the captives-第47章

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gesture　of　appeal：　〃Oh；　Maggie；　Maggie；　turn　to　God。　You　have　rebelled　against　Him。　You　have　refused　to　listen　to　His　voice。　The　end　of　that　can　be　only　misery。　He　loves；　but　He　also　judges。　Even　now；　within　a　day；　a　week；　He　may　come　with　judgment。　Turn　to　Him；　Maggie；　not　because　I　tell　you　but　because　of　the　Truth。　Pray　with　me　now　that　He　may　help　you　and　give　you　strength。〃

Because　she　felt　that　she　had　indeed　treated　them　badly　and　must　do　just　now　what　they　wished；　she　knelt　down　on　the　drawing…room　carpet。　Aunt　Anne　also　knelt　down；　her　figure　stiff　like　iron；　her　raised　hands　once　again　delicate　and　ghost…like。

〃0　Lord　God；〃　she　prayed；　〃this　Thy　servant　comes　to　Thee　and　prays　that　Thou　wilt　give　her　strength　in　her　struggle　with　the　Evil　One。　She　has　been　tempted　and　is　weak；　but　Thou　art　strong　to　save　and　wilt　not　despise　the　least　of　these　Thy　children。〃

〃Come；　O　Lord　the　Father；　and　take　Thy　daughter　into　Thy　loving　care；　and　when　Thou　comest；　in　all　Thy　splendour；　to　redeem　the　world；　I　pray　that　Thou　wilt　find　her　waiting　for　Thee　in　holiness　and　meekness　of　heart。〃

They　rose。　Maggie's　knees　were　sore　with　the　stiff　carpet。　The　family　group　watched　her　from　the　wall　ironically。

She　saw　that　in　spite　of　the　prayer　Aunt　Anne　had　not　forgiven　her。　She　stood　away　from　her；　and　although　her　voice　now　was　not　so　hard；　it　had　lost　altogether　the　tender　note　that　it　used　to　have。

〃Now；　Maggie；　you　must　promise　us　that　you　will　not　see　Martin　Warlock　again。〃

Maggie　flushed。　〃No；　aunt；　I　can't　promise　that。〃

〃Then　we　must　treat　you　as　a　prisoner　whilst　you　are　with　us。〃

〃If　he　wants　to　see　me　I　must　see　him。〃

They　looked　at　one　another。　Aunt　Anne　was　like　a　man　just　then。

〃Very　well。　Until　you　give　us　your　promise　we　must　see　ourselves　that　you　do　not　disgrace　us。〃

There　was　no　more　to　be　said。　It　was　as　though　a　heavy　iron　door　had　rolled　to。

Aunt　Anne　passed　Maggie　and　left　the　room。

Well；　then；　there　was　the　situation。　As　she　remained　in　the　empty　room　she　felt　relief　because　now　she　knew　where　she　was。

If　only　she　could　keep　in　touch　with　Martin　then　nothing　else　at　all　mattered。　But　that　must　be；　otherwise　she　felt　that　she　would　rush　at　them　all　and　tread　them　down　and　break　doors　and　windows　to　get　at　him。

Meanwhile；　how　they　must　all　have　been　talking！　She　felt　no　especial　anger　against　Caroline　Smith。　It　had　been　her　own　fault　for　trusting　that　note　to　her　honour。　Caroline　had　no　honour；　of　course。　Maggie　might　have　guessed　that　from　the　way　that　she　talked　about　other　people。　And　then　probably　she　herself　was　in　love　with　Martin　。　。　。　She　sat　down；　staring　in　front　of　her；　thinking。　They　all　knew；　Amy　Warlock；　Mr。　Thurston；　Miss　Aviesknew　about　that　wonderful；　marvellous　thing；　her　love　for　Martin；　his　for　her。　They　were　turning　it　over　in　their　hands；　soiling　it；　laughing　at　it；　sneering　at　it。　And　what　were　they　doing　to　Martin？　At　that　thought　she　sprang　up　and　began　hurriedly　to　walk　about。　Oh；　they　must　leave　him　alone！　What　were　they　saying　to　him？　They　were　telling　him　how　ridiculous　it　was　to　have　anything　to　do　with　a　plain；　ugly　girl！　And　he？　Was　he　defending　her？　At　the　sudden　suggestion　of　his　disloyalty　indignation　fought　in　her　with　some　strange；　horrible　suspicion。　Yes；　it　would　come　back；　that　thought。　He　was　weak。　He　had　told　her　that　he　was。　He　was　weak。　She　KNEW　that　he　was。　She　would　not　lie　to　herself。　And　then　at　the　thought　of　his　weakness　the　maternal　love　in　her　that　was　the　strongest　instinct　in　her　character　flooded　her　body　and　soul；　so　that　she　did　not　mind　if　he　were　weak；　but　only　wanted　to　defend　him；　to　protect　him　。　。　。

Strangely；　she　felt　more　sure　of　him　at　that　moment　when　she　was　conscious　of　his　weakness　than　she　had　been　when　she　asserted　his　strength。　Beneath　that　weakness　he　would　be　true　to　her　because　he　needed　her。　No　one　else　could　give　him　what　she　did；　he　had　said　so　again　and　again。　And　it　would　always　be　so。　He　would　have　to　come　back　to　her　however　often　he　denied　her。

She　felt　happier　then。　She　could　face　them　all。　She　had　been　bad　to　her　aunts；　too。　She　had　done　them　harm；　and　they　had　been　nothing　but　goodness　to　her。　Apart　from　leaving　Martin　she　would　do　all；　these　next　weeks；　to　please　them。

She　went　up　to　her　bedroom；　and　when　she　reached　it　she　realised；　with　a　little　pang　of　fright；　that　she　was　a　prisoner。　No　more　meetings　outside　Hatchards；　no　more　teas；　no　more　walks　。　。　。　She　looked　out　of　the　window　down　into　the　street。　It　was　a　long　way　down　and　the　figures　walking　were　puppets；　not　human　at　all。　But　the　thing　to　be　thought　of　now　was　the　question　of　letters。　How　was　she　to　get　them　to　the　Strand　Office　and　receive　from　them　Martin's　letters　in　return？　After　long；　anxious　thought　there　seemed　to　be　only　one　way。　There　was　a　kitchen…maid；　Jane；　who　came　every　morning　to　the　house；　did　odd　jobs　in　the　kitchen；　and　went　home　again　in　the　evening。　Maggie　had　seen　the　girl　about　the　house　a　number　of　times；　had　noticed　her　for　her　rebellious；　independent　look；　and　had　felt　some　sympathy　with　her　because　she　was　under　the　harsh　dominion　of　Martha。

Maggie　had　spoken　to　her　once　or　twice　and　the　girl　had　seemed　grateful；　smiling　in　a　kind　of　dark；　tearful　way　under　her　untidy　hair。　Maggie　believed　that　she　would　help　her；　of　course　the　girl　would　get　into　trouble　were　she　discovered；　and　dismissal　would　certainly　follow；　but　it　was　clear　enough　that　she　would　not　in　any　case　be　under　Martha's　government　very　long。　Martha　never　kept　kitchen…maids　for　more　than　a　month　at　a　time。

She　sat　down　at　once　and　wrote　her　first　letter；　sitting　on　her　bed。

DARLING　MARTINThere　has　been　an　explosion　here。　The　aunts　have　told　me　to　give　you　up。　I　could　not　promise　them　that　I　would　not　see　you　and　so　I　am　a　prisoner　here　until　I　leave　them　altogether。　I　won't　leave　them　until　after　the　New　Year；　partly　because　I　gave　a　promise　and　partly　because　it　would　make　more　trouble　for　you　if　I　were　turned　out　just　now。　I　can't　leave　the　house　at　all　unless　I　am　with　one　of　them；　so　I　am　going　to　try　and　send　the　letters　by　the　kitchen…maid　here　who　goes　home　every　day；　and　she　will　fetch　yours　when　she　posts　mine。　I'll　give　her　a　note　to　tell　the　post　people　that　she　is　to　have　them。　Martin；　dear；　try　and　write　every　day；　even　if　it's　only　the　shortest　line；　because　it　is　dreadful　to　be　shut　up　all　day；　and　I　think　of　you　all　the　time　and　wonder　how　you　are。　Don't　be　unhappy；　Martinthat's　the　one　thing　I　couldn't　bear。　If　you're　not；　I'm　not。　There's　no　reason　to　be　unhappy　about　me。　I'm　very　cheerful　indeed　if　I　know　that　you　are　all　right。　You　are　all　right；　aren't　you？　I　do　want　to　know　what　happened　when　you　got　home。　I　quite　understand　that　the　one　thing　you　must　do　now　is　to　keep　your　father　well　and　not　let　anything　trouble　him。　If　the　thought　of　me　troubles　him；　then　tell　him　that　you　are　thinking　of　nothing　but　him　now　and　how　to　make　him　happy。　But　don't　let　them　change　your　feeling　for　me。　You　know　me　better　than　any　of　them　do　and　I　am　just　as　you　know　me；　every　bit。　The　aunts　are　very　angry　because　they　say　I　deceived　them；　but　they　haven't　any　right　to　tell　me　who　I　shall　love；　have　they？　No　one　has。　I　am　myself　and　nobody's　ever　cared　for　me　except　youand　Uncle　Mathew；　so　I　don't　see　why　I　should　think　of　anybody。　The　aunts　never　cared　for　me　reallyonly　to　make　me　religious。

But；　Martin；　never　forget　I　love　you　so　much　I　can　never　change。　I'm　not　one　who　changes；　and　although　I'm　young　now　I　shall　be　just　the　same　when　I'm　old。　I　have　the　ring　and　I　look　at　it　all　the　time。　I　like　to　think　you　have　the　locket。　Please　write；　dear　Martin；　or　I'll　find　it　very　difficult　to　stay　quiet　here；　and　I　know　I　ought　to　stay　quiet　for　your　sake。

Your　loving；

MAGGIE。

She　put　it　in　an　envelope；　wrote　the　address　as　he　had　told　her；　and　then　set　out　to　find　Jane。　It　was　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　now　and　the　house；　on　this　winter's　day；　was　dark　and　dim。

The　gas　was　always　badly　lit　in　the　passages；　spitting　and　muttering　like　an　imprisoned　animal。　The　house　was　so　quiet　when　Maggie　came　out　on　to　the　stairs　that　there　seemed　to　be　no　one　in　it。　She　found　her　way　down　into　the　hall　and　saw　Thomas　the　cat　there；　moving　like　a　black　ghost　along　the　floor。　He　came　up　to　her　and　rubbed　himself　in　his　sinister；　mysterious　way　against　her　dress。　When　she　turned　towards　the　green　baize　door　that　led　towards　the　kitchen　regions　he　stood　back　from　her；　stole　on　to　the　lower　steps　of　the　staircase　and　watched　her　with　steady；　unblinking　eyes。　She　pushed　the　door　and　went　through　into　the　cold　passage　that　smelt　of　cheese　and　bacon　and　damp　earth。　There　seemed　to　be　no　one　about；　and　then　suddenly　the　pantry　door　opened　and　Jane　came　out。　She　stopped　when　she　saw　Maggie。

〃Where's　Martha？〃　asked　Maggie　in　a　low　voice。

The　whisper　seemed　to　tell　Jane　at　once　that　this　was　to　be　a　confidential　matter。　She　jerked　with　a　dirty　thumb　in　the　direction　of　the　kitchen。

〃In　there。　Cooking　the　dinner；〃　she　whispered　back。　She　was　untidy；　there　were　streaks　of　black　on　her　face；　but　her　eyes　looked　up　at　Maggie　with　a　friendly；　roguish　glance；　as　though　they　had　already　something　in　common。　Maggie　saw　that　she　had　no　time　to　lose。　She　came　close　to　her。

〃Jane；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　in　trouble。　It's　only　you　who　can　help　me。　Here's　a　letter　that　I　want　postedjust　in　the　ordinary　way。　Can　you　do　that　for　me？〃

Jane；　suddenly　smiling；　nodded　her　head。

〃And　there's　something　else；〃　Maggie　went　on。　〃To…morrow　morning；　before　you　come　here；　I　want　you　to　go　to　the　Strand　post…office　you　know　the　one　opposite　the　stationand　ask　for　a　letter　addressed　to　me。　I've　written　on　a　piece　of　paper　here　that　you're　to　be　given　any　letters　of　mine。　Give　it　to　me　somehow　when　no　one's　looking。　Do　you　understand？〃

Jane　nodded　her　head。　Maggie　gave　her　the　note　and　also　half…a…　crown；　but　Jane　pushed　back　the　money。

〃I　don't　want　no　money；〃　she　said　in　a　hoarse　whisper。　〃You're　the　only　one　here　decent　to　me。〃

At　that　moment　the　kitchen　door　opened　and　Martha　appeared。　When　she　saw　Jane　she　came　up　to　her　and　said：　〃Now　then；　idling　again！　What　about　the　potatoes？〃

She　looked　at　Maggie　with　her　usual　surly　suspicion。

〃I　came　down　for　a　candle；〃　Maggie　said；　〃for　my　room。　Will　you　give　me　one；　please？〃

Jane　had　vanished。

Martin；　meanwhile；　after　Maggie　left　him；　had　returned　home　in　no　happy　state。　There　had　leapt　upon　him　again　that　mood　of　sullen　impatient　rebellion　that　he　knew　so　wella　mood　that　really　was　like　a　possession；　so　that；　struggle　as　hemight；　he　seemed　always　in　the　grip　of　some　iron…fingered　menacing　figure。

It　was　possession　in　a　sense　that　to　many　normal；　happy　people　in　this　world　is　so　utterly　unknown　that　they　can　only　scornfully　name　it　weakness　and　so　pass　on　their　way。　But　those　human　beings　who　have　suffered　from　it　do　in　very　truth　feel　as　though　they　had　been　caught　up　into　another　world；　a　world　of　slavery；　moral　galley…　driving　with　a　master　high　above　them；　driving　them　with　a　lash　that　their　chained　limbs　may　not　resist。　Such　men；　if　they　try　to　explain　that　torment；　can　often　point　to　the　very　day　and　even　hour　of　their　sudden　slavery；　at　such　a　tick　of　the　clock　the　clouds　gather；　the　ve