"You're very young--terribly young. I've
got no advice to give you except to lead a healthy life somewhere
away from these surroundings. We're an unnatural lot here and you're
a healthy young creature . . . Have you got a lover?"
Maggie smiled. "I've got a friend," she said. Miss Avies sighed.
"That's more than I've got," she said.
"Not that I've time for one," she added. She got up. "I won't wait
for your aunt," she said, "I've left a note downstairs . . . You
clear out as soon as you can, that's my advice to you."
She said good-bye, looking into Maggie's clear eyes. She was
suddenly less inhuman, the touch of her hand was warmer.
"Don't you cheat yourself into believing in the Deity," she said,
and was gone.
When Friday arrived Maggie had not seen Caroline again, and she
could not tell whether the note had been safely delivered or no. She
was not sure what she had better do. Caroline might hare done
anything with the note, torn it up, burnt it, lost it, forgotten it
altogether. Well, that was a risk that Maggie must take. If he did
not appear she would wait a little while and then come away.
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