the captives-第73节

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and　stay　with　us　at　Garth；　when　he　was　at　Cambridge　and　before　he　was　a　clergyman。〃

〃I'm　very　fond　of　him。　I　know　the　others　think　he's　stupid　simply　because　he　doesn't　know　the　things　that　they　do；　but　he's　good　and　kind　and　honest；　and　just　exactly　what　he　seems　to　be。〃

〃I　like　him；〃　repeated　Maggie；　nodding　her　head。

〃He's　been　wanting　to　be　married；〃　went　on　Katherine；　〃for　some　time。　I'm　going　to　tell　you　everything　so　that　I　shall　have　been　perfectly　fair。　Grace　wants　him　to　be　married　too。　All　her　life　she's　looked　after　him　and　he's　always　done　exactly　what　she　told　him。　He's　rather　lazy　and　it's　not　hard　for　some　one　to　get　an　influence　over　him。　Well；　she's　not　really　a　very　good　manager。　She　thinks　she　is；　but　she　isn't。　She　arranges　things　and　wants　things　to　stay　just　where　she　puts　them；　but　she　arranges　all　the　wrong　unnecessary　things。　Still；　it's　easy　to　criticise；　and　I'm　not　a　very　good　manager　myself。　I　think　she's　growing　rather　tired　of　it　and　would　like　some　one　to　take　it　off　her　hands。　Of　course　Paul　must　marry　the　right　person；　some　one　whom　she　can　control　and　manage；　and　some　one　who　won't　transplant　her　in　Paul's　affection。　That's　her　idea。　But　it's　all　nonsense；　of　course。　You　can't　have　your　cake　and　eat　it。　She　simply　doesn't　understand　what　marriage　is　like。　When　Paul　marries　she'll　learn　more　about　life　in　a　month　than　she's　learnt　in　all　her　days。　Well；　Maggie；　dear；　she　thinks　you're　just　the　girl　for　Paul。　She　thinks　she　can　do　what　she　likes　with　you。　She　thinks　you're　nice；　of　course；　but　she's　going　to　'form'　you　and　'train'　you。　You　needn't　worry　about　that；　you　needn't　really；　if　you　care　about　Paul。　You'd　manage　both　of　them　in　a　week。　But　there　it　isI　thought　I　ought　to　warn　you　about　Grace。〃

〃As　to　Paul；　I　believe　you'd　be　happy。　You'd　have　your　home　and　your　life　and　your　friends。　Skeaton　isn't　so　bad　if　you　live　in　it；　I　believe；　and　Paul　could　get　another　living　if　you　weren't　happy　there。〃

Did　Katherine　have　any　scruples　as　she　pursued　her　argument？　A　real　glance　at　Maggie's　confiding　trustful　gaze　might　have　shaken　her　resolve。　This　child　who　knew　so　little　about　anythingwas　Skeaton　the　world　for　her？　But　Katherine　had　so　many　philanthropies　that　she　was　given　to　finishing　one　off　a　little　abruptly　in　order　to　make　ready　for　the　next　one。

She　was　interested　just　now　in　a　scheme　for　adopting　illegitimate　babies。　She　thought　Maggie　an　〃angel〃　and　she　just　longed　for　her　to　be　happy。　Nevertheless　Maggie　was　very　ignorant；　and　it　was　a　little　difficult　to　see　what　trade　or　occupation　she　would　be　able　to　adopt。　She　was　nearly　well　now　and　Katherine　did　not　know　quite　what　to　do　with　her。　Here　was　an　admirable　marriage；　something　that　would　give　a　home　and　children　and　friends。　What　could　be　better？　She　had　just　passed　apparently　through　a　love　affair　that　could　have　led　to　no　possible　goodsolve　the　difficulty；　make　Maggie　safe　for　life；　and　pass　on　to　the　illegitimate　babies！

〃Of　course；　I　don't　love　him；〃　said　Maggie；　staring　in　front　of　her。

〃But　you　like　him；〃　said　Katherine。　〃It　isn't　as　though　Paul　were　a　very　young　man。　He　wouldn't　expect　anything　very　romantic。　He　isn't　really　a　romantic　man　himself。〃

〃And　I　shall　always　love　Martin；〃　pursued　Maggie。

Katherine's　own　romance　had　fulfilled　itself　so　thoroughly　that　it　had　almost　ceased　to　be　romantic。　The　Trenchard　blood　in　her　made　her　a　little　impatient　of　unfulfilled　romances。

〃Don't　you　think；　Maggie；　dear；〃　she　said　gently；　〃that　it　would　be　better　to　forget　him？〃

〃No；　I　don't；〃　said　Maggie；　moving　away　from　Katherine。　〃And　I　should　have　to　tell　Paul　about　him。　I'd　tell　Paul　the　exact　truth；　that　if　I　married　him　it　was　because　I　liked　him　and　I　thought　we'd　be　good　friends。　I　see　quite　clearly　that　I　can't　sit　for　ever　waiting　for　Martin　to　come　back；　and　the　sooner　I　settle　to　something　the　better。　If　Paul　wants　a　friend　I　can　be　one；　but　I　should　never　love　himeven　though　Martin　wasn't　there。　And　as　to　the　managing；　I'm　dreadfully　careless　and　forgetful。〃

〃You'd　soon　learn；〃　said　Katherine。

〃Do　you　think　I　should？〃　asked　Maggie。　〃I　don't　know；　I'm　sure。　As　to　Grace；　I　think　we'd　get　on　all　right。　There's　a　greater　difficulty　than　that　though。〃

〃What？〃　asked　Katherine　as　Maggie　hesitated。

〃Religion；〃　said　Maggie。　〃Paul's　a　clergyman　and　I　don't　believe　in　his　religion　at　all。　Two　months　ago　I'd　have　said　I　hated　all　religionand　so　would　you　if　you'd　had　a　time　like　me。　But　since　Martin's　gone　I'm　not　so　sure。　There's　some…thing　I　want　to　find　out　。　。　。　But　Paul's　found　out　everything。　He's　quite　sure　and　certain。　I'd　have　to　tell　him　I　don't　believe　in　any　of　his　faith。〃

〃Tell　him。　of　course；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　think　he　knows　that　already。　He's　going　to　convert　you。　He　looks　forward　to　it。　If　he　hadn't　been　so　lazy　he'd　have　been　a　missionary。〃

〃Tell　me　about　Skeaton；〃　said　Maggie。

〃I've　only　been　there　once；〃　said　Katherine。　〃Frankly；　I　didn't　like　it　very　much；　but　then　I'm　so　used　to　the　Glebeshire　sea　that　it　all　seemed　rather　tame。　There　was　a　good　deal　of　sand　blowing　about　the　day　I　was　there；　but　Paul's　house　is　nice　with　a　garden　and　a　croquet…lawn；　andandOh！　very　nice；　and　nice　people　next　door　I　believe。〃

〃I'm　glad　it's　not　like　Glebeshire；〃　said　Maggie。　〃That's　a　point　in　its　favour。　I　want　to　be　somewhere　where　everything　is　quiet　and　orderly；　and　every　one　knows　their　own　mind　and　all　the　bells　ring　at　the　right　time　and　no　one's　strange　or　queer；　andmost　of　all　where　no　one's　afraid　of　anything。　All　my　life　I've　been　with　people　who　were　afraid　and　I've　been　afraid　myself。　Now　Paul　and　Grace　are　not　afraid　of　anything。〃

〃No；　they're　not；〃　said　Katherine；　laughing。

Suddenly　Maggie　broke　out：

〃Katherine！　Tell　me　truly。　Does　Paul　want　me；　does　he　need　me？　Does　he　indeed？〃

The　storm　of　appeal　in　Maggie's　voice　made　Katherine　suddenly　shy；　there　was　a　hint　at　loneliness　and　desolation　there　that　was　something　beyond　her　reach。　She　wanted　to　help。　She　was　suddenly　frightened　at　her　urging　of　Paul's　suit。　Something　seemed　to　say　to　her：　〃Leave　this　alone。　Don't　take　the　responsibility　of　this。　You　don't　understand　。　。　。〃

But　another　voice　said：　〃Poor　child　。　。　。　all　alone；　penniless；　without　a　friend。　What　a　chance　for　her！　Paul　such　a　kind　man。〃

So　she　kissed　Maggie；　and　said：　〃He　wants　you　dreadfully；　Maggie　dear。〃

Maggie's　cheeks　flushed。

〃That's　nice；〃　she　said　in　her　most　ordinary　voice。　〃Because　no　one　ever　has　before；　you　know。〃

Paul's　proposal　came　the　very　next　day。　It　came　after　luncheon　in　a　corner　of　the　drawing…room。

Maggie　knew　quite　well　that　it　was　coming。　She　was　lying　in　a　long　chair　near　the　fire；　a　shawl　over　her　knees。　It　was　a　blustering　day　at　the　end　of　February。　The　windows　rattled；　and　the　wind　rushing　down　the　chimney　blew　the　flame　into　little　flags　and　pennants　of　colour。

Paul　came　and　stood　by　the　fire；　warming　his　hands；　his　legs　spread　out。　Maggie　looked　at　him　with　a　long　comprehensive　glance　that　took　him　in　from　head　to　foot。　She　seemed　to　know　then　that　she　was　going　to　marry　him。　A　voice　seemed　to　say　to　her：　〃Look　at　him　well。　This　is　the　man　you're　going　to　live　with。　You'd　better　realise　him。〃

She　did　realise　him；　his　white　hair；　his　rosy　cheeks；　his　boyish　nose　and　mouth　and　rounded　chin；　his　broad　chest；　thick　long　legs　and　large　white　handssoft　perhaps；　but　warm　and　comfortable　and　safe。　Maggie　could　think　of　little　else　as　she　looked　at　him　but　of　how　nice　it　would　be　to　lay　her　head　back　on　that　broad　chest；　feel　his　arms　around　her；　and　forgetforgetforget！

That　was　what　she　neededforgetfulness　and　work　。　。　。　She　did　not　love　himno；　not　one　little　atom。　She　had　never　felt　less　excitement　about　anybody；　but　she　liked　him；　respected　him；　and　trusted　him。　And　he　wanted　her；　wanted　her　desperately；　Katherine　had　said；　that　was　the　chief　thing　of　all。

〃Maggie！〃　he　said　suddenly；　turning　round　to　her。　〃Would　you　ever　think　of　marrying　me　？〃

She　liked　that　directness　and　simplicity；　characteristic　of　him。

She　looked　up　at　him。

〃I　don't　think　I'd　be　much　of　a　success；　Paul；〃　she　said。

He　saw　at　once　from　that　that　she　did　not　intend　instantly　to　refuse　him。　His　rosy　cheeks　took　on　an　added　tinge　of　colour　and　he　caught　a　chair；　drew　it　up　to　her　long　one　and　sat　down；　bending　eagerly　towards　her。

〃Leave　that　to　me；〃　he　said。

〃I　oughtn't　to　think　of　it；〃　she　answered；　shaking　her　head。　〃And　for　very　good　reasons。　For　one　thing　I'm　not　in　love　with　you；　for　another　I'm　not　religious；　and　for　a　third　I'm　so　careless　that　I'd　never　do　for　your　wife。〃

〃Of　course　I　knew　about　the　first；〃　he　said　eagerly。　〃I　knew　you　didn't　love　me；　but　that　will　come；　Maggie。　It　MUST　come　。　。　。〃

Maggie　shook　her　head。　〃I　love　some　one　else；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　always　will。　But　he's　gone　away　and　will　never　come　back。　I've　made　up　my　mind　to　that。　But　if　he　did　come　back　and　wanted　me　I　couldn't　promise　that　I　wouldn't〃　She　broke　off。　〃You　can　see　that　it　wouldn't　do。〃

〃No；　I　can't　see；〃　he　said；　taking　her　hand。　〃I　can　see　that　you　like　me；　Maggie。　I　can　see　that　we're　splendid　friends。　If　your　otherfriendhas　left　you　altogether；　thenwell；　time　makes　a　great　difference　in　those　things