She introduced her for a moment to the master of the
house, a stout red-faced man who looked as though he had lost
something very precious, but was too sleepy to search for it. He
called Caroline "Sweet," and she treated him with patronage and
contempt. Maggie came away distressed, and she was not surprised to
hear, a day or two later, from Grace that Mrs. Purdie was "fast" and
had been rude to Mrs. Constantine.
One day early in the spring Grace announced that Maggie ought not to
go and see Mrs. Purdie any more. "There are all sorts of stories,"
said Grace. "People say--Oh, well, never mind. They have dancing on
Sunday."
"But she's an old friend of mine," said Maggie.
"You have others to think of beside yourself, Maggie," said Grace.
"And there is the Church."
"She's an old friend of mine," repeated Maggie, her mouth set
obstinately.
"I will ask Paul what he thinks," said Grace.
"Please," said Maggie, her colour rising into her cheeks, "don't
interfere between Paul and me. I'll speak to him myself."
She did. Paul maintained the attitude of indifference that he had
adopted during the last six months.
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