"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."