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The kitchen grew darker and darker。 She let the underclothes lie upon her lap。 Soon she must light the lamp； but meanwhile； before the oven she let her fancies overwhelm her； luxuriating in her terror。
Suddenly the kitchen…door was flung open。 She started up with a cry。 Martin stood there and in a voice； so new to her that she seemed never to have heard it before； he shouted； 〃Where's Maggie？〃
She stood up in great agitation。 He came towards her and she saw that his face was violent with agitation； with a kind of rage。
〃Where's Maggie？〃 he repeated。
She saw that he was shaking all over and it was as though he did not know who she was。
〃Maggie？〃 she repeated。
〃My wife！ My wife！〃 he cried； and he shouted it again as though he were proclaiming some fact to the whole world。
〃She went out；〃 said Mrs。 Bolitho； 〃about three hours back I should think。〃
〃Went out！〃 he stormed at her。 〃And in this？〃
Then； before she could say another word； he was gone。 It was in very truth like an apparition。
She sat there for some time staring in front of her； still shaken by the violence of his interruption。 She went then to the kitchen…door and listenednot a sound in the house。 She went farther； out through the passage to the hall…door。 She opened it and looked out。 A sea of driving mist； billowing and driving as though by some internal breeze； met her。
〃Poor things；〃 she said to herself。 〃They shouldn't be out in this。〃 She shut the door and went back into the house。 She called； 〃Jim！ Jim！ Where are you？〃 At last he came； stumping up from some mysterious labour in the lower part of the house。
〃What is't？〃 he said； startled by her white face and troubled eyes。
〃The two of them；〃 she said； 〃have gone out on to the moor in this mist。 It isn't safe。〃
〃Whatever for？〃 he asked。
〃How should I know？ She went out first and now he's after her。 'Tisn't safe； Jim。 You'd best follow them。〃
He didn't argue with her； being an obedient husband disciplined by many years of matrimony。
〃Well； I'll go；〃 he said slowly。 〃Best take William； though。〃
He went off in search of his man。
But Bolitho need not trouble。 Half an hour later Maggie returned； stood in the sitting…room looking about her； took off her jacket and hat； then； pursuing her own thoughts； slowly put them on。 She was then about to leave the room when the door burst open and Martin tumbled in。 He stood at the doorway staring at her； his mouth open。 〃Why！〃 he stammered。 〃I thought 。 。 。 I thought 。 。 。 you were out 〃 She looked at him crossly。
〃You shouldn't have gone outan afternoon like this。 If I'd been here〃
〃Well； you weren't。 You shouldn't have gone out either for the matter of that。 And I was at the circusa damned poor one too。 Your things are soaking；〃 he added； suddenly looking up at her。 〃You talk about me。 You'd better go and change。〃
〃I'm going out again；〃 she said。
〃Out again？〃
〃Yes 。 。 。 There's a train at Clinton at seven。 I'm catching that。〃
〃A train？〃 He stared at her； completely bewildered。
〃Yes。 That's what I went out to get my head clear about。 Martin； you've beaten me。 After all these years you have。 After all my fine speeches； too。〃
He began to drum on the window。 He tried to speak casually。
〃I haven't beaten you； Maggie。〃
〃Yes； you have。 I said you wouldn't be able to send me away。 Well； you've managed to and in the only way you couldby your silence。 You haven't opened your mouth for a fortnight。 You're better now； too； and Mrs。 Bolitho will look after you。 I was determined to hang on to you； but I find I can't。 I'm going back to London to get some work。〃
His hand dropped from the window。 Then； with his head turned from her and his voice so low that she could scarcely hear the
〃No； Maggie； don't go。〃
She smiled across at him。 〃There's no need to be polite； Martin。 We're both of us beyond that by this time。 I'll come back if you really want me。 You know that I always will； but at last； after all these years； I've found a scrap of self…respect。 Here am I always bundling aboutfirst the aunts； then you； then Paul； then you again； and nobody wanting me。 I don't suppose；〃 she said laughing； 〃that there can be anybody less wanted in the world。 So I'm just going to look after myself now。 It's quite time I did。〃
〃But I want you；〃 he said； his voice still very low。 She looked up； her eyes lit as though with some sudden recognition。
〃If you really mean that；〃 she said； 〃say it again。 If you don't mean it； don't humbug me。 I won't be humbugged any more。〃
〃I haven't humbugged youever；〃 he answered。 〃You're the only person I've always been absolutely straight with。 I've always； from the very beginning； told you to have nothing to do with me。 It's more true than ever now。 I've been trying ever since you came back to me in London to get you to leave me。 But it's too late。 I can't fight it any more 。 。 。 I loved you all the time I was abroad。 I oughtn't to have written to you； but I did。 I came back to London with the one hope of seeing you； but determined not to。〃
〃I loved you more than ever when you came into my lodging there； but I was sick and hadn't any money； besides all my other failings 。 。 。 It's the only decent thing I've ever really tried to do； to keep you away from me； and now I've failed in that。 When I came in and found you were gone this afternoon I thought I'd go crazy。〃
〃I'm not going to struggle any more。 If you go away I'll follow you wherever you go。 I may as well try to give up keeping you out of it。 It's like keeping myself out of it。〃
Slowly she took her hat and coat off again。
〃Well； then；〃 she said； 〃I'd better stay； I suppose。〃
He suddenly sat down； his face white。 She came across to him。
She put her hand on his forehead。
〃You'd better go to bed； Martin； dear。 I'll bring your tea in。〃
He caught her hand。 She knelt down； put her arms round him； and so they stayed； cheek to cheek； for a long time。
When he had gone to his room she sat in the arm…chair by the fire； her hands idly folded on her lap。 She let happiness pour in upon her as water floods in upon a dried and sultry river…bed。 She was passive； her tranquillity was rich and full； too full for any outward expression。
She was so happy that her heart was weighted down and seemed scarcely to beat。 It was not； perhaps； the exultant happiness that she had expected this moment to bring her。
When； in after days； she looked back to that quiet half…hour by the fire she saw that it was then that she had passed from girlhood into womanhood。 The first chapter of her life was； at that moment's laying of her hand on Martin's forehead； closed。 The love for him that filled her so utterly was in great part maternal。 It was to be her destiny to know the deep tranquil emotions of life rather than the passionate and transient。 She was perhaps the more blessed in that。
Even now； at the very instant of her triumph； she deceived herself in nothing。 There were many difficulties ahead for her。 She had still to deal with Paul： Martin was not a perfect character； nor would he suddenly become one。 Above all that strange sense of being a captive in a world that did not understand her； some one curious and odd and alienthat would not desert her。 That also was true of Martin。 It was truestrangely trueof so many of the people she had knownof the aunts； Uncle Mathew； Mr。 Magnus； of Paul and of Grace； of Mr。 Toms； and even perhaps of Thurston and Amy Warlock all captives in a strange country； trying to find the escape； each in his or her own fashion； back to the land of their birth。
But the land was there。 Just as the lion； whose roar very faintly she could hear through the thick walls； remembered in his cage the jungles and mountains of his happiness； so was she aware of hers。 The land was there； the fight to get hack to it was real。
She smiled to herself； looking back on the years。 Many people would have said that she had had no very happy time since that sudden moment of her father's death； but it did not seem to her； in retrospect； unhappy。 There had been unhappy times； tragic times； but life was always bringing forward some magnificent moment； some sudden flash of splendour that made up for all the rest。 How could you be bitter about people when you were all in the same box； all as ignorant； as blind； as eager to do well； as fallible； as brave； as mistaken？
The thoughts slipped dimly through her mind。 She was too happy to trace them truly。 She had never been one for conscious philosophy。
Nevertheless she did not doubt but that life was worth while； that there was something immortal in her； and that the battle was good to fightbut what it really came to was that she loved Martin； and that at last some one needed her； that she need never be lonely any more。
Mrs。 Bolitho stepped in with the tea。
〃I'll take it in to him；〃 Maggie said； standing up and stretching out her arms for the tray。
The woman looked at her and gave a little 〃Ah！〃 of satisfaction； as though； at length； she saw in Maggie's eyes that forwhich she had been searching。
〃Why； I do believe；〃 she said； 〃that walk's done 'ee good。〃
〃I do believe；〃 Maggie said； laughing； 〃it has。〃
Carrying the tray carefully she went through into Martin's