For a blind instant Maggie, returning from her other world, thought
it the figure of Mr. Palmer of Rugeley.
It was, of course, Uncle Mathew.
CHAPTER IV
MR. CRASHAW
Uncle Mathew saw Maggie back to her door, kissed her and left her.
On their way home he did not once mention Martin Warlock to her.
He left her as he heard the bolt turn in the door, hurrying away as
though he did not want to be seen. Maggie went in to find old Martha
with her crabbed face watching her sourly. But she did not care,
nothing could touch her now. Even the old woman, cross with waiting
by the fading kitchen fire, noticed the light in the girl's eyes.
She had always thought the girl hard and ungracious, but now that
face was soft, and the mouth smiling over its secret thoughts, and
the eyes sleepy with happiness.
Maggie could have said: "I'm wild with joy, Martha. I know what love
is. I had never thought that it could be like this. Be kind to me
because it's the greatest night of my life."
Martha said: "There's some milk hotted for you, Miss, and some
biscuits. There on the table by the stairs."
"Oh, I don't want anything, Martha, thank you!"
"Your aunt said you was to have it.
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