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ts at laughing at herself rescued her from some of the more incredible of these pictures。 Nevertheless the uncertainty remained and only increased her loneliness。 Had Martin been there in five minutes they would； together； have chased all these ghosts away。 But he was not there。 And at the thought of him she would have to set her mouth very firmly； indeed； to prevent her lips from trembling。 She took out her ring and kissed it； and looked at the already tattered copy of the programme of the play to which they had been； and recalled every minute of their walks together。
Christmas Day was a very miserable affair。 There were no presents and no festivities。 They went to Chapel and Mr。 Thurston preached the sermon。 Maggie did； however； receive one letter。 It was from Uncle Mathew。 He wrote to her from some town in the north。 He didn't seem very happy； and asked her whether she could possibly lend him five pounds。 Alluding with a characteristic vagueness to 〃business plans of the first importance that were likely to mature very shortly。〃
She told Aunt Anne that she wanted five pounds of her money； but she did not say for what she needed them。
Aunt Anne gave her the money at once without a wordas though she said： 〃We have given up all control of you except to see that you behave decently whilst you are still with us。〃
When the fog arrived it seemed to penetrate every nook and corner of the house。 The daily afternoon walk that Maggie took with Aunt Elizabeth was cancelled because of the difficulty of finding one's way from street to street and 〃because some rude man might steal one's money in the darkness；〃 and Maggie was not sorry。 Those walks had not been amusing； Aunt Elizabeth having nothing to say and being fully occupied with keeping an eye on Maggie； her idea apparently being that the girl would suddenly dash off to freedom and wickedness and be lost for ever。 Maggie had no such intention and developed during these weeks a queer motherly affection for both the aunts； so lost they were and helpless and ignorant of the world！ 〃My dear；〃 said Maggie to herself； 〃you're a bit of a fool as far as common…sense goes； but you're nothing to what they are； poor dears。〃 She tried to improve herself in every way for their benefit； but her memory was no better。 She forgot all the things that were； in their eyes； the most importantclosing doors； punctuality for meals； neat stitches； careful putting away of books and clothes。
Once； during a walk； she said to Aunt Elizabeth：
〃I am trying； Aunt Elizabeth。 Do you think Aunt Anne sees any improvement？〃
And all Aunt Elizabeth said was：
〃It was a great shock to her； what you did。 Maggiea great shock indeed！〃
When the last day of the year arrived Maggie was surprised at the strange excitement that she felt。 It was excitement； not only because of the dim mysterious events that the evening promised； but also because she was sure that this day would settle the loneliness of herself and Martin。 After this they would know where they stood and what they must do。 Old Warlock loomed in front of her as the very arbiter of her destiny。 On his action everything turned。 Oh！ if only after this he were well enough for Martin to be happy and at ease about him！ She was tempted to hate him as she thought of all the trouble that he had made for her。 Then her mind went back to that first day long ago when he had spoken to her so kindly and bidden her come and see him as often as she could。 How little she had known then what the future held for her！ And now around his tall mysterious figure not only her own fate but that of every one else seemed to hang。 Her aunts； Amy； Miss Pyncheon； Miss Avies； Thurston； that strange girl at the meeting； with them all his destiny was involved and they with his。
As the day advanced and the silver fog blew in little gusts about the house； making now this corner now that obscure； drifting； so that suddenly； when the door opened； the whole passage seemed full of smoke； clearing； for a moment； in the street below； showing lamp… posts and pavements and windows； and then blowing down again and once more hiding the world； she felt； in spite of herself； that she was playing a part in some malignant dream。 〃It can't be like this really；〃 she told herself。 〃If I were to go to tea now with Mrs。 Mark and sit in her pretty drawing…room and talk to that clergyman I wouldn't believe a word of it。〃 And yet it was true enough； her share in it。 As the afternoon advanced her sensations were very similar to those that she had had when about to visit the St。 Dreot's dentist； a fearsome man with red hair and hands like a dog's paws。 She saw him now standing over her as she sat trembling in the chair； a miserable little figure in a short untidy frock。 She used to repeat to herself then what Uncle Mathew had once told her： 〃This time next year you'll have forgotten all about this；〃 but when it was a question of facing the immensities of the Last Day that consolation was strangely inapt。 It was dusk very early and she longed for Martha to bring the lamp。
At last it came and tea and Aunt Elizabeth。 Aunt Anne had not appeared all day。 Then long dreary hours followed until supper； and after that hours again until ten o'clock。
She had not been certain； all this time； whether the aunts meant to take her to the service with them。 She had supposed that her introduction to the meeting at Miss Avies's meant that they intended to include her in this too； but now； as the evening advanced； in a fit of nervous terror she prayed within herself that they would not take her。 If the end of the world were coming she would like to meet it in her bed。 To go out into those streets and that ugly unfriendly Chapel was a horrible thing to do。 If this were to be the end of the world how she did wish that she might have been allowed to know nothing about it。 And those othersMiss Pyncheon and the rest who devoutly believed in the eventhow were they passing these last hours？
〃Oh； it isn't true！ It can't be true！〃 she said to herself。 〃It's a shame to frighten them so！〃
By eleven o'clock the excitement of the day had wearied her so that she fell fast asleep in the arm…chair beside the fire。 She woke to find Aunt Anne standing over her。
〃It's a quarter past eleven。 It's time to put on your things；〃 she said。 So she was to go！ She rose and； in spite of herself； her limbs were trembling and her teeth chattered。 To her surprise Aunt Anne bent forward and kissed her on the forehead。
〃Maggie；〃 she said； 〃if I've been harsh to you during these weeks I'm sorry。 I've done what I thought my duty； but I wouldn't wish on this night that we should have any unkindness in our hearts towards one another。〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 Maggie said awkwardly。
She went up to put on her things； then the three of them went out into the dark foggy street together。
Because it was New Year's Eve there were many people about； voices laughing and shouting through the mist and then some one running with a flaring light； then some men walking singing in chorus。 The aunts said nothing as they went。 Maggie's thoughts were given now to wondering whether Martin would be there。 She tied her mind to that； but behind it was t