Hetty went to her own room immediately, and returned bringing about a dozen drawings in a very primitive portfolio made of several newspapers gummed together.
Miss Davis was no artist, but she felt that the designs were good, and remarkable as having been executed by a girl so untaught as Hetty.

They increased her opinion of her pupil's abilities, yet she looked on them chiefly from the point of view Phyllis had suggested to her, and considered them in the light of follies upon which valuable time had been expended.
"My dear," she said, "these are really very pretty, and I am sure they have given you a great deal of pleasure.

But I cannot countenance your going on with this sort of employment.

Think of how usefully you might have employed at your books the hours you have spent upon these trifles.
I presume you were aware of this from the first yourself, and that this is why you have been so silent as to your new accomplishment." "No," said Hetty decidedly; "I did not feel that I was wasting time.

On the contrary, my drawing gave me better courage to work at my lessons.
The hours I spent were taken from my sleep.