the captives-第66章

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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：　〃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：

〃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