"My dear girl! as you love Maggie Howland?"
Aneta lowered her head for a minute. "It is true I did not love her," she said, "in the past, but I have changed my views. I have been narrow-minded, and small, and silly. She herself has opened my eyes. I cannot tell you more now. Maggie will come down, and will be able to go on with her lessons just as usual this afternoon; but I want a day off, and I want it at once."
"I am going to Aunt Lucia. You will let me have a cab, and I will drive to Aunt Lucia's house in Eaton Square at once?"
Mrs. Ward looked doubtful. "You have a very grave reason for this?" she said.
"Very, very grave; and I will tell you all presently."
"I have never had reason to doubt you," said Mrs. Ward, "and I won't doubt you now. Does Maggie know of this?"
"Yes--oh yes; but please don't question her until I return."
"Very well, dear; you shall have your way. Oh, you want Mrs. Martin's address. It is Laburnum Villa, Clapham."
Aneta entered the address in a little tablet bound in gold which she always wore at her waist.
"Thank you ever so much," she said, and then left the room.
A minute or two later she met Miss Johnson. "Give me something stiff to learn--something that I don't like--to-night, dear Lucy," she said. "I am off for a whole day's holiday, but I shall be back in the evening."
"That is very queer," said Miss Johnson. "What does it mean?"
"I cannot explain, but Mrs. Ward knows. Be specially kind to dear Maggie, and give me something that I don't like to do when I return."
Miss Johnson smiled. "You shall hem some dusters," she said.
Aneta made a wry face. "Thanks ever so much," she replied; then she ran upstairs to get ready for her visit.
Just before leaving the house she looked in at Maggie. "I'm off, Mags. It's all right. I shall probably see you about tea-time."
Before Maggie had time even to expostulate Aneta closed the door, and a minute or two later had stepped into the cab which Agnes had called for her. The cabman was desired to drive Miss Lysle to Lady Lysle's house in Eaton Square. This was accordingly done, and soon after ten o'clock Lady Lysle, who had not yet completed her morning toilet, was most amazed at being informed by her maid that Miss Lysle was waiting for her downstairs.