the captives-第92章

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n　this　affair。　He　saw　Maggie；　ignorant　of　the　world；　led　away　by　a　seducer　from　her　married　life；　persuaded　to　embark　upon　what　his　own　experience　had　taught　him　to　be　a　dangerous；　lonely；　and　often　disastrous　voyage。　He　had　never　heard　of　any　good　of　Martin；　he　had　been　always　in　his　view；　idle；　dissolute；　and　selfish。　What　could　he　think　but　that　Martin　had；　most　wickedly；　persuaded　her　to　abandon　her　safety？

She　answered　his　letter；　telling　him　in　the　greatest　detail　the　truth。　She　told　him　that　Martin　had　done　all　he　could　to　refuse；　that；　had　he　not　been　so　ill；　he　would　have　left　her；　that　he　had　threatened　her；　again　and　again；　with　what　he　would　do　if　she　did　not　the　him。

She　showed　him　that　it　had　been　her　own　determination　and　absolute　resolve　that　had　created　the　situationand　she　told　him　that　she　was　happy　for　the　first　time　in　her　life。

But　his　letter　did　force　her　to　realise　the　difficulties　of　her　position。　In　writing　to　Mrs。　Bolitho　she　had　spoken　of　herself　as　Martin's　wife；　and　now　when　she　was　called　〃Mrs。　Warlock〃　she　tacitly　accepted　that；　hating　the　deceit；　but　wishing　for　anything　that　might　keep　the　situation　tranquil　and　undisturbed。　She　asked　Mrs。　Bolitho　to　let　her　have　a　small　room　near　the　big　one；　telling　her　that　Martin　was　so　ill　that　he　must　be　undisturbed　at　night。　Then　Mr。　Magnus's　letter　arrived　addressed　to　〃Miss　Cardinal；〃　and　she　thought　that　Mrs。　Bolitho　looked　at　her　oddly　when　she　gave　it　to　her。　Martin's　illness；　too；　seemed　to　disturb　the　household。　He　cried　out　in　his　dreams；　his　shouts　waking　the　whole　establishment。　Bolitho；　once；　thinking　that　murder　was　being　committed；　went　to　his　room；　found　him　sitting　up　in　bed；　sweating　with　terror。　He　caught　hold　of　Bolitho；　flung　his　arms　around　him；　would　not　let　him　go；　urging　him　〃not　to　help　them；　to　protect　him。　They　would　catch　him　。　。　。　they　would　catch　him。　They　would　catch　him。〃

The　stout　and　phlegmatic　farmer　was　himself　frightened；　sitting　there　on　the　bed；　in　his　night…shirt；　and　〃seeing　ghosts〃　in　the　flickering　light　of　the　candle。　Martin's　conduct　during　the　day　was　not　reassuring。　He　had　lost　all　his　ferocity　and　bitterness；　he　was　very　quiet；　speaking　to　no　one；　lying　on　a　sofa　that　over…looked　the　moor；　watching。

Mrs。　Bolitho's　really　soft　heart　was　touched　by　his　pallor　and　weakness；　but　she　could　not　deny　that　there　was　something　queer　here。〃　Maggie　almost　wished　that　his　old　mood　of　truculence　would　return。　She　was　terrified；　too；　of　these　night　scenes；　because　they　were　so　bad　for　his　heart。　The　local　doctor；　a　clever　young　fellow　called　Stephens；　told　her　that　he　was　recovering　from　the　pneumonia；　but　that　his　heart　was　〃dickey。〃

〃Mustn't　let　anything　excite　him；　Mrs。　Warlock；〃　he　said。

There　came　then　gradually　over　the　old　house　and　the　village　the　belief　that　Martin　was　〃fey。〃　Mrs。　Bolitho　was　in　most　ways　a　sensible；　level…headed；　practical　woman；　but　like　many　of　the　inhabitants　of　Glebeshire；　she　was　deeply　superstitious。　It　was　not　so　very　many　years　since　old　Jane　Curtis　had　been　ducked　in　the　St。　Dreot's　pond　for　a　witch；　and　even　now；　did　a　cow　fall　sick　or　the　lambs　die；　the　involuntary　thought　in　the　Glebeshire　〃pagan　mind〃　was　to　look　for　the　〃evil　eye。〃　But　Mrs。　Bolitho　herself　had　had　a　very　recent　example　in　her　own　family　of　〃possession。〃　There　had　been　her　old　grandfather；　living　in　the　farm　with　them；　as　hale　and　hearty　a　human　of　sixty…five　years　as　you'd　be　likely　to　find　in　a　day's　march　through　Glebeshire。　〃He　lost　touch　with　them；〃　as　Mrs。　Bolitho　put　it。　In　a　night　his　colour　failed　him；　his　cheerful　conversation　left　him；　he　could　〃do　nought　but　sit　and　stare　out　o'　window。〃　A　month　later　he　died。

Martin　had　not　been　long　at　Borhedden　before　she　came　to　her　conclusions　about　him；　told　them　to　her　James；　and　found　that　his　slow　but　sure　brains　had　come　to　the　same　decision。　In　the　sense　of　the　tragedy　overhanging　the　poor　young　man　she　forgot　to　consider　the　possible　impropriety　of　his　relations　with　Maggie。　He　was　removed　at　once　from　human　laws　and　human　judgment。　He　became　〃a　creature　of　God〃　and　was　surrounded　with　something　of　the　care　and　reverence　with　which　the　principal　〃softie〃　in　the　village　was　regarded。

It　was　not　that　Martin's　behaviour　was　in　any　way　odd。　After　a　few　days　in　the　utter　peace　and　quiet　of　the　moor　and　farm　he　screamed　no　more　at　night。　He　was　gentle　and　polite　to　every　one；　ate　his　meals；　took　little　walks　out　on　to　the　moor　and　into　the　village；　but　liked　best　to　sit　in　front　of　the　parlour　window　and　look　out　on　to　the　heath　and　grass；　watching　the　shadows　and　the　sunlight　and　the　driving　sheets　of　rain。

Mrs。　Bolitho　had　a　tender　heart　and　Maggie　shared　in　her　superstitious　pity。　Looking　back　to　her　youth　she　had　always　thought　Maggie　a　〃wisht　little　thing。〃　〃Poor　worm；〃　what　chance　had　she　ever　had　with　that　great　scandalous　chap　of　a　father？　She　saw　her　still　in　her　shabby　clothes　trying　to　keep　that　dilapidated　house　together。　No；　what　chance　had　she　ever　had？　She　was　still　a　〃wisht　little　thing。〃

Nor　did　it　need　very　shrewd　eyes　to　see　how　desperately　devoted　Maggie　was　to　Martin。　The　sight　of　that　touched　the　hearts　of　every　human　being　in　the　farm。　Not　that　Maggie　was　foolish；　she　did　not　hang　about　Martin　all　the　time；　she　never；　so　far　as　Mrs。　Bolitho　could　see；　kissed　him　or　fondled　him；　or　was　with　him　when　he　did　not　want　her。　She　was　not　sentimental　to　him；　not　sighing　nor　groaning；　nor　pestering　him　to　answer　romantic　questions。　On　the　contrary；　she　was　always　cheerful；　practical；　and　full　of　common　sense；　although　she　was　sometimes　forgetful；　and　was　not　so　neat　and　tidy　as　Mrs。　Bolitho　would　have　wished。　She　always　spoke　as　though　Martin's　recovery　were　quite　certain；　and　Dr。　Stephens　told　Mrs。　Bolitho　that　he　did　not　dare　to　speak　the　truth　to　her。　〃The　chances　against　his　recovery；〃　Stephens　said；　〃are　about　one　in　a　hundred。　He's　been　racketing　about　too　long。　Too　much　drink。　But　he's　got　something　on　his　mind。　That's　really　what's　the　matter　with　him。〃

Mrs。　Bolitho　was　as　naturally　inquisitive　as　are　most　of　her　sex；　and　this　knowledge　that　Martin　was　a　doomed　creature　with　a　guilty　conscience　vastly　excited　her　curiosity。　What　had　the　man　done？　What　had　been　his　relations　with　Maggie？　Above　all；　did　he　really　care　for　Maggie；　or　no？　That　was　finally　the　question　that　was　most　eagerly　discussed　in　the　depths　of　the　Bolitho　bedchamber。　James　Bolitho　maintained　that　he　didn't　care　〃that〃　for　her；　you　could　see　plain　enough；　he　asserted；　when　a　man　cared　for　a　maidthere　were　signs；　sure　and　certain；　just　as　there　were　with　cows　and　horses。

〃You　may　know　about　cows　and　horses；〃　said　Mrs。　Bolitho；　〃you're　wrong　about　humans。〃　The　way　that　she　put　it　was　that　Martin　cared　for　Maggie　but　〃couldn't　get　it　out。〃　〃He　doesn't　want　her　to　know　it；〃　she　said。

〃Why　shouldn't　he？〃　asked　James。

〃Now　you're　asking；〃　said　Mrs。　Bolitho。

〃Nice　kind　of　courtin'　that　be；〃　said　James；　〃good　thing　you　was　a　bit　different；　missus。　Lovin'　a　lass　and　not　speakingshouldn't　like！〃

Mrs。　Bolitho's　heart　grew　very　tender　towards　Maggie。　Married　or　not；　the　child　was　in　a　〃fiery　passion　of　love。〃　Nor　was　it　a　selfish　passion；　neitherwanted　very　little　for　herself；　but　only　for　him　to　get　well。　There　was　true　romance　here。　Maggie；　however；　gave　away　no　secrets。　She　had　many　talks　with　Mr。　Bolitho：　about　the　village；　about　the　new　parson；　about　Mrs。　Bolitho's　son；　Jacob；　now　in　London　engineering；　and　the　apple　of　her　eye；about　many　things　but　never　about　herself；　the　past　history　nor　her　feeling　for　Martin。

The　girl　never　〃let　on〃　that　she　was　suffering；　and　yet　〃suffering　she　must　be。〃　You　could　see　that　she　was　just　holding　herself　〃tight〃　like　a　wire。　The　strange　intensity　of　her　determination　was　beautiful　but　also　dangerous。　〃If　anything　was　to　happen〃　said　Mrs。　Bolitho。　She　saw　Martin；　too；　many　times；　looking　at　Maggie　in　the　strangest　way；　as　though　he　were　travelling　towards　some　decision。　He　certainly　was　a　good　young　man　in　his　behaviour；　doing　now　exactly　what　he　was　told；　never　angry；　never　complaining；　and　that；　Mrs。　Bolitho　thought；　was　strange；　because　you　could　see　in　his　eye　that　he　had　a　will　and　a　temper　of　his　own；　did　he　like　to　exercise　them。　After　all；　he　himself　was　the　merest　boy；　scarcely　older　than　Jacob。　She　could；　herself；　see　that　he　must　have　been　a　fine　enough　lad　when　he　had　his　healththe　breadth　of　his　shoulders；　the　thick　sturdiness　of　his　shape；　the　strength　of　his　thighs　and　arms。　Her　husband　had　seen　the　boy　stripped；　and　had　told　her　that　he　must　have　been　a　〃lovely　man。〃　Drink　and　evil　womenay；　they'd　brought　him　down　as　they'd　brought　many　anotherand　she　thought　of　her　Jacob　in　London　with　a　catch　at　her　heart。　She　stopped　in　her　cooking　and　prayed　there　and　then；　upon　her　kitchen　floor；　that　he　might　be　kept　safe　from　all　harm。

Nearly　every　one　in　the　village；　of　course；　remembered　Maggie；　and　they　could　not　see　that　she　was　〃any　changed。〃　〃Cut　'er　'air　short　London　fashion〃　they　supposed。　They　had　liked　her　as　a　child　and　they　liked　her　now。　She　was　more　cheerful　and　friendly；　they　thought；　then　she　used　to　be。

Nevertheless　all　the　village　awaited；　with　deep　interest；　for　what　they　felt　would　be　a　very　moving　climax。　The　young　man　was　〃fey。〃　God　had　set　His　mark　upon　him；　and　nothing　that　any　human　being　could　do　would　save　him。　In　old　days　they　would　have　tried　to　come　near　him　and　touch　him　to　snatch　some　virtue　from　the　contact。　They　did　not　do　that；　but　they　felt　when　they　had　spoken　to　him　that　they　had　received　some　merit　or　advantage。　The　new　parson　came　to　call　upon　Martin　and　Maggie；　but　he　got　very　little　from　his　visit。

〃Poor　fellow；〃　he　said　to　his　wife　on　his　return。　〃His　days　are　numbered；　I　fear。〃

To　every　one　it　was　as　though　Martin　and　Maggie　were　enclosed　in　some　world　of　their　own。　No　one　could　come　near　them；　no　one　could　tell　of　what　they　were　really　thinking；　of　their　hopes　or　fears；　past　or　future。

〃Only；〃　as　Mrs。　Bolitho　said　to　her　husband；　〃one　thing's　certain；　she　do　love　'im　with　all　her　heart　and　soulpoor　lamb。〃

When　Martin　and　Maggie　had　been　at　the　farm　about　a　fort…night；　there　came　to　St。　Dreot's　a　travelling　circus。　This　was　a　very　small　affair；　but　it　came　every　year；　and　provided　considerable　excitement　for　the　village　population。　There　were　also　gipsies　who　came　on　the　moor；　and　telling　the　fortunes　of　any　who　had　a　spare　sixpence　with　which　to　cross　their　palms。　The　foreign　and　exotic　colour　that　the　circus　and　the　gipsies　brought　into　the　village　was　exactly　suited　to　the　St。　Dreot　blood。　Many　centuries　ago　strange　galleys　had　forced　their　way　into　bays　and　creeks　of　the　southern　coast；　and　soon　dark　strangers　had　penetrated　across　the　moors　and　fields　and　had　mingled　with　the　natives　of　the　plain。　Scarcely　an　inhabitant　of　St。　Dreot　but　had　some　dark　colour　in　his　blood；　a　gift　from　those　Phoenician　adventurers；　scarcely　an　inhabitant　but　was　conscious　from　time　to　time　of　other　strains；　more　tumultuous　passions；　than　the　Saxon　race　could　show。

This　coming　of　the　circus　had　in　it；　whether　they　knew　it　or　no；　something　of　the　welcoming　of　their　own　people　back　to　them　again。　They　liked　to　see　the　elephant　and　the　camel　tread　solemnly　the　u