After all these years you have. After all my fine
speeches, too."
He began to drum on the window. He tried to speak casually.
"I haven't beaten you, Maggie."
"Yes, you have. I said you wouldn't be able to send me away. Well,
you've managed to and in the only way you could--by your silence.
You haven't opened your mouth for a fortnight. You're better now,
too, and Mrs. Bolitho will look after you. I was determined to hang
on to you, but I find I can't. I'm going back to London to get some
work."
His hand dropped from the window. Then, with his head turned from
her and his voice so low that she could scarcely hear the--
"No, Maggie, don't go."
She smiled across at him. "There's no need to be polite, Martin.
We're both of us beyond that by this time. I'll come back if you
really want me. You know that I always will, but at last, after all
these years, I've found a scrap of self-respect. Here am I always
bundling about--first the aunts, then you, then Paul, then you
again, and nobody wanting me. I don't suppose," she said laughing,
"that there can be anybody less wanted in the world. So I'm just
going to look after myself now.
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