I require all Grant's attentions now myself," she added wearily, falling into a chair in a state of exhaustion.

"Hetty, my love, give me a kiss, and go and have a pretty frock put on for dinner." Polly, the new maid, had already unpacked the little girl's trunks and was waiting in her room to dress her in white muslin and lace and arrange her soft dark curls in a charming wreath round her head.

Hetty's room was an exquisite little nest draped in pale blue chintz covered with roses, and with fantastic little brackets here and there bearing pretty statuettes and baskets of flowers.

The housekeeper had not indeed neglected Mrs.Rushton's instructions with regard to the decoration of this apartment.
"My, miss, but you have grown a fine tall girl!" said Polly admiringly; "and won't Mrs.Kane be glad to see you again?
I suppose you will be going to see her to-morrow ?" "I am not sure," said Hetty; "I don't remember Mrs.Kane." "Don't you, miss?
Then you ought to, I am sure, for it was she that took care of you before Mrs.Rushton had you." "Yes, I believe so," said Hetty frowning, for she dreaded that Polly was going to make a practice of taunting her with being a foundling, just as Grant had always done.
"And you ought to be very thankful to her," persisted Polly, "although you are such a grand young lady now." "Please to mind your own business," said Hetty proudly; "you were engaged by Mrs.Rushton to dress me and not to give me lectures." Polly was astonished and aggrieved.

She did not know how Hetty had been goaded on the subject of her past life by Grant, and had fancied that as she had only a child to deal with she could say anything she chose quite freely.