You
could not have known that Martin Warlock is a man with whom no girl
who respects herself would be seen alone--"
"That is untrue!" Maggie flamed out.
"--and," went on Aunt Anne, "we would have forgiven that. It is your
deceit to ourselves that we cannot forget. Day after day you were
meeting him and pretending that you went to your other friends. I am
disappointed in you, bitterly disappointed. I saw from the first
that you did not mean to care for us, now, as well, you have
disgraced us--"
Maggie began: "Yes, I have been seeing Martin. I didn't think it
wrong--I don't now. I didn't tell you because I was afraid that
you would stop me--"
"Then that shows that you knew it was wrong."
"No, Aunt Anne--only that you would think it was wrong. I can only
go by myself, by what I feel is wrong I mean. I've always had to,
all my life. It would have been no good doing anything else at home,
because father--"
She pulled herself up. She was not going to defend herself or ask
for pity. She said, speaking finally:
"Yes, I have been out with Martin every day. I went to the theatre
with him, too, and also had tea with him.
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