Part 28 (2/2)
She withdrew her hand and turned and looked at him fixedly ”I want to tell you all about myself,” she said ”I was really rude to you yesterday, and I ao to live with you and mother at Laburnum Villa I will tell you the principal reason why I couldn't go”
”Oh, come, come, you're only a child; you ive you, and you can't live on air, you know Air is all very well, but it don't keep folks alive You'll have to come to me whether you like it or not”
”Before you co aboutstory”
”It's very i I airl, any one can see that Your ant wo person I ever caie; ”and, in addition, I aood-natured”
”Oh, you adie ”I'ard to ht make ht be a good accountant; but, of course, all that is for the future I shouldn't mind that--I mean, not particularly But if you were to follow out your plan, and take me to live with you and mother at Laburnum Villa, you would never have a happy er in character thanyour life miserable; whereas you and mother would be awfully happy without me Mother says that she loves you, and wishes to be your wife”--
”Nohat are you driving at, Popsy? For if you have nothing hanging on your hands I have a vast lot hanging on mine, and time is precious”
”I will tell you quite frankly what I want you to do, Mr Martin You are takingto take you too I can't do any more”
”But then, you see, I don't want to be taken Until you came forward and proposed to mother to be your wife she spent a little of her money on my education She tells me that she has put it now into your business”
”Poor thing!” said Martin ”She was h now”
”Yes,” said Maggie in a determined voice; ”but I think, so to ie in a resolute tone; ”for, you see, it was father's o to me at her death, and it was meant, little as it was, to help to educate hts, of course”
For sohtened
”You can go to any lawyer you please,” he said; ”but what for? let me ask If I take you, and do for you, and provide for you, what has a lawyer to say in the matter?”
”Well, that is just it--that's just what I have to inquire into; because, you see, Mr Martin, I don't want you to provide forto the point,” said Martin ”Stick to it, Popsy, for tiht to allow hty! I'h Mrs Ward, of Aylmer House, has taken me as an inmate of her school for forty pounds a year Her terreat deal ie
”I want to go on being Mrs Ward's pupil, and I want you to allow me forty pounds a year for the purpose, and twenty over for my clothes and sether I shall be thoroughly educated then, and it seems only fair that, out of mother's hundred and fifty a year, sixty pounds of theto ets so easily puzzled about ood business head You see, Mr Martin, I aet twoin the world, whereas now I a I hope you will think it over, Mr Martin, and do what I wish”
Martin was quite silent for aand was paid his bill, with a very substantial tip for hiered at the breakfast-table with his eyes lowered