here. She said it was as good as going to the theatre."

"That was a long time ago," said Hetty; "I am not funny now. At least,
very seldom."

"I think you are funny to-day," said Grace, the second sister; "I wish
you would come to our house and act for us, as you did then."

"I don't go to houses," said Hetty, shaking her head; "I belonged to
Mrs. Rushton then, and she meant me to be a lady. But now she is dead,
and it is settled that I am not to be a lady when I am grown up. I am
only to be a governess, and work for myself."

"But governesses are ladies," said Edith; "a dear friend of ours is a
governess, and there never was a nicer lady."

"Oh, I know," said Hetty; "Miss Davis is quite the same. But I mean, I
am not to be the kind of lady that goes out to parties."

"Well, I will try and get you leave to come to our party," said Edith.
"We are going to have one before the holidays are over."

"I don't think you will get leave from Mrs. Enderby," said Hetty; "and
then I have no frock."

"They must get you a frock somewhere," said Grace; "I could send you one
of mine."

"That would give offence, I am sure," said Hetty smiling. "It is not for
the trouble of getting the frock that Mrs. Enderby would keep me from
going. She does not wish me to get accustomed to such things."

"Then she is horrid," cried Edith; "making you just like Cinderella."

"No, no," said Hetty, "you must not say that. Cinderella was a daughter
of the house, and I am nobody's child. That is what the village people
say. And only think if they had sent me to a charity school!"

Edith and Grace gazed at her gravely. Hetty stood with her hands behind
her back, looking them in the eyes as she stated her own case.

"And you have nobody belonging to you, really, in the whole world?" said
Edith.

"Nobody," said Hetty, "and nothing. At least nothing but a tiny linen
chemise."

"Did you drop down out of the clouds in that?" asked Grace with widening
eyes.

"No," said Hetty laughing; "but I came out of the sea in it. I was
washed up as a baby on the Long Sands. There were great storms at the
time and a great many shipwrecks. And nobody ever asked about me. They
must have been all drowned. John Kane, one of Mr Enderby's carters,
picked me up. So you see I am not the kind of girl to be going out to
parties."

"You will have to be very learned if you are going to be a governess,"
said Grace; "I suppose you are always studying."

"I work pret