e'd had a service in the drawing-room
and two girls had gone into hysterics, I stole down into the kitchen in
my nightdress to get some jam and I found one of the Elders making love
to the cook. They were both so fat and he had his coat and waistcoat
off and he was kissing her neck. My word, they were frightened when
they saw me standing there! After that I could do what I liked with the
cook ... We used to have prayer meetings in the drawing-room, and
sometimes father would pray so hard that the glass chandelier would
shake and rattle till I used to think it would come down."

"And the funny thing was that one minute I'd be pinching Amy who was
kneeling next to me and the next I'd be shaking with religion and
seeing God standing right in front of me by the coal-scuttle. Such a
mix-up! ... it was then and so it is 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