I was so glad! We were tolerably wet, and Dr. May said something
about hoping the girls were at home; well, when he opened the
drawing-room door, there was the poor daughter lying on the sofa."

"Poor girl! tell me of her."

"Oh! you must go and see her; you won't look at her without losing
your heart. Papa liked her so much--see if he does not talk of her
all the evening. She looks the picture of goodness and sweetness.
Only think of her having some of the maidenhair and cape jessamine
still in water, that we sent her so long ago. She shall have some
flowers every three days. Well, Dr. May said, 'There is one at
least, that is sure to be at home.' She felt my habit, and said I
must go and change it, and she called to a little thing of six,
telling her to show me the way to Flora. She smiled, and said she
wished she could go herself, but Flora would take care of me. Little
Blanche came and took hold of my hand, chattering away, up we went,
up two staircases, and at the top of the last stood a girl about
seventeen, so pretty! such deep blue eyes, and such a complexion!
'That's Flora,' little Blanche said; 'Flora, this is Miss Rivers, and
she's wet, and Margaret says you are to take care of her.'"

"So that was your introduction?"

"Yes; we got acquainted in a minute. She took me into her room--such
a room! I believe Bellairs would be angry if she had such a one; all
up in the roof, no fire, no carpet, except little strips by the beds;
there were three beds. Flora used to sleep there till Miss May was
ill, and now she dresses there. Yet I am sure they are as much
ladies as I am."