Part 8 (1/2)
”As a rule, I do not,” said Mr Cardew decidedly; ”but of course I am bound to say there are schools and schools You shall tell me all about your school presently, Miss Howland And noill allow , you proie the manuscript-room yourself”
”Are you interested in black-letter?” said Mr Cardew
”I aie
”Well, then, I will show you the o over the Manor you have a heavy uide However, let me see I will meet you in the library at a quarter to twelve Until then, adieu”
CHAPTER V
”WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT?”
Maggie and Merry had now reached the great porch which overshadowed the entrance to the old house The next instant they found theraceful pillars, was open up to the roof of the house It was a an enthusiastically to explain its perfections Maggie showed not a pretended but a real interest She asked innurew very bright She smiled now and then, and her face seeence
With that sht of Maggie Howland as plain?
They went from the hall into the older part of the house, and there Merry continued her duties as guide Never before had she been in the coie was the best listener in the world She never interrupted with tiresome or irrelevant questions When she did speak it ith the ut clearly that she understood what she was being told
By-and-by they found theallery There Merry insisted on their sitting down for a ti a rest She touched a bell as she spoke, and then ie to recline in a deep arm-chair which faced the picture of a beautiful lady as the grandmother of the present Mrs Cardew
”That lady's name,” said Merry, ”was Cicely Meredith, and she was the wife of the last Meredith but one ned the Manor It was little supposed in those days thatmother would inherit the place, and that Cardews should live at Meredith Manor after all Ah, here comes Dixon!--Dixon, will you put our lunch on that small table? Thank you very much”
One of the servants in the Cardew livery had appeared He was bearing a sgie, eat; do eat,” said Merry
”I declare I aie, and she munched cake and ate fruit and felt that she was, as she expressed it to herself--although she would not have used the words aloud--in clover
Nevertheless, she was not going to lose sight of that htfully at Merry
Merry had a pretty profile, with the short upper-lip and the graceful appearance of a very high-bred girl
”Do you,” said Maggie after a pause, ”happen to know Aneta Lysle?”
”Why, of course,” said Merry ”Do you ie
”I don't know her well, but she has stayed here once or twice Is she a friend of yours, Maggie?”
”Oh no; scarcely a friend, although we are schoolfellows”
”How stupid ofwith soot that she is at Mrs Ward's school She is older than you, isn't she, Maggie?”
”Yes, a year older, as days are counted; but she appears even e, which is just seventeen Don't you think her very beautiful, Merry?”
”Now that I recall her, I do; but she neverenough”