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For a moment Maggie was frightened。 She was here in a strange hotel in a strange room with a man whom she scarcely knew。 Then she looked up into young Warlock's face and was reassured。 She could trust him。
He stood with his arm on the shabby； dusty mantelpiece； looking down upon her with his good…natured kindly smile； so kindly that she felt that he was younger than she and needed protection in a world that was filled with designing Uncle Mathews and mysterious Aunt Annes and horrible Miss Warlocks。
He； on his side； as he looked down at her； was surprised at his own excitement。 His heart was beating； his hand tremblingbefore this plain； ordinary； unattractive girl！ Unattractive physicallybut not uninteresting。 One of the most interesting human beings whom he had ever met； simply because she was utterly unlike any one else。 He felt shame before her； because he knew that she would believe every word that he said。 In that she was simple； but 〃he would be bothered if she was simple in anything else。〃 She had made up her mindhe knew it as well as though she had told himto trust him absolutely； and he knew well enough how little he was to be trusted。 And because of that faith and because of that trust he felt that she was more reliable than he could have believed that changing fickle human being would ever be。 How secure he might feel with her！
Then； as he thought that； he realised how troubled he was about his life at home during the last weeks。 Amy hated him； his mother hid herself from him； and his father's love frightened him。 Already he had found himself telling lies to avoid the chapel services and the meetings with Thurston and the rest。 His father's love for him had something terrible in it； and； although he returned it； he could not live up to that fire and heat。
No； he saw that he would not be able to remain for long at home。 On the other hand； go back to the old wandering life he would not。 He had had enough of that and its rotten carelessness and shabbiness。 What a girl this would be to settle down with somewhere！ So strange that she would be always interesting； so faithful that she would be always there！ Nor was he entirely selfish。 Her childishness； her ignorance； appealed to him for protection。 She had no one but those old aunts to care for her； she was poor and rebellious and ignorant。 Warlock was kind…hearted beyond the normal charity of manmuch of his weakness came from that very kindness。
As he saw which way he was going he tried to pull himself back。 He could not protect herhe had the best of reasons for knowing why。 He could do her nothing but harm 。 。 。 and yet he went on。
He took a chair close to her and sat down。 He； who had known in his time many women； could see how happy she was。 That happiness excited him。 Suddenly he held her hand。 She did not remove it。
〃Look here；〃 he began； and he was surprised at the hoarseness of his voice； 〃your uncle will be back in a moment； and we never have a chance of being alone。 I've wanted to talk to you ever since I first saw you。〃
He felt her hand move in his。 That stir was so helpless that he suddenly determined to be honest。
〃I think you'll trust me； won't you？〃 he asked。
〃Yes；〃 she said。
〃Well； you mustn't；〃 he went on hurriedly； his eyes on the door。 〃I'm not worse； I suppose； than other men； but all the same I'm not to be trusted。 And when I say I'm not to be trusted I mean that I myself don't know whether I'll keep my word from one minute to another。 I'm sure you don't know very much about men。 I could see it at once from the way you spoke。〃
She looked up； her clear； unconfused； unquestioning eyes facing him。
〃I knew my father well；〃 she said。 〃We were quite alone for years together。 And then Uncle Mathew〃
〃Oh； your father； your uncle；〃 he answered quickly。 〃They don't count。 What I mean is that you mustn't think men are scoundrels just because they act badly。 I swear that nine out of ten of them never mean to do any harm。〃
〃And they think they're speaking the truth at the time。 But anything 'does' for them and then they're in a mess； and all they think about is how to get out of it。 Then it's every man for himself 。 。 。〃
Maggie shook her head。
〃I've always known that I'd have to manage for myself；〃 she said。 〃I've never expected any one to do anything for me； so I'm not likely to be disappointed now。〃
He moved a little closer to her and held her hand more firmly； even as he did so something in his heart reproached him； but now the reproach was very far away； like an echo of some earlier voice。
〃Do you know you're a wonderful girl？〃 he said。 〃I knew you were from the first moment I saw you。 You're the most independent person I've ever known。 You can't guess how I admire that！ And all the same you're not happy； are you？ You want to get out of it； don't you？〃
She thought for a little while before she nodded her head。
〃I suppose as a fact。〃 she said； 〃I do。 If you want to knowand you mustn't tell anybodyI've posted a letter to a lady whom I met once who told me if ever I wanted anything to write to her。 I've asked her for some work。 I've got three hundred pounds of my own。 It isn't very much； I know； but I could start on it 。 。 。 I don't want to do wrong to my aunts； who are very kind to me； but I'm not happy there。 It wouldn't be true to say I'm happy。 You see；〃 she dropped her voice a little； 〃they want to make me religious； and I've had so much of that with father already。 I feel as though they were pressing me into it somehow； and that I should wake up one morning and find I should never escape again。 There's so much goes on that I don't understand。 And it isn't only the chapel。 Aunt Anne's very quiet； but she makes you feel quite helpless sometimes。 And perhaps one will get more and more helpless the longer one stays。 I don't want to be helpless evernor religious！〃 she ended。
〃Why； that's just my position；〃 he continued eagerly。 〃I came home as happily as anything。 I'd almost forgotten all that had been when I was a boy； how I was baptized and thought I belonged to God and was so proud and stuck up。 That all seems nonsense when you're roughing it with other men who think about nothing but the day's work。 Then I came home meaning to settle down。 I wanted to see my governor too。 I've always cared for him more than any one else in the world 。 。 。 but I tell you now I simply don't know what's going on at home。 They want to catch me in a trap。 That's what it feels like。 To make me what I was as a kid。 It's strange； but there's more in it than you'd think。 You wouldn't believe the number of times I've thought of my young days since I've been home。 It's as though some one was always shoving them up in front of my face。 All I want； you know； is to be jolly。 To let other people alone and be let alone myself。 I wouldn't do any one any harm in the worldI wouldn't really。 But it's as though father wanted me to believe all the things he believes； so that he could believe them more himself。 Perhaps it's the same with your aunt 。 。 。〃 Then he added； 〃But they're sick people。 That explains a lot。〃
〃Sick？〃 asked Maggie。
〃Yes。 My governor's got heartawfully bad。 He might go off at any moment if he had a shock。 And your auntdon't you know？〃
〃No；〃 said Maggie。
〃Cancer。 They all say so。 I thought you'd have known。〃
〃Oh！〃 Maggie drew in her breath。 She shuddered。 〃Poor Aunt Anne！ Oh； poor Aunt Anne！ I didn't know。〃
She felt a sudden rush of confused emotion。 A love for her aunt； desire to help her； and at the same time shrinking as though she saw the whole house which had been； from the first； unhappy to her was now diseased and evil and rotten。 The hot life in her body told her against her moral will that she must escape； and her soul； moving in her and speaking to her； told her that now； more than ever； she must stay。
〃Oh； poor； poor Aunt Anne；〃 she said again。
He moved and put his arm around her。 He had meant it simply as a movement of sympathy and protection； but when he felt the warmth of her body against his； when he realised how she went to him at once with the confidence and simplicity of a child； when he felt the hot irregular beat of her heart； his own heart leapt； his arm was strengthened like a barrier of iron against the world。
He had one moment of desperate resistance； a voice of protest calling to him far； far away。 His hand touched her neck； he raised her face to his and kissed her； once gently； kindly； then； passionately again and again。
She shivered a little； as though surrendering something to him； then lay quite still in his arms。
〃Maggie！ Maggie！〃 he whispered。
Then she raised her head and herself kissed him。
There was a noise on the door。 They separated； the door opened and in the sudden light a figure was visible holding a glass。
For a blind instant Maggie； returning from her other world； thought it the figure of Mr。 Palmer of Rugeley。
It was； of course； Uncle Mathew。
CHAPTER IV
MR。 CRASHAW
Uncle Mathew saw Maggie back to her door； kissed her and left her。 On their way home he did not once mention Martin Warlock to her。
He left her as he heard the bolt turn in the door； hurrying away as though he did not want to be seen。 Maggie went in to find