"How is old Mary? How does she get on without you?"
"Oh! Poor old thing. Mother goes to see her when she can. I've just found an old woman here, Captain Fortescue."
"Have you? Is she like old Mary?"
"Oh dear no! A poor dirty old woman, half a gipsy, I think; but I'm glad to have some one to go and see."
They were standing now beside one of the dismal ponds, in which a number of ragged boys were wading.
"Miss Douglas," he said, "I am going to ask you a question, and I want a truthful answer. I know you will give me one."
"How awfully solemn it sounds!" she said, laughing. "Nothing very dreadful, I hope?"
"No, not dreadful, but something I want very much to know. Are you happy here?"
"Oh yes!" Marjorie said. "I think I can truthfully say that I am. Of course it is a very busy life; but I'm getting fond of the people, and it is far better than I expected it would be."
"Thank you," he said. "Now I wonder if you would mind doing something else for me?"