f separateness, Esther was very much absorbed in
her work. Not seeking, like most of the others, to pass a good
examination, but studying in the love of learning, and with a far-off
ideal of attainment in her mind with which she hoped one day to meet
Pitt, and satisfy if not equal him. I think she hardly knew this motive
at work; however, it _was_ at work, and a powerful motive too.

And lastly, Esther was a 'favourite.' No help for it; she was certainly
a favourite, the girls pronounced, and some of them had the candour to
add that they did not see how she could help it, or how Miss Fairbairn
could help it either.

'Girls, she has every right to be a favourite,' one of them set forth.

'Nobody has a right to be a favourite!' was the counter cry.

'But think, she never does anything wrong.'

'Stupid!'

'Well, she never breaks rules, does she?'

'No.'

'And she always has her lessons perfect as perfect can be.'

'So do some other people.'

'And her drawings are capital.'

'That's her nature; she has a talent for drawing; she cannot help it.
She just _cannot help_ it, Sarah Simpson. That's no credit.'

'Then she is the best Bible scholar in the house, except Miss Fairbairn
herself.'

'Ah! There you've got it. That's just it. She is one of Miss
Fairbairn's kind. But everybody can't be like that!' cried the
objector. 'I, for instance. I don't care so much for the Bible, you
see; and _you_ don't if you'll tell the truth; and most of us don't.
It's an awful bore, that's what it is, all this eternal Bible work! and
I don't think it's fair. It isn't what _I_ came here for, I know. My
father didn't think he was sending me to a Sunday school.'

'Miss Fairbairn takes care you should learn something else besides
Bible, Belle Linders, to do her justice.'

'Well, she's like all the rest, she has favourites, and Esther
Gainsborough is one of 'em, and there ought to be no favourites. I tell
you, she puts me out, that's what she does. If I am sent out of the
room on an errand, I am sure to hit my foot against something, just
because _she_ never stumbles; and the door falls out of my hand and
makes a noise, just because I am thinking how it behaves for her. She
just puts me out, I give you my word. It confuses me in my recitations,
to know that _she_ has the answer ready, if I miss; and as for drawing,
it's no use to try, because she will be sure to do it better. There
ought to be no such thing as favourites!'

There