'Father has promised me never to resort to violence again; my presence is the temptation to do so, things might happen--things would be sure to happen that would force him to forget his promise. He might kill mother--that is the way these things end. He has borne with a great deal; he has said nothing; people think that he feels nothing; he may think so himself, but something is all the while growing within him, and the day comes when he will stand it no longer, when he will kill mother. Very little suffices, I very nearly sufficed.... I must go, Father, you must take me away.' Agnes spoke out of the fulness of her instinct, and Father White wondered, for such knowledge of life seemed very strange in one of Agnes' age and ignorance. 'I understand, my child. As you say, it is difficult for you to remain here. But I cannot take you away without consulting your father.' 'Father will not oppose my returning to the convent, I have spoken to him. He knows how unhappy I am.' 'But I cannot take you away without his authority.' 'I did not intend to leave without bidding father good-bye. We can stop the cab as we go round the Square.' 'But your clothes are not packed.' 'They will lend me all I want at the convent, my clothes can be sent after me. Father, you must take me away, I cannot remain here and meet mother after what happened. My mission here is ended; prayer will do the rest. I want to go to the convent so that I shall be free to pray for mother.' Unable to resist the intensity of the girl's will, Father White answered that he would wait for her while she went upstairs to get her hat and jacket. As he paced the room he tried to think, but he could not catch a single thread of thought. He was merely aware of the horrible position that this dear, good and innocent girl had so unexpectedly found herself thrust into, and of the good sense and resource she had displayed in her time of trial. 'No doubt she is right,' he thought, 'she cannot remain here.... She must go back to the convent, at least for the present. But once she goes back she will never again be persuaded to leave it. So much the better, another soul for God and joy everlasting.' The door opened. Agnes wore the same dress as she had arrived in, the same little black fur jacket, and her hands were in the same little muff. They went downstairs without speaking, and Father White called a four-wheeled cab. As they got in he said: 'You know that I cannot possibly take you away without first obtaining your father's authority.' 'We shall meet him as we go round the Square. Tell the cabman to drive slowly, I'll keep watch this side, you keep watch that side, we can't miss him.' 'I'm to drive round the Square till you see a gentleman walking?' 'Yes, and then we'll stop you,' said Father White. Suddenly Agnes cried 'There is father, there.' Father White poked his umbrella through the window, and Agnes screamed, and she had to scream her loudest, so absorbed was the Major.