to turn away from laughter and merriment as it would be for a
flower to keep its head determinately turned from the sun. In their
darkest days Annie had managed to make her mother laugh; her little face
was a sunbeam, her very naughtinesses were of a laughable character.

Her mother died--her father was still away, but Annie retained her brave
and cheerful spirit, for she gave and received love. Mrs. Willis loved
her--she bestowed upon her among all her girls the tenderest glances, the
most motherly caresses. The teachers undoubtedly corrected and even
scolded her, but they could not help liking her, and even her worst
scrapes made them smile. Annie's companions adored her; the little
children would do anything for their own Annie, and even the servants in
the school said that there was no young lady in Lavender House fit to
hold a candle to Miss Forest.

During the last half-year, however, things had been different. Suspicion
and mistrust began to dog the footsteps of the bright young girl; she was
no longer a universal favorite--some of the girls even openly expressed
their dislike of her.

All this Annie could have borne, but for the fact that Mrs. Willis joined
in the universal suspicion. The old glance now never came to her eyes,
nor the old tone to her voice. For the first time Annie's spirits utterly
flagged; she could not bear this universal coldness, this universal
chill. She began to droop physically as well as mentally.

She was pacing up and down the walk, thinking very sadly, wondering
vaguely, if her father would ever return, and conscious of a feeling of
more or less indifference to everything and every one, when she was
suddenly roused from her meditation by the patter of small feet and by a
very eager little exclamation:

"Me tumming--me tumming, Annie!" and then Nan raised her charming face
and placed her cool baby hand in Annie's.

There was delicious comfort in the clasp of the little hand, and in the
look of love and pleasure which lit up the small face.

"Me yiding from naughty nurse--me 'tay with you, Annie--me love 'oo,
Annie."

Annie stooped down, kissed the little one, and lifted her into her arms.

"Why ky?" said Nan, who saw with consternation two big tears in Annie's
eyes; "dere, poor ickle Annie--me love 'oo--me buy 'oo a new doll."

"Dearest little darling," said Annie in a voice of almost passionate
pain; then, with that wonderful instinct which made her in touch with all
littl