"Fancy that! I wonder what he went for.His father made him, Iexpect.You know they say he's getting on awfully badly at home and that there are quarrels all the time.I don't know, of course, but his sister can't stand him.She's always showing her feelings--not very good taste, I think, but Mr.Thurston eggs her on.They'll be making a match of it one day, those two...I say, Maggie--"Caroline drew her chair close."I'll give you a secret.You won't tell any one, will you?""Certainly not--if you tell me not to," said Maggie.
"Well, Martin Warlock and I--ever since he came back.Oh! I don't say it's anything really.But he's attracted by me and would like to go farther.He'll be asking me to marry him one of these days, and then I'll have fun.He would have done the other day if I'd let him.
I like him rather, don't you? He's getting a bit fat, of course, but he's got nice eyes, and then he's a real man.I like real men.But there, you'll be thinking me coarse, I know you will.I'm not coarse really, only impulsive.You don't like me, honestly, if it were known.Oh no! you don't! I can tell.I always know.But I don't care--I love you.You're a darling--and what I say is if you love some one, just love them.Never mind what they think.Don't you agree with me? But you wouldn't.You wouldn't think of loving anybody.But I'm not really bad--only careless, Mother says--"What Mother said could not be known, because the door opened and Martha announced Mr.Crashaw.The old man, leaning on a walking stick, came forward and greeted Maggie and Caroline with good-temper and amiability.He was indeed in day-time a very mild old man, and it was difficult for Maggie to believe that this was the same who last night had frightened her out of her wits and led her to the edge of such strange suspicions.He was more than ever like a monkey, with his bony brown forehead, protuberant eyes and large mottled nose, and he sat there all huddled up by his rheumatism, a living example of present physical torments rather than future spiritual ones.It was apparent at once that he liked pretty young women, and he paid Caroline a number of flattering attentions, disregarding Maggie with a frankness that witnessed to a life that had taught one lesson at least, never on any occasion to waste time.