“It is,” said Maggie.
“Is he a nice man, Maggie? Or would you rather I didn’t speak of him?”
“No; you may speak of him if you like. He is a rich man—he is very rich.”
“I am glad of that at any rate,” said Merry. “You will never be in fusty, musty lodgings any more.”
“Oh no, never! My mother’s husband—I cannot speak of him as my stepfather—will see to that.”
“What is his name?”
Maggie hesitated. Not for the world would she have let any of her schoolfellows know the real position; but she could not very well conceal her stepfather’s name.
“Martin,” she said.
“Spelt with a ‘y’? We know some awfully nice Martyns. They live about twenty miles away from Meredith Manor. I wonder if your Mr. Martyn is related to them.”
“Oh, very likely,” said Maggie.