Merry's soft brown eyes were very bright, and her cheeks had a carnation glow on them, and her pretty red lips were slightly parted. "You do all these things at school--at school?" she said. "Why, of course; and many, many more things that you can't even imagine, for it's the whole influence of the place that is so delightful. Then you make friends--great friends--and you get to understand character, and you get to understand the value of real discipline, and you are taught also that you are not meant to live a worldly and selfish life, for Mrs. Ward is very philanthropic. Each girl in her school has to help a poor girl in East London, and the poor girl becomes in a sort of manner her property. I have got a dear little lame girl. Her name is Susie Style. I am allowed to see her once or twice a year, and I write her a letter every week, and she writes back to me, and I collect enough money to keep her in a cripples' home. I haven't enough of my own, for I am perhaps the poorest girl in the school; but that makes no difference, for Mrs. Ward doesn't allow the word money or rank to be spoken of--she lives above all that. She says that money is a great talent, and that people who are merely purse-proud are detestable. Oh, but I've told you enough, haven't I?" "Yes, oh yes!" said Merry. "Thanks very, very much. And so Aneta is there; and as Molly and Isabel will be there, they will tell me more at Christmas. Perhaps we ought to go down now to meet father in the manuscript-room." Maggie rose with alacrity. She followed her companion quite cheerfully. She felt assured within herself that the thin end of the wedge had been well inserted by now. Mr. Cardew was exceedingly courteous and pleasant, and Maggie charmed him by her intelligence and her marvellous gift of assimilating knowledge. Not a word was said with regard to the London school, and at ten minutes to one Maggie bade good-bye to Mr. Cardew and Merry, and went back to the rectory in considerable spirits. Molly and Isabel were all impatience for her return. "Well, what did you do?" said Molly. "Who was there to meet you?" "Only Merry. Cicely had gone with Mrs. Cardew to Warwick." "Oh, well, Merry is the jollier of the two, although they are both perfectly sweet," said Molly. "And did she show you all the house, Maggie?" "No," said Maggie; "I really couldn't take it all in; but she took me round the armory and into the old tower, and then we went into the picture-gallery." "Oh, she took you into the picture-gallery! There are Romneys and Gainsboroughs and Sir Joshua Reynoldses, and all sorts of magnificent treasures there." "Doubtless," said Maggie. "But when I tell you what we did you will laugh." "What did you do? Do tell us, Mags." "We sat in easy-chairs. I faced the portrait of a very beautiful lady after whom Cicely Cardew is called." "Of course I know her well--I mean her picture," said Isabel. "That is a Gainsborough. Didn't you admire it?"