And then the girl talked too much.She had interrupted Grace in the middle of one of her stories.
When Caroline had departed (after kissing Maggie affectionately)Grace said:
"And so you knew her before, Maggie?"
"I knew her in London," said Maggie.
"I like her," said Paul."A bright young creature.""Hum!" said Grace.
That was a wonderful spring evening, the first spring evening of the year.The ugly garden swam in a mist faintly cherry-colour; through the mist a pale evening sky, of so rich a blue that it was almost white, was shadowing against a baby moon sharply gold.The bottles on the wall were veiled by the evening mist; a thrush sang in the little bush at the end of the lawn.
Paul whispered to Maggie: "Come out into the garden."She went with him, frightened; she could feel his arm tremble against her waist; his cold hard fingers caught hers.No current ran from her body to his.They were apart, try as she may.When they had walked the length of the lawn he caught her close to him, put his hand roughly up to her neck and, bending her head towards his, kissed her.She heard his words, strangled and fierce.
"Love me, Maggie-love me-you must--"
When he released her, looking back towards the dark house, she saw Grace standing there with a lamp in her hand.
Against her will she shared his feeling of guilt, as, like children caught in a fault, they turned back towards the house.