Page 158 (1/2)

Mrs Hubbard had been prepared to fight, or, at any rate, to display a

haughty stand-offishness; but she went down before the sweet face and

girlish voice, and, if the truthin

Nell's eyes, which shone there when the _Annie Laurie_ was beating

before a contrary wind; a directness of gaze which indicated a spirit,

not easily quelled, lurking behind the dark-gray eyes

Mrs Hubbard instantly realized that this beautiful girl, young as she

as compounded of different material to the "old frumps" who had

preceded her, and whoed her tactics with rather startling proe place; the footmen and maidservants

stood up, questionably at first, but respectfully in the end, and Nell

tried to grasp the extent of the responsibility which she had

undertaken

"I think it all rests with you, Mrs Hubbard," she said, as she sat in the

housekeeper's roo respectfully--respectfully!--in

front of her "I ae a place

without your help; but I think--I only think--I can do it, if you stand by