Miss Sherwood, in her easy possession of the situation, banished Dick
with "Run away for a while, Dick, and give us two women a chance to
get acquainted." She had caught Maggie's embarrassment, and led her to
a corner of the veranda which looked down upon the gardens and the
glistering Sound. She spoke of the impersonal beauties spread before
their vision, until she judged that Maggie's first flutter had abated;
then she led the way to wicker chairs beside a table where obviously
tea was to be spread.
Miss Sherwood accepted Maggie for exactly what she seemed to be; and
presently she was saying in a low voice, with her smiling, unoffending
directness:
"Excuse the liberty of an older woman, Miss Cameron--but I don't
wonder that Dick likes you. You see, he's told me."
If Maggie had been at loss for her cue before, she had it now. It was
unpretentiousness.
"But, Miss Sherwood--I'm so crude," she faltered, acting her best.
"Out West I never had any chances to learn. Not any chances like your
Eastern girls."
"That's no difference, my dear. You are a nice, simple girl--that's
what counts!"
"Thank you," said Maggie.
"So few of our rich girls of the East know what it is to be simple,"
continued Miss Sherwood. "Too many are all affectation, and pose, and
forwardness.
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