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.
That afternoon about five o'clock, in a certain handsome drawing-room in Portland Place, Reine was flitting about restlessly with flushed cheeks, now re-arranging the roses in some jar, now picking up her embroidery and putting a few stitches in it, then going to the window and looking out.

The afternoon tea equipage was on a little table beside her, but she did not help herself to a cup.