the captives-第26章

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Maggie　had　read　in　some　old　bound　volume　at　home　a　very　gruesome　account　of　the　〃Life　and　Misdeeds　of　Mr。　Palmer；　the　Rugeley　Poisoner。〃　The　impression　that　still　remained　with　her　was　of　a　man　standing　in　the　shadowy　hall　of　just　such　an　hotel　as　this；　and　pouring　poison　into　a　glass　which　he　held　up　against　the　light。　This　picture　had　been　vividly　with　her　during　her　childhood；　and　she　felt　that　this　must　have　been　the　very　hotel　where　those　fearful　deeds　occurred；　and　that　the　ghost　of　Mr。　Palmer's　friend　must；　at　this　very　moment；　be　writhing　in　an　upstairs　bedroom〃writhing；〃　as　she　so　fearfully　remembered；　bent　〃like　a　hoop。〃

However；　these　reminiscences　did　not　in　the　least　terrify　her；　she　welcomed　their　definite　outlines　in　contrast　with　the　shadowy　possibilities　of　her　aunts'　house。　And　she　had　Martin　Warlock　。　。　。　She　had　never　been　so　happy　in　all　her　life。

A　dismal　little　waiter　with　a　very　soiled　shirt　and　a　black　tie　under　his　ear；　guided　them　down　into　a　dark　passage　and　flung　open　the　door　of　a　sitting…room。　This　room　was　dark　and　sizzling　with　strange　noises；　a　gas…jet　burning　low　was　hissing；　some　papers　rustled　in　the　breeze　from　the　half…opened　window；　and　a　fire；　overburdened　with　the　weight　of　black　coal；　made　frantic　little　spurts　of　resistance。

A　white　cloth　was　laid　on　the　table；　and　there　were　glasses　and　knives　and　forks。　A　highly…coloured　portrait　of　her　late　Majesty　Queen　Victoria　confronted　a　long…legged　horse　desperately　winning　a　race　in　which　he　had　apparently　no　competitors。　There　was　a　wall…　paper　of　imitation　marble　and　a　broken…down　book…case　with　some　torn　paper　editions　languishing　upon　it。　Beyond　the　open　window　there　was　a　purple　haze　and　a　yellow　mistalso　a　bell　rang　and　carts　rattled　over　the　cobbles。　The　waiter　shut　out　these　sights　and　sounds；　gave　the　tablecloth　a　stroke　with　his　dirty　hand；　and　left　the　room。

They　continued　their　cheerful　conversation；　Martin　laughing　at　nothing　at　all；　and　Maggie　smiling；　and　Uncle　Mathew　stroking　his　mouth　and　sharpening　his　eyes　and　standing；　in　his　uneasy　fashion；　first　on　one　leg　and　then　on　the　other。　Maggie　realised　that　her　uncle　was　trying　to　be　most　especially　pleasant　to　young　Warlock。　She　wondered　why；　she　also　remembered　what　he　had　said　to　her　about　Martin's　father　。　。　。　No；　he　had　changed。　She　could　not　follow　his　motives　as　she　had　once　been　able　to　do。　Then　he　had　simply　been　a　foolish；　drunken；　but　kindly…intentioned　old　man。

Then　Mr。　Warlock　on　his　side　seemed　to　like　her　uncle。　That　was　an　extraordinary　thing。　Or　was　he　only　being　friendly　because　he　was　happy？　No；　she　remembered　his　face　as　he　had　joined　them　that　evening。　He　had　not　been　happy　then。　She　liked　him　the　more　because　she　knew　that　he　needed　help　。　。　。　The　meal；　produced　at　last　by　the　poor　little　waiter；　was　very　merry。　The　food　was　not　wonderfulthe　thick　pea…soup　was　cold；　the　sole　bones　and　skin；　the　roast　beef　tepid　and　the　apple…tart　heavy。　The　men　drank　whiskies　and　sodas；　and　Maggie　noticed　that　her　uncle　drank　very　little。　And　then　（with　apologies　to　Maggie）　they　smoked　cigars；　and　she　sat　before　the　dismal　fire　in　an　old　armchair　with　a　hole　in　it。

Martin　Warlock　talked　in　a　most　delightful　way　about　his　travels；　and　Uncle　Mathew　asked　him　questions　that　were　not；　after　all；　so　stupid。　What　had　happened　to　him？　Had　Maggie　always　undervalued　him；　or　was　it　that　he　was　sober　now　and　clear…headed？　His　fat　round　thighs　seemed　stronger；　his　hands　seemed　cleaner；　the　veins　in　his　face　were　not　so　purple。　She　remembered　the　night　when　he　had　come　into　her　room。　She　had　been　able　to　manage　him　then。　Would　she　be　able　to　manage　him　now？

After　dinner　he　grew　very　restless。　His　eyes　wandered　to　the　door；　then　to　his　watch；　then　to　his　companions；　he　smiled　uneasily；　pulling　his　moustache；　thenjumping　to　his　feet；　tried　to　speak　with　an　easy　self…confidence。

〃I　must　leave　you　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　。　。　。　A　matter　of　business；　only　in　this　hotel。　Downstairs。　Yes。　A　friend　of　mine　and　a　little　matter。　Urgent。　I'm　sure　you'll　forgive　me。〃

For　a　moment　Maggie　was　frightened。　She　was　here　in　a　strange　hotel　in　a　strange　room　with　a　man　whom　she　scarcely　knew。　Then　she　looked　up　into　young　Warlock's　face　and　was　reassured。　She　could　trust　him。

He　stood　with　his　arm　on　the　shabby；　dusty　mantelpiece；　looking　down　upon　her　with　his　good…natured　kindly　smile；　so　kindly　that　she　felt　that　he　was　younger　than　she　and　needed　protection　in　a　world　that　was　filled　with　designing　Uncle　Mathews　and　mysterious　Aunt　Annes　and　horrible　Miss　Warlocks。

He；　on　his　side；　as　he　looked　down　at　her；　was　surprised　at　his　own　excitement。　His　heart　was　beating；　his　hand　tremblingbefore　this　plain；　ordinary；　unattractive　girl！　Unattractive　physicallybut　not　uninteresting。　One　of　the　most　interesting　human　beings　whom　he　had　ever　met；　simply　because　she　was　utterly　unlike　any　one　else。　He　felt　shame　before　her；　because　he　knew　that　she　would　believe　every　word　that　he　said。　In　that　she　was　simple；　but　〃he　would　be　bothered　if　she　was　simple　in　anything　else。〃　She　had　made　up　her　mindhe　knew　it　as　well　as　though　she　had　told　himto　trust　him　absolutely；　and　he　knew　well　enough　how　little　he　was　to　be　trusted。　And　because　of　that　faith　and　because　of　that　trust　he　felt　that　she　was　more　reliable　than　he　could　have　believed　that　changing　fickle　human　being　would　ever　be。　How　secure　he　might　feel　with　her！

Then；　as　he　thought　that；　he　realised　how　troubled　he　was　about　his　life　at　home　during　the　last　weeks。　Amy　hated　him；　his　mother　hid　herself　from　him；　and　his　father's　love　frightened　him。　Already　he　had　found　himself　telling　lies　to　avoid　the　chapel　services　and　the　meetings　with　Thurston　and　the　rest。　His　father's　love　for　him　had　something　terrible　in　it；　and；　although　he　returned　it；　he　could　not　live　up　to　that　fire　and　heat。

No；　he　saw　that　he　would　not　be　able　to　remain　for　long　at　home。　On　the　other　hand；　go　back　to　the　old　wandering　life　he　would　not。　He　had　had　enough　of　that　and　its　rotten　carelessness　and　shabbiness。　What　a　girl　this　would　be　to　settle　down　with　somewhere！　So　strange　that　she　would　be　always　interesting；　so　faithful　that　she　would　be　always　there！　Nor　was　he　entirely　selfish。　Her　childishness；　her　ignorance；　appealed　to　him　for　protection。　She　had　no　one　but　those　old　aunts　to　care　for　her；　she　was　poor　and　rebellious　and　ignorant。　Warlock　was　kind…hearted　beyond　the　normal　charity　of　manmuch　of　his　weakness　came　from　that　very　kindness。

As　he　saw　which　way　he　was　going　he　tried　to　pull　himself　back。　He　could　not　protect　herhe　had　the　best　of　reasons　for　knowing　why。　He　could　do　her　nothing　but　harm　。　。　。　and　yet　he　went　on。

He　took　a　chair　close　to　her　and　sat　down。　He；　who　had　known　in　his　time　many　women；　could　see　how　happy　she　was。　That　happiness　excited　him。　Suddenly　he　held　her　hand。　She　did　not　remove　it。

〃Look　here；〃　he　began；　and　he　was　surprised　at　the　hoarseness　of　his　voice；　〃your　uncle　will　be　back　in　a　moment；　and　we　never　have　a　chance　of　being　alone。　I've　wanted　to　talk　to　you　ever　since　I　first　saw　you。〃

He　felt　her　hand　move　in　his。　That　stir　was　so　helpless　that　he　suddenly　determined　to　be　honest。

〃I　think　you'll　trust　me；　won't　you？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　she　said。

〃Well；　you　mustn't；〃　he　went　on　hurriedly；　his　eyes　on　the　door。　〃I'm　not　worse；　I　suppose；　than　other　men；　but　all　the　same　I'm　not　to　be　trusted。　And　when　I　say　I'm　not　to　be　trusted　I　mean　that　I　myself　don't　know　whether　I'll　keep　my　word　from　one　minute　to　another。　I'm　sure　you　don't　know　very　much　about　men。　I　could　see　it　at　once　from　the　way　you　spoke。〃

She　looked　up；　her　clear；　unconfused；　unquestioning　eyes　facing　him。

〃I　knew　my　father　well；〃　she　said。　〃We　were　quite　alone　for　years　together。　And　then　Uncle　Mathew〃

〃Oh；　your　father；　your　uncle；〃　he　answered　quickly。　〃They　don't　count。　What　I　mean　is　that　you　mustn't　think　men　are　scoundrels　just　because　they　act　badly。　I　swear　that　nine　out　of　ten　of　them　never　mean　to　do　any　harm。〃

〃And　they　think　they're　speaking　the　truth　at　the　time。　But　anything　'does'　for　them　and　then　they're　in　a　mess；　and　all　they　think　about　is　how　to　get　out　of　it。　Then　it's　every　man　for　himself　。　。　。〃

Maggie　shook　her　head。

〃I've　always　known　that　I'd　have　to　manage　for　myself；〃　she　said。　〃I've　never　expected　any　one　to　do　anything　for　me；　so　I'm　not　likely　to　be　disappointed　now。〃

He　moved　a　little　closer　to　her　and　held　her　hand　more　firmly；　even　as　he　did　so　something　in　his　heart　reproached　him；　but　now　the　reproach　was　very　far　away；　like　an　echo　of　some　earlier　voice。

〃Do　you　know　you're　a　wonderful　girl？〃　he　said。　〃I　knew　you　were　from　the　first　moment　I　saw　you。　You're　the　most　independent　person　I've　ever　known。　You　can't　guess　how　I　admire　that！　And　all　the　same　you're　not　happy；　are　you？　You　want　to　get　out　of　it；　don't　you？〃

She　thought　for　a　little　while　before　she　nodded　her　head。

〃I　suppose　as　a　fact。〃　she　said；　〃I　do。　If　you　want　to　knowand　you　mustn't　tell　anybodyI've　posted　a　letter　to　a　lady　whom　I　met　once　who　told　me　if　ever　I　wanted　anything　to　write　to　her。　I've　asked　her　for　some　work。　I've　got　three　hundred　pounds　of　my　own。　It　isn't　very　much；　I　know；　but　I　could　start　on　it　。　。　。　I　don't　want　to　do　wrong　to　my　aunts；　who　are　very　kind　to　me；　but　I'm　not　happy　there。　It　wouldn't　be　true　to　say　I'm　happy。　You　see；〃　she　dropped　her　voice　a　little；　〃they　want　to　make　me　religious；　and　I've　had　so　much　of　that　with　father　already。　I　feel　as　though　they　were　pressing　me　into　it　somehow；　and　that　I　should　wake　up　one　morning　and　find　I　should　never　escape　again。　There's　so　much　goes　on　that　I　don't　understand。　And　it　isn't　only　the　chapel。　Aunt　Anne's　very　quiet；　but　she　makes　you　feel　quite　helpless　sometimes。　And　perhaps　one　will　get　more　and　more　helpless　the　longer　one　stays。　I　don't　want　to　be　helpless　evernor　religious！〃　she　ended。

〃Why；　that's　just　my　position；〃　he　continued　eagerly。　〃I　came　home　as　happily　as　anything。　I'd　almost　forgotten　all　that　had　been　when　I　was　a　boy；　how　I　was　baptized　and　thought　I　belonged　to　God　and　was　so　proud　and　stuck　up。　That　all　seems　nonsense　when　you're　roughing　it　with　other　men　who　think　about　nothing　but　the　day's　work。　Then　I　came　home　meaning　to　settle　down。　I　wanted　to　see　my　governor　too。　I've　always　cared　for　him　more　than　any　one　else　in　the　world　。　。　。　but　I　tell　you　now　I　simply　don't　know　what's　going　on　at　home。　They　want　to　catch　me　in　a　trap。　That's　what　it　feels　like。　To　make　me　what　I　was　as　a　kid。　It's　strange；　but　there's　more　in　it　than　you'd　think。　You　wouldn't　believe　the　number　of　times　I've　thought　of　my　young　days　since　I've　been　home。　It's　as　though　some　one　was　always　shoving　them　up　in　front　of　my　face。　All　I　want；　you　know；　is　to　be　jolly。　To　let　other　people　alone　and　be　let　alone　myself。　I　wouldn't　do　any　one　any　harm　in　the　worldI　wouldn't　really。　But　it's　as　though　father　wanted　me　to　believe　all　the　things　he　believes；　so　that　he　could　believe　them　more　himself。　Perhaps　it's　the　same　with　your　aunt　。　。　。〃　Then　he　added；　〃But　they're　sick　people。　That　explains　a　lot。〃

〃Sick？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃Yes。　My　governor's　got　heartawfully　bad。　He　might　go　off　at　any　moment　if　he　had　a　shock