Had Martin
been there in five minutes they would, together, have chased all
these ghosts away. But he was not there. And at the thought of him
she would have to set her mouth very firmly, indeed, to prevent her
lips from trembling. She took out her ring and kissed it, and looked
at the already tattered copy of the programme of the play to which
they had been, and recalled every minute of their walks together.
Christmas Day was a very miserable affair. There were no presents
and no festivities. They went to Chapel and Mr. Thurston preached
the sermon. Maggie did, however, receive one letter. It was from
Uncle Mathew. He wrote to her from some town in the north. He didn't
seem very happy, and asked her whether she could possibly lend him
five pounds. Alluding with a characteristic vagueness to "business
plans of the first importance that were likely to mature very
shortly."
She told Aunt Anne that she wanted five pounds of her money, but she
did not say for what she needed them.
Aunt Anne gave her the money at once without a word--as though she
said: "We have given up all control of you except to see that you
behave decently whilst you are still with us.
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