the captives-µÚ66ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
e¡¡District¡£¡¡The¡¡Constantines¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Maxses¡¡were¡¡very¡¡fine¡¡indeed¡¡because¡¡they¡¡went¡¡both¡¡to¡¡Cannes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡and¡¡Scotland¡¡in¡¡the¡¡summer¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡wonderful£»¡¡considering¡¡how¡¡often¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Constantine¡¡was¡¡away¡¡from¡¡Skeaton£»¡¡how¡¡solemn¡¡and¡¡awe¡inspiring¡¡an¡¡impression¡¡she¡¡made¡¡and¡¡retained¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Skeaton¡¡world¡£¡¡Maggie¡¡discovered¡¡that¡¡unless¡¡you¡¡had¡¡a¡¡large¡¡house¡¡with¡¡independent¡¡grounds¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡town¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡in¡¡Skeaton¡¡during¡¡the¡¡summer¡¡months¡£¡¡Oh£¡¡¡the¡¡trippers£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£Oh£¡¡¡the¡¡trippers£¡¡¡Yes£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡terrible¡swallowed¡¡up¡¡the¡¡sands£»¡¡eggshells£»¡¡niggers£»¡¡pierrots£»¡¡bathing¡machines£»¡¡vulgarity£»¡¡moonlight¡¡embracing£»¡¡noise£»¡¡sand£»¡¡and¡¡dust¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡were¡¡any¡¡one¡¡at¡¡all¡¡you¡¡did¡¡not¡¡stay¡¡in¡¡Skeaton¡¡during¡¡the¡¡summer¡¡months¡unless£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡said£»¡¡you¡¡were¡¡so¡¡grand¡¡that¡¡you¡¡could¡¡disregard¡¡it¡¡altogether¡£
It¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡these¡¡weeks¡¡were¡¡wet¡¡and¡¡windy¡¡and¡¡Maggie¡¡was¡¡blown¡¡about¡¡from¡¡one¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡There¡¡could¡¡be¡¡no¡¡denying¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡grim¡¡and¡¡ugly¡¡under¡¡these¡¡conditions¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡be¡¡that¡¡when¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡came¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡flowers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡gardens¡¡and¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡would¡¡break¡¡out¡¡into¡¡fresh¡¡green¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sands¡¡would¡¡gleam¡¡with¡¡mother¡of¡pearl¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡would¡¡glitter¡¡with¡¡sunshine¡£¡¡All¡¡that¡¡perhaps¡¡would¡¡come¡£¡¡Meanwhile¡¡there¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡house¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡hideous£»¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡tore¡¡screaming¡¡down¡¡the¡¡long¡¡beaches¡¡carrying¡¡with¡¡it¡¡a¡¡flurry¡¡of¡¡tempestuous¡¡rain£»¡¡whilst¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡itself¡¡moved¡¡in¡¡sluggish¡¡oily¡¡coils£»¡¡dirt¡grey¡¡to¡¡the¡¡grey¡¡horizon¡£¡¡Worst¡¡of¡¡all¡¡perhaps¡¡were¡¡the¡¡deserted¡¡buildings¡¡at¡¡other¡¡times¡¡dedicated¡¡to¡¡gaiety£»¡¡ghosts¡¡of¡¡places¡¡they¡¡were¡¡with¡¡torn¡¡paper¡¡flapping¡¡against¡¡their¡¡sides¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡tearing¡¡at¡¡their¡¡tin¡plated¡¡roofs¡£¡¡Then¡¡there¡¡was¡¡the¡¡desolate¡¡little¡¡station£»¡¡having£»¡¡it¡¡seemed£»¡¡no¡¡connection¡¡with¡¡any¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡traffic¡and¡¡behind¡¡all¡¡this¡¡the¡¡woods¡¡howled¡¡and¡¡creaked¡¡and¡¡whistled£»¡¡derisive£»¡¡provocative£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡creatures¡¡alive¡¡in¡¡all¡¡that¡¡world¡£
Between¡¡the¡¡Fashion¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Place¡¡the¡¡Church¡¡stood¡¡as¡¡a¡¡bridge¡£
Centuries¡¡ago£»¡¡when¡¡Skeaton¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡merest¡¡hamlet¡¡clustered¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡beach£»¡¡the¡¡Church¡¡had¡¡been¡¡there¡not¡¡the¡¡present¡¡building£»¡¡looking£»¡¡poor¡¡thing£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡it¡¡were¡¡in¡¡a¡¡perpetual¡¡state¡¡of¡¡scarlet¡¡fever£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡shabby¡¡humble¡¡little¡¡chapel¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡sheltered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sandy¡¡hill¡£
The¡¡present¡¡temple¡¡had¡¡been¡¡built¡¡about¡¡1870¡¡and¡¡was¡¡considered¡¡very¡¡satisfactory¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡solid¡¡and¡¡free¡¡from¡¡draughts¡¡and¡¡took¡¡the¡¡central¡¡heating¡¡very¡¡well¡£¡¡The¡¡graveyard¡¡also¡¡was¡¡new¡¡and¡¡shiny£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡bones¡¡in¡¡it¡¡remoter¡¡than¡¡the¡¡memories¡¡of¡¡the¡¡present¡¡generation¡¡could¡¡compass¡£¡¡The¡¡church¡¡clock¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡late¡¡addition¡¡¡put¡¡up¡¡by¡¡subscription¡¡five¡¡years¡¡ago¡and¡¡its¡¡clamour¡¡was¡¡so¡¡up¡¡to¡¡date¡¡and¡¡smart¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cross¡¡between¡¡the¡¡whistle¡¡of¡¡a¡¡steam¡¡¡engine¡¡and¡¡a¡¡rich¡¡and¡¡prosperous¡¡dinner¡bell¡£
All¡¡this¡¡was¡¡rightly¡¡felt¡¡to¡¡be¡¡very¡¡satisfactory¡£¡¡As¡¡Miss¡¡Purves¡¡said£º¡¡¡¨So¡¡far¡¡as¡¡the¡¡dear¡¡Church¡¡goes£»¡¡no¡¡one¡¡had¡¡any¡¡right¡¡to¡¡complain¡¡about¡¡anything¡£¡¨
When¡¡Maggie¡¡had¡¡first¡¡arrived¡¡in¡¡Skeaton¡¡her¡¡duties¡¡with¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Church¡¡were¡¡made¡¡quite¡¡plain¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡take¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡classes¡¡in¡¡Sunday¡¡school£»¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡Choir¡¡practice¡¡on¡¡Friday¡¡evening£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Committees¡¡for¡¡Old¡¡Women's¡¡Comforts£»¡¡Our¡¡Brave¡¡Lads'¡¡Guild£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Girls'¡¡Friendly¡¡Society£»¡¡to¡¡look¡¡after¡¡the¡¡flowers¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Altar£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡Paul's¡¡Bible¡¡Class¡¡on¡¡Wednesdays¡£
She¡¡had¡¡no¡¡objection¡¡to¡¡any¡¡of¡¡these¡¡things¡they¡¡were£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡part¡¡of¡¡her¡¡¡¨job¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡found¡¡that¡¡they¡¡amused¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡life¡¡must¡¡be¡¡full£»¡¡full£»¡¡full¡£¡¨¡¡No¡¡time¡¡to¡¡thinkNo¡¡time¡¡to¡¡think£»¡¨¡¡some¡¡little¡¡voice¡¡far£»¡¡far¡¡within¡¡her¡¡cried¡£¡¡But¡¡on¡¡Grace's¡¡return¡¡difficulties¡¡at¡¡once¡¡arose¡£¡¡Grace¡¡had£»¡¡hitherto£»¡¡done¡¡all¡¡these¡¡things¡£¡¡She¡¡had£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡called¡¡it£»¡¡¡¨Played¡¡a¡¡large¡¡part¡¡in¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡our¡¡Church¡£¡¨¡¡She¡¡was¡¡bored¡¡with¡¡them¡¡all£»¡¡the¡¡Choir¡¡practices£»¡¡the¡¡Committees£»¡¡the¡¡Altar¡¡flowers£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rest£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡only¡¡too¡¡pleased¡¡that¡¡Maggie¡¡should¡¡do¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡workit¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡fair¡¡that¡¡she£»¡¡Grace£»¡¡should¡¡have¡¡a¡¡rest¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all¡¡want¡¡to¡¡surrender¡¡the¡¡power¡¡that¡¡doing¡¡these¡¡things¡¡had¡¡given¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡Maggie¡¡to¡¡take¡¡her¡¡place£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡her¡¡to¡¡support¡¡the¡¡burden¡very¡¡difficult¡¡this¡¡especially¡¡if¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡good¡¡at¡¡¡¨thinking¡¡things¡¡out¡£¡¨
Grace¡¡never¡¡could¡¡¡¨think¡¡things¡¡out¡£¡¨¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡though¡¡her¡¡thoughts¡¡loved¡¡wilfully¡¡to¡¡tease¡¡and¡¡confuse¡¡her¡£¡¡Then¡¡when¡¡she¡¡was¡¡completely¡¡tangled£»¡¡and¡¡bewildered£»¡¡her¡¡temper¡¡rose£»¡¡slowly£»¡¡stealthily£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mighty¡¡force¡¡behind¡¡it£»¡¡suddenly¡¡as¡¡a¡¡flood¡¡bursts¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡that¡¡have¡¡been¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡resist¡¡it£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡sweep¡¡the¡¡chambers¡¡of¡¡her¡¡mind£»¡¡submerging£»¡¡drowning¡¡the¡¡flock¡¡of¡¡panic¡¡¡stricken¡¡little¡¡ideas¡£
She¡¡then¡¡would¡¡¡¨lose¡¡her¡¡temper¡¨¡¡so¡¡much¡¡to¡¡her¡¡own¡¡surprise¡¡that¡¡she¡¡at¡¡once¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡some¡¡one¡¡else¡¡must¡¡be¡¡responsible¡£¡¡A¡¡few¡¡days¡¡after¡¡her¡¡return¡¡she¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡she¡¡¡¨must¡¡not¡¡let¡¡these¡¡things¡¡go£»¡¨¡¡so¡¡she¡¡told¡¡Maggie¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡attend¡¡the¡¡Committee¡¡of¡¡Old¡¡Women's¡¡Comforts¡¡and¡¡be¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Choir¡¡practice¡£¡¡But¡¡on¡¡her¡¡return¡¡to¡¡these¡¡functions¡¡she¡¡found¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡bored¡¡and¡¡tired¡¡and¡¡cross£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡really¡¡intolerable£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡doing¡¡them¡¡for¡¡years¡¡and¡¡years¡¡and¡¡years¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡too¡¡bad¡¡that¡¡Maggie¡¡should¡¡suffer¡¡her¡¡to¡¡take¡¡them¡¡on¡¡her¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡What¡¡did¡¡Maggie¡¡think¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡clergyman's¡¡wife¡¡for£¿¡¡Did¡¡Maggie¡¡imagine¡¡that¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡responsibilities¡¡attached¡¡to¡¡her¡¡position£¿
Grace¡¡did¡¡not¡¡say¡¡these¡¡things£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡them¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡of¡¡course¡¡admit¡¡to¡¡herself¡¡that¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡Maggie¡¡both¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and¡¡not¡¡to¡¡go¡£¡¡She¡¡simply¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡¡¨grievance¡¨¡¡and¡¡Maggie¡¡was¡¡responsible¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡at¡¡present¡¡she¡¡was¡¡silent¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
The¡¡next¡¡factor¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rapidly¡¡developing¡¡situation¡¡was¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Toms¡£¡¡One¡¡day¡¡early¡¡in¡¡April¡¡Maggie¡¡went¡¡for¡¡a¡¡little¡¡walk¡¡by¡¡herself¡¡along¡¡the¡¡lane¡¡that¡¡led¡¡to¡¡Marsden¡¡Wood¡£¡¡Marsden¡¡Wood¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡sinister¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡woods£»¡¡there¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡a¡¡murder¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡had¡¡there¡¡not£»¡¡the¡¡grim¡¡bleakness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡bushes£»¡¡the¡¡absence¡¡of¡¡all¡¡clear¡¡paths¡¡through¡¡its¡¡tangles¡¡and¡¡thickets¡¡made¡¡it¡¡a¡¡sinister¡¡place¡£¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wood¡¡and¡¡set¡¡her¡¡face¡¡back¡¡towards¡¡Skeaton¡£
The¡¡day¡¡had¡¡been¡¡wild¡¡and¡¡windy¡¡with¡¡recurrent¡¡showers¡¡of¡¡rain£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡break£»¡¡the¡¡chilly¡¡April¡¡sun¡¡broke¡¡through¡¡the¡¡clouds¡¡and¡¡scattered¡¡the¡¡hedges¡¡and¡¡fields¡¡with¡¡primrose¡¡light¡£
Faintly¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡gentle¡¡rhythm¡¡the¡¡murmur¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡came¡¡across¡¡the¡¡land¡¡and¡¡the¡¡air¡¡was¡¡sweet¡¡with¡¡the¡¡sea¡salt¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fresh¡¡scent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡after¡¡rain¡£¡¡Maggie¡¡stood¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡breathing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡spring¡¡air¡¡and¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡watery¡¡blue¡¡thread¡¡its¡¡timid¡¡way¡¡through¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡grey¡¡cloud¡£¡¡A¡¡rich¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡sunlight¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡path¡¡at¡¡her¡¡feet¡£
She¡¡saw¡¡then£»¡¡coming¡¡towards¡¡her£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡and¡¡a¡¡woman¡£¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡was¡¡ordinary¡¡enough£»¡¡a¡¡middle¡aged£»¡¡prim£»¡¡stiffly¡¡dressed¡¡person¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pale¡¡shy¡¡face£»¡¡timid¡¡in¡¡her¡¡walk¡¡and¡¡depressed¡¡in¡¡mouth¡¡and¡¡eyes¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stout£»¡¡short£»¡¡thick¡set¡¡fellow¡¡with¡¡a¡¡rosy¡¡smiling¡¡face¡£¡¡At¡¡once¡¡Maggie¡¡noticed¡¡his¡¡smile¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡dressed¡¡very¡¡smartly¡¡in¡¡a¡¡black¡¡coat¡¡and¡¡waist¡coat¡¡and¡¡pepper¡and¡salt¡¡trousers¡£¡¡His¡¡bowler¡¡was¡¡cocked¡¡a¡¡little¡¡to¡¡one¡¡side¡£¡¡She¡¡passed¡¡them¡¡and¡¡the¡¡little¡¡round¡¡man£»¡¡looking¡¡her¡¡full¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face£»¡¡smiled¡¡so¡¡happily¡¡and¡¡with¡¡so¡¡radiant¡¡an¡¡amiability¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡respond¡£¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡did¡¡not¡¡look¡¡at¡¡her¡£
Long¡¡after¡¡she¡¡had¡¡left¡¡them¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡little¡¡man's¡¡smile¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡something¡¡that£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡herself£»¡¡reminded¡¡her¡¡both¡¡of¡¡Uncle¡¡Mathew¡¡and¡¡Martin¡£¡¡She¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡and¡¡warm¡¡kinship£»¡¡something¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡not¡¡known¡¡since¡¡her¡¡arrival¡¡in¡¡Skeaton¡£¡¡Had¡¡she¡¡not¡¡struggled¡¡with¡¡herself¡¡every¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡reminiscence¡¡of¡¡her¡¡London¡¡life¡¡would¡¡have¡¡come¡¡crowding¡¡about¡¡her¡£¡¡This¡¡meeting¡¡was¡¡like¡¡the¡¡first¡¡little¡¡warning¡¡tap¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£
On¡¡her¡¡return¡¡she¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡it¡£
¡¨Oh£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Paul£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡poor¡¡little¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Toms¡¡with¡¡his¡¡sister¡£¡¨
¡¨Poor£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡Maggie¡£
¡¨Yes¡£¡¡He's¡¡queer¡¡in¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Paul¡£¡¡¡¨Quite¡¡harmless£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡has¡¡the¡¡strangest¡¡ideas¡£¡¨
Maggie¡¡noticed¡¡then¡¡that¡¡Grace¡¡shivered¡¡and¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡her¡¡face¡¡worked¡¡with¡¡an¡¡odd¡¡emotion¡¡of¡¡horror¡¡and¡¡disgust¡£
¡¨He¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡shut¡¡up¡¡somewhere£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¨It's¡¡disgraceful¡¡letting¡¡him¡¡walk¡¡about¡¡everywhere¡¡just¡¡like¡¡any¡¡one¡¡else¡£¡¨
¡¨Shut¡¡up£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Maggie¡£¡¡¡¨Oh£»¡¡no£¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡any¡¡one¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡shut¡¡up¡¡for¡¡anything¡£¡¨
¡¨My¡¡dear¡¡Maggie£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Paul¡¡in¡¡his¡¡fatherly¡¡protecting¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨No¡¡prisons£¿¡¡Think¡¡what¡¡would¡¡become¡¡of¡¡us¡¡all¡£¡¨
¡¨Oh£¡¡¨¡¡said¡¡Maggie¡¡impatiently£»¡¡¡¨I'm¡¡not¡¡practical¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡one¡¡should¡¡do£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡do¡¡know¡¡that¡¡no¡¡one¡¡should¡¡be¡¡shut¡¡up¡£¡¨
¡¨Chut¡chut¡¨¡¡said¡¡Grace¡£
Now¡¡this¡¡¡¨Chut£»¡¡chut£»¡¨¡¡may¡¡seem¡¡a¡¡very¡¡little¡¡thing£»¡¡but¡¡very¡¡little¡¡things¡¡are¡¡sometimes¡¡of¡¡great¡¡importance¡£¡¡Marriages¡¡have¡¡been¡¡wrecked¡¡on¡¡an¡¡irritating¡¡cough¡¡and¡¡happy¡¡homes¡¡ruined¡¡by¡¡a¡¡shuffle¡£¡¡Grace¡¡had¡¡said¡¡¡¨Chut£»¡¡chut£»¡¨¡¡for¡¡a¡¡great¡¡many¡¡years¡¡and¡¡to¡¡many¡¡people¡£¡¡It¡¡expressed¡¡scorn¡¡and¡¡contempt¡¡and¡¡implied¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡store¡¡of¡¡superior¡¡knowledge¡£¡¡Grace¡¡herself¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡irritating¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡this¡¡exclamation£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡entirely¡¡amazed¡¡did¡¡you¡¡explain¡¡to¡¡her¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡more¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡her¡¡unpopularity¡¡in¡¡Skeaton¡¡than¡¡any¡¡other¡¡thing¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡even¡¡said¡¡¡¨Chut£»¡¡chut£»¡¨¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Constantine¡£
But¡¡she¡¡said¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Maggie¡¡more¡¡than¡¡to¡¡any¡¡other¡¡person¡£¡¡When¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house¡¡a¡¡few¡¡days¡¡she¡¡said¡¡to¡¡her¡¡brother£º
¡¨Paul£»¡¡Maggie's¡¡much¡¡younger¡¡than¡¡I¡¡had¡¡supposed¡£¡¨
¡¨Oh£»¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡so£¿¡¨¡¡said¡¡Paul¡£
¡¨Yes£»¡¡I¡¡do¡£¡¡She¡¡knows¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡anything¡£¡¡She's¡¡been¡¡nowhere¡£¡¡She's¡¡seen¡¡nobody¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Poor¡¡child¡£¡¨
It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡¡¨poor¡¡child¡¨¡¡position¡¡that¡¡she¡¡now£»¡¡during¡¡these¡¡first¡¡weeks£»¡¡adopted¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡very£»¡¡very¡¡kind¡¡to¡¡Maggie¡£¡¡As¡¡she¡¡explained¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Maxse£»¡¡she¡¡really¡¡was¡¡very¡¡fond¡¡of¡¡hershe¡¡was¡¡a¡¡GOOD¡¡girl¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Well£¡¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Maxse¡¡would¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡Paul¡¡can¡¡hardly¡¡have¡¡known¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡marrying¡£¡¡Ignorance£¡¡¡Carelessness£¡¡¡Strange¡¡ideas£¡¡¡Some¡¡one¡¡from¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡Africa¡¡would¡¡have¡¡known¡¡more¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡and¡¡so¡¡on¡£¡¡Nevertheless£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡GOOD¡¡girl¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Only¡¡she¡¡needed¡¡guidance¡£¡¡Fancy£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡fancy¡¡to¡¡poor¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Toms£¡¡¡Proposed¡¡to¡¡call¡¡on¡¡his¡¡sister¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡one¡¡couldn't¡¡help¡¡that¡£¡¡Miss¡¡Toms¡¡was¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡communicant¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡Nevertheless¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡she¡¡didn't¡¡realise£»¡¡that¡¡was¡¡it¡£¡¡Of¡¡course£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡known¡¡all¡¡kinds¡¡of¡¡queer¡¡people¡¡in¡¡London¡£¡¡Paul¡¡and¡¡Grace¡¡had¡¡rescued¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡strangest¡¡people¡£¡¡No£»¡¡Maggie¡¡was¡¡an¡¡orphan¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡an¡¡uncle£»¡¡Grace¡¡believed£»¡¡and¡¡two¡¡aunts¡¡who¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡sect¡£¡¡Sex£¿¡¡No£»¡¡sect¡£¡¡Very¡¡queer¡¡altogether¡£
Mrs¡£¡¡Maxse¡¡went¡¡home¡¡greatly¡¡impressed¡£
¡¨The¡¡girl's¡¡undoubtedly¡¡queer£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡told¡¡her¡¡husband¡£
¡¨The¡¡parson's¡¡got¡¡a¡¡queer¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡wife£»¡¨¡¡Colonel¡¡Maxse¡¡told¡¡his¡¡friends¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Skeaton¡¡Conservative¡¡Club¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡rescued¡¡her¡¡from¡¡some¡¡odd¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡life¡¡in¡¡London¡£¡¡No¡£¡¡Don't¡¡know¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was¡¡exactly¡£¡¡Always¡¡was¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡soft£»¡¡Trenchard¡£¡¨
Maggie¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡Skeaton¡¡was¡¡discussing¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡judged¡¡other¡¡people¡¡by¡¡herself¡£¡¡Meanwhile¡¡something¡¡occurred¡¡that¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡quite¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡think¡¡about¡£
She¡¡had¡¡understood¡¡from¡¡Grace¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡expected¡¡of¡¡her¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡be¡¡at¡¡home¡¡on¡¡one¡¡afternoon¡¡in¡¡the¡¡week¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡callers¡£¡¡She¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡a¡¡silly¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡she¡¡should¡¡sit¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ugly¡¡drawing¡room¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡people¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡see¡¡and¡¡who¡¡did¡¡not¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡to