"I hope so," Marigold answered, for she was greatly looking forward to meeting Farmer Jo and his mother again.
She felt quite glad to be back in Exeter once more, and was waiting eagerly and with pleasurable anticipation the commencement of the next term. What a lot she would have to tell Grace Long and her other friends at school!
Meanwhile, she saw Muriel Wake nearly every day. Muriel was wondering how long her father and stepmother would remain abroad, and confided to Marigold that there was a great upset amongst the servants at home on account of her father's marriage, and all but Mrs. Jones were going to leave.
[CHAPTER XVII]
MARIGOLD AT DEATH'S DOOR
"MARIGOLD, are you not well, my dear? Why do you crouch over the fire like that?"
The little girl, who was kneeling on the drawing-room hearthrug with her hands outstretched to the blaze, turned her face to the speaker—Miss Holcroft—with a smile as she answered—
"I am quite well, thank you, Aunt Mary—at least I think so. But I feel so dreadfully cold and shivery!"
"I hope you have not taken a chill. You must have got dreadfully wet returning from school this afternoon. You changed your clothes, did you not?"
"Oh yes, directly I came in. I was drenched to the skin. What a dreadful day it has been!"