other. But then, if, by any
chance, Maggie's letter got into the hands of Bo-peep, his wrath would
be so great that he would, in all probability, take her from the
school at once. What was to be done? Poor Maggie felt herself between
two fires. In either direction was danger. On the whole, she resolved
to throw herself on her mother's mercy. Mrs. Martin, as she was now,
would much prefer Maggie to remain at school, and she might be clever
enough to keep Maggie's stepfather from putting in an appearance at
Aylmer House.

Maggie wrote a short and frantic letter. She was in the midst of it
when there came a tap at her room-door.

"It's I, Maggie," said Miss Johnson's voice from without. "Your light
is still burning; you ought to be in bed."

Maggie flew and opened the door. "I am sorry," she said. "I was a good
deal upset about those detestable clothes. I am writing to my mother.
Please, Lucy, let me finish the letter. When it's done--and I won't be
a minute longer--I'll put it in the post-box myself, so that it can go
by the first post in the morning."

"Very well, dear," said Lucy, who was too kind not to be good to any
girl in the school; "only be quick, Maggie," she said, "for you know
you are breaking the rules."

"Yes! oh yes!" said Maggie; "and I will never do it again."

Miss Johnson left her, and Maggie flew back to bend over her paper and
continue her writing:

"Darling, you must not let him come here. He threatens to come,
but you must keep him away. All will be up with me if he is seen
at the school. I beseech of you have a little mercy on me. For
the sake of my own father, keep him--do keep him--from Aylmer
House.--Your distracted daughter,

"MAGGIE HOWLAND."

This letter was addressed to Mrs. Martin (spelt this time with an
"i"), Laburnum Villa, Clapham. Maggie stamped it, and, flying
downstairs, popped it into the box which held the letters.

CHAPTER XX.

THE VILLA.

Laburnum Villa, in the suburb of Clapham, was, in the new Mrs.
Martin's eyes, quite a delightful place. She had never appreciated her
first husband, Professor Howland, but she thoroughly appreciated
Bo-peep, and after her own fashion was fond of him. He gave her
comforts. She had lived so long without comforts that she appreciated
these good things of life to the full. She had never really been much
attached to Maggie, who was too like her own father and too unlik