t is not
conceited. He seemed to have no trouble in the world.

He greeted the aunts, then shook hands with Maggie. He gave her one
glance and she, suddenly feeling that that glance had not the things in
it that she had wanted, was frightened, her confidence left her, she
felt that if she did not have a word alone with him she would die.

He sat down near Aunt Anne.

"No, thank you, I won't have any tea," he said. "We're dining very
early to-night because Father and Amy have a meeting right away over
Golders Green way somewhere. It's really on a message from him that I
came."

He did not look at her, placed like a square shadow against the dusky
wall. He sat, leaning forward a little, his red-brown hand on his knee,
his leg bulging under the cloth of his trouser, his neck struggling
behind his collar--but his smile was pleasant and easy, he seemed
perfectly at home.

"My father wonders whether you will mind some friends of Miss Avies
sitting with you in your pew to-morrow evening. She has especially
asked--two of them ... ladies, I believe. But it seems that there will
be something of a crowd, and as your pew is always half empty-- He
would not have asked except that there seems nowhere else."

Aunt Anne graciously assented.

"But, of course, Mr. Warlock, Maggie will be going with us, but still
there will be room. Mr. Crashaw is going to speak after all, I hear. I
was afraid that he would have been too ill."

Martin laughed. "He is staying with us, you know, and already he is
preparing himself. He's about the oldest human being I've ever seen. He
must be a hundred."

"He's a great saint," said Aunt Anne.

"He's always in a terrible temper though," said Martin. "He mutters to
himself--and he eats nothing. His room is next to mine, and he walked
up and down all night talking. I don't know how he keeps alive."

Perhaps Aunt Anne thought Martin's tone irreverent. She relapsed into
herself and seemed suddenly, with a spiritual wave of the hand, to have
dismissed the whole company.

Martin took his leave. He barely touched Maggie's hand, but his eyes
leapt upon hers with all the fire of a greeting too long delayed. His
lips did not move, but she heard the whisper "Soon!" Then he was gone.

Soon! She felt as though she could not wait another instant but must
immediately run after him, follow him into the street, and make clear
his plans both for himself and her.

Then, continuing her struggle of the long day