"And Hetty was so kind, mamma; so sorry to see me cry, because I could not go with you all. She ran ever so quick to get the kitten from Mrs. Fenton, and I promised not to move, and I fell asleep; so she was back in a moment. Mamma, Hetty's mother is a very good woman. When her father died, she said it was God's will, and she did not fret. Hetty told me because I was fretting. Wasn't she very good, mamma? her mother, I mean."
Here Hetty came in with the tea-tray, and Flo was soon very busy, feeding her kitten with some milk, and laughing with delight to see its little tongue go in and out as it lapped.
[CHAPTER IV.]
"WHAT'S IN A NAME?"
POOR Hetty! she thought herself the most unfortunate girl in the world. How vexed her mother would be if she were sent home! And Matty would be so sorry, and Dan would laugh. But worst of all, little Flo would miss her; and she had become very fond of the frail, suffering child.
However, she got up very early, and put all her belongings into her box, to be ready if she had to go. Then she crept softly downstairs, and got through a great deal of work. She swept and dusted the parlour, setting out the breakfast table; she lighted the kitchen fire, and set on the kettle. In fact, when Mrs. Eyre came down, rather later than usual, for she had been tired the night before, she found the greater part of her usual Sunday morning's work done.
"Oh, thank you, Hetty. I slept so long this morning. I thought we should be ever so late."
"Ma'am," said Hetty, "do you wish me to go away now?"
"Do you wish to go, Hetty?"
"No, ma'am," and Hetty began to cry; "but I am always forgetting things. Mother says I'll never be worth a pin."