"It will not be necessary," he said, "for you to enlighten the

citizens of New York with regard to Maddy's position. She goes there

as Jessie's equal, and as such her wardrobe must be suitable."

No one could live long with Maddy Clyde without becoming interested in

her, and in spite of herself Agnes' dislike was wearing away,

particularly as of late she had seen no signs of special attention on

the doctor's part. He had gotten over his weakness, she thought, and

so was very gracious toward Maddy, who, naturally forgiving, began to

like her better than she had ever dreamed it possible for her to like

so proud and haughty a woman. Down at the cottage in Honedale there

were many consultations held and many fears expressed by the aged

couple as to what would be the result of all Guy was doing for their

child. Womanlike, Grandma Markham felt a flutter of pride in thinking

that Maddy was going to school in a big city like New York. It gave

her something to talk about with her less fortunate neighbors, who

wondered, and gossiped, and envied, but could not bring themselves to

feel unkindly toward the girl Maddy, who had grown up in their midst,

and who as yet was wholly unchanged by prosperity. Grandpa Markham, on

the contrary, though pleased that Maddy should have every opportunity

for acquiring the education she so much desired, was fearful of the

result--fearful that there might come a time when his darling would

shrink from the relations to whom she was as sunshine to the flowers.

He knew that the difference between Aikenside and the cottage must

strike her unpleasantly every time she came home, and he did not blame

her for her always apparent readiness to go back. That was natural, he

thought, but a life in New York, that great city which to the simple-

hearted old man seemed a very Babylon of iniquity, was different, and

for a time he demurred to sending her there. But Guy persuaded him,

and when he heard that Agnes was going, too, he consented, for he had

faith in Agnes as a protector. Maddy had never told him of the scene

which followed that lady's return from Saratoga. Indeed, Maddy never

told anything but good of Aikenside or its inmates, and so Mrs. Agnes

came in for a share of the old people's gratitude, while even Uncle

Joseph, hearing daily a prayer for the "young madam," as grandpa

termed her, learned to pray for her himself, coupling her name with

that of Sarah, and asking in his crazy way that God would "forgive

Sarah" first, and then "bless the madam--the madam--the madam."




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