United States or Solomon Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"I know you now as you really are eaten up with pride of birth, and with no sympathy at all for girls a trifle poorer than yourself." "You speak with cruelty, and I am sorry." To Aneta's astonishment, Maggie's face underwent a queer change. It puckered up in an alarming manner, and the next moment the girl burst into tears. The sight of Maggie's tears immediately changed Aneta Lysle's attitude.
It is true that Queen Maggie's headache was only a fiction, but poor Queen Aneta's was real enough. She was lying down in her pretty bedroom, hoping that quiet might still the throbbing of her temples, when the door was very softly opened, and Merry Cardew brought in a letter and laid it by her side. "May I bring you some tea upstairs, Aneta?" she said. "Is there anything I can do for you?"
But when she saw Lady Lysle Lady Lysle, who hated her mother and before whom her mother trembled and shrank; Lady Lysle, who was Aneta's aunt she knew that Cicely and Merry might be most valuable aids to her in carrying out her campaign against Aneta, and would help her to establish herself once and for all as the most powerful and important person in Mrs. Ward's school.
You come first in my heart; and to see you at my school turning away from me and going altogether to Aneta's side would give me agony. There, I can't help it. Forgive me. I'll be all right in a minute." Maggie turned her face aside. She had taken out her handkerchief and was pressing it to her eyes. Real tears had filled them, for her emotions were genuine enough.
If four new girls came to the school, and altogether went over to Aneta's side, where should I be? What chance should I have? But I do not ask you to come to my side; I only ask you to be neutral. Merry, will you promise?" "You distress me more than I can say," replied Merry. "I feel so completely in the dark. I don't, of course, want to take any side." "Ah, then you will promise?" said Maggie.
You love her, don't you, Neta?" There had come a curious change over Aneta's face. After a brief pause she said, "I have no right to say it, but you two are my cousins" "Yes, yes! What does this mean?" said Cicely with great eagerness. "Well, I know you will be faithful and not repeat it to any one; but I don't love Maggie Howland." "Oh, Neta!"
Between seven and eight that evening Aneta's uncle, Sir Charles, arrived. He and Mrs. Ward had a long consultation. His opinion was that the bracelets and other curios were worth at least seven thousand pounds, and that such a sum could easily be obtained for them. "In fact, I myself would buy them for that figure," said Sir Charles.
Maggie had not heard of Aneta's headache. She, therefore, did not ask about it. "I pity people who have headaches," said Aneta. "I suffer from them very badly myself. Nothing cures me but perfect rest. I was lying down all the afternoon. Merry came to see me, and told me that you were also prostrated with headache. I was sorry for you." "Oh, thank you so much!" said Maggie.
"Ah, good Lucy! thank you, Lucy!" exclaimed Kathleen. "That's right, Lucy! Hurrah for Lucy!" cried several other voices. "No discipline at all to-day," continued Lucy. "School doesn't begin until to-morrow." Cicely was seated near Aneta, with Kathleen O'Donnell at her other side. Just for a minute Aneta's eyes traveled across the table and fixed themselves on Maggie's face.
John, Henrietta and Mary Gibson, the Cardews, the Tristrams, you yourself would put up with me for a single moment if it was known what my mother has done?" "I think you underrate us all," said Aneta. Then she came close to Maggie and took one of her hands. "I want to tell you something," she added. Maggie had never before allowed her hand to remain for a second in Aneta's grasp.
Word Of The Day