the captives-第49章

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〃Yes；　father。〃

〃You're　being　good　now；　aren't　you？〃

〃Good；　father？〃

〃Yes　。　。　。　Not　doing　anything　you　or　I'd　be　ashamed　of。　I　know　in　the　past　。　。　。　but　that's　been　forgotten；　that's　over。　Only　now；　just　now；　it's　terribly　important　for　us　both　that　you　should　be　good　。　。　。　like　you　used　to　be　。　。　。　when　you　were　a　boy。〃

〃Father；　what　have　people　been　saying　to　you　about　me？〃

〃Nothingnothing。　Only　I　think　about　you　so　much。　I　pray　about　you　all　the　time。　Soon；　as　you　say；　we'll　go　away　together　。　。　。　only　now；　just　now；　I　want　you　with　me　here；　strong　by　my　side。　I　want　your　help。〃

Martin　took　his　father's　hand；　felt　how　dry　and　hot　and　feverish　it　was。

〃I'll　be　with　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　promise　that。　Don't　you　listen　to　what　any　one　says。　I　won't　leave　you。〃　He　would　like　to　have　gone　on　and　asked　other　questions；　but　the　old　man　seemed　so　worn　out　and　exhausted　that　he　was　afraid　of　distressing　him；　so　he　just　sat　there；　his　hands　on　his　shoulders；　and　suddenly　the　white　head　nodded；　the　beard　sank　over　the　breast　and　huddled　up　in　the　chair　as　though　life　itself　had　left　him；　the　old　man　slept。

During　the　next　four　days　Martin　and　Maggie　corresponded　through　the　fair　hands　of　Jane。　He　wrote　only　short　letters；　and　over　them　he　struggled。　He　seemed　to　see　Maggie　through　a　tangled　mist　of　persons　and　motives　and　intentions。　He　could　not　get　at　the　real　Maggie　at　all；　he　could　not　even　get　at　his　real　feelings　about　her。　He　knew　that　these　letters　were　not　enough　for　her；　he　could　feel　behind　her　own　a　longing　for　something　from　him　more　definite；　something　that　would　bring　her　closer　to　him。　He　was　haunted　by　his　picture　of　her　sitting　in　that　dismal　house；　a　prisoner；　waiting　for　him；　and　at　last；　at　the　end　of　the　four　days；　he　felt　that　he　must；　in　some　way　or　other　see　her。　Then　she　herself　proposed　a　way。

〃To…morrow　night　（Friday）；〃　she　wrote；　〃the　aunts　are　going　to　a　meeting。　They　won't　return　until　after　eight　o'clock。　During　most　of　that　time　Martha　will　be　in　the　kitchen　cooking；　and　Jane　（who　is　staying　late　that　night）　has　promised　to　give　me　a　signal。　I　could　run　out　for　quarter　of　an　hour　and　meet　you　somewhere　close　by　and　risk　getting　back。　Jane　will　be　ready　to　let　me　in。　Of　course；　it　may　fail；　but　things　can't　be　worse　than　they　are　。　。　。　I　absolutely　forbid　you　to　come　if　you　think　that　this　can　make　anything　worse　for　you　at　home。　But　I　MUST　see　you；　Martin　。　。　。　I　feel　to…night　as　though　I　couldn't　stand　it　any　longer　（although　I've　only　had　five　days　of　it！）；　but　I　think　that　if　I　met　you；　really　you；　for　only　five　minutes；　I　could　bear　it　then　for　weeks。　Let　me　know　if　you　agree　to　this；　and　if　so　where　we　could　meet　about　7。30。〃

The　mere　thought　of　seeing　her　was　wonderful。　He　would　not　have　believed　a　month　ago　that　it　could　have　come　to　mean　so　much　to　him。

He　wrote　back：

〃Yes。　At　the　corner　of　Dundas　Street；　by　the　Pillar　Box；　7。30。〃

He　knew　that　she　had　been　to　that　dark　little　street　with　her　aunts　to　see　Miss　Pyncheon。

The　night；　when　it　came；　was　misty；　and　when　he　reached　the　place　she　was　at　once　in　his　arms。　She　had　been　there　more　than　five　minutes；　she　had　thought　that　he　was　not　coming。　Martha　had　nearly　caught　her　。　。　。

He　kissed　her　hair　and　her　eyes　and　her　mouth；　holding　her　to　him；　forgetting　everything　but　her。　She　stayed；　quiet；　clinging　to　him　as　though　she　would　never　let　him　go；　then　she　drew　away。

〃Now　we　must　walk　about　or　some　one　will　see　us；〃　she　said。

〃We've　only　got　five　minutes。　Martin；　what　I　want　to　know　is；　are　you　happy？〃

〃Yes；〃　he　said。

They　walked　like　ghosts；　in　the　misty　street。

〃Well；　then　I　am；〃　she　said。　〃Only　your　letters　didn't　sound　very　happy。〃

〃Can　you　hold　on　till　after　the　New　Year？〃　They　were　walking　hand　in　hand；　her　fingers　curled　in　his　palm。

〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃If　you're　happy。〃

〃There　are　troubles　of　course；〃　he　said。　〃But　I　don't　care　for　Amy　and　the　rest。　It's　only　father　that　matters。　I　can't　discover　how　much　he　knows。　If　I　knew　that　I'd　be　much　happier。　We'll　be　all　right；　Maggie；　if　nothing　happens　to　him。〃

With　a　little　frightened　catch　in　her　throat　she　asked　him：

〃How　do　you　mean；　if　anything　happens　to　him？〃

〃If　anything　happened　to　him〃　she　could　feel　his　hand　stiffen　round　hers；　〃through　methenwhy　thenI'd　leave　youeverything　I'd　have　to。〃

〃Leave　me！　。　。　。　Oh　Martin！　No！〃

〃I'd　go。　I'd　goI　don't　know　where　to。　I　don't　know　what　I'd　do。　I'd　know　then　that　I　must　leave　every　one　alone；　always；　for　ever　especially　you。〃

〃No。　You'd　need　me　more　than　ever。〃

〃You　don't　understand；　Maggie。　I'd　be　impossible　after　that。　If　father　suffered　through　me　that　would　be　the　end　of　itthe　end　of　everything。〃

〃Martin；　listen。〃　She　caught　his　arm；　looking　up；　trying　to　see　his　face。　〃If　anything　like　that　did　happen　that　would　be　where　you'd　want　me。　Don't　you　see　that　you　COULDN'T　harm　me　EXCEPT　by　leaving　me？〃

〃You　can　reason　it　as　you　like；　Maggie；　but　I　know　myself。　I　know　the　impulse　would　be　too　strongto　go　away　and　hide　myself　from　everybody。　I've　felt　it　beforewhen　I've　done　something　especially　bad。　It's　something　in　me　that　I've　known　all　my　life。〃　Then　he　turned　to　her：　〃But　it's　all　right。　Nothing　shall　happen　to　the　old　man。　I'll　see　that　it　doesn't。　We've　only　got　to　wait　a　fortnight；　then　I'll　get　him　away　for　a　holiday。　And　once　he's　better　I　can　leave　him。　It　WILL　be　all　right。　It　SHALL。〃

Then　he　bent　down　to　her。　〃You　know；　Maggie；　I　love　you　more；　far　more　than　I　ever　thought。　Even　if　I　went　away　you'd　be　the　only　one　I'd　love。　I　never　dreamt　that　I'd　care　for　any　one　so　much。〃

He　felt　her　tremble　under　his　hand　when　he　said　that。

She　sighed。　〃Now　I　can　go　back；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　say　that　over　to　myself　again　and　again。〃

They　stayed　a　little　longer；　he　put　his　arms　round　her　again　and　held　her　so　close　to　him　that　she　could　feel　his　heart　throbbing。　Then　when　they　had　kissed　once　more　she　went　away。

She　returned　safely。　Jane　opened　the　door　for　her；　mysteriously；　as　though　she　enjoyed　her　share　in　the　conspiracy。　Maggie　sped　upstairs；　and　now　with　Martin's　words　in　her　ears；　had　enough　to　stiffen　her　back　for　the　battle。

The　next　move　in　the　affair　was　on　the　following　afternoon　when　Maggie；　alone　in　the　drawing…room；　beheld　Caroline　Smith　in　the　doorway。

〃She's　got　cheek　enough　for　anything；〃　was　Maggie's　first　thought；　but　she　was　not　aware　of　the　true　magnificence　of　that　young　woman's　audacity　until　she　found　her　hand　seized　and　her　cheek　kissed。

Caroline；　in　fact；　had　greeted　her　with　precisely　her　old　spontaneous　enthusiasm。

〃Maggie；　darling；　where　have　you　been　all　these　daysbut　WEEKS　it　is　indeed！　You　might　at　least　have　sent　me　just　a　word。　Life　simply　hasn't　been　the　same　without　you！　You　pet！　。　。　。　and　you　look　tired！　Yes；　you　do。　You've　been　overworking　or　something；　all　because　you　haven't　had　me　to　look　after　you！〃

Maggie　gravely　withdrew；　and　standing　away　from　the　shining　elegance　of　her　friend　said：

〃CarolineI　want　to　know　something　before　we　go　any　further。　What　I　want　to　know　iswhy　did　you　read　that　note　that　I　asked　you　to　give　to　Martin　Warlock？〃

Caroline　stared　in　amazement。　〃My　dear；　what　IS　the　matter？　Are　you　ill　or　something？　Oh；　you　are。　I　can　see　you　are！　You　poor　darling！　Read　your　note？　What　note；　dear？〃

〃The　note　I　gave　you　a　month　agoone　evening　when　you　were　here。〃

〃A　note！　A　month　ago。　My　dear！　As　though　I　could　ever　remember　what　I　did　a　MONTH　ago！　Why；　it's　always　all　I　can　manage　to　remember　what　I　did　yesterday。　Did　you　give　me　a　note；　dear？〃

Maggie　began　to　be　angry。　〃Of　course　I　did。　You　remember　perfectly　well。　I　gave　it　to　you　for　Martin　Warlock。　You　let　him　have　it；　but　meanwhile　you　read　it；　and　not　only　that　but　told　everybody　else　about　it。〃

Caroline's　expression　changed。　She　was　suddenly　sulky。　Her　face　was　like　that　of　a　spoilt　child。

〃Well；　Maggie　Cardinal；　if　you　call　that　being　a　friend！　To　say　that　I　would　ever　do　such　a　thing！〃

〃You　know　you　did！〃　said　Maggie　quietly。

〃Read　your　letters？　As　though　I'd　want　to！　Why　should　I？　As　though　I　hadn't　something　more　interesting　to　do！　No　thank　you！　Of　course　you　have　been　getting　yourself　into　a　mess。　Every　one　knows　that。　That's　why　I　came　here　to…dayto　show　you　that　I　was　a　REAL　friend　and　didn't　mind　WHAT　people　said　about　you！　When　they　were　all　talking　about　you　last　night；　and　saying　the　most　DREADFUL　things；　I　defended　you　and　said　it　wasn't　really　your　fault；　you　couldn't　have　told　what　a　rotten　sort　of　a　man　Martin　Warlock　was〃

〃That's　enough；〃　said　Maggie。　〃I　don't　want　your　defence；　thank　you。　You're　mean　and　deceitful　and　untrue。　You　never　have　been　a　friend　of　mine；　and　I　don't　want　ever　to　see　you　again！〃

Caroline　Smith　was　horrified。　〃Well；　upon　my　word。　Isn't　that　gratitude？　Here　am　I；　the　only　person　in　this　whole　place　would　take　any　trouble　with　you！　When　the　others　all　said　that　you　were　plain　and　stupid　and　hadn't　anything　to　say　for　yourself　I　stuck　to　you。　I　did　all　I　could；　wasting　all　my　time　going　to　the　dressmaker　with　you　and　trying　to　make　you　look　like　something　human；　and　this　is　the　way　you　repay　me！　Well；　there's　a　lesson　for　me！　Many's　the　time　mother's　said　to　me；　'Carry；　you'll　just　ruin　yourself　with　that　kind　heart　of　yours；　laying　yourself　out　for　others　when　you　ought　to　be　seeing　after　yourself。　You've　got　too　big　a　heart　for　this　world。'　Doesn't　it　just　show　one？　And　to　end　it　all　with　accusing　me　of　reading　your　letters！　If　you　choose　to　sit　in　the　park　after　dark　with　a　man　who　everybody　knows〃

〃Either　you're　going　to　leave　this　room　or　I　am；〃　said　Maggie。

〃Thank　you！〃　said　Caroline；　tossing　her　head。　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　desire　to　stay；　I　assure　you！　Only　you'll　be　sorry　for　this；　Maggie　Cardinal；　you　will　indeed！〃

With　a　swish　of　the　skirts　and　a　violent　banging　of　the　door　she　was　gone。

〃The　only　friend　I　had；〃　thought　Maggie。

The　next　development　was　an　announcement　from　Aunt　Anne　that　she　would　like　Maggie　to　accompany　her　to　a　meeting　at　Miss　Avies'。　Aunt　Anne　did　not　explain　what　kind　of　a　meeting　it　would　be；　and　Maggie　asked　no　questions。　She　simply　replied　that　she　would　go。　She　had　indeed　by　this　time　a　very　considerable　curiosity　of　her　own　as　to　what　every　one　thought　was　going　to　happen　in　ten　days'　time。　Perhaps　this　meeting　would　enlighten　her。　It　did。

On　arriving　at　Miss　Avies'　gaunt　and　menacing　apartment　she　found　herself　in　the　very　stronghold　of　the　Inside　Saints。　It　was　a　strange　affair；　and　Maggie　was　never　to　see　anything　quite　like　it　again。　In　the　first　place；　Miss　Avies'　room　was　not　exactly　the　place　in　which　you　would　have　expected　to　discover　a　meeting　of　this　kind。

She　lived　over　a　house…agent's　in　John　Street；　Adelphi。　Her　sitting…　room　was　low…ceilinged　with　little　diamond…paned　windows。　The　place　was　let　furnished；　and　the　green　and　red　vases　on　the　mantelpiece；　the　brass　clock　and　the　bright　yellow　wallpaper　were　properties　of　the　landlord。　To　the　atmosphere　of　the　place　Miss　Avies；　although　she　lived　there　for　a　number　of　years；　had　contributed　nothing。

It　had　all　the　desolate　forlornness　of　a　habitation　in　which　no　human　being　has　dwelt　for　a　very　long　time；　there　was　dust　on　the　mantelpiece；　a　melancholy