the captives-第47节

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Caroline　suddenly　stopped。　She　looked　at　Maggie。

〃Martin's　a　terrible　trial　to　his　father；〃　she　said。

But　Maggie　was　secure　now。

〃Is　he？〃　she　asked　indifferently。　Then　she　added　slowly；　〃What　do　you　believe；　Caroline？〃

〃What　do　I　believe？〃

〃Yes；　about　Mr。　Warlock's　visions。〃

〃Oh；　of　course；　it's　only　because　he's　ill　and　prays　for　hours　without　getting　off　his　knees；　and　won't　eat　enough；　that　he　sees　things。　And　yet　I　don't　know。　There　may　be　something　in　it。　If　I　were　on　my　knees　for　weeks　I'd　never　see　anything。　But　I'll　be　terribly　sorry　for　Mr。　Warlock　if　the　time　comes　and　nothing　happens。　He'll　just　have　to　go。〃

They　sat　a　little　longer　together　and　then　Caroline　said：　〃Well；　darling；　I　must　be　off。　Where's　that　note？〃　She　hesitated；　looking　at　Maggie　with　a　wicked　gleam　in　her　pale　blue　eyes。　〃You　know；　Maggie；　I　can't　make　up　my　mind。　I've　had　an　offer　of　marriage。〃

〃I'm　so　glad；　Caroline；〃　said　Maggie。

〃Yes；　but　I　don't　know　what　to　do。　It's　a　manMr。　Purdie。　His　father's　ever　so　rich　and　they've　got　a　big　place　down　at　Skeaton。〃

〃Where's　that？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃Oh；　don't　you　know？　Skeaton…on…Sea。　It's　a　seaside　resort。　I've　known　William　for　a　long　time。　His　father　knows　father。　He　came　to　tea　last　week；　and　proposed。　He's　rather　nice　although　he's　so　silent。〃

〃Why　don't　you　marry　him　then？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃Well；　I　know　Martin　Warlock's　going　to　ask　me。　It's　been　getting　closer　and　closer。　I　expect　he　will　this　week。　Of　course；　he　isn't　so　safe　as　William；　but　he's　much　more　exciting。　And　he's　got　quite　a　lot　of　money　of　his　own。〃

Strange；　the　sure；　confident；　happy　security　that　Maggie　felt　in　her　heart　at　this　announcement。

〃I　should　wait　for　Martin　Warlock；〃　she　said。　〃He'd　be　rather　fun　to　marry。〃

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　answered　Caroline。　〃Do　you　know；　I　believe　I　will。　You're　always　right；　you　darling　。　。　。　Only　suppose　I　should　miss　them　both。　William　won't　wait　for　ever！　Got　that　note；　dear？〃

Maggie　was　defiant。　She　would　just　show　the　creature　that　she　wasn't　afraid　of　her。　She'd　give　her　the　note　and　she　might　imagine　what　she　pleased。

She　got　a　pencil　and　a　piece　of　paper　and　wrote　hurriedly。

The　week　is　up　on　Friday。　Will　you　meet　me　that　evening　at　a　quarter　past　six　under　the　Marble　Arch？　MAGGIE。

The　boldness；　the　excitement　of　this　inflamed　her。　It　was　so　like　her　to　challenge　any　action　once　she　was　in　it　by　taking　it　to　its　furthest　limit。　She　put　it　in　an　envelope　and　wrote　Martin's　name　with　a　flourish。

〃There！〃　she　said；　giving　it　to　Caroline。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Caroline；　and　with　a　number　of　rather　wet　and　elaborate　kisses　（Maggie　hated　kissing）　departed。

But　her　afternoon　was　not　yet　over；　hardly　had　Caroline　left　when　the　door　was　opened　and　Miss　Avies　was　shown　in。　Maggie　started　up　with　dismay　and　began　to　stammer　excuses。　Miss　Avies　brushed　them　aside。

〃It　doesn't　matter；〃　she　said。　〃You'll　do　as　welleven；　it　may　be；　better。〃

A　strange　woman　Miss　Avies！　Maggie　had；　of　course；　seen　her　at　Chapel；　but　this　was　the　first　time　that　they　had　been　alone　together。　Miss　Avies　was　like　a　thin　rod　of　black　metal；　erect　and　quivering　and　waiting　to　strike。　Her　long　sallow　face　was　stiff；　not　with　outraged　virtue；　or　elaborate　pride；　or　burning　scorn；　but　simply　with　the　accumulated　concentration　of　fiery　determination。　She　was　the　very　symbol　of　self…centred　energy；　inhuman；　cold；　relentless。　Her　hair　was　jet　black　and　gleamed　like　steel；　and　she　had　thick　black　eyebrows　like　ink…marks　against　her　forehead　of　parchment。　Her　eyes　were　dead；　like　glass　eyes；　and　she　had　some　false　teeth　that　sometimes　clicked　in　her　mouth。　She　wore　a　black　dress　with　no　ornament　and　thin　black　gloves。

She　did　not　seem；　however；　to　Maggie　unkindly；　as　she　stood　there；　looking　about　the　room　rather　short…sightedly。　（She　would　not　wear　glasses。　Could　it　have　been　vanity？）　She　was　not　hostile；　nor　scornful；　nor　even　patronising　。　。　。　but　had　Maggie　been　struck　there；　dead　at　her　feet　she　would　not　have　moved　a　step　to　help　her。　Her　voice　was　ugly；　with　a　crack　in　it；　as　though　it　needed　oil。　Maggie；　as　she　looked　at　her；　did　not　need　to　be　told　that　she　did　not　believe　in　Mr。　Warlock's　mysticism。　She　came　across　and　shook　Maggie's　hand。　Her　touch　was　cold　and　stiff　and　a　little　damp　like　that　of　a　wet　stone。

〃Sorry　your　Aunt's　out；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　can　talk　to　you　for　a　while。〃　She　looked　at　Maggie　for　a　moment。　Then　she　said：

〃Why　don't　you　clear　out　of　all　this？〃

The　voice　was　so　abrupt　and　the　words　so　unexpected　that　Maggie　jumped。

〃Why　don't　I？〃　she　repeated。

〃Yes；　you；〃　said　Miss　Avies。　〃You've　no　place　here　in　all　this　business。　You　don't　believe　in　it；　do　you？〃

〃No；〃　said　Maggie。

〃And　you　don't　want　to　use　it　for　something　you　do　believe　in？〃

〃No；〃　said　Maggie。　〃Well　then；　clear　out。〃

Maggie；　colouring　a　little；　said：

〃My　aunts　have　been　very　good　to　me。　I　oughtn't　to　leave　them。〃

〃Fiddlesticks；〃　said　Miss　Avies。　〃Your　life's　your　own；　not　your　aunts'。〃

She　sat　down　and　stayed　bolt　upright　and　motionless　near　the　fire；　she　flung　a　thin　dark　shadow　like　a　stain　on　the　wall。　There　was　a　long　pause　between　them。　After　that　abrupt　opening　there　seemed　to　be　nothing　to　say。　Maggie's　thoughts　also　were　elsewhere。　She　was　wishing　now　passionately　that　she　had　not　given　that　note　to　Caroline。

Suddenly　Miss　Avies　said；　〃What　do　you　do　with　yourself　all　day？〃

Maggie　laughed。　〃Try　and　make　myself　less　careless；　Miss　Avies。〃

Miss　Avies　replied；　〃You'll　never　make　yourself　less　careless。　We　are　as　we　are。〃

〃But　don't　you　think；〃　said　Maggie；　〃that　one　can　cure　one's　faults？〃

〃One　gets　rid　of　one　only　to　make　room　for　another　。　。　。　But　that　doesn't　matter。　The　point　is　that　one　should　have　an　ambition。　What's　your　ambition；　child？〃

Maggie　didn't　answer。　Her　ambition　was　Martin；　but　she　couldn't　tell　Miss　Avies　so。

At　last；　after　a　long　pause；　as　Miss　Avies　still　seemed　to　be　waiting；　she　answered：

〃I　suppose　that　I　want　to　earn　my　livingto　be　independent。〃

〃Well；　leave　this　place　then；〃　said　Miss　Avies。　〃There's　no　independence　here。〃　Then　added；　as　though　to　herself。　〃They　think　they're　looking　for　the　face　of　God　。　。　。　It's　only　for　themselves　and　their　vanity　they're　looking。〃

Maggie　said；　to　break　another　of　the　long　pauses　that　seemed　to　be　always　forming　between　them：

〃I　think　every　one　ought　to　earn　their　own　living；　don't　you？〃

Miss　Avies　shook　her　head。　〃You're　very　youngterribly　young。　I've　got　no　advice　to　give　you　except　to　lead　a　healthy　life　somewhere　away　from　these　surroundings。　We're　an　unnatural　lot　here　and　you're　a　healthy　young　creature　。　。　。　Have　you　got　a　lover？〃

Maggie　smiled。　〃I've　got　a　friend；〃　she　said。　Miss　Avies　sighed。　〃That's　more　than　I've　got；〃　she　said。

〃Not　that　I've　time　for　one；〃　she　added。　She　got　up。　〃I　won't　wait　for　your　aunt；〃　she　said；　〃I've　left　a　note　downstairs　。　。　。　You　clear　out　as　soon　as　you　can；　that's　my　advice　to　you。〃

She　said　good…bye；　looking　into　Maggie's　clear　eyes。　She　was　suddenly　less　inhuman；　the　touch　of　her　hand　was　warmer。

〃Don't　you　cheat　yourself　into　believing　in　the　Deity；〃　she　said；　and　was　gone。

When　Friday　arrived　Maggie　had　not　seen　Caroline　again；　and　she　could　not　tell　whether　the　note　had　been　safely　delivered　or　no。　She　was　not　sure　what　she　had　better　do。　Caroline　might　hare　done　anything　with　the　note；　torn　it　up；　burnt　it；　lost　it；　forgotten　it　altogether。　Well；　that　was　a　risk　that　Maggie　must　take。　If　he　did　not　appear　she　would　wait　a　little　while　and　then　come　away。　They　must　soon　meet　in　any　case。　They　had　all　their　lives　before　them。

Aunt　Anne　was　up　againvery；　very　pale　now　and　so　thin　that　the　light　seemed　to　shine　through　her　making　her　more　of　a　stained　window　saint　than　ever。

Maggie　told　her　about　the　visit；　Aunt　Anne　looked　at　her　curiously。　She　seemed　so　weak　and　frail　that　Maggie　suddenly　felt　warm　maternal　love。　Rather　shyly　she　put　her　hand　upon　her　aunt's：　〃I　won't　go　away　until　you're　better〃

Aunt　Anne　nodded　her　head。

〃I　know　you　won't；　dear；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　be　out　late　to…day。　We　shall　be　anxious　about　you。〃

Maggie　had　made　a　promise　and　was　terrified　when　she　thought　of　it。　Suppose　her　aunt　did　not　get　better　for　years　and　years？

People　often　had　long　lingering　illnesses　with　no　apparent　change　in　their　condition。　To　Maggie　a　promise　was　an　utterly　final　thing。　She　could　not　dream　that　one　ever　broke　one's　word。　She　trembled　now　when　she　thought　of　what　she　had　done。　She　had　been　entrapped　after　all　and　by　her　own　free　will。

In　her　little　room　as　she　was　putting　on　her　hat　she　suddenly　prayed　to　a　God；　of　whom　she　knew　nothing；　that　her　aunt　might　get　better　soon。

She　started　out　on　her　great　adventure　with　a　strange　self…assurance　as　though　loving　Martin　had　given　her　the　wisdom　of　all　the　ages。

Turning　down　the　street　towards　the　Strand　she　found　almost　at　once　a　taxi…cab　drawn　up；　as　though　it　had　been　waiting　there　especially　for　her　like　an　eloping　coach　in　a　romantic　tale。　A　fat　red…faced　fellow　with　a　purple　nose；　a　cloth　cap　and　a　familiar　vague　eye；　as　though　he　always　saw　further　than　he　intended；　waited　patiently　for　her　to　speak。

Boldly；　as　th