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Updated: August 17, 2024
Cardew was now as anxious that the girls should go to Aylmer House as though she herself had always wished for such an arrangement, while Mr. Cardew could not say enough in Mrs. Ward's praise. "You agree with me, Aneta," said Mrs. Cardew, "that the school is quite unique and above the ordinary." "Mrs. Ward is unique and above the ordinary," was Aneta's reply.
"I suppose," said Cicely, who was more conscientious than her sister, "that we ought to think something of Aneta's opinion." "Oh, that's very fine," said Merry; "but we ought to think something, too, of Molly's opinion, and Belle's opinion. They have known Maggie longer than Aneta has." "Yes," replied Cicely; "I forgot that. But isn't Aneta herself delightful? It's a pure joy to look at her."
"Oh, nonsense!" said Merry, coloring slightly. "I am never going to give Maggie up, for I love her dearly." "Of course," said Cicely, "it would be very mean to give her up; but you and I, as Aneta's cousins, must be on her side in the school. What I am afraid of is that Maggie will try to induce you to join her set." "That shows how little you know her," said Merry, roused to the defensive.
Suppose, by any chance, it got to Aneta's ears that she had taken this money from Merry; suppose it got abroad in the school! Oh, she dared not take it! she must not! "What is it, Maggie? Why don't you speak?" said Merry, looking at her in astonishment. "I love you with all my heart and soul," said Maggie; "but I just can't take the money." "Oh Maggie! but why?" "I can't, dear; I can't.
Soon the three girls found themselves in the beautiful bedroom which had been arranged for Aneta's reception. As soon as ever they got there Cicely clasped one of her cousin's arms and Merry the other. "We have news for you news!" they said. "Yes?" said Aneta, looking at them with her bright, soft eyes.
Her memory shone out before them both as something specially dazzling and specially beautiful. Maggie Howland, too, had spoken of Aneta's beauty. Maggie had been told that Aneta was coming, and Maggie had expressed pleasure. Whatever Maggie's private feelings may have been, she was very careful now to express delight at Aneta's appearance at Meredith Manor. "What a darling she is!" said Merry.
But there was something at this moment about the young girl, a look in her eyes, which absolutely puzzled Maggie and caused her to remain mute. She had struggled for a minute, but now her hand lay still in Aneta's clasp. "I want to help you," said Aneta. "To help me! How? I thought you hated me." "Well, as a matter of fact," said Aneta, "I did not love you until"
"I will put them all back again now." "But whom have they come from?" said Mrs. Ward. "I saw you take a note and put it into your pocket, Maggie." "Yes, these are a present from my stepfather," said Maggie. "Miss Johnson, you will take them upstairs, won't you?" said Mrs. Ward. "It is kind of your stepfather to think of you, Maggie." Maggie looked up and met Aneta's glance.
She was not especially anxious about Cicely, who was a more ordinary and less enthusiastic girl than Merry; but about Merry she had some qualms. There was no doubt whatever that the girl was attracted by Maggie; and, in Aneta's opinion, Maggie Howland was in no sense of the word a proper companion for her.
She did not quite know what was the matter. Aneta's face was very quiet. After a time she drew a letter from her pocket and put it into Maggie's hand. "Who brought this?" asked Maggie. "A person who called herself Tildy." Maggie held the letter unopened in her lap. "Why don't you read it?" said Aneta. Maggie took it up and glanced at the handwriting. Then she put it down again.
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