The School Queens Part 55

"You promise, then?"

"Yes, I promise fast enough. If you're going to take Maggie and bring her up a fine lady she'll never suit me. All I beg is that she doesn't come back to me like a bad penny some day."

"That I can absolutely a.s.sure you she will never do. I am exceedingly obliged to you. Will you come with me now and let me say a few words to my aunt; for as you have made your definite promise to leave Maggie alone, my aunt must make a definite promise to you."

Lady Lysle was much astonished, as she sat wearily in her carriage, when a red-faced, bald-looking, stout grocer accompanied her elegant young niece to the carriage-door.

"Aunt Lucia," said Aneta, "this is Mr. Martin."

Lady Lysle gave the faintest inclination of her head.

"Proud to see your ladyship," said Martin.

"I have been making arrangements with Mr. Martin," said Aneta, "and on certain conditions he will do what I want. Will you please, in future, get your groceries from him?"

"I will faithfully attend to you, my lady, if agreeable to you. I will come weekly for _h_orders. I will do anything to oblige your ladyship."

"Please, auntie, you've got to do it," said Aneta.

"My dear, it depends on Watson, my housekeeper."

"Oh, I'll manage Watson," said Aneta, springing lightly into the carriage, her face all beams and smiles.--"It is quite right, Mr.

Martin; and you will get your second order this evening. You won't forget about the tea and currants and sugar for the poor people.--Now, auntie, will you drive me back to Aylmer House, or shall we go straight to Eaton Square?"

"Eaton Square, I think."

"Good-day, Mr. Martin."

The carriage rolled out of sight. Martin stood bareheaded in the doorway of his shop. There was not a prouder man than he in the whole of Christendom. When he returned to the sacred precincts of the shop itself he said to Turtle, "Fresh customer, Turtle--West End, Turtle.

That's a fine young lady--eh, Turtle?"

"The most beautiful young female I ever saw," returned Turtle.

"When I ask you what you think of her personal appearance you can tell me, Turtle. Now, go and attend to the shop."

Meanwhile Aneta, her heart full of thankfulness, accompanied her aunt to Eaton Square.

"I have got what I want," she said, "and dear Maggie is practically saved; and you have done it, auntie. You will feel happier for this to your dying day."

Lady Lysle said that at the present moment she did not feel specially elated at the thought of getting her tea and numerous groceries at a shop in Shepherd's Bush; but Aneta a.s.sured her that that was a very tiny sacrifice to make for so great an end as she had in view.

"It will help Mr. Martin," she said. "He is not a gentleman, and doesn't pretend to be, but he's a good, honest tradesman; and perhaps Mrs. Ward, too, will give him some of her custom."

"Well, my dear Aneta, if you're happy, I have nothing to say,"

responded her aunt. "But you must tackle Watson, for I really cannot attempt it."

Aneta did tackle the old housekeeper to some purpose. At first there were objections, protests, exclamations; but Aneta was sure of her ground. Did not Mrs. Watson idolize the girl, having known her from her earliest days?

About tea-time a tired and triumphant girl returned to Aylmer House.

She had had her way. The great difficulty was overcome. Maggie, looking pale and tired, was having tea with the others. Aneta sat down by her side. Maggie turned anxious eyes towards the queen of the school whom she used to fear and almost hate. But there was no hatred now in Maggie's eyes. Far, far from that, she looked upon Aneta as a refuge in the storm. If Aneta could not get her out of her present trouble no one could.

"You will be very busy during the leisure hours this afternoon," said Aneta when the meal was coming to an end. "But, first of all, I want to speak to you just for a minute or two."

"Yes," said Maggie.

"We have done tea now. May Maggie and I go away by ourselves, please, Miss Johnson, for a few minutes?" said Aneta.

Miss Johnson signified her consent, and the two queens left the room together. The other girls looked after them, wondering vaguely what was up.

"Maggie," said Aneta, "I have managed everything."

"Aneta--you haven't"----

"Yes; he isn't coming to-morrow, nor is your mother; and Aunt Lucia has invited you to spend the Christmas holidays with us. You can see your mother occasionally; but, somehow or other, Maggie dear, you are to be my friend in future; and--oh, Maggie!"

"Oh Aneta! how can I ever, ever thank you?"

"Well, the beginning of the way is a little hard," said Aneta. "Come now, at once, straight to Mrs. Ward, and tell her every single thing."

"She will expel me if I do," said Maggie.

"That I know she will not. She is too true and dear and kind. Besides, I will stay with you all the time while you are telling her. Come, quick. You can get your confession over in a very few minutes."

"Oh Aneta! for you I would do anything. But how did you manage to get my dreadful stepfather to give up his plan."

"That matters little. He has given it up. Now, come. There's much to do to prepare for to-morrow; but you must get your confession over first."

Mrs. Ward always had her tea alone, and she was just finishing it on this special evening when there came a tap at her door, and, to her great amazement, Aneta and Maggie entered, holding each other's hands.

"Mrs. Ward, Maggie has something to say to you."

"Yes," said Maggie; and then in a few broken words, choked by tears of true repentance, she told her story. She had been ashamed of her stepfather. She had been deceitful. She had been afraid to confess that she was taken at a lower fee than the other girls at the school.

She had gone out, without leave, to sell one of her own father's treasures. Everything was told. Mrs. Ward looked very grave as the girl, with bent head, related the story of her deceit and wrong-doing.

"I know you can expel me," said Maggie.

"But you will not," said Aneta. "I feel sure of that, for I, who never cared for Maggie until now, love her with all my heart. There will be no rivalry in the school any more, and dear Maggie must not go."

"Oh, if you would keep me! If you would keep me," said Maggie, "and give me one more chance!"

"Have you asked G.o.d to forgive you, Maggie?" said Mrs. Ward.

"I cannot, somehow; my heart is so cold. But if--if you would"----

"We will ask Him together," said Mrs. Ward.

There and then she knelt down, and Aneta and Maggie knelt at each side of her, and she said a few words of prayer which touched Maggie's heart as no words had ever touched it before. "Keep from her all hurtful things, and give her those things which are necessary for her salvation," pleaded the mistress.