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"So no one sent you?"

"No"

"You'd better go," she quickly concluded

"Maybe she'd like a cup of tea," I heard behindin the middle of the room, her head tilted toward us "I can make it, you know," she added

"No," Mary Margaret called back "She's not staying, Mum"

"What are you afraid of, Mary Margaret?" I asked, stepping farther into the bedroom

"I'o"

"That's not very hospitable, Mary Margaret," her mother called

"Mum, just be still"

"Is it true then, Mary Margaret?" I asked

"What's true?" her mother asked She was close to the doorway, but she still had her head tilted as though she wanted to hear us better

"Nothing, Mu Go back to your radio"

I stood there staring and suddenly, Mary Margaret started to weep I went to her and sat on the bed

"It's all right," I said "I came to help you"

"Are you crying in there, Mary Margaret?" her mother asked