the captives-第74节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　If　your　otherfriendhas　left　you　altogether；　thenwell；　time　makes　a　great　difference　in　those　things。　I　think　after　we'd　been　together　a　littleOh；　Maggie；　do！〃　he　broke　off　just　like　a　boy。　〃Do！　We　suit　each　other　so　well　that　we　MUST　be　happy；　and　then　Grace　likes　you　she　likes　you　very　much。　She　does　indeed。〃

〃Let's　leave　Grace　out　of　this；〃　Maggie　said　firmly。　〃It's　between　you　and　me；　Paul。　It's　nobody　else's　affair。　What　about　the　other　two　objections？　I　don't　believe　in　your　faith　at　all；　and　I'm　unpunctual　and　forgetful；　and　break　things。〃

Strangely　she　was　wanting　him　urgently　now　to　reassure　her。　She　realised　that　if　now　he　withdrew　she　would　be　faced　with　a　loneliness　more　terrible　than　anything　that　she　had　known　since　Martin　had　left　her。　The　warm　pressure　of　his　hand　about　hers　reassured　her。

〃Maggie　dear；〃　he　said　softly；　〃I　love　you　better　because　you're　young　and　unformed。　I　can　help　you；　dear；　and　you　can　help　me；　of　course；　I'm　a　dreadful　old　buffer　in　many　ways。　I'm　forty；　you　know；　and　you're　such　a　child。　How　old　are　you；　Maggie？〃

〃Twenty；〃　she　said。

〃Twenty！　Fancy！　And　you　can　like　an　old　parsonwell；　well　。　。　。　If　you　care　for　me　nothing　else　matters。　God　will　see　to　the　rest。〃

〃I　don't　like　leaving　things　to　other　people；〃　Maggie　said　slowly。　〃Now　I　suppose　I've　shocked　you。　But　there　you　are；　I　shall　always　be　shocking　you。〃

〃Nothing　that　you　can　say　will　shock　me；〃　he　answered　firmly。　〃Do　you　know　that　that's　part　of　the　charm　you　have　for　me；　you　dear　little　wild　thing？　If　you　will　come　and　live　with　me　perhaps　you　will　see　how　God　works；　how　mysterious　are　His　ways；　and　what　He　means　to　do　for　you〃

Maggie　shivered：　〃Oh；　now　you're　talking　like　Aunt　Anne。　I　don't　want　to　feel　that　I'm　something　that　some　one　can　do　what　he　likes　with。　I'm　not。〃

〃No。　I　know　you're　not；〃　Paul　answered　eagerly。　〃You're　very　independent。　I　admire　that　in　youand　so　does　Grace〃

〃Would　Grace　like　us　to　marry？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃It's　the　desire　of　her　heart；〃　said　Paul。

〃But　how　can　you　want　to　marry　me　when　you　know　I　don't　love　you　？〃

〃Love's　a　strange　thing。　Companionship　can　make　great　changes。　You　like　me。　That　is　enough　for　the　present。　I　can　be　patient。　I'm　not　an　impetuous　man。〃

He　was　certainly　not。　He　was　just　a　large　warm　comfortable　creature　far；　far　from　the　terrified　and　strangely　travelled　soul　of　Martin　。　。　。　Insensibly；　hardly　realising　what　she　did；　Maggie　was　drawn　towards　Paul。　He　drew　close　to　her；　moved　on　to　the　sofa；　and　then　with　one　arm　about　her　let　her　head　rest　against　his　chest。　Maggie　could　neither　move　nor　speak。　She　only　felt　a　warm　comfort；　an　intense　desire　for　rest。

Very；　very　gently　he　bent　down　and　kissed　her　forehead。　The　clock　ticked　on。　The　flames　of　the　fire　spurted　and　fell。　Maggie's　eyes　closed；　she　gave　a　little　sigh；　and　soon；　her　cheek　against　his　waistcoat；　like　a　little　child；　was　fast　asleep。

The　engagement　was　a　settled　thing。　Every　one　in　the　house　was　relieved。　Maggie　herself　felt　as　though　she　had　found　lights　and　safety；　running　from　a　wood　full　of　loneliness　and　terror。　She　was　sharp　enough　to　see　how　relieved　they　all　were　that　she　was　'settled。'　They　were　true　kindly　people；　and　now　they　were　more　kind　to　her　than　ever：　that　showed　that　they　had　been　uneasy　about　her。　She　was　'off　their　hands　now。'

Maggie；　when　she　saw　this　in　the　faces　of　Philip　and　Mr。　Trenchard；　and　even　of　Millicent；　was　glad　that　she　was　engaged。　She　was　somebody's　now；　she　had　friends　and　a　home　and　work　now；　and　she　would　banish　all　that　other　world　for　ever。　For　ever？　。　。　。　How　curious　it　was　that　from　the　moment　of　her　engagement　her　aunts；　their　house；　the　Chapel；　and　the　people　around　it　began　to　press　upon　her　attention　with　a　pathos　and　sentiment　that　she　had　never　felt　before。　She　went　to　see　the　aunts；　of　course；　and　sat　in　the　old　drawing…room　for　half…an…hour；　and　they　were　kind　and　distant。　They　were　glad　that　she　was　to　be　married；　they　hoped　that　she　would　be　happy。　Aunt　Anne　looked　very　ill；　and　there　was　a　terrible　air　of　desertion　about　the　house　as　though　all　the　life　had　gone　out　of　it。　Maggie　came　away　very　miserable。　Then　she　said　to　herself：　〃Now；　look　here。　You're　in　a　new　house　now。　You've　got　to　think　of　nothing　but　thatnothing；　nothing；　nothing　。　。　。〃

She　meant　Martin。　She　might　think　of　Martin　（how　indeed　could　she　help　it？）　but　she　was　not　to　long　for　him。　No；　no　。　。　。　not　to　long　for　him。　She　did　wish　that　she　could　go　to　sleep　more　quickly　when　she　went　to　bed。

Paul　and　Grace　were　very　kind　to　her。　Paul　was　just　the　big　elder　brother　that　she　loved　him　to　be。　No　more　sentiment　than　that。　A　kiss　morning；　a　kiss　evening；　that　was　all。　Grace　behaved　to　them　both　with　a　motherly　indulgence。　Maggie　saw　that　she　considered　that　she　had　arranged　the　whole　affair。　There　were　signs　that　she　intended　to　arrange　everything　for　Maggie。　Well；　it　was　rather　pleasant　just　now　to　have　things　arranged　for　you。　Maggie　had　only　one　wishthat　Grace　would　not　take　so　long　to　explain　everything。　Maggie　always　ran　ahead　of　her　long　before　she　had　finished　her　involved　sentences　and　then　had　to　curb　her　impatience。　However　one　would　get　used　to　Grace；　one　would　have　to　because　she　was　going　to　live　with　them　after　they　were　married。　Maggie　had　hoped　that　it　would　be　otherwise；　but　it　was　at　once　obvious　that　neither　Paul　nor　Grace　dreamt　of　being　separated。

The　wedding　was　to　be　as　soon　as　possible；　and　very；　very　quiet。　In　a　little　church　close　by；　no　bridesmaids；　everything　very　simple。　Maggie　was　glad　of　that。　She　would　have　hated　a　church　full　of　staring　people。　She　enjoyed　immensely　buying　her　trousseau。　Paul　was　very　generous　with　his　money；　it　was　evident　that　Grace　thought　him　too　generous。　Maggie　and　Katherine　went　together　to　buy　things；　and　Katherine　was　a　darling。　Maggie　fancied　that　Katherine　was　not　quite　easy　in　her　mind　about　her　share　in　the　affair。

〃You　won't　expect　Skeaton　to　be　wildly　exciting；　Maggie　dear；　will　you？〃　she　said。　〃You'll　find　plenty　to　do　and　there　are　lots　of　nice　people；　I'm　sure；　and　you'll　come　up　and　stay　with　us　here。〃

〃I　think　it　sounds　delightful；〃　said　Maggie。　〃If　you'd　lived　for　years　in　St。　Dreot's；　Katherine；　you　wouldn't　talk　about　other　places　being　dull。　It　isn't　excitement　I　want。　It's　work。〃

〃Don't　you　let　Grace　bully　you；〃　said　Katherine。

〃Bully　me？　Grace？〃　Maggie　was　very　astonished。　〃Why；　she's　the　kindest　old　thing。　She　wants　me　to　do　everything。〃

〃So　she　says；〃　said　Katherine　doubtfully。　〃But　she's　very　jealous　of　Paul。　How　much　she'll　really　like　giving　up　her　authority　when　it　comes　to　the　point　I　don't　know。　You　stick　up　to　her。　Paul's　weak。〃

〃I　don't　think　he　is。〃　said　Maggie　rather　indignantly。　〃Grace　always　does　what　he　says。〃　〃Yes；　just　now；〃　said　Katherine。

And　Maggie　had　one　funny　little　conversation　with　Henry　Trenchard。　That　wild　youth　catching　her　alone　one　day　said　abruptly：

〃What　the　devil　have　you　done　it　for？〃

〃Done　what？〃　asked　Maggie；　her　heart　beating　a　little　faster。　Strangely　Henry　reminded　her　of　Martin。　He　alone　of　all　the　Trenchards　had　something　that　was　of　that　other　world。

〃Engaged　yourself　to　Paul；〃　said　Henry。

〃Why　shouldn't　I？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃You　don't　love　himof　course　you　couldn't。　You're　not　his　sort　in　the　least。　You're　worth　a　million　Pauls。〃

This　was　so　odd　for　Henry；　who　was　certainly　not　given　to　compliments；　that　Maggie　burst　out　laughing。

〃Yes；　you　may　laugh；〃　said　Henry。　〃I　know　what　I'm　talking　about。　Have　you　ever　seen　Paul　asleep　after　dinner？〃

〃No；〃　said　Maggie。

〃I　wish　you　had。　That　might　have　saved　you。　Have　you　ever　seen　Grace　lose　her　temper？〃

〃No；〃　said　Maggie；　this　time　a　little　uneasily。

〃Look　here；〃　he　came　close　to　her；　staring　at　her　with　those　eyes　of　his　that　could　be　very　charming　when　he　liked。　〃Break　it　off。　Say　you　think　it's　a　mistake。　You'll　be　miserable。〃

〃Indeed　I　shan't；〃　said　Maggie；　tossing　her　head。　〃Whatever　happens　I'm　not　going　to　be　miserable。　No　one　can　make　me　that。〃

〃So　you　think；〃　Henry　frowned。　〃I　can't　think　what　you　want　to　be　married　for　at　all。　These　days　women　can　have　such　a　good　time；　especially　a　woman　with　character　like　you。　If　I　were　a　woman　I'd　never　marry。〃

〃You　don't　understand；〃　said　Maggie。　〃You　haven't　been　lonely　all　your　life　as　I　have；　and　you're　not　afraid　of　making　yourself　cheap　andandlooking　for　some　one　who　doesn't　wantyou。　It's　so　easy　for　you　to　talk。　And　Paul　wants　mereally　he　does〃

〃Yes；　he　does；〃　said　Henry　slowly。　〃He's　in　love　with　you　all　right。　I'm　as　sorry　for　Paul　as　I　am　for　you。〃

Maggie　laughed。　〃It's　very　kind　of　you　to　be　sorry；〃　she　said；　〃but　you　needn't　trouble。　I　believe　we　can　look　after　ourselves。〃

For　a　quarter　of　an　hour　after　this　conversation　she　was　a　little　uneasy。　He　was　a　clever　boy；　Henry；　he　did　watch　people。　But　then　he　was　very　young；　It　was　all　guesswork　with　him。

She　became　now　strangely　quiescent；　her　energy；　her　individuality；　her　strength　of　will　seemed；　for　the　time；　entirely　to　have　gone。　She　surrendered　herself　to　Grace　and　Paul　and　Katherine　and　they　did　what　they　would　with　her。

Only　once　was　she　disturbed。　Two　nights　before　the　wedding　she　dreamt　of　Martin。　It　did　not　ap