“Well,” said Mary, after a little reflection, “if I could change I should like to be a countess, or a princess, or a Lady somebody. Lady Mary Vallance sounds rather nice, I think.”
Just then the squire came out of the shop, and they soon started rapidly homewards.
“Mary,” said Jackie, squeezing himself close up to her, when they were well on the way, and lowering his voice mysteriously, “I’ve got a secret to tell you.”
Jackie’s secrets were never very important, and Mary was not prepared to be interested in this one.
“Have you?” she said absently; “look at all those crows in that field.”
“Oh, if you don’t want to hear it—” said Jackie, drawing back with a hurt expression; “it’s something to do with you, too.”
“Well, what is it?” said Mary; “I’m listening.”
“I haven’t told Agatha, or Jennie, or Patrick,” continued he in an injured voice.
“Why, it wouldn’t be a secret if you had,” said Mary. “Go on; I really want to hear it.”
“It was yesterday,” began Jackie, lowering his voice again; “I was sitting in the school-room window-seat reading, and Rice came in with a message for Fraülein. And then she stayed talking about lots of things, and then they began to talk about you.” Jackie paused.