the captives-第74章

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egan　to　talk　in　her　society　voice。　Maggie　knew　that　she　was　praying；　over　and　over　again；　with　a　monotony　possible　only　to　the　very　stupid；　that　there　would　be　no　callers　that　afternoon。

〃And　so　you　know　Glebeshire；　Mr。　Cardinal！　Fancy！　I've　never　been　therenever　been　there　in　my　life。　Fancy　that！　Although　so　many　of　my　relations　live　there。　I　once　nearly　went　down；　one　wet　Christmas；　and　I　was　going　to　stay　with　my　aunt；　but　something　happened　to　prevent　me。　I　think　I　caught　a　cold　at　the　time。　I　can't　quite　remember。　But　fancy　you　knowing　Glebeshire　so　well！〃

All　this　came　out　in　a　voice　that　might　have　issued　from　a　gramophone；　so　little　did　it　represent　Grace's　real　feelings　or　emotions。　Maggie　knew　so　well　that　inside　her　head　these　exclamations　were　rising　and　falling：　〃What　a　horrible　man！　What　a　dreadful　man！　Maggie's　uncle！　We're　lost　if　any　one　calls！　Oh！　I　do　hope　no　one　calls！〃

It　was　obvious　meanwhile　that　Mathew　was　urgently　wishing　for　a　moment　alone　with　Maggie。　He　looked　at　her　with　pleading　eyes；　and　once　he　winked　towards　Grace。　He　talked　on；　however；　running　some　of　his　words　into　one　another　and　paying　very　little　attention　to　anything　that　Grace　might　say：　〃No；　I　haven't　seen　my　little　niece；　Miss　Trenchard；　for　a　long　timedidn't　like　to　interfere；　in　a　way。　Thought　she'd　ask　for　me　when　she　wanted　me。　We've　always　been　the　greatest　friends。　I'm　a　bachelor；　you　seenever　married。　Not　that　I'd　like　you　to　fancy　that　I've　no　interest　in　the　other　sex；　far　from　it；　but　I'm　a　wanderer　by　nature。　A　wife　in　every　port；　perhaps。　Well；　who　knows？　But　one's　lonely　at　times；　one　is　indeed。　A　pretty　tidy　little　place　you've　got　here。　Yes；　you　havewith　a　garden　too。〃

Paul　came　in；　and　Maggie　saw　him　start　as　Mathew's　stout　figure　surprised　him。　She　felt　then　a　rush　of　hostility　against　Paul。　It　was　as　though；　at　every　point；　she　must　run　in　fiercely　to　defend　her　uncle。

Meanwhile　Grace's　worst　fears　were　realised。　The　little　maid　announced　Miss　Purves　and　Mrs。　Maxse。　A　terrible　half…hour　followed。　Miss　Purves；　as　soon　as　she　understood　that　this　strange　man　was　Mrs。　Trenchard's　uncle；　was　all　eager　excitement；　and　Uncle　Mathew；　bewildered　by　so　many　strangers；　confused　by　a　little　unsteadiness　in　his　legs　that　would　have　been　nothing　had　he　not　been　in　a　small　room　crowded　with　furniture；　finally　clasped　Mrs。　Maxse　by　the　shoulder　in　his　endeavour　to　save　himself　from　tumbling　over　the　little　table　that　held　the　cakes　and　bread…and…butter。　His　hot；　heavy　hand　pressed　into　Mrs。　Maxse's　flesh；　and　Mrs。　Maxse；　terrified　indeed；　screamed。

He　began　to　apologise；　and　in　his　agitation　jerked　Miss　Purves'　cup　of　tea　from　the　table　on　to　the　floor。

After　that　he　realised　that　it　would　be　better　for　him　to　go。　He　began　elaborate　apologies。　Paul　saw　him　to　the　door。　He　gripped　Paul　by　the　hand。　〃I'm　delighted　to　have　met　you；〃　he　said　in　full　hearing　of　the　trembling　ladies。　〃You've　given　me　such　a　good　time。　Give　my　little　Maggie　a　good　time　too。　She's　not　looking　over　well。　Send　her　up　to　London　to　stay　with　me　for　a　bit。〃

Maggie　saw　him　to　the　gate。　In　the　middle　of　the　little　drive　he　stopped；　turning　towards　her；　leaning　his　hands　heavily　upon　her。　〃Maggie　dear；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　in　a　bad　way；　a　very　bad　way。　You　won't　desert　me？〃

〃Of　course　I　won't；〃　she　answered。　〃I　may　want　your　help　in　a　week　or　two。〃

He　looked　dismally　about　him；　at　the　thick；　dull　laurel　bushes　and　the　heavy；　grey　sky。　〃I　don't　like　this　place；　Maggie；〃　he　said；　〃and　all　those　women。　It's　religion　again；　and　it's　worse　than　that　Chapel。　You　don't　seem　to　be　able　to　get　away　from　religion。　You're　not　happy；　my　dear。〃

〃Yes；　I　am；〃　she　answered　firmly。

〃No；　you're　not。　And　I'm　not。　But　it　will　be　all　right　in　the　end；　I've　no　doubt。　You'll　never　desert　me；　Maggie。〃

〃I'll　never　desert　you；〃　Maggie　answered。

He　bent　down　and　kissed　her；　his　breath　whisky…laden。　She　kissed　him　eagerly；　tenderly。　For　a　moment　she　felt　that　she　would　go　with　him；　just　as　she　was；　and　leave　them　all。

〃Uncle；〃　she　said；　〃you　understand　how　it　is；　don't　you？　We'd　have　asked　you　to　stay　if　we'd　known。〃

〃Oh；　that's　all　right。〃　He　looked　at　her　mysteriously。　〃That　new　sister…in…law　of　yours　was　shocked　with　me。　They　wouldn't　have　me　in　the　house。　I　saw　that。　And　I　only　had　one　glass　at　the　station。　I'm　not　much　of　a　man　in　society　now。　That's　the　trouble　。　。　。　But　next　time　I'll　come　down　and　just　send　you　a　line　and　you'll　come　to　see　me　in　my　own　little　placewon't　you？　I'm　in　the　devil　of　a　mess；　Maggie；　that's　the　truth；　and　I　don't　know　how　to　get　out　of　it。　I've　been　a　bit　of　a　fool；　I　have。〃

She　saw　the　look　of　terror　in　his　eye　again。

〃Would　some　money〃　she　suggested。

〃Oh；　I'm　afraid　it's　past　five　pounds　now；　my　dear。〃　He　sighed　heavily。　〃Well；　I　must　be　getting　along。　You'll　catch　your　death　of　cold　standing　out　here。　We　ought　to　have　been　together　all　this　time；　you　know。　It　would　have　been　better　for　both　of　us。〃

He　kissed　her　again　and　left　her。　She　slowly　returned　into　the　house。　Curiously；　he　had　made　her　happier　by　his　visit。　Her　pluck　returned。　She　needed　it。　Grace　was　now　stirred　by　the　most　active　of　all　her　passionsfear。

Nevertheless　Grace　and　Paul　behaved　very　well。　Maggie　understood　the　shock　that　visit　must　have　given　them。　She　watched　Grace　imagining　the　excited　stories　that　would　flow　from　the　lips　of　Miss　Purves　and　Mrs。　Maxse。　She　was　determined；　however；　that　Grace　and　Paul　should　not　suffer　in　silenceand　Uncle　Mathew　must　be　vindicated。

At　supper　that　night　she　plunged：

〃Uncle　Mathew's　been　very　ill；〃　she　began；　〃for　a　long　time　now。　He　wasn't　himself　this　afternoon；　I'm　afraid。　He　was　very　upset　at　some　news　that　he'd　just　had。　And　then　meeting　so　many　strangers　at　once…　…〃

Maggie　saw　that　Grace　avoided　her　eyes。

〃I　don't　think　we'll　discuss　it；　Maggie；　if　you　don't　mind。　Mr。　Cardinal　was　strange　in　his　behaviour；　certainly。　It　was　a　pity　that　Miss　Purves　came。　But　it's　better　not　to　discuss　it。〃

〃I　don't　agree；〃　said　Maggie。　〃If　you　think　that　I'm　ashamed　of　Uncle　Mathew　you're　quite　wrong。　He's　very　unhappy　and　lonely〃　She　felt　her　voice　tremble。　〃He　hasn't　got　any　one　to　look　after　him〃

Grace's　hand　was　trembling　as　she　nervously　crumbled　her　bread。　Still　without　looking　at　Maggie　she　said：

〃By　the　way；　you　did　the　church　flowers　this　morning　didn't　you；　eh？〃

Maggie　turned　white　and；　as　always　on　these　occasions；　her　heart　thumped；　leaping；　as　it　seemed；　into　the　very　palms　of　her　hands。

〃But　it　was　to…morrow〃　she　began。

〃You　remember　that　I　told　you　three　days　ago　that　it　was　to　be　this　morning　instead　of　the　usual　Thursday　because　of　the　Morgans'　wedding。〃

〃Oh；　Grace；　I'm　so　sorry！　I　had　remembered；　I　had　indeed；　and　then　Lucy　suddenly　having　that　chill。〃

Paul　struck　in。　〃Really；　Maggie；　that's　too　bad。　No　flowers　to…　morrow？　Those　others　were　quite　dead　yesterday。　I　noticed　at　evensong　。　。　。　Really；　really。　And　the　Morgans'　wedding！〃

Maggie　sat　there；　trembling。

〃I'm　very　sorry；〃　she　said；　almost　whispering。　Why　did　fate　play　against　her？　Why；　when　she　might　have　fought　the　Uncle　Mathew　battle　victoriously；　had　Grace　suddenly　been　given　this　weapon　with　which　to　strike？

〃I'll　go　and　do　them　now；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　take　those　flowers　out　of　the　drawing…room。〃

〃It's　done；〃　Grace　slowly　savouring　her　triumph。　〃I　did　them　myself　this　afternoon。〃

〃Then　you　should　have　told　me　that！〃　Maggie　burst　out。　〃It's　not　fair　making　me　miserable　just　for　your　own　fun。　You　don't　know　how　you　hurt；　Grace。　You're　cruel；　you're　cruel！〃

She　had　a　horrible　fear　lest　she　should　burst　into　tears。　To　save　that　terrible　disaster　she　jumped　up　and　ran　out　of　the　room；　hearing　behind　her　Paul's　admonitory　〃Maggie；　Maggie！〃

It　is　to　be　expected　that　Mrs。　Maxse　and　Miss　Purves　made　the　most　of　their　story。　The　Rector's　wife　and　a　drunken　uncle！　No；　it　was　too　good　to　be　true　。　。　。　but　it　was　true；　nevertheless。　Christmas　passed　and　the　horrible　damp　January　days　arrived。　Skeaton　was　a　dripping　covering　of　emptinesshollow；　shallow；　deserted。　Every　tree；　Maggie　thought；　dripped　twice　as　much　as　any　other　tree　in　Europe。　It　remained　for　Caroline　Purdie　to　complete　the　situation。　One　morning　at　breakfast　the　story　burst　upon　Maggie's　ears。　Grace　was　too　deeply　moved　and　excited　to　remember　her　hostility。　She　poured　out　the　tale。

It　appeared　that　for　many　many　months　Caroline　had　not　been　the　wife　she　should　have　been。　No；　there　had　been　a　young　man；　a　Mr。　Bennett　from　London。　The　whole　town　had　had　its　suspicions；　had　raised　its　pointing　finger；　had　peeped　and　peered　and　whimpered。　The　only　person　who　had　noticed　nothing　was　Mr。　Purdie　himself。　He　must；　of　course；　have　seen　that　his　house　was　filled　with　noisy　young　men　and　noisier　young　women；　he　must　have　realised　that　his　bills　were　high；　that　champagne　was　drunk　and　cards　were　played；　and　that　his　wife's　attire　was　fantastically　gorgeous。　At　any　rate；　if　he　noticed　these　things　he　said　nothing。　He　was　a　dull；　silent；　slow…thinking　man；　people　said。　Then　one　day　he　went　up　to　London　or　rather；　in　the　manner　of　the　best　modern　problem　play；　he　pretended　to　go；　returned　abruptly；　and　discovered　Caroline　in　the　arms　of　Mr。　Bennett。

He　flung　Mr。　Bennett　out　of　the　bedroom　window；　breaking　his　leg　and　his　nose；　and　that　was　why　every　one　knew　the　story。　What　he　said　to　Caroline　was　uncertain。　He　did　not；　however；　pack　her　off；　as　Miss　Purves　said　he　should　have　done；　but　rather　kept　her　in　the　big　ugly　house；　just　as　he　had　done　before；　only　now　without　the　young　men；　the　young　women；　the　champagne　and　the　flowers。

〃I　must　go　and　see　her；〃　said　Maggie　when　she　heard　this　story。

Grace　turned　the　strange　pale　yellow　that　was　her　colour　when　she　was　disturbed。

〃Maggie；〃　she　said；　〃I　warn　you　that　if　you　go　to　see　this　abandoned　woman　you　will　be　insulting　Paul　and　myself　before　the　whole　town。〃

〃She　is　my　friend；〃　said　Maggie。

〃She　is　a　wicked　woman；〃　said　Grace；　breathing　very　heavily；　〃and　you're　a　wicked　woman　if　you　go　to　see　her。　You　have　already　made　Paul　miserable。〃

〃That　is　untrue；〃　Maggie　said　fiercely。　〃It　is　I　that　have　been　miserable。　Not　that　it　hasn't　been　my　own　fault。　I　should　never　have　married　Paul。〃

〃No；　you　should　not；〃　said　Grace；　breathing　as　though　she　had　been　running　very　hard。　〃And　for　that　I　was　partly　to　blame。　But　fancy　what　you've　done　since　you've　been　with　us！　Just　fancy！　It's　terrible　。　。　。　never　a　greater　mistake　。　。　。　never；　never。〃

Maggie　tossed　her　head。　〃Well；　if　it　was　a　mistake；〃　she　said；　〃the　end　of　pretending　has　come　at　last。　I've　been　trying　for　nearly　two　years　now　to　go　your　way　and　Paul's。　I　can't　do　it。　I　can't　alter　myself。　I've　tried；　and　I　can't。　It's　no　use。　Grace；　we'd　never　get　on。　I　see　it's　been　hopeless　from　the　first。　But　you　shan't　make　Paul　hate　me。　You've　been　trying　your　hardest；　but　you　shan't　succeed。　I　know　that　I'm　stupid　and　careless；　but　it's　no　use　my　pretending　to　be　good　and　quiet　and　obedient。　I'm　not　good。　I'm　not　quiet。　I'm　not　obedient。　I'm　going　to　be　myself　now。　I'm　going　to　have　the　friends　I　want　and　do　the　things　I　want。〃

Grace　moved　back　as　though　she　thought　that　Maggie　were　going　to　strike　her。

〃You're　wicked；〃　she　said。　〃W