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+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76619 ***
+
+Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.
+
+
+
+                      Hetty's Garden-Party,
+
+                              AND
+
+                        WHAT CAME OF IT.
+
+
+                               BY
+
+                          EMMA LESLIE
+
+       _Author of "Harry Lawley," "Constancia's Household,"_
+                          _Etc., Etc._
+
+
+                         [Illustration]
+
+
+                   LONDON: SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION
+                    55 & 56, OLD BAILEY, E.C.
+
+
+
+                           CONTENTS.
+
+                         [Illustration]
+
+
+                          CHAPTER I.
+
+HETTY'S PROPOSAL
+
+                          CHAPTER II.
+
+THE COUSINS
+
+                          CHAPTER III.
+
+AN UGLY DILEMMA
+
+                          CHAPTER IV.
+
+COMPLICATIONS
+
+                          CHAPTER V.
+
+AN UNWELCOME VISITOR
+
+                          CHAPTER VI.
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+
+                         [Illustration]
+
+                      Hetty's Garden-Party,
+
+                              AND
+
+                        WHAT CAME OF IT.
+
+                            ——————
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+HETTY'S PROPOSAL.
+
+"MAMMA, dear! A letter for you, from Uncle John, I believe," said Hetty
+Golding, as she paused at the breakfast table, where the letter was
+lying near her mother's plate.
+
+"Yes, it is from Uncle John. I wonder whether he will let Harry and
+Lettice come to us for a week?" said the lady, as she opened her letter.
+
+"Oh, mamma, did you ask him? I hope he has consented, for I have told
+Ellen Ross and the other girls so much about Lettice that they are
+quite wild to see her. Is she coming?" asked Hetty, impatiently.
+
+"Wait a minute, my dear, and you shall have the letter to read
+yourself. Yes, they are both coming," said the widow, as she handed the
+letter to her daughter the next minute.
+
+But Hetty did not want to read it now. "Oh I 'am' glad," she said,
+clapping her hands. "Mamma, what shall we do when they come?" she added.
+
+"Do, my dear? Make them as comfortable as we can, to be sure," said
+Mrs. Golding, calmly.
+
+"Yes, of course. But you know what I mean, mamma. They are used to
+having everything so nice at home."
+
+"Well, I hope we shall be able to have everything nice here. We always
+do, Hetty."
+
+"But, mamma, it will be so different; we only keep one servant. Don't
+you think we had better have Mary Riley as housemaid? Uncle John keeps
+two, besides a cook and kitchenmaid."
+
+"Your Uncle John is a rich man, while I am only a poor
+widow—comparatively poor, at least—for my income, as you know is only
+sufficient for our wants, barely allowing me to lay aside a trifle for
+a rainy day. But Lettice knows this, and will not expect a house full
+of servants. No, I don't think I shall have Mary Riley; she has grown
+such a pert, forward girl since she went to live in London."
+
+A cloud gathered on Hetty's good-tempered face.
+
+She did not like to be reminded of their narrow means, and already had
+begun to lay plans for making a little display before their neighbours.
+For Hetty had told one or two dubious stories about her mamma having
+plenty of money, but preferring to live in strict retirement on account
+of her health. And when it was remarked that the Goldings never gave
+even a quiet party, Hetty had nodded, "Wait till my cousin Lettice
+comes, we shall have a party then." And she had given her invitations
+pretty freely among her schoolfellows and friends. Many a time she had
+taken some congenial spirit into her confidence, and together they had
+discussed the subject. And now, though she had left school, she was not
+much wiser, and clung tenaciously to her pet project.
+
+"Mamma, we must do something to amuse Lattice while she is here,"
+said Hetty, after gazing abstractedly into her coffee cup for a few
+minutes. "All the girls are wild to see her, so we must have a party,
+or something of the kind."
+
+"Well, we will have a little picnic in the woods if the weather is
+fine. Ring the bell, please dear, I want to speak to Hannah about the
+dinner."
+
+Hetty shrugged her shoulders as she turned to the bell. "Picnics are so
+old-fashioned, mamma. Let us have a garden-party," she said.
+
+Mrs. Golding laughed. "A garden-party on our tiny lawn, Hetty? It would
+be quite ridiculous."
+
+"Yes, if we only had the lawn, mamma. But, you know, before Mrs. Mavor
+went away, she begged us to use her garden whenever we liked, and
+nothing could be better than that large, old-fashioned garden. And only
+being separated from our own by that low wire fence, and having a gate
+opening into ours, no one need know but what it is our own. It used to
+belong to this house, you know, mamma."
+
+"Yes, I know it did, my dear. But I should not like to use it for a
+garden-party, it would be encroaching on Mrs. Mavor's consideration.
+For I was glad to give up the garden when I took the house, on account
+of the difference it made in the rent. And, besides, it would be
+assuming a false position, to say nothing of the expense of such a
+grand affair as a garden-party."
+
+"But it need not be a grand affair, mamma. And as to the cost, we shall
+eat no more in the garden than we should in the woods, only we can lay
+a table tastefully on the lawn or under the trees, and have a cup of
+tea in comfort, instead of sitting on the ground getting the cramp,
+and perhaps a bad cold, and eating earwigs and ladybirds with the
+sandwiches."
+
+Mrs. Golding laughed. "I never heard of your dislike to ladybirds
+before," she said.
+
+"Well, I don't mind them so much, but I hate the creepy-crawly things
+that get about you when you sit on the grass," rumbled Hetty, who was
+determined to find fault with every detail of the proposed picnic.
+
+"But what would you do to amuse yourselves in the garden?" said Mrs.
+Golding, after listening to Hetty's numerous objections to her plan.
+
+"Oh, we could play at croquet and hide-and-seek, and walk about, and we
+might manage a dance on the lawn."
+
+"Well, my dear, as you seem to have set your heart upon having it this
+way, I suppose you must do so. But don't blame me, or Hannah either, if
+things don't turn out as you expect, for I know nothing about garden
+parties. If it were only a picnic now—"
+
+"There, mamma, don't say another word. I'll manage everything now you
+have given your consent. It won't make half the fuss a picnic would,
+for there will be no packing baskets and breaking plates, and losing
+knives and forks. I know how we had things at the Eastlakes, and can
+manage it."
+
+"But, my dear, we cannot pretend to have things as Mrs. Eastlake would.
+She has plenty of money and a house full of servants, while we have
+only—"
+
+"If you please, ma'am, Mrs. Newton's servant has brought a message,
+asking you to go over as soon as you can, for old madam has had a bad
+fall, and seems very ill." The interruption came from Hannah, who had
+been indulging in a little private gossip with Mrs. Newton's maid, and
+had not heard the parlour bell ring some minutes before.
+
+It was Hannah's one failing, this love of gossip. It seemed useless for
+Mrs. Golding to try to check it, for scolding and reasoning had alike
+proved ineffectual, and so she had given it up altogether.
+
+Sending a message in reply, she merely told Hannah to come back at once
+and receive her orders for dinner.
+
+"Shall you go soon, mamma?" asked Hetty when Hannah had left the room.
+
+"Yes, my dear, I must go at once. Old Mrs. Newton is such a dear
+friend. She will expect me to be with her a great deal."
+
+"Well, I hope she won't be ill long," said Hetty. "What shall I do
+about this letter? Will you take it with you, mamma?"
+
+"No, I think you can answer it. Tell Uncle John we will be at the
+station to meet your cousins."
+
+"And about the garden-party, mamma, we ought to have that the day after
+Lattice comes, because it is to be a sort of introductory affair. And
+some of them might like to give another when they once know Lettice."
+
+"Very well, my dear, have it when you like. It is to be your party, not
+mine, for I don't understand such things. I was always content with a
+picnic and a ramble about the woods and hills, so you and Hannah must
+manage things between you."
+
+"Very well, mamma, I'll see to everything. You shan't have a bit of
+trouble," said Hetty, kissing her mother as she spoke, for no one could
+be more amiable and affectionate than Hetty when she could have her own
+way, and, unfortunately, she had been allowed to have it rather too
+much of late.
+
+As soon as Mrs. Golding had gone out, Hetty flew downstairs to consult
+Hannah about the garden-party, for she must be propitiated and coaxed
+into putting forth her best culinary skill for the occasion.
+
+"Hannah, my cousin Lettice is coming, and I have persuaded mamma to let
+me have a garden-party," said Hetty, plunging at once into the matter.
+
+Hannah looked up from her work of washing glasses. "A garden-party!"
+she repeated. "Who is to get things ready for it, I should like to
+know?"
+
+"Oh, we can do it between us, Hannah. I came to tell you about it—to
+ask you what we should want, for, you see, mamma knows nothing about
+such things, and so she has left it all to me."
+
+"And you know about as much as the mistress," said Hannah.
+
+"Oh, but I know you could help me, and I have been to the Eastlakes and
+one or two other places."
+
+"And played croquet and ate custards," said Hannah contemptuously, but
+in a mollified tone.
+
+"Well, I don't suppose I could make them," said Hetty. "But you can,
+and I could beat the eggs, and do little things to help."
+
+"Well, well, we'll see what can be done," said Hannah, bustling about
+her work, but smiling as she spoke, for she was gratified that Hetty
+had come to consult her upon this all-important matter.
+
+"What should we want besides—?"
+
+"Besides custards and croquet? Oh, lots of things—cheese-cakes and
+tartlets, and pound cake and whipped cream. Mary Riley told me they had
+all those things at the Eastlakes, for she was there to help."
+
+"I wish she could come and help us," sighed Hetty.
+
+"Well, I shall have to get some help, if I am to do all this fine
+cooking," said Hannah. "How many are you going to invite?"
+
+"I don't know yet, I must talk to mamma when she comes home."
+
+"Well, you ought to make up your mind soon, for there is scarcely a
+week to get everything, and the young ladies will want a few days'
+notice to get their dresses ready."
+
+"Yes, I will talk to mamma as soon as she comes in," and Hetty ran off,
+humming a lively air, to write her letter to Uncle John, and wish that
+Mrs. Newton's accident had occurred at any time rather than the present.
+
+She had deep and bitter cause to reiterate this wish again and again,
+but it simply vexed her now that her mother should be away just when
+she wanted her. For Mrs. Golding was out all day, and when she came
+home in the evening she looked so tired and worried that Hetty hardly
+liked to say a word about the party.
+
+"Is she so very ill, mamma?" she ventured to ask.
+
+"Yes, my dear. She will never leave her room, or even her bed again, I
+fear. And there are other troubles as well in the family, so that I am
+afraid I shall have to be away from home a good deal in the next few
+days. Have you posted your uncle's letter?"
+
+"Yes, mamma. I told him we would meet Lettice at the station, and that
+we were going to have a little garden-party to introduce her to our
+friends."
+
+Mrs. Golding smiled. "I had almost forgotten this party," she said.
+"But I suppose you may as well have it."
+
+"Oh, yes, mamma, we settled that this morning. And I have been telling
+Hannah about making us some tarts and custards," said Hetty, eagerly.
+
+"Yes, you will want a few little things like that," remarked Mrs.
+Golding, absently.
+
+"Hannah was very good-tempered about it, and will do everything, only
+she wants to know how many there are likely to be. How many shall I
+invite, mamma?"
+
+"My dear, I must leave that to you. I am sure you know whom to invite,
+and I shall be so much away from home I think it will be best for me
+to give you a sovereign, to meet the extra expenses. Only consult
+Hannah in spending it. And remember, I cannot afford more than this for
+extras. Tea, and sugar, and bread, and butter you need not count in,
+but you must make this suffice for extras."
+
+"Oh, thank you, mamma, I am sure it will do that," said Hetty, who
+know very little of the practical value of money, and fancied that a
+sovereign would purchase unheard-of luxuries.
+
+Before she went to bed that night, she made out a list of friends
+to be invited, and they numbered nearly forty. Remembering Hannah's
+suggestion that these would want a few days' notice, she sat down
+before breakfast, and began to write her notes of invitation. But she
+did not show the list to her mother, for she knew that one or two names
+would be struck out, even if her mother did not object to such a large
+party. And so the writing was put away as Mrs. Golding came into the
+room.
+
+She did not notice her daughter's hurried movements, for her mind
+was full of her friend's trouble. And as soon as she had eaten her
+breakfast, she put on her bonnet to go out, saying she might not be
+home again until the evening.
+
+Hetty hurried over her breakfast too, and by twelve o'clock had written
+and despatched all her notes of invitation.
+
+"There now, I have done the worst part of the work, Hannah. I have
+written all those notes," she said, as she came in after her walk to
+the post office.
+
+"How many have you sent?" asked Hannah.
+
+"Thirty-six, and Lettice, Harry, and our two selves will make just
+forty—a nice number."
+
+Hannah held up her hands. "A nice number you call it—and you have just
+one sovereign to feed all those people!"
+
+"Well, isn't that enough?" asked Hetty, with rather a dismayed look.
+"It's all nonsense about the feeding, you know; they're not like poor
+people going to a tea-meeting. People don't come to a garden-party to
+eat; I'm sure I never eat much."
+
+"Well, you're not everybody, Miss Hetty, and I know enough about money
+and parties to know that a sovereign is not half enough to feed all
+those people."
+
+"They don't want to be fed, I tell you. We only want a few things to
+make the tables look nice; custards and cheese-cakes don't cost much,
+and a few tarts and strawberries and currants, with plenty of tea and
+coffee, and nice cake and bread-and-butter, are all we shall want."
+
+"Well, Miss Hetty, I'll do the best I can. But you had better tell
+your mamma how many you have invited, and I daresay she will give you
+another sovereign, rather than people should come here to starve."
+
+"You're dreadfully afraid of people starving," said Hetty, crossly,
+as she walked away, swinging her hat and mentally denouncing Hannah's
+vulgar notions about genteel people's appetites.
+
+That afternoon, Hetty set out to make her purchases. She found her
+sovereign considerably diminished before she came home, and then Hannah
+provokingly declared she had not ordered more than half enough.
+
+"Tell the boy when he brings them what more you want, then," said
+Hetty, crossly. "I have seen Mary Riley," she added, "and she has
+promised to come in and help us."
+
+"Ah, she will tall us what we ought to have, for she has been living in
+a fashionable family, only you must not forget to ask your mamma for
+some more money, Miss Hetty."
+
+But Hetty did forget, or rather felt afraid, to ask for any more, for
+fear her mother should question her as to the number invited, and
+insist upon the whole affair being given up. She did not feel quite so
+happy when she went to bed that night, for there was a little fear, a
+little anxiety as to what the end of this would be. But it was too late
+to draw back now, she thought, the invitations had been issued, and she
+"must" make her garden-party a brilliant success, for she had boasted
+so much among her friends of what a grand affair they were going to
+give when her cousin came to visit them.
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+THE COUSINS.
+
+ONLY this garden-party could be talked of for the next few days, and
+all was bustle and preparation at Mrs. Golding's. Hannah was too busy
+preparing for their expected visitors to question her young mistress
+about money matters. She supposed Hetty had consulted her mother upon
+this, and had sanctioned all that was being done. She ordered what she
+wanted of the tradespeople, as she was told to do, giving Hetty the
+bill when the things were brought, merely remarking that it had better
+be paid at once, as she knew her mistress did not like bills left
+unpaid.
+
+Hetty put the bill into her pocket, without replying. In fact, she
+had no money to pay it with, and she was wondering how much she could
+save out of her next monthly allowance to meet these little bills, for
+she knew that eggs, butter, and milk would not be the only items left
+unpaid. Her sovereign had melted she hardly knew how. The party was
+to be on Tuesday, and by the time Monday came, she had not a farthing
+left. But she would not let Hannah know this.
+
+"My cousin will be here, I dare say, when they send the things from
+the confectioner's," she said, "and so you must tell them to leave the
+bill, I can't be bothered with that just as Lettice comes in."
+
+"I could pay it, Miss Hetty, if you leave the money with me. You know
+how particular mistress is about the bills being paid."
+
+"Oh, it won't matter for once, we don't have my cousin and a party
+every day," said Hetty, turning out of the kitchen, for fear the boy
+should appear at once, with his pastry-box on his head.
+
+She did not want to be present when this arrived, for she had not
+ordered so much as Hannah had told her was necessary. Jellies and ices
+were so expensive that she could not venture upon many of these, and
+Hannah would be cross, she knew, for she had made up her mind that
+it should be a grand affair, as well as her young mistress, and was
+throwing all her energies into the preparations for it.
+
+Mrs. Golding contrived to leave her friend for an hour or two, and went
+with Hetty to meet her cousins, but she was obliged to return to Mrs.
+Newton soon after dinner, leaving the young people to rest and amuse
+themselves until the evening.
+
+"Hetty has invited a few friends to meet you to-morrow, so that you
+will not be at a loss for company, and will hardly miss me, even if I
+should not be able to leave my friend," said Mrs. Golding.
+
+"Indeed, aunt, but you must spare us one day for a picnic in the woods.
+I remember you telling me what a beautiful place it was, and there was
+a sort of half promise given that we should spend a whole day there."
+
+"Hetty is afraid of the creepy-crawly things," laughed Mrs. Golding.
+"She thought you would like a garden-party best."
+
+"Oh no, aunt; a garden-party is not half so delightful as a real
+picnic. Everybody gives a garden-party now; I am quite tired of them."
+
+If Lettice had glanced at her cousin's face, she would not have said so
+much, but, intent only on winning her aunt's consent to the picnic, she
+never looked at Hetty.
+
+Her brother, however, saw that something was amiss, and said quickly,
+"Of course, we should like a picnic, aunt. But I daresay we shall enjoy
+a garden-party quite as much if you have arranged for one. By the bye,
+where is the garden, Hetty?" he asked, looking out of the window upon
+the little square grass plot which Hetty called a croquet lawn.
+
+She reddened at the question, and her mother laughed.
+
+"I asked how we could call it a garden-party when we had no garden,"
+remarked Mrs. Golding.
+
+"But we have a garden, at least for the day, mamma. You see, Lettice,
+we could not possibly use that large old-fashioned garden at the back,
+we are such a small family, and so we gave it up to Mrs. Mavor, merely
+retaining the right of occasionally using it."
+
+Hetty thought her mother had left the room, or she would hardly have
+given such an explanation as this in her hearing, but it was the little
+fiction she had so often repeated to her young friends, and she forgot
+that her mother was likely to be startled by hearing it.
+
+"What are you saying, Hetty, about Mrs. Mavor's garden? We have no
+right there; it is by her kindness that we are allowed to walk in it,
+and you know it quite well." Mrs. Golding spoke sharply, for Hetty's
+words had pained her deeply, and she went out without another word, but
+a feeling of bitter disappointment in heart, for she had prided herself
+on her daughter's open truthful character.
+
+Hetty felt very uncomfortable as her cousin looked as her with his
+clear, truthful eyes. They were a greater reproach even than her
+mother's angry words, and she had the bitterness of feeling that she
+had forfeited his esteem through that falsehood. She tried to shake off
+the impression, and turned to Lettice, who was looking over an album at
+the table.
+
+"What do you think of that?" she said, pointing to a portrait.
+
+"I don't think I should care for the original. She looks a vulgar,
+over-dressed girl. Is she a friend of yours, Hetty?"
+
+"Yes, we were schoolfellows. Her father, Sir Charles Hodson, is one of
+the richest men in this neighbourhood."
+
+"It does not make his daughter a lady," remarked Lettice, carelessly,
+as she turned over the leaves.
+
+But here came an interruption from Hannah.
+
+"What am I to tell Mary Riley about to-morrow, Miss Hetty?" she asked.
+
+"She must come, of course, and I will speak to mamma this evening about
+it," said Hetty.
+
+In point of fact Mary Riley had been helping Hannah some hours every
+day lately, but Mrs. Golding did not know it.
+
+When she turned to her cousin again, Lettice said, "I am afraid aunt is
+very much troubled by old Mrs. Newton's illness, she looks so pale and
+worried. I hope we have not given you extra trouble by coming just now."
+
+"Oh no, Lettice. You know we have wanted you all the summer, and mamma
+was quite pleased when Uncle's letter came, saying he would spare you
+for a week."
+
+"But this party, Hetty. I wish you had not taken so much trouble about
+that, for indeed I shall enjoy the quiet chats with you and aunt much
+more than I shall meeting a lot of strange people. Don't think me very
+disagreeable, Hetty, but I am obliged to see so many people at home
+that I have quite looked forward to being quiet with you," said Lettice.
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+AN UGLY DILEMMA.
+
+THE morning of the much talked of garden-party brought the news that
+Mrs. Newton was worse, and Mrs. Golding would not be able to leave her
+until late in the day. When she came home, Mary Riley opened the door,
+and Mrs. Golding looked at her in no small astonishment.
+
+"You here, Mary Riley?" she exclaimed.
+
+"Yes, ma'am. Miss Hetty sent for me," said Mary, in a pert tone.
+
+"Where is Miss Hetty?" said the lady, turning into the small
+dining-room.
+
+She paused at the door, wondering whether it was her own house she had
+come into, as this had been turned into a cloak-room for the company.
+And from the window Mrs. Golding could see a crowd of people scattered
+about, while two or three tables stood on the lawn, covered with fruit,
+flowers, and delicate confectionery.
+
+"Why, Hetty must be mad to ask all those people here!" she said, half
+aloud.
+
+She did not know that Lettice had come into the room.
+
+"Hetty has done it for my sake, I am sure, aunt, so you must not be
+vexed with her," she said, gently.
+
+"But, my dear, I had no thought of a garden-party like this," said Mrs.
+Golding, still gazing from the window.
+
+"How pretty everything looks!" said Lettice. "How clever Hetty must be
+to get everything done so nicely!" she said, for she was anxious to
+smooth matters as well as she could, seeing her aunt was so angry.
+
+"She is too clever, I am afraid, Lettice," said her aunt, in a deeply
+pained tone. And then she went upstairs to change her dress before
+going into the garden.
+
+From her bedroom window she could hear the laughter and snatches of
+conversation going on below. It seemed that one of them had just found
+the croquet set, and another was inquiring if they could not have lawn
+tennis.
+
+"No lawn tennis, nothing but croquet," said another loud voice, which
+Mrs. Golding, to her further annoyance, recognised as Julia Hodson's.
+
+"Did you ever see such a mean, shabby affair as this is, Miss Hodson?"
+said another.
+
+Mrs. Golding could not catch the reply, but there was a jeering laugh
+from both.
+
+And then Miss Hodson said, "Have you looked at those fine tables?
+They look smart enough for a show, but I don't believe there's five
+shillings' worth of eatables on all of them: a few paltry home-made
+custards, and a jelly put here and there, as though it was ashamed of
+being seen in such company, and a little cheap fruit, with plenty of
+leaves to make the most of it."
+
+Mrs. Golding, peeping from the window, saw that Miss Hodson's
+description was pretty accurate; the provision for so many people was
+very scanty, and she felt vexed and mortified.
+
+She sat hesitating whether she would go down at all or leave Hetty to
+reap the full harvest of mortification which she knew was in store for
+her unless she came to the rescue. Then if she did, and sent out for
+what was wanted, would it not be encouraging her in her foolish love of
+display.
+
+At last Mrs. Golding decided to go down, but to leave Hetty to get out
+of the dilemma as best she could. She would let it be known that it was
+Hetty's affair, not hers, and, perhaps, the bitter remembrance of this
+day might prove a salutary warning to her for the future.
+
+By the time Mrs. Golding reached the garden, there was little left on
+the tables but empty plates, leaves, and flowers, and Hetty was already
+looking more anxious and worried than she had ever been in her life
+before.
+
+"Oh, mamma, I thought you were never coming," said Hetty, when she met
+her mother.
+
+"So it seems, my dear, or you would never have asked all these people
+here, I should think."
+
+"Mamma, what shall we do? Hannah says we have not enough things."
+
+"My dear, I have nothing to do with it. This garden-party is entirely
+your own affair. I will talk to you about it by-and-by, but that can
+wait."
+
+And Mrs. Golding passed to look for Lettice, leaving Hetty and angry
+Hannah to do the best they could.
+
+Tea was served, but the cake and fruit were exhausted before the
+visitors' appetites were appeased. Hetty was afraid to eat a mouthful
+herself for fear of this, but she had the mortification of seeing
+one plate after another emptied of its contents, and knew there was
+little, if any, in reserve to fill them again, and hearing anything but
+flattering remarks passed upon her much talked of garden-party. Oh!
+How sick and weary of it all she felt before the evening was over, for
+everybody seemed ill at ease and out of sorts. Lettice and Harry, she
+could see, were exerting themselves to please and amuse other people,
+but they, too, looked almost as uncomfortable as the rest, and as
+though they would be glad to escape at the first opportunity.
+
+But fresh trouble was in store for Hetty when Mrs. Mavor's gardener
+came in at the lower gate and met a group of young ladies heedlessly
+trampling down a bed of young onions.
+
+"What business have you here? I'll get you all locked up for
+trespassing," said the angry gardener, and he ventured to push Julia
+Hodson as she stood in his path.
+
+"How dare you touch me? I'll call your mistress," said angry Julia.
+"We have more right here than you, and I don't care for the rubbishing
+onions," and, to show her defiance, Julia walked again over the ground
+they had been ordered to leave.
+
+"Well, now I'm not going to put up with this in my own garden, for this
+bit is mine. I agreed with Mrs. Mavor about it, and—"
+
+"Why, it's Mrs. Golding's garden, you old stupid," interrupted Julia.
+"Here, Hetty, Hetty, this old man says we have no right here!"
+
+"Did you bring this lot here, Miss Golding?" called the gardener, as he
+too caught a glimpse of Hetty.
+
+She would have got away if she could, but her guests soon came up with
+her, and she was obliged to face the angry gardener.
+
+"What right had you to bring a lot of people in here?" he demanded.
+"The garden isn't yours, and you've no right in it. And if my missis
+give your mother leave to walk here sometimes, she didn't expect you to
+bring all the parish in."
+
+Hetty felt so dumbfounded that she could not say a word, and her guests
+slipped away one by one, whispering among themselves, while Hetty made
+her escape in another direction, for she was ashamed to meet anyone now.
+
+The crowning mortification came when Hetty discovered that her two
+cousins, with one or two of the guests, had wandered out of the garden
+away into the woods.
+
+Here Harry had seated himself on the bank of a little stream, and
+Lettice, on a log close by was telling a story for the edification of
+her brother and one of the younger guests, who had wandered to this
+quiet nook with her. Another young lady was pulling autumn berries from
+a bush close by, and altogether the group realised what her mother had
+proposed this festival should be—a pleasant little picnic in the woods.
+
+Poor Hetty had just run in here to escape from the angry gardener, and
+now, as she stood behind a tree at the end of the rustic bridge, and
+looked at the group opposite, who seemed to be enjoying themselves so
+completely, it seemed that she had only escaped from one mortification
+to meet another.
+
+She kept herself out of sight, peeping from behind one of the trees,
+but heartily wishing it was quite dark and time for her visitors to go
+home. She longed for, yet dreaded, the departure of her guests, for
+how she was to meet her mother and the questions that would be asked
+she did not know. Her cousins too were vexed and annoyed, and she had
+been so anxious to please them, and now everything was a failure, and
+everybody cross, so that Hetty may be forgiven for thinking herself the
+most miserable girl in the village.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+COMPLICATIONS.
+
+"IF you please, Miss Hetty, Thompson's have sent the bill for those
+jellies and things, and the boy says he is to wait for the money."
+
+"But I can't pay it, Hannah. I told you to tell him I would call in a
+few days."
+
+"It's a week now since we had these things," said Hannah, stolidly.
+
+"Well, I can't pay it to-day. I'll talk to mamma when she comes home
+this evening."
+
+"You've told me that before, Miss Hetty, and if I hadn't thought you'd
+done it, and asked the mistress for some more money, I shouldn't have
+told her the things were all paid for last week."
+
+"I wish you hadn't told her," said Hetty, fairly bursting into tears at
+the thought of the complicated troubles she had got into through her
+grand garden-party.
+
+"Well, now, it's no good crying over spilt milk, Miss Hetty. Just
+make a clean breast of it, and tell the mistress all about everything
+to-night."
+
+"I wish I could tell her, but, oh I Hannah, you don't know how
+changed mamma is. She never speaks to me now as she used before this
+garden-party. And I think my cousins saw that something was wrong, for
+they seemed glad to go home to-day. Oh! Hannah, I do feel so miserable."
+
+Hannah scarcely needed to be told this, for poor Hetty looked utterly
+wretched. She sat indoors all day alone, because she felt ashamed to go
+out. And yet there was a greater dread looming in the future, for Mrs.
+Mavor had not yet returned, but an angry letter had been received from
+her concerning the damage done to her garden.
+
+Hannah sincerely pitied her young mistress, and went back to the door
+to persuade the boy to leave the bill, with the promise that Hetty
+would call and pay it in a day or two. But an hour afterwards another
+bill was brought—from the fruiterer's this time—and this messenger was
+also told to wait for the money, for Mrs. Golding was not a regular
+customer, which made them the more pressing.
+
+Hetty lifted her tear-stained face as Hannah opened the door. "What is
+it now?" she said, impatiently.
+
+"It's for the fruit, Miss Hetty," said Hannah, laying another bill on
+the table, "and the boy says his master can't wait any longer."
+
+"Tell him he shall have it to-morrow. I will ask mamma to let me have
+my month's allowance this evening, and then I can pay this and nearly
+all Thompson's, if mamma will advance me another month as well."
+
+"Yes, do tell the mistress, Miss Hetty, it'll take off half the load I
+know. And I'll coax the boy to go back without the money," and Hannah
+did the coaxing effectually.
+
+But this turning people away from the door without money was being
+talked of in the village, for the boy had left a companion waiting for
+him a few yards off, who casually asked if he had got what he went for.
+
+"No, they'll pay to-morrow. They told me the same when I took the
+things though."
+
+"And they've just had a grand garden-party; why don't they pay their
+debts?"
+
+The boy made some such remark to his sister when he went home, and by
+her it was carried to half-a-dozen others. And then another piece of
+gossip was whispered: Madame Newton's son had failed in business, or
+something; at all events, they were ruined, and Mrs. Golding was ruined
+too.
+
+Hetty heard nothing of this rumour, but when her mother came home that
+evening, she received what would have seemed like a confirmation of
+it if she had been told. Mrs. Golding looked worried and anxious, and
+seemed very ill.
+
+"Mamma, shall I get you a little wine?" said Hetty, in some alarm.
+
+"No, thank you. I must learn to do without wine in the future," said
+Mrs. Golding, in the stiff, stern voice she had always used to Hetty
+lately.
+
+Hetty dropped upon a chair, and her hands fell helplessly into her lap.
+How could she tell her mother the trouble she was in while she kept her
+at such a distance? But Mrs. Golding paused at the door before going
+upstairs.
+
+"Your money is due to-day, Hetty," she said, "but I shall not be able
+to let you have it just yet, and you must be exceedingly careful in the
+household expenses, for I have had some heavy losses lately." And Mrs.
+Golding went on to her room without another word of explanation.
+
+This was a cruel blow to Hetty. At any other time her mother would have
+told her what had happened, for until this unlucky garden-party there
+had been perfect confidence, as there always should be, between mother
+and daughter. But now Mrs. Golding shut her lips firmly, and Hetty did
+not dare ask her a question, although she was burning with curiosity as
+well as anxiety to know how her mother could have had heavy losses.
+
+After sitting for a little while waiting for her mother to come
+downstairs, she ran into the kitchen to Hannah.
+
+"Have you heard anything—anything about mamma losing money?" she said.
+"Has she told you about it?"
+
+"Bless me! No, Miss Hetty. And I hope she hasn't been lending the
+Newtons any, for they do say they're ruined, for all they have held
+their heads so high for years and years."
+
+"The Newtons ruined!" exclaimed Hetty. "Oh! Hannah, then I am afraid we
+are ruined too, for I know mamma drew money out of the bank to lend Mr.
+Newton a little while ago." And Hetty began to wonder what they were to
+do.
+
+She went to bed that night feeling more anxious than over. Hannah
+called her at breakfast time.
+
+"I wish you'd rouse yourself, Miss Hetty, and come into the mistress's
+room."
+
+"Why, what is the matter?" she asked.
+
+"Matter enough. Old Mrs. Newton is dead, and though I went to tell the
+mistress an hour ago, she hasn't got up, and I don't know what to make
+of her."
+
+"Is she awake?" asked Hetty, springing out of bed, and hastily
+scrambling on some of her clothes.
+
+"I don't know what to make of her, but I'm afraid she must be very ill.
+For she took no notice when I told her Mrs. Newton was dead, though I
+thought at first she must have heard me, but felt too bad about it to
+speak now. I'm afraid she's off her head with the worry of one thing
+after the other."
+
+"Mamma has been worried lately," said Hetty, with a little twinge of
+conscience, but feeling thankful now that she had not told her mother
+of the monetary difficulties she had got into.
+
+She went into her mother's room, and saw at once that she was very ill.
+A doctor was sent for at once, who decided that it was a very serious
+attack of brain fever, and ordered that a nurse should be obtained,
+and nothing likely to excite the invalid was to be mentioned in her
+presence.
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.
+
+AS soon as Hetty had somewhat recovered from the fright and
+consternation into which her mother's sudden illness had plunged
+her, she went to the Newton's to tell them what had occurred, and
+ask her advice and help in this unforeseen difficulty. But she heard
+to her dismay that the family had left for London, although it was
+comparatively early in the day. The nurse who had been with Mrs. Newton
+during the latter part of her illness knew Hetty, and came and spoke to
+her.
+
+Hetty easily persuaded her to come and take care of her mother, but
+there was pressing need for money now to meet the current expenses.
+She had searched her mother's desk and could find nothing beyond the
+few shillings she had in her purse. Sore as her dilemma was, she was
+ashamed to apply to her uncle, for she felt sure Lettice had told him
+about her miserable garden-party, and how she had wasted her money in
+an effort to make a foolish display.
+
+Meanwhile, poor Hetty was driven to her wits' end to know what to do
+to supply their daily needs, but at last she decided to write. He was
+their only relative, the only friend she had to rely upon, or she would
+certainly have chosen to go to some one else, for her cousins had taken
+no good account of her to their father, she felt sure. But just as she
+sat down to write, the postman knocked at the door, and the next minute
+Hannah brought in a letter directed to her mother. Hetty took it up to
+her own room to read quietly.
+
+It was from Lettice, explaining that her father was not well, and that
+they were leaving home to spend the autumn and winter in Italy. They
+would have commenced their journey by the time her letter reached them,
+she said, but she would write again when they got to Paris, and tell
+her where a letter would find them.
+
+Hetty dropped the letter as she read this, and looked at it in blank
+terror and amazement. She had changed her last shilling, her mother was
+very ill and still quite unconscious, and the tradespeople had refused
+to give them any further credit.
+
+[Illustration: TOO TROUBLED EVEN FOR TEARS.]
+
+What would happen next? Utterly wretched and bewildered, she flung
+herself on her bed, too troubled even to seek relief in tears.
+
+How long she sat staring at her cousin's open letter she did not know,
+but she was interrupted by Hannah announcing Mrs. Mavor.
+
+Hetty rose and went down to receive her visitor, but without speaking,
+for it suddenly rushed upon her mind that she had brought fresh trouble
+with her through the hateful garden-party.
+
+Mrs. Mavor was very stiff and formal in her manner, but she asked
+kindly after Mrs. Golding, and this brought the tears to Hetty's eyes,
+which somewhat softened her visitor's manner, though it seemed hard
+enough to Hetty, as she said—
+
+"Miss Golding, I have come to ask an explanation of your unwarrantable
+conduct in taking a troop of people into my garden, and, moreover,
+setting about the story that you had retained the right to do this. A
+few friends walking there would have done no injury, and your mother
+was perfectly welcome to take them, but to invite half the parish and
+tell them it was your garden is an injury I cannot look over."
+
+"I am very, very sorry, Mrs. Mavor," said Hetty, in a tremulous voice.
+"My mother is not in the least to blame; she did not know how many I
+had invited, and I trust you will look over—"
+
+"No, Miss Golding, I cannot look over it. The damage must be paid for,
+of course, but that is not all—it is my word against yours. And I
+have heard since I have been home that it is not my garden, but Mrs.
+Golding's, and I cannot let that pass." Mrs. Mavor spoke quickly and
+angrily, but Hetty saw that she had made up her mind upon this point,
+and the idea of prosecution for trespass, perhaps imprisonment, at once
+presented itself to her and increased her distress.
+
+"I know it was very wrong to say what I did," she sobbed, "but indeed,
+indeed I am very sorry, Mrs. Mavor."
+
+"Being very sorry is not enough. You will soon forget that, and have
+another garden-party when I go away from home," said Mrs. Mavor,
+angrily.
+
+"Oh, no, indeed, I shall never want another. I shall never forget the
+misery this has cost me, for everybody seems so hard and unkind towards
+us because of this garden-party," said Hetty.
+
+"People always are angry when they have to pay for other people's
+extravagance. I hear the bills for your grand party are not paid yet."
+
+Hetty coloured crimson. How people must be talking about them for Mrs.
+Mavor to have heard this already.
+
+"I don't know how your mother could think of such a thing as giving a
+garden-party at a time like this," went on Mrs. Mavor, after a pause.
+"I was very much surprised when I heard it, and so are many other
+people."
+
+"My mother had very little to do with it. I am the only one to blame, I
+can assure you," said Hetty. And then, hard as it was, she was forced
+into a confession of all she had done in the affair, and how little her
+mother knew of who was invited until she came into the garden and saw
+them.
+
+Mrs. Mavor was certainly touched by this confession. Hetty had never
+been a favourite of hers, for she thought her vain and pretentious,
+and constantly aiming at display. But the frankness with which she
+confessed her faults to clear her mother from blame, made her hope that
+this bitter experience might be beneficial to her character hereafter.
+
+"Well, Miss Golding, if your mother is not to blame for the invasion of
+my garden, what reparation can you give me?"
+
+"I will do anything to save my mother further trouble," said Hetty.
+"Oh! Mrs. Mavor, tell me what I can do, and believe me I will make any
+sacrifice to atone for what I did that day."
+
+"Well, to begin with, you must write me a letter of apology for
+trespassing on my grounds, frankly stating that you had no right there
+and will not again offend in the like manner. I must have this to show
+anyone who may question my right to the garden," concluded Mrs. Mavor,
+sitting bolt upright and looking very hard at Hetty.
+
+The young lady hung her head. It was a bitter pill she had to swallow,
+for she did not doubt but Mrs. Mavor would make ample use of this
+letter among the gossips of the village to complete her humiliation: a
+thought in which she wronged Mrs. Mavor, for that lady had no intention
+of showing it to anyone, but proposed this as a test of her sincerity.
+
+She saw that a conflict was going on in Hetty's mind, for she did not
+answer for a minute or two, but at last she said, "I will write the
+apology you require, Mrs. Mavor, and send it to you this evening."
+
+"Very well. I will send in the bill for the damage done to the fruit
+and vegetables in a few days, and then we may consider the matter
+settled, Miss Golding." And Mrs. Mavor took her departure, a little
+less stiffly than her greeting had been.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+WHEN Mrs. Mavor had gone, Hetty sat a long time pondering over the
+task awaiting her before she began it, and it took her some time to
+write the letter after she did begin. But it was finished at last, and
+humbling as it was, Hetty was glad she had so far conquered herself
+as to be able to write frankly and fully, taking all the blame, and
+duly acknowledging that she had no right to enter the garden with her
+friends.
+
+Hetty would have felt a good deal happier if she could have seen what
+became of her letter. For Mrs. Mavor, to make sure no one else ever did
+see it, after she had once read it, tore it up and put it in the fire.
+She would tell Hetty of this some day, but not just now, or she would
+defeat the purpose for which she required it written. For somehow she
+began to like Hetty better than ever she did before, and this letter
+confirmed the liking, and she hoped that the faults of character that
+had hitherto dimmed and hidden her better qualities might be overcome.
+
+[Illustration: IT TOOK HER SOME TIME TO WRITE THE LETTER.]
+
+She did not know what bitter distress Hetty was now in, that the little
+household was positively threatened with starvation, that Hannah had
+spent their last penny to buy a loaf of bread when she brought that
+letter. Hannah would have told her readily enough if she had only had
+the opportunity, but knowing the girl's propensity to gossip, she would
+not give her the chance. And so the last loaf was cut and eaten without
+butter, and no one knew where the next was to come from.
+
+Mrs. Golding was still very ill, sometimes raving a little about Hetty,
+and how cruelly she had deceived her; sometimes about her old friend,
+Mrs. Newton, of whose death she was quite unconscious. But for the most
+part she lay very quiet, except for the rolling of her head from side
+to side.
+
+Hetty was of very little use in the sickroom, for she could not control
+her feelings sufficiently to do anything. She could only stand by the
+bedside and shed silent tears of anguish as she looked at her mother,
+and thought how much mischief her folly had caused, for that she had
+been mainly instrumental in bringing on this illness she felt sure, as
+she listened to her mother's plaintive reiteration of "Oh, Hetty, I did
+not think you would do it! Hetty, Hetty, have you quite forsaken your
+mother?"
+
+Poor Hetty had to rush from the room very often for fear her sobs
+should disturb her mother. And the thought that she might pass away,
+and never know how bitterly she repented of the past, was agony indeed.
+And she prayed to God to spare her life or restore her to consciousness
+for a few hours at least, that she might ask her forgiveness for the
+trouble and anxiety she had caused her.
+
+Hannah did all she could to comfort poor Hetty, but she was at her
+wits' end to know how she could help her in her distress.
+
+When their last loaf was cut and eaten, she said, "Miss Hetty, why
+don't you go and see your friend, Miss Hodson? She or her father might
+be able to tell you what to do."
+
+Hetty looked up quickly. "Do you think it would be any use, Hannah?"
+she said. "I never thought of Julia helping anybody."
+
+"Well, she is your friend, and Sir Charles might be able to tell you
+what you ought to do."
+
+"Something must be done certainly, for mamma must have what the doctor
+orders, and we have no money and no credit now," said Hetty, as if to
+stimulate her own courage for the disagreeable task before her.
+
+Not for herself could she have done it, but for her mother she could
+do anything now. And she put on her hat and jacket directly after
+breakfast, and walked up to see Julia.
+
+She caught a glimpse of her friend at one of the windows, but she moved
+away directly she saw Hetty—to come and meet her as soon as the door
+was opened she thought. But, instead of being invited to walk into the
+drawing-room or meeting Julia in the hall, as she had anticipated, the
+servant asked her to wait, and she would see if her mistress was at
+home.
+
+"Miss Julia is not at home," was the message she brought back.
+
+Hetty knew it was a message, but it completely upset her, for Julia had
+professed such love and friendship before that she did not anticipate
+such a refusal as this. Julia might be cool in her manner towards
+her—she had nerved herself to meet this—but to be kept waiting at the
+door and then denied entrance almost overpowered her.
+
+She stood for a minute or two unable to speak for astonishment, and
+then by an effort recovering herself she said, "Can I see Sir Charles
+Hodson?"
+
+Julia's father, she knew, had been very intimate with Mr. Newton,
+and he might be able to tell her how far her mother's affairs were
+involved, and help her to tide over her present difficulties. But
+Sir Charles could tell her nothing, and at last Hetty was obliged to
+confess that they were on the verge of starvation at home, and until
+she could obtain her uncle's address in Paris, she knew not where to
+turn for a shilling.
+
+"Dear me! That is very shocking, Miss Golding," said the gentleman. And
+then taking out his purse, he laid a sovereign on the table saying,
+"You will oblige me by accepting that for your present need, and I hope
+in a few days you will have news from Paris."
+
+Hetty coloured crimson at the thought of receiving charity, but what
+was she to do? She looked at the sovereign and thought of her mother at
+home. She felt choking, but she managed to stammer out. "Do you know
+that we may never be able to repay this?—We may be quite ruined. We
+have no money in the bank now I know, for I have written to ask."
+
+"Never mind that, you are welcome to this trifle. And, if you do not
+hear from your uncle in a day or two, come and see me again. I am very
+sorry your mother is so ill, Miss Golding. I daresay Newton's affairs
+have worried her a good deal, but I trust she will soon get over it."
+
+"Thank you, I hope so," gasped Hetty, as she took up the sovereign and
+put it into her little empty purse.
+
+She tried to thank Sir Charles for this, but she was too much overcome
+to utter a word, and walked out like one in a dream.
+
+When she reached home, she flung herself into a chair, and burst into
+an uncontrollable fit of sobbing. "Oh, Hannah, I never thought I should
+come to this!" she said, throwing the sovereign on to the table.
+
+"Well, Miss Hetty, I don't see what you've got to cry about now," said
+Hannah, seizing the sovereign and looking at it complacently. "I can
+get all the mistress wants now, and you and I and nurse can live on a
+mere nothing till we hear from Miss Lettice again."
+
+"I would not have taken it if it had not been for mamma," sobbed Hetty.
+"Oh! If she would only get better, I would try and do something to earn
+money myself. What do you think I could do, Hannah?" said the young
+lady, trying to choke back her tears.
+
+"Well, Miss Hetty, you used to say—"
+
+"Oh, never mind what I used to say! I have been a vain, silly girl,"
+interrupted Hetty. "Just tell me if there is anything I can do to earn
+money."
+
+"Well, Miss Hetty, you are clever at music I've heard, and you might
+teach it, I should think."
+
+"I should think so too," said Hetty, brightening at once. "I wonder who
+I could ask about it?"
+
+"I wouldn't do more than think about it just yet, if I were you, Miss
+Hetty. You're a lady, you know, and ladies never work for money. I've
+heard you say it again and again."
+
+"Oh, yes, I know I have, but I'm getting wiser now, I hope. I've tried
+to make everybody believe we were rich people because uncle was, but I
+know mamma would be glad if I tried to do something useful."
+
+Hetty had learned another bitter lesson that morning. Julia Hodson
+and her maxims of what the world deemed genteel and proper had been
+thought of and studied far more than her mother's wishes. But she knew
+how to value the professed love of such a friend now, and she resolved
+to begin at once and carry out what she knew her mother would approve,
+even though she could not ask her about it at present.
+
+Her usual impulsiveness forbade her waiting long after she had once
+made up her mind to do a thing. So as soon as dinner was over, she
+put on her bonnet to go and consult her former governess about her
+plan of becoming a music teacher, hoping she might be asked to teach
+some of the juniors among her former schoolfellows—a hope that was
+not disappointed. For the lady knew that if Hetty liked to be patient
+and take pains with her pupils, she could soon be a very clever
+teacher. She also recommended her to call upon Mrs. Mavor, who had been
+inquiring for a music teacher for her little girl.
+
+Mrs. Mavor was rather surprised to see the proud Miss Golding upon such
+an errand. But, after hearing her reason for wishing to do something
+towards helping her mother, she encouraged her to persevere, and
+engaged her at once to teach her little daughter.
+
+Hetty proved a more painstaking teacher than even her governess
+anticipated. And by the time Mrs. Golding was well enough to be told
+what Hetty had done, she was also able to add that her work was not
+nearly so irksome as she had feared it would be. She had begun to take
+an interest in the progress of her pupils, and really liked teaching
+them.
+
+[Illustration: FROM HETTY'S OWN LIPS SHE HEARD THE WHOLE STORY.]
+
+Mrs. Golding could only wonder and be thankful for the change in Hetty,
+for she was not told of the bitter experiences through which she had
+passed until she got better. Then, from Hetty's own lips she heard the
+whole story.
+
+Meanwhile, a letter had come from Lettice, saying they were going to
+stay a week or two in Paris. And, in response to Hetty's confused
+letter about her mother's illness, and their distress, and her going
+out as a music teacher, Uncle John came back post haste to see what
+it all meant. For Mrs. Golding was his only sister, and he had taken
+care that most of her money should be safely invested, so that he could
+afford to laugh when Hetty told him that her mother had been ruined by
+the downfall of their friend, Mr. Newton.
+
+"Nonsense, child! I took care that your mother should never be able
+to ruin herself through her kindness to friends. The most she could
+have lent was the little surplus she had saved and put away in the
+bank here, so you may make your mind easy about that, and give up your
+teaching to-morrow if you like."
+
+"But suppose I should not like, uncle?" said Hetty, laughing in her
+turn, for she could laugh now this great dread was lifted from her mind.
+
+"Well, I should say you were a more sensible girl than I thought you
+were," said Uncle John, in a cordial tone. For the report brought him
+by Lettice of the way her cousin had acted during her visit had not
+disposed him to meet his niece in a very affectionate manner.
+
+Hetty coloured. "I have been foolish, and worse than foolish, uncle,"
+she said, "but I mean to act differently in the future. Mamma quite
+approves of my effort to be independent, as she says, for she does not
+know why it was so urgent for me to begin to earn money at once, or
+why I was so anxious to see you. She is too ill to be troubled about
+anything yet, and now there will be no need to tell her until she gets
+quite well. I do think she will get well now, don't you, uncle?"
+
+"Certainly, my dear, and the knowledge that you are acting in such a
+sensible, womanly way will help her more than anything else. Keep on
+with your music teaching by all means, and don't add to the number
+of helpless women in the world. Never mind what your fine, frivolous
+friends may say, but, believe me, an idle, helpless woman is always a
+miserable one, and often gets herself into as much mischief as you did
+with your grand garden-party. Lettice told me about that, but I shall
+be able to give her a very different account of you, and she will be
+pleased and proud to hear it. For it is one of her pet theories that
+a woman may nearly always conquer adverse circumstances if she only
+conquers herself first, and I think you have proved it. I am quite
+proud of my little niece now," added Uncle John, gently patting Hetty's
+blushing cheek.
+
+He stayed with them a few days, long enough to set matters straight
+from a pecuniary point of view, and seeing his sister fairly
+progressing towards recovery. He also called upon Sir Charles Hodson,
+to thank him for the assistance given to Hetty in her time of need. And
+Miss Julia was so impressed by his noble appearance, and the fact that
+Hetty Golding was not quite penniless, that she called to see her the
+next day, to apologise, as she said, for not returning Hetty's call
+when she was not at home.
+
+But Hetty was only coldly polite to her gushing friend now. She would
+have no time, she said, to continue the acquaintance, for she was
+occupied in teaching several hours each day, and her mother would
+require so much care and attention for some months to come, that she
+would have no leisure for other companionship.
+
+It was Miss Hodson's turn to be astonished, and she was both surprised
+and vexed, for she really did like Hetty Golding as much as it
+was in her nature to like any one, and to have a renewal of her
+highly-esteemed friendship thus coolly declined was nothing less than a
+positive insult, according to her view of the matter. But remembering
+the past, and how glad Hetty had been to accept the smallest token of
+favour from her, she thought she would soon forget her present notions,
+and be glad to resume her former standing, if she waited. So she took
+her leave very coolly, but resolved to wait and watch for Hetty to make
+some overtures of friendship.
+
+But Hetty had no desire whatever to go back to that time. As she
+herself remarked, the number of things which now claimed her attention
+and absorbed her leisure left no margin for idle gossip as to what was
+the world's opinion of this and that. Moreover, when her mother in due
+course was restored to health, Hetty's interest had centred so happily
+in her work and her home that she had no inclination or motive to
+induce her to cultivate friendship with girls of Julia Hodson's stamp.
+
+Hetty's first earnings went to pay the debts incurred by her foolish
+garden-party. Mrs. Mavor's bill of costs for the damage done to the
+growing vegetables in the slip she had given to the gardener was the
+heaviest item on the list.
+
+Hetty, however, paid it cheerfully, saying the lessons she had learnt
+through it would be a warning throughout her life, for she could never
+forget that garden-party, and what came of it.
+
+
+
+                               THE END.
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76619 ***
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+      Hetty's Garden-Party, and What Came of It, by Emma Leslie │ Project Gutenberg
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+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76619 ***</div>
+
+<p>Transcriber's note: Unusual and inconsistent spelling is as printed.</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image001" style="max-width: 33.8125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image001.jpg" alt="image001">
+</figure>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<h1>Hetty's Garden-Party,</h1>
+
+<p class="t3">
+AND<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t1">
+WHAT CAME OF IT.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+BY<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t1">
+EMMA LESLIE<br>
+<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t4">
+<em>Author of "Harry Lawley," "Constancia's Household,"</em><br>
+<em>Etc., Etc.</em><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image002" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image002.jpg" alt="image002"></figure>
+
+<p><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+LONDON: SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t4">
+55 &amp; 56, OLD BAILEY, E.C.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t3b">
+CONTENTS.<br>
+</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image003" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image003.jpg" alt="image003"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<a href="#Chapter_1">CHAPTER I.</a><br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+HETTY'S PROPOSAL<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<a href="#Chapter_2">CHAPTER II.</a><br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+THE COUSINS<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<a href="#Chapter_3">CHAPTER III.</a><br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+AN UGLY DILEMMA<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<a href="#Chapter_4">CHAPTER IV.</a><br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+COMPLICATIONS<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<a href="#Chapter_5">CHAPTER V.</a><br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+AN UNWELCOME VISITOR<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<a href="#Chapter_6">CHAPTER VI.</a><br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="poem">
+CONCLUSION<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image004" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image004.jpg" alt="image004"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p class="t2">
+<b>Hetty's Garden-Party,</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+AND<br>
+</p>
+
+<p class="t1">
+WHAT CAME OF IT.<br>
+<br>
+——————<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_1">CHAPTER I.</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>HETTY'S PROPOSAL.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"MAMMA, dear! A letter for you, from Uncle John, I believe," said Hetty
+Golding, as she paused at the breakfast table, where the letter was
+lying near her mother's plate.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it is from Uncle John. I wonder whether he will let Harry and
+Lettice come to us for a week?" said the lady, as she opened her letter.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mamma, did you ask him? I hope he has consented, for I have told
+Ellen Ross and the other girls so much about Lettice that they are
+quite wild to see her. Is she coming?" asked Hetty, impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"Wait a minute, my dear, and you shall have the letter to read
+yourself. Yes, they are both coming," said the widow, as she handed the
+letter to her daughter the next minute.</p>
+
+<p>But Hetty did not want to read it now. "Oh I 'am' glad," she said,
+clapping her hands. "Mamma, what shall we do when they come?" she added.</p>
+
+<p>"Do, my dear? Make them as comfortable as we can, to be sure," said
+Mrs. Golding, calmly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, of course. But you know what I mean, mamma. They are used to
+having everything so nice at home."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hope we shall be able to have everything nice here. We always
+do, Hetty."</p>
+
+<p>"But, mamma, it will be so different; we only keep one servant. Don't
+you think we had better have Mary Riley as housemaid? Uncle John keeps
+two, besides a cook and kitchenmaid."</p>
+
+<p>"Your Uncle John is a rich man, while I am only a poor
+widow—comparatively poor, at least—for my income, as you know is only
+sufficient for our wants, barely allowing me to lay aside a trifle for
+a rainy day. But Lettice knows this, and will not expect a house full
+of servants. No, I don't think I shall have Mary Riley; she has grown
+such a pert, forward girl since she went to live in London."</p>
+
+<p>A cloud gathered on Hetty's good-tempered face.</p>
+
+<p>She did not like to be reminded of their narrow means, and already had
+begun to lay plans for making a little display before their neighbours.
+For Hetty had told one or two dubious stories about her mamma having
+plenty of money, but preferring to live in strict retirement on account
+of her health. And when it was remarked that the Goldings never gave
+even a quiet party, Hetty had nodded, "Wait till my cousin Lettice
+comes, we shall have a party then." And she had given her invitations
+pretty freely among her schoolfellows and friends. Many a time she had
+taken some congenial spirit into her confidence, and together they had
+discussed the subject. And now, though she had left school, she was not
+much wiser, and clung tenaciously to her pet project.</p>
+
+<p>"Mamma, we must do something to amuse Lattice while she is here,"
+said Hetty, after gazing abstractedly into her coffee cup for a few
+minutes. "All the girls are wild to see her, so we must have a party,
+or something of the kind."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we will have a little picnic in the woods if the weather is
+fine. Ring the bell, please dear, I want to speak to Hannah about the
+dinner."</p>
+
+<p>Hetty shrugged her shoulders as she turned to the bell. "Picnics are so
+old-fashioned, mamma. Let us have a garden-party," she said.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Golding laughed. "A garden-party on our tiny lawn, Hetty? It would
+be quite ridiculous."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, if we only had the lawn, mamma. But, you know, before Mrs. Mavor
+went away, she begged us to use her garden whenever we liked, and
+nothing could be better than that large, old-fashioned garden. And only
+being separated from our own by that low wire fence, and having a gate
+opening into ours, no one need know but what it is our own. It used to
+belong to this house, you know, mamma."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I know it did, my dear. But I should not like to use it for a
+garden-party, it would be encroaching on Mrs. Mavor's consideration.
+For I was glad to give up the garden when I took the house, on account
+of the difference it made in the rent. And, besides, it would be
+assuming a false position, to say nothing of the expense of such a
+grand affair as a garden-party."</p>
+
+<p>"But it need not be a grand affair, mamma. And as to the cost, we shall
+eat no more in the garden than we should in the woods, only we can lay
+a table tastefully on the lawn or under the trees, and have a cup of
+tea in comfort, instead of sitting on the ground getting the cramp,
+and perhaps a bad cold, and eating earwigs and ladybirds with the
+sandwiches."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Golding laughed. "I never heard of your dislike to ladybirds
+before," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't mind them so much, but I hate the creepy-crawly things
+that get about you when you sit on the grass," rumbled Hetty, who was
+determined to find fault with every detail of the proposed picnic.</p>
+
+<p>"But what would you do to amuse yourselves in the garden?" said Mrs.
+Golding, after listening to Hetty's numerous objections to her plan.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we could play at croquet and hide-and-seek, and walk about, and we
+might manage a dance on the lawn."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, my dear, as you seem to have set your heart upon having it this
+way, I suppose you must do so. But don't blame me, or Hannah either, if
+things don't turn out as you expect, for I know nothing about garden
+parties. If it were only a picnic now—"</p>
+
+<p>"There, mamma, don't say another word. I'll manage everything now you
+have given your consent. It won't make half the fuss a picnic would,
+for there will be no packing baskets and breaking plates, and losing
+knives and forks. I know how we had things at the Eastlakes, and can
+manage it."</p>
+
+<p>"But, my dear, we cannot pretend to have things as Mrs. Eastlake would.
+She has plenty of money and a house full of servants, while we have
+only—"</p>
+
+<p>"If you please, ma'am, Mrs. Newton's servant has brought a message,
+asking you to go over as soon as you can, for old madam has had a bad
+fall, and seems very ill." The interruption came from Hannah, who had
+been indulging in a little private gossip with Mrs. Newton's maid, and
+had not heard the parlour bell ring some minutes before.</p>
+
+<p>It was Hannah's one failing, this love of gossip. It seemed useless for
+Mrs. Golding to try to check it, for scolding and reasoning had alike
+proved ineffectual, and so she had given it up altogether.</p>
+
+<p>Sending a message in reply, she merely told Hannah to come back at once
+and receive her orders for dinner.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall you go soon, mamma?" asked Hetty when Hannah had left the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, my dear, I must go at once. Old Mrs. Newton is such a dear
+friend. She will expect me to be with her a great deal."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hope she won't be ill long," said Hetty. "What shall I do
+about this letter? Will you take it with you, mamma?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, I think you can answer it. Tell Uncle John we will be at the
+station to meet your cousins."</p>
+
+<p>"And about the garden-party, mamma, we ought to have that the day after
+Lattice comes, because it is to be a sort of introductory affair. And
+some of them might like to give another when they once know Lettice."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, my dear, have it when you like. It is to be your party, not
+mine, for I don't understand such things. I was always content with a
+picnic and a ramble about the woods and hills, so you and Hannah must
+manage things between you."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, mamma, I'll see to everything. You shan't have a bit of
+trouble," said Hetty, kissing her mother as she spoke, for no one could
+be more amiable and affectionate than Hetty when she could have her own
+way, and, unfortunately, she had been allowed to have it rather too
+much of late.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Mrs. Golding had gone out, Hetty flew downstairs to consult
+Hannah about the garden-party, for she must be propitiated and coaxed
+into putting forth her best culinary skill for the occasion.</p>
+
+<p>"Hannah, my cousin Lettice is coming, and I have persuaded mamma to let
+me have a garden-party," said Hetty, plunging at once into the matter.</p>
+
+<p>Hannah looked up from her work of washing glasses. "A garden-party!"
+she repeated. "Who is to get things ready for it, I should like to
+know?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we can do it between us, Hannah. I came to tell you about it—to
+ask you what we should want, for, you see, mamma knows nothing about
+such things, and so she has left it all to me."</p>
+
+<p>"And you know about as much as the mistress," said Hannah.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but I know you could help me, and I have been to the Eastlakes and
+one or two other places."</p>
+
+<p>"And played croquet and ate custards," said Hannah contemptuously, but
+in a mollified tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't suppose I could make them," said Hetty. "But you can,
+and I could beat the eggs, and do little things to help."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well, we'll see what can be done," said Hannah, bustling about
+her work, but smiling as she spoke, for she was gratified that Hetty
+had come to consult her upon this all-important matter.</p>
+
+<p>"What should we want besides—?"</p>
+
+<p>"Besides custards and croquet? Oh, lots of things—cheese-cakes and
+tartlets, and pound cake and whipped cream. Mary Riley told me they had
+all those things at the Eastlakes, for she was there to help."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish she could come and help us," sighed Hetty.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I shall have to get some help, if I am to do all this fine
+cooking," said Hannah. "How many are you going to invite?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know yet, I must talk to mamma when she comes home."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you ought to make up your mind soon, for there is scarcely a
+week to get everything, and the young ladies will want a few days'
+notice to get their dresses ready."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I will talk to mamma as soon as she comes in," and Hetty ran off,
+humming a lively air, to write her letter to Uncle John, and wish that
+Mrs. Newton's accident had occurred at any time rather than the present.</p>
+
+<p>She had deep and bitter cause to reiterate this wish again and again,
+but it simply vexed her now that her mother should be away just when
+she wanted her. For Mrs. Golding was out all day, and when she came
+home in the evening she looked so tired and worried that Hetty hardly
+liked to say a word about the party.</p>
+
+<p>"Is she so very ill, mamma?" she ventured to ask.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, my dear. She will never leave her room, or even her bed again, I
+fear. And there are other troubles as well in the family, so that I am
+afraid I shall have to be away from home a good deal in the next few
+days. Have you posted your uncle's letter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, mamma. I told him we would meet Lettice at the station, and that
+we were going to have a little garden-party to introduce her to our
+friends."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Golding smiled. "I had almost forgotten this party," she said.
+"But I suppose you may as well have it."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, mamma, we settled that this morning. And I have been telling
+Hannah about making us some tarts and custards," said Hetty, eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you will want a few little things like that," remarked Mrs.
+Golding, absently.</p>
+
+<p>"Hannah was very good-tempered about it, and will do everything, only
+she wants to know how many there are likely to be. How many shall I
+invite, mamma?"</p>
+
+<p>"My dear, I must leave that to you. I am sure you know whom to invite,
+and I shall be so much away from home I think it will be best for me
+to give you a sovereign, to meet the extra expenses. Only consult
+Hannah in spending it. And remember, I cannot afford more than this for
+extras. Tea, and sugar, and bread, and butter you need not count in,
+but you must make this suffice for extras."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, thank you, mamma, I am sure it will do that," said Hetty, who
+know very little of the practical value of money, and fancied that a
+sovereign would purchase unheard-of luxuries.</p>
+
+<p>Before she went to bed that night, she made out a list of friends
+to be invited, and they numbered nearly forty. Remembering Hannah's
+suggestion that these would want a few days' notice, she sat down
+before breakfast, and began to write her notes of invitation. But she
+did not show the list to her mother, for she knew that one or two names
+would be struck out, even if her mother did not object to such a large
+party. And so the writing was put away as Mrs. Golding came into the
+room.</p>
+
+<p>She did not notice her daughter's hurried movements, for her mind
+was full of her friend's trouble. And as soon as she had eaten her
+breakfast, she put on her bonnet to go out, saying she might not be
+home again until the evening.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty hurried over her breakfast too, and by twelve o'clock had written
+and despatched all her notes of invitation.</p>
+
+<p>"There now, I have done the worst part of the work, Hannah. I have
+written all those notes," she said, as she came in after her walk to
+the post office.</p>
+
+<p>"How many have you sent?" asked Hannah.</p>
+
+<p>"Thirty-six, and Lettice, Harry, and our two selves will make just
+forty—a nice number."</p>
+
+<p>Hannah held up her hands. "A nice number you call it—and you have just
+one sovereign to feed all those people!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, isn't that enough?" asked Hetty, with rather a dismayed look.
+"It's all nonsense about the feeding, you know; they're not like poor
+people going to a tea-meeting. People don't come to a garden-party to
+eat; I'm sure I never eat much."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you're not everybody, Miss Hetty, and I know enough about money
+and parties to know that a sovereign is not half enough to feed all
+those people."</p>
+
+<p>"They don't want to be fed, I tell you. We only want a few things to
+make the tables look nice; custards and cheese-cakes don't cost much,
+and a few tarts and strawberries and currants, with plenty of tea and
+coffee, and nice cake and bread-and-butter, are all we shall want."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Miss Hetty, I'll do the best I can. But you had better tell
+your mamma how many you have invited, and I daresay she will give you
+another sovereign, rather than people should come here to starve."</p>
+
+<p>"You're dreadfully afraid of people starving," said Hetty, crossly,
+as she walked away, swinging her hat and mentally denouncing Hannah's
+vulgar notions about genteel people's appetites.</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon, Hetty set out to make her purchases. She found her
+sovereign considerably diminished before she came home, and then Hannah
+provokingly declared she had not ordered more than half enough.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell the boy when he brings them what more you want, then," said
+Hetty, crossly. "I have seen Mary Riley," she added, "and she has
+promised to come in and help us."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, she will tall us what we ought to have, for she has been living in
+a fashionable family, only you must not forget to ask your mamma for
+some more money, Miss Hetty."</p>
+
+<p>But Hetty did forget, or rather felt afraid, to ask for any more, for
+fear her mother should question her as to the number invited, and
+insist upon the whole affair being given up. She did not feel quite so
+happy when she went to bed that night, for there was a little fear, a
+little anxiety as to what the end of this would be. But it was too late
+to draw back now, she thought, the invitations had been issued, and she
+"must" make her garden-party a brilliant success, for she had boasted
+so much among her friends of what a grand affair they were going to
+give when her cousin came to visit them.</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image005" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image005.jpg" alt="image005"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_2">CHAPTER II.</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>THE COUSINS.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>ONLY this garden-party could be talked of for the next few days, and
+all was bustle and preparation at Mrs. Golding's. Hannah was too busy
+preparing for their expected visitors to question her young mistress
+about money matters. She supposed Hetty had consulted her mother upon
+this, and had sanctioned all that was being done. She ordered what she
+wanted of the tradespeople, as she was told to do, giving Hetty the
+bill when the things were brought, merely remarking that it had better
+be paid at once, as she knew her mistress did not like bills left
+unpaid.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty put the bill into her pocket, without replying. In fact, she
+had no money to pay it with, and she was wondering how much she could
+save out of her next monthly allowance to meet these little bills, for
+she knew that eggs, butter, and milk would not be the only items left
+unpaid. Her sovereign had melted she hardly knew how. The party was
+to be on Tuesday, and by the time Monday came, she had not a farthing
+left. But she would not let Hannah know this.</p>
+
+<p>"My cousin will be here, I dare say, when they send the things from
+the confectioner's," she said, "and so you must tell them to leave the
+bill, I can't be bothered with that just as Lettice comes in."</p>
+
+<p>"I could pay it, Miss Hetty, if you leave the money with me. You know
+how particular mistress is about the bills being paid."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, it won't matter for once, we don't have my cousin and a party
+every day," said Hetty, turning out of the kitchen, for fear the boy
+should appear at once, with his pastry-box on his head.</p>
+
+<p>She did not want to be present when this arrived, for she had not
+ordered so much as Hannah had told her was necessary. Jellies and ices
+were so expensive that she could not venture upon many of these, and
+Hannah would be cross, she knew, for she had made up her mind that
+it should be a grand affair, as well as her young mistress, and was
+throwing all her energies into the preparations for it.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Golding contrived to leave her friend for an hour or two, and went
+with Hetty to meet her cousins, but she was obliged to return to Mrs.
+Newton soon after dinner, leaving the young people to rest and amuse
+themselves until the evening.</p>
+
+<p>"Hetty has invited a few friends to meet you to-morrow, so that you
+will not be at a loss for company, and will hardly miss me, even if I
+should not be able to leave my friend," said Mrs. Golding.</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, aunt, but you must spare us one day for a picnic in the woods.
+I remember you telling me what a beautiful place it was, and there was
+a sort of half promise given that we should spend a whole day there."</p>
+
+<p>"Hetty is afraid of the creepy-crawly things," laughed Mrs. Golding.
+"She thought you would like a garden-party best."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh no, aunt; a garden-party is not half so delightful as a real
+picnic. Everybody gives a garden-party now; I am quite tired of them."</p>
+
+<p>If Lettice had glanced at her cousin's face, she would not have said so
+much, but, intent only on winning her aunt's consent to the picnic, she
+never looked at Hetty.</p>
+
+<p>Her brother, however, saw that something was amiss, and said quickly,
+"Of course, we should like a picnic, aunt. But I daresay we shall enjoy
+a garden-party quite as much if you have arranged for one. By the bye,
+where is the garden, Hetty?" he asked, looking out of the window upon
+the little square grass plot which Hetty called a croquet lawn.</p>
+
+<p>She reddened at the question, and her mother laughed.</p>
+
+<p>"I asked how we could call it a garden-party when we had no garden,"
+remarked Mrs. Golding.</p>
+
+<p>"But we have a garden, at least for the day, mamma. You see, Lettice,
+we could not possibly use that large old-fashioned garden at the back,
+we are such a small family, and so we gave it up to Mrs. Mavor, merely
+retaining the right of occasionally using it."</p>
+
+<p>Hetty thought her mother had left the room, or she would hardly have
+given such an explanation as this in her hearing, but it was the little
+fiction she had so often repeated to her young friends, and she forgot
+that her mother was likely to be startled by hearing it.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you saying, Hetty, about Mrs. Mavor's garden? We have no
+right there; it is by her kindness that we are allowed to walk in it,
+and you know it quite well." Mrs. Golding spoke sharply, for Hetty's
+words had pained her deeply, and she went out without another word, but
+a feeling of bitter disappointment in heart, for she had prided herself
+on her daughter's open truthful character.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty felt very uncomfortable as her cousin looked as her with his
+clear, truthful eyes. They were a greater reproach even than her
+mother's angry words, and she had the bitterness of feeling that she
+had forfeited his esteem through that falsehood. She tried to shake off
+the impression, and turned to Lettice, who was looking over an album at
+the table.</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think of that?" she said, pointing to a portrait.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think I should care for the original. She looks a vulgar,
+over-dressed girl. Is she a friend of yours, Hetty?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we were schoolfellows. Her father, Sir Charles Hodson, is one of
+the richest men in this neighbourhood."</p>
+
+<p>"It does not make his daughter a lady," remarked Lettice, carelessly,
+as she turned over the leaves.</p>
+
+<p>But here came an interruption from Hannah.</p>
+
+<p>"What am I to tell Mary Riley about to-morrow, Miss Hetty?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"She must come, of course, and I will speak to mamma this evening about
+it," said Hetty.</p>
+
+<p>In point of fact Mary Riley had been helping Hannah some hours every
+day lately, but Mrs. Golding did not know it.</p>
+
+<p>When she turned to her cousin again, Lettice said, "I am afraid aunt is
+very much troubled by old Mrs. Newton's illness, she looks so pale and
+worried. I hope we have not given you extra trouble by coming just now."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh no, Lettice. You know we have wanted you all the summer, and mamma
+was quite pleased when Uncle's letter came, saying he would spare you
+for a week."</p>
+
+<p>"But this party, Hetty. I wish you had not taken so much trouble about
+that, for indeed I shall enjoy the quiet chats with you and aunt much
+more than I shall meeting a lot of strange people. Don't think me very
+disagreeable, Hetty, but I am obliged to see so many people at home
+that I have quite looked forward to being quiet with you," said Lettice.</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image006" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image006.jpg" alt="image006"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_3">CHAPTER III.</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>AN UGLY DILEMMA.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>THE morning of the much talked of garden-party brought the news that
+Mrs. Newton was worse, and Mrs. Golding would not be able to leave her
+until late in the day. When she came home, Mary Riley opened the door,
+and Mrs. Golding looked at her in no small astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"You here, Mary Riley?" she exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, ma'am. Miss Hetty sent for me," said Mary, in a pert tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is Miss Hetty?" said the lady, turning into the small
+dining-room.</p>
+
+<p>She paused at the door, wondering whether it was her own house she had
+come into, as this had been turned into a cloak-room for the company.
+And from the window Mrs. Golding could see a crowd of people scattered
+about, while two or three tables stood on the lawn, covered with fruit,
+flowers, and delicate confectionery.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Hetty must be mad to ask all those people here!" she said, half
+aloud.</p>
+
+<p>She did not know that Lettice had come into the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Hetty has done it for my sake, I am sure, aunt, so you must not be
+vexed with her," she said, gently.</p>
+
+<p>"But, my dear, I had no thought of a garden-party like this," said Mrs.
+Golding, still gazing from the window.</p>
+
+<p>"How pretty everything looks!" said Lettice. "How clever Hetty must be
+to get everything done so nicely!" she said, for she was anxious to
+smooth matters as well as she could, seeing her aunt was so angry.</p>
+
+<p>"She is too clever, I am afraid, Lettice," said her aunt, in a deeply
+pained tone. And then she went upstairs to change her dress before
+going into the garden.</p>
+
+<p>From her bedroom window she could hear the laughter and snatches of
+conversation going on below. It seemed that one of them had just found
+the croquet set, and another was inquiring if they could not have lawn
+tennis.</p>
+
+<p>"No lawn tennis, nothing but croquet," said another loud voice, which
+Mrs. Golding, to her further annoyance, recognised as Julia Hodson's.</p>
+
+<p>"Did you ever see such a mean, shabby affair as this is, Miss Hodson?"
+said another.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Golding could not catch the reply, but there was a jeering laugh
+from both.</p>
+
+<p>And then Miss Hodson said, "Have you looked at those fine tables?
+They look smart enough for a show, but I don't believe there's five
+shillings' worth of eatables on all of them: a few paltry home-made
+custards, and a jelly put here and there, as though it was ashamed of
+being seen in such company, and a little cheap fruit, with plenty of
+leaves to make the most of it."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Golding, peeping from the window, saw that Miss Hodson's
+description was pretty accurate; the provision for so many people was
+very scanty, and she felt vexed and mortified.</p>
+
+<p>She sat hesitating whether she would go down at all or leave Hetty to
+reap the full harvest of mortification which she knew was in store for
+her unless she came to the rescue. Then if she did, and sent out for
+what was wanted, would it not be encouraging her in her foolish love of
+display.</p>
+
+<p>At last Mrs. Golding decided to go down, but to leave Hetty to get out
+of the dilemma as best she could. She would let it be known that it was
+Hetty's affair, not hers, and, perhaps, the bitter remembrance of this
+day might prove a salutary warning to her for the future.</p>
+
+<p>By the time Mrs. Golding reached the garden, there was little left on
+the tables but empty plates, leaves, and flowers, and Hetty was already
+looking more anxious and worried than she had ever been in her life
+before.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, mamma, I thought you were never coming," said Hetty, when she met
+her mother.</p>
+
+<p>"So it seems, my dear, or you would never have asked all these people
+here, I should think."</p>
+
+<p>"Mamma, what shall we do? Hannah says we have not enough things."</p>
+
+<p>"My dear, I have nothing to do with it. This garden-party is entirely
+your own affair. I will talk to you about it by-and-by, but that can
+wait."</p>
+
+<p>And Mrs. Golding passed to look for Lettice, leaving Hetty and angry
+Hannah to do the best they could.</p>
+
+<p>Tea was served, but the cake and fruit were exhausted before the
+visitors' appetites were appeased. Hetty was afraid to eat a mouthful
+herself for fear of this, but she had the mortification of seeing
+one plate after another emptied of its contents, and knew there was
+little, if any, in reserve to fill them again, and hearing anything but
+flattering remarks passed upon her much talked of garden-party. Oh!
+How sick and weary of it all she felt before the evening was over, for
+everybody seemed ill at ease and out of sorts. Lettice and Harry, she
+could see, were exerting themselves to please and amuse other people,
+but they, too, looked almost as uncomfortable as the rest, and as
+though they would be glad to escape at the first opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>But fresh trouble was in store for Hetty when Mrs. Mavor's gardener
+came in at the lower gate and met a group of young ladies heedlessly
+trampling down a bed of young onions.</p>
+
+<p>"What business have you here? I'll get you all locked up for
+trespassing," said the angry gardener, and he ventured to push Julia
+Hodson as she stood in his path.</p>
+
+<p>"How dare you touch me? I'll call your mistress," said angry Julia.
+"We have more right here than you, and I don't care for the rubbishing
+onions," and, to show her defiance, Julia walked again over the ground
+they had been ordered to leave.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now I'm not going to put up with this in my own garden, for this
+bit is mine. I agreed with Mrs. Mavor about it, and—"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, it's Mrs. Golding's garden, you old stupid," interrupted Julia.
+"Here, Hetty, Hetty, this old man says we have no right here!"</p>
+
+<p>"Did you bring this lot here, Miss Golding?" called the gardener, as he
+too caught a glimpse of Hetty.</p>
+
+<p>She would have got away if she could, but her guests soon came up with
+her, and she was obliged to face the angry gardener.</p>
+
+<p>"What right had you to bring a lot of people in here?" he demanded.
+"The garden isn't yours, and you've no right in it. And if my missis
+give your mother leave to walk here sometimes, she didn't expect you to
+bring all the parish in."</p>
+
+<p>Hetty felt so dumbfounded that she could not say a word, and her guests
+slipped away one by one, whispering among themselves, while Hetty made
+her escape in another direction, for she was ashamed to meet anyone now.</p>
+
+<p>The crowning mortification came when Hetty discovered that her two
+cousins, with one or two of the guests, had wandered out of the garden
+away into the woods.</p>
+
+<p>Here Harry had seated himself on the bank of a little stream, and
+Lettice, on a log close by was telling a story for the edification of
+her brother and one of the younger guests, who had wandered to this
+quiet nook with her. Another young lady was pulling autumn berries from
+a bush close by, and altogether the group realised what her mother had
+proposed this festival should be—a pleasant little picnic in the woods.</p>
+
+<p>Poor Hetty had just run in here to escape from the angry gardener, and
+now, as she stood behind a tree at the end of the rustic bridge, and
+looked at the group opposite, who seemed to be enjoying themselves so
+completely, it seemed that she had only escaped from one mortification
+to meet another.</p>
+
+<p>She kept herself out of sight, peeping from behind one of the trees,
+but heartily wishing it was quite dark and time for her visitors to go
+home. She longed for, yet dreaded, the departure of her guests, for
+how she was to meet her mother and the questions that would be asked
+she did not know. Her cousins too were vexed and annoyed, and she had
+been so anxious to please them, and now everything was a failure, and
+everybody cross, so that Hetty may be forgiven for thinking herself the
+most miserable girl in the village.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image007" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image007.jpg" alt="image007"></figure>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image008" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image008.jpg" alt="image008"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_4">CHAPTER IV.</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>COMPLICATIONS.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>"IF you please, Miss Hetty, Thompson's have sent the bill for those
+jellies and things, and the boy says he is to wait for the money."</p>
+
+<p>"But I can't pay it, Hannah. I told you to tell him I would call in a
+few days."</p>
+
+<p>"It's a week now since we had these things," said Hannah, stolidly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I can't pay it to-day. I'll talk to mamma when she comes home
+this evening."</p>
+
+<p>"You've told me that before, Miss Hetty, and if I hadn't thought you'd
+done it, and asked the mistress for some more money, I shouldn't have
+told her the things were all paid for last week."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you hadn't told her," said Hetty, fairly bursting into tears at
+the thought of the complicated troubles she had got into through her
+grand garden-party.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, now, it's no good crying over spilt milk, Miss Hetty. Just
+make a clean breast of it, and tell the mistress all about everything
+to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"I wish I could tell her, but, oh I Hannah, you don't know how
+changed mamma is. She never speaks to me now as she used before this
+garden-party. And I think my cousins saw that something was wrong, for
+they seemed glad to go home to-day. Oh! Hannah, I do feel so miserable."</p>
+
+<p>Hannah scarcely needed to be told this, for poor Hetty looked utterly
+wretched. She sat indoors all day alone, because she felt ashamed to go
+out. And yet there was a greater dread looming in the future, for Mrs.
+Mavor had not yet returned, but an angry letter had been received from
+her concerning the damage done to her garden.</p>
+
+<p>Hannah sincerely pitied her young mistress, and went back to the door
+to persuade the boy to leave the bill, with the promise that Hetty
+would call and pay it in a day or two. But an hour afterwards another
+bill was brought—from the fruiterer's this time—and this messenger was
+also told to wait for the money, for Mrs. Golding was not a regular
+customer, which made them the more pressing.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty lifted her tear-stained face as Hannah opened the door. "What is
+it now?" she said, impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"It's for the fruit, Miss Hetty," said Hannah, laying another bill on
+the table, "and the boy says his master can't wait any longer."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell him he shall have it to-morrow. I will ask mamma to let me have
+my month's allowance this evening, and then I can pay this and nearly
+all Thompson's, if mamma will advance me another month as well."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, do tell the mistress, Miss Hetty, it'll take off half the load I
+know. And I'll coax the boy to go back without the money," and Hannah
+did the coaxing effectually.</p>
+
+<p>But this turning people away from the door without money was being
+talked of in the village, for the boy had left a companion waiting for
+him a few yards off, who casually asked if he had got what he went for.</p>
+
+<p>"No, they'll pay to-morrow. They told me the same when I took the
+things though."</p>
+
+<p>"And they've just had a grand garden-party; why don't they pay their
+debts?"</p>
+
+<p>The boy made some such remark to his sister when he went home, and by
+her it was carried to half-a-dozen others. And then another piece of
+gossip was whispered: Madame Newton's son had failed in business, or
+something; at all events, they were ruined, and Mrs. Golding was ruined
+too.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty heard nothing of this rumour, but when her mother came home that
+evening, she received what would have seemed like a confirmation of
+it if she had been told. Mrs. Golding looked worried and anxious, and
+seemed very ill.</p>
+
+<p>"Mamma, shall I get you a little wine?" said Hetty, in some alarm.</p>
+
+<p>"No, thank you. I must learn to do without wine in the future," said
+Mrs. Golding, in the stiff, stern voice she had always used to Hetty
+lately.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty dropped upon a chair, and her hands fell helplessly into her lap.
+How could she tell her mother the trouble she was in while she kept her
+at such a distance? But Mrs. Golding paused at the door before going
+upstairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Your money is due to-day, Hetty," she said, "but I shall not be able
+to let you have it just yet, and you must be exceedingly careful in the
+household expenses, for I have had some heavy losses lately." And Mrs.
+Golding went on to her room without another word of explanation.</p>
+
+<p>This was a cruel blow to Hetty. At any other time her mother would have
+told her what had happened, for until this unlucky garden-party there
+had been perfect confidence, as there always should be, between mother
+and daughter. But now Mrs. Golding shut her lips firmly, and Hetty did
+not dare ask her a question, although she was burning with curiosity as
+well as anxiety to know how her mother could have had heavy losses.</p>
+
+<p>After sitting for a little while waiting for her mother to come
+downstairs, she ran into the kitchen to Hannah.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you heard anything—anything about mamma losing money?" she said.
+"Has she told you about it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Bless me! No, Miss Hetty. And I hope she hasn't been lending the
+Newtons any, for they do say they're ruined, for all they have held
+their heads so high for years and years."</p>
+
+<p>"The Newtons ruined!" exclaimed Hetty. "Oh! Hannah, then I am afraid we
+are ruined too, for I know mamma drew money out of the bank to lend Mr.
+Newton a little while ago." And Hetty began to wonder what they were to
+do.</p>
+
+<p>She went to bed that night feeling more anxious than over. Hannah
+called her at breakfast time.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish you'd rouse yourself, Miss Hetty, and come into the mistress's
+room."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, what is the matter?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Matter enough. Old Mrs. Newton is dead, and though I went to tell the
+mistress an hour ago, she hasn't got up, and I don't know what to make
+of her."</p>
+
+<p>"Is she awake?" asked Hetty, springing out of bed, and hastily
+scrambling on some of her clothes.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know what to make of her, but I'm afraid she must be very ill.
+For she took no notice when I told her Mrs. Newton was dead, though I
+thought at first she must have heard me, but felt too bad about it to
+speak now. I'm afraid she's off her head with the worry of one thing
+after the other."</p>
+
+<p>"Mamma has been worried lately," said Hetty, with a little twinge of
+conscience, but feeling thankful now that she had not told her mother
+of the monetary difficulties she had got into.</p>
+
+<p>She went into her mother's room, and saw at once that she was very ill.
+A doctor was sent for at once, who decided that it was a very serious
+attack of brain fever, and ordered that a nurse should be obtained,
+and nothing likely to excite the invalid was to be mentioned in her
+presence.</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image009" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image009.jpg" alt="image009"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_5">CHAPTER V.</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>AN UNWELCOME VISITOR.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>AS soon as Hetty had somewhat recovered from the fright and
+consternation into which her mother's sudden illness had plunged
+her, she went to the Newton's to tell them what had occurred, and
+ask her advice and help in this unforeseen difficulty. But she heard
+to her dismay that the family had left for London, although it was
+comparatively early in the day. The nurse who had been with Mrs. Newton
+during the latter part of her illness knew Hetty, and came and spoke to
+her.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty easily persuaded her to come and take care of her mother, but
+there was pressing need for money now to meet the current expenses.
+She had searched her mother's desk and could find nothing beyond the
+few shillings she had in her purse. Sore as her dilemma was, she was
+ashamed to apply to her uncle, for she felt sure Lettice had told him
+about her miserable garden-party, and how she had wasted her money in
+an effort to make a foolish display.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, poor Hetty was driven to her wits' end to know what to do
+to supply their daily needs, but at last she decided to write. He was
+their only relative, the only friend she had to rely upon, or she would
+certainly have chosen to go to some one else, for her cousins had taken
+no good account of her to their father, she felt sure. But just as she
+sat down to write, the postman knocked at the door, and the next minute
+Hannah brought in a letter directed to her mother. Hetty took it up to
+her own room to read quietly.</p>
+
+<p>It was from Lettice, explaining that her father was not well, and that
+they were leaving home to spend the autumn and winter in Italy. They
+would have commenced their journey by the time her letter reached them,
+she said, but she would write again when they got to Paris, and tell
+her where a letter would find them.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty dropped the letter as she read this, and looked at it in blank
+terror and amazement. She had changed her last shilling, her mother was
+very ill and still quite unconscious, and the tradespeople had refused
+to give them any further credit.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image010" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image010.jpg" alt="image010"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>TOO TROUBLED EVEN FOR TEARS.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>What would happen next? Utterly wretched and bewildered, she flung
+herself on her bed, too troubled even to seek relief in tears.</p>
+
+<p>How long she sat staring at her cousin's open letter she did not know,
+but she was interrupted by Hannah announcing Mrs. Mavor.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty rose and went down to receive her visitor, but without speaking,
+for it suddenly rushed upon her mind that she had brought fresh trouble
+with her through the hateful garden-party.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Mavor was very stiff and formal in her manner, but she asked
+kindly after Mrs. Golding, and this brought the tears to Hetty's eyes,
+which somewhat softened her visitor's manner, though it seemed hard
+enough to Hetty, as she said—</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Golding, I have come to ask an explanation of your unwarrantable
+conduct in taking a troop of people into my garden, and, moreover,
+setting about the story that you had retained the right to do this. A
+few friends walking there would have done no injury, and your mother
+was perfectly welcome to take them, but to invite half the parish and
+tell them it was your garden is an injury I cannot look over."</p>
+
+<p>"I am very, very sorry, Mrs. Mavor," said Hetty, in a tremulous voice.
+"My mother is not in the least to blame; she did not know how many I
+had invited, and I trust you will look over—"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Miss Golding, I cannot look over it. The damage must be paid for,
+of course, but that is not all—it is my word against yours. And I
+have heard since I have been home that it is not my garden, but Mrs.
+Golding's, and I cannot let that pass." Mrs. Mavor spoke quickly and
+angrily, but Hetty saw that she had made up her mind upon this point,
+and the idea of prosecution for trespass, perhaps imprisonment, at once
+presented itself to her and increased her distress.</p>
+
+<p>"I know it was very wrong to say what I did," she sobbed, "but indeed,
+indeed I am very sorry, Mrs. Mavor."</p>
+
+<p>"Being very sorry is not enough. You will soon forget that, and have
+another garden-party when I go away from home," said Mrs. Mavor,
+angrily.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, indeed, I shall never want another. I shall never forget the
+misery this has cost me, for everybody seems so hard and unkind towards
+us because of this garden-party," said Hetty.</p>
+
+<p>"People always are angry when they have to pay for other people's
+extravagance. I hear the bills for your grand party are not paid yet."</p>
+
+<p>Hetty coloured crimson. How people must be talking about them for Mrs.
+Mavor to have heard this already.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know how your mother could think of such a thing as giving a
+garden-party at a time like this," went on Mrs. Mavor, after a pause.
+"I was very much surprised when I heard it, and so are many other
+people."</p>
+
+<p>"My mother had very little to do with it. I am the only one to blame, I
+can assure you," said Hetty. And then, hard as it was, she was forced
+into a confession of all she had done in the affair, and how little her
+mother knew of who was invited until she came into the garden and saw
+them.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Mavor was certainly touched by this confession. Hetty had never
+been a favourite of hers, for she thought her vain and pretentious,
+and constantly aiming at display. But the frankness with which she
+confessed her faults to clear her mother from blame, made her hope that
+this bitter experience might be beneficial to her character hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Miss Golding, if your mother is not to blame for the invasion of
+my garden, what reparation can you give me?"</p>
+
+<p>"I will do anything to save my mother further trouble," said Hetty.
+"Oh! Mrs. Mavor, tell me what I can do, and believe me I will make any
+sacrifice to atone for what I did that day."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, to begin with, you must write me a letter of apology for
+trespassing on my grounds, frankly stating that you had no right there
+and will not again offend in the like manner. I must have this to show
+anyone who may question my right to the garden," concluded Mrs. Mavor,
+sitting bolt upright and looking very hard at Hetty.</p>
+
+<p>The young lady hung her head. It was a bitter pill she had to swallow,
+for she did not doubt but Mrs. Mavor would make ample use of this
+letter among the gossips of the village to complete her humiliation: a
+thought in which she wronged Mrs. Mavor, for that lady had no intention
+of showing it to anyone, but proposed this as a test of her sincerity.</p>
+
+<p>She saw that a conflict was going on in Hetty's mind, for she did not
+answer for a minute or two, but at last she said, "I will write the
+apology you require, Mrs. Mavor, and send it to you this evening."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well. I will send in the bill for the damage done to the fruit
+and vegetables in a few days, and then we may consider the matter
+settled, Miss Golding." And Mrs. Mavor took her departure, a little
+less stiffly than her greeting had been.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image011" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image011.jpg" alt="image011"></figure>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image012" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image012.jpg" alt="image012"></figure>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<h3><a id="Chapter_6">CHAPTER VI.</a></h3>
+
+<p class="t3">
+<b>CONCLUSION.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>WHEN Mrs. Mavor had gone, Hetty sat a long time pondering over the
+task awaiting her before she began it, and it took her some time to
+write the letter after she did begin. But it was finished at last, and
+humbling as it was, Hetty was glad she had so far conquered herself
+as to be able to write frankly and fully, taking all the blame, and
+duly acknowledging that she had no right to enter the garden with her
+friends.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty would have felt a good deal happier if she could have seen what
+became of her letter. For Mrs. Mavor, to make sure no one else ever did
+see it, after she had once read it, tore it up and put it in the fire.
+She would tell Hetty of this some day, but not just now, or she would
+defeat the purpose for which she required it written. For somehow she
+began to like Hetty better than ever she did before, and this letter
+confirmed the liking, and she hoped that the faults of character that
+had hitherto dimmed and hidden her better qualities might be overcome.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image013" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image013.jpg" alt="image013"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>IT TOOK HER SOME TIME TO WRITE THE LETTER.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>She did not know what bitter distress Hetty was now in, that the little
+household was positively threatened with starvation, that Hannah had
+spent their last penny to buy a loaf of bread when she brought that
+letter. Hannah would have told her readily enough if she had only had
+the opportunity, but knowing the girl's propensity to gossip, she would
+not give her the chance. And so the last loaf was cut and eaten without
+butter, and no one knew where the next was to come from.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Golding was still very ill, sometimes raving a little about Hetty,
+and how cruelly she had deceived her; sometimes about her old friend,
+Mrs. Newton, of whose death she was quite unconscious. But for the most
+part she lay very quiet, except for the rolling of her head from side
+to side.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty was of very little use in the sickroom, for she could not control
+her feelings sufficiently to do anything. She could only stand by the
+bedside and shed silent tears of anguish as she looked at her mother,
+and thought how much mischief her folly had caused, for that she had
+been mainly instrumental in bringing on this illness she felt sure, as
+she listened to her mother's plaintive reiteration of "Oh, Hetty, I did
+not think you would do it! Hetty, Hetty, have you quite forsaken your
+mother?"</p>
+
+<p>Poor Hetty had to rush from the room very often for fear her sobs
+should disturb her mother. And the thought that she might pass away,
+and never know how bitterly she repented of the past, was agony indeed.
+And she prayed to God to spare her life or restore her to consciousness
+for a few hours at least, that she might ask her forgiveness for the
+trouble and anxiety she had caused her.</p>
+
+<p>Hannah did all she could to comfort poor Hetty, but she was at her
+wits' end to know how she could help her in her distress.</p>
+
+<p>When their last loaf was cut and eaten, she said, "Miss Hetty, why
+don't you go and see your friend, Miss Hodson? She or her father might
+be able to tell you what to do."</p>
+
+<p>Hetty looked up quickly. "Do you think it would be any use, Hannah?"
+she said. "I never thought of Julia helping anybody."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, she is your friend, and Sir Charles might be able to tell you
+what you ought to do."</p>
+
+<p>"Something must be done certainly, for mamma must have what the doctor
+orders, and we have no money and no credit now," said Hetty, as if to
+stimulate her own courage for the disagreeable task before her.</p>
+
+<p>Not for herself could she have done it, but for her mother she could
+do anything now. And she put on her hat and jacket directly after
+breakfast, and walked up to see Julia.</p>
+
+<p>She caught a glimpse of her friend at one of the windows, but she moved
+away directly she saw Hetty—to come and meet her as soon as the door
+was opened she thought. But, instead of being invited to walk into the
+drawing-room or meeting Julia in the hall, as she had anticipated, the
+servant asked her to wait, and she would see if her mistress was at
+home.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Julia is not at home," was the message she brought back.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty knew it was a message, but it completely upset her, for Julia had
+professed such love and friendship before that she did not anticipate
+such a refusal as this. Julia might be cool in her manner towards
+her—she had nerved herself to meet this—but to be kept waiting at the
+door and then denied entrance almost overpowered her.</p>
+
+<p>She stood for a minute or two unable to speak for astonishment, and
+then by an effort recovering herself she said, "Can I see Sir Charles
+Hodson?"</p>
+
+<p>Julia's father, she knew, had been very intimate with Mr. Newton,
+and he might be able to tell her how far her mother's affairs were
+involved, and help her to tide over her present difficulties. But
+Sir Charles could tell her nothing, and at last Hetty was obliged to
+confess that they were on the verge of starvation at home, and until
+she could obtain her uncle's address in Paris, she knew not where to
+turn for a shilling.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me! That is very shocking, Miss Golding," said the gentleman. And
+then taking out his purse, he laid a sovereign on the table saying,
+"You will oblige me by accepting that for your present need, and I hope
+in a few days you will have news from Paris."</p>
+
+<p>Hetty coloured crimson at the thought of receiving charity, but what
+was she to do? She looked at the sovereign and thought of her mother at
+home. She felt choking, but she managed to stammer out. "Do you know
+that we may never be able to repay this?—We may be quite ruined. We
+have no money in the bank now I know, for I have written to ask."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind that, you are welcome to this trifle. And, if you do not
+hear from your uncle in a day or two, come and see me again. I am very
+sorry your mother is so ill, Miss Golding. I daresay Newton's affairs
+have worried her a good deal, but I trust she will soon get over it."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, I hope so," gasped Hetty, as she took up the sovereign and
+put it into her little empty purse.</p>
+
+<p>She tried to thank Sir Charles for this, but she was too much overcome
+to utter a word, and walked out like one in a dream.</p>
+
+<p>When she reached home, she flung herself into a chair, and burst into
+an uncontrollable fit of sobbing. "Oh, Hannah, I never thought I should
+come to this!" she said, throwing the sovereign on to the table.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Miss Hetty, I don't see what you've got to cry about now," said
+Hannah, seizing the sovereign and looking at it complacently. "I can
+get all the mistress wants now, and you and I and nurse can live on a
+mere nothing till we hear from Miss Lettice again."</p>
+
+<p>"I would not have taken it if it had not been for mamma," sobbed Hetty.
+"Oh! If she would only get better, I would try and do something to earn
+money myself. What do you think I could do, Hannah?" said the young
+lady, trying to choke back her tears.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Miss Hetty, you used to say—"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, never mind what I used to say! I have been a vain, silly girl,"
+interrupted Hetty. "Just tell me if there is anything I can do to earn
+money."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Miss Hetty, you are clever at music I've heard, and you might
+teach it, I should think."</p>
+
+<p>"I should think so too," said Hetty, brightening at once. "I wonder who
+I could ask about it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't do more than think about it just yet, if I were you, Miss
+Hetty. You're a lady, you know, and ladies never work for money. I've
+heard you say it again and again."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, I know I have, but I'm getting wiser now, I hope. I've tried
+to make everybody believe we were rich people because uncle was, but I
+know mamma would be glad if I tried to do something useful."</p>
+
+<p>Hetty had learned another bitter lesson that morning. Julia Hodson
+and her maxims of what the world deemed genteel and proper had been
+thought of and studied far more than her mother's wishes. But she knew
+how to value the professed love of such a friend now, and she resolved
+to begin at once and carry out what she knew her mother would approve,
+even though she could not ask her about it at present.</p>
+
+<p>Her usual impulsiveness forbade her waiting long after she had once
+made up her mind to do a thing. So as soon as dinner was over, she
+put on her bonnet to go and consult her former governess about her
+plan of becoming a music teacher, hoping she might be asked to teach
+some of the juniors among her former schoolfellows—a hope that was
+not disappointed. For the lady knew that if Hetty liked to be patient
+and take pains with her pupils, she could soon be a very clever
+teacher. She also recommended her to call upon Mrs. Mavor, who had been
+inquiring for a music teacher for her little girl.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Mavor was rather surprised to see the proud Miss Golding upon such
+an errand. But, after hearing her reason for wishing to do something
+towards helping her mother, she encouraged her to persevere, and
+engaged her at once to teach her little daughter.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty proved a more painstaking teacher than even her governess
+anticipated. And by the time Mrs. Golding was well enough to be told
+what Hetty had done, she was also able to add that her work was not
+nearly so irksome as she had feared it would be. She had begun to take
+an interest in the progress of her pupils, and really liked teaching
+them.</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image014" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image014.jpg" alt="image014"></figure>
+<p class="t4">
+<b>FROM HETTY'S OWN LIPS</b><br>
+<b>SHE HEARD THE WHOLE STORY.</b><br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br></p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Golding could only wonder and be thankful for the change in Hetty,
+for she was not told of the bitter experiences through which she had
+passed until she got better. Then, from Hetty's own lips she heard the
+whole story.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, a letter had come from Lettice, saying they were going to
+stay a week or two in Paris. And, in response to Hetty's confused
+letter about her mother's illness, and their distress, and her going
+out as a music teacher, Uncle John came back post haste to see what
+it all meant. For Mrs. Golding was his only sister, and he had taken
+care that most of her money should be safely invested, so that he could
+afford to laugh when Hetty told him that her mother had been ruined by
+the downfall of their friend, Mr. Newton.</p>
+
+<p>"Nonsense, child! I took care that your mother should never be able
+to ruin herself through her kindness to friends. The most she could
+have lent was the little surplus she had saved and put away in the
+bank here, so you may make your mind easy about that, and give up your
+teaching to-morrow if you like."</p>
+
+<p>"But suppose I should not like, uncle?" said Hetty, laughing in her
+turn, for she could laugh now this great dread was lifted from her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I should say you were a more sensible girl than I thought you
+were," said Uncle John, in a cordial tone. For the report brought him
+by Lettice of the way her cousin had acted during her visit had not
+disposed him to meet his niece in a very affectionate manner.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty coloured. "I have been foolish, and worse than foolish, uncle,"
+she said, "but I mean to act differently in the future. Mamma quite
+approves of my effort to be independent, as she says, for she does not
+know why it was so urgent for me to begin to earn money at once, or
+why I was so anxious to see you. She is too ill to be troubled about
+anything yet, and now there will be no need to tell her until she gets
+quite well. I do think she will get well now, don't you, uncle?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, my dear, and the knowledge that you are acting in such a
+sensible, womanly way will help her more than anything else. Keep on
+with your music teaching by all means, and don't add to the number
+of helpless women in the world. Never mind what your fine, frivolous
+friends may say, but, believe me, an idle, helpless woman is always a
+miserable one, and often gets herself into as much mischief as you did
+with your grand garden-party. Lettice told me about that, but I shall
+be able to give her a very different account of you, and she will be
+pleased and proud to hear it. For it is one of her pet theories that
+a woman may nearly always conquer adverse circumstances if she only
+conquers herself first, and I think you have proved it. I am quite
+proud of my little niece now," added Uncle John, gently patting Hetty's
+blushing cheek.</p>
+
+<p>He stayed with them a few days, long enough to set matters straight
+from a pecuniary point of view, and seeing his sister fairly
+progressing towards recovery. He also called upon Sir Charles Hodson,
+to thank him for the assistance given to Hetty in her time of need. And
+Miss Julia was so impressed by his noble appearance, and the fact that
+Hetty Golding was not quite penniless, that she called to see her the
+next day, to apologise, as she said, for not returning Hetty's call
+when she was not at home.</p>
+
+<p>But Hetty was only coldly polite to her gushing friend now. She would
+have no time, she said, to continue the acquaintance, for she was
+occupied in teaching several hours each day, and her mother would
+require so much care and attention for some months to come, that she
+would have no leisure for other companionship.</p>
+
+<p>It was Miss Hodson's turn to be astonished, and she was both surprised
+and vexed, for she really did like Hetty Golding as much as it
+was in her nature to like any one, and to have a renewal of her
+highly-esteemed friendship thus coolly declined was nothing less than a
+positive insult, according to her view of the matter. But remembering
+the past, and how glad Hetty had been to accept the smallest token of
+favour from her, she thought she would soon forget her present notions,
+and be glad to resume her former standing, if she waited. So she took
+her leave very coolly, but resolved to wait and watch for Hetty to make
+some overtures of friendship.</p>
+
+<p>But Hetty had no desire whatever to go back to that time. As she
+herself remarked, the number of things which now claimed her attention
+and absorbed her leisure left no margin for idle gossip as to what was
+the world's opinion of this and that. Moreover, when her mother in due
+course was restored to health, Hetty's interest had centred so happily
+in her work and her home that she had no inclination or motive to
+induce her to cultivate friendship with girls of Julia Hodson's stamp.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty's first earnings went to pay the debts incurred by her foolish
+garden-party. Mrs. Mavor's bill of costs for the damage done to the
+growing vegetables in the slip she had given to the gardener was the
+heaviest item on the list.</p>
+
+<p>Hetty, however, paid it cheerfully, saying the lessons she had learnt
+through it would be a warning throughout her life, for she could never
+forget that garden-party, and what came of it.</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<p class="t3">
+THE END.<br>
+</p>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter" id="image015" style="max-width: 25.3125em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/image015.jpg" alt="image015"></figure>
+
+<p><br><br><br></p>
+
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76619 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+
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+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for eBook #76619
+(https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/76619)