the captives-第70章

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。　She　found　a　neat　little　house　standing　in　a　neat　little　garden　near　the　sea　just　beyond　the　end　of　the　Promenade；　or　The　Leas；　as　the　real　Skeatonian　always　called　it。　Miss　Toms　and　Mr。　Toms　were　sitting　in　a　very　small　room　with　a　large　fire；　a　pale　grey　wallpaper；　and　a　number　of　brightly…painted　wooden　toys　arranged　on　a　shelf　running　round　the　room。　The　toys　were　of　all　kindsa　farm；　cows　and　sheep；　tigers　and　lions；　soldiers　and　cannon；　a　church　and　a　butcher's　shop；　little　green　tufted　trees；　and　a　Noah's　ark。　Mr。　Toms　was　sitting；　neat　as　a　pin；　smiling　in　an　armchair　beside　the　fire；　and　Miss　Toms　near　him　was　reading　aloud。

Maggie　saw　at　once　that　her　visit　embarrassed　Miss　Toms　terribly。　It　was　an　embarrassment　that　she　understood　perfectly；　so　like　her　own　feelings　on　so　many　occasions。　This　put　her　at　once　at　her　ease；　and　she　was　the　old；　simple；　direct　Maggie；　her　face　eager　with　kindness　and　understanding。　Mr。　Toms　smiled　perpetually　but　shook　hands　like　the　little　gentleman　he　was。

Maggie；　studying　Miss　Toms'　face；　saw　that　it　was　lined　with　troublean　ugly　face；　grave；　severe；　but　brave　and　proud。　Maggie　apologised　for　not　coming　before。

〃I　would　have　come〃　she　began。

〃Oh；　you　needn't　apologise；〃　said　Miss　Toms　brusquely。　〃They　don't　call　on　us　here；　and　we　don't　want　them　to。〃

〃They　don't　call；〃　said　Mr。　Toms　brightly；　〃because　they　know　I'm　queer　in　the　head；　and　they're　afraid　I　shall　do　something　odd。　They　told　you　I　was　queer　in　the　head；　didn't　they？〃

Strangely　enough　this　statement　of　his　〃queerness；〃　although　it　brought　a　lump　into　Maggie's　throat；　did　not　disturb　or　confuse　her。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃they　did。　I　asked　who　you　were　after　I　had　seen　you　in　the　road　that　day。〃

〃I'm　not　in　the　least　dangerous；〃　said　Mr。　Toms。　〃You　needn't　be　afraid。　Certain　things　seem　odd　to　me　that　don't　seem　odd　to　other　peoplethat's　all。〃

〃The　fact　is；　Mrs。　Trenchard；〃　said　Miss　Toms；　speaking　very　fast　and　flushing　as　she　spoke；　〃that　we　are　very　happy　by　ourselves；　my　brother　and　I。　He　is　the　greatest　friend　I　have　in　the　world；　and　I　am　his。　We　are　quite　sufficient　for　one　another。　I　don't　want　to　seem　rude；　and　it's　kind　of　you　to　have　come；　but　it's　better　to　leave　us　aloneit　is　indeed。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know；〃　bald　Maggie；　smiling。　〃You　see；　I'm　a　little　queer　myselfat　least　I　think　that　most　of　the　people　here　are　coming　to　that　conclusion。　I'm　sure　I'm　more　queer　than　your　brother。　At　any　rate　I　can't　do　you　any　harm；　and　we　may　as　well　give　it　a　trial；　mayn't　we？〃

Mr。　Toms　clapped　his　hands　with　so　sudden　a　noise　that　Maggie　jumped。

〃That's　right；〃　he　said。　〃That's　the　way　I　like　to　hear　people　talk。　You　shall　judge　for　yourself；　and　WE'LL　judge　for　ourselves。〃　His　voice　was　very　soft　and　pleasant。　The　only　thing　at　all　strange　about　him　was　his　smile；　that　came　and　went　like　the　ripple　of　firelight　on　the　wall。　〃You'd　like　to　know　all　about　us；　wouldn't　you？　Well；　until　ten　years　ago　I　was　selling　corn　in　the　City。　Such　a　waste　of　time！　But　I　took　it　very　seriously　then　and　worked；　worked；　worked。　I　worked　too　hard；　you　know；　much　too　hard；　and　then　I　was　illill　for　a　long　time。　When　I　was　better　corn　didn't　seem　to　be　of　any　importance；　and　people　thought　that　very　odd　of　me。　I　was　confused　sometimes　and　called　people　by　their　wrong　names；　and　sometimes　I　said　what　was　in　my　head　instead　of　saying　what　was　in　my　stomach。　Every　one　thought　it　very　odd；　and　if　my　dear　sister　hadn't　come　to　the　rescue　they　would　have　locked　me　upthey　would　indeed！〃

〃Shut　me　up　and　never　let　me　walk　aboutall　because　I　didn't　care　for　corn　any　more。〃

He　laughed　his　little　chuckling　laugh。　〃But　we　beat　them；　didn't　we；　Dorothy？　Yes；　we　didand　here　we　are！　Now；　you　tell　us　your　history。〃

Miss　Toms　had　been　watching　Maggie's　face　intently　while　her　brother　spoke；　and　the　clear　steady　candour　of　Maggie's　eyes　and　her　calm　acceptance　of　all　that　the　little　man　said　must　have　been　reassuring。

〃Now。　Jim；〃　she　said；　〃don't　bother　Mrs。　Trenchard。　You　can't　expect　her　to　tell　us　her　history　when　she's　calling　for　the　first　time。〃

〃Why　not　expect　me　to？〃　said　Maggie。　〃I've　got　no　history。　I　lived　in　Glebeshire　most　of　my　life　with　my　father；　who　was　a　clergyman。　Then　he　died　and　I　lived　with　two　aunts　in　London。　Then　I　met　Paul　and　he　married　me；　and　here　I　am！〃

〃That's　not　history；〃　said　Mr。　Toms　a　little　impatiently。　〃However；　I　won't　bother　you　now。　You're　only　a　child；　I　see。　And　I'm　very　glad　to　see　it。　I　don't　like　grown　up　people。〃

〃How　do　you　like　Skeaton？〃　asked　Miss　Toms；　speaking　more　graciously　than　she　had　done。

〃Oh　I　shall　like　it；　I　expect；〃　said　Maggie。　〃At　least　I　shall　like　the　people。　I　don't　think　I　shall　ever　like　the　placethe　sand　blows　about；　and　I　don't　like　the　woods。〃

〃Yes；　they're　greasy；　aren't　they？〃　said　Mr。　Toms；　〃and　full　of　little　flies。　And　the　trees　are　dark　and　never　cool〃

They　talked　a　little　while　longer；　and　then　Maggie　got　up　to　say　good…bye。　When　she　took　Mr。　Tom's　hand　and　felt　his　warm　confident　pressure；　and　saw　his　large　trusting　eyes　looking　into　hers；　she　felt　a　warmth　of　friendliness；　also　it　seemed　to　her　that　she　had　known　him　all　her　life。

Miss　Toms　came　with　her　to　the　door。　They　looked　out　into　the　dark。　The　sea　rustled　close　at　hand；　far　on　the　horizon　a　red　light　was　burning　as　though　it　were　a　great　fire。　They　could　hear　the　wave　break　on　the　beach　and　sigh　in　the　darkness　as　it　withdrew。

〃I　shall　come　again；〃　said　Maggie。

〃Don't　you　be　too　sure；〃　said　Miss　Toms。　〃We　shall　quite　understand　if　you　don't　come；　and　we　shan't　think　the　worse　of　you。　Public　opinion　here　is　very　strong。　They　don't　want　to　be　unkind　to　Jim；　but　they　think　he　ought　to　be　shut　up　。　。　。Shut　up！〃　Maggie　could　feel　that　she　was　quivering。　〃Shut　up！〃

Maggie　tossed　her　head。

〃Anyway；　they　haven't　shut　me　up　yet；〃　she　said。

〃Wellgood…night；〃　said　Miss　Toms；　after　a　little　pause　in　which　she　appeared　to　be　struggling　to　say　more。

She　told　Grace　and　Paul　at　supper　that　night　that　she　had　been　to　see　the　Toms。　She　saw　Grace　struggling　not　to　show　her　disapproval　and　thought　it　was　nice　of　her。

〃Do　you　really　think？〃　said　Grace。　〃Oh；　perhaps；　after　all〃

〃Paul；〃　said　Maggie；　〃do　you　not　want　me　to　see　the　Toms？〃

Paul　was　distressed。

〃No；　it　isn't　that　。　。　。Miss　Toms　is　a　very　nice　woman。　Only〃

〃You　think　it's　not　natural　of　me　to　take　an　interest　in　some　one　who's　a　little　off　his　head　like　Mr。　Toms。〃

〃Well；　dear；　perhaps　there　is　something〃

Maggie　laughed。　〃I'm　a　little　off　my　head　too。　Oh！　you　needn't　look　so　shocked；　Grace。　You　know　you　think　it；　and　every　one　else　here　thinks　it　too。　Now；　Grace；　confess。　You're　beginning　to　be　horrified　that　Paul　married　me。〃

〃Please；　Maggie〃　said　Paul；　who　hated　scenes。　Grace　was　always　flushed　by　a　direct　attack。　Her　eyes　gazed　in　despair　about　her　while　she　plunged　about　in　her　mind。

〃Maggie；　you　mustn't　say　such　thingsno；　you　mustn't。　Of　course　it's　true　that　you've　got　more　to　learn　than　I　thought。　You　ARE　careless；　dear；　aren't　you？　You　remember　yesterday　that　you　promised　to　look　in　at　Pettits　and　get　a　reel　of　cotton；　and　then　of　course　Mr。　Toms　is　a　good　little　manevery　one　says　sobut　at　the　same　time　he's　QUEER；　you　must　admit　that；　Maggie；　indeed　it　wasn't　really　very　long　ago　that　he　asked　Mrs。　Maxse　in　the　High　Street　to　take　all　her　clothes　off　so　that　he　could　see　what　she　was　really　made　of。　Now；　that　ISN'T　nice；　Maggie；　it's　oddyou　can't　deny　it。　And　if　you'd　only　told　me　that　you　hadn't　been　to　Pettits　I　could　have　gone　later　myself。〃

〃If　it　isn't　one　thing；〃　said　Maggie；　〃it's　another。　I　may　be　a　child　and　careless；　and　not　be　educated；　and　have　strange　ideas；　but　if　you　thought；　Grace；　that　it　was　going　to　be　just　the　same　after　Paul　was　married　as　before　you　were　mistaken。　Three's　a　difficult　number　to　manage；　you　know。〃

〃Oh；　if　you　mean；〃　said　Grace；　crimsoning；　〃that　I'm　better　away；　that　I　should　live　somewhere　else；　please　say　so　openly。　I　hate　this　hinting。　What　I　mean　to　say　is　I　can　leave　to…morrow。〃

〃My　dear　Grace；〃　said　Paul　hurriedly；　〃whoever　thought　such　a　thing？　We　couldn't　get　on　without　you。　All　that　Maggie　meant　was　that　it　takes　time　to　settle　down。　So　it　does。〃

〃That　isn't　all　I　meant；〃　said　Maggie　slowly。　〃I　meant　that　I'm　not　just　a　child　as　you　both　think。　I've　got　a　life　of　my　own　and　ideas　of　my　own。　I'll　give　way　to　you　both　in　lots　of　things　so　long　as　it　makes　you　happy；　but　you're　notyou're　not　going　to　shut　me　up　as　you'd　like　to　do　to　Mr。　Toms。〃

Perhaps　both　Grace　and　Paul　had　a　sharp　troubling　impression　of　having　caught　some　strange　creature　against　their　will。　Maggie　had　risen　from　the　table　and　stood　for　the　moment　by　the　door　facing　them；　her　short　hair；　standing　thick　about　her　head；　contrasting　with　her　thick　white　neck；　her　body　balanced　clumsily　but　with　great　strength；　like　that　of　a　boy　who　has　not　yet　grown　to　his　full　maturity。　She　tossed　her　head　back　in　a　way　that　she　had　and　was　gone。

The　Caroline　affair　was　of　another　sort。　Some　days　after　Christmas；　Maggie　went　to　have　tea　with　Caroline。　She　did　not　enjoy　it　at　all。　She　felt　at　once　that　there　was　something　wrong　with　the　house。　It　was　full　of　paintings　in　big　gold　frames；　looking…glasses；　and　marble　statues；　and　there　was　a　large　garden　that　had　an　artificial　look　of　having　been　painted　by　some　clever　artist　in　the　course　of　a　night。　Maggie　did　not　pay　a　long　visit。　There　were　a　number　of　men　present；　there　was　also　a　gramophone；　and　after　tea　they　turned　up　the　carpet　in　the　dining…room　and　danced。

Caroline；　in　spite　of　her　noise　and　laughter；　did　not　seem　to　Maggie　to　be　happy。　She　introduced　her　for　a　moment　to　the　master　of　the　house；　a　stout　red…faced　man　who　looked　as　though　he　had　lost　something　very　precious；　but　was　too　sleepy　to　search　for　it。　He　called　Caroline　〃Sweet；〃　and　she　treated　him　with　patronage　and　contempt。　Maggie　came　away　distressed；　and　she　was　not　surprised　to　hear；　a　day　or　two　later；　from　Grace　that　Mrs。　Purdie　was　〃fast〃　and　had　been　rude　to　Mrs。　Constantine。

One　day　early　in　the　spring　Grace　announced　that　Maggie　ought　not　to　go　and　see　Mrs。　Purdie　any　more。　〃There　are　all　sorts　of　stories；〃　said　Grace。　〃People　sayOh；　well；　never　mind。　They　have　dancing　on　Sunday。〃

〃But　she's　an　old　friend　of　mine；〃　said　Maggie。

〃You　have　others　to　think　of　beside　yourself；　Maggie；〃　said　Grace。　〃And　there　is　the　Church。〃

〃She's　an　old　friend　of　mine；〃　repeated　Maggie；　her　mouth　set　obstinately。

〃I　will　ask　Paul　what　he　thinks；〃　said　Grace。

〃Please；〃　said　Maggie；　her　colour　rising　into　her　cheeks；　〃don't　interfere　between　Paul　and　me。　I'll　speak　to　him　myself。〃

She　did。　Paul　maintained　the　attitude　of　indifference　that　he　had　adopted　during　the　last　six　months。

〃But　would　you　rather　I　didn't　go？〃　asked　Maggie；　aggravated。

〃You　must　use　your　judgment；〃　said　Paul。

〃But　don't　you　see　that　I　can't　leave　a　friend　just　because　people　are　saying　nasty　things。〃

〃There's　your　position　in　the　parish；〃　said　Paul。

〃Oh；　Paul！〃　Maggie　cried。　〃Don't　be　so　aggravating！　Just　say　what　you　really　think。〃

〃I'm　sorry　I'm　aggravating；〃　said　Paul　patiently。

It　was　this　conversation　that　determined　Maggie。　She　had　been　coming；　th