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late Sunday evening when the town is given over to cats。 I suddenly came across the Chapel。 I like going into London churches by chance； there's always something interesting； something you wouldn't expect。 The Chapel simply astonished me。 I couldn't imagine what they were all about； it wasn't the ordinary London congregation； it was almost the ordinary London service and yet not quite； there was an air of expectation and even excitement which is most unusual in a London church。 Then there was Warlock。 Of course one could see at once that he was an extraordinary man； a kind of prophet all on his own； he was as far away from that congregation as Columbus was from his crew when he first sighted the Indies。〃
〃I've met one or two prophets in my time； and their concern has always been with their audience first； themselves second and their vision last。 Warlock is the other way round。 He should have been a hermit； not the leader of a community。 Well； it interested me。 I came again and again 。 。 。 I'm going to stay on now until the end。〃
〃The end？〃 asked Maggie。
〃The end of myself or the Chapel； whichever comes first。 I wrote a story oncea very bad oneabout some merchantswhy merchants I don't knowwho were flung on a desert island。 It was all jungle and desolation； and then suddenly they came upon a little white Temple。 It doesn't matter what happened afterwards。 I've myself forgotten most of it； but I remember that the sailors used the Temple in different ways to keep their hopes and expectations alive。 Their expectations that one day a ship would come and save them 。 。 。 and so far as I remember they became imaginative about the Temple； and fancied that the Unknown God of it would help them to regain their private affairs： one of them wanted to get back to his girl； another to his favourite pub； another to his money…making； another to his collection of miniatures。 And they used to sit and look at the Temple day after day and expect something to happen。 When the ship came at last they wouldn't go into it because they couldn't bear to think that something should happen at last and they not be there to see it。 Oh yes； one of them went back； I remember。 But his actual meeting with his girl was so disappointing in comparison with his long expectation of it in front of the Temple that he took the next boat back to the island 。 。 。 but he never found it again。 He travelled everywhere and died； a disappointed man； at sea。〃
Mr。 Magnus was fond of telling little stories； obscure and pointless； and Maggie supposed that it was a literary habit。 On this occasion he continued to talk quite naturally for his own satisfaction。 〃Yes； one can make oneself believe in anything。 I have believed in all sorts of things。 In England； of course； people have believed in nothing except that things will always be as they always have beena useful belief considering that things have never been as they always were。 In the old days； when the Boer War hadn't interfered with tradition； it must have seemed to any one who wasn't a young man pretty hopeless； but now I don't know。 Imagination's breaking in 。 。 。 Warlock's a prophet。 I've got fascinated； sitting round this Chapel； as badly as any of them。 Yes； one can be led into belief of anything。〃
〃And what do you believe in； Mr。 Magnus？〃 asked Maggie。
〃Well； not in myself anyway； nor Thurston； nor Miss Avies 。 。 。 But in your Aunt perhaps； and Warlock。 The only thing I'm sure of is that there's something there； but what it is of course I can't tell you； and I don't suppose I shall ever know。 The story of Sir Galahad； Miss Cardinalit seems mid…Victorian to us nowbut it's a fine story and true enough。〃
Maggie； who knew nothing of mid…Victorianism； was silent。
He ended with： 〃Mind you decide for yourself。 That's the great thing in life。 Don't you believe anything that any one tells you。 See for yourself。 And if there's something of great value； don't think the less of it because the people who admire it aren't worth very much。 Why should they be？ And possibly after all it's only themselves they're admiring 。 。 。 There's a fearful lot of nonsense and humbug in this thing； but there's something real too 。 。 。〃
He changed his note； suddenly addressing himself intently to her as though he had a message to deliver。
〃Don't think me impertinent。 But your Aunt Anne。 See as much of her as you can。 She's devoted to you； Miss Cardinal。 You mayn't have seen itshe's a reserved woman and very shy of her feelings； but she's spoken to me 。 。 。 I hope I'm not interfering to say this； but perhaps at first you don't understand her。 She loves you； you're the first human being I do believe that she's ever loved。〃
What was there then in Maggie that started up in rebellion at this unexpected declaration？ She had been sitting there； tranquil； soothed with a happy sense that her new life was developing securely for her in the way that she would have it。 Suddenly she was alert； suspicious； hostile。
〃What has she said to you？〃 she asked quickly； frowning up at him and drawing back as though she were afraid of him。 He was startled at the change in her。
〃Said？〃 he repeated； stammering a little。 〃Why only 。 。 。 Nothing 。 。 。 except that she cared for you and hoped that you would be happy。 She was afraid that it would all be strange for you at first 。 。 。 Perhaps I have been interfering 。 。 。〃
〃No；〃 Maggie interrupted quickly。 〃Not you。 Only I must lead my own life。 I must； mustn't I？ I don't want to be selfish； but I can begin for myself now。 I have a little money of my ownand I MUST make my own way。 I don't want to be selfish；〃 she repeated； 〃but I must be free。 I don't understand Aunt Anne。 She never seems to care for me。 I want to do everything for her I can； but I don't want to be under any one ever any more。〃
She was so young when she said this that he was suddenly moved to an affectionate fatherly tendernessbut he knew her now too well to show it。
〃No； you mustn't be selfish；〃 he answered her almost drily。 〃We can't lead our lives quite alone； you knowevery step we take we affect some one somewhere。 Your aunt doesn't want your libertyshe wants your affection。〃
〃She wants to make me religious；〃 Maggie brought out； staring at Mr。 Magnus。
〃Ah； if you see that； you don't understand her；〃 he answered。 〃How should youyet？ She cares so deeply for her religion that she wishes naturally any one whom she loves to share it with her。 But if you don't〃
〃If you don't？〃 cried Maggie； springing up from her seat and facing him。
〃I'm sure she would wish to influence no one；〃 he continued gravely。 〃You've seen for yourself how apart her life is。 She is too conscious of the necessity for her own liberty〃
〃It isn't liberty； it's slavery；〃 Maggie caught him up passionately。 〃Do you suppose I haven't watched all these weeks？ What does her religion do but shut her off from everything and everybody？ Is she kind to Aunt Elizabeth？ No； she isn't； and you know it。 Would she care if we were all of us buried in the ruins of this house to… morrow？ Not for a single moment。 And it's her religion。 I hate religion。 I hate it！ 。 。 。 and since I've been in this house I've hated it more and more。 You don't know what it was like with father。 I don't think of it now or talk of it； but I know what it made of HIM。 And now it's the same here； only it takes them in a different way。 But it's the same in the endno one who's religious cares for any one。 And they'd make the same of me。 Aunt Anne wouldthe same as she's made of Aunt Elizabeth。 They haven't said much yet； but they're waiting for the right moment； and then they'll spring it upon me。 It's in the house； it's in the rooms； it's in the very furniture。 It's as though father had come back and was driving me into it。 And I want to be free； I want to lead my own life； to make it myself。 I don't want to think about God or Heaven or Hell。 I don't care whether I'm good or bad。 。 。 。 What's the use of my being here in London and never seeing anything。 I'll go into a shop or something and work my fingers to the bone。 They SHAN'T catch me。 They SHAN'T 。 。 。 If Uncle Mathew were here 。 。 。〃
She broke off suddenly； breathless； staring at Mr。 Magnus as though she had not been aware until now that he was in the room。 To say that her outburst astonished him was to put it very mildly indeed。 She had always been so quiet and restrained； she had seemed so happy and tranquil。
He blushed； pushed his spectacles with his fingers； then finally stammered：
〃I'd no ideathatthat you hated it so much。〃
She was quiet and composed again。 〃I don't hate it；〃 she answered very calmly。 〃Only they shan't tie meno one shall。 And in the house it's as though some one were watching behind every door。 It used to be just the same at home。 When people think a lot about religion something seems to get into a place。 Why； truly； Mr。 Magnus； I've wondered once or twice lately； in spite of myself； whether they mayn't be right after all and God's going to come in a chariot and set the world on fire。〃
〃It sounds silly； but when you see the way Aunt Anne and Mr。 Warlock believe things it almost makes them true。〃
Maggie finally added： 〃You mustn't think me selfish。 I'm very very grateful for all their kindness。 I'm v