But though Hetty was only nine, her experiences of the world had made her old beyond her years.

Polly only thought her a hard-hearted, haughty little wretch, too proud to be grateful to those who had been good to her.
"Far be it from me to think of lecturing you, Miss Hetty," she said; "but mind, I tell you, pride always gets a fall." "Be silent!" cried Hetty, stamping her small foot imperiously; "if Mrs.
Rushton knew of your impertinence she would send you away to-night." It was thus that poor Hetty already began to make enemies, while much requiring friends.
Next morning Mrs.Rushton and Hetty drove over to Wavertree to spend a few days at the Hall, and on the way the lady stopped at Mrs.Kane's door in the village, and bade Hetty alight and go in to pay a visit to her old protectress.

With Grant's taunts rankling in her memory and Polly's reproaches fresh in her mind, Hetty got out of the carriage reluctantly and went up to the door with a slow step.
Mrs.Kane was busy over a tub in her little wash-house, and came out into the kitchen on hearing some one at the door.

She wore a print short-gown and petticoat, and a poky sun-bonnet; and her bare arms were reeking with soap-suds.

Hetty shrank from her a little, and could not realize that she had ever belonged to a person with such an appearance as this.
Poor Mrs.Kane looked at her young visitor with a stare of wonder, and could never have guessed it was Hetty had she not espied Mrs.Rushton's face through the open doorway, nodding pleasantly at her from the carriage.
"Why, little miss, you're never my little Hetty ?" cried the good woman, wiping her hands in her apron.
"My name is Hetty Gray," said the little girl, holding up her pretty head adorned with a handsome hat and feathers.
"And don't you remember me, my darling ?" said Mrs.Kane, extending her arms; "me that used to nurse you and take care of you like my own! Oh, don't go to say you forget all about your poor old mammy!" Hetty hung her head.