Part 23 (2/2)
”How very polite!” said Maggie, turning crimson
”It is not polite,” said Aneta, ”and I am sorry that I have to speak as I do; but it is necessary We needn't go into particulars; but I have so to say to you, and please understand that what I say I mean You know that when first you came to the school I was as anxious as any one else to be kind to you, to help you, to be good to you You know the reason why I changed my mind You knohat you did You know that were Mrs Ward to have the slightest inkling of what really occurred you would not remain another hour at Aylgie, tamper with Cicely and Merry Cardeho are my cousins and dear friends--if you win them over to what you are pleased to call your side of the school--I shall consider it my duty to tell Mrs Ward what I have hitherto kept back fro very violently
”You could not be so cruel,” she said after a pause
”I have long thought,” continued Aneta, speaking in her cal at the tiot ie, ”I got your promise; you wouldn't dare to break it?”
”You are mistaken,” said Aneta ”If the circumstances to which I have just alluded should arise I would break that promise Now you understand?”
”I think you are the meanest, the cruellest--I think you are----There, I hate you!” said Maggie
”You have no reason to I will not interfere with you if you, on your part, leave those I love alone Cicely and Merry are co to the school because I am there, because ood school Leave off doing wrong, and join us, Maggie, in what is noble and high; but continue your present course at your peril You would do anything for power; you go too far You have influenced one or two girls adversely already I am convinced that Mrs Ward does not trust you If you interfere with Cicely or Merry, Mrs Ward will have good reason to dislike you, for I myself shall open her eyes”
”You will be an informer, a tell-tale?”
”You can call ie; I shall simply do what I consider ain
”I am sorry you hate me, for it isn't necessary; and if I saw you in the least like others I should do all in ive me your promise that you won't interfere with Cicely and Merry?”
”But does thiswith rage, ”that I a to do with the Cardews?”
”You are on no account to draw the Cardews into the circle of your friends, who are, I am thankful to say, limited If you do, you know the consequences, and I ao back when I have firie suddenly clutched hold of her coh already,” she said, ”and you make my life unendurable! You don't knohat it is to have a ly poor”
”I aie, and I ah I do not think you ought to speak unkindly of her But your father was a very good ht live up to his ether to-day Beware how you try to influence her”
”Oh, I can't stand you!” said Maggie
”I have said my say Shall we return to the others?” said Aneta in her calht have a hand-to-hand fight I should feel better,” thought Maggie But she was seriously alar which had happened at school, which Aneta had discovered, and which, if knoould force Mrs Ward to dismiss her froie had strong feelings, but she had also self-control; and by the time the two joined the others her face looked irl ran swiftly froie was to leave by the eleven o'clock train
Merry appeared on the scene soon after nine
”I want you, Maggie, all quite by yourself,” said Merry, speaking with such excitement that Molly and Belle looked at her in unbounded a,” said Peterkins and Jackdaw, ”for it is our very last day, and Spot-ear and Fanciful want to say good-bye to her
You can't have the darling more than three minutes at the most”