“Well, at least you may feel,” said Aneta, “that I am going to be Maggie’s special friend.”
Mrs. Martin stood silent while Lady Lysle and her niece walked down the little path and got into the carriage. When the carriage rolled away she burst into a flood of tears. She did not know whether she was glad or sorry; but, somehow, 171 she had faith in Aneta. Was she never going to see Maggie again? She was not quite without maternal love for her only child, but she cared very much more for Bo-peep, and quite felt that Maggie would be a most troublesome inmate of Laburnum Villa.
“Now, Aneta,” said her aunt as the carriage rolled away, “I have gone through enough in your service for one day.”
“You haven’t been at all nice, auntie,” said Aneta; “but perhaps you will be better when you get to the shop.”
“I will not go to the shop.”
“Auntie, just think, once and for all, that you are doing a very philanthropic act, and that you are helping me, whom you love so dearly.”
“Of course I love you, Aneta. Are you not as my own precious child?”
“Well, now, I want you to buy no end of things at Martin’s shop.”
“Buy things! Good gracious, child, at a grocer’s shop! But I get all my groceries at the Stores, and the housekeeper attends to my orders.”
“Well, anyhow, spend from five to ten pounds at Martin’s to-day. You can get tea made up in half-pound packets and give it away wholesale to your poor women. Christmas is coming on, and they will appreciate good tea, no matter where it has been bought from.”