She was essentially there to bear the burden, in the last resort, of surrounding omissions and evasions, and it was eminently to that office she had been to-day abandoned--with this one alleviation, as appeared, of Mrs.Assingham's keeping up with her.

Mrs.Assingham suggested that she too was still on the ramparts--though her gallantry proved indeed after a moment to consist not a little of her curiosity.

She had looked about and seen their companions beyond earshot.
"Don't you really want us to go-- ?" Maggie found a faint smile.

"Do you really want to-- ?" It made her friend colour.

"Well then--no.