"0 Lord God," she prayed, "this Thy servant comes to Thee and prays
that Thou wilt give her strength in her struggle with the Evil One.
She has been tempted and is weak, but Thou art strong to save and
wilt not despise the least of these Thy children."
"Come, O Lord the Father, and take Thy daughter into Thy loving
care, and when Thou comest, in all Thy splendour, to redeem the
world, I pray that Thou wilt find her waiting for Thee in holiness
and meekness of heart."
They rose. Maggie's knees were sore with the stiff carpet. The
family group watched her from the wall ironically.
She saw that in spite of the prayer Aunt Anne had not forgiven her.
She stood away from her, and although her voice now was not so hard,
it had lost altogether the tender note that it used to have.
"Now, Maggie, you must promise us that you will not see Martin
Warlock again."
Maggie flushed. "No, aunt, I can't promise that."
"Then we must treat you as a prisoner whilst you are with us."
"If he wants to see me I must see him."
They looked at one another. Aunt Anne was like a man just then.
"Very well.
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