A PLAN. 
421 
the girls were to return to Boston when 
their cousins went to school. 
Antoinette and Annie walked along for 
some distance very quietly, the one alto¬ 
gether silent, the other wondering what her 
cousin could have to say to her and when 
she was going to begin. It was not till 
they had climbed over a stile and entered 
upon a path which led “ across lots” and 
considerably shortened the way to the vil¬ 
lage that Antoinette opened the subject. 
“ Annie-” said she, and stopped. 
“ Well?” said Annie, after waiting a little. 
“ I wish-” Another pause. 
“I wish you would begin,” said Annie, 
smiling: “we shall be-at the village before 
you have made up your mind to open your 
mouth, and your great secret will remain 
untold.” 
“ It is no great secret, nor any secret at 
all,” replied Antoinette,—“ though I did not 
want to speak to Matilda till I had talked to 
y 0U -” She made another little pause, and 
then said, abruptly, “ Annie, I wish I could 
stay here this winter instead of going home 
and beginning school again. I don’t know 
36 
