I'll give you anything but my freedom."
"You talk so strangely, dear," said Aunt Elizabeth."But there are so many things I don't understand."Maggie took the letter up to her bedroom and there read it a number of times.It all seemed wonderful to her, the stamped blue address, the rich white square notepaper, and above all the beautiful handwriting.She thought of her own childish scrawl and blushed, she even sat down, there and then, at her dressing-table and, with a pencil, began to imitate some of the letters.
On Friday! To-day was Tuesday.Bryanston Square.Wherever was Bryanston Square, and how would she find it? She determined to ask Caroline Smith.
She had not long to wait for her opportunity.On Wednesday evening about half-past five Miss Smith poked her head into the Cardinal drawing-room to discover Maggie sitting with her hands on her lap looking down on to the street.
"Are your aunts anywhere?" asked Caroline.
"No," said Maggie."Aunt Anne's in bed and Aunt Elizabeth's at Miss Pyncheon's.""That's right," said Caroline, "because I haven't seen you, darling, for ages.""The day before yesterday," said Maggie.
"You're a literal pet," said Caroline kissing her."I always exaggerate, of course, and it's so sweet of you to tell me about it." She rushed off to the fire and spread out her blue skirt and dangled her feet.
"Isn't it cold and dark? You funny dear, not to have the blinds down and to sit staring into the beastly street like that...I believe you're in love."Maggie came to herself with a start, got up and slowly went over to the fire.
"Caroline, where's Bryanston Square?"