“Not pretty, decidedly,” thought Miss Barnes, looking steadily at the wondering face opposite hers, “but at least not coarse. Dress will improve her.”
At the door of the bathing rooms, Thomas again threw open the carriage door. Miss Barnes went in with Nora, gave her into the hands of the young woman in charge, with directions to have her thoroughly bathed and combed, and otherwise made ready for new clothes that she would bring.
The amazed young woman marched off with the unresisting Nora, and Miss Barnes went shopping. She bought a complete outfit, from hat to shoes, and in an hour returned to the bath rooms, to find Nora waiting. She was soon dressed, much to her own surprise, for she hardly knew the names of half the articles she had on, and they were once more in the carriage. As for Thomas, he thought wonders would never cease that morning.
As they rolled home, Miss Barnes said:—
“Now, Nora, you’re to live with me and be my girl. You’re not Nora Dennis; you’re Nora Barnes. You’re to forget your old life—at least as much as you can,” she added, seeing a shade come over Nora’s face. “And on no account are you to speak of it to the servants in my house. Do you understand?”
“Yes ’m,” said Nora.
“I shall try to make your life happy,” Miss Barnes went on a little more tenderly. “I shall educate you”—
“Please, ma’am, what’s that?” asked Nora timidly.
“Teach you to read and write,” said Miss Barnes, wincing as she reflected how much there was to do in this neglected field.
“And, Nora,” she went on, “I shall expect you to do as I tell you, and always to tell me the truth.”