Esther was full of the adventure and the golden prospect before her. She wondered if the house she was going to was as grand as Woodview, and she was struck by the appearance of the maidservant who opened the door to her. "Oh, here you are," Mrs. Rivers said. "I have been anxiously expecting you; my baby is not at all well. Come up to the nursery at once. I don't know your name," she said, turning to Esther. "Waters, ma'am." "Emily, you'll see that Waters' box is taken to her room." "I'll see to it, ma'am." "Then come up at once, Waters. I hope you'll succeed better than the others." A tall, handsome gentleman stood at the door of a room full of beautiful things, and as they went past him Mrs. Rivers said, "This is the new nurse, dear." Higher up, Esther saw a bedroom of soft hangings and bright porcelain. Then another staircase, and the little wail of a child caught on the ear, and Mrs. Rivers said, "The poor little thing; it never ceases crying. Take it, Waters, take it." Esther sat down, and soon the little thing ceased crying. "It seems to take to you," said the anxious mother. "So it seems," said Esther; "it is a wee thing, not half the size of my boy." "I hope the milk will suit it, and that it won't bring up what it takes. This is our last chance." "I daresay it will come round, ma'am. I suppose you weren't strong enough to nurse it yourself, and yet you looks healthy." "I? No, I could not undertake to nurse it." Then, glancing suspiciously at Esther, whose breast was like a little cup, Mrs. Rivers said, "I hope you have plenty of milk?" "Oh, yes, ma'am; they said at the hospital I could bring up twins." "Your supper will be ready at nine. But that will be a long time for you to wait. I told them to cut you some sandwiches, and you'll have a glass of porter. Or perhaps you'd prefer to wait till supper? You can have your supper, you know, at eight, if you like?" Esther took a sandwich and Mrs. Rivers poured out a glass of porter. And later in the evening Mrs. Rivers came down from her drawing-room to see that Esther's supper was all right, and not satisfied with the handsome fare that had been laid before her child's nurse, she went into the kitchen and gave strict orders that the meat for the future was not to be quite so much cooked.