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y occupied with the personal safety and happiness of her aunt to have leisure for many observations。
Aunt Elizabeth always started upon her shopping expeditions with the conviction that something terrible was about to happen； and the expectation of this overwhelming catastrophe paralysed her nerves。 Maggie wondered how it could have been with her when she had ventured forth alone。 She would stand in the middle of the street hesitating as to the right omnibus for her to take； she was often uncertain of the direction in which she should go。 She would wave her umbrella at an omnibus； and then when it began to slacken in answer to her appeal； would discover that it was not the one that she needed； and would wave her umbrella furiously once more。 Then when at last she had mounted the vehicle she would flood the conductor with a stream of little questions； darting her eyes angrily at all her neighbours as though they were gathered there together to murder her at the earliest opportunity。 She would be desperately confused when asked to pay for her ticket； would be unable to find her purse； and then when she discovered it would scatter its contents upon the ground。 In such an agony would she be at the threatened passing of her destination that she would spring up at every pause of the omnibus； striking her nearest neighbour's eye or nose with her umbrella； apologising nervously； and then； because she thought she had been too forward with a stranger； staring fiercely about her and daring any one to speak to her。 Upon the day that she visited Harrods' she spent the greater part of her time in the lift because she always wished to be somewhere where she was not； and because it always went up when she wished it to go down and down when she wished it to go up。 Maggie； upon this eventful occasion； did her best； but she also was bewildered； and wondered how any of the attendants found their way home at night。 Before the end of the afternoon Aunt Elizabeth was not far from tears。 〃It isn't cutlery we want。 I told the man that it was saucepans。 They pay us no attention at all。 You aren't any help to me； Maggie。〃 They arrived in a room filled with performing gramophones。 This was the final blow。 Aunt Elizabeth； trembling all over； refused either to advance or retreat。 〃Will you please；〃 said Maggie very firmly to a beautifully clothed young man with hair like a looking…glass； 〃show us the way to the street？〃 He very kindly showed them； and it was not until they were in the homeward omnibus that Aunt Elizabeth discovered that she had bought nothing at all。
Nevertheless； although Maggie collected but little interesting detail from these occasions； she did gather a fine general impression of whirling movement and adventure。 One day she would plunge into itmeanwhile it was better that she should move slowly and assemble gradual impressions。 The solid caution that was mingled in her nature with passionate feeling and enthusiasm taught her admirable wisdom。 Aunt Anne； it seemed； never moved beyond the small radius of her home and the Chapel。 She attended continually Bible… meetings； prayer…meetings； Chapel services。 She had one or two intimate friends； a simple and devout old maid called Miss Pyncheon； Mr。 Magnus； whom Maggie had seen on the day of her arrival； Mr。 Thurston； to whom Maggie had taken an instant dislike； and Amy Warlock。 She visited these people and they visited her； for the rest she seemed to take no exercise； and her declared love for the country did not lead her into the Parks。 She was more silent； if possible； than she had been at St。 Dreots； and read to herself a great deal in the dark and melancholy drawing…room。 Although she talked very little to Maggie； the girl fancied that her eye was always upon her。 There was a strange attitude of watchfulness in her silent withdrawal from her scene as though she had retired simply because she could see the better from a distance。
She liked Maggie to read the Bible to her； and for an hour of every evening Maggie did this。 For some reason the girl greatly disliked this hour and dreaded its approach。 It was perhaps because it seemed to bring before her the figure of her father； the words as they fell from her lips seemed to be repeated by him as he stood behind her。 Nothing was more unexpected by her than the way that those last days at St。 Dreots crowded about her。 They should surely have been killed by the colours and interests of this new life。 It appeared that they were only accentuated by them。 Especially did she see that night when she had watched beside her father's dead body 。 。 。 she saw the stirring of the beard； the shape of the feet beneath the sheet； the flicker of the candle。 Apart from this one hour of the day； however； she was happy； excited； expectant。 What it was that she expected she did not exactly know； but there were so many things that life might now do for her。 One thing that very evidently it did not intend to do for her was to make her tidy； careful； and a good manager。 Old Martha； the Cardinal servant； was her sworn enemy； and； indeed； with reason。 It seemed that Maggie could not remember the things that she was told： lighted lamps were left long after they should have been extinguished； one night the bathroom was drowned in water by a running tap； her clothes were not mended； she was never punctual at meal…times。 And yet no one could call her a dreamy child。 She could； about things that interested her； be remarkably sharp and penetrating。 She had a swift and often successful intuition about characters； facts and details about places or people she never forgot。 She had a hard； severe； entirely masculine sense of independence； an ironic contempt for sentimentality； a warm； ardent loyalty and simplicity in friendship。 Her carelessness in all the details of life sprang from her long muddled years at St。 Dreots； the lack of a mother's guidance and education； the careless selfishness of her father's disregard of her。 She struggled； poor child； passionately to improve herself。 She sat for hours in her room working at her clothes； trying to mend her stockings； the holes in her blouses； the rip of the braid at the bottom of her skirt。 She waited listening for the cuckoo to call that she might be in exact time for luncheon or dinner； and then； as she listened； some thought would occur to her； and； although she did not dream； her definite tracking of her idea would lead her to forget all time。 Soon there would be Martha's knock on the door and her surly ill…tempered voice：
〃Quarter of an hour they've been sitting at luncheon； Miss。〃
And her clothes！ The aunts had said that she must buy what was necessary； and she had gone with Aunt Elizabeth to choose all the right things。 They had； between them； bought all the wrong ones。 Maggie had no idea of whether or no something suited her； a dress； a hat that would look charming upon any one else looked terrible upon her； she did not know what was the matter； but nothing became her！
Her new friend； Caroline Smith； laughing and chattering； tried to help her。 Caroline had very definite ideas about dress； and indeed spent the majority of her waking hours in contemplation of that subject。 But she had never； she declared； been