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posite their window that had always excited him because it leaned inwards a little as though it would presently tumble。 He remembered the fat short cook with the pink cotton dress who wheezed and blew so when she had to climb the stairs。 He remembered the rooms that would seem bare enough to him now； he supposed； but were then filled with exciting possibilitiesa little round brown table； his mother's work…box with mother…of…pearl shells upon the cover； a stuffed bird with bright blue feathers under a glass case； a screen with coloured pictures of battles and horses and elephants casted upon it。 He remembered the exact sound that the tinkling bell made when it summoned them to meals； he remembered the especial smell of beef and carpet that was the dining…room； he remembered a little door of coloured glass on the first landing； a cupboard that had in it sugar and apples； a room full of old books piled high all about the floor upon the dry and dusty boards 。 。 。 a thousand other things came crowding around him。
Then； as his father's voice continued； out from the background there came his own figure； a small； pale； excited boy in short trousers。
He was immensely excitedthat was the principal thing。 It was evening； the house seemed to swim in candlelight and smoke through which things could be seen only dimly。
Something wonderful was about to happen to him。 He was in a state of glory； very close to God； so close that he could almost see Him sitting with His long white beard in the middle of a cloud； watching Martin with interest and affection。 He was pleased with Martin and Martin was pleased with himself。 At the same time as his pleasure he was aware that the stuff of his new black trousers tickled his knees and that he was hungry。
He saw his small sister Amy for a moment and expressed quite effectively by a smile and nod of the head his immeasurable superiority to her 。 。 。
They； he and his father； drove in a cab to the Chapel。 Of what followed then he was now less aware。 He remembered that he was in a small room with two men； that they all took off their clothes （he remembered that one man； very stout and red； looked funny without his clothes）； that they put on long white night…shirts； that his was too long for him and that he tripped over it； that they all three walked down the centre of the Chapel； which was filled with eyes； mouths and boots； and that he was very conscious of his toe…nails； which had never been exposed in public before； that they came to a round stone place filled with water and into this after the two men he was dipped； that he didn't scream from the coldness； of the water although he wanted to； that he was wrapped in a blanket and finally carried home in an ecstasy of triumph。
What happiness followed！ The vitality of it swept down upon him now； so that he seemed never to have lived since then。 He was the chosen of God and every one knew it。 What a little prig and yet how simple it had all been； without any consciousness of insincerity or acting on his part。 God had chosen him and there he was； for ever and ever safe and happy。
It was not only that he was assured that when the moment arrived he would have； in Heaven； a 〃good time〃it was that he was greatly exalted； so that he gave his twopence a week pocket…money to his school…fellows； never pulled Amy's hair； never teased his mother's canary。 He had been aware； young though he was； of another life。 He prayed and prayed； he went to an endless succession of services and meetings。 There was Mr。 Bates； one of the leading brethren then； who loved him and spoilt him 。 。 。 above all； through and beyond it all； there was his father； who adored him and whom he adored。
That adorationof God； of his father； of life itself！ Was it possible that a small boy； normal and ordinary enough in other ways； could feel so intensely such passions？
The dark room was crowding him with figures and scenes。 A whole world that he had thought dead and withered was beatingurgently； insistently； upon his consciousness。
In another instant he did not know what surrender； what acknowledgement he might have made。 It seemed to him that nothing in life was worth while save to receive again； in some fashion； that vitality that he had once known。
The door was flung open； a stream of light struck the dark； the shadows； memories； fled； helter…skelter； like crackling smoke into the air。
Amy stood in the doorway； blinking at him； scowling。 He knew； for some undefined reason； that he could not meet his father's eyes。 He jumped up and walked to the window。
CHAPTER II
EXPECTATION
Maggie developed marvellously during her first weeks in London。 It could not truthfully be said that her aunts gave her great opportunity for development； so far as they were concerned she might as well have been back in the green seclusion of St。 Dreots。
It is true that she accompanied her Aunt Elizabeth upon several shopping expeditions； and on one hazardous afternoon they penetrated the tangled undergrowth of Harrods' Stores； on all these occasions Maggie was too deeply occupied with the personal safety and happiness of her aunt to have leisure for many observations。
Aunt Elizabeth always started upon her shopping expeditions with the conviction that something terrible was about to happen； and the expectation of this overwhelming catastrophe paralysed her nerves。 Maggie wondered how it could have been with her when she had ventured forth alone。 She would stand in the middle of the street hesitating as to the right omnibus for her to take； she was often uncertain of the direction in which she should go。 She would wave her umbrella at an omnibus； and then when it began to slacken in answer to her appeal； would discover that it was not the one that she needed； and would wave her umbrella furiously once more。 Then when at last she had mounted the vehicle she would flood the conductor with a stream of little questions； darting her eyes angrily at all her neighbours as though they were gathered there together to murder her at the earliest opportunity。 She would be desperately confused when asked to pay for her ticket； would be unable to find her purse； and then when she discovered it would scatter its contents upon the ground。 In such an agony would she be at the threatened passing of her destination that she would spring up at every pause of the omnibus； striking her nearest neighbour's eye or nose with her umbrella； apologising nervously； and then； because she thought she had been too forward with a stranger； staring fiercely about her and daring any one to speak to her。 Upon the day that she visited Harrods' she spent the greater part of her time in the lift because she always wished to be somewhere where she was not； and because it always went up when she wished it to go down and down when she wished it to go up。 Maggie； upon this eventful occasion； did her best； but she also was bewildered； and wondered how any of the attendants found their way home at night。 Before the end of the afternoon Aunt Elizabeth was not far from tears。 〃It isn't cutlery we want。 I told the man that it was saucepans。 They pay us no attention at all。 You aren't any help to me； Maggie。〃 They arrived in a room filled with performing gramophones。 This was the final blow。 Aunt Elizabeth； trembling all over； refused either to advance or retreat。 〃Will you please；〃 said Maggie very firmly to a beautifully clothed young man with hair like a looking…glass； 〃show us the way to the street？〃 He very kindly showed them； and it was not until they were in the homeward omnibus that Aunt Elizabeth discovered that she had bought nothing at all。
Nevertheless； although Maggie collected but little interesting detail from these occasions； she did gather a fine general impression of whirling movement and adventure。 One day she would plunge into itmeanwhile it was better that she should move slowly and assemble gradual impressions。 The solid caution that was mingled in her nature with passionate feeling and enthusiasm taught her admirable wisdom。 Aunt Anne； it seemed； never moved beyond the small radius of her home and the Chapel。 She attended continually Bible… meetings； prayer…meetings； Chapel services。 She had one or two intimate friends； a simple and devout old maid called Miss Pyncheon； Mr。 Magnus； whom Maggie had seen on the day of her arrival； Mr。 Thurston； to whom Maggie had taken an instant dislike； and Amy Warlock。 She visited these people and they visited her； for the rest she seemed to take no exercise； and her declared love for the country did not lead her into the Parks。 She was more silent； if possible； than she had been at St。 Dreots； and read to herself a great deal in the dark and melancholy drawing…room。 Although she talked very little to Maggie； the girl fancied that her eye was always upon her。 There was a strange attitude of watchfulness in her silent withdrawal from her scene as though she had retired simply because she could see the better from a distance。
She liked Maggie to read the Bible to her； and for an hour of every evening Maggie did this。 For some reason the girl greatly disliked this hour and dreaded its approach。 It was perhaps because it seemed to bring before her the figure of her fathe