Part 19 (1/2)

”I'm ready now to come downstairs,” said Aneta; and they went down, to find supper prepared for the ladies

After the -roo for Mr and Mrs

Cardew's return

Merry then said, ”It is so funny of you, Aneta, to speak as though the school was Mrs Ward”

”But it is,” said Aneta

”Surely, surely,” said Merry, ”it's the girls too”

”You will be surprised, perhaps, Aneta, to hear,” said Cicely, ”that our dear, darling friends--our greatest girl-friends, except yourself perhaps, and you're a sort of sister--Molly and Isabel Tristra to Aylmer House in September They are so nice--you will like theie Howland, one of the irls we have coie Howland She is here”

”In this house?” said Aneta

”No; she is at the rectory She is a special friend of Molly and Isabel She has been at school with them before in Hanover You know her, of course? She is one of the girls at Aylmer House”

”I know her--oh yes, I know her,” said Aneta

”And you like her, you feel her charm, you--you almost worshi+p her, don't you, Neta?”

Aneta was silent

”Oh, I know she is considered plain,” said Merry, ”but there's so her features

She is the irl we have ever come across You love her, don't you, Neta?”

There had coe over Aneta's face After a brief pause she said, ”I have no right to say it, but you two are my cousins”----

”Yes, yes! What does this erness

”Well, I know you will be faithful and not repeat it to any one; but I don't love Maggie Howland”

”Oh, Neta!”

”And,” continued Aneta, ”you; as my cousins, I most earnestly hope, will not make her your special friend at Aylmer House”

”But we have done so already, Neta Oh, Neta darling! you are ainst her,” said Aneta, ”except that personally I do not care for her I should be very glad if I found that I had ed her”

”Then why don't you want us to be friends with her? We are friends with her”