the captives-第60节
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d been there more than five minutes； she had thought that he was not coming。 Martha had nearly caught her 。 。 。
He kissed her hair and her eyes and her mouth； holding her to him； forgetting everything but her。 She stayed； quiet； clinging to him as though she would never let him go； then she drew away。
〃Now we must walk about or some one will see us；〃 she said。
〃We've only got five minutes。 Martin； what I want to know is； are you happy？〃
〃Yes；〃 he said。
They walked like ghosts； in the misty street。
〃Well； then I am；〃 she said。 〃Only your letters didn't sound very happy。〃
〃Can you hold on till after the New Year？〃 They were walking hand in hand； her fingers curled in his palm。
〃Yes；〃 she said。 〃If you're happy。〃
〃There are troubles of course；〃 he said。 〃But I don't care for Amy and the rest。 It's only father that matters。 I can't discover how much he knows。 If I knew that I'd be much happier。 We'll be all right； Maggie； if nothing happens to him。〃
With a little frightened catch in her throat she asked him：
〃How do you mean； if anything happens to him？〃
〃If anything happened to him〃 she could feel his hand stiffen round hers； 〃through methenwhy thenI'd leave youeverything I'd have to。〃
〃Leave me！ 。 。 。 Oh Martin！ No！〃
〃I'd go。 I'd goI don't know where to。 I don't know what I'd do。 I'd know then that I must leave every one alone； always； for ever especially you。〃
〃No。 You'd need me more than ever。〃
〃You don't understand； Maggie。 I'd be impossible after that。 If father suffered through me that would be the end of itthe end of everything。〃
〃Martin； listen。〃 She caught his arm； looking up； trying to see his face。 〃If anything like that did happen that would be where you'd want me。 Don't you see that you COULDN'T harm me EXCEPT by leaving me？〃
〃You can reason it as you like； Maggie； but I know myself。 I know the impulse would be too strongto go away and hide myself from everybody。 I've felt it beforewhen I've done something especially bad。 It's something in me that I've known all my life。〃 Then he turned to her： 〃But it's all right。 Nothing shall happen to the old man。 I'll see that it doesn't。 We've only got to wait a fortnight； then I'll get him away for a holiday。 And once he's better I can leave him。 It WILL be all right。 It SHALL。〃
Then he bent down to her。 〃You know； Maggie； I love you more； far more than I ever thought。 Even if I went away you'd be the only one I'd love。 I never dreamt that I'd care for any one so much。〃
He felt her tremble under his hand when he said that。
She sighed。 〃Now I can go back；〃 she said。 〃I'll say that over to myself again and again。〃
They stayed a little longer； he put his arms round her again and held her so close to him that she could feel his heart throbbing。 Then when they had kissed once more she went away。
She returned safely。 Jane opened the door for her； mysteriously； as though she enjoyed her share in the conspiracy。 Maggie sped upstairs； and now with Martin's words in her ears； had enough to stiffen her back for the battle。
The next move in the affair was on the following afternoon when Maggie； alone in the drawing…room； beheld Caroline Smith in the doorway。
〃She's got cheek enough for anything；〃 was Maggie's first thought； but she was not aware of the true magnificence of that young woman's audacity until she found her hand seized and her cheek kissed。
Caroline； in fact； had greeted her with precisely her old spontaneous enthusiasm。
〃Maggie； darling； where have you been all these daysbut WEEKS it is indeed！ You might at least have sent me just a word。 Life simply hasn't been the same without you！ You pet！ 。 。 。 and you look tired！ Yes； you do。 You've been overworking or something； all because you haven't had me to look after you！〃
Maggie gravely withdrew； and standing away from the shining elegance of her friend said：
〃CarolineI want to know something before we go any further。 What I want to know iswhy did you read that note that I asked you to give to Martin Warlock？〃
Caroline stared in amazement。 〃My dear； what IS the matter？ Are you ill or something？ Oh； you are。 I can see you are！ You poor darling！ Read your note？ What note； dear？〃
〃The note I gave you a month agoone evening when you were here。〃
〃A note！ A month ago。 My dear！ As though I could ever remember what I did a MONTH ago！ Why； it's always all I can manage to remember what I did yesterday。 Did you give me a note； dear？〃
Maggie began to be angry。 〃Of course I did。 You remember perfectly well。 I gave it to you for Martin Warlock。 You let him have it； but meanwhile you read it； and not only that but told everybody else about it。〃
Caroline's expression changed。 She was suddenly sulky。 Her face was like that of a spoilt child。
〃Well； Maggie Cardinal； if you call that being a friend！ To say that I would ever do such a thing！〃
〃You know you did！〃 said Maggie quietly。
〃Read your letters？ As though I'd want to！ Why should I？ As though I hadn't something more interesting to do！ No thank you！ Of course you have been getting yourself into a mess。 Every one knows that。 That's why I came here to…dayto show you that I was a REAL friend and didn't mind WHAT people said about you！ When they were all talking about you last night； and saying the most DREADFUL things； I defended you and said it wasn't really your fault； you couldn't have told what a rotten sort of a man Martin Warlock was〃
〃That's enough；〃 said Maggie。 〃I don't want your defence； thank you。 You're mean and deceitful and untrue。 You never have been a friend of mine； and I don't want ever to see you again！〃
Caroline Smith was horrified。 〃Well； upon my word。 Isn't that gratitude？ Here am I； the only person in this whole place would take any trouble with you！ When the others all said that you were plain and stupid and hadn't anything to say for yourself I stuck to you。 I did all I could； wasting all my time going to the dressmaker with you and trying to make you look like something human； and this is the way you repay me！ Well； there's a lesson for me！ Many's the time mother's said to me； 'Carry； you'll just ruin yourself with that kind heart of yours； laying yourself out for others when you ought to be seeing after yourself。 You've got too big a heart for this world。' Doesn't it just show one？ And to end it all with accusing me of reading your letters！ If you choose to sit in the park after dark with a man who everybody knows〃
〃Either you're going to leave this room or I am；〃 said Maggie。
〃Thank you！〃 said Caroline； tossing her head。 〃I haven't the slightest desire to stay； I assure you！ Only you'll be sorry for this； Maggie Cardinal； you will indeed！〃
With a swish of the skirts and a violent banging of the door she was gone。
〃The only friend I had；〃 thought Maggie。
The next development was an announcement from Aunt Anne that she would like Maggie to accompany her to a meeting at Miss Avies'。 Aunt Anne did not explain what kind of a meeting it would be； and Maggie asked no questions。 She simply replied that she would go。 She had indeed by this time a very considerable curiosity of her own as to what every one thought was going to happen in ten days' time。 Perhaps this meeting would enlighten her。 It did。
On arriving at Miss Avies' gaunt and menacing apartment she found herself in the very stronghold of the Inside Saints。 It was a strange affair； and Maggie was never to see anything quite like it again。 In the first place； Miss Avies' room was not exactly the place in which you would have expected to discover a meeting of this kind。
She lived over a house…agent's in John Street； Adelphi。 Her sitting… room was low…ceilinged with little diamond…paned windows。 The place was let furnished； and the green and red vases on the mantelpiece； the brass clock and the bright yellow wallpaper were properties of the landlord。 To the atmosphere of the place Miss Avies； although she lived there for a number of years； had contributed nothing。
It had all the desolate forlornness of a habitation in which no human being has dwelt for a very long time； there was dust on the mantelpiece； a melancholy sputtering of coal choked with cinders and gasping for breath in the fireplace； stuffy hot clamminess beating about the unopened windows。 Along the breadth of the faded brown carpet some fifty cane…bottomed chairs were pressed tightly in rows together； and in front of the window； facing the chairs； was a little wooden table with a chair beside it； on the table a glass of water and a Bible。
When Maggie and her aunts entered the chairs were almost all occupied and they were forced to sit at the end of the last row but one。 The meeting had apparently not yet begun； and many heads were turned towards them as they took their places。 Maggie fancied that the glances directed at herself were angry and severe； but that was very possibly her imagination。 She soon recognised people known to herMiss Pyncheon； calm and placid； Mrs。 Smith； Caroline's mother； very stout； hot； and self…important； Amy Warlock； proud and severe； and Miss Avies herself standing； like a general surveying his forces； behind the table。
The room was draughty and close and had a confused smell of oil… cloth and gera
