t touch such a spot save, of necessity, with his body.
It should remain, so far as he might go, for ever tenantless.

She felt that. She seemed to be now marvellously perceptive. Until an
hour ago she had been lost, ostracised; now she was at home again,
clear in purpose, afraid of no one and of nothing. Strangely, although
his sickness both of body and soul touched her to the very depths of
her being, her predominant sensation was of happiness. She had found
him again! Oh, she had found him again! Nothing, in this world or the
next, counted in comparison with that. If she were close to him she
would make him well, she would make him rich, she would make him happy.
Where he had been, what he had done, mattered nothing. Where she had
been, what she had done, nothing. Nothing in their two lives counted
but their meeting again, and she who had been always so shy and so
diffident felt no doubt at all about his returning to her. There would
be a fight. As she looked around the gradually darkening room she
realised that. It might be a long fight and a difficult one, but that
she would win she had no doubt. It had been preordained that she should
win. No one on this earth or above it could beat her.

Gradually she became more practical. Slowly she formed her plans.
First, what had Martin done? Perhaps he had told the woman of the house
that she, Maggie, was to be turned out, did she not, of herself, go
away. No, Martin would not do that. Maggie knew quite confidently that
he would never allow any one to insult her. Perhaps Martin would not
come back at all. Perhaps his hat and his coat were his only
possessions. That was a terrible thought! Had he gone, leaving no
trace, how would she ever find him again? She remembered then that he
had gone straight downstairs and out of the house. He had not spoken to
the landlady. That did not look like a permanent departure. But she
would make certain.

She pushed open the other door and peeped into the further room. She
saw a dirty unmade bed, a tin washhand stand, and an open carpet-bag
filled with soiled linen. No, he would come back.

She sat there thinking out her plans. She was suddenly clear,
determined, resourceful, all the things that she had never been in her
life before. First she must see the landlady; next she must go to the
shops--but suppose he should return while she was there, pack his bag
and leave for ever? She must risk that. She thought that he would not
return at