am not the sort of girl to go back when I have
firmly made up my mind on a certain point."

Maggie suddenly clutched hold of her companion's arm.

"I am miserable enough already," she said, "and you make my life
unendurable! You don't know what it is to have a mother like mine, and
to be starvingly poor."

"I am very sorry you are poor, Maggie, and I am very sorry for you
with regard to your mother, although I do not think you ought to speak
unkindly of her. But your father was a very good man, and you might
live up to his memory. I saw you and Merry together to-day. Beware how
you try to influence her."

"Oh, I can't stand you!" said Maggie.

"I have said my say. Shall we return to the others?" said Aneta in her
calm voice.

"If she would only get into a rage and we might have a hand-to-hand
fight I should feel better," thought Maggie. But she was seriously
alarmed, for she well remembered something which had happened at
school, which Aneta had discovered, and which, if known, would force
Mrs. Ward to dismiss her from the establishment. Such a course would
spell ruin. Maggie had strong feelings, but she had also self-control;
and by the time the two joined the others her face looked much as
usual.

On the following morning early a little girl ran swiftly from the
Manor to the rectory. Maggie was to leave by the eleven o'clock train.
Merry appeared on the scene soon after nine.

"I want you, Maggie, all quite by yourself," said Merry, speaking with
such excitement that Molly and Belle looked at her in unbounded
amazement.

"You can't keep her long," said Peterkins and Jackdaw, "for it is our
very last day, and Spot-ear and Fanciful want to say good-bye to her.
You can't have the darling more than three minutes at the most."

"I am going to keep Maggie for ten minutes, and no longer.--Come along
at once, Maggie," said Merry Cardew.

They went out into the grounds, and Merry, putting her hand into her
pocket, took out a little brown leather bag. She thrust it into her
companion's hand.

"What is it?" said Maggie.

"It is for you--for you, darling," said Merry. "Take it, as a loan, if
you like--only take it. It is only ten pounds. I am afraid you will
think it nothing at all; but do take it, just as a mere loan. It is my
pocket-money for the next quarter. Perhaps you could go from the
musty, fusty lodgings to some fresher place with this to help you.
Do--do take it, Maggie! I shall so love you if you do.