Part 53 (1/2)
”Well, it is just this,” said Aneta ”You sent a letter yesterday to Maggie”
”I did,” said Mrs Martin; ”and great need I had to send it”
”In that letter you infor to see her to-morrow”
”Bo-peep wishes--I mean, Jao?” said Lady Lysle
”Not yet, auntie, please--Mrs Martin, I begged for a holiday to-day on purpose to come and see you”
”If it's because you think I'll keep Ja his heart's wish, I am sorry you have wasted your tiry indeed with Maggie He considers her his own child nohich of course is true, seeing that he has o into particulars; but he is determined to see her and to see Mrs Ward, and he's not a bit asha--well, what he is--an honorable tradesrocer”
”But perhaps you are aware,” said Lady Lysle, ”that the daughters of grocers--I mean tradesmen--are not adhtened eyes on the lady ”Maggie isn't the real daughter of a tradeshter Her own father was”----
”Yes,” said Aneta, ”we all knohat her own father was--a splendid man, one of the makers of our Empire We are all proud of her own father, and we do not see for a ie should not live up to the true circumstances of her birth, and I have come here to-day, Mrs Martin, to ask you to help me If you and your husband coie will certainly have to leave the school”
”Of course, and the sooner the better,” said Lady Lysle
”But if you will help us, and prevent your husband fro to our school to-morrow, there is no reason whatever why she shouldn't stay at the school Even her expenses can be paid from quite another source”
Mrs Martin looked intensely nervous A bright spot of color caht cheek was deadly pale
”I--I cannot help it,” she said ”I never o But he said, 'Little-sing, I will go'--I--I forgot ood husband to et on”
”I am sure they don't,” said Aneta with fervor
”Never,” continued Mrs Martin ”I got on with her only with difficulty before I marrieda grocer He gives me comforts, and is fond of me, and I have a s at Shepherd's Bush I don't want hiht to let Maggie knoas coo he will When James puts his foot down he is a very deterether a most unpleasant interview,” said Lady Lysle, ”and I have only coo now”
”Not yet, auntie darling--Mrs Martin, Maggie and I had a long talk yesterday, and will you put this matter into my hands?”
”Good heavens! what next?” ive o to see him?”
”You o into that shop!” said Lady Lysle
”Yes, I o and see hiry, and I ary”
”But think how ive s happen to-morrohich you little expect Oh!
please trust me”