“Well?” said Aunt Maria. The word was equivalent to “What do you want?”
“Has Maria gone?” asked Lily.
“No, she is getting dressed.”
“Can I run up to her room and see her a minute? I have something particular I want to tell her.”
“I don't know whether she'd want anybody to come up while she's dressing or not,” said Aunt Maria.
“I don't believe she'd mind me,” said Lily, pleadingly. “Would you mind calling up and asking her, please, Miss Stillman?”
“Well,” said Aunt Maria.
She actually closed the door and left Lily standing in the bitter wind while she spoke to Maria. Lily heard her faintly calling.
“Say, Maria, that Merrill girl is at the door, and wants to know if she can come a minute. She's got something she wants to tell you.”
Then Aunt Maria opened the door. “I suppose you can go up,” she said, ungraciously. The radiance in Lily's face filled her with hostility, she did not know why.