Page:What Maisie Knew (Chicago & New York, Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1897).djvu/40

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WHAT MAISIE KNEW

Farange. She had struggled for three days, then she had come straight to Maisie's papa and told him the simple truth. She adored his daughter; she couldn't give her up; she would make any sacrifice for her. On this basis it had been arranged that she should stay; her courage had been rewarded; she left Maisie in no doubt as to the amount of courage she had required. Some of the things she said made a particular impression on the child—her declaration, for instance, that when her pupil should get older she would understand better just how "dreadfully bold" a young lady, to do exactly what she had done, had to be.

"Fortunately your papa appreciates it; he appreciates it immensely"—that was one of the things Miss Overmore also said, with a striking insistence on the adverb. Maisie herself was no less impressed with what her friend had gone through, especially after hearing of the terrible letter that had come from Mrs. Farange. Mamma had been so angry that, in Miss Overmore's own words, she had loaded her with insult—proof enough indeed that they must never look forward to being together again under mamma's roof. Mamma's roof, however,