"Yes, the woman who has married a person of the name of Martin, and to whose house I presume we are going"----

"Auntie, I have rather a shock to give you. Poor Maggie did mean to imply that her stepfather was in a different cla.s.s of life from what he is. He is a--grocer!"

Lady Lysle put up her hand to pull the check-string.

"Pray, auntie, don't do that. Maggie isn't the daughter of a grocer, and she can't help her mother having married this dreadful man. I want Maggie to have nothing to do with her stepfather in the future, and I mean to carry out my ideas, and you have got to help me."

"Indeed, I will do nothing of the kind. What a disgraceful girl! She must leave Aylmer House at once."

"Then I will go too," said Aneta.

"Aneta, I never knew you behave in such a way before."

"Come, auntie darling, you know you are the sweetest and the most loving and sympathetic person in the world; and why should you turn away from a poor little girl who quite against her own will finds herself the stepdaughter of a grocer? Maggie has given me to understand that he is a dreadful man. She is horrified with him, and what I am going now to Laburnum Villa about is to try to prevent his visiting the school with his wife on Sat.u.r.day. I will do the talking, dear, and you have only to sit by and look dignified."

"I never was put in such a dreadful position before," said Lady Lysle, "and really even you, Aneta, go too far when you expect me to do this."

"But you would visit a poor woman in East London without the smallest compunction," said Aneta.

"That is different," replied Lady Lysle with dignity.

"It is different," replied Aneta; "but the difference lies in the fact that the grocer's wife is very much higher up in the social scale than the East End woman."

"Oh my dear child, this is really appalling! I have always distrusted that Miss Howland. Does Mrs. Ward know of your project?"

"Not yet, but she will to-night."

"And what am I to do when I visit this person?"

"Just look your dear, sweet, dignified self, and allow me to do the talking."

"I think you have taken leave of your senses."

"I haven't taken leave of my senses, and I would do more than I am now doing to help a fine girl round a nasty corner. So cheer up, auntie!

After we have seen Mrs. Martin we have to go on and visit the grocer."

"Aneta, that I do decline!"

"I am sure you won't decline. But let us think of Mrs. Martin herself first, and try to remember that by birth she is a lady."

Just at this moment the carriage drew up outside a post-office. There was a short delay while Laburnum Villa was being inquired for by the footman. At last the street in which this small suburban dwelling was situated was discovered, and a few minutes later the carriage, with its splendid horses and two servants on the box, drew up before the green-painted door.

The villa was small, but it was exceedingly neat. The little bra.s.s knocker shone, even though yesterday was a day of such fog. The footman came to the carriage-door to make inquiries.

"I will get out," said Aneta.

"Hadn't James best inquire if the woman is in?" said Lady Lysle.

"No, I think I will," said Aneta.

She went up the narrow path and rang the front-door bell. Tildy opened the door. The new cook had been peeping above the blinds in the kitchen. Tildy had hastily put on a white ap.r.o.n, but it is to be regretted that a s.m.u.t was once more on her cheek. Somehow, Aneta liked her all the better for that s.m.u.t.

"I want to see your mistress, Tildy," she said. "It is something about Miss Maggie, and I am, as you know, one of her schoolfellows."

"Lor', miss! yes, for certain, miss. Mrs. Martin 'll be that proud, miss."

"I have brought my aunt with me," said Aneta. "She would like to come in too in order to see Mrs. Martin."

"Yes, miss; in course, miss. There's no fire lit in the drawin'-room.

But there's the dinin'-room; it do smell a bit smoky, for master 'e loves 'is pipe. 'E smokes a lot in the dinin'-room, miss."

"Show us into the dining-room," said Aneta. She ran back to fetch Lady Lysle, and conducted that amazed and indignant woman into the house.

Tildy rushed upstairs to fetch her mistress. "You get into your best gown in no time, mum. There's visitors downstairs--that most beauteous young lady who spoke to me yesterday at Aylmer House, and a lady alongside of 'er as 'u'd make yer 'eart quake. Ef Queen Victoria was alive I'd say yes, it was 'erself. Never did I mark such a sweepin'

and 'aughty manner. They're fine folks, both of 'em, and no mistake."

"Did they give their names?" asked Mrs. Martin.

"I didn't even arsk, mum. They want to see you about our Miss Maggie."

"Well, I will go down. What a queer, early hour for visitors! What dress shall I wear, Tildy?"

"I'd say the amber satin, mum, ef I'd a voice in the choice. You look elegant in it, mum, and you might 'ave your black lace shawl."

"I don't think I will wear satin in the morning," said Mrs. Martin.

Tildy helped her into a dark-brown merino dress, one of her extensive trousseau. Mrs. Martin then went downstairs, prepared to show these visitors that she was "as good as them, if not better." But the glimpse of the carriage and horses which she got through the lobby-window very nearly bowled her over.

"Go in, mum, now; you've kept them waitin' long enough. I can serve up an elegant lunch if you want it."

Tildy felt almost inclined to poke at her mistress in order to hurry her movements. Mrs. Martin opened the dining-room door and stood just for a minute on the threshold. She looked at that moment a perfect lady. Her gentle, faded face and extreme slimness gave her a grace of demeanor which Lady Lysle was quick to acknowledge. She bowed, and looked at Aneta to speak for her.

"How do you do, Mrs. Martin," said that young lady. "I am Aneta Lysle, one of your daughter's schoolfellows. My aunt, Lady Lysle"--Mrs.

Martin bowed--"has kindly come with me to see you. We want to have a little confidential talk with you."

"Oh, indeed!" said Mrs. Martin. "Has Maggie done anything wrong? She always was a particularly troublesome girl."

"I quite agree with you," said Lady Lysle. At that moment she had an idea of Maggie in disgrace and banished from Aylmer House, which pleased her.

Mrs. Martin stopped speaking when Lady Lysle said this.

"Doubtless you agree with me, Mrs. Martin," continued the lady, "that your daughter would do better at another school."

"Oh no," said Mrs. Martin; "we wish her--Bo-peep and I--I mean James and I--to stay where she is."

"And so do I wish her to stay where she is," said Aneta.--"Auntie darling, you don't quite understand; but Mrs. Martin and I understand.--Don't we, Mrs. Martin?"

"Well, I am sure," said Mrs. Martin, "I haven't the faintest idea what you are driving at, Miss--Miss Lysle."