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s now。 Amy always hated me。 She was really religious and she thought I was a hypocrite。 But I wasn't altogether。 There was something real in it and there still is。〃
〃Didn't you go to school？〃 asked Maggie。
〃No； that was the mistake。 They never sent me。 Father loved me too much and he wanted to keep me always with him。 He tried to teach me himself but I never learnt anything。 I always knew I could turn them round my little finger。 I always knew he'd rather do anything than make me unhappy。 Sometimes we had lovely times together； sitting in the dusk in the front of the fire。 Do you know； Maggie； I've never changed in my love for father？ I've changed in everything else； but in that never。 Yet I've hurt him over and over and over again。 I've done things 。 。 。〃 Here he broke off。 To…day was to be happy； they must build up their walls faster； faster； faster to keep the world out。 He would think of nothing； nothing but the present。 The wind blew and the heavy drops of rain fell； one and one and one； slowly between the gusts。 Ho drew her close to him。
〃Are you cold？〃
〃No； Martin dear。〃
〃I suppose we should turn back。〃
〃Yes； it's getting late。〃
〃It will seem hours until to…morrow。〃
〃And to me too。〃
They were at the end of the Green Park。 There was no one there。 They kissed and clung together and Maggie's hand was warm inside his coat。 Then they turned back and entered the real world once more 。 。 。
〃Now we must have our matinee；〃 Martin said。 Maggie could not refuse and besides she herself wanted it so badly。 Also the three weeks were drawing to a close； and although she did not know what was in store for them； she felt； in some mysterious way； that trouble was coming。
〃Yes； we'll have our matinee；〃 she said。
It was a terrific excitement for her； apart altogether from her love for Martin。 She had； of course； never been to a theatre。 She could not imagine in the least what it was like。 It so happened； by a wonderful chance； that a note came from Katherine Mark asking her to tea。 She showed this to the aunts and said that she would accept it。 She wrote to Katherine Mark and refused and told Martin that for that Wednesday afternoon she was quite free until at least seven o'clock。 She wove these deceits with strong disgust。 She hated the lies； and there were many； many times when she was on the edge of confessing everything to the aunts。 But the thought of what would follow that confession held her back。 She could not make things harder for Martin。
Nevertheless she wondered why when she felt； in herself； no shame al all at the things that she was doing； she should have to lie to cover those things up。 But everything in connection with the Chapel seemed to lie。The place was wrapped in intrigue and double… dealing。 How long would it be before she and Martin were out of it all？
She was to meet him by one of the lions in Trafalgar Square。 She bought a golden chrysanthemum which she stuck into the belt of her black dress and she wore her coral necklace。 She was tired of black。 She sometimes thought she would spend all her Three Hundred Pounds on clothes 。 。 。 To…day； as soon as she was out of the house and had turned the corner into King William Street； she slipped on her ring。 She kissed it before she put her glove on。 He was waiting there looking like a happy schoolboy； that way that she loved him to look。 That slow crooked smile of his； something that broke up his whole face into geniality and friendliness； how she adored him when he looked like that！ He was wearing clothes of some rough red…brown stuff and a black knitted tie
She was carrying something； a little parcel in tissue paper。 She pressed it into his hand when they met。 He opened it； just like a boy； chuckling； his eyes shining； his fingers tearing the paper in his eagerness。 Her present was a round locket of thin plain gold and inside was the funniest little black faded photograph of Maggie； her head only； a wild untidy head of hair； a fat round schoolgirl face a village snapshot of Maggie taken in St。 Dreot's when she was about fifteen。
〃It's all I had；〃 she said。 〃I remembered it the other day and I found it。 A travelling photographer took it one day。 He came to the village and every one was taken； father and all。 It's very bad but it was the only one。〃
〃It's wonderful；〃 said Martin； and truly it was wonderful。 It had caught by a marvellous chance； in spite of its shabby faded darkness； the very soul of Maggie。 Was it her hair； her untidy hair； or the honesty of her eyes； or the strength and trustiness of her mouth？ But then it was to any one who did not know her the bad dim photograph of an untidy child； to any one who did know her the very stamp and witness of Maggie and all that she was。 Maggie had spent twenty…five shillings on the locket （she had had three pounds put away from her allowance in her drawer）。
It was a very simple locket； thin plain gold round and smooth； but good； and it would last。
〃You darling；〃 whispered Martin。 〃There couldn't have been anything more like you if you'd been taken by the grandest photographer in London。〃
They started off towards Shaftesbury Avenue where the theatre was； and as they went a funny little incident occurred。 They were both too happy to talk and Maggie was too happy even to think。 Suddenly she was aware that some one was coming towards her whom she knew。 She looked and tugged herself from that world of Martin and only Martin in which she was immersed。 It was the large； smiling； rosy… cheeked； white…haired clergyman； Mr。 Trenchard。 Yes； certainly it was he。 He had recognised her and was stopping to speak to her。 Martin moved on a little and stood waiting for her。 She was confused and embarrassed but pleased too because he seemed glad to see her。 He looked the very picture of a well…dressed； kindly； genial friend who had known her all his life。 He was wearing a beautifully shining top…hat and his stiff white collar gleamed。 Yes； he was glad to see her and he said so。 He remembered her name。 〃Miss Cardinal；〃 he called her。 How had she been？ What had she been doing？ Had she seen Mrs。 Mark？ He was staying with his sister at Brown's Hotel in Somewhereshe didn't catch the name of the street。 His sister would be so glad if she would come and see them one day。 Would she come？ He wouldn't tie her down； but she had only to write and say she was coming 。 。 。
He took her hand and held it for a moment and looked in her eyes with the kindliest friendliest regard。 He was glad to have seen her。 He should tell his sister 。 。 。
He was gone and Maggie really could not be sure what she had said。 Something very silly she could be certain。 Stupid the pleasure that his few words had given her； but she felt once again； as she had felt in Katherine Mark's drawing…room； the contact with that other world； that safe； happy； comfortable； assured world in which everything was exactly what it seemed。 She was glad that he liked her and that his sister liked her。 Then she could not be so wild and odd and uncivilised as she often was afraid that she was。 She rejoined Martin with a little added glow in her cheeks。
〃Who was that？〃 Martin asked her rather sharply。
She told him。
〃One of those humbugging parsons；〃 he said。 〃He stood over you as though he'd like to eat you。〃
〃Oh； I'm sure he's not a humbug；〃 she answered。
〃You'd be taken in by anybody；〃 he told her。
〃Oh； no； I shouldn't；〃 she said。 〃Now forget him。〃
And they did。 By the time they had reached Piccadilly Circus they were once more deep； deep in one another。 They were back in their dark and gleaming wood。
The Lyric Theatre was their destination。 Maggie drew a breath as they stepped into the hall where there stood two large stout commissionaires in blue uniforms； gold buttons； and white gloves。 People pushed past them and hurried down the stairs on either side as though a theatre were a Nothing。 Maggie stood there fingering her gloves and feeling lonely。 The oil painting of a beautiful lady with a row of shining teeth faced her。 There were also some palms and a hole in the wall with a man behind it。
Soon they too passed down the stairs； curtains were drawn back； and Maggie was sitting； quite suddenly； in a large desert of gold and red plush； with emptiness on every side of it and a hungry…looking crowd of people behind a wooden partition staring at her in such a way that she felt as though she had no clothes on。 She gave a hurried glance at these people and turned round blushing。
〃Why don't they sit with us？〃 she whispered to Martin。
〃They're the Pit and we're the Stalls；〃 he whispered to her； but that comforted her very little。
〃Won't people come and sit where we are？〃 she asked。
〃Oh yes； we're early；〃 he told her。
Soon she was more composed and happier。 She sat very close to Martin； her knee against his and his hand near to hers； just touching the outside of her palm。 Her ring sparkled and the three little pearls smiled at her。 As he breathed she breathed too； and it seemed to her that their bodies rose and fell as one body。 Without looking directly at him； which would； she knew； embarrass him before all those hungry people behind her； she could out of the corner of her eye see the ruddy brown of his cheek and t