ne," said Maggie.

"I don't mean to," replied Aneta; "but I thought I would tell you in
order that you should not spread the report any further."

"I am sure I don't want to. My stepfather has just as good connections
as any one else."

"No doubt," said Aneta gently; "only, he is not related to our special
friends. You might let Merry and Cicely know."

"Why?" asked Maggie in a dogged voice.

"You can please yourself. I shall tell them if you don't."

"Why do you hate me so much, Aneta?" said Maggie then.

"I hate subterfuge and untruth," said Aneta. "I don't hate you. If you
would be straight and open and above-board you would find me your best
friend."

"Thank you so much!" said Maggie in a sneering tone. "When I require
you for my best friend it will be time enough for you to offer me that
enviable position." Then she added, speaking in a low tone of intense
dislike, "Is it likely that any girl would wish to make a best friend
of another girl who accused her of subterfuge and want of
truthfulness?"

The delicate pink rose in Aneta's cheeks. She raised her eyes and
looked full up at Maggie. Her clear, calm eyes seemed like mirrors.
Maggie felt that she could not meet them.

It was just at that moment that Cicely Cardew, in a state of
suppressed excitement, came into the room.

"Maggie," she said, coming straight up to Maggie Howland, "there's a
very large parcel addressed to you in the hall. It has been paid for;
we are all dying with curiosity to know what it is."

Maggie rose abruptly.

"I will go and look at it myself," she said. "A large parcel addressed
to me! Who can have sent me anything?"

"It looks like a huge dress-box," said Cicely. "We're all curious
about it."

Before any girl could leave the drawing-room it was necessary that she
should ask Mrs. Ward's permission. So Maggie now went up to that good
lady and asked if she might go and look at her parcel.

"A parcel for you, dear?" said Mrs. Ward. "And you want to see its
contents? But bring it in here; we shall all be delighted to look at
it--sha'n't we, girls?"

Maggie went away, wondering a good deal. Cicely accompanied her. Miss
Johnson also appeared on the scene.

"Why, Maggie," she said, "what can you have got? Such a huge box, and
all covered over with brown paper! I don't suppose Mrs. Ward would
really like that box to be brought into the drawing-room. I'll just go
and ask her."

One of Mrs. Ward's peculiarities, and perhap