Part 22 (1/2)

”Oh dear, how very queer!” said Merry, and she reddened deeply

”Why do you look like that?” said Susan

”Nothing, nothing,” said Merry

Susan was silent for a irl”

”What girl?” said Merry indignantly

”I think you said her name was Howland--Miss Howland”

”She is one of the irls I know,” replied Merry at once

”Well, I don't know her, you see, so I can't say Aneta tells me that she is a hted!” said Merry

Again Susan Heathfield was silent, feeling a little puzzled; but Merry quickly changed the conversation, for she did not want to have any ie Howland Merry, however, had a very transparent face Her conversation with her friend had left traces of anxiety and even slight apprehension on her sweet, open face Merry Cardeas oppressed by the first secret of her life, and it is perhaps to be regretted, or perhaps the reverse, that she found it almost impossible to keep a secret

”Well,” Cicely said to her as they were hurrying from the shady woods in the direction of the picnic-tea, ”what is wrong with you, Merry?

Have you a headache?”

”Oh no; I a up ”It's only--well, to say the truth, I a to-morrow”

”You are very fond of her, aren't you?” said Cicely

”Well, yes; that is it, I am,” said Merry

”We'll see plenty of her at school, anyway,” said Cicely

”I wish she were rich,” said Merry ”I hate to think of her as poor”

”Is she poor?” asked Cicely

”Oh yes; she was just telling !”

”I don't understand what it means to be poor,” said Cicely ”People say it is very bad, but soie takes it in, at any rate,” said Merry ”Think of us to-ain in the open air, having pleasant coo back to, and our parents, e love so dearly; and then, next week, of the house by the sea, and Aneta and Molly and Isabel our companions”

”Well, of course,” said Cicely

”And then think of poor Maggie,” continued Merry ”She'll be shut up in aI can't think how she endures it”

”I don't knohat ais,” said Cicely; ”but she could have come with us, because mother invited her”