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d with herself； yes； the thing that was not quite right was her own stupid shape。 Her figure was too square； her back was too short； her hands too large。 She had a moment of acute disgust with herself so that she could have torn the dress from her and rushed into her old obscure and dingy black again。 Of what use to dress her up？ She would always look wrong； always be awkward and ungainly 。 。 。 tears of disappointment gathered slowly in her eyes。 Then her pride reasserted itself； she raised her head proudly and laughed at her anxious gaze。 There was still her new hat。 She took it from the bed and put it on； sticking big pins into it； moving back from the mirror； then forward again； turning her back； standing on her toes； suddenly bowing to herself and waving her hand。
She was caught thus； laughing into the mirror； by old Martha； who pushed her sour face through the door and said： 〃They've been waiting this long time for you； Miss。〃
〃All right； Martha；〃 Maggie answered sharply； annoyed that she should be found； posturing and bowing； by the woman。 〃Why didn't you knock？〃
〃I did knock； Miss。 You were that occupied you didn't hear me。〃 The old woman was grinning。
Maggie went downstairs； her heart still beating； her cheeks still flushed。 She did hope that Aunt Anne would be pleased。 Aunt Anne； although she never said anything about clothes； must； of course； notice such things； and if she loved Maggie as Mr。 Magnus said she did； then she would 〃show her approval。〃 The girl stood for a moment on the bottom step of the staircase looking at her aunt who was waiting for her in the little dark hall。
〃Well； dearI'm waiting；〃 she said。
The burning eyes of Thomas the cat watched from the deep shadows。
〃I'm so sorry。 I was dressing；〃 said Maggie。
Her aunt said nothing more and they left the house。
Maggie； as always when she walked with Aunt Anne； was aware that they made a strange couple； she so short and the other so tall； she with her sturdy masculine walk； her aunt with her awkward halting movement。 They went in silence。
Maggie longed for a word of approval； a short sentence such as 〃How nice you're looking； Maggie；〃 or 〃I like your dress； Maggie；〃 or 〃That's a new dress； dearI like it；〃 would be enough。 After that Maggie felt that she could face a multitude of wild and savage Warlocks； that she could walk into the Warlock drawing…room with a fine brave carriage； above all； that she would feel a sudden warm affection for her aunt that would make all their future life together easy。
But Aunt Anne said nothing。 She looked exactly as she had looked upon her first appearance at St。 Dreots； so thin and tall； with her pale tapering face and her eyes staring before her as though they saw nothing。
Maggie； as they turned up into Garrick Street； said：
〃I hope you like my new dress； aunt。〃
Aunt Anne turned to her for a moment； smiled gently and then vaguely； as though her mind were elsewhere； answered：
〃I liked your old dress better； dear。〃
Maggie's face flamed； her temper flared into her eyes。 For a moment she had wild thoughts of breaking into open rebellion。 She hated her dress； she hated London； above all； she hated Aunt Anne。 That lady's happy unconsciousness that anything had occurred drove the girl into furious irritation。 Well； it was hopeless then； Mr。 Magnus could say what he pleased； her aunt did not care for hershe would not mind did she fall dead in the street before her。 The words in Maggie's mind were： 〃You don't look at me。 I'm not a human being to you at all。 But I won't live with you。 I'll go my own way。 You can't keep me if you never speak to me nor think of me。〃 But in some dark fashion that strange impassivity held her。 Aunt Anne had her power 。 。 。
They climbed the dim crooked staircase behind the antiquary's wall。 They rang the Warlock bell and were admitted。 Maggie did not know what it was that she had expected； but it was certainly not the pink； warm room of Mrs。 Warlock。
The heavy softly closing door hemmed them in； the silent carpet folded about their steps； the canary twittered； the fire spurted and crackled。 But at once the girl's heart went out to old Mrs。 Warlock； she looked so charming in her white cap and blue bow； her eyes were raised so gently to Maggie's face and her little hand was so soft and warm。
The meeting between Anne Cardinal and Mrs。 Warlock was very gracious。 Aunt Anne gravely pressed the old lady's hand； looked at her with her grave distant eyes； then very carefully and delicately sat down。
Amy Warlock came in； Maggie had met her before and disliked her。 Conversation dealt decently and carefully with the weather； the canary and Maggie's discovery of London。 Maggie was compelled to confess that she was afraid that she had not discovered London at all。 She felt Amy Warlock's sharp eyes upon them all and； as always when she was in company that was； she thought； suspicious of her； she became hot and uncomfortable； she frowned and spoke in short； almost hostile； sentences。
〃They're laughing at my new clothes；〃 she thought； 〃I wish I'd worn my old ones 。 。 。 and anyway these hurt me。〃 She sat up very stiffly； her hands on her lap； her eyes staring at the little bright water…colour on the wall opposite。 Mrs。 Warlock； like a trickling； dancing brook； continued her talk：
〃Of course there's the country。 I was brought up as a girl just outside Salisbury 。 。 。 So many； many years agoI always tell my boy that I'm such an old woman now that I don't belong to his world at all。 Just to sit here and see the younger generation go past。 Don't regret your youth； Miss Cardinal。 You'll want it back again one day。 I said to Martin only yesterday 。 。 。〃
Neither Aunt Anne nor Amy Warlock had anything to say； so that quite suddenly on the entrance of tea； conversation dropped。 They all sat there and looked at one another。 There was a large silver tray with silver tea…things upon it and a fat swelling china dish that held hot buttered toast。 There was a standing wicker pyramid containing bread and butter； plates of little yellow and red cakes； shortbread and very heavy plum cake black with currants。
Mrs。 Warlock had ceased all conversation； her eyes were fixed upon the preparations for tea。 The door opened and John Warlock and his son came in。
Maggie's eyes lighted when she saw Martin Warlock。 She behaved as she might have done had she been in her own room at St。 Dreots。 She sprang up from her chair and stood there； smiling； waiting for him。 First his father shook hands with her； then Martin came and stood beside her； laughing。
His face was flushed and he seemed excited about something； but she felt nothing save her pleasure at meeting him； and it was only when he had moved on to her aunt that she was conscious once more of Amy Warlock's eyes； and wondered whether she had behaved badly in jumping up to meet him。
As she considered this her anger and her confusion at her anger increased。 She saw that Martin was talking to her aunt and did not look at her。 Perhaps he also had thought her forward； of course that horrid sister of his would think everything that she did wrong。 But did he？ Surely he understood。 She wanted to ask him and then wanted to go home a