"Dear me, I'm sorry to hear that.She was a good woman and did many kind actions in her time."There was something very unpleasant about that room, with the yellow light, the hissing gas, and the immobile figure on the sofa.Maggie looked in the direction of old Mrs.Warlock "You needn't mind mother," said Amy Warlock."For some time now she's been completely paralysed.She can't speak or move.But she likes to be downstairs, to see the world a bit.It's sad after the way that she used to enjoy life.Father's death was a great shock to her."It was sad.Maggie remembered how fond she had been of her food.
Like a waxen image! Like a waxen image! The whole room was ghoulish and unnatural.
"I've asked you to come and see me, Mrs.Trenchard," continued Miss Warlock, "not because we can have any wish to meet, I am sure.We have never liked one another.But I have something on my conscience, and I may not have another opportunity of speaking to you.I don't suppose you have heard that very shortly I intend to enter a nunnery at Roehampton.""And your mother?" asked Maggie.
"Mother will go into a Home," answered Miss Warlock.
There was a strange little sound from the sofa like a rat nibbling behind the wainscot.
"I must tell you," said Miss Warlock, speaking apparently with some difficulty, "that I have done you a wrong.Shortly after my father's death my brother wrote to you from Paris.""Wrote to me?" repeated Maggie.
"Yes--wrote to you through me.I destroyed the letters.He wrote then five times in rather swift succession.I destroyed all the letters."Maggie said nothing.
"I destroyed the letters," continued Amy Warlock, "because I did not wish you and my brother to come together.I did not wish you to, simply out of hatred for you both.I thought that my brother killed my father--whom--whom--I loved.I knew that the one human being whom Martin had ever loved beside his father was yourself.He did love you, Mrs.Trenchard, more truly than I had believed it in his power to love any one.I think you could have made him happy--therefore Idid not wish you to meet again."
There was a pause.Maggie said at last:
"Were there no other letters?"
"Yes," said Miss Warlock."One this summer.For more than a year there was nothing; then this summer, a little one.I destroyed that too.""What did it say?" asked Maggie.
"It said that the woman to whom he had been married was dead.He said that if you didn't answer this letter he would understand that you would not want to hear from him any more.He had been very ill.""Where did he write that?"
"In Paris."
"And where is he now?"
"I don't know.I have heard from him no more."Maggie got up and stood, her head raised as though listening for something.
"You've been very cruel, Miss Warlock," she said.
"Perhaps I have," said Miss Warlock."But you cannot judge until you know with what reason I hated my brother.It is a very old story.
However, now I hate no one.I will not apologise for what I have done.I do not want your forgiveness.I had to absolve my conscience.""And you have no idea where he is now?"
"I have no idea.He may be dead for all I know."Maggie shivered."If you have any more information you will give it me?""I will give it you."
"This is my address." Maggie gave her a card.
They said good-day, looking for one moment, face to face, eye to eye.
Then Maggie turned and went.Her eyes were dim so that she stumbled on the stairs.In the street she walked, caring nothing of her direction, seeing only Martin.