Part 22 (2/2)
”She can't, because her own mother wants her Oh dear! I e could have her and her ht to ask father and mother to invite Mrs Howland”
”Of course not I quite understand that,” replied Merry
”Nevertheless, I aie”
Merry's sadness took a practical for the rest of that day, although Maggie rather avoided her She thought, in particular, of Maggie's poverty, and wondered what poverty really meant The poor people--those ere called poor at Meredith--did not really suffer at all, for it was the bounden duty of the squire of the Manor to see to all their wants, to provide theardens, and if they were ill to give theood doctor, also to send the food from the Manor But poor people of that sort were quite different froine any lord of thethes of life
But all of a sudden it darted through her eager, affectionate little heart that she herself ie out of her own abundance If it were iie Howland and her h, why should not she, Merry, provide Maggie with s to another seaside resort?
Merry thought over this for soht over it the more enamored she was of the idea She and Cicely had, of course, no special e Nevertheless, they were allowed as pocket-money ten pounds every quarter Now, Merry's ten pounds would be due in a week
She really did not want it When she got it she spent it ifts for the villagers; but on this occasion she ie Howland
Surely her father would let her have it? She ie would not be too proud to accept it just as a tiny present
Merry had as little idea how far ten pounds would go toward the expenses of a visit to the seaside as she had of what real poverty htful way of assuring Maggie of her friendshi+p to present Maggie with her quarter's pocket-, therefore, she was only too glad to find herself by her father's side
”Well, little girl,” he said, ”so you're forsaking all your young companions and wish to sit close to the old dad?”
The old dad, ithome in a mail-phaeton froh up beside hihbred horses
”Well, what is it, little girl?” he said
”I wonder, father, if you'd be lancing at her; ”that ain What ht only have ant child! Your pocket-money! It isn't due for a week”
”But I do want it very specially Will you advance it to me just this once, dad?”
”I a, you are not to know”
Mr Cardew considered for ato be a really extravagant woance, although I equally hate stinginess You will have no lack of ht to be used to the best of best advantages It ought never to be wasted, for there are so h, and those who are rich, ht to help those who are not rich”
”Yes, darling father,” said Merry; ”and that is what I should so awfully like to do”
”Well, I think you have the root of the matter in you,” said Mr
Cardew, ”and I, for one, am the last person to pry on my child Does Cicely also want her money in advance?”
”Oh no, no! I want it for a very special reason”
”Very well, o to bed, and you shall have your money”