“We’ll talk about Miss Peel. I don’t know her as you do, but I’m interested in her.”
“Oh, pray don’t; I want to keep her to myself.”
“Why? Is she such a rara avis?”
“I don’t care what she is. She suits me because she loves me without question. She is absolutely sincere; she could not say an untrue thing; she is so clever that I could not talk frivolities when I am with her; and so good, so really, simply good, that she keeps at bay my bad half-hours and my reckless moods.” Constance smiled. She believed part of Maggie’s speech; not the whole of it, for she knew the enthusiasm of the speaker.
“I am going to Kingsdene,” said Maggie suddenly. “Prissie is coming with me. Will you come, too, Constance? I wish you would.”
“Thank you,” said Constance. She hesitated for a moment. “It is the best thing in the world for Heath Hall,” she thought, “that the girls should see me walking with Maggie to-day.” Aloud she said, “All right, Maggie, I’ll go upstairs and put on my hat and jacket, and meet you and Miss Peel in the porch.”
“We are going to tea at the Marshalls’,” said Maggie. “You don’t mind that, do you? You know them, too?”
“Know them? I should think so. Isn’t old Mrs Marshall a picture? And Helen is one of my best friends.”
“You shall make Helen happy this afternoon, dear Constance.”
Maggie ran gaily out of the room as she spoke, and a few minutes later the three girls, in excellent spirits, started for Kingsdene.