tea there always came a delightful hour, when the elder girls retired
with their mistress into her own special boudoir, and she either told them
stories or sang to them as only she could sing. At sixty years of age Mrs.
Willis still possessed the most sympathetic and touching voice those girls
had ever listened to. Hester Thornton broke down completely on her first
Sunday at Lavender House when she heard her school-mistress sing "The
Better Land." No one remarked on her tears, but two people saw them; for
her mistress kissed her tenderly that night, and said a few strong words of
help and encouragement, and Annie Forest, who made no comment, had also
seen them, and wondered vaguely if this new and disagreeable pupil had a
heart after all.

On Sunday night Mrs. Willis herself went round to each little bed and
gave a mother-kiss to each of her pupils--a mother-kiss and a murmured
blessing; and in many breasts resolves were then formed which were to
help the girls through the coming week. Some of these resolves, made not
in their own strength, bore fruit in long after-years. There is no doubt
that very few girls who lived long enough at Lavender House, ever in
after-days found their Sundays dull.

CHAPTER X.

VARIETIES.

Without any doubt, wild, naughty, impulsive Annie Forest was the most
popular girl in the school. She was always in scrapes--she was scarcely
ever out of hot water--her promises of amendment were truly like the
proverbial pie-crust; but she was so lovable, so kind-hearted, so saucy
and piquante and pretty, that very few could resist the nameless charm
which she possessed. The little ones adored Annie, who was kindness
itself to them; the bigger girls could not help admiring her fearlessness
and courage; the best and noblest girls in the school tried to influence
her for good. She was more or less an object of interest to every one;
her courage was of just the sort to captivate schoolgirls, and her moral
weakness was not observed by these inexperienced young eyes.

Hester alone, of all the girls who for a long time had come to Lavender
House, failed to see any charm in Annie. She began by considering her
ill-bred, and when she found she was the school favorite, she tossed her
proud little head and determined that she for one would never be
subjugated by such a naughty girl. Hester could read character with
tolerable clearness; she was an observant child--very observant, and very
thoughtful for