Part 37 (2/2)
”I congratulate you,” she said. ”Prissie, you might do well on the stage.”
Priscilla smiled. ”No,” she said, ”for I need inspiration to forget myself.”
”Well, genius would supply that.”
”No, Maggie, no. The motive that seems to turn me into the Prince himself cannot come again. Oh, Maggie, if I succeed! If I succeed!”
”What do you mean, you strange child?”
”I cannot tell you with my voice: don't you guess?”
”I cannot say. You move me strangely; you remind me of-- I quite forget that you are Priscilla Peel.”
Priscilla laughed joyously.
”How gay you look to-night, Prissie, and yet I am told you were miserable this morning. Have you forgotten your woes?”
”Completely.”
”Why is this?”
”I suppose because I am happy and hopeful.”
”Nancy tells me that you were quite in despair to-day. She said that some of those cruel girls insulted you.”
”Yes, I was very silly; I got a shock.”
”And you have got over it?”
”Yes; I know you don't believe badly of me. You know that I am honest and-- and true.”
”Yes, my dear,” said Maggie with fervor, ”I believe in you as I believe in myself. Now, have you quite disrobed? Shall we go into the library for a little?”
The moment they entered this cheerful room, which was bright with two blazing fires and numerous electric lights, Miss Day and Miss Marsh came up eagerly to Maggie.
”Well,” they said, ”have you made up your mind?”
”About what?” she asked, raising her eyes in a puzzled way.
”You will come with us to the Elliot-Smiths'? You know how anxious Meta is to have you.”
”Thank you, but am I anxious to go to Meta?”
”Oh! you are, you must be; you cannot be so cruel as to refuse.”
After the emotion she had gone through in the morning, Maggie's heart was in that softened, half-tired state when it could be most easily influenced. She was in no mood for arguing or for defiance of any sort. ”Peace at all hazards” was her motto just now. She was also in so reckless a mood as to be indifferent to what any one thought of her. The Elliot-Smiths were not in her ”set.” She disliked them and their ways, but she had met Meta at a friend's house a week ago. Meta had been introduced to Miss Oliphant and had pressed her invitation vigorously. It would be a triumph of triumphs to Meta Elliot-Smith to introduce the beautiful heiress to her own set. Maggie's refusal was not listened to. She was begged to reconsider the question; implored to be merciful, to be kind; a.s.sured of undying grat.i.tude if she would consent to come even for one short hour.
Miss Day and Miss Marsh were commissioned by Meta to secure Maggie at all costs.
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