the captives-第5章

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he　cook；　who　came　to　remove　the　breakfast；　but　she　had　to　bite　her　lip　to　keep　back　the　tears　that　WOULD　come　and　fill　her　eyes　so　that　the　world　was　misty　and　obscure。

There　was；　she　fancied；　something　strange　about　Ellen。　In　HER　eyes　some　obscure　triumph　or　excitement；　some　scorn　and　derision；　Maggie　fancied；　of　herself。　Had　the　woman　been　drinking？　。　。　。

Then　there　arrived　Mr。　Brassy；　her　father's　solicitor；　from　Cator　Hill。　He　had　been　often　in　the　house；　a　short　fat　man　with　a　purple　face；　clothes　of　a　horsy　cut；　and　large；　red；　swollen　fingers。　He　took　now　possession　of　the　house　with　much　self…importance。　〃Well；　Miss　Maggie〃　（he　blew　his　words　at　her　as　a　child　blows　soap…　bubbles）。　〃Here　we　are；　then。　Very　sad　indeedvery。　I've　been　through　the　housegot　the　will　all　right。　Your　aunt；　you　say；　will　be　with　us？〃

〃My　aunt　from　London。　Miss　Anne　Cardinal。　I　expect　her　in　half　an　hour。　She　should　have　arrived　at　Clinton　by　the　half…past　nine　train。〃　〃Well；　well。　Yesyesindeed；　your　uncle　is　also　here？〃

〃Yes。　He　will　be　down　shortly。〃

〃Very　good；　Miss　Maggie。　Very　good。〃

She　hated　that　he　should　call　her　Miss　Maggie。　He　had　always　treated　her　with　considerable　respect；　but　to…day　she　fancied　that　he　patronised　her。　He　placed　his　hand　for　a　moment　on　her　shoulder　and　she　shrank　back。　He　felt　her　action　and；　abashed　a　little；　coughed　and　blew　his　nose。　He　strutted　about　the　room。　Then　the　door　opened　and　Ellen　the　cook　looked　in　upon　them。

〃I　only　wished　to　see；　Miss；　whether　I　could　do　anything　for　you？〃

〃Nothing；　thank　you；〃　said　Maggie。

〃Been　with　you　some　time　that　woman？〃　said　Mr。　Brassy。

〃Yes；〃　said　Maggie；　〃about　five　years；　I　think。〃

〃Hum！　Humname　of　Harmer。〃

〃Yes。　Harmer。〃

〃Not　married？〃

〃No；〃　answered　Maggie；　wondering　at　this　interest。

〃Not　so　far　as　you　know。〃

〃No。　She's　always　Miss　Harmer。〃

〃Quite　soquite　so。　Dear　me；　yes。〃

Other　people　appeared；　asked　questions　and　vanished。　It　seemed　to　have　been　all　taken　out　of　her　hands　and　it　was　strange　how　desolate　this　made　her。　For　so　many　years　she　had　had　the　management　of　that　house；　since　her　fourteenth　birthday；　indeed。　Ugly　and　dilapidated　though　the　place　had　been；　it　had　grown；　after　a　time；　to　belong　to　her；　and　she　had　felt　as　though　it　were　in　some　way　grateful　to　her　for　keeping　it；　poor　thing；　together。　Now　it　had　suddenly　withdrawn　itself　and　was　preparing　for　the　next　comer。　Maggie　felt　this　quite　definitely　and　thought　that　probably　it　was　glad　that　now　its　roof　would　be　mended　and　its　floors　made　whole。　It　had　thrown　her　off　。　。　。　Well；　she　would　not　burden　it　long。

There　were　sounds　then　of　wheels　on　the　gravel。　The　old　dilapidated　cab　from　Clinton　with　its　ricketty　windows　and　moth…eaten　seats　that　smelt　of　straw　and　beer　was　standing　at　the　door；　the　horse　puffing　great　breaths　of　steam　into　the　frozen　air。　Her　aunt　had　arrived。　Maggie；　standing　behind　the　window；　looked　out。　The　carriage　door　opened；　and　a　figure；　that　seemed　unusually　tall；　appeared　to　straighten　itself　out　and　rose　to　its　full　height　on　the　gravel　path　as　though　it　had　been　sitting　in　the　cab　pressed　together；　its　head　upon　its　knees。

Then　in　the　hall　that　was　dark　even　on　the　brightest　day；　Aunt　Anne　revealed　herself　as　a　lady；　tall　indeed；　but　not　too　tall；　of　a　fine　carriage；　in　a　black　rather　shabby　dress　and　a　black　bonnet。　Her　face　was　grave　and　sharply　pointed；　with　dark　eyessad　rather；　and　of　the　pale　remote　colour　that　the　Virgin　in　the　St。　Dreot's　east　end　window　wears。　Standing　there　in　the　dusky　hall；　quietly；　quite　apart　from　the　little　bustle　that　surrounded　her；　she　seemed　to　Maggie　even　in　that　first　moment　like　some　one　wrapt；　caught　away　into　her　own　visions。

〃I　paid　the　cabman　five　shillings；〃　she　said　very　softly。　〃I　hope　that　was　right。　And　you　are　Maggie；　are　you？〃

She　bent　down　and　kissed　her。　Her　lips　were　warm　and　comforting。　Maggie；　who　had；　when　she　was　shy；　something　of　the　off…hand　manner　of　a　boy；　said：

〃Yes。　That's　all　right。　We　generally　give　him　four　and　six。〃

They　went　into　the　dining…room　where　was　Mr。　Brassy。　He　came　forward　to　them；　blowing　his　words　at　them；　rubbing　his　hands：

〃Miss　CardinalI　am　honouredmy　name　is　Brassy；　your　brother's　lawyer。　Very；　very　sadso　sudden；　so　sudden。　The　funeral　is　at　twelve。　If　there　is　anything　I　can　do〃

Miss　Cardinal　did　not　regard　him　at　all　and　Maggie　saw　that　this　annoyed　him。　The　girl　watched　her　aunt；　conscious　of　some　strange　new　excitement　at　her　heart。　She　had　never　seen　any　one　who　in　the　least　resembled　this　remote　silent　woman。　Maggie　did　not　know　what　it　was　that　she　had　expected；　but　certainly　it　had　not　been　this。　There　was　something　in　her　Aunt's　face　that　recalled　her　father　and　her　uncle；　something　in　the　eyes；　something　in　the　width　and　height　of　the　forehead；　but　this　resemblance　only　accentuated　the　astounding　difference。　Maggie's　first　impression　was　her　ultimate　onethat　her　aunt　had　strayed　out　of　some　stained…glass　window　into　a　wild　world　that　did　not　bewilder　her　only　because　she　did　not　seriously　regard　it。　Maggie　found　herself　wondering　who　had　fastened　her　aunt's　buttons　and　strings　when　she　rose　in　the　morning；　how　had　she　ever　travelled　in　the　right　train　and　descended　at　the　right　station？　How　could　she　remember　such　trifles　when　her　thoughts　were　fixed　on　such　distant　compelling　dreams？　The　pale　oval　face；　the　black　hair　brushed　back　from　the　forehead；　the　thin　hands　with　long　tapering　fingers；　the　black　dress；　the　slender　upright　bodythis　figure　against　the　cold　bright　winter　sunlight　was　a　picture　that　remained　always　from　that　day　in　Maggie's　soul。

Her　aunt　looked　about　her　as　though　she　had　just　awaked　from　sleep。　〃Would　you　care　to　come　up　to　your　room？〃　asked　Maggie；　feeling　the　embarrassment　of　Mr。　Brassy's　presence。

〃Yes；　dear；　thank　youI　will；〃　said　Miss　Cardinal。　They　moved　from　the　room；　Aunt　Anne　walking　with　a　strange；　almost　clumsy　uncertainty；　halting　from　one　foot　to　the　other　as　though　she　had　never　learnt　to　trust　her　legs；　a　movement　with　which　Maggie　was　to　become　intensely　familiar。　It　was　as　though　her　aunt　had　flown　in　some　earlier　existence；　and　had　never　become　accustomed　to　this　clumsier　earthly　fashion。

The　spare　bedroom　was　a　bright　room　with　a　broad　high　window。　The　view　was　magnificent；　looking　over　the　hill　that　dropped　below　the　vicarage　out　across　fields　and　streams　to　Cator　Hill；　to　the　right　into　the　heart　of　the　St。　Dreot　Woods；　to　the　left　to　the　green　valley　through　whose　reeds　and　sloping　shadows　the　Lisp　gleamed　like　a　burnished　wire　threading　its　way　to　the　sea。　There　was　a　high…　backed　old…fashioned　chair　by　the　window。　Against　this　Miss　Cardinal　stood；　her　thin　body　reflected；　motionless；　as　though　it　had　been　painted　in　a　long　glass　behind　her。　She　gazed　before　her。

Maggie　saw　that　she　was　agitated；　passionately　moved。　The　sun　catching　the　hoar…frost　on　the　frozen　soil　turned　the　world　to　crystal；　and　in　every　field　were　little　shallows　of　blue　light；　the　St。　Dreot　Woods　were　deep　black　with　flickering　golden　stars。

She　tried　to　speak。　She　could　not。　Tears　were　in　her　eyes。　〃It　is　so　long　。　。　。　since　I　。　。　。　London；〃　she　smiled　at　Maggie。　Then　Maggie　heard　her　say：

The　Lord　is　my　shepherd；　therefore　can　I　lack　nothing。

He　shall　feed　me　in　a　green　pasture；　and　lead　me　forth　beside　the　waters　of　comfort。

He　shall　convert　my　soul；　and　bring　me　forth　in　the　paths　of　righteousness；　for　His　Name's　sake。

Yea；　though　I　walk　through　the　valley　of　the　shadow　of　death；　I　will　fear　no　evil；　for　thou　art　with　me；　they　rod　and　thy　staff　comfort　me。

Thou　shalt　prepare　a　table　before　me　against　them　that　trouble　me：　thou　hast　anointed　my　head　with　oil；　and　my　cup　shall　be　full。

But　thy　lovingkindness　and　mercy　shall　follow　me　all　the　days　of　my　life；　and　I　will　dwell　in　the　house　of　the　Lord　for　ever。

There　was　a　pausethen　Maggie　said　timidly；　〃Won't　you　take　off　your　bonnet？　It　will　be　more　comfortable。〃　〃Thank　you；　my　dear。〃　She　took　off　her　bonnet　and　laid　it　on　the　bed。　Then　she　resumed　her　stand　at　the　window；　her　eyes　lost　in　the　sunny　distance。　〃I　did　wrong；〃　she　said；　as　though　she　were　speaking　to　herself。　〃I　should　not　have　allowed　that　quarrel　with　your　father。　I　regret　it　now　very　deeply。　But　we　always　see　too　late　the　consequences　of　our　proud　self…will。〃　She　turned　then。

〃Come　here；　dear；〃　she　said。

Maggie　came　to　her。　Her　aunt　looked　at　her　and　Maggie　was　deeply　conscious　of　her　shabby　dress；　her　rough　hands；　her　ugly　boots。　Then；　as　always　when　she　was　self…critical；　her　eyes　grew　haughty　and　her　mouth　defiant。

Her　aunt　kissed　her；　her　cool；　firm　fingers　against　the　girl's　warm　neck。

〃You　will　come　to　us　now；　dear。　You　should　have　come　long　ago。〃

Maggie　wanted　to　speak；　but　she　could　not。

〃We　will　try　to　make　you　happy；　but　ours　is　not　an　exciting　life。〃

Maggie's　eyes　lit　up。　〃It　has　not；〃　she　said；　〃been　very　exciting　here　always。〃　Then　she　went　on；　colour　in　her　cheeks；　〃I　think　father　did　all　he　could。　I　feel　now　that　there　were　a　lot　of　things　that　I　should　have　done；　only　I　didn't　see　them　at　the　time。　He　never　asked　me　to　help　him；　but　I　wish　now　that　I　had　offeredor　suggested。〃

Her　lips　quivered；　again　she　was　near　tears；　and　again；　as　it　had　been　on　her　walk　with　Uncle　Mathew；　her　regret　was　not　for　her　father　but　for　the　waste　that　her　life　with　him　had　been。　But　there　was　something　in　her　aunt　that　prevented　complete　confidence。　She　seemed　in　something　to　be　outside　small　daily　troubles。　Before　they　could　speak　any　more　there　was　a　knock　on　the　door　and　Uncle　Mathew　came　in。　He　stood　there　looking　both　ashamed　of　himself　and　obstinate。

He　most　certainly　did　not　appear　at　his　best；　a　large　piece　of　plaster　on　his　right　cheek　showing　where　he　had　cut　himself　with　his　razor；　and　a　shabby　and　tight　black　suit　（it　was　his　London　suit；　and　had　lain　crumpled　disastrously　in　his　hand…bag）　accentuating　the　undue　roundness　of　his　limbs；　his　eyes　blinked　and　his　mouth　trembled　a　little　at　the　corners。　He　was　obviously　afraid　of　his　sister　and　flung　his　niece　a　watery　wink　as　though　to　implore　her　silence　as　to　his　various　misdemeanours。

Brother　and　sister　shook　hands；　and　Maggie；　as　she　watched　them；　was　surprised　to　feel　within　herself　a　certain　sympathy　with　her　uncle。　Aunt　Anne's　greeting　was　gentle　and　kind　but　infinitely　distant；　and　had　something　of　the　tenderness　with　which　the　Pope　washes　the　feet　of　the　beggars　in　Rome。

〃I'm　so　glad　that　you　were　here；〃　she　said　in　her　soft　voice。　〃It　must　have　been　such　a　comfort　to　Maggie。〃

〃He　has　been；　indeed；　Aunt　Anne；〃　Maggie　broke　in　eagerly。

Her　uncle　looked　at　her　with　great　surprise；　after　his　behaviour　of　last　night　he　had　not　expected　this。　Reassured；　he　began　a　voluble　explanation　of　his　movements　and　plans；　rubbing　his　hands　together　and　turning　one　boot　against　the　other。

He　had　a　great　deal　to　say；　because　he　had　seen　neither　of　his　sisters　for　a　very　long　time。　Then　he　wished　to　make　a　good　impression　because　Maggie；　the　heiress；　would　be　of　importance　now。　What　an　idiot　he　had　been　last　night。　What　had　he　done？　He　could　remember　nothing。　It　was　evident　that　it　had　been　nothing　very　bad　Maggie　bore　him　no　grudgegood　girl；　Maggie。　He　felt　affection