this remark was followed by silvery
laughter from Nora--poor Molly felt herself decidedly out in the cold.

Jealousy was for the first time fiercely stirred in her gentle breast
and she shed some tears in secret over the change in Nora, who had
hitherto clung to her and loved her better than anyone else in the
world.

But what will not a rather frivolous little heart do for the sake of a
pretty dress?

Nora in her own way was as thoughtless as Annie, and it never occurred
to either of them as even possible that Molly should be pained by the
fact of the locked door.

A fortnight passed away. The pink dress and the white were both finished
and the blue was rapidly approaching completion, when one day the whole
party at the Grange were considerably electrified and their attention
turned into a completely new quarter by a letter which arrived for
Hester from Sir John Thornton.

After writing on various subjects, he concluded his lengthy epistle as
follows:--

"I shall not be home for another week. For some reasons I am sorry
for this delay; but when I explain matters to you, my dear Hester,
on the occasion of my return, you will, I am sure, agree with me
that my absence from home is, under the circumstances, allowable.
In the meantime, I have not forgotten that Nan's birthday is on the
15th of August, and that that date is only a week distant. If in
any way possible, I shall return either on the fifteenth or the
evening of the day before; but, meanwhile, I give you _carte
blanche_ to celebrate the auspicious event in any manner you like.
You need spare no expense to make the day as truly festive to
yourself and your young friends as you possibly can. I enclose in
this letter a blank cheque to which I have affixed my signature.
You may fill it in for any sum within reason, and then if you take
it to the bank at Nortonbury it will be cashed for you. Buy Nan a
handsome present from me, and please choose presents for Annie
Forest and all the Lorrimer children. I am sorry to hear bad
rumours with regard to the Squire, and that there is a possibility
of the Towers being soon in the market; but I trust these rumours
are either grossly exaggerated or without any foundation. I am
sorry, also, to hear that Nora Lorrimer has met with an accident,
but am glad that you are taking care of her, as I know by
experience that