“You must—you must be on Aneta’s side of the school, and so must Cicely; but you can, all the same, love me best.”
“Can I?” said Merry, brightening up. “Then, if I can, I sha’n’t mind a bit.”
Maggie patted her hand very gently. “You can, Merry; and you can help me. You will always take my part, won’t you?”
“Indeed—indeed I will! But it won’t be necessary.”
“It may be,” said Maggie very earnestly. “Promise that, if the time comes, you will take my part.”
“I promise, of course. What can be the matter with you, Maggie? You don’t look a bit yourself.”
Maggie did not at once reply. “I shall have a great deal to do this term,” she said after a pause; “and my party in the school won’t be so weak after all. There’ll be Rosamond Dacre––”
“I didn’t very much like Rosamond,” said Merry, speaking in a low voice.
“Oh, she is excellent fun when you know her,” said Maggie; “but as she won’t be on your side, nor in your form, you are not likely to have much to do with her. Then Matty and Clara are first-rate, and they’re mine too; and Kathleen O’Donnell is a perfect brick; and Janet Burns, she’s as strong as they make ’em. Of course the Tristrams will belong to me. Let me see: Tristrams, two; Rosamond, three; Kathleen, four; Matty and Clara, six; Janet, seven. Ah, well, I am quite in the minority. Aneta carries off eleven girls as her share.”
“Don’t be sad about it, Maggie. Surely we might all be one in the school! Why should there be parties?” said Merry.