Part 7 (1/2)
”Oh, I aie ”This air stiirls,” she added, suddenly turning and facing her companions, ”would you like your bracelets to have rubies in the crihed ”You don't suppose you are accoie spoke rather slowly ”Mother has one dozen bracelets in her jewelry-case Father brought theot in India and soly quaint, and I recall now to old bracelet fashi+oned like a snake and with eyes of ruby, and another (which I think he old band studded here and there with sapphires How pretty those bracelets would look on your dear little arlad--your Maggie will be to give theive thehted to have thehed and said, ”But what is the good of counting your chickens before they're hatched?”
”I consider ie's reether next winter! Aneta won't have irls, of course I like your friends Cicely and Merry; but they'll be twice three tiirls they are when they have been for a short tiie?” was Molly's reo to bed?”
”I ao to bed at all; but I suppose thata little sleepy,” said Molly
”And so airls, come in; your father wants to lock up,” called Mrs
Tristrairls all entered the house, lit their candles, and went upstairs to their rooood-night she said quietly, ”I hope you won't ht to call her, Miss Cardew--has askedin order to show me the old house I said I'd be there at ten o'clock, and could then get back to you in time for lunch I do trust you don't mind”
”Of course we don't,” said Molly in a hearty tone ”Now, good-night, Mags”
”But if you think, Maggie,” said Isabel, ”that you will succeed in that schegie sently, and the next moment she found herself alone She went and stood by the openThere was a glorious full arden, with its deep shadows and brilliant avenues of light, looked lovely But Maggie was not thinking of the scenery
Her thoughts were busy with those ideas which were always running riot in her busy little head She was not unairl, but she was very as for power and popularity
When she came to visit Molly and Isabel she had not the faintest idea of inducing Cicely and Merry to join that select group ere taught by Mrs Ward at Aylmer House But when once the idea had entered her brain, she determined, with her accustomed quickness, to carry it into execution She had never yet, in the whole course of her life, met with defeat At the various schools where she had been taught she had always been popular and had won friends and never created an enehtful as the life was, there was one girl who excited her enirl's naie, no clever speeches, no well-timed and courteous acts, could win the approval of Aneta; and just because she was ih, because she had that which Maggie could never have--a stately and wonderful beauty--Maggie was jealous of her, and was determined, if she could not win Aneta over to be her friend, to use her own considerable powers against the girl She had not for a single ht that she could be helped by Cicely and Merry in this direction, and had intended to get them to come to the school simply because they were aristocratic and rich, in the first instance But when she saw Lady Lysle--Lady Lysle, who hated her mother and before whom her mother trembled and shrank; Lady Lysle, as Aneta's aunt--she knew that Cicely and Merry n 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
Poas everything to Maggie By power she meant to rule her sift to take her position in the greater world that lies beyond school In her heart of hearts she considered Cicely and Merry tiresoirls; but they could be made to play into her hands They must come to Aylmer House--oh yes! and already she felt certain she had put the thin end of the wedge beneath that opposition which she knew she ain on the reater scheht
Maggie was the soul of co herself out thinking when she ought to be asleep She accordingly soon turned fro into bed, dropped at once into healthy sluht-hearted and cheerful She got up early, and ith Andrew and Jack to see the adorable rabbits
So judicious was she on this occasion that both boys returned with her to breakfast in the highest good-humor
”Mother, mother,” cried Jackdaw, ”she loves Fanciful because he's so beautiful”
”And she adores Spot-ear because he's so ugly,” said Peterkins
The boys were exceedingly happy at being allowed to sit at breakfast one on each side of Maggie, hen she did not speak to theratiate herself with every one present, and not with them alone--contrived to pat their hands from tiood-humor
Soon after breakfast she flew up to her roo brown hat, which would have suited no other girl but herself, and went off to the Manor She wasfor her appearance
”I am so sorry that Cicely isn't here too,” said Merry; ”but mother wanted Cicely to drive into Warith her thismotor-ride this afternoon Don't you love motors?”