about the room.
”I was always the one who liked Hetty the best,” she said triumphantly, ”and now she will remember it. She will ask me to France to stay with her. And n.o.body can warn me any more not to give her too much encouragement. I can be allowed to make a companion of Miss Helen Gaythorne.”
”What a very unpleasant way you always have of twisting things!” said Phyllis, who had been remarkably silent all along as to the change in Hetty's circ.u.mstances. ”I am as glad as anyone of Hetty's discovery; but I do not see why it should make any difference to us.”
”Phyllis takes a more disinterested view of the matter than you do, Nell,” said Mrs. Enderby smiling; ”but then my Phyllis was always a wise little girl.”
Nell pouted, and Phyllis held her head high. Mrs. Enderby thought she knew the hearts of both. But the woman who could be so exceedingly prudent in the management of ”n.o.body's child” was blind to a great deal that required skilful treatment in the characters and dispositions of her own daughters.
Miss Davis was more affected than anyone in the house by the news of Hetty's extraordinary good fortune. Unconsciously to herself she had learned to love the girl, whom she had counted upon having by her side for many years to come, and it was not without a pang that she saw the young figure disappear suddenly out of her future. Hetty alone knew nothing of the change that had befallen her.
”No, my dear,” said Mrs. Enderby to Nell, ”I will not allow you to tell her. Indeed, I am a little nervous about the matter, for Hetty is such a strangely impressionable girl one never knows what way she will take things. I must break the truth to her myself.”
So Hetty was sent for to Mrs. Enderby's dressing-room, and went with rather a heavy heart, thinking some complaint had been made of her. She had never been so sent for except when trouble was impending.
”I must try to be patient,” she was thinking as she went up the stairs.
”I do not know what I can have done so very wrong, but I suppose there must be something.”
But her sadness was soon turned into amazement and joy.
”Hetty,” said Mrs. Enderby, ”Miss Gaythorne wishes to have you with her in London, on a visit. Mr. Enderby and I have consented to allow you to go; and I suppose you will not object to give her pleasure.”
”Miss Gaythorne!” exclaimed Hetty, scarcely believing she had heard rightly.
”She has taken a fancy to you, and wishes to have you with her. She is a charming girl, and I am sure she will make you happy.”
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 relations.h.i.+p.”
Hetty was turning slowly pale. ”Relations.h.i.+p!” 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.”