the captives-第59章

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whether　she　expressed　foolish　opinions　about　books　and　pictures。　She　had　always　said　just　what　she　thought；　but　now；　before　Philip's　kindly　attention　and　Mr。　Trenchard　senior's　indulgence　（he　wrote　books　and　articles　in　the　papers）；　she　hated　her　ignorance。　Paul　Trenchard　knew　frankly　nothing　about　Art。　〃I　know　what　I　like；〃　he　said；　〃and　that's　enough　for　me。〃　He　liked　Watts's　pictures　and　In　Memoriam　and　Dickens；　and　he　heard　The　Messiah　once　a　year　in　London　if　he　could　leave　his　parish　work。　He　laughed　about　it　all。　〃The　souls　of　men！　The　souls　of　men！〃　he　would　say。　〃That　is　what　I'm　after；　Miss　Cardinal。　You're　not　going　to　catch　them　with　the　latest　neurotic　novel；　however　well　it's　written。〃

Oh；　he　was　kind　to　her！　He　was　kinder　and　kinder　and　kinder。　She　told　him　everythingexcept　about　Martin。　She　told　him　all　about　her　life　at　St。　Dreot's　and　her　father　and　Uncle　Mathew；　the　aunts　and　the　Chapel。

He　was　frankly　shocked　by　the　Chapel。　〃That's　not　the　way　to　get　into　heaven；〃　he　said。　〃We　must　be　more　patient　than　that。　The　daily　round；　the　daily　task；　that's　the　kind。〃

His　physical　presence　began　to　pervade　all　her　doings。　He　was　not　handsome；　but　so　clean；　so　rosy；　and　so　strong。　No　mystery　about　him；　no　terrors；　no　invasions　from　the　devil。　Everything　was　clear　and　certain。　He　knew　just　where　he　was　and　exactly　whither　he　was　going。　One　afternoon；　when　they　were　out　in　the　motor　together；　he　took　Maggie's　hand　under　the　rug　and　he　held　it　so　calmly；　so　firmly；　with　so　kindly　a　benevolence　that　she　could　not　be　frightened　or　uncomfortable。　He　was　like　a　large　friendly　brother　。　。　。

One　day　he　called　her　Maggie。　He　blushed　and　laughed。　〃I'm　so　sorry；〃　he　said。　〃It　slipped　out。　I　caught　it　from　Katherine。〃

〃Oh；　please；　。　。　。　never　mind；〃　she　answered。　〃Miss　Cardinal's　so　stiff。〃

〃Then　you　must　call　me　Paul；〃　he　said。

A　little　conversation　that　Maggie　had　after　this　with　Millicent　showed　her　in　sharp　relief　exactly　where　she　stood　in　relation　to　the　Trenchard　family。　They　had　been　out　in　the　motor　together。　Millie　had　been　shopping　and　now　they　were　rolling　back　through　the　Park。

〃Are　you　happy　with　us；　Maggie？〃　Millicent　suddenly　asked。

〃Very　happy；〃　Maggie　answered。

〃Well；　I　hope　you　are；〃　said　Millicent。　〃I　don't　think　that　as　a　family　we're　very　good　at　making　any　one　happy　except　ourselves。　I　think　we're　very　selfish。〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　you're　selfish；〃　said　Maggie；　〃but　I　think　you're　sufficient　for　yourselves。　I　don't　fancy　you　really　want　any　one　from　outside。〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　the　others　do。　I　do　though。　You　don't　suppose　I'm　going　to　stay　in　the　Trenchard　bosom　for　ever；　do　you？　I'm　not；　I　assure　you。　But　what　you've　said　means　that　you　don't　really　feel　at　home　with　us。〃

〃I　don't　think　I　want　to　feel　at　home　with　you；〃　Maggie　answered。　〃I　don't　belong　to　any　of　you。　Contrast　us；　for　instance。　You've　got　everythinggood　looks；　money；　cleverness；　position。　You　can　get　what　you　like　out　of　life。　I've　got　nothing。　I'm　plain；　poor；　awkward；　uneducatedand　yet　you　know　I　wouldn't　change　places　with　any　one。　I'd　rather　be　myself　than　any　one　alive。〃

〃Yes；　you　would；〃　said　Millicent；　nodding　her　head。　〃That's　you　all　over。　I　felt　it　the　moment　you　came　into　the　house。　You're　adventurous。　We're　not。　Katherine　was　adventurous　for　a　moment　when　she　married　Philip；　but　she　soon　slipped　back　again。　But　you'll　do　just　what　you　want　to　always。〃

〃I　shall　have　to；〃　said　Maggie；　laughing。　〃There's　no　one　else　to　do　it　for　me。　It　isn't　only　that　I　don't　belong　to　youI've　never　belonged　to　any　one；　only　one　personand　he's　gone　now。　I　belong　to　himand　he'll　never　come　back。〃

〃Were　you　frightfully　in　love？〃　asked　Millie；　deeply　interested。

〃Yes；〃　said　Maggie。

〃He　oughtn't　to　have　gone　away　like　that；〃　said　Millicent。

〃Yes；　he　ought；〃　said　Maggie。　〃He　was　quite　right。　But　don't　let's　bother　about　that。　I've　got　to　find　some　place　now　where　I　can　work。　The　worst　of　it　is　I'm　so　ignorant。　But　there　must　be　something　that　I　ran　do。〃

〃There's　Paul；〃　said　Millie。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃Oh；　he　cares　like　anything　for　you。　You　must　have　noticed。　It　began　after　the　first　time　he　met　you。　He　was　always　asking　about　you。　Of　course　every　one's　noticed　it。〃

〃Cares　for　me；〃　Maggie　repeated。

〃Yes；　of　course。　He's　wanted　to　marry　for　a　long　time。　Tired　of　Grace　bossing　him；　I　expect。　That　doesn't　sound　very　polite　to　you；　but　I　know　that　he　cares　for　you　apart　from　thatfor　yourself；　I　mean。　And　I　expect　Grace　is　tired　of　housekeeping。〃

Maggie's　feelings　were　very　strange。　Why　should　he　care　about　her？　Did　she　want　him　to　care？　A　strange　friendly　feeling　stole　about　her　heart。　She　was　not　alone　then；　after　all。　Some　one　wanted　her；　wanted　her　so　obviously　that　every　one　had　noticed　itdid　not　want　her　as　Martin　had　wanted　her；　against　his　own　will　and　judgment。　If　he　did　offer　her　his　home　what　would　she　feel？

There　was　rest　there；　rest　and　a　real　home；　a　home　that　she　had　never　in　all　her　life　known。　Of　course　she　did　not　love　him　in　the　least。　His　approach　did　not　make　her　pulses　beat　a　moment　faster；　she　did　not　long　for　him　to　come　when　he　was　not　therebut　he　wanted　her！　That　was　the　great　thing。　He　wanted　her！

〃Of　course　if　he　asked　you；　you　wouldn't　really　think　of　marrying　him？〃　said　Millicent。

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Maggie　slowly。

〃What！　Marry　him　and　live　in　Skeaton！〃　Millicent　was　frankly　amazed。　〃Why；　Skeaton's　awful；　and　the　people　in　it　are　awful；　and　Grace　is　awful。　In　the　summer　it's　all　nigger…minstrels　and　bathing…tents；　and　in　the　winter　there　isn't　a　soul〃　Millicent　shivered。

Maggie　smiled。　〃Of　course　it　seems　dull　to　you；　but　my　life's　been　very　different。　It　hasn't　been　very　exciting；　and　if　I　could　really　help　him〃　she　broke　off。　〃I　do　like　him；〃　she　said。　〃He's　the　kindest　man　I've　ever　met。　Of　course　he　seems　dull　to　you　who　have　met　all　kinds　of　brilliant　people。　I　hate　brilliant　people。〃

The　car　was　in　Bryanston　Square。　Just　before　it　stopped　Millie　bent　over　and　kissed　Maggie。

〃I　think　you're　a　darling；〃　she　said。

But　Millie　didn't　think　Maggie　〃a　darling〃　for　longthat　is；　she　did　not　think　about　her　at　all　for　long；　none　of　the　family　did。

So　quiet　was　Maggie；　so　little　in　any　one's　way　that；　at　the　end　of　a　fortnight；　she　made　no　difference　to　any　one　in　the　house。　She　was　much　better　now；　looking　a　different　person；　colour　in　her　cheeks　and　light　in　her　eyes。　During　her　illness　they　had　cut　her　hair　and　this　made　her　look　more　than　ever　like　a　boy。　She　wore　her　plain　dark　dresses；　black　and　dark　blue；　they　never　quite　fitted　and；　with　her　queer　odd　face；　her　high　forehead；　rather　awkward　mouth；　and　grave　questioning　eyes　she　gave　you　the　impression　that　she　had　been　hurried　into　some　disguise　and　was　wearing　it　with　discomfort　but　amusement。　Some　one　who　met　her　at　the　Trenchards　at　this　time　said　of　her：　〃What　a　funny　girl！　She's　like　a　schoolboy　dressed　up　to　play　a　part　in　the　school　speeches。〃　Of　course　she　was　not　playing　a　part；　no　one　could　have　been　more　entirely　natural　and　honest；　but　she　was　odd；　strange；　out　of　her　own　world；　and　every　one　felt　it。

It　was；　perhaps；　this　strangeness　that　attracted　Paul　Trenchard。　He　was；　above　everything；　a　kindly　man…kindly；　perhaps　a　little　through　laziness；　but　nevertheless　moved　always　by　distress　or　misfortune　in　others。　Maggie　was　not　distressedshe　was　quite　cheerful　and　entirely　unsentimentalnevertheless　she　had　been　very　ill；　was　almost　penniless；　had　had　some　private　trouble；　was　au　orphan；　had　no　friends　save　two　old　aunts；　and　was　amazingly　ignorant　of　the　world。

This　last　was；　perhaps；　the　thing　that　struck　him　most　of　all。　He；　too；　was　ignorant　of　the　world；　but　he　didn't　know　that；　and　he　was　amazed　at　the　things　that　Maggie　brushed　aside　as　unimportant。　He　found　that　he　was　beginning　to　think　of　her　as　〃my　little　heathen。〃　His　attitude　was　the　same　as　that　of　a　good　missionary　discovering　a　naked　but　trusting　native。

The　thought　of　training　this　virgin　mind　was　delightful　to　him。

He　liked　her　quaintness；　and　one　day　suddenly；　to　his　own　surprise；　when　they　were　alone　in　the　drawing…room；　he　kissed　her；　a　most　chaste　kiss；　gently　on　the　forehead。

〃Oh。　my　dear　child〃　he　said　in　a　kind　of　dismay。

She　looked　up　at　him　with　complete　confidence。　So　gentle　a　kiss　had　it　been　that　it　had　been　no　more　than　a　pressure　of　the　hand。

A　few　days　later　Katherine　spoke　to　her。　She　came　up　to　her　bedroom　just　as　Maggie　was　beginning　to　undress。　Maggie　stood　in　front　of　the　glass；　her　evening　frock　off；　brushing　her　short　thick　hair　before　the　glass。

〃Have　you　made　any　plans　yet；　dear？〃　asked　Katherine。

Maggie　shook　her　head。

〃No。〃　she　said。　〃Not　yet。〃

Katherine　hesitated。

〃I've　got　a　confession　to　make；〃　she　said　at　last。

Maggie　turned　to　look　at　her　with　her　large　childish　eyes。

〃Oh；　I　do　hope　you've　done　something　wrong；〃　she　said；　laughing；〃　something　really　bad　that　I　should　have　to　'overlook。'〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Katherine。

Maggie　only　said：　〃We'd　be　more　on　a　level　then。〃

〃I　don't　think　it's　anything　very　bad。　But　the　truth　is；　Maggie；　that　I　didn't　ask　you　here　only　for　my　own　pleasure　and　to　make　you　well。　There　was　a　third　reason。〃

〃I　know；〃　said　Maggie；　〃Paul。〃

〃My　dear！〃　said　Katherine；　amazed。　〃How　did　you　guess？　I　never　should　have　done。〃

〃Paul's　asked　you　to　find　out　whether　I　like　him；〃　said　Maggie。

〃Yes；〃　said　Katherine。

〃Well；　I　do　like　him。〃　said　Maggie。

〃Don't　think　that　I've　been　unfair；〃　said　Katherine。　They　were　sitting　now　side　by　side　on　Maggie's　bed　and　Katherine's　hand　was　on　Maggie's　knee。　〃I'll　tell　you　exactly　how　it　happened。　Paul　was　interested　in　you　from　the　moment　that　he　saw　you　at　my　house　ever　so　long　ago。　He　asked　ever　so　many　questions　about　you；　and　the　next　time　he　stayed　he　wanted　me　to　write　and　ask　you　to　come　and　stay。　Well；　I　didn't。　I　knew　from　what　you　told　me　that　you　cared　for　somebody　else；　and　I　didn't　want　to　get　Paul　really　fond　of　you　if　it　was　going　to　be　no　good。　You　see；　I've　known　Paul　for　ages。　He's　nearly　ten　years　older　than　I；　but　he　used　to　come　and　stay　with　us　at　Garth；　when　he　was　at　Cambridge　and　before　he　was　a　clergyman。〃

〃I'm　very　fond　of　him。　I　know　the　others　think　he's　stupid　simply　because　he　doesn't　know　the　things　that　they　do；　but　he's　good　and　kind　and　honest；　and　just　exactly　what　he　seems　to　be。〃

〃I　like　him；〃　repeated　Maggie；　nodding　her　head。

〃He's　been　wanting　to　be　married；〃　went　on　Katherine；　〃for　some　time。　I'm　going　to　tell　you　everything　so　that　I　shall　have　been　perfectly　fair。　Grace　wants　him　to　be　married　too。　All　her　life　she's　looked　after　him　and　he's　always　done　exactly　what　she　told　him。　He's　rather　lazy　and　it's　not　hard　for　some　one　to　get　an　influence　over　him。　Well；　she's　not　really　a　very　good　manager。　She　thinks　she　is；　but　she　isn't。　She　arranges　things　and　wants　things　to　stay　just　where　she　puts　them；　but　she　arranges　all　the　wrong　unnecessary　things。　Still；　it's　easy　to　criticise；　and　I'm　not　a　very　good　manager　myself。　I　think　she's　growing　rather　tired　of　it　and　would　like　some　one　to　take　it　off　her　hands。　Of　course　Paul　must　marry　the　right　person；　some　one　whom　she　can　control　and　manage；　and