Maggie bent down.

She felt a tear upon her cheek and then the thin strong arms held her, for an instant, in an almost threatening embrace.
"Good-night, dear aunt," she said; but, outside the room, she had to stand for a moment in the dark passage to regain her control; her heart was beating with wild unreasoning terror.

Although she had brushed her cheek with her hand the cold touch of the tears still lingered there.
Outside the house they were free.

It looked so close and dark behind them that Maggie shivered a little and put her arm through her uncle's.
"That's all right," he said, patting her hand.

"We're going to enjoy ourselves." She looked up and saw Martin Warlock facing her.