Part 50 (2/2)
”Thank you, dear Mrs Ward,” said Aneta
At breakfast Merry asked Aneta how Maggie was Aneta said that Maggie had a headache, and would not be in school during the
”Then what are we to do about our day?” said Molly Tristraet through than we can possibly ht,” said Aneta; ”and Maggie will join you presently”
Aneta was so respected in the school, so little given to exaggeration, so absolutely to be relied on, that these words of hers had a irls continued their breakfast, those ere in the secret of to- to the subject in French, which was the only language allowed to be spoken The others talked about their different occupations
As soon as ever breakfast was over, Aneta went to Mrs Ward's private room
”Now, dear, what is it?” said the head-mistress ”I have to take the class for literature at half-past nine, and have very little time to spare”
”I won't keep you,” said Aneta; ”but what I wanted was to beg for a day's holiday”
”My dear girl! What do you mean? In the middle of terot, to-rand carnival, as I call it But what is the matter, Aneta? Have you any trouble?”
”Yes,” said Aneta; ”and I cannot tell you, dear Mrs Ward”
”I trust you, of course, Aneta”
”I know you do; and I want you to trust ie”
Mrs Ward slightly frowned ”I aan
But Aneta stopped her iive me that holiday to-day,” she said, ”and if you trust ive me Mrs Martin's address, which, of course, you must have on your books”----
”Mrs Martin's address?” said Mrs Ward
”Yes You know Maggie's ain; she is Mrs
Martin”
”Of course, of course; I had forgotten for the moment Yes, I have her address”
”Well, if you will do all that,” continued Aneta, ”I think that you will find a new Maggie in the future, one whom you--will trust, and--and love, as I love her”
”My dear girl! as you love Maggie Howland?”
Aneta lowered her head for a minute ”It is true I did not love her,”
she said, ”in the past, but I have changed my views I have been narrow-minded, and small, and silly She herself has opened ie will coo on with her lessons just as usual this afternoon; but I want a day off, and I want it at once”