the captives-第25章

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Mathew　met　with　his　own　hostility　as　he　looked　up　now　at　his　sister　and　greeted　her：

〃Why；　Mathew！　You　never　told　us。　I　would　have　hurried　back；　and　now　Elizabeth；　I'm　afraid；　has　gone　on　to　see　some　friends。　She　will　be　so　disappointed。　But　at　least　you've　had　Maggie　to　entertain　you。〃

A　quick　glance　was　exchanged　between　uncle　and　niece。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃we've　had　a　talk；　Anne；　thank　you。　And　it　doesn't　matter　about　Elizabeth；　because　I'm　staying　close　here　in　Henrietta　Street；　and　I'll　be　in　again　if　I　may。　I　just　looked　in　to　ask　whether　Maggie　might　come　and　have　dinner　with　me　at　my　little　place　to…night。　It's　a　most　respectable　placeI'll　come　and　fetch　her；　of　course；　and　bring　her　back　afterwards。〃

Of　course　Aunt　Anne　could　not　refuse；　but　oh！　how　Maggie　saw　that　she　wanted　to！　The　battle　that　followed　was　silent。　Uncle　Mathew's　eyes　narrowed　themselves　to　fiery　malicious　points；　he　dropped　them　and　moved　his　feet　restlessly　on　the　soft　carpet。

〃Quite　respectable！〃　he　repeated。

Aunt　Anne　smiled　gently。　〃Why；　of　course；　Mathew。　I　know　you'll　look　after　Maggie。　It　will　be　a　change　for　her。　She's　been　having　rather　a　dull　time　here；　I'm　afraid。〃

Then　there　was　silence。　Maggie　wanted　to　speak；　but　the　words　would　not　come；　and　she　had　the　curious　sensation　that　even　if　she　did　find　them　no　one　would　hear　them。

Then　Uncle　Mathew　suddenly　said　good…bye；　stumbled　over　his　boots　by　the　door；　shot　out；　〃Seven　o'clock；　Maggie〃and　was　gone。

〃Well；　that　will　be　nice　for　you；　Maggie；〃　said　Anne；　looking　at　her。

〃Yes；〃　said　Maggie。　〃You　don't　mind；　do　you？〃

〃No　dear；　of　course　not。〃

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　Maggie　broke　out　desperately。　〃I　know　I'm　not　satisfying　you　and　yet　you　won't　say　anything。　Do　tell　me　and　I'll　tryanythingalmost　anything　。　。　。〃

Then　the　sudden　memory　of　her　own　posted　letter　silenced　her。　Was　that　readiness　to　do　〃anything〃？　Had　that　not　been　rebellion？　And　had　she　not　asked　Uncle　Mathew　to　help　her　to　escape？　The　consciousness　of　her　dishonesty　coloured　her　cheek　with　crimson。　Then　Aunt　Anne；　very　tenderly；　put　her　hand　on　her　shoulder。

〃Will　you　really　do　anythingfor　me；　Maggiefor　me？〃　Her　voice　was　gentle　and　her　eyes　had　tears　in　them。　〃If　you　willthere　are　things　very　close　to　my　heart〃

Maggie　turned　away；　trembling。　She　hung　her　head；　then　with　a　sudden　movement　walked　to　the　door。

〃You　must　tell　me；〃　she　said；　〃what　you　want。　I'll　tryI　don't　understand。〃

Then　as　though　she　was　aware　that　she　was　fighting　the　whole　room　which　had　already　almost　entrapped　her　and　that　the　fight　was　too　much　for　her；　she　went。

When　she　came　to　her　own　room　and　thought　about　her　invitation　she　wished；　with　a　sudden　change　of　mood；　that　she　had　a　pretty　frock　or　two。　She　would　have　loved　to　have　been　grand　to…night；　and　now　the　best　that　she　could　do　was　to　add　her　coral　necklace　and　a　little　gold　brooch　that　years　ago　her　father　had　given　her；　to　the　black　dress　that　she　was　already　wearing。　She　realised；　with　a　strange　little　pang　of　loneliness；　that　she　had　not　had　one　evening's　fun　since　her　arrival　in　Londonno；　not　oneand　she　would　not　have　captured　to…night　had　Aunt　Anne　been　able　to　prevent　it。

Then　as　her　mind　returned　back　to　her　uncle　she　felt　with　a　throb　of　excited　anticipation　that　perhaps　after　all　this　evening　was　to　prove　the　turning…point　of　her　life。　Her　little　escape　into　the　streets；　her　posting　of　the　letter；　had　been　followed　so　immediately　by　Uncle　Mathew's　visit；　and　now　this　invitation！

〃No　one　can　keep　me　if　I　want　to　go；〃　and　the　old　cuckoo…clock　outside　seemed　to　tick　in　reply：

〃Can　no　one　keep　her　if　she　wants　to　go？〃

She　finished　her　preparations；　as　she　fastened　the　coral　necklace　round　her　neck　the　face　of　Martin　Warlock　was　suddenly　before　her。　He　had　been　perhaps　at　her　elbow　all　day。

〃I　like　him　and　I　think　he　likes　me；〃　she　said　to　the　mirror。　〃I've　got　one　friend；〃　and　her　thought　still　further　was　that　even　if　he　didn't　like　her　he　couldn't　prevent　her　liking　him。

She　went　down　to　the　drawing…room　and　found　Uncle　Mathew；　alone；　waiting　for　her。

〃Here　I　am；　Maggie；〃　he　said。　〃And　let's　get　out　of　this　as　quick　as　we　can。〃

〃I　must　go　and　say　good…night　to　the　aunts；〃　she　said。

She　went　upstairs　to　Aunt　Anne's　bedroom。　Entering　it　was　always　to　her　like　passing　into　a　shadowed　church　after　the　hot　sunshinethe　long；　thin　room　with　high　slender　windows；　the　long　hard　bed；　of　the　most　perfect　whiteness　and　neatness；　the　heavy　black…framed　picture　of　〃The　Ascension〃　over　the　bed；　and　the　utter　stillness　broken　by　no　sound　of　clock　or　belleven　the　fire　seemed　frozen　into　a　glassy　purity　in　the　grate。

Her　aunt　was　sitting；　as　so　often　Maggie　found　her；　in　a　stiff…　backed　chair；　her　hands　folded　on　her　lap；　staring　in　front　of　her。　Her　eyes　were　like　the　open　eyes　of　a　dead　woman；　it　was　as　though；　with　a　great　effort　of　almost　desperate　concentration；　she　were　driving　her　vision　against　some　obstinate　world　of　opposition；　and　the　whole　of　life　had　meanwhile　stayed　to　watch　the　issue。

A　thin　pale　light　from　some　street　lamp　lay；　a　faintly　golden　shadow；　across　the　white　ceiling。

Maggie　stood　by　the　door。

〃I've　come　to　say　good…night；　aunt。〃

〃Ah；　Maggie　dear；　is　that　you？〃　The　pale　oval　face　turned　towards　her。

〃You　won't　be　very　late；　will　you？〃

〃Hadn't　I　better　have　a　key；　not　to　bother　Martha？〃

〃Oh；　Martha　won't　have　gone　to　bed。〃

Maggie　felt　as　though　her　whole　evening　would　be　spoilt　did　she　know　that　Martha　was　waiting　for　her　at　the　end　of　it。

〃Oh；　but　it　will　be　such　a　pity〃

〃Martha　will　let　you　in；　dear。　Come　and　kiss　me；　I　hope　that　you'll　enjoy　yourself。〃

And　then　the　strangest　thing　happened。　Maggie　bent　down。　She　felt　a　tear　upon　her　cheek　and　then　the　thin　strong　arms　held　her；　for　an　instant；　in　an　almost　threatening　embrace。

〃Good…night；　dear　aunt；〃　she　said；　but；　outside　the　room；　she　had　to　stand　for　a　moment　in　the　dark　passage　to　regain　her　control；　her　heart　was　beating　with　wild　unreasoning　terror。　Although　she　had　brushed　her　cheek　with　her　hand　the　cold　touch　of　the　tears　still　lingered　there。

Outside　the　house　they　were　free。　It　looked　so　close　and　dark　behind　them　that　Maggie　shivered　a　little　and　put　her　arm　through　her　uncle's。

〃That's　all　right；〃　he　said；　patting　her　hand。　〃We're　going　to　enjoy　ourselves。〃

She　looked　up　and　saw　Martin　Warlock　facing　her。　The　unexpected　meeting　held　both　of　them　silent　for　a　moment。　To　her　it　seemed　that　he　had　risen　out　of　the　very　stones　of　the　pavement；　at　her　bidding；　to　make　her　evening　wonderful。　He　looked　so　strong；　so　square；　so　solid　after　the　phantom　imaginations　of　the　house　that　she　had　left；　that　the　sight　of　him　was　a　step　straight　into　the　heart　of　comfort　and　reassurance。

〃I　was　just　coming；〃　he　said；　looking　at　her；　〃to　leave　a　note　for　Miss　Cardinalfrom　my　father〃

〃She's　in；〃　Maggie　said。

〃Oh；　it　wasn't　to　bother　heronly　to　leave　the　note。　About　some　meeting；　I　think。〃

〃We're　just　going　out。　This　is　my　uncleMr。　Warlock。〃

The　two　men　shook　hands。

Mathew　Cardinal　smiled。　His　eyes　closed；　his　greeting　had　an　urgency　in　it　as　though　he　had　suddenly　made　some　discovery　that　gratified　and　amused　him。　〃Very　glad　to　meet　youvery　glad；　indeed；　sir。　Any　friend　of　my　niece's。　I　know　your　father；　sir；　know　him　and　admire　him。〃

They　all　turned　down　the　street　together。　Uncle　Mathew　talked；　and　then；　quite　suddenly；　stopping　under　a　lamp…post　as　though　within　the　circle　of　light　his　charm　were　stronger；　he　said：

〃I　suppose；　Mr。　Warlock；　you　wouldn't　do　me　the　great；　the　extreme；　honour　of　dining　with　myself　and　my　niece　at　my　humble　little　inn　to…night？　A　little　suddenI　hope　you'll　forgive　the　discourtesy　but　knowing　your　father〃

Martin　looked　straight　into　Maggie's　eyes。

〃Oh；　please　do！〃　she　said；　her　heart　beating；　as　it　seemed；　against　her　eyes　so　that　she　dropped　them。

〃Well〃　he　hesitated。　〃It's　very　good　of　you；　Mr。　Cardinalvery　kind。　As　a　matter　of　fact　I　was　going　to　dine　alone　to…nightjust　a　chop；　you　know；　somewhereif　it's　really　not　inconvenient　I'll　be　delighted〃

They　walked　on　together。

As　they　passed　into　Garrick　Street；　she　knew　that　she　had　never　in　all　her　life　been　so　glad　to　be　with　any　one；　that　she　had　never　so　completely　trusted　any　one；　that　she　would　like　to　be　with　him　often；　to　look　after　him；　perhaps；　and　to　be　looked　after　by　him。

Her　feeling　for　him　was　almost　sexless；　because　she　had　never　thought；　as　most　girls　do；　of　love　and　the　intrigue　and　coquetry　of　love。　She　was　so　simple　as　to　be　shameless；　and　at　once；　if　he　had　asked　her　then　in　the　street　to　marry　him　she　would　have　said　yes　without　hesitation　or　fear；　or　any　analysis。　She　would　like　to　look　after　him　as　well　as　herselfthere　were　things　she　was　sure　that　she　could　do　for　himand　she　would　be　no　burden　to　him　because　she　intended；　in　any　case；　to　lead　her　own　life。　She　would　simply　lead　it　with　a　companion　instead　of　without　one。

He　must　have　felt　as　he　walked　with　her　this　trust　and　simplicity。　She　was　certainly　the　most　extraordinary　girl　whom　he　had　ever　met；　and　he'd　met　a　number　。　。　。

He　could　believe　every　word　she　said；　he　had　never　known　any　one　so　direct　and　simple　and　honest；　and　yet　with　that　she　was　not　a　fool；　as　most　honest　girls　were。　No；　she　was　not　a　fool。　He　would　have　given　anything　to　be　as　sure　of　himself　。　。　。

She　was　plainbut　then　was　she？　As　they　passed　beneath　the　light　of　a　street　lamp　his　heart　gave　a　sudden　beat。　Her　face　was　so　GOOD；　her　eyes　so　true；　her　mouth　so　strong。　She　was　like　a　boy；　rather　and；　of　course；　she　was　dressed　badly。　But　he　wanted　to　look　after　her。　He　was　sure　that　she　knew　so　little　of　the　world　and　would　be　so　easily　deceived　。　。　。But　who　was　he　to　look　after　any　one？

He　knew　that　she　would　trust　him　utterly；　and　trust　him　not　only　because　she　was　ignorant　of　the　world；　but　also　because　she　was　herself　so　true。　At　the　thought　of　this　trust　his　heart　suddenly　warmed；　partly　with　shame　and　partly　with　pride。

They　walked　very　happily　along　laughing　and　talking。　They　turned　into　Henrietta　Street；　misty　with　lamps　that　were　dim　in　a　thin　evening　fog；　and　at　the　corner　of　the　street；　facing　the　Square；　was　Uncle　Mathew's　hotel。　It　was　a　place　for　the　use；　in　the　main；　of　commercial　gentlemen；　and　it　was　said　by　eager　searchers　after　local　colour；　to　have　retained　a　great　deal　of　the　Dickens　spirit。　In　the　hall　there　was　a　stout　gentleman　with　a　red　nose；　a　soiled　waiter；　a　desolate　palm　and　a　large…bosomed　lady　all　rings　and　black　silk；　in　a　kind　of　wooden　cage。　Down　the　stairs　came　a　dim　vapour　that　smelt　of　beef；　whisky　and　tobacco；　and　in　the　distance　was　the　regular　click　of　billiard…balls　and　the　brazen　muffled　tones　of　a　gramophone。　Uncle　Mathew　seemed　perfectly　at　home　here；　and　it　was　strange　to　Maggie　that　he　should　be　so　nervous　with　Aunt　Anne；　his　own　sister；　when　he　could　be　so　happily　familiar　with　the　powdered　lady　in　the　black　silk。

〃We're　to　have　dinner　in　a　private　room　upstairs；〃　said　Uncle　Mathew　in　a　voice　that　was　casual　and　at　the　same　time　important。　He　led　the　way　up　the　stairs。

Maggie　had　read　in　some　old　bound　volume　at　home　a　very　gruesome　account　of　the　〃Life　and　Misdeeds　of　Mr。　Palmer；　the　Rugeley