"Perhaps you never quite understood Maggie," she said; "and perhaps, in the future, you won't have a great deal to say to her." "I don't want to; she never suited me a bit," said the mother, "and I am very happy with Bo-peep." "Well, at least you may feel," said Aneta, "that I am going to be Maggie's special friend." Mrs. Martin stood silent while Lady Lysle and her niece walked down the little path and got into the carriage. When the carriage rolled away she burst into a flood of tears. She did not know whether she was glad or sorry; but, somehow, she had faith in Aneta. Was she never going to see Maggie again? She was not quite without maternal love for her only child, but she cared very much more for Bo-peep, and quite felt that Maggie would be a most troublesome inmate of Laburnum Villa. "Now, Aneta," said her aunt as the carriage rolled away, "I have gone through enough in your service for one day." "You haven't been at all nice, auntie," said Aneta; "but perhaps you will be better when you get to the shop." "I will not go to the shop." "Auntie, just think, once and for all, that you are doing a very philanthropic act, and that you are helping me, whom you love so dearly." "Of course I love you, Aneta. Are you not as my own precious child?" "Well, now, I want you to buy no end of things at Martin's shop." "Buy things! Good gracious, child, at a grocer's shop! But I get all my groceries at the Stores, and the housekeeper attends to my orders." "Well, anyhow, spend from five to ten pounds at Martin's to-day. You can get tea made up in half-pound packets and give it away wholesale to your poor women. Christmas is coming on, and they will appreciate good tea, no matter where it has been bought from." "Well, you may go in and give the order," said Lady Lysle; "but I won't see that grocer. I will sit in the carriage and wait for you." Aneta considered for a few minutes, and then said in a sad voice, "Very well." Lady Lysle looked at her once or twice during the long drive which followed. Aneta's little face was rather pale, but her eyes were full of subdued fire. She was determined to carry the day at any cost. CHAPTER XXIV. A VISIT TO THE GROCER. James Martin abhorred the aristocracy--so he said. Nevertheless, he greatly admired his elegant wife in her faded beauty. He liked to hear her speak, and he made some effort to copy her "genteel pronunciation." He also, in his inmost heart, admired Maggie as a girl of spirit, although not a beautiful one. He had his own ideas with regard to female loveliness, and, like all men, was impressed and attracted by it.