"I want to see Mr. Martin," said the silvery voice.
Martin felt pleased, and said _sotto voce_, "Chuck it, Turtle; you're out of it, old boy." A minute later he was standing before Aneta, inquiring in a trembling voice what he could do for her.
"I want to order fifty pounds of tea to be made up in half-pound packets and sent to my aunt, Lady Lysle, 16B Eaton Square," said Aneta. "The tea will be paid for on delivery, and please let it be the very best. I also want a hundred pound-packets of the best currants, and a hundred pound-packets of the best sugar."
"Demerara, miss, or loaf?" inquired Martin, tremblingly putting down the order.
"Loaf, I think," said Aneta. "Will you kindly send everything within the next day or two to Eaton Square, 16B, to Lady Lysle?"
"I will enter her ladyship's name in my book. Yes, it shall be done," said Martin.
He looked at Aneta, and Aneta looked straight back at him.
"Mr. Martin," she said suddenly, "I am the school-friend of your stepdaughter, Maggie Howland. May I have a little conversation with you in your private room?"
"Ah, I thought there was something!" said Martin. "To be sure, miss," he added.--"Turtle, you see that this order is _h_executed. It's for her ladyship, Lady Lysle, 16B Eaton Square.--Come this way, my lady."
All the attendants in the shop gazed in wonder as the beautiful girl and the excited Martin went into the little parlor at the back of the business establishment. There Martin stood with his hands behind him; but Aneta sank into a low chair.
"I want to ask you a great favor, Mr. Martin," said the girl. She looked full up at him as she spoke.
Martin thought that he had never in his life seen such melting and lovely blue eyes before. "She bowls me over," he kept saying to himself. "I hate the aristocrats, but somehow she bowls me over."--"Anything in my power, miss," he said aloud, and he made a low bow, pressing his hand to his chest.
"I think," said Aneta--"indeed, I am sure--to judge from your most flourishing shop--that you are a good business man."
"Well, now, there's no doubt on that point, Miss--Miss Lysle."
"But you would like to extend your custom?" said Aneta.
"Business is always business to me," replied Martin.
"Well, the fact is, it lies in my power to induce my aunt, Lady Lysle, to get her groceries from you. She has a large establishment and sees a great deal of company. She gets them now at the Army and Navy Stores, but I haven't the slightest doubt that she would not object to have them from you."