Merry found herself turning very red. She remembered Aneta’s words on the night of her arrival.
“She has already told you,” said Maggie, “that she doesn’t like me.”
Merry remained silent.
“Oh, you needn’t speak. I know quite well,” said Maggie.
Merry felt more and more uncomfortable.
“The petition I have to make to you is this,” continued Maggie: “that at school you will, for a time at least—say for the first month or so—be neutral. I want you and Cicely and Molly and Isabel to belong neither to Aneta’s party nor to mine; and I want you to do this because—because I have been the person who has got you to Aylmer House. Just remain neutral for a month. Will you promise me that?”
“I don’t understand you. You puzzle me very much indeed,” said Merry.
“You will understand fast enough when you get to Aylmer House. I wish I were not going away; I wish I hadn’t to return to mother. I wish I could go with you all to Scarborough; but I am the last girl on earth to neglect my duties, and my duty is to be with poor dear mother. You will understand that what I ask is but reasonable. If four new girls came to the school, and altogether went over to Aneta’s side, where should I be? What chance should I have? But I do not ask you to come to my side; I only ask you to be neutral. Merry, will you promise?”
“You distress me more than I can say,” replied Merry. “I feel so completely in the dark. I don’t, of course, want to take any side.”
“Ah, then you will promise?” said Maggie.