the captives-第75节
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Only once was she disturbed。 Two nights before the wedding she dreamt of Martin。 It did not appear as a dream at all。 It seemed to her that she had been asleep and that she suddenly woke。 She was gazing； from her bed； into her own room； but at the farther end of it instead of the wall with the rosy trees and the gold mirror was another room。 This room was strange and cheerless with bare boards； a large four…poster bed with faded blue hangings； two old black prints with eighteenth…century figures and a big standing mirror。 In front of the bed； staring into the mirror； was Martin； He was dressed shabbily in a blue reefer coat。 He looked older than when she had seen him last； was stouter and ill； with white puffy cheeks and dark shadows under his eyes。 She saw him very clearly under the light of two candles that wavered a little in the draught。
He was staring into the mirror； absorbed apparently in what he saw there。 She cried his name and he seemed to start and turn towards the door listening。 Then the picture faded。 She woke to find herself sitting up in bed crying his name 。 。 。
In the morning she drove this dream away from her； refusing to think of it or listen to it； but somewhere far down in her soul something trembled。
The wedding was over so quickly that she scarcely realised it。 There was the stuffy little church； very empty and dusty； with brass plates on the wall。 She could hear； in the street； rumblings of carts and the rattle of wheels； somewhere a barrel…organ played。 The clergyman was a little man who smiled upon her kindly。 When Paul put the ring on her finger she started as though for a moment she awoke from a dream。 She was glad that he looked so clean and tidy。 Grace was wearing too grand a hat with black feathers。 In the vestry Paul kissed her； and then they walked down the aisle together。 She saw Katherine and Millie and Henry。 Her fingers caught tightly about Paul's stout arm； but she would have been more at home she thought with Uncle Mathew just then。
It was a nice bright spring day； although the wind blew the dust about。 They had a meal in Katherine's house and some one made a speech； and Maggie drank some champagne。 She hoped she looked nice in her grey silk dress； and then caught sight of herself in a glass and thought she was as ever a fright。
〃My little wild thingmine now；〃 whispered Paul。 She thought that rather silly； she was not a wild thing； but simply Maggie Cardinal。 Oh； no！ Maggie Trenchard 。 。 。 She did not feel Maggie Trenchard at all and she did not suppose that she ever would。
They were to have a fortnight alone at Skeaton before Grace came。 Maggie was glad of that。 Paul was really nicer when Grace was not there。
They were all very kind to her。 They had given her good presents Millie some silver brushes； Henry some books； Philip a fan； and Katherine a most beautiful dressing…bag。 Maggie had never had such things before。 But she could have wished for something from her own people。 She had written to Uncle Mathew but had not heard from him。
At the very last moment； on the morning of the wedding day； a present came from the auntsan old box for handkerchiefs。 The cover was inlaid with sea…shells and there was a little looking…glass inside。
Very soon it was all over and then to her own intense surprise she was alone in the train with Paul。 What had she expected？ She did not knowbut somehow not this。
They were in a first…class carriage。 Paul was doing the thing nobly。 He sat close to her； his broad knee against her dress。 How broad his knee was； a great expanse of black shining cloth。 He took her hand and rested it on the expanse； and； at the touch of the stuff and the throb of the warm flesh beneath it； she shivered a little and would wish to have drawn her hand away。 He seemed so much larger than she had expected； from his knee to his high shining white collar was an immense distance and midway there was a thick gold watch…chain rising and falling as he breathed。 He smelt very faintly of tooth… powder。
But on the whole she was comfortable； only the thin gold ring round her finger felt strange。 Deep in a little pocket inside her blouse was the ring with the three little pearls。
〃I do hope； Maggie darling；〃 he said； 〃you don't think it strange our not going somewhere else for our honeymoon。 My lads will be expecting me backI was kept longer in London than I should have beenby you； you little witch。 My witch now〃
He put his arm round her waist and urged her head towards his coat。 But her hat； her beautiful hat that had cost so much more than she had ever spent on a hat before； was in the way。 It struck into his chin。 They were both uncomfortable and then； thank heaven； the train slowed down； they were at a station and some one got into their carriage； a stout man； all newspaper and creases to his trousers。 That； in the circumstances； was a great relief and soon Maggie dozed； seeing the telegraph wires and the trees like waving hands through a mist of sleep。
As she fell asleep she realised that this was only the second time in all her life that she had been in a train。 Some one bawled in her car 〃Skeaton！ Skeaton！〃 and she looked up to find a goat…faced porter gazing at her through the window。 She was on a storm…driven platform； her husband's arm was through hers； she was being helped into an old faded cab。 Now they were driving down a hill； under a railway…arch； along a road with villas and trees； trees and villas； and then villas alone。 What a wind！ The bare branches were in a frenzy； and from almost every villa blew little pennons of white curtains。 〃They like to have their windows open any way；〃 she thought。 Paul said very little； he was obviously nervous of how she would take it all。 She took it all very well。
〃What pretty houses！〃 she said。 〃And here are the shops！〃
Only a fewa sweet…shop； a grocer's； a stationer's with 〃Simpson's Library〃 on the door； a post…office。
〃The suburbs；〃 said Paul。
What a wind！ It rolled up the road like a leaping carpet； you could almost see its folds and creases。 No one aboutnot a living soul。
〃The cab I ordered never came。 Lucky thing there was one there；〃 said Paul。
Not a soul about。 Does any one live here？ She could not see much through the window； and she could hear nothing because the glass rattled so。
〃Here we are！〃 The cab stopped with a jerk。 Here they were then。 A gate swung to behind them； there was a little drive with bushes on either side of it and then the house。
Not a very handsome house； Maggie thought。 A dull square grey with chimneys like ears in exactly the right places。 Some pieces of paper were whirled up and down by the wind； they danced about the horse's feet。 She noticed that the door…handles needed polishing。 A cavernous hall； a young girl with untidy hair and a yelping dog received them。
〃That's Mitch！〃 said Paul。 〃Dear old Mitch。 How are you； dear old fellow？ Down Mitch！ Down！ There's a good dog。〃
The young girl was terrified of Maggie。 She gulped through her nose。
〃I've put tea in the study； sir；〃 she said。
〃Tea at once； little woman； eh？〃 said Paul。 〃I'm dying for some。 Thank you； Emily。 All well？ That's right。 Dear； dear； It IS nice to be home again。〃
Yes； he was nervous； poor Paul。 She felt a great tenderness for him； but she could not say the right words。 She should have said： 〃It is nice；〃 but it was not。 The hall was so cold and dark； and all over the house windows were rattling。
They went straight into the study。 What a room！ It reminded Maggie at once； in its untidiness and discomfort； of her father's； study； and that thought struck a chill into her very heart； so that she had to pause for a moment and control herself。 There were piles of newspapers heaped up against the shelves； books run to the ceiling； old； old books with the covers tumbling off them。 On the stone mantelpiece was a perfect litterold pipes； bundles of letters； a ball of string； some yellow photographs； a crucifix and a small plant dead and shrivelled in its pot。
〃Now then； darling。 Hurrah for some tea！〃
She poured it out and he watched her in an ecstasy。 Strangely she began to be frightened and a little breathless； as though the walls of the room were slowly closing in。 The tea had been standing a long time； it was very strong and chill。
The house was a firing…ground of rattle and whirs； but there were no human sounds anywhere。 There was dust all over the room。
They had said nothing for some time。
He spoke suddenly； his voice husky and awkward； as though he were trying a new voice for the first time。
〃Maggie！〃 he said。 〃Don't sit so far away。 Come over here。〃
She crossed over to him。 He； with an arm that seemed to be suddenly of iron； pulled her on to his knee。 She was rebellious。 Her whole body stiffened。 She did not want this； she did not want this！ Some voice within cried out： 〃Take care！ Take care！〃 。 。 。 He pressed her close to him； he kissed her furiously； savagely； her eyes； her mouth； her cheek。 She could feel his heart pounding beneath his clothes like a savage beast。 His hands were all about her； he was crushing her so that she was hurt； but she did not feel that at all； there was something else 。 。 。
With all her might she fought down her resistance
