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〃Mr。 Crashaw's coming to tea this afternoon；〃 she concluded。
〃That's why Anne's staying in bedto be well enough。〃 The stocking and Mr。 Crashaw dimmed a little of the morning's radiance； but behind them was the thought； 〃Martin must come to…day。 It was like a message his look last night。〃 She even sang to herself as she scrubbed at the silver。
They spent a domestic morning。 Aunt Elizabeth did not go for her walk； but instead stayed in the dining…room and； seated at the end of the long dining…table； her head just appearing above the worn and soiled green table…cloth； tried to discipline the week's household accounts。 She worked sucking one finger after another and poking her pencil into her ears。
〃One pound； three shillingsham； ham； ham？〃
At one moment she invited the cook to assist her； and that lady； crimson from the kitchen fire； bared arms akimbo； stated that she was not only the most economical woman in London； but was also； thanks to her upbringing； one of the most sober and virtuous； and if Miss Cardinal had anything to say against
Oh no！ Aunt Elizabeth had nothing to say against； only this one pound； three shillings
Well； the cook couldn't help that； she wasn't one to let a penny out of her fingers where it shouldn't go。
So the morning hummed along； luncheon…time came； the silver was all cleaned； the stockings changed； and there was roast chicken。 Thomas； with his wicked eyes； came slowly； majestically upon the scenebut even he was not sinister to…day； being interested in his own greed rather than other persons' sins。
All this time Maggie refused to think。 Martin would come； then she would see。
Martin 。 。 。 Martin 。 。 。 Martin 。 。 。 She went up into her bedroom and whispered the name over and over to herself whilst she tried to mend her stocking。 She flung the stocking down and gazed out of the window on to a world that was all golden cloud and racing watery blue。 The roofs swam like floating carpets in the sun； detached from the brick and mortar beneath them； carried by the racing clouds。 It was only at that sudden gaze that she realised that she was a prisoner。 All her alarm came back to her。
〃Why can't I go out？ I'll put on my hat and just walk out。 No one can stop me。 No one 。 。 。〃
But she knew that she could not。 Something more must happen first。 She turned from the window with a little shudder； finished very clumsily her stocking； and as the cuckoo clock struck halfpast three went down to the drawing…room。
There to her surprise； she found Caroline Smith。 The events of the last few days had； a little； dimmed Caroline from her memory。 She had not seen Caroline for a fortnight。 She did not know that she especially wanted to see Caroline now。 However； it was very certain that Caroline wanted to see her。 The young woman was dressed in rose…coloured silk that stood out from her slim body almost like a crinoline； and she had a straw funnel…shaped hat with roses perched on the side of her lovely head。 She kissed Maggie many times； and then sitting down with her little sharp black shoes poked out in front of her； she ran on：
〃It's been too bad； Maggie； dear； it's simply ages since we had a moment； isn't it； but it hasn't been my fault。 Father's been ill bronchitisand I've had to help Mother。 Father's been so happy； he's just been able to lie in bed for days and think about God。 None of those tiresome people at the Bank to interrupt him； and chicken and jelly as much as he liked。 He was so unhappy yesterday when he had to go back to work； poor dear 。 。 。 But； Maggie； I hear you were at the service last night。 How did you like it？〃
〃Like it？〃 said Maggie。 〃I don't know that it's a thing one likes； exactly。〃
〃Doesn't one？ I don't know。 I'm not one of the Inside Saints； you know； and I wouldn't be if they wanted me to he。 But you're one now； they say； and I never would have thought it。 You don't look a bit like one； and I shouldn't have dreamt that you'd ever stand that sort of thing。 You look so matter…of…fact。〃
Maggie was on the point of bursting out that she was not an Inside Saint； and would never be one； when caution restrained her。 She had learnt already that her gay young companion was not as trustworthy as best friends ought to be。
〃It was the first time； last night；〃 she said。
〃Yes； I know； and Miss Cardinal was ill and had to come away in the middle； didn't she？ It must have been a simply awful meeting； because Mother came back as limp as anything。 She'd been crying buckets； and has a dreadful headache to…day。 I suppose Mr。 Crashaw gave it them。 I've never heard him； but I've seen him。 Horrid old monkeyI hope Miss Cardinal's better to…day。〃
〃Yes； thank you；〃 said Maggie。 〃She's better。〃
〃Well； that's a good thing。 I'm so glad。 And you； you darling； what did you think of it all？ I'm sure you didn't cry buckets。 I can see you sitting there as quiet as anything； like a little Quaker。 I'd like to have gone just to have seen you。 I hear Martin Warlock was there too。 Was he？〃
〃He was；〃 said Maggie。
〃Fancy that！ I wonder what he went for。 His father made him； I expect。 You know they say he's getting on awfully badly at home and that there are quarrels all the time。 I don't know； of course； but his sister can't stand him。 She's always showing her feelingsnot very good taste； I think； but Mr。 Thurston eggs her on。 They'll be making a match of it one day； those two 。 。 。 I say； Maggie〃 Caroline drew her chair close。 〃I'll give you a secret。 You won't tell any one； will you？〃
〃Certainly notif you tell me not to；〃 said Maggie。
〃Well； Martin Warlock and Iever since he came back。 Oh！ I don't say it's anything really。 But he's attracted by me and would like to go farther。 He'll be asking me to marry him one of these days； and then I'll have fun。 He would have done the other day if I'd let him。 I like him rather； don't you？ He's getting a bit fat； of course； but he's got nice eyes； and then he's a real man。 I like real men。 But there； you'll be thinking me coarse； I know you will。 I'm not coarse really； only impulsive。 You don't like me； honestly； if it were known。 Oh no！ you don't！ I can tell。 I always know。 But I don't careI love you。 You're a darlingand what I say is if you love some one； just love them。 Never mind what they think。 Don't you agree with me？ But you wouldn't。 You wouldn't think of loving anybody。 But I'm not really badonly careless； Mother says〃
What Mother said could not be known； because the door opened and Martha announced Mr。 Crashaw。 The old man； leaning on a walking stick； came forward and greeted Maggie and Caroline with good…temper and amiability。 He was indeed in day…time a very mild old man； and it was difficult for Maggie to believe that this was the same who last night had frightened her out of her wits and led her to the edge of such strange suspicions。 He was more than ever like a monkey； with his bony brown forehead； protuberant eyes and large mottled nose； and he sat there all huddled up by his rheumatism； a living example of present physical torments rather than future spiritual ones。 It was apparent at once that he liked pretty young women； and he paid Caroline a number of flattering attentions； disregarding Maggie with a f