With a sudden twitch she turned away from those eyes.
"Come, Laurie," she said. And she heard his steps following her.
They passed so through the inner hall and upstairs: and, without turning again, holding herself steady only by the consciousness that some appalling catastrophe was imminent if she did not, she opened the door of the old lady's room.
"Here he is," she said. "Now, Laurie, just kiss her and come away."
"My dearest," came the old voice from the gloom, and two hands were lifted.
Maggie watched, as the tall figure came obediently forward, in an indescribable terror. It was as when one watches a man in a tiger's den.... But the figure bent obediently, and kissed.
Maggie instantly stepped forward.
"Not a word," she said. "Auntie's got a headache. Yes, Auntie, he's very well; you'll see him in the morning. Go out at once, please, Laurie."
Without a word he passed out, and, as she closed the door after him, she heard him stop irresolute on the landing.
"My dearest child," came the peevish old voice, "you might have allowed my own son—"