Maggie, her head erect, her voice, in spite of
herself, trembling a little, answered:
"Why, Miss Warlock, I shouldn't think of troubling you. It's very
kind of your brother, but one must make one's discoveries for
oneself, mustn't one? . . . I am already beginning to find my way
about."
After that the tea-party fell into complete disruption. Maggie,
although she did not look, could feel Martin's anger like a flame
beside her. She was aware that Aunt Anne and Mr. Warlock were, like
some beings from another world, distant from the general confusion.
Her one passionate desire was to get up and leave the place; to her
intense relief she heard Aunt Anne's clear voice:
"I think, Mrs. Warlock, we must be turning homewards. Shall I send
you those papers about the Perteway's Mission? . . . Such splendid
work. I think it would interest you."
It was as though a hole had suddenly opened in the floor of the neat
little drawing-room and they were all hurrying to leave without, if
possible, tumbling into it. There was a general shaking of hands.
Mrs. Warlock said kindly to Maggie:
"Do come soon again, dear.
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