Part 33 (1/2)
and she laid her hand on the pretty girl's shoulder
”Yes, I am Merry,” replied Meredith Cardew in a voice which almost choked her
”And you, of course, are Cicely,” said Mrs Ward ”In this house all the girls speak to each other by their Christian names; and you will be Cicely and Merry to me, as Molly and Isabel Tristram will be Molly and Isabel tonear, anxious to take possession of you Go with her, dears I think all irls have now come--Is it not so, Miss Talbot?”
”Yes, Mrs Ward,” replied Miss Talbot
”Miss Talbot, may I introduce my four new pupils to you, Cicely and Merry Cardew, and Molly and Isabel Tristrairls, for she is our English teacher, and htly froirl, and a minute afterwards they had, so to speak, crossed the Rubicon, and were in the heart of Aylmer House; for Aneta had seized Merry's hand, and Cicely followed immediately afterwards, while Molly and Belle found theie Howland
”Oh, this is delightful!” said Maggie ”We have all lorious? Isn't the place perfect? Aren't you in love with Mrs Ward?”
”She seems very nice,” said Molly in an almost timid voice
”How nice Merry and Cicely look!” continued Maggie
”You look nice, yourself, Maggie Everything is wonderful,” said Molly; ”not a bit like the school in Hanover”
”Of course not Who could coie
Meanwhile Aneta, Cicely, and Merry had gone on in front But as they were ascending the broad, low stairs, Merry turned and glanced at Maggie and sie smiled back at Merry Oh, that smile of Merry's, how it caused her heart to leap! Aneta, try as she would, could not take Merry Cardew quite away froether Two little white beds stood side by side The drugget on the floor was pale blue The room was a study in pale blue and white It was all exquisitely neat, fresh, airy, and the sh the open s
”Why,” said Cicely with a gasp, ”we ht almost be in the country!”
”This is one of the nicest rooms in the whole house,” said Aneta ”But why should I say that,” she continued, ”when every room is, so to speak, perfect? I never saw Mrs Ward, however, irls I think she is veryto Aylmer House”
Cicely ran to theand looked out
”It is so nice to be in London,” she said; ”but soht it would be hed
”Aylreat square We don't have huge traffic in the squares; and, really, at night it is as quiet as the country itself”
”But hark! hark!” said Merry, ”there is a funny sound after all”
”What do you take it for?” asked Aneta
”I don't know,” said Merry ”I could aline that ere by the seaside, and that the sound was the roar of the breakers on the beach”
”It is the roar of human breakers,” said Aneta ”One always hears that kind of sound even in the quietest parts of London It is the great traffic in the thoroughfares not far away”
”It is delightful! wonderful!” said Merry ”Oh, I long to know all the girls! You will introduce us, won't you, Aneta?”
”Of course; and younaie Howland, and I ether, so you have to make the acquaintance of fourteen others”