the captives-第55章

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Maggie　ran　to　the　door。　Her　aunt　stopped　her；　holding　her　back。

〃It's　better；　Maggie　dear；〃　she　said　very　gently；　repeating　Martin's　words。

The　sound　of　the　hall　door　closing　echoed　through　the　house。

Maggie　struggled；　crying　again　and　again：　〃Let　me　go！　Let　me　go！　I　must　go　with　him！　I　can't　live　without　him！　Let　me　go！〃

She　fought　then；　and　with　one　hand　free　hit　Aunt　Anne's　face；　twisting　her　body。　Then；　suddenly　weak；　so　that　she　saw　faintness　coming　towards　her　like　a　cloak；　she　whispered：

〃Oh；　Aunt　Anne；　let　me　go！　Oh；　Aunt　Anne；　let　me　go！　Please；　please；　let　me　go！〃

Suddenly　the　house　was　darkened；　at　her　feet　was　a　gulf　of　blackness；　and　into　it　she　tumbled；　down；　far　down；　with　a　last　little　gasping　sigh　of　distress。




PART　III

THE　WITCH


CHAPTER　I

THE　THREE　VISITS


On　a　spring　day；　early　in　March　of　the　next　year；　1908；　Mathew　Cardinal　thought　that　he　would　go　and　discover　how　his　niece　was　prospering。　He　had　seen　nothing　of　her　for　a　very　long　time。

He　did　not　blame　himself　for　this；　but　then　he　never　blamed　himself　for　anything。　A　fate；　often　drunken　and　always　imbecile；　was　to　blame　for　everything　that　he　did；　and　he　pitied　himself　sincerely　for　having　to　be　in　the　hands　of　such　a　creature。　He　happened　to　be　just　now　very　considerably　frightened　about　himself；　more　frightened　than　he　had　been　for　a　very　long　time；　so　frightened　in　fact　that　he　had　drunk　nothing　for　weeks。　For　many　years　he　had　been　leading　a　see…saw　existence；　and　the　see…saw　had　been　swung　by　that　mysterious　force　known　as　Finance。　He　had　a　real　gift　for　speculation；　and　had　he　been　granted　from　birth　a　large　income　he　might　have　ended　his　days　as　a　Justice　of　the　Peace　and　a　Member　of　Parliament。　Unfortunately　he　had　never　had　any　private　means；　and　he　had　never　been　able　to　make　enough　by　his　mysterious　speculations　to　float　him　into　security〃Let　me　once　get　so　far；〃　he　would　say　to　himself；　〃and　I　am　a　made　man。〃　But　drink；　an　easy　tolerance　of　bad　company；　and　a　rather　touching　conceit　had　combined　to　divorce　him　from　so　fine　a　destiny。　He　had　risen；　he　had　fallen；　made　a　good　thing　out　of　this　tip；　been　badly　done　over　that；　and　missed　opportunity　after　opportunity　through　a　fuddled　brain　and　an　overweening　self…　confidence。

Last　year　for　several　months　everything　had　succeeded；　it　was　during　that　happy　period　that　he　had　visited　Maggie。　Perhaps　it　was　well　for　his　soul　that　success　had　not　continued。　He　was　a　man　whom　failure　improved；　having　a　certain　childish　warmth　of　heart　and　simplicity　of　outlook　when　things　went　badly　with　him。　Success　made　him　abominably　conceited；　and　being　without　any　morality　self…　confidence　drove　him　to　disastrous　lengths。　Now　once　more　he　was　very　near　destruction　and　he　knew　it；　very　near　things　like　forging　and　highway　robbery；　and　other　things　worse　than　they。　He　knew　that　he　was　very　near；　he　peered　over　into　the　pit　and　did　not　wish　to　descend。　He　was　not　a　bad　man；　and　had　he　not　believed　himself　to　be　a　clever　one　all　might　yet　have　been　well。　The　temptation　of　his　cleverness　lured　him　on。　A　stroke　of　the　pen　was　a　very　simple　thing　。　。　。

To　save　his　soul　he　thought　that　he　would　go　and　see　Maggie。　His　affection　for　her；　conceited　and　selfish　though　it　was；　was　the　most　genuine　thing　in　him。　For　three…quarters　of　the　year　he　forgot　her；　but　when　life　went　badly　he　thought　of　her　againnot　that　he　expected　to　get　anything　out　of　her；　but　she　was　good　to　him　and　she　knew　nothing　about　his　life；　two　fine　bases　for　safety。

〃What　have　they　been　doing　to　her；　those　damned　hypocrites；　I　wonder；〃　was　his　thought。　He　admired；　feared；　and　despised　his　sisters。　〃All　that　stuff　about　God〃　frightened　him　in　spite　of　himself；　and　he　knew；　in　his　soul；　that　Anne　was　no　hypocrite。

He　rang　the　bell　and　faced　Martha。　He　had　dressed　himself　with　some　care　and　was　altogether　more　tidy　just　then；　having　a　new　mistress　who　cared　about　outside　appearances。　Also；　having　been　sober　for　nearly　two　months；　he　looked　a　gentleman。

〃Is　my　niece　at　home？〃　he　asked；　blinking　because　he　was　frightened　of　Martha。

She　did　not　seem　to　be　prepared　to　let　him　in。

〃Miss　Maggie　has　been　very　ill；〃　she　said；　frowning　at　him。

〃Ill？〃　That　really　hurt　him。　He　stammered；　〃Why？　。　。　。　When？〃

She　moved　aside　then　for　him　to　pass　into　the　hall。　He　came　into　the　dark　stuffy　place。

〃Yes；〃　said　Martha。　〃Just　after　Christmas。　Brain…fever；　the　doctors　said。　They　thought　she'd　die　for　weeks。　Had　two　doctors　。　。　。　You　can't　see　her；　sir；〃　she　ended　grumpily。

Then　Aunt　Anne　appeared；　coming　through　the　green…baize　door。

〃Why；　Mathew；〃　she　said。　Mathew　thought　how　ill　she　looked。

〃They're　all　ill　here；〃　he　said　to　himself。

〃So　Maggie's　ill；〃　he　said；　dropping　his　eyes　before　her　as　he　always　did。

〃Yes；〃　Aunt　Anne　answered。　〃She　was　very　ill　indeed；　poor　child。　I'm　glad　to　see　you；　Mathew。　It's　a　long　time　since　you've　been。〃

He　thought　she　was　gentler　to　him　than　she　had　been；　so；　mastering　his　fear　of　her；　fingering　his　collar；　he　said：

〃Can't　I　see　her？〃

〃Well；　I'm　not　。　。　。　I　think　you　might。　It　might　do　her　good。　She　wants　taking　out　of　herself。　She　comes　down　for　an　hour　or　two　every　day　now。　I'll　go　and　see。〃　She　left　him　standing　alone　there。　He　looked　around　him；　sniffing　like　a　dog。　How　he　hated　the　house　and　everything　in　it！　Always　had　。　。　。　You　could　smell　that　fellow　Warlock's　trail　over　everything。　The　black　cat；　Tom；　came　slipping　along；　looked　for　a　moment　as　though　he　would　rub　himself　against　Mathew's　stout　legs；　then　decided　that　he　would　not。　Mysterious　this　place　like　a　well；　with　its　green　shadows。　No　wonder　the　poor　child　had　been　ill　here。　At　the　thought　of　her　being　near　to　death　Mathew　felt　a　choke　in　his　throat。　Poor　child；　never　had　any　fun　all　her　life　and　then　to　die　in　a　green　well　like　this。　And　his　sisters　wouldn't　care　if　she　did；　hard　women；　hard　women。　Funny　how　religion　made　you　hard；　darn　funny。　Good　thing　he'd　been　irreligious　all　his　life。　Think　of　his　brother　Charles！　There　was　religion　for　you；　living　with　his　cook　and　preaching　to　her　next　morning。　Bad　thing　religion！

Aunt　Anne　returned；　coming　down　the　stairs　with　that　queer　halting　gait　of　hers。

〃Maggie's　in　the　drawing…room；〃　she　said。　〃She'll　like　to　see　you。〃

As　they　went　up；　Aunt　Anne　said：　〃Be　careful　with　her；　Mathew。　She's　still　very　weak。　Don't　say　anything　to　upset　her？〃

He　mumbled　something　in　his　throat。　Couldn't　trust　him。　Of　course　they　couldn't。　Never　had　。　。　。　Fine　sort　of　sisters　they　were。

Maggie　was　sitting　by　the　fire；　a　shawl　over　her　shoulders。　By　God；　but　she　looked　ill。　Mathew　had　another　gulp　in　his　throat。　Poor　kid；　but　she　did　look　ill。　Poor　kid；　poor　kid。

〃Sorry　you've　been　bad；　Maggie；〃　he　said。

She　looked　up；　smiling　with　pleasure；　when　she　saw　who　it　was。　Yes；　she　was　really　pleased　to　see　him。　But　how　different　a　smile　from　the　old　one！　No　blood　behind　it；　none　of　that　old　Maggie　determination。　He　was　filled　with　compassion。　He　took　a　chair　close　beside　her　and　sat　down；　leaning　towards　her；　his　large　rather　sheepish　eye　gazing　at　her。

〃What's　been　the　matter？〃　he　asked。

〃I　don't　know；〃　Maggie　said。　〃I　was　suddenly　ill　one　day；　and　after　that　I　didn't　know　any　more　for　weeks。　But　I'm　much　better　now。〃

〃Well；　I'm　delighted　to　hear　that　anyway；〃　he　said　heartily。　He　was　determined　to　cheer　her　up。　〃You'll　be　as　right　as　rain　presently。〃

〃Of　course　I　shall。　I've　felt　so　lazy；　as　though　I　didn't　want　to　do　anything。　Now　I　must　stir　myself。〃

〃Have　the　old　women　been　good　to　you？〃　he　asked；　dropping　his　voice。

〃Very；〃　she　answered。

〃Not　bothering　you　about　all　their　religious　tommy…rot？〃

She　looked　down　at　her　hands。

〃No；〃　she　said。

〃And　that　hypocritical　minister　of　theirs　hasn't　been　at　you　again？〃

〃Mr。　Warlock's　dead；〃　she　answered　very　quietly。

〃Warlock　dead！〃　Uncle　Mathew　half　rose　from　his　chair　in　his　astonishment。　〃That　fellow　dead！　Well；　I'm　damned；　indeed　I　am。　That　fellow！　Well；　there's　a　good　riddance！　I　know　it　isn't　good　form　to　speak　about　a　man　who's　kicked　the　bucket　otherwise　than　kindly；　but　he　was　a　weight　on　my　chest　that　fellow　was；　with　his　long　white　beard　and　his　soft　voice　。　。　。　Well；　well。　To　be　sure！　Whatever　will　my　poor　sisters　do？　And　what's　happened　to　that　young　chap；　his　son；　nice　lad　he　was；　took　dinner　with　us　that　day　last　year？〃

〃He's　gone　away；〃　said　Maggie。　Mathew；　stupid　though　he　was；　heard　behind　the　quiet　of　Maggie's　voice　a　warning。　He　flung　her　a　hurried　surreptitious　look。　Her　face　was　perfectly　composed；　her　hands　still　upon　her　lap。　Nevertheless　he　said　to　himself；　〃Danger　there；　my　boy！　Something's　happened　there！〃

And　yet　his　curiosity　drove　him　for　a　moment　further。

〃Gone；　has　he？　Where　to？〃

〃He　went　abroad；〃　said　Maggie；　〃after　his　father's　death。　I　don't　know　where　he's　gone。〃

〃Oh；　did　he？　Pity！　Restless；　I　expectI　was　at　his　age。〃

There　was　a　little　pause　between　them　when　Maggie　sat　very　quietly　looking　at　her　hands。　Then；　smiling；　she　glanced　up　and　said：

〃But　tell　me　about　yourself；　Uncle　Mathew。　You've　told　me　nothing。〃

He　fidgeted　a　little；　shifting　his　thick　legs；　stroking　his　nose　with　his　finger。

〃I　don't　know　that　I've　anything　very　good　to　tell　you；　my　dear。　Truth　is；　I　haven't　been　doing　so　very　well　lately。〃

〃Oh；　Uncle；　I'm　sorry！〃

〃It's　nothing　to　make　yourself　miserable　about；　my　dear。　I　always　turn　my　corners。　Damn　rocky　ones　they　are　sometimes　too。　Everything's　turned　itself　wrong　these　last　weeks；　either　too　soon　or　too　late。　I　don't　complain；　all　the　same　it　makes　things　a　bit　inconvenient。　Thank　you　for　that　five　pounds　you　sent　me；　my　dear；　very　helpful　it　was　I　can　tell　you。〃

〃Do　you　want　another　five　pounds？〃　she　asked　him。　He　struggled　with　himself。　His　hesitation　was　so　obvious　that　it　was　quite　touching。　She　put　her　hand　on　his　knee。

〃Do　have　another　five　pounds；　Uncle。　It　won't　be　difficult　for　me　at　all。　I've　been　spending　nothing　all　these　weeks　when　I've　been　ill。　Please　do。〃

He　shook　his　head　firmly。

〃No；　my　dear；　I　won't。　As　I　came　along　I　said　to　myself；　'Now；　you'll　be　asking　Maggie　for　money；　and　when　she　says　〃Yes〃　you're　not　to　take　it'and　so　I'm　not　going　to。　I　may　be　a　rotterbut　I'm　not　a　rotten　rotter。〃

He　clung　to　his　decision　with　the　utmost　resolve　as　though　it　were　his　last　plank　of　respectability。

〃I　can't　believe；〃　he　said　to　her　with　great　solemnity；　〃that　things　can　really　go　wrong。　I　know　too　much。　It　isn't　men　like　me　who　go　under。　No。　No。〃

He　saw　then　her　white　face　and　strange　grey　ghostly　eyes　as　though　her　soul　had　gone　somewhere　on　a　visit　and　the　house　was　untenanted。　He　felt　again　the　gulp　in　his　throat。　He　bent　forward；　resting　his　fat　podgy　hand　on　her　knee。

〃Don't　you　worry；　Maggie　dear。　I've　always　noticed　that　things　are　never　bad　for　long。　You've　still　got　your　old　uncle；　and　you're　young；　and　there　are　plenty　of　fish　in　the　sea　。　。　。　there　are　indeed。　You　cheer　up！　It　will　be　all　right　soon。〃

She　put　her　hands　on　his。

〃Oh　I'm　notworrying。〃　But　as　she　spoke　a　strange　strangled　little　sob　had　crept　unbidden　into　her　throat；　choking　her。

He　thought；　as　he　got　up；　〃It's　that　damned　young　feller　I　gave　dinner　to。　I'd　like　to　wring　hi