Part 27 (2/2)
Tildy went She crept downstairs to the kitchen regions There shelady's full of ructions,” said Tildy
”And no wonder,” replied Mrs Ross ”She's a step above Martin, and Martin knows it”
”I 'ope as she won't refuse to jine us at Laburnum Villa,” said Tildy
”There's no sayin' wot a spirited gel like that'll do,” said Mrs
Ross; ”but ef she do go down, Martin 'll be a match for 'er”
”I don't know about that,” replied Tildy ”She 'ave a strong, deterie”
If Mrs Howland slept profoundly, poor Maggie could not close her eyes She suddenly found herself surrounded by cala enough in connection with Aylmer House and Cicely and Merry Cardew coreat trouble which now faced her Her mother's income amounted to a hundred and fifty pounds a year, and out of thatto Mrs
Ward's generosity, Maggie had been educated But now that dreadful Mr
Martin had secured Mrs Howland's little property, and the only condition on which it could be spent on Maggie was that she should accept a ho whatever would induce her to do But as to be done?
She had no co her irl took after her father, whom her mother had never even pretended to understand Mrs Howland, when she becaie, and Maggie kneell that she would be equally ie to live?
Suddenly it flashed across hersufficient funds for the co term at Aylmer House Her mother had, after all, soie made her request she was certain it would not be refused She ive her all that famous collection of jehich her father had collected in different parts of the world In especial, the bracelets flashed before her memory
These could be sold, and would produce a suie at Ayl term
CHAPTER XIII
BREAKFAST WITH BO-PEEP
After Maggie's restless night she got up early The day promised to be even hotter than the one before; but as the drawing-room faced west it was coht her favorite young lady a cup of tea, and suggested that she should go for an outing while Tildy herself freshened up the rooood idea, and when she found herself in the street her spirits rose a trifle
A curious sort of fascination drew her in the direction of Martin's shop It was a very large corner shop, had several entrances, and at this early hour the young shop the s; they were putting appetizing sweets in the different s to te sha to her cheeks as she passed the shop She was about to turn back, ho in the doorway but the prosperous owner hinized her immediately, and called out to her in his full, po shop-people turned to gaze in soirl approached the fat, loud-mannered man
”I'ie in her coldest voice
”Well, then, I will co, she will give ain in the shop soon after nine It's a fine shop, ain't it, Popsy?”
”It does seeie
”It's the sort of shop,” responded Martin, ”that takes a deal of getting It's not done in a day, nor a month, nor a year It takes a lifetime to build up premises like these It means riches, my dear--riches” He rolled out the words luxuriously
”I aie, who felt that for her own sake she iving her a keen glance