“Mary,” said Aneta, “will you have the goodness to ask Miss Lucy if I may speak to her for a minute?”
“Yes, miss,” replied Mary, closing the door behind her in her usual noiseless fashion.
In a very few minutes Miss Johnson entered Aneta’s room.
“I was just thinking of going to bed, dear,” said that good-natured young woman. “Can I do anything for you?” 115
“I only want to say something to you, Lucy.”
“What is it, my love? I do not like to see that our dear Aneta looks worried, but your face almost wears that expression.”
“Well,” said Aneta, “it is just this: I am a trifle worried about a matter which I hope I may set right. It is against the rules for girls to leave their rooms after they have gone to them for the night, and it would never do for me to be the first to break a rule at Aylmer House. Nevertheless, I do want to break it. May I, Miss Lucy?”
“Well, Aneta, I do not think that there’ll be the slightest difficulty, for we don’t really begin school till to-morrow. What do you wish to do, dear?”
“I want to go and visit one of my schoolmates, and stay with her for a time.”
“Of course you may go, Aneta. I give you permission; but don’t remain too long, for we get up early to-morrow, as to-morrow school really begins.”