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〃They're laughing at my new clothes；〃 she thought； 〃I wish I'd worn my old ones 。 。 。 and anyway these hurt me。〃 She sat up very stiffly； her hands on her lap； her eyes staring at the little bright water…colour on the wall opposite。 Mrs。 Warlock； like a trickling； dancing brook； continued her talk：
〃Of course there's the country。 I was brought up as a girl just outside Salisbury 。 。 。 So many； many years agoI always tell my boy that I'm such an old woman now that I don't belong to his world at all。 Just to sit here and see the younger generation go past。 Don't regret your youth； Miss Cardinal。 You'll want it back again one day。 I said to Martin only yesterday 。 。 。〃
Neither Aunt Anne nor Amy Warlock had anything to say； so that quite suddenly on the entrance of tea； conversation dropped。 They all sat there and looked at one another。 There was a large silver tray with silver tea…things upon it and a fat swelling china dish that held hot buttered toast。 There was a standing wicker pyramid containing bread and butter； plates of little yellow and red cakes； shortbread and very heavy plum cake black with currants。
Mrs。 Warlock had ceased all conversation； her eyes were fixed upon the preparations for tea。 The door opened and John Warlock and his son came in。
Maggie's eyes lighted when she saw Martin Warlock。 She behaved as she might have done had she been in her own room at St。 Dreots。 She sprang up from her chair and stood there； smiling； waiting for him。 First his father shook hands with her； then Martin came and stood beside her； laughing。
His face was flushed and he seemed excited about something； but she felt nothing save her pleasure at meeting him； and it was only when he had moved on to her aunt that she was conscious once more of Amy Warlock's eyes； and wondered whether she had behaved badly in jumping up to meet him。
As she considered this her anger and her confusion at her anger increased。 She saw that Martin was talking to her aunt and did not look at her。 Perhaps he also had thought her forward； of course that horrid sister of his would think everything that she did wrong。 But did he？ Surely he understood。 She wanted to ask him and then wanted to go home and leave them all。 She saw that her teacup was trembling in her hand。 She steadied it upon her knee and then her knee began to quiver； and all the time Amy Warlock watched her。 She thought then that she must assert herself and show that she was not confused nor timid； so she began in a high…strained voice to talk to Mrs。 Warlock。 She told Mrs。 Warlock that she found Harrods' a confusing place； that she had not yet visited Westminster Abbey； that her health was quite good； that she had no brothers and no sisters； that she could not play the piano； and that she was afraid that she never read books。
It was after the last of these interesting statements that she was suddenly aware of the sound of her own voice； as though it had been a brazen gong beating stridently in the vastness of a deserted Cathedral。 She saw the old lady take two pieces of buttered toast from the china dish； hold them tenderly in her hand and fling them a swift； bird…like glance before she devoured them； during that moment's vision Maggie discovered what so many people of vaster experience both of life and of Mrs。 Warlock had never discovered； namely； that the old lady cared more for her food than her company。 Maggie was suddenly less afraid of the whole family。 She looked up then at Martin as though she thus would prove her new courage and； he glancing across at the same moment； they smiled。 He left his father's side and； coming over to her； sat down close to her。 He dropped his voice in speaking to her。
〃I've been wanting to see you；〃 he said。
〃Why？〃 she asked him。
〃Well；〃 he answered； smiling at her as though he wanted to tell her something privately。 〃I feel as though we'd got a lot to tell one another 。 。 。 I'm a stranger here really quite as much as you。〃
〃No； you're not；〃 she said。 〃You can't be so MUCH a stranger anywhere because you've been all over the world and are ready for anything。〃
〃And you？〃
〃I don't seem to manage the simplest things。 Aunt Elizabeth and I get lost the moment we move outside the door 。 。 。 Do you like my dress？〃 she asked him。
〃Why！〃 he said； obviously startled by such a question。 〃It'sit's splendid！〃
〃No； you know it isn't；〃 she answered quickly； dropping her voice into a confidential statement。 〃It's all wrong。 I thought you'd know why as you've been everywhere。 Caroline Smith helped me to choose it； and it looked all right until I wore it。 It's me 。 。 。 I'm hopeless to fit。 Caroline says so。 I don't care about clothesif only I looked just like anybody else I'd never bother againbut it's so tiresome to have taken so much trouble and then for it to be all wrong。〃
Martin was then aware of many thingsthat this was a strange unusual girl； that she reassured him as to her interest； her vitality； her sincerity as no girl had ever done before； that his sister was aware of their intimate conversation and that she resented it； and that he must see this girl again and as soon as possible。 He was as liable as any young man in the world to the most sudden and most violent enthusiasms； but they had been enthusiasms for a pretty face； for a sensual appeal； for a sentimental moment。 Here there was no prettiness； no sensuality； no sentiment。 There was something so new that he felt like Cortez upon his peak in Darien。
〃It's all right；〃 he reassured her urgently。 〃It's all right。 I promise you it is。 The great thing is to look yourself。 And you'll never be the least like any one else。〃 He meant that to be the first open declaration of his own particular discovery of her； but he was aware that his sentence could have more than one interpretation。 Uncomfortably conscious then of his sister's regard of them； he looked up and said：
〃Amy； Miss Cardinal's been telling me how confusing London is to her。 You've got as good an idea of London as any one in the world。 You should take her to one or two places and show her things。〃
Amy Warlock； every line of her stiff body firing at them both her hostility； answered：
〃Oh； I don't think Miss Cardinal would care for me as a guide。 _I_ shouldn't be able to show her interesting things。 We have scarcely； I should fancy； enough in common。 Miss Cardinal's interests are； I imagine； very different from my own。〃
The tone； the words； fell into the sudden silence like a lighted match into water。 Maggie； her head erect； her voice； in spite of herself； trembling a little； answered：
〃Why； Miss Warlock； I shouldn't think of troubling you。 It's very kind of your brother； but one must make one's discoveries for oneself； mustn't one？ 。 。 。 I am already beginning to find my way about。〃
After that the tea…party fell into complete disruption。 Maggie； although she did not look； could feel Martin's anger like a flame beside her。 She was aware that Aunt Anne and Mr。 Warlock were； like some beings from another world； distant from the general confusion。 Her one passionate desire was to get up and leave the place； to her intense relief she heard Aunt Anne's clear voice：
〃I think； Mrs。 Warlock； we must be turning homewards。 Shall I send you those papers about the Perteway's Mission？ 。 。 。 Such splendid work。 I think it would interest you。〃
It was as though a hole had suddenly opened in the floor of the neat little drawing…room and they were all hurrying to leave without； if possible； tumbling into it。 There was a general shaking of hands。
Mrs。 Warlock said kindly to Maggie：
〃Do come soon again； dear。 It does an old lady good to see young faces。〃
Martin was near the door。 He almost crushed Maggie's hand in his： 〃I must see yousoon；〃 he whispered。
Free from the house Maggie and her aunt walked home in complete silence。 Maggie's heart was a confusion of rage； surprise； loneliness and pride。 No one had ever behaved like that to her before。 And what had she done？ What was there about her that people hated？ 。 。 。 Why？ 。 。 。 Why？ She felt as though； in some way； it had all been Aunt Anne's fault。 Why did not Aunt Anne speak？ Well； if they all hated her she would go on her own way。 She did not care。
But alone in her room； her face； indignant； proud； quivering； surprising her in the long mirror by its strangeness； and causing her to feel； because it did not seem to belong to her； more lonely than ever； she burst out：
〃I can't stand it。 I CAN'T stand it。 I'll get away 。 。 。 so soon as ever I can！〃
CHAPTER III
MAGGIE AND MARTIN
That moment in her bedroom altered for Maggie the course of all her future life。 She had never before been； consciously； a rebel； she had； only a week before； almost acquiesced in the thought that she would remain in her aunts' house for the rest of her days； now Mr。 Magnus； the Warlocks； and her new dress had combined to fire her determination。 She saw； quite suddenly； that she must escape at the first possible moment。
The house that had been until now the refuge into which she had escaped became the jumping…off place for her new adventure。
Until now the things in the house had been there to receive her as one of themselves； from this moment they were there