"Why?" said Maggie; then she restrained herself, knowing that it was not her place to speak.
"They have gone to town," said Merry, scarcely looking at Maggie now, and endeavoring with all her might and main not to show undue excitement, "because a great and wonderful thing has happened; something so unexpected that--that Cicely and I can scarcely believe it."
Maggie glanced at the sweet little faces. She said to herself, "All right," and got calmly into the wagonette, where she sat close under the box-seat which contained those obstreperous young heroes Andrew and Jack. The others clustered round Merry.
"As I said, I can scarcely believe it," said Merry; "but father has done the most marvelous thing. Oh Belle! oh Molly! it is too wonderful! For after all--after all, Cicely and I are to go with you to Aylmer House in September, and--and--that is why father and mother have gone to town. Father went up yesterday and saw Mrs. Ward, and he--he settled it; and father and mother have gone up to-day--both of them--to see her, and to make final arrangements. And we're to go! we're to _go_!"
"Hurrah!" cried Molly. Immediately the boys, and Maggie and Belle, and even Mr. and Mrs. Tristram, took up the glad "Hurrah!"
"Well, children," said Mr. Tristram when the first excitement had subsided, "I must say I am heartily pleased. This is delightful! I take some credit to myself for having helped on this most excellent arrangement."
"No one thanks me for anything," thought Maggie; but she had the prudence to remain silent.
"We had better start on our picnic now," said Mr. Tristram, and immediately the whole party climbed into the wagonette. The horses started; the wheels rolled. They were off.
By-and-by Merry felt her hand taken by Maggie. Maggie just squeezed that hand, and whispered in that very, very rich and wonderfully seductive voice of hers, "Oh, I am glad! I am very, very glad!"
Merry felt her heart thrill as Maggie uttered those words. She answered back, turning her face to her young companion, "To be with you alone would be happiness enough for me."
"Is it true, Cicely," said Mrs. Tristram at the moment, "that your cousin, Aneta Lysle, is coming to stay with you?"
"Oh yes; but I had half-forgotten it in all this excitement," said Cicely. "She will arrive to-morrow.--Maggie, you'll be glad, won't you?"