the captives-第40章

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〃She　looks　after　him　in　everything；〃　said　Maggie　to　herself。　He　was　called　Paul　by　them　all。

〃He's　my　cousin；　you　know；　Miss　Cardinal；〃　said　Mrs。　Mark。　〃And　yet　I　scarcely　ever　see　him。　Isn't　it　a　shame？　Grace　makes　everything　so　comfortable　for　him　。　。　。〃

Grace　smiled；　well　pleased。

〃It's　Paul's　devotion　to　his　parish　。　。　。〃　she　said　in　calm；　happy；　self…assured　voice；　as　though　she'd　never　had　a　surprise　in　her　life。

〃I'm　sure　it　isn't　either　of　those　things；〃　thought　Maggie　to　herself。　〃He's　lazy。〃

Lazy　but　nice。　She　had　never　seen　a　clergyman　so　healthy；　so　happy　so　clean　and　so　kind。　She　smiled　across　the　table　at　him。

〃Do　you　know　Skeaton？〃　he　asked　her。　Skeaton！　Where　had　she　heard　of　the　place？　Why；　of　course；　it　was　Caroline！

〃Only　yesterday　I　heard　of　it　for　the　first　time；〃　she　said。　〃A　friend　of　mine　knows　some　one　there。〃

〃Beastly　place；〃　said　Mr。　Mark。　〃Sand　always　blowing　into　your　eyes。〃

Mr。　and　Mrs。　Trenchard　got　up　to　go。

He　stood　a　moment　holding　Maggie's　hand。　〃If　ever　you　come　to　Skeaton；　Miss　Cardinal；〃　he　said；　〃we　shall　be　delighted　。　。　。〃　His　eyes　she　noticed　were　light　blue　like　a　baby's。　She　felt　that　he　liked　her　and　would　not　forget　her。

〃Come；　Paul；〃　said　Miss　Trenchard；　rather　sharply　Maggie　fancied。

Soon　afterwards　Philip　departed。　〃Must　finish　that　beastly　thing；〃　he　assured　his　wife。

〃It's　an　article；〃　Katherine　Mark　explained。　〃He's　always　writing　about　politics。　I　hate　them；　so　he　pretends　to　hate　them　too。　But　he　doesn't　really。　He　loves　them。〃

〃I　know　nothing　about　politics；〃　said　Maggie　with　profound　truth。　〃Your　husband　must　be　very　clever。〃

〃He's　better　than　that；〃　said　Katherine　with　pride；　〃I　hate　perfect　people；　don't　you？〃

〃Oh；　indeed　I　do！〃　said　Maggie　from　the　bottom　of　her　heart。　They　then　came　to　her　particular　business。

〃I　would　like　to　get　some　work　to　do；〃　said　Maggie；　〃that　would　make　me　independent。　I　have　three　hundred　pounds　of　my　own。〃

〃What　can　you　do？〃　asked　Katherine。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Maggie。

〃Can　you　shorthand　and　type？〃

〃No；　I　can't；〃　said　Maggie；　〃but　I'll　learn。〃

〃Must　you　be　independent　soon？〃　asked　Katherine。　〃Are　you　unhappy　where　you　are？〃

Maggie　paused。

〃Don't　tell　me　anything　you　oughtn't　to；〃　said　Katherine。

〃No；〃　answered　Maggie。　〃It　isn't　that　exactly。　I'm　not　happy　at　home；　but　I　think　that's　my　fault。　My　aunts　are　very　good。　But　I　want　to　be　free。　It　is　all　very　religious　where　I　am；　and　they　want　me　to　believe　in　their　religion。　I'm　afraid　I'm　not　religious　at　all。　Then　I　don't　want　to　be　dependent　on　people。　I'm　very　ignorant。　I　know　nothing　about　anything；　and　so　long　as　I　am　kept　with　my　aunts　I　shall　never　learn。〃

She　stopped　abruptly。　She　had　thought　suddenly　of　Martin。　His　coming　had　altered　everything。　How　could　she　say　what　she　wanted　her　life　to　be　until　her　relation　to　him　were　settled？　Everything　depended　on　that。

This　sense　of　Martin's　presence　silenced　her。　〃If　I　can　feel；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃that　I　can　ask　your　advice。　I　have　nobody　。　。　。　We　all　seem　。　。　。　Oh！　how　can　I　make　you　understand　properly！　You　never　will　have　seen　anything　like　our　house。　It　is　all　so　queer。　so　shut…　up；　away　from　everything。　I'm　like　a　prisoner　。　。　。〃

And　that　is　perhaps　what　she　was　like　to　Mrs。　Mark；　sitting　there　in　her　funny　ill…fitting　clothes；　her　anxious　old…fashioned　face　as　of　a　child　aged　long　before　her　time。　Katherine　Mark；　who　had　had；　in　her　life；　her　own　perplexities　and　sorrows；　felt　her　heart　warm　to　this　strange　isolated　girl。　She　had　needed　in　her　own　life　at　one　time　all　her　courage；　and　she　had　used　it；　she　had　never　regretted　the　step　that　she　had　then　taken。　She　believed　therefore　in　courage　。　。　。　Courage　was　eloquent　in　every　movement　of　Maggie's　square　reliant　body。

〃She　could　be　braver　than　I　have　ever　been；〃　she　thought。

〃Miss　Cardinal；〃　she　said；　〃I　want　you　to　come　here　whenever　you　can。　You　haven't　seen　our　boy；　Tim；　yetone　and　a　halfand　there　are　so　many　things　I　want　to　show　you。　Will　you　count　yourself　a　friend　of　the　house？〃

Maggie　blushed　and　twisted　her　hands　together。

〃You're　very　good；〃　she　said；　〃but　。　。　。　I　don't　know　。　。　。　perhaps　you　won't　like　me；　or　what　I　do。〃

〃I　do　like　you；〃　said　Katherine。　〃And　if　I　like　any　one　I　don't　care　what　they　do。〃

〃All　the　same；〃　said　Maggie；　〃I　don't　belong　。　。　。　to　your　world；　your　life。　I　should　shock　you；　I　know。　You　might　be　sorry　afterwards　that　you　knew　me。　Supposing　I　broke　away　。　。　。〃

〃But　I　broke　away　myself；〃　said　Katherine；　〃it　is　sometimes　the　only　thing　to　do。　I　made　my　mother；　who　had　been　goodness　itself　to　me；　desperately　unhappy。〃

〃Why　did　you　do　that？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃Because　I　wanted　to　marry　my　husband。〃

〃Well；　I　love　a　man　too；〃　said　Maggie。

〃Oh；　I　do　hope　you'll　be　happy！〃　said　Katherine。　〃As　happy　as　I　am。〃

〃No；〃　said　Maggie；　shaking　her　head；　〃I　don't　expect　to　be　happy。〃

She　seemed　to　herself　as　she　said　that　to　be　hundreds　of　miles　away　from　Katherine　Mark　and　her　easy　life；　the　purple　curtains　and　her　amber　light。

〃Not　happy　but　satisfied；〃　she　said。

She　saw　that　it　was　five　minutes　past　six。　〃I　must　go；〃　she　said。

When　they　said　good…bye　Katherine　bent　forward　and　kissed　her。

〃If　ever；　in　your　life。　I　can　help　in　any　way　at　all；〃　she　said；　〃come　to　me。〃

〃I'll　do　that；〃　promised　Maggie。　She　coloured；　and　then　herself　bent　forward　and　kissed　Katherine。　〃I　shall　like　to　think　of　youand　all　this〃　she　said　and　went。

She　was　let　out　into　the　outer　world　by　the　smiling　maid…servant。　Bryanston　Square　was　dark　with　purple　colour　as　though　the　purple　curtains　inside　the　house　had　been　snipped　off　from　a　general　curtained　world。　There　was　a　star　or　two　and　some　gaunt　trees　with　black　pointing　fingers；　and　here　a　lighted　window　and　there　a　shining　doorway；　behind　it　all　the　rumble　of　a　world　that　disregarded　love　and　death　and　all　the　Higher　Catechism。

Maggie　confronted　a　policeman。

〃Please；　can　you　tell　me　where　the　Marble　Arch　is？〃　she　asked。

〃Straight　ahead；　Miss；〃　he　answered；　pointing　down　the　street；　〃you　can't　miss　it。〃

And　she　could　not。　It　soon　gleamed　white　ahead　of　her　against　the　thick　folds　of　the　sky。　When　she　saw　it　her　heart　raced　in　front　of　her；　like　a　pony；　suddenly　released；　kicking　its　heels。　And　her　thoughts　were　so　strangely　wild！　The　lovely　night；　yes；　purple　like　Mrs。　Mark's　curtains　and　scented　oranges；　chrysanthemums；　boot…　polish　and　candied　sugar。Oh　yes！　how　kind　they　had　beennice　clergyman；　fat　a　little；　but　young　in　spite　of　his　white　hair；　and　Aunt　Anne　in　bed　under　the　crucifix　struggling　and　Mr。　Crashaw　smiling　lustfully　at　Caroline　。　。　。　The　long　black　streets；　strips　of　silk　and　the　lamps　like　fat　buttons　on　a　coat；　there　was　a　cat！　Hist！　Hist！　A　streak　of　black　against　black　。　。　。　and　the　Chapel　bell　ringing　and　Thomas'　fiery　eyes　。　。　。

Behind　all　this　confusion　there　was　Martin；　Martin；　Martin。　Creeping　nearer　and　nearer　as　though　he　were　just　behind　her；　or　was　it　that　she　was　creeping　nearer　and　nearer　to　him？　She　did　not　know；　but　her　heart　now　was　beating　so　thickly　that　it　was　as　though　giants　were　wrapping　cloth　after　cloth　round　it；　hot　cloths；　but　their　hands　were　icy　cold。　No；　she　was　simply　excited；　desperately；　madly　excited。

She　had　never　been　excited　before；　and　now；　with　the　excitement；　there　was　mingled　the　strangest　hot　pain　and　cold　pity。　She　noticed　that　now　her　knees　were　trembling　and　that　if　they　trembled　much　more　she　would　not　be　able　to　walk　at　all。

〃Now；　Maggie；　steady　your　knees！〃　she　said　to　herself。　But　look；　the　houses　now　were　trembling　a　little　too！　Ridiculous　those　smart　houses　with　their　fine　doors　and　white　steps　to　tremble！　No；　it　was　her　heart；　not　the　houses　。　。　。

〃Do　I　look　queer？〃　she　thought；　〃will　people　be　looking　at　me？〃

Ideas　raced　through　her　head；　now　like　horses　in　the　Derby。

〃Woof！　Poof！　Off　we　go！〃　St。　Dreot's；　that　square　piece　of　grass　on　the　lawn　with　the　light　on　it；　her　clothes；　the　socks　that　must　be　mended；　Caroline's　silk　and　the　rustle　it　made；　shops；　houses；　rivers；　seas；　deathyes；　Aunt　Anne's　cancer　。　。　。　and　then；　with　a　great　upward　surge　like　rising　from　the　depths　of　the　sea　after　a　dive；　Martin！　Martin；　Martin！　。　。　。　For　a　moment　then　she　had　to　pause。　She　had　been　walking　too　fast。　Her　heart　jumped；　then　ran　a　step　or　two；　then　fell　into　a　dead　pause　。　。　。　She　went　on；　seeing　now　nothing　but　two　lamps　that　watched　her　like　the　eyes　of　a　giant。

She　was　there！　This　was　a　Marble　Arch！　All　by　itself　in　the　middle　of　the　road。　She　crossed　to　it；　first　went　under　it；　then　thought　that　he　would　not　see　her　there　so　came　out　and　stood；　nervously　rubbing　her　gloved　hands　against　one　another　and　turning　her　head；　like　a　bird；　swiftly　from　side　to　side。　She　didn't　like　standing　there。　It　seemed　to　make　her　so　prominent。　Men　stared　at　her。　He　should　have　been　there　first。　He　might　have　known　。　。　。　But　perhaps　Caroline　never　gave　him　the　letter。　At　that　thought　her　heart　really　did　stop。　She　was　terrified　at　once　as　though　some　one　had　told　her　disastrous　news。　She　would　not　wait　very　long；　then　she　would　go　home　。　。　。

She　saw　him。　He　stood　only　a　little　away　from　her　staring　about　him；　looking　for　her。　She　felt　that　she　had　not　seen　him　for　years；　she　drank　in　his　sturdiness；　his　boyish　face；　his　air　of　caring　nothing　for　authority。　She　had　not　seen　his　dark　blue　overcoat　before。　He　stood　directly　under　a　lamp；　swaying　ever　so　little　on　his　heels；　his　favourite；　most　characteristic；　movement。　He　stood　there　as　though　he　were　purposely　giving　her　a　portrait　that　she　might　remember　for　the　rest　of　her　days。　She　was　too　nervous　to　move　and　then　she　wanted　that　wonderful　moment　to　last；　that　moment　when　she　had　realised　that　he　had　come　to　meet　her；　that　he　was　there；　amongst　all　those　crowds；　simply　for　her；　that　he　was　looking　for　her　and　wanting　her；　that　he　would　be　bitterly　disappointed　did　she　not　come　。　。　。

She　saw　him　give　a　little　impatient　jerk　of　the　head；　the　same　movement　that　she　had　seen　him　make　in　Chapel。　That　jerk　set　her　in　motion　again；　and　she　was　suddenly　at　his　side。　She　touched　his　arm；　he　turned　and　his　eyes　lit　with　pleasure。　They　smiled　at　one　another　and　then；　without　a　word；　moved　off　towards　the　park。　He　took　her　arm　and　put　it　through　his。　She　felt　the　warm　thick　stuff　of　the　blue　coat；　and　beneath　that　the　steady　firm　beat　of　his　heart。　They　walked　closely　together；　his　thigh　pressed　against　hers；　and　once　and　again　her　hair　brushed　his　cheek。　She　was　so　shy　that；　until　they　were　through　the　gates　of　the　park；　she　did　not　speak。　Then　she　said：

〃I　was　so　afraid　that　Caroline　would　not　give　you　the　note。〃

〃Oh；　she　gave　it　me　all　right。〃　He　pressed　her　arm　closer　to　him。　〃But　I　expect　that　she　read　it　first。〃

〃Oh；　is　she　like　that？〃

〃Yes；　she's　like　that　。　。　。〃

There　was　another　pause；　they　turned　down　the　path　to　the　right　towards　the　trees　that　were　black　lumps　of　velvet　against　the　purple　sky。　There　were　no　stars；　and　it　was　liquidly　dark　as　though　they　ploughed　through　water。　Maggie　felt　suffocated　with　heat　and　persecuted　by　a　strange　weariness；　she　was　suddenly　so　tired　that　it　was　all　that　she　could　do　to　walk。

〃I'm　tired　。　。　。〃　she　murmured〃expecting　youafraid　that　you