Part 35 (1/2)
”I proie? You don't look a bit yourself”
Maggie did not at once reply ”I shall have a great deal to do this term,” she said after a pause; ”and my party in the school won't be so weak after all There'll be Rosamond Dacre----”
”I didn't veryin a low voice
”Oh, she is excellent fun when you know her,” said Maggie; ”but as she won't be on your side, nor in your form, you are not likely to have much to do with her Then Matty and Clara are first-rate, and they're mine too; and Kathleen O'Donnell is a perfect brick; and Janet Burns, she's as strong as theyto me Let me see: Tristrams, two; Rosamond, three; Kathleen, four; Matty and Clara, six; Janet, seven Ah, well, I airls as her share”
”Don't be sad about it, Maggie Surely we ht all be one in the school! Why should there be parties?” said Merry
”Little you know, Merry, how ireat friends, and medium friends, and favorites, and enemies Why, Merry, school is a little world, and the world is made up of elements such as these”
”Tell me,” said Merry after a pause, ”what you did after you left us”
Maggie colored ”Oh, stayed for a time in that horrid Shepherd's Bush”
”In those fusty, s?” said Merry
”Yes, and they were fusty, lorious tilorious tiirls like ie? Oh, now I know--of course I know I didn't like to write to you about it, for it seeive me, won't you?--quite dreadful that your ie?”
Maggie nodded
”Oh, I can syie! It must be so fearful to have a stepfather!”
”It is,” said Maggie
”Is he a nice ie? Or would you rather I didn't speak of him?”
”No; you may speak of him if you like He is a rich lad of that at any rate,” said Merry ”You will never be in fusty, s any more”
”Oh no, never! My mother's husband--I cannot speak of him as my stepfather--will see to that”
”What is his naie hesitated Not for the world would she have let any of her schoolfellows know the real position; but she could not very well conceal her stepfather's name
”Martin,” she said
”Spelt with a 'y'? We know some awfully nice Martyns They live about twenty miles away from Meredith Manor I wonder if your Mr Martyn is related to theie
”Then perhaps you will go to stay with them--your mother, and your--your mother's husband, and you too; and we'll all meet They live at a place-called The Meadows It isn't as old or as beautiful as our Manor, but it's a sweet place, and the girls are so nice you'll be sure to like theie, who didn't care to contradict Merry's innocent ideas with regard to her lad,” said Merry, ”that your dear entleman Has he a country place of his own?”