"What?" asked Katherine as Maggie hesitated.

"Religion," said Maggie. "Paul's a clergyman and I don't believe in his
religion at all. Two months ago I'd have said I hated all religion--and
so would you if you'd had a time like me. But since Martin's gone I'm
not so sure. There's some-thing I want to find out... But Paul's found
out everything. He's quite sure and certain. I'd have to tell him I
don't believe in any of his faith."

"Tell him, of course," said Katherine. "I think he knows that already.
He's going to convert you. He looks forward to it. If he hadn't been so
lazy he'd have been a missionary."

"Tell me about Skeaton," said Maggie.

"I've only been there once," said Katherine. "Frankly, I didn't like it
very much, but then I'm so used to the Glebeshire sea that it all
seemed rather tame. There was a good deal of sand blowing about the day
I was there, but Paul's house is nice with a garden and a croquet-lawn,
and--and--Oh! very nice, and nice people next door I believe."

"I'm glad it's not like Glebeshire," said Maggie. "That's a point in
its favour. I want to be somewhere where everything is quiet and
orderly, and every one knows their own mind and all the bells ring at
the right time and no one's strange or queer, and--most of all--where
no one's afraid of anything. All my life I've been with people who were
afraid and I've been afraid myself. Now Paul and Grace are not afraid
of anything."

"No, they're not," said Katherine, laughing.

Suddenly Maggie broke out:

"Katherine! Tell me truly. Does Paul want me, does he need me? Does he
indeed?"

The storm of appeal in Maggie's voice made Katherine suddenly shy;
there was a hint at loneliness and desolation there that was something
beyond her reach. She wanted to help. She was suddenly frightened at
her urging of Paul's suit. Something seemed to say to her: "Leave this
alone. Don't take the responsibility of this. You don't understand ..."

But another voice said: "Poor child ... all alone, penniless, without a
friend. What a chance for her! Paul such a kind man."

So she kissed Maggie, and said: "He wants you dreadfully, Maggie dear."

Maggie's cheeks flushed.

"That's nice," she said in her most ordinary voice. "Because no one
ever has before, you know."

Paul's proposal came the very next day. It came after luncheon in a
corner of the drawing-room.

Maggie knew quite well that it was coming. She was lying in a long
chair near the fi