"I knew you would, my dear.

I knew you wouldn't be able to stand it ...

I'll get you out of it ...
Trust me!" The door opened and Aunt Anne came in.

She had been prepared by Martha for her visitor, and she came forward to him now with the dignity and kindly patronage of some lady abbess receiving the miscreant and boorish yokel of a neighbouring village.

And yet how fine she was! As Maggie watched her, she thought of what she would give to have some of that self-command and dignity and decision.