LILY. [_struck with astonishment._] You're not going to marry Walter? Maggie! MAGGIE. I've broken it off. I did it last night. LILY. Whatever for? Did you quarrel? You were a little touchy last night, I thought--but Walter is so good tempered. MAGGIE. I'm sure it's very good of him, but I don't wish to be forgiven and taken back. It was all through Mr. Tennant. LILY. [_anxiously._] You don't love _him?_ MAGGIE. [_exasperated._] No, I'm not in love with _anybody;_ but all last week I was thinking and thinking, and it wasn't till last night that I found I was just marrying--to get away from the shop! LILY. But he was _devoted_ to you and so kind. MAGGIE. I don't want kindness. My shopwalker is very kind where I am, and I don't see any need to change. LILY. How extraordinary you talk! MAGGIE. Well, when I heard Charley talking last night, I thought what a fool I was to throw up one sort of--cage--for another. LILY. But you _are_ free when you're married-- MAGGIE. Nobody is--more especially the woman. But the thing is, I shouldn't want to be, if I loved the man. But I don't love Walter, only his house. Now, I can leave the shop any day, when I've saved enough--and run away. But I couldn't run away from Walter. LILY. [_horrified._] Run away-- MAGGIE. [_suddenly beginning to laugh._] Can you see me? Running away from Walter? _Walter!_ Oh! [_She laughs, but LILY looks very grave._] LILY. You don't take the matter seriously. MAGGIE. It shows how seriously I do take it. Have you ever heard of any girl, throwing up a good match, who wasn't dead serious? _TENNANT enters._ TENNANT. Good morning. Oh, good morning, Miss Massey. LILY. You're ready for breakfast, aren't you? _Goes out._ MAGGIE. Aren't you surprised to see me here? I wanted to give you a send off. TENNANT. Awfully good of you. MAGGIE. You're quite a hero in my eyes, you know, and I feel I must cheer or do something extra. [_LILY comes in with porridge._] LILY. You'll have some, won't you, Maggie? MAGGIE. Thanks. Here, I'll pour out the tea. _LILY goes out._ [_To TENNANT._] Aren't you just frightfully excited? TENNANT. Can't say I am. MAGGIE. [_sighing and looking admiringly at him._] I should be _wild,_ absolutely wild, if I were going. TENNANT. I'm going to chance it, you know. There's no fortune waiting for me. MAGGIE. That's the point of it. You know it's awfully unsettling, all this talk about Australia. You've made me so dissatisfied. I don't feel I can go back to the shop. TENNANT. [_easily._] You'll get over that. MAGGIE. Oh, I suppose so. _LILY enters with toast and puts it down beside him._ TENNANT. [_turning._] Please don't bring anything else, Mrs. Wilson. I can't eat it. LILY. But it's such a journey to the boat. TENNANT. Oh, that's nothing--besides, I've got these sandwiches. [_Laying his hand on the package near him._] LILY. Are you sure there are enough? I can soon cut some more.