Tildy helped her into a dark-brown merino dress, one of her extensive trousseau. Mrs. Martin then went downstairs, prepared to show these visitors that she was "as good as them, if not better." But the glimpse of the carriage and horses which she got through the lobby-window very nearly bowled her over. "Go in, mum, now; you've kept them waitin' long enough. I can serve up an elegant lunch if you want it." Tildy felt almost inclined to poke at her mistress in order to hurry her movements. Mrs. Martin opened the dining-room door and stood just for a minute on the threshold. She looked at that moment a perfect lady. Her gentle, faded face and extreme slimness gave her a grace of demeanor which Lady Lysle was quick to acknowledge. She bowed, and looked at Aneta to speak for her. "How do you do, Mrs. Martin," said that young lady. "I am Aneta Lysle, one of your daughter's schoolfellows. My aunt, Lady Lysle"--Mrs. Martin bowed--"has kindly come with me to see you. We want to have a little confidential talk with you." "Oh, indeed!" said Mrs. Martin. "Has Maggie done anything wrong? She always was a particularly troublesome girl." "I quite agree with you," said Lady Lysle. At that moment she had an idea of Maggie in disgrace and banished from Aylmer House, which pleased her. Mrs. Martin stopped speaking when Lady Lysle said this. "Doubtless you agree with me, Mrs. Martin," continued the lady, "that your daughter would do better at another school." "Oh no," said Mrs. Martin; "we wish her--Bo-peep and I--I mean James and I--to stay where she is." "And so do I wish her to stay where she is," said Aneta.--"Auntie darling, you don't quite understand; but Mrs. Martin and I understand.--Don't we, Mrs. Martin?" "Well, I am sure," said Mrs. Martin, "I haven't the faintest idea what you are driving at, Miss--Miss Lysle." "Well, it is just this," said Aneta. "You sent a letter yesterday to Maggie." "I did," said Mrs. Martin; "and great need I had to send it." "In that letter you informed Maggie that you and your husband were coming to see her to-morrow." "Bo-peep wishes--I mean, James wishes--to." "Really, Aneta, had not we better go?" said Lady Lysle. "Not yet, auntie, please.--Mrs. Martin, I begged for a holiday to-day on purpose to come and see you." "If it's because you think I'll keep James--Bo-peep--I mean James--from having his heart's wish, I am sorry you have wasted your time," said Mrs. Martin. "The fact is, he is very angry indeed with Maggie. He considers her his own child now, which of course is true, seeing that he has married me, and I really can't go into particulars; but he is determined to see her and to see Mrs. Ward, and he's not a bit ashamed of being--being--well, what he is--an honorable tradesman--a grocer." "But perhaps you are aware," said Lady Lysle, "that the daughters of grocers--I mean tradesmen--are not admitted to Aylmer House."