Sandford."
However, Theresa made no objection to be dressed for Esther.
"Who will be your supporters? Ella is too short. Jane and Nora?--Where
is Nora!"
Nora was in the furthest corner of the room, seated in gloom.
"Nora!--"
"I am not going to play any more--" said Nora.
"You must come and be one of the queen's women--I want you for that."
"I am not going to play--" repeated Nora; but nobody heard except Daisy.
"I am Esther myself! nobody else has any right to be it. I have
practised it, and I know how to do it; and I am Esther myself. Nobody
else has any right to be Esther!"
Daisy stood by in dismay. She did not know what comfort to bring to this
distress.
"I won't play at all!" said Nora. "If I can't be Esther I won't be
anything. You have all the good things, Daisy! you have all the
prettiest pictures; and I might have had just this one. Just Esther. I
just wanted to be Esther! It's mean."
"Why you've been plenty of things I think," said Jane Linwood, coming
near this corner of gloom.
"I haven't! I have been that hateful prince in the tower and
Cinderella's ugly sister--only hateful things."
"But you were Little Red Riding-Hood."
"Red Riding-Hood!" exclaimed Nora in unspeakable disdain. "Red
Riding-Hood was nothing at all but a red cloak! and Daisy wore feathers,
and had the dog--"
And the vision of Queen Esther's jewels and satin gown and mantle here
overcame Nora's dignity if not her wrath: she began to cry.
"But won't you come and be one of the queen's maids? _they_ will be very
nicely dressed too," Daisy ventured gently.
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