Part 42 (1/2)
”Why do you hate e and untruth,” said Aneta ”I don't hate you If you would be straight and open and above-board you would find ie in a sneering tone ”When I require you for h for you to offerin a low tone of intense dislike, ”Is it likely that any girl would wish to irl who accused her of subterfuge and want of truthfulness?”
The delicate pink rose in Aneta's cheeks She raised her eyes and looked full up at Maggie Her clear, calie felt that she could not meet them
It was just at that moment that Cicely Cardew, in a state of suppressed excite straight up to Maggie Howland, ”there's a very large parcel addressed to you in the hall It has been paid for; we are all dying with curiosity to knohat it is”
Maggie rose abruptly
”I will go and look at it e parcel addressed to e dress-box,” said Cicely ”We're all curious about it”
Before any girl could leave the drawing-room it was necessary that she should ask Mrs Ward's perood lady and asked if she o and look at her parcel
”A parcel for you, dear?” said Mrs Ward ”And you want to see its contents? But bring it in here; we shall all be delighted to look at it--sha'n't we, girls?”
Maggie went aondering a good deal Cicely accompanied her Miss Johnson also appeared on the scene
”Why, Maggie,” she said, ”what can you have got? Such a huge box, and all covered over with brown paper! I don't suppose Mrs Ward would really like that box to be brought into the drawing-rooo and ask her”
One of Mrs Ward's peculiarities, and perhaps one of the reasons why she was such a favorite and led her girls with such gentle, silken cords, was her power of entering into their pleasures She used to confess with a smile that she was like a child herself over an unopened parcel; and when Miss Johnson appeared with the infore and cuave directions that it was to be brought into the drawing-room
”You can put some of the brown paper on the floor, if you like, Lucy,”
she said, ”and Maggie can show us its contents”
Now, one glance at the parcel told Maggie Howland who had sent it She recognized her stepfather's writing That bold commercial hand was painfully visible on the label She would have given worlds not to have anything selected for her by Martin exhibited in the drawing-room at Aylmer House But to refuse to show the contents of the box would but raise strong suspicion against her She therefore, although very unwillingly, followed Miss Johnson into the drawing-room The box was laid on the floor The lid was removed, some tissue-paper was next extricated, and beneath lay a wardrobe such as poor Maggie even in her wildest drea on the top which she clutched and put into her pocket This letter was in her stepfather's writing She could not read it before the others Aneta and all the girls of her set, also Kathleen O'Donnell, Rosamond Dacre, Matty and Clara Roache, Janet Barns, the Tristrams, the Cardews, all clustered round the box
”Oh, what fun!” said Kathleen ”A box of dresses for you! You lucky Queen Maggie! Hoish some one would send me some clothes!”
”Take them out, dear, and let us look at them,” said Mrs Ward
The first dress to be reenta cachemire It was made with a short skirt trimmed with little frills of the sa, coarse cream-colored lace sleeves below The front of the dress was also ie felt her face nearly purple with rage ”Oh, why s be looked at here?” she said; and there was a piteous note in her voice
”I don't see the necessity, dear,” said Mrs Ward kindly
”But, oh! please, please,” said Kathleen, ”we _reen dress trimmed with bands of black silk: that will be quite useful in the winter, won't it, Mags?”
She tried to speak kindly, for the sage-green dress was as little to her taste as the ienta Under the two dresses were ribbons of different shades and hues, sos, so else, an evening-dress s will he very useful,” said Miss Johnson ”I will put theain now”
”But whom have they come from?” said Mrs Ward ”I saw you take a note and put it into your pocket, Maggie”