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Walpole, Hugh, Sir, 1884-1941

"The Captives"

She was not to keep the two worlds apart,
she was not to be allowed to forget.
The sight of Caroline brought Martin before her so vividly that she
could have cried out. Instead she stood there, quietly waiting, and
showed no sign of any embarrassment.
Caroline was dressed in peach-coloured silk and a little black hat.
She was not confused in the least. She seized Maggie's hand and
shook it, talking all the time.
"Well now, I'm sure you're surprised to see me," she said, "and
perhaps you're not too glad either. Alfred wanted to come too, but I
said to him, 'No, Alfred, this will be just a little awkward at
first, for Maggie Trenchard's got a grievance, and with some reason,
too, so you'd better let me manage it alone the first meeting.'
Wasn't I right? Of course I was. And you can just say right out now,
Maggie, exactly what's in your mind. It's not my fault that we're
both in the same town. I'm sure you'd much rather never set eyes on
me again, and I'm sure I can quite understand if you feel like that.
But there it is. I told you long ago in London that Alfred was after
me, and I was in two minds about it-but of course I didn't dream you
were going to marry a parson.


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