it
already! I must say I'm delighted because I never thought much of
Martin Warlock if you want to know, my dear. I always thought him a
weak young man, and he wouldn't have done you any good. I'm
delighted--indeed I am."

"That's not true either," said Maggie quietly. "If by getting over it
you mean that I don't love Martin you're quite wrong. I loved him the
first moment I saw him and I shall love him in just the same way until
I die. I don't think it matters what he does or where he is so far as
loving him goes. But that doesn't mean I'm sitting and pining. I'm not."

Miss Avies looked at her with displeasure.

"It's the same thing then," she said. "You may fancy you're going to
lead an ordinary life again, but all the time you'll just be waiting
for him to come back."

"No," said Maggie, "I shall not. I've had plenty of time for thinking
these last weeks, and I've made up my mind to his never coming
back--never at all. And even if he did come back he mightn't want me.
So I'm not going to waste time about it. I shall find work and make
myself useful somewhere, but I shall always love Martin just as I do
now."

"You're very young," said Miss Avies, touched in spite of herself.
"Later on you'll find some one much better than young Warlock."

"Perhaps I shall," said Maggie. "But what's the use of that if he isn't
Martin? I've heard people say that before--some one's 'better' or
'stronger' or 'wiser.'--But what has that got to do with it? I love
Martin because he's Martin. He's got a weak character you say. That's
why he wants me, and I want to be wanted more than anything on earth."

"Why, child," said Miss Avies, astonished. "How you've grown these last
weeks!"

"Do you want to know how I love Martin," said Maggie, "so that there
shall be no mistake about it? Well, I can't tell you. I couldn't tell
any one. I don't know how I love him, but I know that I shall never
change or alter all my life--even though he never comes back again.
I've given over being silly," she went on. "There were days and days at
first when I just wanted to die. But now I'm going to make my own life
and have a good time--and never stop loving Martin for one single
second."

"Supposing," said Miss Avies, "some one wanted to marry you? Would you?"

"It would depend," said Maggie; "if I liked him and he really wanted me
and I could help him I might. Only, of course, I'd tell him about
Martin first."

She went on after a little pause: