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d her cheek with crimson。 Then Aunt Anne； very tenderly； put her hand on her shoulder。
〃Will you really do anythingfor me； Maggiefor me？〃 Her voice was gentle and her eyes had tears in them。 〃If you willthere are things very close to my heart〃
Maggie turned away； trembling。 She hung her head； then with a sudden movement walked to the door。
〃You must tell me；〃 she said； 〃what you want。 I'll tryI don't understand。〃
Then as though she was aware that she was fighting the whole room which had already almost entrapped her and that the fight was too much for her； she went。
When she came to her own room and thought about her invitation she wished； with a sudden change of mood； that she had a pretty frock or two。 She would have loved to have been grand to…night； and now the best that she could do was to add her coral necklace and a little gold brooch that years ago her father had given her； to the black dress that she was already wearing。 She realised； with a strange little pang of loneliness； that she had not had one evening's fun since her arrival in Londonno； not oneand she would not have captured to…night had Aunt Anne been able to prevent it。
Then as her mind returned back to her uncle she felt with a throb of excited anticipation that perhaps after all this evening was to prove the turning…point of her life。 Her little escape into the streets； her posting of the letter； had been followed so immediately by Uncle Mathew's visit； and now this invitation！
〃No one can keep me if I want to go；〃 and the old cuckoo…clock outside seemed to tick in reply：
〃Can no one keep her if she wants to go？〃
She finished her preparations； as she fastened the coral necklace round her neck the face of Martin Warlock was suddenly before her。 He had been perhaps at her elbow all day。
〃I like him and I think he likes me；〃 she said to the mirror。 〃I've got one friend；〃 and her thought still further was that even if he didn't like her he couldn't prevent her liking him。
She went down to the drawing…room and found Uncle Mathew； alone； waiting for her。
〃Here I am； Maggie；〃 he said。 〃And let's get out of this as quick as we can。〃
〃I must go and say good…night to the aunts；〃 she said。
She went upstairs to Aunt Anne's bedroom。 Entering it was always to her like passing into a shadowed church after the hot sunshinethe long； thin room with high slender windows； the long hard bed； of the most perfect whiteness and neatness； the heavy black…framed picture of 〃The Ascension〃 over the bed； and the utter stillness broken by no sound of clock or belleven the fire seemed frozen into a glassy purity in the grate。
Her aunt was sitting； as so often Maggie found her； in a stiff… backed chair； her hands folded on her lap； staring in front of her。 Her eyes were like the open eyes of a dead woman； it was as though； with a great effort of almost desperate concentration； she were driving her vision against some obstinate world of opposition； and the whole of life had meanwhile stayed to watch the issue。
A thin pale light from some street lamp lay； a faintly golden shadow； across the white ceiling。
Maggie stood by the door。
〃I've come to say good…night； aunt。〃
〃Ah； Maggie dear； is that you？〃 The pale oval face turned towards her。
〃You won't be very late； will you？〃
〃Hadn't I better have a key； not to bother Martha？〃
〃Oh； Martha won't have gone to bed。〃
Maggie felt as though her whole evening would be spoilt did she know that Martha was waiting for her at the end of it。
〃Oh； but it will be such a pity〃
〃Martha will let you in； dear。 Come and kiss me； I hope that you'll enjoy yourself。〃
And then the strangest thing happened。 Maggie bent down。 She felt a tear upon her cheek and then the thin strong arms held her； for an instant； in an almost threatening embrace。
〃Good…night； dear aunt；〃 she said； but； outside the room； she had to stand for a moment in the dark passage to regain her control； her heart was beating with wild unreasoning terror。 Although she had brushed her cheek with her hand the cold touch of the tears still lingered there。
Outside the house they were free。 It looked so close and dark behind them that Maggie shivered a little and put her arm through her uncle's。
〃That's all right；〃 he said； patting her hand。 〃We're going to enjoy ourselves。〃
She looked up and saw Martin Warlock facing her。 The unexpected meeting held both of them silent for a moment。 To her it seemed that he had risen out of the very stones of the pavement； at her bidding； to make her evening wonderful。 He looked so strong； so square； so solid after the phantom imaginations of the house that she had left； that the sight of him was a step straight into the heart of comfort and reassurance。
〃I was just coming；〃 he said； looking at her； 〃to leave a note for Miss Cardinalfrom my father〃
〃She's in；〃 Maggie said。
〃Oh； it wasn't to bother heronly to leave the note。 About some meeting； I think。〃
〃We're just going out。 This is my uncleMr。 Warlock。〃
The two men shook hands。
Mathew Cardinal smiled。 His eyes closed； his greeting had an urgency in it as though he had suddenly made some discovery that gratified and amused him。 〃Very glad to meet youvery glad； indeed； sir。 Any friend of my niece's。 I know your father； sir； know him and admire him。〃
They all turned down the street together。 Uncle Mathew talked； and then； quite suddenly； stopping under a lamp…post as though within the circle of light his charm were stronger； he said：
〃I suppose； Mr。 Warlock； you wouldn't do me the great； the extreme； honour of dining with myself and my niece at my humble little inn to…night？ A little suddenI hope you'll forgive the discourtesy but knowing your father〃
Martin looked straight into Maggie's eyes。
〃Oh； please do！〃 she said； her heart beating； as it seemed； against her eyes so that she dropped them。
〃Well〃 he hesitated。 〃It's very good of you； Mr。 Cardinalvery kind。 As a matter of fact I was going to dine alone to…nightjust a chop； you know； somewhereif it's really not inconvenient I'll be delighted〃
They walked on together。
As they passed into Garrick Street； she knew that she had never in all her life been so glad to be with any one； that she had never so completely trusted any one； that she would like to be with him often； to look after him； perhaps； and to be looked after by him。
Her feeling for him was almost sexless； because she had never thought； as most girls do； of love and the intrigue and coquetry of love。 She was so simple as to be shameless； and at once； if he had asked her then in the street to marry him she would have said yes without hesitation or fear； or any analysis。 She would like to look after him as well as herselfthere were things she was sure that she could do for himand she would be no burden to him because she intended； in any case； to lead her own life。 She would simply lead it with a companion instead of without one。
He must have felt as he walked with her this trust and simplicity。 She was certainly the most extraordinary girl whom he had ever met； and he'd met a number 。 。 。
He could believe every word she said； he had never known any one so direct and simple and