the captives-第68章

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And　yet；　to　her　credit　be　it　remembered；　for　two　years；　she　fought　her　fears；　superstitions；　jealousies；　angers。　That　can　have　been　no　easy　thing　for　a　woman　who　had　always　had　her　own　way。　But　Maggie　helped　her。　There　were　many　days　during　that　first　year　at　any　rate　when　Grace　thought　that　the　girl　was；　after　all；　only　the　simple　harmless　child　that　she　had　first　found　her。

It　was　so　transparently　clear　that　Maggie　bore　no　malice　against　any　one　in　the　world；　that　when　she　angered　Grace　she　did　so　always　by　accident；　never　by　plan…it　was　only　unfortunate　that　the　accidents　should　occur　so　often。

Maggie's　days　were　from　the　very　first　of　the　utmost　regularity。　Breakfast　at　8。30；　then　an　interview　with　the　cook　（Grace　generally　in　attendance　here）；　then　shopping　（with　Grace）；　luncheon　at　1。30；　afternoon；　paying　calls　or　receiving　them；　dinner　7。45；　and　after　dinner；　reading　a　book　while　Paul　and　Grace　played　bezique；　or；　if　Paul　was　busy　upon　a　sermon　or　a　letter　（he　wrote　letters　very　slowly）；　patience　with　Grace。　This　regular　day　was　varied　with　meetings；　choir　practices；　dinner…parties；　and　an　occasional　Penny　Reading。

In　this　framework　of　the　year　it　would　have　appeared　that　there　was　very　little　that　could　breed　disturbance。　There　were；　however；　little　irritations。　Maggie　would　have　given　a　great　deal　could　she　have　been　allowed　to　interview　the　cook　in　the　morning　alone。

It　would　seem　impossible　to　an　older　person　that　Grace's　presence　could　so　embarrass　Maggie；　it　embarrassed　her　to　the　terrible　extent　of　driving　every　idea　out　of　her　head。

When　Maggie　had　stammered　and　hesitated　and　at　last　allowed；　the　cook　to　make　a　suggestion；　Grace　would　say。　〃You　mustn't　leave　it　all　to　cook；　dear。　Now　what　about　a　nice　shepherd's　pie？〃

The　cook；　who　hated　Grace；　would　toss　her　head。

〃Impossible　to…day；　Mum　。　。　。　Quite　impossible。〃

〃Oh；　do　you　think　so？〃　Maggie　would　say。

This　was　the　cook's　opportunity。

〃Well；　for　you；　Mum；　I'll　see　if　it　can't　be　managed。　Difficult　as　it　is。〃

Grace's　anger　boiled　over。

〃That　woman　must　go；〃　she　insisted。

〃Very　well；〃　said　Maggie。

Cook　after　cook　appeared　and　vanished。　They　all　hated　Grace。

〃You're　not　very　good　at　keeping　servants；　are　you；　Maggie；　dear？〃　said　Grace。

Then　there　was　the　shopping。　Grace's　conversation　was　the　real　trouble　here。　Grace's　stories　had　seemed　rather　a　joke　in　London；　soon；　in　Skeaton；　they　became　a　torture。　From　the　vicarage　to　the　High　Street　was　not　far；　but　it　was　far　enough　for　Grace's　narrative　powers　to　stretch　their　legs　and　get　a　healthy　appetite　for　the　day's　work。　Grace　walked　very　slowly；　because　of　her　painful　breathing。　Her　stout　stolid　figure　in　its　stiff　clothes　（the　skirt　rather　short；　thick　legs　in　black　stockings　and　large　flat　boots）；　marched　along。　She　had　a　peculiar　walk；　planting　each　foot　on　the　ground　with　deliberate　determination　as　though　she　were　squashing　a　malignant　beetle；　she　was　rather　short…sighted；　but　did　not　wear　glasses；　because；　as　she　said　to　Maggie；　〃one　need　not　look　peculiar　until　one　must。〃　Her　favourite　head…gear　was　a　black　straw　hat　with　a　rather　faded　black　ribbon　and　a　huge　pin　stuck　skewer…wise　into　it。　This　pin　was　like　a　dagger。

She　peered　around　her　as　she　walked；　and　for　ever　enquired　of　Maggie；　〃who　that　was　on　the　other　Bide　of　the　road。〃　Maggie；　of　course；　did　not　know；　and　there　began　then　a　long　cross…questioning　as　to　colour；　clothes；　height；　smile　or　frown。　Nothing　was　too　small　to　catch　Grace's　interest　but　nothing　caught　it　for　long。　Maggie；　at　the　end　of　her　walk　felt　as　though　she　were　beset　by　a　whirl　of　little　buzzing　flies。　She　noticed　that　Paul　had；　from；　long　habit；　learnt　to　continue　his　own　thoughts　during　Grace's　stories；　and　she　also　tried　to　do　this；　but　she　was　not　clever　at　it　because　Grace　would　suddenly　stop　and　say；　〃Where　was　I；　Maggie？〃　and　then　when　Maggie　was　confused　regard　her　suspiciously；　narrowing　her　eyes　into　little　thin　points。　The　shopping　was　difficult　because　Grace　would　stand　at　Maggie's　elbow　and　say：　〃Now；　Maggie；　this　is　your　affair；　isn't　it？　You　decide　what　you　want；〃　and　then　when　Maggie　had　decided；　Grace　simply；　to　show　her　power；　would　say：　〃Oh；　I　don't　think　we'd　better　have　that　。　。　。　No；　I　don't　think　we'll　have　that。　Will　you　show　us　something　else；　please？〃…and　so　they　had　to　begin　all　over　again。

Nevertheless；　throughout　their　first　summer　Maggie　was　almost　happy；　not　QUITE　happy；　some　silent　but　persistent　rebellion　at　the　very　centre　of　her　heart　prevented　her　complete　happiness。　What　she　really　felt　was　that　half　of　her…the　rebellious；　questioning；　passionate　half　of　her…was　asleep；　and　that　at　all　costs；　whatever　occurred；　she　must　keep　it　asleep。　That　was　her　real　definite　memory　of　her　first　year…that；　through　it　all；　she　was　wilfully；　deliberately　drugged。

Every　one　thought　Paul　very　strange　that　summer。　Mr。　Flaunders；　the　curate；　told　Miss　Purves　that　he　was　very　〃odd。〃　〃He　was　always　the　most　tranquil　man…a　sunny　nature；　as　you　know；　Miss　Purves。　Well　now；　I　assure　you；　he's　never　the　same　from　one　minute　to　another。　His　temper　is　most　uncertain；　and　one　never　can　tell　of　what　he's　thinking。　You　know　he　took　the　Collects　in　the　wrong　order　last　Sunday；　and　last　night　he　read　the　wrong　lesson。　Two　days　ago　he　was　quite　angry　with　me　because　I　suggested　another　tune　for　'Lead　Kindly　Light'…unlike　himself；　unlike　himself。〃

〃To　what　do　you　attribute　this；　Mr。　Flaunders？〃　said　Miss　Purves。　〃You　know　our　vicar　so　well。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　can't　tell　what　it　is；〃　said　Mr。　Flaunders；　sighing。

〃Can　it　be　his　marriage？〃　said　Miss　Purves。

〃I'm　sure；〃　said　Mr。　Flaunders；　flushing；　〃that　it　can　be　nothing　to　do　with　Mrs。　Trenchard。　That's　a　fine　woman；　Miss　Purves；　a　fine　woman。〃

〃She　seems　a　little　strange；〃　said　Miss　Purves。　〃Why　doesn't　she　let　her　hair　grow？　It's　hardly　Christian　as　it　is。〃

〃It's　her　health；　I　expect；〃　said　Mr。　Flaunders。

Paul　was　very　gentle　and　good　to　Maggie　all　that　summer；　better　to　her　than　any　human　being　had　ever　been　before。　She　became　very　fond　of　him；　and　yet　it　was　not；　apparently；　her　affection　that　he　wanted。　He　seemed　to　be　for　ever　on　the　verge　of　asking　her　some　question　and　then　checking　himself。　He　was　suddenly　silent；　she　caught　him　looking　at　her　in　odd；　furtive　ways。

He　made　love　to　her　and　then　suddenly　checked　himself；　going　off；　leaving　her　alone。　During　these　months　she　did　everything　she　could　for　him。　She　knew　that　she　was　not　satisfying　him；　because　she　could　give　him　only　affection　and　not　love。　But　everything　that　he　wanted　her　to　do　she　did。　And　they　never；　through　all　those　summer　months；　had　one　direct　honest　conversation。　They　were　afraid。

She　began　to　see；　very　clearly；　his　faults。　His　whole　nature　was　easy；　genial；　and；　above　all；　lazy。　He　liked　to　be　liked；　and　she　Was　often　astonished　at　the　pleasure　with　which　he　received　compliments。　He　had　a　conceit　of　himself；　not　as　a　man　but　as　a　clergyman；　and　she　knew　that　nothing　pleased　him　so　much　as　when　people　praised　his　〃good…natured　humanity。〃

She　saw　him　〃play…acting；〃　as　she　called　it；　that　is；　bringing　forward　a　succession　of　little　tricks；　a　jolly　laugh；　an　enthusiastic　opinion；　a　pretence　of　humility；　a　man…of…the…world　air；　all　things　not　very　bad　in　themselves；　but　put　on　many　years　ago；　subconsciously　as　an　actor　puts　on　powder　and　paint。　She　saw　that　he　was　especially　sensitive　to　lay　opinion；　liked　to　be　thought　a　good　fellow　by　the　laymen　in　the　place。　To　be　popular　she　was　afraid　that　he　sometimes　sacrificed　his　dignity；　his　sincerity　and　his　pride。　But　he　was　really　saved　in　this　by　his　laziness。　He　was　in　fact　too　lazy　to　act　energetically　in　his　pursuit　of　popularity；　and　the　temptation　to　sink　into　the　dirty　old　chair　in　his　study；　smoke　a　pipe　and　go　to　sleep；　hindered　again　and　again　his　ambition。　He　had；　as　so　many　clergymen　have；　a　great　deal　of　the　child　in　him；　a　remoteness　from　actual　life；　and　a　tremendous　ignorance　of　the　rough…and…tumble　brutality　and　indecency　of　things。　It　had　not　been　difficult　for　Grace；　because　of　his　laziness；　his　childishness；　and　his　harmless　conceited　good…nature　to　obtain　a　very　real　dominion　over　him；　and　until　now　that　dominion　had　never　seriously　been　threatened。

Now；　however；　new　impulses　were　stirring　in　his　soul。　Maggie　saw　it；　Grace　saw　it；　before　the　end　of　the　summer　the　whole　parish　saw　it。　He　was　uneasy；　dissatisfied；　suffering　under　strange　moods　whose　motives　he　concealed　from　all　the　world。　In　his　sleep　he　cried　Maggie's　name　with　a　passion　that　was　a　new　voice　in　him。　When　she　awoke　and　heard　it　she　trembled；　and　then　lay　very　still　。　。　。

And　what　a　summer　that　was！　To　Maggie　who　had　never；　even　in　London；　mingled　with　crowds　it　was　an　incredible　invasion。　The　invasion　was　incredible；　in　the　first　place；　because　of　the　suddenness　with　which　it　fell　upon　Skeaton。　One　day　Maggie　noticed　that　announcements　were　pasted　on　to　the　Skeaton　walls　of　the　coming　of　a　pierrot　troupe　。　。　。　〃The　Mig…Mags。〃　There　was　a　gay　picture　of　fine　beautiful　pierrettes　and　fine　stout　pierrots　all　smiling　together　in　a　semi…circle。　Then　on　another　hoarding　it　was　announced　that　the　Theatre　Royal；　Skeaton；　would　shortly　start　its　summer　season；　and　would　begin　with　that　famous　musical　comedy；　〃The　Girl　from　Bobo's。〃

Then　the　Pier　Theatre　put　forward　its　claim　with　a　West　End　comedy。　The　Royal　Marine　Band　announced　that　it　would　play　（weather　permitting）　in　the　Pergola　on　the　Leas　every　afternoon；　4。20…6。　Other　signs　of　new　life　were　the　Skeaton　Roller…Skating　Rink；　The　Piccadilly　Cinema；　Concerts　in　the　Town　Hall；　and　Popular　Lectures　in　the　Skeaton　Institute。　There　was　also　a　word　here　and　there　about　Wanton's　Bathing　Machines；　Button's　Donkeys；　and　Milton　and　Rowe's　Char…a…bancs。

Then；　on　a　sunny　day　in　June　the　invasion　began。　The　little　railway　by　the　sea　was　only　a　loop…line　that　connected　Skeaton　with　Lane…on…　Sea；　Frambell；　and　Hooton。　The　main　London　line　had　its　Skeaton　station　a　little　way　out　of　the　town；　and　the　station　road　to　the　beach　passed　the　vicarage。　Maggie　soon　learnt　to　know　the　times　when　the　excursion　trains　would　pour　their　victims　on　to　the　hot；　dry　road。　Early　in　the　afternoon　was　one　time；　and　she　would　see　them　eagerly；　excitedly　hurrying　to　the　sea；　fathers　and　mothers　and　babies；　lovers　and　noisy　young　men　and　shrieking　girls。　Then　in　the　evening　she　would　see　them　return；　some　cross；　some　too　tired　to　speak；　some　happy　and　singing；　some　arguing　and　disputing；　babies　crying…all　hurrying；　hurrying　lest　the　train　should　be　missed。　At　first　she　would　not　penetrate　to　the　beach。　She　understood　from　Paul　and　Grace　that　one　did　not　go　to　the　beach　during　the　summer　months；　at　any　rate；　not　the　popular　beach。　There　was　Merton　Sand　two　miles　away。　One　might　go　there　。　。　。　it　was　always　deserted。　This　mysterious　〃one〃　fascinated　Maggie's　imagination。　So　many　times　a　day　Grace　said　〃Oh；　I　don't　think　one　ought　to。〃　Maggie　heard　again　and　again　about　the　trippers；　〃Oh；　one　must　keep　away　from　there；　you　know。〃

In　fact　the　Skeaton　aristocracy　retired　with　shuddering　gestures　into　its　own　castle。　Life　became　horribly　dull。　The　Maxses；　the　Constantines；　and　the　remainder　of　the　Upper　Ten　either　went　away　or　hid　themselves　i