"You must, dear; yes, you must. Please, please go! And--please, be quick. Some one will see us together. Lucy Johnson will come in. Oh! don't make matters worse for me. Good-night, Merry, good-night." Maggie seemed so anxious that Merry should go that the girl felt hurt and rose to her feet. "Good-night, Merry dear," said Maggie as Merry was walking towards the door. Then she added, in a semi-whisper which Merry did not catch, "And good-bye, Merry dear; we shall never meet again." Merry left the room, feeling full of apprehension. She thought for a minute as she stood outside. Then she went and knocked at Aneta's door. "Aneta, may I come in?" "Of course, dear. What is the matter?" said her cousin. Merry entered at once. "I have been to see Maggie. She is awfully queer. Oh, I know I broke the rules. I must tell Miss Johnson in the morning." "I did beg of you, Merry, not to go to her," said Aneta. "Yes, I know you did; but I could not help thinking and thinking about her. She is very queer. Her eyes look so strange." "I hoped she was in bed and asleep," said Aneta. "In bed!" said Merry. "Not a bit of it. She was up and sitting by the window gazing at the fog." "I will go and see her myself," said Aneta. "Will you, Neta? And you will be kind to her?" "Yes, darling, of course." "Somehow, she used to think that--that you didn't love her," said Merry. "Nor did I," said Aneta. "But I will be kind to her; don't be afraid. I think I can guess what is the matter." "It is all very queer," said Merry. "She was in such splendid spirits to-day; all the girls said so when they were out preparing for our party, and now she looks years older and utterly miserable." "Go to bed, Merry, and leave your friend in my care." "Then you don't think it wrong of me to be very fond of her?" "I do not, Merry. There was a time when I hoped you would not care for her; now I earnestly want you to be her true friend. There is a very great deal of good in her, and she has had many sorrows. Pray for her to-night. Don't be anxious. Everything will come as right as possible." "Oh Neta," said Merry, "you are a darling! And when you talk like that I love you more than I ever did before. You see, dear, I could not help caring for Maggie from the very first, and nothing nor anybody can alter my love." Aneta kissed Merry, who left the room. Then Aneta herself, taking up her candle, went out. She was wearing a long white wrapper, and her clouds of golden hair were falling far below her waist. She looked almost like an angel as she went down the corridor as far as Miss Johnson's room. Lucy Johnson was just getting into bed when Aneta knocked. "What is it, Neta?" said the governess in a tone almost of alarm. "I want to break a rule, Lucy," said Aneta; "so put me down for punishment to-morrow." "Oh, but why? What are you going to do?" "I am going to do something which I shall be punished for. I am going to spend to-night, if necessary, with Maggie Howland."