Part 53 (2/2)
Aneta said a few more words, and in the end she was in possession of that address at Shepherd's Bush where Martin the grocer's flourishi+ng shop was to be found
”Thank you so very ret this,” said the girl
Lady Lysle bowed to the wife of the grocer as she went out, but Aneta took her hand
”Perhaps you never quite understood Maggie,” she said; ”and perhaps, in the future, you won't have a great deal to say to her”
”I don't want to; she never suited me a bit,” said the mother, ”and I am very happy with Bo-peep”
”Well, at least you ie's special friend”
Mrs Martin stood silent while Lady Lysle and her niece walked down the little path and got into the carriage When the carriage rolled away she burst into a flood of tears She did not knohether she was glad or sorry; but, soie again? She was not quite without maternal love for her only child, but she cared very ie would be a most troublesome inmate of Laburnue rolled away, ”I have gone through enough in your service for one day”
”You haven't been at all nice, auntie,” said Aneta; ”but perhaps you will be better when you get to the shop”
”I will not go to the shop”
”Auntie, just think, once and for all, that you are doing a very philanthropic act, and that you are helping me, whom you love so dearly”
”Of course I love you, Aneta Are you not as my own precious child?”
”Well, noant you to buy no end of things at Martin's shop”
”Buy things! Good gracious, child, at a grocer's shop! But I get all roceries at the Stores, and the housekeeper attends to my orders”
”Well, anyhow, spend froet tea ive it aholesale to your poor woood tea, no o in and give the order,” said Lady Lysle; ”but I won't see that grocer I will sit in the carriage and wait for you”
Aneta considered for a few minutes, and then said in a sad voice, ”Very well”
Lady Lysle looked at her once or twice during the long drive which followed Aneta's little face was rather pale, but her eyes were full of subdued fire She was determined to carry the day at any cost
CHAPTER XXIV
A VISIT TO THE GROCER
James Martin abhorred the aristocracy--so he said Nevertheless, he greatly adant wife in her faded beauty He liked to hear her speak, and he enteel pronunciation” He also, in his inh not a beautiful one He had his own ideas with regard to female loveliness, and, like all men, was iy day, as he was standing behind his counter busily engaged attending to a custoave a visible start, raised his eyes, dropped his account-book, let his pencil roll on to the floor, and stared straight before hi into the shop--somebody so very beautiful that his eyes were dazzled and, as he said afterwards, his heart irl, onderful blue eyes and hair of the color of pure gold, a girl with a refined face--h Martin could not quite make out in what fashi+on she was apparelled--ca for some one to attend to her The other men in the shop also saw this lovely vision, and an attendant of the na forward to ask what he could do