the captives-第27部分

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Maggie　finally　added：　〃You　mustn't　think　me　selfish。　I'm　very　very　grateful　for　all　their　kindness。　I'm　very　happy。　It's　all　splendid　compared　with　what　life　used　to　be　at　homebut　I　fancy　sometimes　that　the　aunts　think　I'm　just　going　to　settle　down　here　for　ever　and　be　like　themand　I'm　notI'm　afraid　of　Aunt　Anne。〃

〃Afraid　of　her？〃　said　Mr。　Magnus。　〃Ah；　you　mustn't　be　that。〃

〃She　has　some　plan　in　her　head。　I　know　she　has〃

〃No　plan　is　set　except　for　your　good；〃　said　Mr。　Magnus。

〃I　don't　want　any　one　to　bother　about　my　good；〃　answered　Maggie。　〃I　can　look　after　that　for　myself。〃

This　little　conversation　revealed　Maggie　to　Mr。　Magnus　in　an　entirely　new　light。　He　had　thought　her；　until　now；　a　good　simple　girl；　entirely　ignorant　of　life　and　eager　to　be　taught。　The　sudden　discovery　of　her　independence　distressed　him。　He　left　the　house　that　afternoon　with　many　new　points　to　consider。

Meanwhile　Maggie　had　kept　from　him　the　true　root　of　the　matter。　She　had　said　nothing　of　Martin　Warlock。　She　had　said　nothing；　even　to　herself；　about　him；　and　yet　the　consciousness　of　her　meeting　with　him　was　always　with　her　as　a　fire　smoulders　in　the　hold　of　a　ship；　burning　stealthily　through　the　thick　heart　of　the　place；　dim　and　concealed；　to　burst　suddenly；　with　a　touch　of　the　wind；　into　shining　flame。

It　was　after　her　talk　to　Mr。　Magnus　that　she　suddenly　saw　that　Martin　Warlock　was　always　in　her　thoughts；　and　then；　because　she　was　Maggie　and　had　never　been　deceitful　to　herself　or　to　any　one　else；　she　faced　the　fact　and　considered　it。　She　knew　that　she　was　ignorant　of　the　world　and　of　life；　that　she　knew　nothing　about　men　and；　although　she　had　many　times　fancied　to　herself　what　love　must　be　like；　she　did　not　tell　herself　now　that　it　was　love　that　had　come　to　her。

She　saw　him　as　a　desirable　companion；　she　thought　that　he　would　make　a　most　interesting　friend；　she　would　like　to　make　her　experiences　of　life　with　him　at　her　side。　She　would　be　free　and　he　would　be　free；　but　they　would　exchange　confidences。

And　then　because　she　was　very　simple　and　had　learnt　nothing　of　the　difference　between　the　things　that　decent　girls　might　do　and　the　things　they　might　not　she　began　to　consider　the　easiest　way　of　meeting　him。　She　intended　to　go　to　him　simply　as　one　human　being　to　another　and　tell　him　that　she　liked　him　and　hoped　that　they　would　often　see　one　another。　There　were　no　confused　issues　nor　questions　of　propriety　before　Maggie。　Certainly　she　was　aware　that　men　took　advantage　of　girls'　weaknessbut　that　was；　as　in　the　case　of　Uncle　Mathew；　when　they　had　drunk　too　muchand　it　was　the　fault　of　the　girls；　too；　for　not　looking　after　themselves。　Maggie　felt　that　she　could　look　after　herself　anywhere。　She　was　more　afraid；　by　far；　of　her　Aunt　Anne　than　of　any　man。

It　happened　on　the　very　day　after　that　conversation　with　Mr。　Magnus　that　Aunt　Anne　said　at　luncheon：

〃I　think；　Maggie　dear；　if　you　don't　mind；　that　you　and　I　will　pay　a　call　on　Mrs。　Warlock　this　afternoon。　You　have　not　been　there　yet。　To…day　will　be　a　very　good　opportunity。〃

Maggie's　mind　flew　at　once　to　her　clothes。　She　had　been　with　Caroline　Smith　to　that　young　lady's　dressmaker；　a　thin　and　sharp…　faced　woman　whose　black　dress　gleamed　with　innumerable　pins。　Maggie　had　been　pinched　and　measured；　pulled　in　here　and　pulled　out　there。　Then　there　had　been　afternoons　when　she　had　been　〃fitted〃　under　Caroline's　humorous　and　critical　eye。　Finally　the　dress　had　been　delivered；　only　two　days　ago；　in　a　long　card…board　box；　it　waited　now　for　the　great　occasion。

The　great　occasion　had；　in　the　guise　of　the　Warlock　family；　surely　arrived。　Maggie's　heart　beat　as　she　went　up　to　her　room。　When　at　last　she　was　wearing　the　dress；　standing　before　her　mirror；　her　cheeks　were　red　and　her　hands　shook　a　little。

The　dress　was　very　finesimple　of　course　and　quite　plain；　but　elegant　as　no　dress　of　Maggie's　had　ever　been　elegant。　There　surely　could　not　anywhere　be　a　more　perfect　black　dress；　and　yet；　as　Maggie　gazed；　she　was　aware　that　there　was　something　not　quite　right。　She　was　always　straightforward　with　herself；　yes；　the　thing　that　was　not　quite　right　was　her　own　stupid　shape。　Her　figure　was　too　square；　her　back　was　too　short；　her　hands　too　large。　She　had　a　moment　of　acute　disgust　with　herself　so　that　she　could　have　torn　the　dress　from　her　and　rushed　into　her　old　obscure　and　dingy　black　again。　Of　what　use　to　dress　her　up？　She　would　always　look　wrong；　always　be　awkward　and　ungainly　。　。　。　tears　of　disappointment　gathered　slowly　in　her　eyes。　Then　her　pride　reasserted　itself；　she　raised　her　head　proudly　and　laughed　at　her　anxious　gaze。　There　was　still　her　new　hat。　She　took　it　from　the　bed　and　put　it　on；　sticking　big　pins　into　it；　moving　back　from　the　mirror；　then　forward　again；　turning　her　back；　standing　on　her　toes；　suddenly　bowing　to　herself　and　waving　her　hand。

She　was　caught　thus；　laughing　into　the　mirror；　by　old　Martha；　who　pushed　her　sour　face　through　the　door　and　said：　〃They've　been　waiting　this　long　time　for　you；　Miss。〃

〃All　right；　Martha；〃　Maggie　answered　sharply；　annoyed　that　she　should　be　found；　posturing　and　bowing；　by　the　woman。　〃Why　didn't　you　knock？〃

〃I　did　knock；　Miss。　You　were　that　occupied　you　didn't　hear　me。〃　The　old　woman　was　grinning。

Maggie　went　downstairs；　her　heart　still　beating；　her　cheeks　still　flushed。　She　did　hope　that　Aunt　Anne　would　be　pleased。　Aunt　Anne；　although　she　never　said　anything　about　clothes；　must；　of　course；　notice　such　things；　and　if　she　loved　Maggie　as　Mr。　Magnus　said　she　did；　then　she　would　〃show　her　approval。〃　The　girl　stood　for　a　moment　on　the　bottom　step　of　the　staircase　looking　at　her　aunt　who　was　waiting　for　her　in　the　little　dark　hall。

〃Well；　dearI'm　waiting；〃　she　said。

The　burning　eyes　of　Thomas　the　cat　watched　from　the　deep　shadows。

〃I'm　so　sorry。　I　was　dressing；〃　said　Maggie。

Her　aunt　said　nothing　more　and　they　left　the　house。

Maggie；　as　always　when　she　walked　with　Aunt　Anne；　was　aware　that　they　made　a　strange　couple；　she　so　short　and　the　other　so　tall；　she　with　her　sturdy　masculine　walk；　her　aunt　with　her　awkward　halting　movement。　They　went　in　silence。

Maggie　longed　for　a　word　of　approval；　a　short　sentence　such　as　〃How　nice　you're　looking；　Maggie；〃　or　〃I　like　your　dress；　Maggie；〃　or　〃That's　a　new　dress；　dearI　like　it；〃　would　be　enough。　After　that　Maggie　felt　that　she　could　face　a　multitude　of　wild　and　savage　Warlocks；　that　she　could　walk　into　the　Warlock　drawing…room　with　a　fine　brave　carriage；　above　all；　that　she　would　feel　a　sudden　warm　affection　for　her　aunt　that　would　make　all　their　future　life　together　easy。

But　Aunt　Anne　said　nothing。　She　looked　exactly　as　she　had　looked　upon　her　first　appearance　at　St。　Dreots；　so　thin　and　tall；　with　her　pale　tapering　face　and　her　eyes　staring　before　her　as　though　they　saw　nothing。

Maggie；　as　they　turned　up　into　Garrick　Street；　said：

〃I　hope　you　like　my　new　dress；　aunt。〃

Aunt　Anne　turned　to　her　for　a　moment；　smiled　gently　and　then　vaguely；　as　though　her　mind　were　elsewhere；　answered：

〃I　liked　your　old　dress　better；　dear。〃

Maggie's　face　flamed；　her　temper　flared　into　her　eyes。　For　a　moment　she　had　wild　thoughts　of　breaking　into　open　rebellion。　She　hated　her　dress；　she　hated　London；　above　all；　she　hated　Aunt　Anne。　That　lady's　happy　unconsciousness　that　anything　had　occurred　drove　the　girl　into　furious　irritation。　Well；　it　was　hopeless　then；　Mr。　Magnus　could　say　what　he　pleased；　her　aunt　did　not　care　for　hershe　would　not　mind　did　she　fall　dead　in　the　street　before　her。　The　words　in　Maggie's　mind　were：　〃You　don't　look　at　me。　I'm　not　a　human　being　to　you　at　all。　But　I　won't　live　with　you。　I'll　go　my　own　way。　You　can't　keep　me　if　you　never　speak　to　me　nor　think　of　me。〃　But　in　some　dark　fashion　that　strange　impassivity　held　her。　Aunt　Anne　had　her　power　。　。　。

They　climbed　the　dim　crooked　staircase　behind　the　antiquary's　wall。　They　rang　the　Warlock　bell　and　were　admitted。　Maggie　did　not　know　what　it　was　that　she　had　expected；　but　it　was　certainly　not　the　pink；　warm　room　of　Mrs。　Warlock。

The　heavy　softly　closing　door　hemmed　them　in；　the　silent　carpet　folded　about　their　steps；　the　canary　twittered；　the　fire　spurted　and　crackled。　But　at　once　the　girl's　heart　went　out　to　old　Mrs。　Warlock；　she　looked　so　charming　in　her　white　cap　and　blue　bow；　her　eyes　were　raised　so　gently　to　Maggie's　face　and　her　little　hand　was　so　soft　and　warm。

The　meeting　between　Anne　Cardinal　and　Mrs。　Warlock　was　very　gracious。　Aunt　Anne　gravely　pressed　the　old　lady's　hand；　looked　at　her　with　her　grave　distant　eyes；　then　very　carefully　and　delicately　sat　down。

Amy　Warlock　came　in；　Maggie　had　met　her　before　and　disliked　her。　Conversation　dealt　decently　and　carefully　with　the　weather；　the　canary　and　Maggie's　discovery　of　London。　Maggie　was　compelled　to　confess　that　she　was　afraid　that　she　had　not　discovered　London　at　all。　She　felt　Amy　Warlock's　sharp　eyes　upon　them　all　and；　as　always　when　she　was　in　company　that　was；　she　thought；　suspicious　of　her；　she　became　hot　and　uncomfortable；　she　frowned　and　spoke　in　short；　almost　hostile；　sentences。

〃They're　laughing　at　my　new　clothes；〃　she　thought；　〃I　wish　I'd　worn　my　old　ones　。　。　。　and　anyway　these　hurt　me。〃　She　sat　up　very　stiffly；　her　hands　on　her　lap；　her　e