“Certainly I will come with you, Aneta,” said Maggie; but she felt uncomfortable, and wondered what it meant.
The two girls set off together. They made a contrast which must have been discernible to the eyes of all those who saw them: Aneta the very essence of elegance; Maggie spotlessly neat, but, compared to her companion, downright plain. Aneta was tall and slim; Maggie was short. Nevertheless, her figure was her good point, and she made the most of it by having perfectly fitting clothes. This very fact, however, took somewhat from her appearance, and gave her the look of a grown-up girl, whereas she was still only a child.
As soon as ever the girls got out of earshot, Aneta turned to Maggie and said gravely, “My cousins the Cardews are to join us all at Aylmer House in September.”
Maggie longed to say, “Thank you for nothing,” but she never dared to show rudeness to Aneta. No one had ever been rude to the stately young lady.
“Yes,” she said. Then she added, “I am so glad! Aren’t you?” 75
“For some reasons I am very glad,” said Aneta.
“But surely for all, aren’t you?”
“Not for all,” replied Aneta.
How Maggie longed to give her companion a fierce push, or otherwise show how she detested her!
“I will tell you why I regret it,” said Aneta, turning her calm, beautiful eyes upon Maggie’s face.