love of gossip has led
her to abandon her appearance. She had obviously surrendered the idea
of attracting the male, and flung on her clothes--an old black hat, a
grey coat and skirt--with a negligence that showed that she cared for
worthier things. She gave the impression that there was no time to be
lost were one to gather all the things in life worth hearing.

If Mrs. Constantine stood for the police and Miss Purves the
town-crier, Mrs. Maxse certainly represented Society. She was dressed
beautifully, and she must have been very pretty once. Her hair was now
grey, but her cheeks had still a charming bloom. She was delicate and
fragile, rustling and scented, with a beautiful string of pearls round
her neck (this, in the daytime, Maggie thought very odd), and a large
black hat with a sweeping feather. Her voice was a little sad, a little
regretful, as though she knew that her beautiful youth was gone and was
making the best of what she had.

She told Maggie that "she couldn't help" being an idealist.

"I know it's foolish of me," she said in her gentle voice, smiling her
charming smile. "They all tell me so. But if life isn't meant to be
beautiful, where are we? Everything must have a meaning, mustn't it,
Mrs. Trenchard, and however often we fail--and after all we are only
human--we must try, try again. I believe in seeing the best in people,
because then they live up to that. People are what we make them, don't
you think?"

"The woman's a fool," thought Maggie. Nevertheless, she liked her
kindness. She was so strangely driven. She wished to think of Martin
always, never to forget him, but at the same time not to think of the
life that was connected with him. She must never think of him as some
one who might return. Did that once begin all this present life would
be impossible--and she meant to make this new existence not only
possible but successful. Therefore she was building, so hard as she
could, this new house; the walls were rising, the rooms were prepared,
every window was barred, the doors were locked, no one from outside
should enter, and everything that belonged to it--Paul, Grace, the
Church, these women, Skeaton itself, her household duties, the
servants, everything and every one was pressed into service. She must
have so much to do that she could not think, she must like every one
else so much that she could not want any one else--that other world
must be kept out, no sound nor sight of it must enter