Part 46 (1/2)
Aneta replied in French that she did not think the fog was too thick, and the French governess and the girl went out together into the street But all the tigie's secret Her stepfather, instead of being related to the Martyns of The Meadoas a grocer! Aneta belonged to that class of persons who think a great deal of good birth She did not mind Tildy in the least, for Tildy was so far below her as to be after a fashi+on quite corocer! Nevertheless, Aneta had a heart She thought of Maggie, and the ht of her the more pitiful she felt towards her She did not want to crush or hulad that the secret of Maggie's unhappiness had been ain a true influence over the girl
Her walk, therefore, with Madee took place almost in silence They hastily executed their commissions, and presently found themselves in Pearce's shop, where Aneta had taken a brooch a day or two ago to have a pin put on
The shopman, as he handed her the mended brooch, said at the same ti ladies who live at Aylmer House?”
”Yes,” said Aneta, ”that is true”
”Then I wonder, irl, and then continued, ”Might my brother speak to you for a minute, miss?”
”But it make so cold!” said ue, ”and behold--zee fog! I have such fear of it It is not to joke when it fogs in your country, _ma chere Il faute bien depecher_”
”I shall be quite ready to come back with you in a minute or two,”
said Aneta
Just then the ie appeared ”I aht that, instead of writing to Miss Howland, I e; otherwise I should have to see Mrs Ward on the matter”
”But what matter is it?” said Aneta ”You want to see Miss Howland, or you want e?”
”Well, miss, it's no special secret; only my brother and I cannot afford to buy the brooch which she sold us the other day”
”But I don't understand,” said Aneta ”Miss Howland sold you a brooch?
Then if she sold it, you did buy it”
”The fact is,rather deeply, ”I was not ave the young lady much too small a sum of ive her back the brooch My brother and I have been talking it over, and we cannot do an injustice to one of the ladies at Aylive yourelse from Miss Howland She will doubtless call to see you to-ht,” said themuch relieved
Aneta hastened hoie, and as soon as possible It was a strange fact that while Maggie was in no danger at all, while everything see as she held an undeniable position in the school as one of the queens, Aneta could scarcely endure her; that now that Maggie Howland, was, so to speak, at her ood, felt a strong desire to help her
There were, however, very strict rules at Aylirl on any account whatsoever was to sell any of her possessions in order to make money This was one of the unwritten rules of the school; but the idea of an Ayl was never contemplated for an instant
There were broad lines of conduct, however, which no girl was expected to pass Liberty was allowed to a great extent at Aylle to walk in the right path can fully enjoy Crooked ways, underhand dealings, could not be perh to cause her to be expelled There had been times when Aneta almost wished for this; when she had felt deep down in her heart that Maggie Howland was the one adverse influence in the school; when she had been certain that if Maggie Howland were reirls would coentle sway, and she would be queen, not of the greater nuirls, and very gentle, very loving, very sympathetic would be her rule Her subjects should feel her sye her power
Maggie's was a counter-influence; and now there was a chance of putting a stop to it
Aneta kneell that, kind as Mrs Ward was to Maggie, she did not in her heart absolutely trust her Therefore, if Maggie left it would also be a relief to Mrs Ward Miss Johnson ht be sorry; in particular, dear little Merry
Aneta had a great love for Merry, and was deeply sorry to feel that Merry was under Maggie's spell; that was the case, although she did not openly belong to Maggie's party So Merry too would be saved if Maggie left the school Oh! it was most desirable, and Aneta held the key of the position in her hand She also had in her pocket Mrs
Martin's letter That did not perhaps so greatly ie's father, whatever her ie's slipping out of doors alone to sell an ornarave offense to banish her from such a school as Aylht be ht stay till the end of the present ter herself that she would never return, whereas the girls would know nothing about it until the beginning of the next terer see her faht be sorry, but they would quickly forget The school would be the better for her absence The thing could be done, and it would be done, if Aneta used that knowledge which she now possessed
The girls all hest spirits She knew nothing whatever of all the inforathered in her absence She knew nothing of Tildy's arrival, of Tildy's departure, nor of the letter which Aneta had put into one of her drawers Still less did she know anything of Pearce and his betrayal of her She and her companions had had a very pleasant time, and immediately after tea, in the ”leisure hours,” they were to -rooirls had, by co these last important days There were plenty of nooks and corners all over the cheerful house where they could amuse themselves and talk secrets, and have that sort of confidence which schoolgirls delight in