the captives-第79章

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　Mrs。　Trenchard。　'E　give　me　'is　card。　Oh；　mum；　'e　is　wet　too！〃

She　had　scarcely　finished；　and　Grace　had　only　taken　the　card；　when　Mathew　Cardinal　came　forward　out　of　the　hall。　He　was　a　dim　and　mysterious　figure　in　that　half…light；　but　Grace　could　see　that　he　was　more　battered　and　shabby　than　on　his　last　visit。　His　coat　collar　was　turned　up。　She　could　only　very　vaguely　see　his　face；　but　it　seemed　to　her　strangely　white　when　before　it　had　been　so　grossly　red。

She　was　struck　by　his　immobility。　Partly　perhaps　because　she　had　been　roused　from　sleep　and　was　yet　neither　clear　nor　resolved；　he　seemed　to　her　some　nightmare　figure。　This　was　the　man　who　was　responsible　for　all　the　trouble　and　scandal；　this　was　the　man　who　threatened　to　drive　Paul　and　herself　from　her　home；　this　was　the　blackguard　who　had　not　known　how　to　behave　in　decent　society。　But　behind　that　was　the　terror　of　the　mystery　that　enveloped　Maggiethe　girl's　uncle；　the　man　who　had　shared　in　her　strange　earlier　life；　and　made　her　what　she　now　was。　As　he　stood　there；　motionless；　silent；　the　water　dripping　from　his　clothes；　Grace　was　as　frightened　as　though　he　had　already　offered　her　personal　violence　or　held　a　pistol　to　her　head。

〃What　do　you　want？〃　she　asked　hoarsely；　stepping　back　to　the　sofa。　Jenny　had　left　the　room。

〃I　want　to　see　my　niece；〃　he　answered；　still　without　moving。　She　recognised　then；　strangely；　in　his　voice　a　terror　akin　to　her　own。　He　also　was　afraid　of　something。　Of　what？　It　was　not　that　his　voice　shook　or　that　his　tongue　faltered。　But　he　was　terrified　。　。　。　She　could　feel　his　heart　thumping　behind　the　words。

〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said。　〃You　can't　see　her。　She's　upstairs　resting。〃

She　did　not　know　whence　the　resolution　had　come　that　he　was　not；　in　any　case；　to　see　Maggie；　she　did　not　know　what　catastrophe　she　anticipated　from　their　meeting。　She　was　simply　resolved；　as　though　acting　under　the　blind　orders　of　some　other　power；　that　Maggie　should　not　see　him　and　that　he　should　leave　the　house　at　once。

〃I　must　see　her；〃　he　said；　and　the　desperate　urgency　in　his　voice　would　have　touched　any　one　less　terrified　than　Grace。　〃I　must。〃

〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　answered。　The　fear　in　his　voice　seemed　now　to　give　her　superiority　over　him。　〃It's　impossible。〃

〃Oh　no；〃　he　said。　〃If　she's　here　it　can't　be　impossible。　She'd　want　to　see　me。　We　have　things　。　。　。　　I　must　。　。　。　　You　don't　understand；　Miss　Trenchard。〃

〃I　only　know；〃　said　Grace；　〃that　after　what　occurred　on　your　last　visit　here；　Mr。　Cardinal；　Maggie　said　that　she　would　never　see　you　again。〃

〃That's　a　lie！〃　he　said。

She　made　no　answer。　Then　at　last　he　said　pitifully：

〃She　didn't　really　say　that；　did　she？〃

〃Yes。　I'm　sorry。　But　you　can　understand　after　what　occurred〃

He　came　suddenly　forward；　the　water　trickling　from　him　on　to　the　carpet。

〃You　swear　that's　true？〃

She　could　see　now　his　face　and　realised　that　he　was；　indeed；　desperatebreathless　as　though　he　had　been　running　from　some　one。

〃Yes；　that's　true；〃　she　answered。

〃Maggie　said　that。〃

〃Those　were　Maggie's　words。〃

〃Oh；　well；　I'm　done　。　。　。〃　He　turned　away　from　her　as　though　her　announcement　had　settled　something　about　which　he　had　been　in　doubt。　〃It　isn't　like　Maggie　。　。　。　But　still　she　hasn't　written。　She　saw　I　was　hard　up　last　time。　All　I　deserve　。　。　。　All　I　deserve。〃　He　turned　round　to　Grace　again。　〃I　can't　quite　believe　it；　Miss　Trenchard。　It　doesn't　sound　like　Maggie；　but　perhaps　you've　influenced　her　。　。　。　That's　likely。　If　she　should　change　her　mind　I'm　at　the　'Sea　Dog。'　Not　much　of　a　place。　Quiet　though。　Yes；　well。　You　might　tell　her　not　to　bother。　I'm　finished；　you　see；　Miss　Trenchard。　Yes；　down。　You'll　be　glad　to　hear　it；　I've　no　doubt。　Well；　I　mustn't　stay　talking。　I　wish　Maggie　were　happier　though。　She　isn't　happy；　is　she？〃

The　question　was　so　abrupt　that　Grace　was　startled。

〃I　should　hope　soMr。　Cardinal；〃　she　said。

〃Oh；　no；　she　isn't。　I　know。　Always　this　religion　she　gets　into。　If　it　isn't　one　sort　it's　another。　But　she's　a　good　girl。　Don't　you　forget　that。　Well；　I　must　be　going。　Good　day。　Good　day。〃

He　was　actually　gone；　leaving　a　little　pool　of　water　on　the　carpet　behind　him。　Grace　sat　down　on　the　sofa　again。　What　a　horrible　man！　What　a　horrible　man！　But　she　had　been　wrong　to　say　that　about　Maggie。　Yes；　she　had。　But　he　had　taken　her　by　surprise。　Oh　dear！　How　her　heart　was　beating！　And　how　strange　he　had　looked。　She　could　scarcely　breathe。　She　sat　there　lost　in　stupefied　wonder。　At　last　tea　came　in；　and　with　it　Paul　and　Maggie。　Grace　felt　ashamed　and　frightened。　Why　was　Maggie　always　making　her　do　things　of　which　she　was　ashamed？　It　was　as　though　the　girl　had　power　over　her　。　。　。　absurd；　of　course。　Nevertheless；　as　she　poured　out　the　tea　she　was　haunted　by　that　man's　eyes。　Yes；　he　had　undoubtedly　been　very　unhappy。　Yes；　in　great　trouble。

Maggie　sat　quietly　there。　Paul　was　preoccupied　with　a　letter　that　must；　he　had　decided；　be　written　to　The　Church　Times。　It　was　a　letter　about　Churchwardens　and　their　growing　independence。　He　finished　his　tea　hurriedly；　but　before　he　left　the　room；　looking　at　Maggie　rather　wistfully；　suddenly　he　bent　down　and　kissed　her。　She　glanced　up　at　him；　smiling。

〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do　for　you；　Grace？〃　she　asked。

Then；　as　it　were　without　her　own　desire；　Grace　was　compelled　to　speak。　〃There's　something　I　ought　to　tell　you〃　she　began　awkwardly。　Then　she　stopped。　Maggie　was　troubled。　She　knew　that　when　Grace　was　uncomfortable　every　one　else　was　uncomfortable。

〃What　have　I　done　now？〃　she　said　rather　sharply。

〃It's　nothing　that　you've　done；〃　answered　Grace　also　sharply。　〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know；　Maggie；　why　you　should　always　think　that　I'm　scolding　you。　No；　I　don't　indeed。　It's　nothing　that　you've　done。　Your　uncle　came　to　see　you　this　afternoon。〃

〃Uncle　Mathew？〃　Maggie　jumped　up　from　her　chair。　〃Came　here？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　wanted　to　see　me？　Oh；　Grace；　why　didn't　you　tell　me？〃

〃I　have　told　you　。　。　。　There's　nothing　to　make　a　fuss　about；　Maggie。　Really；　you　needn't　look　like　thatas　though　I　were　always　doing　something　wrong。　I　only　did　it　for　your　sake。〃

〃For　my　sake？　But　why？　I　wanted　to　see　him。　I　was　trying　to　see　him　in　London。　Oh；　Grace；　what　did　he　say？〃

〃What　did　he　say？　Well；　fancy！　As　though　I　could　remember。　He　said　he'd　come　to　see　you；　and　when　I　said　he　couldn't；　he　went　away　again。〃

〃Said　he　couldn't？　But　why　couldn't　he？〃

〃Really；　Maggie；　your　tone　is　extraordinary。　Fancy　what　Paul　would　say　if　he　heard　you。　He　wouldn't　like　it；　I'm　sure。　I　said　that　after　the　way　he'd　behaved　last　time　he　came　here　you　didn't　want　to　see　him　again。〃

〃You　said　that？　Oh；　Grace！　How　did　you　dare！〃　〃Now；　Maggie；　don't　you　look　like　that。　I've　done　nothing；　I'm　sure。〃

〃Did　you　say　that　I'd　said　that　I　didn't　want　to　see　him　again？〃

Grace　shrank　back　behind　the　tea…things。

〃Yes；　I　did　。　。　。　Maggie；　you　frighten　me。〃

〃I　hope　I　do　。　。　。　You're　wicked；　you're　wicked。　Yes；　you　are。　Where　is　he　now？〃

〃He's　at　the　'Sea　Dog。'　That　dirty　public　house　on　the　sea…front　near　TunstallsWhere　are　you　going？〃

〃I'm　going　to　him　of　course。〃　Maggie　turned　and　looked　at　Grace。　Grace　was　fascinated　as　a　rabbit　is　by　a　snake。　The　two　women　stared　at　one　another。

〃How　strange　you　are；　Grace；〃　Maggie　said。　〃You　seem　to　like　to　be　cruel！〃　Then　she　went　out。　When　the　door　was　closed　Grace　found　〃that　she　was　all　in　a　perspiration。〃　Her　hand　trembled　so　that　when　she　tried　to　pour　herself　another　cup　of　teajust　to　fortify　herselfshe　poured　it　into　the　saucer。　And　the　tea　was　coldno　use　now。

When　she　rose　at　last　to　go　in　and　seek　consolation　from　Paul　her　knees　were　trembling　so　that　she　staggered　across　the　floor。　This　couldn't　go　on。　No；　it　could　not。　To　be　frightened　in　one's　own　house！　Absurd　。　。　。　Really　the　girl　had　looked　terrible　。　。　。　Murder　。　。　。　That's　what　it　had　looked　like。　Something　must　be　done。

Murmuring　aloud　to　herself　again　and　again　〃Something　must　be　done〃　as　she　crossed　the　hall；　she　walked　slowly；　her　hand　to　her　heart；　ponderously；　as　though　she　were　walking　in　the　dark。　Then；　as　soon　as　she　had　opened　the　study　door　she　began；　before　she　could　see　her　brother：　〃Oh；　Paul；　I'm　so　frightened。　It's　Maggie。　She's　very　angry。　Fancy　what　she　said。〃

Maggie　meanwhile　had　gone　straight　up　to　her　bedroom　and　found　her　black　hat　and　her　waterproof。　Her　one　thought　now　was　lest　he　should　have　caught　the　five　o'clock　train　and　gone　back　to　London。　Oh！　how　hurt　he　would　be　with　her；　how　terribly　hurt！　The　thought　of　the　pain　and　loneliness　that　he　would　feel　distressed　her　so　bitterly　that　she　could　scarcely　put　on　her　hat；　she　was　so　eager　to　run　and　find　him。　She　felt；　at　the　thought　of　his　fruitless　journey　through　the　rain；　the　tenderest　affection　for　him；　maternal　and　loving；　so　that　she　wanted　to　have　him　with　her　at　once　and　to　see　him　in　warm　clothes　beside　the　fire；　drinking　whisky　if　he　liked；　and　she　would　give　him　all　the　money　she　possessed。

She　had　still　touched　very　little　of　her　own　three　hundred　pounds。　He　should　have　as　much　of　that　as　he　liked。　The　death　of　Aunt　Anne　had　shown　her　how　few　people　in　the　world　there　were　for　her　to　love。　After　all；　the　aunts　and　Uncle　Mathew　had　needed　her　as　no　one　else　had　done。　She　made　little　plans；　she　would；　perhaps；　go　back　with　him　to　London　for　a　little　time。　There　was；　after　all；　no　reason　why　she　should　remain　in　this　horrible　place　for　ever。　And　Paul　now　seemed　not　to　care　whether　she　went　or　stayed。

She　ran　out　into　the　wind　and　the　rain。　She　was　surprised　by　the　force　and　fury　of　it。　It　would　take　time　and　strength　to　battle　down　the　High　Street。　Poor　Uncle　Mathew！　To　walk　all　the　way　in　the　rain　and　then　to　be　told　that　she　would　not　see　him！　She　could　imagine　him　turning　away　down　the　drive；　bitterly　disappointed　。　。　。

Probably　he　had　come　to　borrow　money；　and　she　had　promised　that　she　would　not　fail　him。　When　she　reached　the　High　Street　she　was　soaked。　She　felt　the　water　dripping　down　her　neck　and　in　her　boots。　At　the　corner　of　the　High　Street　by　the　bookseller's　she　was　forced　to　pause；　so　fiercely　did　the　wind　beat　up　from　the　Otterson　Road；　that　runs　openly　to　the　sea。　Maggie　had　not　even　in　Glebeshire　known　so　furious　a　day　and　hour　when　the　winds　tossed　and　raged　but　never　broke　into　real　storm。　It　was　the　more　surprising。　She　had　to　pause　for　a　moment　to　remember　where　Turnstall's　the　butcher　was；　then；　suddenly　recalling　it；　she　turned　off　the　High　Street　and　found　her　way　to　the　mean　streets　that　ran　behind　the　Promenade。　Still　she　met　no　one。　It　might　have　been　a　town　abandoned　by　all　human　life　and　given　over　to　the　wind　and　rain　and　the　approaching　absorption　of　the　sea。　It　was　now　dark　and　the　lamp　at　the　end　of　the　street　blew　gustily　and　with　an　uncertain　flare。

Maggie　found　Turnstall's；　its　shop　lit　and　Mr。　Turnstall　himself；　stout　and　red…faced；　behind　his　bloody　counter。　She　went　in　and　asked　him　where　〃The　Sea　Dog〃　might　be。　He　explained　to　her　that　it　was　close　at　hand；　on　the　right；　looking　over　the　Promenade。　She　found　it　at　last　because　it　had　an　old…fashioned　creaking　wooden　sign　with　a　blue　sailor　painted　on　it。　Timidly　she　stepped　into　the　dark　uneven　passage。　To　the　right　of　her　she　could　see　a　deserted　room　with　wooden　trestles　and　a　table