the captives-第13节
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nd them that never ceased； although muffled by the closed window。
They talked together for a little while； standing near the window； the candle wavering in Aunt Elizabeth's unsteady hand。
〃We thought you'd like this top room。 It's quieter than the rest of the house。 Sometimes when the sweep hasn't been the soot tumbles down the chimney。 You mustn't mind that。 Thomas will push open the door and walk in at times。 It's his way。〃
〃Thomas？〃 said Maggie bewildered。
〃Our cat。 He has been with us for many years now。 Those who know say that he might have taken prizes once。 I can't tell I'm sure。 If you pull that bell when you want anything Martha will come。 She will call you at half…past seven； prayers are in the dining…room at a quarter past eight。 Sometimes the wind blows through the wall…paper； but it is only the wind。〃
Maggie drew back the curtains that hid the glitter of the lights。
〃Were those great friends of yours； those gentlemen this evening？〃
〃The one who wears spectacles； Mr。 Magnusyes； he is a very old friend。 He is devoted to my sister。 He writes stories。〃
〃What； in the papers？〃
〃No； in books。 Two every year。〃
〃And the other one？〃
〃That is young Mr。 Warlockhe is the son of our minister。〃
〃Does he live near here？〃
〃He lives just now with his parents。 Of late years he has been abroad。〃
〃He doesn't look like the son of a minister；〃 said Maggie。
〃No； I'm afraid〃 Aunt Elizabeth suddenly stopped。 〃His father has been minister of our chapel for twenty years。 He is a great and wonderful man。〃
〃Where is the chapel？〃
〃Very near at hand。 You will see it to…morrow。 To…morrow is Sunday。〃
There was a long pause。 Maggie knew that now was the time when she should say something friendly and affectionate。 She could say nothing。 She stared at her aunt； then at a long mirror that faced her bed； then at the lighted sky。 She felt warmly grateful； eager to show all the world that she would do her best； that she was ready to give herself to this new life with all her soul and strengthshe could say nothing。
They waited。
At last her aunt said：
〃Good…night； dear Maggie。〃
〃Good…night； Aunt Elizabeth。〃
She stole away； leaving the candle upon the chest of drawers； the cat followed her； swinging his tail。
Left alone； Maggie felt the whole sweep of her excitement。 She was exhausted； her body felt as though it had been trampled upon； she was so tired that she could scarcely drag her clothes from her； but the exaltation of her spirit was beyond and above all this。 Half undressed she stood before the long mirror。 She had never before possessed a long looking…glass； and now she seemed to see herself as she really was for the first time。 Was she very ugly and unattractive？ Yes； she must be with that stumpy body； those thick legs and arms； that short nose and large mouth。 And she did not know what to do to herself to make herself attractive。 Other girls knew but she had never had any one who could tell her。 Perhaps she would make girl friends now who would show her。
But； after all； she did not care。 She was herself。 People who did not like her could leave heryes they could； and she would not stir a finger to fetch them back。
Then； deep down in her soul； she knew that she wanted success； a magnificent life； a great future。 Nay more； she expected it。 She had force and strength； and she would compel life to give her what she wanted。 She laughed at herself in the glass。 She was happy； almost triumphant； and for no reason at all。
She went to her windows and opened them； there came up to her the tramping progress of the motor…omnibuses。 They advanced； like elephants charging down a jungle； nearer； nearer； nearer。 Before the tramp of one had passed another was advancing； and then upon that anotherceaselessly； advancing and retreating。
In her nightdress she leaned out of the window； poised； as it seemed to her； above a swaying carpet of lights。
Life seemed to hold every promise in store for her。
She crossed to her bed； drew the clothes about her and； forgetting her supper； forgetting all that had happened to her； her journey； her fainting； the young man； Edward the parrot； she fell into a slumber as deep； as secure； as death itself。
CHAPTER IV
THE CHAPEL
Maggie woke next morning to a strange silence。 Many were the silent mornings that had greeted her at St。 Dreots； but this was silence with a difference； it was the silence； she was instantly aware； of some one whose very soul was noise and tumult。 She listened； and the sudden chirping of some sparrows beyond her window only accentuated the sense of expectation。 She had never； in all her days； been so conscious of Sunday。
She was almost afraid to move lest she should break the spell。
She lay in bed and thought of the preceding evening。 Her fainting fit seemed to her now more than ever unfortunate； it had placed her at a disadvantage with them all。 She could imagine the stout young man returning to his home and saying： 〃Their niece has arrived。 Seems a weak little thing。 Fainted right off there in the drawing… room。〃 Or her aunts saying anxiously to one another： 〃Well； I didn't know she was as delicate as that。 I hope she won't be always ill；〃 。 。 。 and she wasn't delicateno one stronger。 She had never fainted before。 The silliness of it！
The next thing that disturbed her was the comfort and arrangement of everything。 Certainly the drawing…room had not been very orderly； full of old things badly placed； but this bedroom was clean and tidy； and the supper last night； so neat on its tray with everything that she could want！ She could feel the order and discipline of the whole house。 And she had never； in all her life； been either orderly or disciplined。 She had never been brought up to be so。 How could you be orderly when there were holes in the bedroom ceiling and the kitchen floor； holes that your father would never trouble to have mended？
Her aunts would wish her to help in the house and she would forget things。 There passed before her； in that Sunday quiet； a terrible procession of the things that she would forget。 She knew that she would not be patient under correction； especially under the correction of her Aunt Anne。 Already she felt in her a rebellion at her aunt's aloofness and passivity。 After all； why should she treat every one as though she were God？ Maggie felt that there was in her aunt's attitude something sentimental and affected。 She hated sentiment and affectation in any one。 She was afraid； too； that Anne bullied Aunt Elizabeth。 Maggie was sorry for Aunt Elizabeth but； with all the arrogance of the young； a little despised her。 Why did she tremble and start like that？ She should stand up for herself and not mind what her sister said to her。 Finally； there was something about the house for which Maggie could not quite account； some uneasiness or expectation； as though one knew that there was some one behind the door and was therefore afraid to open it。 It may have been simply London that was behind it。 Maggie was ready to attribute anything to the influence of that tremendous power； but her own final impression was that the people in this house had for too long a time been brooding over something。 〃It would do my aunts a lot of good to move somewhere else；〃 she said to herself。 〃As Aunt Anne loves the country so much I can't think why she doesn't live there。〃 There were many things that she was to learn before the end of the day。
Her thoughts were interrupted by a little whirr and clatter； which； thin and distant though it was； penetrated into her room。 The whirr was followed by the voice； clear； self…confident and cheerful； of a cuckoo。 Maggie was in an instant out of bed； into the passage and standing； in her nightdress； before a high； old cuckoo…clock that stood at the top of the stairs。 The wooden bird； looking down at her in friendly fashion； 〃cuckooed〃 eight times； flapped his wings at her and disappeared。 It is a sufficient witness to Maggie's youth and inexperience that she was enraptured by this event。 It was not only that she had never seen a cuckoo…clock before； she had； for that matter； never heard of the existence of such a thing。 It gave her greater happiness than any bare mechanical discovery could have done。 The bird seemed to have come to her； in the friendliest way； to remove some of the chilly passivity of the house。 Her greatest fear since her arrival had been that this was a house 〃in which nothing was ever going to happen；〃 and that 〃she would never get out of it。〃 〃It will be just as it has been all my life； seeing nothing； doing nothingonly instead of father it will be the aunts。〃 The bird seemed to promise her adventure and excitement。 To most people it would have been only a further sign of an old…fashioned household far behind the times。 To Maggie it was thrilling and encouraging。 He would remind her every hour of the day of the possibility of fun in a world that was full of surprises。 She heard suddenly a step behind her and a dry voice saying：
〃Your hot water； Miss Maggie。〃
She turned round； blushing at being caught staring up at a cuckoo… clock like a baby in her nightdress； to face the wrinkled old woman who the night before had brought her； with a grudging c
