During one of her periodical peeps at the window she saw Alexandra walking down the street. A panicy feeling assailed her. She peeped again and noticed how slowly she was coming along, how listless was her step. She looked tired, frail. Maggy’s warm heart gave a compassionate thump. Her nervousness increased as she heard Alexandra mounting the stairs. What should she say to start with? "I was passing, and I thought I’d look in?" That would sound casual, forced. Or "I hope you don’t mind my coming to see you." That would be groveling. Should she wait for Alexandra to speak first? Suppose she should say something cold and cutting, final? Suppose she just stood still, waiting for Maggy to speak? And how long might they not stand looking at each other like that, without saying a word.... Alexandra opened the door and Maggy faced round, her breast rising and falling. Unrehearsed words bubbled from her heart. "Oh, Lexie, I’m just the same. Won’t you be?" "Maggy, dear!" Choking with emotion and gladness, they found they were holding hands tightly, as if they could never let go. Big tears welled up in Maggy’s eyes. "It doesn’t alter one a bit," she got out huskily. They sat down on the bed, close together, for a moment or two dumb with congestion of thought—the numberless things, essentials affecting themselves, that needed asking and answering. "Are you happy, Maggy?" "Don’t I look it?" She irradiated happiness. Her eyes beamed, her lips laughed. "I love him, Lexie. It’s lovely to love a man whatever way love comes to you. He can’t give me the brown egg at breakfast because he’s not there then, but I feel just as—oh, you know! I’m not really _bad_, Lexie. There isn’t another man in the world for me. Tell me about yourself, darling. Have you got anything to do yet?" "No. I’m beginning to wonder whether I ever shall. I can’t see anything ahead. It’s black." "Your stomach’s empty," said Maggy prosaically. "You look as if you’ve lived on nothing for ten days." "I’ve lived on four-and-sixpence a week." "Oh, Lexie! And I’ve had caviare and plovers’ eggs and all sorts of expensive things while you’ve been starving!" She looked horribly contrite. "Do you know that picture advertisement with a big fat cat talking to a thin miserable one and saying it had been fed on somebody’s milk? I’m the fat cat because I’m being kept by—" "Don’t!" said Alexandra. "I’m sorry. I forgot. Fred encourages me to be downright. Don’t take the pins out of your hat. Look here, Lexie. Do me a favor and come out with me sometimes. Come now! When Fred’s not around I’m at a loose end, and it’s lonely. I get tired of mooching round the shops and only buying things for myself. The day would go faster if I could lie in bed half the morning, but I’m so beastly energetic. I’m awake at seven and thinking of eggs and bacon. I would like to show you my flat. Would you mind coming to see it? There’s no one there, only me."