CHAPTER XX THE LURE OF BOARDING SCHOOL
“And they called you Mary Mears?” repeated Mrs. Corday, with evident recognition of the girl standing there.
“Yes. Dear mother said I might choose a name; she had chosen hers,” said Mary faintly.
“That was like her—the dear woman. She was so loving, so gentle,” Mrs. Corday’s blonde head rested upon the capable hands, the same hands that for years had guided the destiny of marvellous wardrobes for the women riders of Corday’s Equine Troupe. Mrs. Corday was plainly overcome. “And,” she continued presently, “there was not in our troupe, ever, a woman who could ride like Yvette Duval.”
“Your mother? I often heard dad——”
“Yes, my mother,” said Mary. “But I was ashamed of the circus!”
“Circus!” echoed Mrs. Corday. “Our troupe was no circus. It was
