Red Rose and Tiger Lily | Page 7

end of the chapter. She did not possess Hester
Thornton's steady principles, and would always be influenced, whether
for good or evil, by her companions. She was only to spend one more
term at school; the future, after that, was practically unknown to her.
"I wish you'd tell me about Nan," said Hester, on the first evening of
Annie's visit to the Grange. "I don't know why, but I feel a little
anxious about her."
"You need not be," replied Annie. "She is a dear, jolly little pet, and as
open as the day."
"She seems to get wilder and wilder," replied Hester. "You must have
noticed, Annie, how she irritates my father."
"Of course I did," replied Annie. "Do you know, Het, that I had the
unbounded cheek to give him a piece of my mind this evening?"
Annie was seated on the side of Hester's bed. She was in a blue

dressing-gown, and her dark hair, in a mass of rebellious curls, was
falling about her shoulders.
"I forgot that Nan was in the room," she said, putting her finger to her
lips and glancing in the direction of Nan's small bed. "The little
monkey may be awake, and I don't want her to hear my nonsense."
"She is sound asleep," replied Hester. "If she were awake, she would
soon acquaint us with the fact."
"Shall I tell you what I really said to your father?" continued Annie.
"I don't know that I want to hear. I hope you did not shock him, for he
is prepared to like you very much."
"I am prepared to like him. I think he is a delightful host; but, oh, how I
should hate him for a father."
"Annie!"
Hester's delicate face flushed crimson, her eyes flashed an angry light.
Annie jumped off the bed and ran to her friend's side.
"Now you are angry with me," she said; "but if I told him the truth, I
may surely tell you. I know you are as good as an angel, but I am quite
certain that he ruffles you up the wrong way."
"Don't, Annie," said Hester, in a voice of pain.
She walked to the window as she spoke, drew up the blind, and looked
out. The night was dark, but innumerable stars could be seen in the
deep, unfathomable vault of the sky. Hester clenched one of her hands
tightly together. Annie stood and watched her.
"I would not hurt you for the world," she said. "I am sorry, very sorry;
the fact is, I love you with all my heart, but I don't understand you."
"Yes you do, too well," replied Hester; "but there are some things I

cannot and will not talk about even to you. Now let me take you to your
room, the hour is very late."
Annie's pretty room was just on the other side of the passage. Hester
took her to it, saw that she had every comfort, and wished her
good-night. She then stood for a moment, with a look of irresolution on
her face, in the corridor.
"I don't believe nurse is in bed; I will go and speak to her," she said to
herself. "I thought the day when I welcomed Nan back from school,
and when Annie came to visit me, would be quite the happiest day of
my life, but it would never do to make my father's home uncomfortable
for him." She reached the baize door, opened it, and soon found herself
in the old nursery. She was right, nurse was not yet in bed.
"Well, now, my deary!" exclaimed the old woman, "and why are you
losing your beauty sleep in this fashion? When I was young things used
to be very different. Girls had to be in bed by ten o'clock sharp to keep
away the wrinkles, but now they're all agog to burn the candle at both
ends. It don't pay, Miss Hetty, my pet, it don't pay."
"I'm all right, nursey," replied Hester. "I'm the quietest and most
jog-trot girl in the world as a rule. Of course I'm excited to-night,
because Nan has come back."
"Bless her dear heart!" ejaculated nurse; "but I'm not to say satisfied
about her hair, Miss Hetty. I don't believe it's pointed often enough. I
found a lot of split ends when I was combing it out to-night."
"Oh, I think Nan is all right in every way," replied Hester. "No one
could be kinder to her than Mrs. Willis, and she is very happy at school.
Nurse, I've just come here for a moment to ask you to be very careful
what you say to Nan about my father. You see, the object of my life is
to make him happy, and to be a good daughter to