was as though, without
any reason, she expected to find him at the service ... although she
knew that he could not be there.

She heard the Church bell begin to ring, then the hall-door opened and
Paul came out. He had on his soft black hat, he was carrying his Bible
and prayer-book under his arm. He stood, for a moment, beside the
hall-door as though he were listening or expecting something. She had a
strange impulse to run down to him; so strong was it that she got up
and moved to the door. Then slowly she came back to the window and
stood looking down upon him. Suddenly, as though he felt her gaze, he
glanced up, saw her, and waved to her. She waved back to him. He turned
and walked quickly away, she heard the gate swing, screaming behind him.

She waited for a little, then put on her hat and coat and went out. She
knew the Flower Street Hall, a place occasionally used by touring
Companies, Wandering Lecturers, Charitable Concerts, and other casual
festivals. It was at the far end of the town towards the end of the
Promenade.

The town, dim in the first dusk, hummed with loiterers, girls released
from the shops walking with their young men, middle-aged couples
sauntering out to take a last whiff of the sea before going in to the
evening meal, one or two visitors from the Hotel strolling across to
the beach to watch the first evening stars and the rising moon. Pianos
were playing, children shouting over the last game of the day; all
hushed into a coloured mild tranquillity. In the fields beyond the
houses the quiet was absolute.

Maggie found the building. The facade was blazing with electric light.
A huge poster, of the now familiar pink, declared:

GRAND RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL. All are invited. IS ALL WELL WITH YOU,
BROTHER?

There was a crowd about the doors, and continually, with giggles and
shamefaced laughter, couples broke away and climbed the steps into the
Hall. Maggie, feeling that all eyes were upon her, entered the
building. In the vestibule two grave-faced women in black bonnets
handed papers with prayers and hymns to every newcomer. Maggie took
hers, a door was opened in front of her, and she went in. The
auditorium was a large one, semicircular in shape, with tiers of seats
rising circus-fashion to a ceiling decorated with silver stars and pink
naked cherubs. The stage had upon it a table, some chairs, and a
reading-desk draped in crimson cloth. Below the stage was a small
orchestra, consisting of