She was about to draw back when a movement arrested her. At the far end she made out Chalfont. He was sitting at an escritoire with his head bent over it. After a moment of hesitation she went up to him and timidly touched him on the shoulder. Dazed by grief and with his thoughts far away he did not at first recognize her. Seeing how it was with him she gently said:
"I'm Maggy. I didn't mean to disturb you. I was looking for Lexie.... Now that I'm here I'd like to say how dreadfully sorry I am."
After he had thanked her there was a pause. His ease had temporarily left him. Maggy felt she was intruding.
"Do you know where she has gone? Lexie, I mean," she went on.
"She wrote down her address." Chalfont searched for and found it among the papers on the escritoire. "109, Sidey Street."
"Then she's gone back. That's where we used to live together."
There was another silence. Then Chalfont said:
"Will you let me know if there is anything I can do for her? Mrs. Lambert was very interested in her--and yourself. Indeed--" here he hesitated a little--"the last word she spoke was your name. That is why I--"
The color came into Maggy's face. She did not let him finish.
"No; only your name. She seemed to be concerned about you."
"She knew all about me," she said in an explanatory tone. "She was worried because I had been ill, I expect. She was like that, I know.... And she knew I--I wasn't married."
Her meaning was quite plain, as plain as the wedding-ring on her ungloved hand. In her honesty she thought the admission was due to Chalfont after he had apprized her of Mrs. Lambert's interest in her. His manner of doing so had implied friendship. She did not want to accept that under false pretenses.
Chalfont was quick to appreciate her motive in making the confession. If possible it raised her in his estimation. But it filled him with a curious sense of disappointment. In spite of the absence of a legal bond between Mrs. Lambert and himself he had a strong distaste for free alliances. He had chafed against circumstances in his own case, and he was far from sitting in judgment on Maggy's. Still, he could not help the shock they had on his feelings.
"You didn't think I was that sort," she said, guessing at what was in his mind. "Lexie's not, but I'm different. I'm not a lady. It wasn't only because I wanted clothes and jewelry, or because I was hungry that--that it happened. I _did_ hate going without things. But it was because I met a man who made me feel--like jelly. If he'd had nothing a year I would have gone to the devil with him just the same.... I'm telling you all this to show you why we can't be friends, although I know you're ever so kind."