the captives-第44章

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ng　happenedno　great　storm　of　rain；　no　devastating　flood。　It　was　a　day　of　warning。

They　noticed　nothing　of　the　weather。　It　might　have　been　a　world　of　burning　sunshine　for　all　they　saw　of　it。

〃You　know；〃　said　Martin；　〃I've　never　liked　giving　any　one　anything　so　much　as　I　liked　giving　you　that　ring。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　give　you　something　too；〃　she　said。

〃Well；　you　can；〃　he　said。　〃Some　little　thing　that　I'll　carry　about　with　me　always　。　。　。　Oh；　Maggie！〃　he　went　on。　〃Isn't　it　strange　how　easy　it　is　to　be　good　when　no　one　worries　you。　These　last　ten　days　with　you　I　couldn't　have　done　anything　wrong　if　I　tried。　It　isn't　fair　to　say　we　can　help　ourselves。　We　can't。　Something　just　comes　along　and　seizes　you　and　makes　you　do　wrong。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　said　Maggie。　〃Don't　let's　talk　about　those　things。　It's　like　Mr。　Magnus；　who　says　we're　treasure　hunters　or　pools　of　water；　or　old　men　in　asylums。　I　don't　understand　all　that。　I'm　just　Maggie　Cardinal。All　the　same　I　believe　one　can　do　what　one　wants　to。　I　don't　believe　people　can　make　one　do　things。〃

〃Do　you　think　any　one　could　make　me　not　love　you　if　they　tried？　I　shall　love　you　always；　whatever　happens。　I　know　I　shall　never　change。　I'm　not　one　to　change。　I'm　obstinate。　Father　used　to　say　'obstinate　as　a　pig。'〃

That　made　her　think　of　the　old　days　at　St。　Dreot's；　just　then；　as　they　seemed；　so　remote。　She　began　to　tell　him　of　those　old　days；　of　the　Vicarage；　of　the　holes　in　the　floor　and　the　ceiling；　of　her　loneliness　and　the　way　the　villagers　used　to　talk；　of　her　solitary　walks　and　looking　down　on　to　Polchester　from　the　hill…top；　of　her　father's　sudden　death；　of　Uncle　Mathew　。　。　。

〃He's　a　funny　old　codger；〃　said　Martin。　〃What　does　he　do？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Maggie。　〃I　really　don't　know　how　he　lives　I'm　afraid　it's　something　rather　bad。〃

〃I've　known　men　like　that；〃　said　Martin；　〃plenty；　but　it's　funny　that　one　of　them　should　be　connected　with　you。　It　doesn't　seem　as　though　you　could　have　anything　to　do　with　a　man　like　that。〃

〃Oh；　but　I　like　him！〃　said　Maggie。　〃He's　been　very　kind　to　me　often。　When　I　was　all　alone　after　father　died　he　was　very　good〃　She　stopped　abruptly　remembering　how　he'd　come　into　her　bedroom。　〃Drink's　been　his　trouble；　and　never　having　any　money。　He　told　me　once　if　he　had　money　he'd　never　do　a　thing　he　shouldn't。〃　〃Yes；〃　said　Martin。　〃That's　what　they　always　say　when　they　haven't　any　money；　and　then　when　they　have　any　it's　worse　than　ever。〃

He　was　thinking；　perhaps；　of　himself。　At　any　rate　to　stop　remorseful　thoughts　he　began　to　tell　her　about　his　own　childhood。

〃Mine　was　very　different　from　yours；　Maggie；〃　he　said。　〃I　wasn't　lonely。　You　don't　know　what　a　fuss　people　made　of　me。　I　was　conceited；　too。　I　thought　I　was　chosen；　by　God；　out　of　all　the　world；　that　I　was　different　from　every　one　else；　and　better　too。　When　I　was　only　about　nine；　at　home　one　Sunday　they　asked　me　if　I'd　say　a　prayer；　and　I　did；　before　them　all；　made　it　up　and　went　on　for　quarter　of　an　hour。　Lord！　I　must　have　been　an　awful　child。　And　outside　the　religious　time　I　was　as　wicked　as　I　could　be。　I　used　to　go　down　into　the　kitchen　and　steal　the　food　and　I'd　dress　up　as　a　ghost　to　frighten　Amy　and　I'd　break　mother's　china。　I　remember　once；　after　we'd　had　a　service　in　the　drawing…room　and　two　girls　had　gone　into　hysterics；　I　stole　down　into　the　kitchen　in　my　nightdress　to　get　some　jam　and　I　found　one　of　the　Elders　making　love　to　the　cook。　They　were　both　so　fat　and　he　had　his　coat　and　waistcoat　off　and　he　was　kissing　her　neck。　My　word；　they　were　frightened　when　they　saw　me　standing　there！　After　that　I　could　do　what　I　liked　with　the　cook　。　。　。　We　used　to　have　prayer　meetings　in　the　drawing…room；　and　sometimes　father　would　pray　so　hard　that　the　glass　chandelier　would　shake　and　rattle　till　I　used　to　think　it　would　come　down。〃

〃And　the　funny　thing　was　that　one　minute　I'd　be　pinching　Amy　who　was　kneeling　next　to　me　and　the　next　I'd　be　shaking　with　religion　and　seeing　God　standing　right　in　front　of　me　by　the　coal…scuttle。　Such　a　mix…up！　。　。　。　it　was　then　and　so　it　is　now。　Amy　always　hated　me。　She　was　really　religious　and　she　thought　I　was　a　hypocrite。　But　I　wasn't　altogether。　There　was　something　real　in　it　and　there　still　is。〃

〃Didn't　you　go　to　school？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃No；　that　was　the　mistake。　They　never　sent　me。　Father　loved　me　too　much　and　he　wanted　to　keep　me　always　with　him。　He　tried　to　teach　me　himself　but　I　never　learnt　anything。　I　always　knew　I　could　turn　them　round　my　little　finger。　I　always　knew　he'd　rather　do　anything　than　make　me　unhappy。　Sometimes　we　had　lovely　times　together；　sitting　in　the　dusk　in　the　front　of　the　fire。　Do　you　know；　Maggie；　I've　never　changed　in　my　love　for　father？　I've　changed　in　everything　else；　but　in　that　never。　Yet　I've　hurt　him　over　and　over　and　over　again。　I've　done　things　。　。　。〃　Here　he　broke　off。　To…day　was　to　be　happy；　they　must　build　up　their　walls　faster；　faster；　faster　to　keep　the　world　out。　He　would　think　of　nothing；　nothing　but　the　present。　The　wind　blew　and　the　heavy　drops　of　rain　fell；　one　and　one　and　one；　slowly　between　the　gusts。　Ho　drew　her　close　to　him。

〃Are　you　cold？〃

〃No；　Martin　dear。〃

〃I　suppose　we　should　turn　back。〃

〃Yes；　it's　getting　late。〃

〃It　will　seem　hours　until　to…morrow。〃

〃And　to　me　too。〃

They　were　at　the　end　of　the　Green　Park。　There　was　no　one　there。　They　kissed　and　clung　together　and　Maggie's　hand　was　warm　inside　his　coat。　Then　they　turned　back　and　entered　the　real　world　once　more　。　。　。

〃Now　we　must　have　our　matinee；〃　Martin　said。　Maggie　could　not　refuse　and　besides　she　herself　wanted　it　so　badly。　Also　the　three　weeks　were　drawing　to　a　close；　and　although　she　did　not　know　what　was　in　store　for　them；　she　felt；　in　some　mysterious　way；　that　trouble　was　coming。

〃Yes；　we'll　have　our　matinee；〃　she　said。

It　was　a　terrific　excitement　for　her；　apart　altogether　from　her　love　for　Martin。　She　had；　of　course；　never　been　to　a　theatre。　She　could　not　imagine　in　the　least　what　it　was　like。　It　so　happened；　by　a　wonderful　chance；　that　a　note　came　from　Katherine　Mark　asking　her　to　tea。　She　showed　this　to　the　aunts　and　said　that　she　would　accept　it。　She　wrote　to　Katherine　Mark　and　refused　and　told　Martin　that　for　that　Wednesday　afternoon　she　was　quite　free　until　at　least　seven　o'clock。　She　wove　these　deceits　with　strong　disgust。　She　hated　the　lies；　and　there　were　many；　many　times　when　she　was　on　the　edge　of　confessing　everything　to　the　aunts。　But　the　thought　of　what　would　follow　that　confession　held　her　back。　She　could　not　make　things　harder　for　Martin。

Nevertheless　she　wondered　why　when　she　felt；　in　herself；　no　shame　al　all　at　the　things　that　she　was　doing；　she　should　have　to　lie　to　cover　those　things　up。　But　everything　in　connection　with　the　Chapel　seemed　to　lie。The　place　was　wrapped　in　intrigue　and　double…　dealing。　How　long　would　it　be　before　she　and　Martin　were　out　of　it　all？

She　was　to　meet　him　by　one　of　the　lions　in　Trafalgar　Square。　She　bought　a　golden　chrysanthemum　which　she　stuck　into　the　belt　of　her　black　dress　and　she　wore　her　coral　necklace。　She　was　tired　of　black。　She　sometimes　thought　she　would　spend　all　her　Three　Hundred　Pounds　on　clothes　。　。　。　To…day；　as　soon　as　she　was　out　of　the　house　and　had　turned　the　corner　into　King　William　Street；　she　slipped　on　her　ring。　She　kissed　it　before　she　put　her　glove　on。　He　was　waiting　there　looking　like　a　happy　schoolboy；　that　way　that　she　loved　him　to　look。　That　slow　crooked　smile　of　his；　something　that　broke　up　his　whole　face　into　geniality　and　friendliness；　how　she　adored　him　when　he　looked　like　that！　He　was　wearing　clothes　of　some　rough　red…brown　stuff　and　a　black　knitted　tie

She　was　carrying　something；　a　little　parcel　in　tissue　paper。　She　pressed　it　into　his　hand　when　they　met。　He　opened　it；　just　like　a　boy；　chuckling；　his　eyes　shining；　his　fingers　tearing　the　paper　in　his　eagerness。　Her　present　was　a　round　locket　of　thin　plain　gold　and　inside　was　the　funniest　little　black　faded　photograph　of　Maggie；　her　head　only；　a　wild　untidy　head　of　hair；　a　fat　round　schoolgirl　face　a　village　snapshot　of　Maggie　taken　in　St。　Dreot's　when　she　was　about　fifteen。

〃It's　all　I　had；〃　she　said。　〃I　remembered　it　the　other　day　and　I　found　it。　A　travelling　photographer　took　it　one　day。　He　came　to　the　village　and　every　one　was　taken；　father　and　all。　It's　very　bad　but　it　was　the　only　one。〃

〃It's　wonderful；〃　said　Martin；　and　truly　it　was　wonderful。　It　had　caught　by　a　marvellous　chance；　in　spite　of　its　shabby　faded　darkness；　the　very　soul　of　Maggie。　Was　it　her　hair；　her　untidy　hair；　or　the　honesty　of　her　eyes；　or　the　strength　and　trustiness　of　her　mouth？　But　then　it　was　to　any　one　who　did　not　know　her　the　bad　dim　photograph　of　an　untidy　child；　to　any　one　who　did　know　her　the　very　stamp　and　witness　of　Maggie　and　all　that　she　was。　Maggie　had　spent　twenty…five　shillings　on　the　locket　（she　had　had　three　pounds　put　away　from　her　allowance　in　her　drawer）。

It　was　a　very　simple　locket；　thin　plain　gold　round　and　smooth；　but　good；　and　it　would　last。

〃You　darling；〃　whispered　Martin。　〃There　couldn't　have　been　anything　more　like　you　if　you'd　been　taken　by　the　grandest　photographer　in　London。〃

They　started　off　towards　Shaftesbury　Avenue　where　the　theatre　was；　and　as　they　went　a　funny　little　incident　occurred。　They　were　both　too　happy　to　talk　and　Maggie　was　too　happy　even　to　think。　Suddenly　she　was　aware　that　some　one　was　coming　towards　her　whom　she　knew。　She　looked　and　tugged　herself　from　that　world　of　Martin　and　only　Martin　in　which　she　was　immersed。　It　was　the　large；　smiling；　rosy…　cheeked；　white…haired　clergyman；　Mr。　Trenchard。　Yes；　certainly　it　was　he。　He　had　recognised　her　and　was　stopping　to　speak　to　her。　Martin　moved　on　a　little　and　stood　waiting　for　her。　She　was　confused　and　embarrassed　but　pleased　too　because　he　seemed　glad　to　see　her。　He　looked　the　very　picture　of　a　well…dressed；　kindly；　genial　friend　who　had　known　her　all　his　life。　He　was　wearing　a　beautifully　shining　top…hat　and　his　stiff　white　collar　gleamed。　Yes；　he　was　glad　to　see　her　and　he　said　so。　He　remembered　her　name。　〃Miss　Cardinal；〃　he　called　her。　How　had　she　been？　What　had　she　been　doing？　Had　she　seen　Mrs。　Mark？　He　was　staying　with　his　sister　at　Brown's　Hotel　in　Somewhereshe　didn't　catch　the　name　of　the　street。　His　sister　would　be　so　glad　if　she　would　come　and　see　them　one　day。　Would　she　come？　He　wouldn't　tie　her　down；　but　she　had　only　to　write　and　say　she　was　coming　。　。　。

He　took　her　hand　and　held　it　for　a　moment　and　looked　in　her　eyes　with　the　kindliest　friendliest　regard。　He　was　glad　to　have　seen　her。　He　should　tell　his　sister　。　。　。

He　was　gone　and　Maggie　really　could　not　be　sure　what　she　had　said。　Something　very　silly　she　could　be　certain。　Stupid　the　pleasure　that　his　few　words　had　given　her；　but　she　felt　once　again；　as　she　had　felt　in　Katherine　Mark's　drawing…room；　the　contact　with　that　other　world；　that　safe；　happy；　comfortable；　assured　world　in　which　everything　was　exactly　what　it　seemed。　She　was　glad　that　he　liked　her　and　that　his　sister　liked　her。　Then　she　could　not　be　so　wild　and　odd　and　uncivilised　as　she　often　was　afraid　that　she　was。　She　rejoined　Martin　with　a　little　added　glow　in　her　cheeks。

〃Who　was　that？〃　Martin　asked　her　rather　sharply。

She　told　him。

〃One　of　those　humbug