he would
embark for the Continent. Beyond that she had made no plans.

Maggie was in the act of removing her father's treasures from the tin
boxes when, without any warning, the room-door was opened, and Aneta,
in her pure white dress, with her golden hair surrounding her very
fair face, entered the room.

"Oh!" said Maggie, dropping a curiously made cross in her confusion
and turning a dull brick-red. "Whatever have you come about?"

Aneta closed the door calmly, and placed her lighted candle on the top
of Maggie's chest of drawers.

"I hoped you were in bed and asleep," she said; "but instead of that
you are up. I have made arrangements to spend the night with you. It
is bitterly cold. We must build up the fire."

Maggie felt wild.

Aneta did not take the slightest notice. She knelt down and put knobs
of fresh coal on the fire. Soon it was blazing up merrily. "That's
better," she said. "Now, don't you think a cup of cocoa each would be
advisable?"

"I don't want to eat," said Maggie.

"I should like the cocoa," said Aneta; "and I have brought it with me.
I thought your supply might be out. Here's your glass of milk which
you never drank, and here's a little saucepan, and there are cups and
saucers in your cupboard, and a box of biscuits. Just sit down, won't
you? while I make the cocoa."

Maggie felt very strange. Her dislike of Aneta was growing less and
less moment by moment. Nevertheless, she by no means gave up her
primary idea of running away. She felt that she must hoodwink Aneta.
Surely she was clever enough for that. The best plan would be to
acquiesce in the cocoa scheme, afterwards to pretend that she was
sleepy, and go to bed. Then Aneta would, of course, leave her, and
there would still be plenty of time to get out of the house and
disappear into the foggy world of London. The glowing fire, the
beautiful young girl kneeling by it, the preparation for the little
meal which she made with such swiftness and dexterity, caused Maggie
to gaze at her in speechless amazement.

Maggie drank her delicious cocoa and munched her biscuits with
appetite, and afterwards she felt better. The world was not quite so
black and desolate, and Aneta looked lovely with her soft eyes glowing
and the rose-color in her cheeks.

"Why are you doing all this for me?" said Maggie then.

"Why?" said Aneta. "I think the reason is very simple." Then she
paused for a minute and her eyes filled with sudden tears. "I think it