the captives-第75章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



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

〃You're　wicked；〃　she　said。　〃What　about　those　letters　in　your　drawer？　You've　never　loved　Paul。〃

〃So　you've　been　opening　my　drawers？〃　said　Maggie。　〃You're　worse　than　I；　Grace。　I　never　opened　any　one's　drawers　nor　read　letters　I　shouldn't。　But　it　doesn't　matter。　There's　nothing　I　want　to　hide。　Paul　knows　all　about　it。　I'm　not　ashamed。〃

〃No；　you're　not；〃　Grace's　eyes　were　large　with　terror。　〃You're　ashamed　at　nothing。　You've　made　every　one　in　the　place　laugh　at　us。　You've　ruined　Paul's　life　hereyes；　you　have。　But　you　don't　care。　Do　you　think　I　mind　for　myself？　But　I　love　Paul；　and　I've　looked　after　him　all　his　life；　and　he　was　happy　until　you　cameyes；　he　was。　You've　made　us　all　laughed　at。　You're　bad　all　through；　Maggie；　and　the　laws　of　the　Church　aren't　anything　to　you　at　all。〃

There　was　a　pause。　Maggie；　a　little　calmer；　realised　Grace；　who　had　sunk　into　a　chair。　She　saw　that　stout　middle…aged　woman　with　the　flat　expressionless　face　and　the　dull　eyes。　She　saw　the　flabby　hands　nervously　trembling；　and　she　longed　suddenly　to　be　kind　and　affectionate。

〃Oh；　Grace；〃　she　cried。　〃I　know　I've　been　everything　I　shouldn't；　only　don't　you　see　I　can't　give　up　my　friends？　And　I　told　Paul　before　we　married　that　I'd　loved　some　one　else　and　wasn't　religious。　But　perhaps　it　isn't　too　late。　Let's　be　friends。　I'll　try　harder　than　ever　before〃

Then　she　saw；　in　the　way　that　Grace　shrank　back；　her　eyes　staring　with　the　glazed　fascination　that　a　bird　has　for　a　snake；　that　there　was　more　than　dislike　and　jealousy　here；　there　was　the　wild　unreasoning　fear　that　a　child　has　for　the　dark。

〃Am　I　like　that？〃　was　her　own　instinctive　shuddering　thought。　Then；　almost　running；　she　rushed　up　to　her　bedroom。




CHAPTER　VII

DEATH　OF　AUNT　ANNE


Maggie；　after　that　flight；　faced　her　empty　room　with　a　sense　of　horror。　Was　there；　truly；　then；　something　awful　about　her？　The　child　（for　she　was　indeed　nothing　more）　looked　into　her　glass；　standing　on　tip…toe　that　she　might　peer　sufficiently　and　saw　her　face；　pale；　with　its　large　dark　eyes　rimmed　by　the　close…clipped　hair。　Was　she　then　awful？　First　her　father；　then　her　aunts；　then　the　Warlocks；　now　Grace　and　Paulnot　only　dislike　but　fright；　terror；　alarm！

Her　loneliness　crushed　her　in　that　half…hour　as　it　had　never　crushed　her　since　that　day　at　Borhedden。　She　broke　down　altogether；　kneeling　by　the　bed　and　her　head　in　her　pillow　sobbing：　〃Oh；　Martin；　I　want　you！　Martin；　I　want　you　so！〃

When　she　was　calmer　she　thought　of　going　down　to　Paul　and　making　another　appeal　to　him；　but　she　knew　that　such　an　appeal　could　only　end　in　his　asking　her　to　change　herself；　begging　her　to　be　more　polite　to　Grace；　more　careful　and　less　forgetful；　and　of　course　to　give　up　such　people　as　the　Toms　and　Caroline；　and　then　there　would　come；　after　it　all；　the　question　as　to　whether　she　intended　to　behave　better　to　himself；　whether　she　would　be　more　loving；　more　。　。　。　Oh　no！　she　could　not；　she　could　not；　she　could　not！

She　saw　the　impossibility　of　it　so　plainly　that　it　was　a　relief　to　her　and　she　washed　her　face　and　brushed　her　hair　and　plucked　up　courage　to　regard　herself　normally　once　more。　〃I'm　not　different；〃　she　said　to　the　looking…glass。　〃There's　no　reason　for　Grace　to　make　faces。〃　She　saw　that　the　breach　between　herself　and　Grace　had　become　irreparable；　and　that　whatever　else　happened　in　the　future　at　least　it　was　certain　that　they　would　never　be　friends　again。

She　went　downstairs　prepared　to　do　battle　。　。　。

Next　morning　she　paid　her　visit　to　Caroline。　It　was　a　strange　affair。　The　girl　was　sitting　alone　in　her　over…gorgeous　house；　her　hands　on　her　lap；　looking　out　of　the　window；　an　unusual　position　for　her　to　be　in。

Caroline　was　at　first　very　stiff　and　haughty；　expecting　that　Maggie　had　come　to　scold　her。　〃I　just　looked　in　to　sec　how　you　were；〃　said　Maggie。

〃You　might　have　come　before；〃　answered　Caroline。　〃It's　years　since　you've　been　near　me。〃

〃I　didn't　like　all　those　people　you　had　in　your　house；〃　said　Maggie。　〃I　like　it　better　now　there's　no　one　in　it。〃

That　was　not；　perhaps；　very　tactful　of　her。　Caroline　flushed。

〃I　could　have　them　all　here　now　if　I　wanted　to　ask　them；〃　she　answered　angrily。

〃Well；　I'm　very　glad　you'd　rather　be　without　them；〃　said　Maggie。　〃They　weren't　worthy　of　you；　Caroline。〃

〃Oh！　What's　the　use　going　on　talking　like　this！〃　Caroline　broke　out。　〃Of　course　you've　heard　all　about　everything。　Every　one　has。　I　can't　put　my　nose　outside　the　door　without　them　all　peering　at　me。　I　hate　them　allall　of　themand　the　place　too；　and　every　one　in　it。〃

〃I　expect　you　do〃　said　Maggie　sympathetically。

〃Nasty　cats！　As　though　they'd　never　done　anything　wrong　all　their　days。　It　was　mostly　Alfred's　fault　too。　What　does　he　expect　when　he　leaves　me　all　alone　here　week　after　week　eating　one's　heart　out。　One　must　do　something　with　one's　time。　Just　like　all　men！　At　first　there's　nothing　too　good　for　you；　then　when　they　get　used　to　it　they　can't　be　bothered　about　anything。　I　wonder　what　a　man　thinks　married　life　is？　Then　to　listen　to　Alfred；　you'd　think　we　were　still　living　in　the　days　of　the　Good　Queen　Victoriayou　would　indeed。　Wouldn't　let　me　go　up　to　London　alone！　There's　a　nice　thing　for　you。　And　all　because　he　did　let　me　go　once　and　I　meant　to　stay　with　mother　and　mother　was　away。　So　I　had　to　sleep　at　a　hotel。　Why　shouldn't　I　sleep　at　a　hotel！　I'm　not　a　baby。　And　now　he　keeps　me　here　like　a　prisoner。　Just　as　though　I　were　in　jail。〃

〃Is　he　unkind　to　you？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃No；　he　isn't。　It's　his　horrible　kindness　I　can't　stand。　He　won't　divorce　me；　he　won't　let　me　go　away；　he　just　keeps　me　here　and　is　so　kind　and　patient　that　I　could　kill　him。　I　shall　one　day。　I　know　I　shall。〃　She　stood　for　a　moment；　pouting　and　looking　out　of　the　window。　Then　suddenly　she　turned　and；　flinging　her　arms　around　Maggie；　burst　into　tears。

〃Oh；　Maggie！　I'm　so　miserable　。　。　。　I'm　so　miserable；　Maggie！　Why　did　I　ever　come　here？　Why　did　I　ever　marry？　I　was　so　happy　at　home　with　mother。〃

Maggie　comforted　her；　persuading　her　that　all　would　soon　be　well；　that　people　very　quickly　forgot　their　little　pieces　of　scandal；　and　that　so　long　as　she　did　not　run　away　or　do　anything　really　desperate　all　would　come　right。　Maggie　discovered　that　Caroline　had　escaped　from　her　crisis　with　an　increased　respect　and　even　affection　for　her　husband。　She　was　afraid　of　him；　and　was　the　sort　of　woman　who　must　be　afraid　of　her　husband　before　her　married　life　can　settle　into　any　kind　of　security。

〃And　I　thought　you'd　altogether　abandoned　me！〃　she　ended。

〃I　wasn't　coming　while　all　those　people　were　about；〃　said　Maggie。

〃You　darling！〃　cried　Caroline；　kissing　her。　〃Just　the　same　as　you　used　to　be。　I　was　angry　I　can　tell　you　when　month　after　month　went　by　and　you　never　came　near　me。　I　used　to　tell　people　when　they　asked　me　that　you　were　odd。　'She's　not　a　bit　like　other　people；'　I　would　say；　'not　a　bit　and　it's　no　use　expecting　her　to　be。　She's　always　been　queer。　I　used　to　know　her　in　London。'　They　do　think　you　odd　here；　darling。　They　do　indeed。　No　one　understands　you。　So　odd　for　a　clergyman's　wife。　Well；　so　you　are；　aren't　you？　I　always　tell　them　you　had　no　bringing　up。〃

Caroline　in　fact　very　quickly　recovered　her　flow。　As　soon　as　she　found　that　Maggie　was　not　shocked　she　reasserted　her　old　superiority。　Before　the　visit　was　over　she　had　rather　despised　Maggie　for　not　being　shocked。　At　Maggie's　departure；　however；　she　was　very　loving。

〃You　will　come　soon　again；　darling；　won't　you？　It's　no　use　asking　you　to　dinner　because；　of　course；　your　husband　won't　come。　But　look　in　any　afternoonor　we　might　go　for　a　drive　in　the　motor。　Good…bye…　…good…bye。〃

Maggie；　on　her　return；　found　Grace　looking　at　the　mid…day　post　in　the　hall。　She　always　did　this　in　a　very　short…sighted　way；　taking　up　the　letters　one　by　one；　holding　each　very　close　to　her　eyes；　and　sniffing　at　it　as　though　she　were　trying　to　read　through　the　envelope。　This　always　irritated　Maggie；　although　her　own　letters　were　not　very　many。　To…night；　when　she　heard　the　hall　door　open；　she　turned　and　dropped　the　letters；　giving　that　especial　creaking　little　gasp　that　she　always　did　when　she　was　startled。

〃Oh；　it's　you；　Maggie；　is　it？　Where've　you　been？〃

〃I've　been　to　see　Mrs。　Purdie；〃　Maggie　said　defiantly。

Grace　paused　as　though　she　were　going　to　speak；　then　turned　on　her　heel。　But　just　as　she　reached　the　sitting…room　door　she　said；　breathing　heavily：

〃There's　a　telegram　for　you　there。〃

Maggie　saw　it　lying　on　the　table。　She　picked　it　up　and　hesitated。　A　wild　beating　of　the　heart　told　her　that　it　must　be　from　Martin。　She　didn't　know　what　told　her　this　except　that　now　for　so　long　she　had　been　expecting　to　see　a　telegram　lying　in　just　this　way　on　the　table；　waiting　for　her。　She　took　it　up　with　a　hand　that　trembled。　She　tore　it　open　and　read：

〃Come　at　once。　Your　aunt　dying。　Wishes　to　see　you。　Magnus。〃

No　need　to　ask　which　aunt。　When　one　aunt　was　mentioned　it　was　Aunt　Anneof　course。　Oh；　poor　Aunt　Anne！　Maggie　longed　for　her；　longed　to　be　with　her；　longed　to　be　kind　to　her；　longed　to　comfort　her。　And　Mr。　Magnus　and　Martha　and　Aunt　Elizabeth　and　the　catshe　must　go　at　once；　she　must　catch　a　train　after　luncheon。

She　went　impetuously　into　her　husband's　study。

〃Oh；　Paul！〃　she　cried。　〃Aunt　Anne's　dying；　and　I　must　go　to　her　at　once。〃

Paul　was　sitting　in　his　old　armchair　before　the　fire；　he　was　wearing　faded　brown　slippers　that　flapped　at　his　heels；　his　white　hair　was　tangled；　his　legs　were　crossed；　the　fat　broad　thighs　pressing　out　against　the　shiny　black　cloth　of　his　trousers。　He　was　chuckling　over　an　instalment　of　Anthony　Trollope's　〃Brown　Jones　and　Robinson〃　in　a　very　ancient　Cornhill。

He　looked　up；　〃Maggie；　you　know　it's　my　sermon…morning　interruptions〃　He　had　dropped　the　Cornhill；　but　not　fast　enough　to　hide　it　from　her。

She　looked　around　at　the　dirty　untidiness　of　the　study。　〃It's　all　my　fault；　this；〃　she　thought。　〃I　should　have　kept　him　clean　and　neat　and　keen　on　his　work。　I　haven't。　I've　failed。〃

Then　her　next　thought　was：　〃Grace　wouldn't　let　me〃

The　study；　in　fact；　was　more　untidy　than　ever；　the　pictures　were　back　in　their　places　whence　Maggie　had　once　removed　them。

Husband　and　wife　looked　at　one　another。　If　she　felt：　〃I've　not　managed　my　duty；〃　he　felt　perhaps：　〃What　a　child　she　is　after　all！〃　But　between　them　there　was　the　gulf　of　their　past　experience。

〃I'm　sorry　to　hear　that；〃　he　said；　yawning。　〃Is　she　an　old　lady？〃

〃No；　she's　not；〃　said　Maggie；　breathing　very　quickly。　〃I　love　her　very　much。　I've　been　thinking；　Paul；　I've　not　been　good　about　my　relations　all　this　time。　I　ought　to　have　seen　them　more。　I　must　go　up　to　London　at　once。〃

〃If　your　aunt's　bad　and　wants　you；　I　suppose　you　must；〃　he　answered。　He　got　up　and　came　over　to　her。　He　kissed　her　suddenly。

〃You'll　be　wanting　some　money；〃　he　said。　〃Don't　be　long　away。　I'll　miss　you。〃

She　caught　the　2。30　train。　It　seemed　very　strange　to　her　to　be　sitting　in　it　alone　after　the　many　months　when　she　had　been　always　either　with　Grace　or　Paul。　An　odd　sense　of　adventure　surrounded　her；　and　she　felt　as　though　she　were　now　at　last　approaching　the　climax　to　which　the　slow　events　of　the　last　two　years　had　b