one dexterous bound which placed her in
that portion of the play-room where the little ones knew they were not
allowed to enter.

Until her arrival the different girls scattered about the large room had
been more or less orderly, chattering and laughing together, it is true,
but in a quiet manner. Now the whole place appeared suddenly in an
uproar.

"Annie, come here--Annie, darling, give me your opinion about
this--Annie, my precious, naughty creature, come and tell me about your
last scrape."

Annie Forest blew several kisses to her adorers, but did not attach
herself to any of them.

"The Temple requires me," she said, in her sauciest tones; "my beloved
friends, the Temple as usual is vouchsafing its sacred shelter to the
stranger."

In an instant Annie was kneeling inside the enclosure of Miss Temple's
rail and laughing immoderately.

"You dear stranger!" she exclaimed, turning round and gazing full into
Hester's shy face, "I do declare I have been punished for the intense
ardor with which I longed to embrace you. Has she told you, Cecil,
darling, what I did in her behalf? How I ventured beyond the sacred
precincts of the baize door and hid inside the porter's room? Poor dear,
she jumped when she heard my friendly voice, and as I spoke Miss
Danesbury caught me in the very act. Poor old dear, she cried when she
complained of me, but duty is Danesbury's motto; she would go to the
stake for it, and I respect her immensely. I have got my twenty lines of
that horrible French poetry to learn--the very thought almost strangles
me, and I foresee plainly that I shall do something terribly naughty
within the next few hours; I must, my love--I really must. I have just
come here to shake hands with Miss Thornton, and then I must away to my
penance. Ah, how little I shall learn, and how hard I shall think!
Welcome to Lavender House, Miss Thornton; look upon me as your devoted
ally, and if you have a spark of pity in your breast, feel for the girl
whom you got into a scrape the very moment you entered these sacred
walls."

"I don't understand you," said Hester, who would not hold out her hand,
and who was standing up in a very stiff, shy, and angular position. "I
think you were very rude to startle me, and make personal remarks the
very moment I came into the house."

"Oh, dear! I only said you were tall, and looked rather sulky, love--you
did, you know, really."

"It was very rude of you," repeated Hester, turning