"Sorry your Aunt's out," she said, "but I can talk to you for a while." She looked at Maggie for a moment. Then she said:
"Why don't you clear out of all this?"
The voice was so abrupt and the words so unexpected that Maggie jumped.
"Why don't I?" she repeated.
"Yes, you," said Miss Avies. "You've no place here in all this business. You don't believe in it, do you?"
"No," said Maggie.
"And you don't want to use it for something you do believe in?"
"No," said Maggie. "Well then, clear out."
Maggie, colouring a little, said:
"My aunts have been very good to me. I oughtn't to leave them."