p to her governess. "Susan
and I have got something to say, and we must say it here, now at once."

"No, not now, Hester," replied Mrs. Willis, looking for a moment into her
pupil's agitated face. "Whatever you and Susan Drummond have to tell
cannot be listened to by me at this moment. I have not an instant to
lose."

"You are going to Annie?" asked Hester.

"Yes; don't keep me. Good-bye, my dears; good-bye."

Mrs. Willis moved toward the door. Hester, who felt almost beside
herself, rushed after her, and caught her arm.

"Take us with you, take Susy and me with you--we must, we must see Annie
before she dies."

"Hush, my child," said Mrs. Willis very quietly; "try to calm yourself.
Whatever you have got to say shall be listened to later on--now moments
are precious, and I cannot attend to you. Calm yourself, Hester, and
thank God for your dear little sister's safety. Prepare yourself to
receive her, for the carriage which takes me to Annie will bring little
Nan home."

Mrs. Willis left the room, and Hester threw herself on her knees and
covered her face with her trembling hands. Presently she was aroused by a
light touch on her arm; it was Susan Drummond.

"I may go now I suppose, Hester? You are not quite determined to make a
fool of me, are you?"

"I have determined to expose you, you coward; you mean, mean girl!"
answered Hester, springing to her feet. "Come, I have no idea of letting
you go. Mrs. Willis won't listen--we will find Mr. Everard."

Whether Susan would really have gone with Heater remains to be proved,
but just at that moment all possibility of retreat was cut away from her
by Miss Agnes Bruce, who quietly entered Mrs. Willis' private
sitting-room, followed by the very man Hester was about to seek.

"I thought it best, my dear," she said, turning apologetically to Hester,
"to go at once for our good clergyman; you can tell him all that is in
your heart, and I will leave you. Before I go, however, I should like to
tell you how I found Annie and little Nan."

Hester made no answer; just for a brief moment she raised her eyes to
Miss Agnes' kind face, then they sought the floor.

"The story can be told in a few words, dear," said the little lady. "A
workwoman of the name of Williams, whom my sister and I have employed for
years, and who lives near Oakley, called on us this morning to apologize
for not being able to finish some needlework. She told us that she had a
sick child, and also a li