"Yes, I'm sure I do; what an awfully frivolous girl she must be. Fancy her talking of dress to Nora, and she so ill."
"But it did Nora heaps of good; nurse said she was quite jolly this afternoon, and that Annie was the companion of all others for her."
"Don't say that again, Hester," said Molly; "it makes me feel quite wicked."
"I know well," replied Hester, "that Annie is thoughtless."
"Thoughtless? I should think so; but for her Nora would never have been hurt."
"But she has the warmest heart in the world," continued Hester. "I did not understand her for a long time. Indeed, Molly, I don't mind telling you that once I hated her; but, oh, if you could only see Annie at her best. She can be—yes, she can be noble."
Molly stared in non-comprehension.