"How good everyone is to me!" the little girl cried gratefully, glancing from one aunt to the other with eyes that expressed even more than her words.
"We believe you are trying to please us, Marigold," Miss Pamela responded. "I met Miss Hardcastle as I was returning home this afternoon, and she gave me an excellent report of your conduct at school; she looks upon you as a promising pupil, for the says you have ability, and are willing to work. I was much gratified to hear her opinion of you."
"I wish mother knew!" were the words that rose to Marigold's lips, but she did not utter them; instead, she remained silent, struggling with the desire to cry, she hardly knew for what reason, except that every kindness she received, every loving word her aunts gave her, seemed to set her farther apart from her mother and brothers. The contrast between her life and theirs was apparent to her more and more each day, and her heart cried out: "It is not fair that I should have everything, whilst they have nothing!"
Miss Holcroft noticed her little niece's emotion, and though she had no clue to the cause, she considerately changed the conversation into another channel by asking—
"Don't you think Mr. Jenkins may have something to do with poor Molly's sad looks, Pamela?"
"Yes, very likely. I fear he is not going on well; in fact, his daughter did not hesitate to say so in as many words. He returns home in a state of intoxication every night now, and Molly is in continual dread lest some accident should befall him. Poor girl, she has a heavy burden to bear!"
Miss Holcroft shook her head sadly as she replied—
"I imagined the last time I saw her that her father was getting worse and worse. Wretched man! What will be his end? There is nothing we can do for that poor girl, I fear."
"No, nothing whatever. She will not hear of leaving her father, and looked almost indignant when I suggested the advisability of such a step, talked of her duty to him, her duty, indeed! I wonder if it ever crosses his mind to think of his duty to her!"
"Ah, well, perhaps she is right," Miss Holcroft said gently. "She is very patient with him."