Part 51 (2/2)
”To Clapham, auntie”
”Claphah the place, it is true”
”Well, we'll stop there to-day,” said Aneta, ”at Laburnuie's mother”
”Oh, dear child,” said Lady Lysle, ”you ie? Now, you know I told you that her stepfather is no relation whatever to the Martyns of The Meadows I cannot iven you to understand that he was A man who lives at Clapham! Dear Aneta, I would rather be excused”
”There is no excuse, auntie, that I can listen to for a single ie's stepfather, and I will tell you as we are driving out to Clapham You have always let ood girl; but there is so before me to-day more important and more difficult than I ever tackled yet, and if I can't coirl--for help at this crisis I shall think the world is coe, earnest way you do speak in, Aneta!”
”I aent
You are quite well, aren't you?”
”Oh yes,sort of person”
”Well, then, I will send Purcell back to you, and please order the carriage, and please be as quick as possible We have to go somewhere else after we have done with Mrs Martin”
”Well, Aneta, I alax in your hands, and I suppose I must do what you wish But re of this extraordinary thing during our drive to Clapham”
”I promise faithfully to tell you what is necessary, for the fact is I want your help Darling auntie! you are doing about the best work of your life to-day I knew you would stand by irl!” said Lady Lysle ”I don't care for that girl”
”You will change your mind about her presently,” said Aneta, and she ran downstairs to request Davidson, the butler, to bring her soht, and she was quite hungry enough to enjoy some of her aunt's nice food
By-and-by Lady Lysle, looking sli sables and her toque with its long black ostrich plume, appeared on the scene, and a e was at the door
The two ladies stepped in, Aneta giving very careful directions to the driver
He expressed some astonishment at the address ”Laburnum Villa, Clapha place, miss”
”I know that,” said Aneta; ”but that is all the address I can obtain
We et the na into his place, and Aneta and her aunt drove off in the coham towards that suburb known as Clapham
”Now, Aneta, I suppose you will tellof this?”
”Yes, I will,” said Aneta ”Ito own it She has been placed in a difficult position I do not ht way, for she has not But there is that in her which will irls in the future, as she is one of the cleverest and one of the reat power about her She is a sort of net--she attracts people to her”
”She has never attracted ularly plain girl”
”Ugliness like hers is really attractive,” said Aneta ”But, now, the thing is this: if we don't help her she will be absolutely lost, all her chance taken from her, and her character ruined for ever We do a lot at our school for those poor sluirls in our class Now, I ie Howland”
”Aneta, you are absurd!”
”I hter deserves help Her father was as good a ht to be done for his only child As to her mother”----