the captives-第107节

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They　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　house。　Mrs。　Brandon　displayed　a　dark　sulky　little　room　with　damp　of　the　tomb　clinging　to　its　wall。

〃Ten　bob　a　week；〃　she　said。　She　sunk　her　voice　to　a　confidential　whisper。　〃The　best　of　this　'ouse　is　that　you　can　do　what　you　like。　No　one　minds　and　no　one　sees。　'Them　as　lives　in　glass　'ouses。'　That's　what　I　say。〃

〃I'll　take　it；〃　said　Maggie。

〃You'll　be　wanting　a　key；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Brandon；　suddenly　very　friendly。　〃To　let　yerself　in　an'　out　at　nights。　I'll　fetch　yer　one。〃

She　did。　Maggie　thanked　her。

〃I　wonder；〃　she　said；　〃whether　you　have　such　a　thing　as　a　small　basket　you　could　lend　me。　I'm　going　out　to　buy　one　or　two　necessaries。〃

〃Certingly；〃　said　Mrs。　Brandon；　all　smiles。　〃Certingly；　and　anythink　else　you'll　be　needing。　All　you've　got　to　do　is　ter　ask。〃

This　settled；　Maggie　departed　on　her　shopping　expedition。　She　was　still　driven　by　a　curious　clarity　and　decision　as　to　what　she　wanted　to　do。　She　felt　as　though　she　could　conquer　the　world　to…day　and　then　parcel　it　out　equitably　and　with　success　amongst　the　greedy　kings　of　the　earth。　What　were　kings　to　her　now　that　she　had　found　Martin？　Less　than　the　dust　。　。　。

Lynton　Street　offered　her　nothing　but　dirty　and　grime…stained　windows；　but　she　found　her　way　into　King　Edward　Street；　and　here　there　were　many　shops。　She　had　not　very　much　money　actually　upon　her；　and　the　remainder　of　her　precious　three　hundred　was　locked　up　in　a　bank　in　Skeaton；　but　it　was　a　bank　that　had；　she　knew；　branches　in　London。　She　looked　in　her　purse　and　found　that　she　had　three　pounds；　twelve　shillings　and　sixpence。　Martin　must　have　his　meals　upon　something　other　than　paper；　so　the　probability　was　that　there　was　crockery　of　a　kind　in　his　roomor　perhaps　Mrs。　Brandon　supplied　it。　Nevertheless　Maggie's　first　purchases　were　a　blue　teapot；　two　blue　plates；　and　two　blue　cups　and　saucers。

As　to　food　she　must　get　something　that　could　be　cooked　easily　on　his　fire。　She　bought　three　of　the　freshest　possible　eggs；　half　a　dozen　sausages；　a　loaf　of　bread；　half　a　pound　of　butter；　two　pots　of　jam；　one　pot　of　marmalade；　some　apples；　a　pound　of　tea；　a　pound　of　sugar。

〃This　will　do　as　a　start；〃　she　said　to　herself。

She　was　just　about　to　turn　into　Lynton　Street　when　she　stopped　at　a　flower　shop。　In　the　window；　smiling　at　her　most　fragrantly　under　the　gas…light　was　a　white　hyacinth　in　a　blue　pot。　It　seemed　to　speak　to　her　with；　the　same　significance　as　once　the　ring　with　the　three　pearls；　as　though　it　said：　〃You've　got　to　use　me。　I'm　a　link　in　the　chain。〃

She　went　in　and　asked　its　price；　not　very　much；　considering　the　splendour　of　the　blue　pot。　She　bought　it。　She　was　glad　that　13A　was　not　far；　because　now　the　basket　and　the　flower　weighed　heavily　upon　her。

She　climbed　the　stairs　to　Martin's　room　with　beating　heart。　Suppose　he　had　returned　and　was　there　and　would　not　let　her　in？　Or　suppose；　worse　than　that；　that　he　had　returned；　packed　his　bag　and　gone　away　again？　Her　heart　was　beating　so　terribly　when　at　last　she　had　arrived　outside　the　door　that　she　had　to　put　down　the　hyacinth　and　the　basket　and　stand　for　a　minute　there；　panting。

She　pushed　back　the　door；　the　room　was　lit　by　the　reflection　from　a　lamp　in　a　window　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　road；　this　flickered　with　a　pale　uncertain　glow　across　the　floor。　He　was　not　here。　She　opened　the　bedroom　door。　He　had　not　packed　his　bag。　She　sighed　with　relief。　She　found　a　bell　and　pressed　it。　To　her　great　surprise　the　scrubbing　maid　almost　instantly　presented　herself；　curiosity　had　undoubtedly　hastened　her　steps。

〃What's　your　name？〃　asked　Maggie；　smiling。

〃Emily；〃　said　the　girl。

〃The　first　thing　I　want　is　a　box　of　matches；〃　said　Maggie。　〃You'll　light　the　gas　for　me；　won't　you。　The　truth　is；　I'm　not　quite　tall　enough　to　reach　it。〃

Emily　lit　the　gas。

〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　said　Maggie。　〃I　must　have　a　fire。　That's　the　next　thing。　This　cold　room　must　have　been　a　bad　thing　for　Mr。　Warlock　with　his　cough。〃

〃Yes；　'e　'as　got　a　corf；〃　said　Emily；　watching　Maggie　with　all　her　eyes。

〃Well；　do　you　think　I　could　have　a　fire？〃　asked　Maggie。

Emily　considered。

〃I'll　ask　the　missus；〃　she　said；　〃I　shouldn't　wonder。〃

She　returned　soon　with　coal；　wood　and　newspaper。　She　also　informed　Maggie　that　Mrs。　Brandon　would　like　to　have　a　〃little　in　advance　if　convenient；　that　being　the　custom。〃

Maggie　delivered　up　ten　and　sixpence　and　was　left　with　exactly　two　shillings　in　her　pocket。　But　how　beautiful　the　room　appeared！　Emily；　whose　ugly　bony　countenance　now　wore　a　look　of　excited　breathlessness　as　though　she　were　playing　a　new　kind　of　game；　discovered　a　piece　of　dark　sad　cloth　somewhere　in　the　lower　region　and　this　was　pinned　up　over　the　window。　The　fire　was　soon　blazing　away　as　though　the　fireplace　rejoiced　to　have　a　chance　of　being　warm　once　more。　A　shabby　but　clean　table…cloth　was　discovered　and　placed　upon　the　table；　and　in　the　middle　of　this　the　hyacinth　was　triumphantly　stationed。

〃Now　I　tell　you　what　would　be　nice；〃　said　Maggie；　also　by　this　time　breathless；　〃and　that's　a　lamp。　This　gas　isn't　very　pleasant；　is　it；　and　it　DOES　make　such　a　noise。〃

〃It　DOES　make　a　noise；〃　said　Emily；　looking　at　the　gas　as　though　she　were　seeing　it　for　the　first　time。

〃Well；　do　you　think　there's　a　lamp　somewhere？〃

Emily　licked　her　finger。

〃I'll　ask　the　missus；〃　she　said　and　disappeared。　Soon　she　returned　with　a　lamp；　its　gloriea　hidden　beneath　a　bright　pink　paper　shade。

Maggie　removed　the　paper　shade；　placed　the　lamp　on　the　table；　then　the　blue　plates；　the　blue　cups　and　saucers；　the　blue　teapot。

A　shrill　voice　was　heard　calling　for　Emily。　Maggie　had　then　her　kingdom　to　herself。

She　stood　there；　waiting　and　listening。　The　approaching　interview　must　have　seemed　to　her　the　climax　of　her　whole　life。　She　stood；　clasping　and　unclasping　her　hands；　going　to　the　table；　moving　the　plates；　then　moving　them　back　again。　Perhaps　he　would　not　return　at　all　that　night；　perhaps　not　until　midnight　or　later。　He　might　be　drunk；　he　might　be　violent。　She　did　not　care。　It　was　enough　for　her　that　he　should　be　there。

〃Oh　I　do　wish　he'd　come；〃　she　whispered　aloud。

She　had　looked　at　her　watch　and　seen　that　it　was　just　eight　o'clock　when　she　heard　a　step　on　the　stair。　She　had　already　borrowed　from　Emily　a　frying…pan。　Quickly　she　put　the　sausages　into　it；　placed　them　on　the　fire　and　then　stood　over　them。

The　door　opened。　She　knew　who　it　was　because　she　heard　him　start　suddenly　with　a　little　exclamation　of　surprise。　She　turned　and　looked　at　him。　Her　first　thought　was　that　he　seemed　desperately　weary；　weary　with　a　fatigue　not　only　physical。　His　whole　bearing　was　that　of　a　man　beaten；　defeated；　raging；　it　might　be；　with　the　consciousness　of　his　defeat　but　beyond　all　hope　of　avenging　it。　Her　pity　for　him　made　her　tremble　but；　with　that；　she　realised　that　the　worst　thing　that　she　could　do　was　to　show　pity。　What　had　he　expected？　To　find　her　gone？　To　find　her　still　sitting　defiantly　where　he　had　left　her？　To　see　her　crying；　perhaps　on　her　knees　before　him；　beseeching　him？　Anything　but　not　this。

She　could　see　that　he　was　astonished　and　was　resolved　not　to　let　her　know　it。

He　moved　past　her　without　a　word；　and　went　into　the　other　room。　She　said　nothing；　but　bent　over　the　sausages。　They　were　sizzling　and　flung　out　a　splendid　smell。

He　came　back　without　his　hat　and　coat。　He　stood　by　the　bedroom　door　and　slowly　looked　round　the　room；　taking　everything　in。

〃I　thought　you'd　have　gone；〃　he　said；　〃I　warned　you。〃

She　looked　up　at　him；　laughing：

〃I　haven't；〃　she　said。　〃Whatever　happens　afterwards；　Martin；　we　may　as　well　have　one　meal　together。　I'm　very　hungry。　I　know　you'll　forgive　my　using　your　room　like　this；　but　I　didn't　want　to　go　to　a　shop。　So　I　just　brought　the　things　in　here。〃

His　eyes　lighted　on　the　hyacinth。

〃I　know　what　your　game　is；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃But　it　isn't　any　good。　You　may　as　well　chuck　it。〃

〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃After　we've　had　a　meal。〃

Straightening　herself　up　from　the　heat　of　the　fire　she　had　a　terrible　temptation　then　to　go　to　him。　It　overwhelmed　her　in　a　flood；　her　knees　and　hands　trembled。　She　wanted　just　to　touch　his　arm；　to　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　But　she　knew　that　she　must　not。

〃Sit　down　for　a　bit；〃　she　said　very　quietly；　〃and　let's　have　our　meal。　There's　nothing　terrible　in　that；　Martin。　I've　not　put　poison　in　your　food　or　anything　and　the　sausages　do　smell　nice。〃

To　her　surprise　he　sat　down；　suddenly　collapsing　as　though　he　were　too　tired　to　stand　any　longer。　He　said　nothing　more。　She　finished　the　sausages；　put　them　on　the　table；　then　took　a　saucepan　（also　Emily's　gift）；　filled　it　with　water　and　put　in　the　eggs。

〃Come　on；〃　she　said　gently；　〃or　the　sausages　will　get　cold。〃

He　went　then　to　the　table；　cut　off　some　bread　and　began　to　eat　ravenously。　Her　heart　felt　a　dim　distant　triumph　when　she　saw　that　he　was　so　hungry；　but　it　was　too　early　to　feel　triumph　yet。

She　came　to　the　table　and　began　to　eat；　although　she　felt　no　hunger。

〃You're　married；　aren't　you？〃　he　asked　suddenly。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered。

〃Where's　your　husband？〃

〃A　place　called　Skeaton。〃

〃Well；　you'd　better　get　back　there　to…night〃

〃I'm　staying　in　London　for　a　day　or　two。〃

〃Where？〃