The children went in and told Miss Anne how they had settled the business, and she said that she was glad of it. “It is much better,” she said, “to arrange such affairs in a spirit of kindness and good-will, than for each party to insist upon his or her claims, and have the case decided as a dispute between them; and I am very glad that you have settled it in an amicable manner.”
“What do you mean by amicable?” asked Lucy.
“Friendly,” replied Miss Anne.
CHAPTER XI.
A CONVERSATION.
After Lucy had been at school for some days, and had learned a little how to study by herself, and to follow Mary Jay’s directions, Mary Jay asked her, one day, if she knew what her mother wanted her to study. She said that she didn’t know. “Then,” said Mary Jay, “I wish that you would ask your mother, and tell me to-morrow.”
Lucy did ask her mother, and her mother consulted her father. The result of their conversation was, that they should like to see Mary Jay about Lucy’s studies; and they concluded to invite her to come that evening and take tea with them, and then, after tea, they would have time to talk about it.
Royal wished to go and bring Mary Jay in the chaise, as she couldn’t walk very well; and his father said that that would be an excellent plan. Lucy invited her when she went to school that morning; and in the afternoon, when it was time for her to come, Royal and Lucy went for her in the chaise.
The first thing, after Mary Jay arrived, was to take her out, and let her see the duck pond and house. Mary Jay was very much pleased indeed; and she said that, when her ducklings grew up, she would give them another, and then they would have a pair.
Royal wished that Mary Jay would give them the other duckling then, so that they might bring them up together; but he didn’t think that it would be proper for him to ask it, and so he only said that he and Lucy would be very glad indeed to have a pair.