the captives-第30节

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otruded　from　his　breast…pocket。　One　leg　of　his　dark　grey　trousers　had　been　creased　in　two　places；　and　there　were　little　spots　of　blood　on　his　high　white　collar　because　he　had　cut　himself　shaving。　His　complexion　was　of　the　same　old　suppressed　purple；　but　his　little　eyes　were　bright　and　shining　and　active；　they　danced　towards　Maggie。　His　scanty　locks　had　been　carefully　brushed　over　his　bald　head；　and　his　hands；　although　they　were　still　puffed　and　swollen；　were　whiter　than　Maggie　had　ever　seen　them。

But　it　was　in　the　end　his　attitude　of　confused　defiance　that　made　her　pause。　What　had　he　been　doing；　or　what　did　he　intend　to　do？　He　was　prosperous；　she　could　see；　and　knowing　him　as　she　did；　she　was　afraid　of　his　prosperity。　She　had　never　in　her　life　realised　so　clearly　as　she　did　now　that　he　was　a　wicked　old　manand　still　she　was　glad　to　see　him。　He　was　an　odd　enough　creature　in　that　room；　and　that；　she　was　aware；　pleased　her。

〃Well；　my　dear；〃　he　said　very　genially；　as　though　they　met　again　after　an　hour's　parting；　〃how　are　you？　I'm　very　glad　to　see　you　looking　so　well　too。　And　quite　smart。　Your　aunts　dressed　you　up。　I　thought　I　must　look　at　you。　I'm　staying　just　round　the　corner；　and　my　first　thought　was　'I　wonder　how　she's　getting　on　in　all　that　tom…　foolery。　You　bet　she's　keeping　her　head。'　And　so　you　are。　One　can　see　at　a　glance。〃

She　went　up　to　him；　kissed　him；　and　smelt　whisky　and　some　scent　that　had　geraniums　in　it。　He　put　his　arm　round　her；　with　his　old　unsteady　gesture；　and　held　her　to　him　for　a　moment；　then　patted　her　back　with　his　large；　soft　hand。

〃Your　aunt's　a　long　time。　I've　been　waiting　half　an　hour。〃

〃They've　been　to　some　meeting。〃　She　stood　looking　at　him　with　her　fine　steady　gaze　that　had　always　made　him　afraid　of　her；　and　did　so；　to　his　own　surprise；　again　now。　He　had　thought　that　his　clothes　would　have　saved　him　from　that；　his　fingers　felt　at　his　button…hole。　Looking　at　him　she　said：

〃Uncle；　I　want　to　get　awayout　of　thisat　once。　No；　they　aren't　horrid　to　me。　Every　one's　been　very　kind。　But　I'm　afraid　of　it　all　of　never　getting　out　of　itand　I　want　to　be　independent　。　。　。〃　She　stopped　with　a　little　breathless　gasp　because　she　heard　the　hall…　door　close。　〃Ah；　they're　here！　Don't　tell　them　anything。　We'll　talk　afterwards　。　。　。〃

His　eyes　glittered　with　satisfaction。　〃I　knew　you　would；　my　dear。　I　knew　you　wouldn't　be　able　to　stand　it　。　。　。　I'll　get　you　out　of　it　。　。　。　Trust　me！〃

The　door　opened　and　Aunt　Anne　came　in。　She　had　been　prepared　by　Martha　for　her　visitor；　and　she　came　forward　to　him　now　with　the　dignity　and　kindly　patronage　of　some　lady　abbess　receiving　the　miscreant　and　boorish　yokel　of　a　neighbouring　village。　And　yet　how　fine　she　was！　As　Maggie　watched　her；　she　thought　of　what　she　would　give　to　have　some　of　that　self…command　and　dignity　and　decision。　Was　it　her　religion　that　gave　her　that？　Or　only　her　own　self…　satisfaction？　No；　there　was　something　behind　Aunt　Anne；　something　stronger　than　she；　something　that　Mr。　Warlock　also　knew　。　。　。　and　it　was　this　something　that　Uncle　Mathew　met　with　his　own　hostility　as　he　looked　up　now　at　his　sister　and　greeted　her：

〃Why；　Mathew！　You　never　told　us。　I　would　have　hurried　back；　and　now　Elizabeth；　I'm　afraid；　has　gone　on　to　see　some　friends。　She　will　be　so　disappointed。　But　at　least　you've　had　Maggie　to　entertain　you。〃

A　quick　glance　was　exchanged　between　uncle　and　niece。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃we've　had　a　talk；　Anne；　thank　you。　And　it　doesn't　matter　about　Elizabeth；　because　I'm　staying　close　here　in　Henrietta　Street；　and　I'll　be　in　again　if　I　may。　I　just　looked　in　to　ask　whether　Maggie　might　come　and　have　dinner　with　me　at　my　little　place　to…night。　It's　a　most　respectable　placeI'll　come　and　fetch　her；　of　course；　and　bring　her　back　afterwards。〃

Of　course　Aunt　Anne　could　not　refuse；　but　oh！　how　Maggie　saw　that　she　wanted　to！　The　battle　that　followed　was　silent。　Uncle　Mathew's　eyes　narrowed　themselves　to　fiery　malicious　points；　he　dropped　them　and　moved　his　feet　restlessly　on　the　soft　carpet。

〃Quite　respectable！〃　he　repeated。

Aunt　Anne　smiled　gently。　〃Why；　of　course；　Mathew。　I　know　you'll　look　after　Maggie。　It　will　be　a　change　for　her。　She's　been　having　rather　a　dull　time　here；　I'm　afraid。〃

Then　there　was　silence。　Maggie　wanted　to　speak；　but　the　words　would　not　come；　and　she　had　the　curious　sensation　that　even　if　she　did　find　them　no　one　would　hear　them。

Then　Uncle　Mathew　suddenly　said　good…bye；　stumbled　over　his　boots　by　the　door；　shot　out；　〃Seven　o'clock；　Maggie〃and　was　gone。

〃Well；　that　will　be　nice　for　you；　Maggie；〃　said　Anne；　looking　at　her。

〃Yes；〃　said　Maggie。　〃You　don't　mind；　do　you？〃

〃No　dear；　of　course　not。〃

〃What　do　you　want　me　to　do？〃　Maggie　broke　out　desperately。　〃I　know　I'm　not　satisfying　you　and　yet　you　won't　say　anything。　Do　tell　me　and　I'll　tryanythingalmost　anything　。　。　。〃

Then　the　sudden　memory　of　her　own　posted　letter　silenced　her。　Was　that　readiness　to　do　〃anything〃？　Had　that　not　been　rebellion？　And　had　she　not　asked　Uncle　Mathew　to　help　her　to　escape？　The　consciousness　of　her　dishonesty　coloured　her　cheek　with　crimson。　Then　Aunt　Anne；　very　tenderly；　put　her　hand　on　her　shoulder。

〃Will　you　really　do　anythingfor　me；　Maggiefor　me？〃　Her　voice　was　gentle　and　her　eyes　had　tears　in　them。　〃If　you　willthere　are　things　very　close　to　my　heart〃

Maggie　turned　away；　trembling。　She　hung　her　head；　then　with　a　sudden　movement　walked　to　the　door。

〃You　must　tell　me；〃　she　said；　〃what　you　want。　I'll　tryI　don't　understand。〃

Then　as　though　she　was　aware　that　she　was　fighting　the　whole　room　which　had　already　almost　entrapped　her　and　that　the　fight　was　too　much　for　her；　she　went。

When　she　came　to　her　own　room　and　thought　about　her　invitation　she　wished；　with　a　sudden　change　of　mood；　that　she　had　a　pretty　frock　or　two。　She　would　have　loved　to　have　been　grand　to…night；　and　now　the　best　that　she　could　do　was　to　add　her　coral　necklace　and　a　little　gold　brooch　that　years　ago　her　father　had　given　her；　to　the　black　dress　that　she　was　already　wearing。　She　realised；　with　a　strange　little　pang　of　loneliness；　that　she　had　not　had　one　evening's　fun　since　her　arrival　in　Londonno；　not　oneand　she　would　not　have　captured　to…night　had　Aunt　Anne　been　able　to　prevent　it。

Then　as　her　mind　returned　back　to　her　uncle　she　felt　with　a　throb　of　excited　anticipation　that　perhaps　after　all　this　evening　was　to　prove　the　turning…point　of　her　life。　Her　little　escape　into　the　streets；　her　posting　of　the　letter；　had　been　followed　so　immediately　by　Uncle　Mathew's　visit；　and　now　this　invitation！

〃No　one　can　keep　me　if　I　want　to　go；〃　and　the　old　cuckoo…clock　outside　seemed　to　tick　in　reply：

〃Can　no　one　keep　her　if　she　wants　to　go？〃

She　finished　her　preparations；　as　she　fastened　the　coral　necklace　round　her　neck　the　face　of　Martin　Warlock　was　suddenly　before　her。　He　had　been　perhaps　at　her　elbow　all　day。

〃I　like　him　and　I　think　he　likes　me；〃　she　said　to　the　mirror。　〃I've　got　one　friend；〃　and　her　thought　still　further　was　that　even　if　he　didn't　like　her　he　couldn't　prevent　her　liking　him。

She　went　down　to　the　drawing…room　and　found　Uncle　Mathew；　alone；　waiting　for　her。

〃Here　I　am；　Maggie；〃　he　said。　〃And　let's　get　out　of　this　as　quick　as　we　can。〃

〃I　must　go　and　say　good…night　to　the　aunts；〃　she　said。

She　went　upstairs　to　Aunt　Anne's　bedroom。　Entering　it　was　always　to　her　like　passing　into　a　shadowed　church　after　the　hot　sunshinethe　long；　thin　room　with　high　slender　windows；　the　long　hard　bed；　of　the　most　perfect　whiteness　and　neatness；　the　heavy　black…framed　picture　of　〃The　Ascension〃　over　the　bed；　and　the　utter　stillness　broken　by　no　sound　of　clock　or　belleven　the　fire　seemed　frozen　into　a　glassy　purity　in　the　grate。

Her　aunt　was　sitting；　as　so　often　Maggie　found　her；　in　a　stiff…　backed　chair；　her　hands　folded　on　her　lap；　staring　in　front　of　her。　Her　eyes　were　like　the　open　eyes　of　a　dead　woman；　it　was　as　though；　with　a　great　effort　of　almost　desperate　concentration；　she　were　driving　her　vision　against　some　obstinate　world　of　opposition；　and　the　whole　of　life　had　meanwhile　stayed　to　watch　the　issue。

A　thin　pale　light　from　some　street　lamp　lay；　a　faintly　golden　shadow；　across　the　white　ceiling。

Maggie　stood　by　the　door。

〃I've　come　to　say　good…night；　aunt。〃

〃Ah；　Maggie　dear；　is　that　you？〃　The　pale　oval　face　turned　towards　her。

〃You　won't　be　very　late；　will　you？〃

〃Hadn't　I　better　have　a　key；　not　to　bother　Martha？〃

〃Oh；　Martha　won't　have　gone　to　bed。〃

Maggie　felt　as　though　her　whole　evening　would　be　spoilt　did　she　know　that　Martha　was　waiting　for　her　at　the　end　of　it。

〃Oh；　but　it　will　be　such　a　pity〃

〃Martha　will　let　you　in；　dear。　Come　and　kiss　me；　I　hope　that　you'll　enjoy　yourself。〃

And　then　the　strangest　thing　happened。　Maggie　bent　down。　She　felt　a　tear　upon　her　cheek　and　then　the　thin　strong　arms　held　her；　for　an　instant；　in　an　almost　threatening　embrace。

〃Good…night；　dear　aunt；〃　she　said；　but；　outside　the　room；　she　had　to　stand　for　a　moment　in　the　dark　passage　to　regain　her　control；　her　heart　was　beating　with　wild　unreasoning　terror。　Although　she　had　brushed　her　cheek　with　her　hand　the　cold　touch　of　the　tears　still　lingered　there。

Outside　the　house　they　were　free。　It　looked　so　close　and