“I will try to be good at school,” she said at last; “but, oh, please, Mrs Willis, it does not seem to me to-night as if school-life could be happy.”
“It has its trials, Hester; but the brave and the noble girls often find this time of discipline one of the best in their lives—good at the time, very good to look back on by-and-by. You will find a miniature world around you; you will be surrounded by temptations; and you will have rare chances of proving whether your character can be strong and great and true. I think, as a rule, my girls are happy, and as a rule they turn out well. The great motto of life here, Hester, is earnestness. We are earnest in our work, we are earnest in our play. A half-hearted girl has no chance at Lavender House. In play-time, laugh with the merriest, my child: in school-hours, study with the most studious. Do you understand me?”
“I try to, a little,” said Hester, “but it seems all very strange just now.”
“No doubt it does, and at first you will have to encounter many perplexities and to fight many battles. Never mind, if you have the right spirit within you, you will come out on the winning side. Now, tell me, have you made any acquaintances as yet among the girls?”
“Yes—Cecil Temple has been kind to me.”
“Cecil is one of my dearest pupils; cultivate her friendship, Hester—she is honourable, she is sympathising. I am not afraid to say that Cecil has a great heart.”
“There is another girl,” continued Hester, “who has spoken to me. I need not make her my friend, need I?”
“Who is she, dear?”
“Miss Forest—I don’t like her.”
“What! our school favourite. You will change your mind, I expect—but that is the gong for prayers. You shall come with me to chapel, to-night, and I will introduce you to Mr Everard.”