a dream she shared in the rest of the ceremony. In a dream she
passed with the others out of the building. The sea air blew about her;
down the promenade she could see the people, she could see the silver
stars in the sky, the faint orange light of the lanterns, the dim
stretch of the sand, and then the grey sea. She heard the splash and
withdrawal of the tide, the murmur of many voices, the singing of the
distant hymn, the blare of the trumpet.

Strange and mysterious, the wind blowing through it all like a promise
of beauty and splendour to come ...

She turned in the starlit dark, separated herself from the crowd, and
hurried home.

In the hall on the table under the lamp she saw a letter. She saw that
it was addressed to her and that the writing was Amy Warlock's. Before
she picked it up she stood there listening. The house was very still.
Grace and Paul had probably begun supper. She picked up the letter and
went up to her bedroom.

As though she were scanning something that she had already seen, she
read:

I made you a promise and I will now fulfil it.

My brother, Martin, arrived in London three days ago. He is staying at
No. 13A Lynton Street, King's Cross.

I have seen him but he has told me that he does not wish to see me
again. He is very ill; his heart is bad and his lungs are affected. He
has also spent all his money. I mentioned your name but he did not seem
to be at all interested. I think it fair to tell you this lest you
should have a fruitless journey. I have now kept my promise to you,
unwisely perhaps. AMY WARLOCK.

Maggie sat down on the bed and considered. There was a train at 10.30
reaching London about midnight. She could just catch it if she were
quick. She found a pencil and a piece of paper and wrote:

DEAR PAUL--I have to go to London suddenly on very urgent business. I
will write to you from there. Good-bye. MAGGIE.

She propped this up against the looking-glass. She put a few things,
including the box with Martin's letters and the ring into a little bag,
put on her hat and coat and went downstairs. She waited for a moment in
the hall but there was no sound anywhere. She went out down the dark
drive.

As she passed along the lonely road she heard the gate, screaming
faintly, behind her.

PART IV

THE JOURNEY HOME AGAIN

CHAPTER I

THE DARK ROOM

It was after midnight when Maggie was turned out on to the long grim
platform of the London station. On that other