Part 4 (1/2)
Presently another boy caer and broader than Andrew
Andrew said in a raised voice, ”Here's Jack, and his hands aren't a bit clean”
”Hush!+” said the rector
Jack flushed and looked defiantly at Maggie
Maggie raised her eyes and gave hilad to know you I have beenfriends with your brother Andrehom I call Peterkins I want to call you Jackdaw May I?”
Jack felt a great lump in his throat His face was scarlet He felt unable to speak, but he nodded
”I have been looking at Peterkins's rabbits,” continued Maggie ”I want to see yours after lunch”
”They're beauties!” burst from Jack ”They're ever so ora His naot----”
”Hush,during ie, my dear--we must, of course, call you by your Christian name----”
”Of course, Mr Tristrae if you didn't”
”We are delighted to see you,” continued the rector, ”and you irls all about your new school”
”And you too, sir,” said Maggie, in her soft, rich voice ”Oh! you'll be delighted--delighted; there never was such a wo to her,” said the rector ”I think ood, very good and kind, to ht Maggie; but she made no remark aloud
CHAPTER III
LADY LYSLE
At about a quarter to four that sairls prepared to walk over to Meredith Manor It was for such golden opportunities that Molly and Isabel kept their best frocks; it was for just such occasions that they arrayed thely
Their dress, it must be owned, was limited in quantity and also in quality; but on the present occasion, in their pretty white spotted muslins, with pale-blue sashes round their waists and whitepair of English girls as could be found in the length and breadth of the land It is true their feet were not nearly as perfectly shod as Maggie's, nor were their gloves quite so i to play tennis, and shoes and gloves did not greatly ht otherwise Her tan tennis-shoes exactly toned with her neatly fitting brown holland dress The little hat she wore on her head was made of brown straw triie's head it seemed to complete her dress, to be a part of her, so that no one noticed in the least what she wore except that she looked all right
Two boys orshi+ping eyes watched the trio as they stepped down the rectory avenue and disappeared froain, and then lay on the grass side by side and discussed Maggie, pulling her to pieces in one sense, but adoring her all the sairls hen the heart is light and there is no care anywhere It was very hot, even hotter than it had been in the ; but when they reached the road shaded so beautifully by the elm-trees they found a delicious breeze which fanned their faces Soie never seemed to suffer from weather at all She was never too cold; she was never too hot; she was never ill; no one had ever heard her complain of ache or pain She was always joyous, except when she was sy with somebody else's sorrow, and then her sympathy was detached--that is, it did not h it affected and helped the person as the recipient of it to a reat attractions was her absolute health, her undith, the fact that she could endure alue
Molly and Isabel were also strong, hearty, well-irls, and the excitement of this expedition caused theood deal to tell thereat deal to tell her with regard to the Cardews
Just as they were entering the avenue Maggie turned and faced her two coerly