the captives-第10部分

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　jump　from　place　to　place　as　though　they　were　trying　to　keep　in　time　with　the　train；　a　bell　rang　monotonously；　wreaths　of　smoke　rose　lazily　against　the　stars　and　fell　again。

When　at　last　she　found　herself；　a　tiny　figure；　standing　upon　the　vast　platform　under　the　high　black　dome；　the　noise　and　confusion　excited　and　delighted　her。　She　rose　to　the　waves　of　sound　as　a　swimmer　rises　in　the　sea；　her　heart　beat　fast；　and　she　was　so　eagerly　engaged　in　looking　about　her；　in　staring　at　the　hurrying　people；　in　locating　the　shrill　screams　of　the　engines；　in　determining　not　to　jump　when　the　carriages　jolted　together；　that　her　little　black　bag　opened　unexpectedly　once　more　and　spilled　a　handkerchief；　a　hand…mirror；　a　paper　packet　of　sweets；　a　small　pair　of　scissors；　and　a　shabby　brown　purse　upon　the　station…floor。　She　was　greatly　confused　when　an　old　gentleman　helped　her　to　pick　them　up。　The　little　mirror　was　broken。

〃Oh！　it's　bad　luck！〃　she　cried；　staring　distressfully　at　the　old　man。　He　smiled；　and　would　have　certainly　been　very　agreeable　to　her　had　not　Aunt　Anne；　who　had　been　finding　their　boxes　and　securing　a　cab；　arrived　and　taken　Maggie　away。　〃You　shouldn't　speak　to　strange　gentlemen；　dear；〃　said　Aunt　Anne。

But　Maggie　did　not　listen。　It　was　characteristic　of　Anne　Cardinal　that　she　should　secure　the　only　four…wheeler　in　the　station；　rejecting　the　taxi…cabs　that　waited　in　rows　for　her　pleasure。　Had　Maggie　only　known；　her　aunt's　choice　was　eloquent　of　their　future　life　together。　But　Maggie　did　not　know　and　did　not　care。　Her　excitement　was　intense。　That　old　St。　Dreot　life　had　already　swung　so　far　behind　her　that　it　was　like　a　fantastic　dream；　as　they　rumbled　through　the　streets；　the　cries；　the　smells；　the　lights　seemed　arranged　especially　for　her。　She　could　not　believe　that　they　had　all　been；　just　like　this；　before　her　arrival。　As　with　everything；　she　was　busy　imagining　the　World　behind　this　display；　the　invisible　Circle　inside　the　circle　that　she　saw。

They　came　into　the　Strand；　and　the　masses　of　moving　people　seemed　to　her　like　somnambulists　walking　without　reason　or　purpose。　She　felt　as　though　there　would　suddenly　come　a　great　hole　in　the　middle　of　the　street　into　which　the　cab　would　tumble。　The　noise　seemed　to　her　country　ears　deafening；　and　when；　suddenly；　the　lighted　letters　of　some　advertisement　flashed　out　gigantic　against　the　sky；　she　gave　a　little　scream。　She　puzzled　her　aunt　by　saying：

〃But　it　isn't　really　like　this；　is　it？〃

To　which　Aunt　Anne　could　only　say：

〃You're　hungry　and　tired；　dear；　I　expect。〃

With　one　last　outrending　scream　the　whole　world　seemed　to　fling　itself　at　the　window；　open　because　Aunt　Anne　thought　the　cab　〃had　a　smell。〃　〃OoshO　O　S　H。〃　〃OOSH。〃　。　。　。　Maggie　drew　back　as　though　she　expected　some　one　to　leap　in　upon　them。　Then；　with　that　marvellous　and　ironical　gift　of　contrast　that　is　London's　secret；　they　were　suddenly　driven　into　the　sleepiest　quiet；　they　stumbled　up　a　street　that　was　like　a　cave　for　misty　darkness　and　muffled　echoes。　The　cab's　wheels　made　a　riotous　clatter。

A　man　posting　a　letter　in　a　pillar…box　was　the　only　figure　in　the　street。　The　stars　shone　overhead　with　wonderful　brilliance；　and　a　little　bell　jangled　softly　close　at　hand。　All　the　houses　were　tall　and　secret；　with　high　white　steps　and　flat　faces。　A　cat　slipped　across　the　street；　another　swiftly　followed　it。

St。　Dreot's　seemed　near　at　hand　again　and　Ellen　the　cook　not　so　far　away。　Maggie　felt　a　sudden　forlornness　and　desolation。

〃What　a　very　quiet　street！〃　she　whispered；　as　though　she　were　afraid　lest　the　street　should　hear。

They　stopped　before　one　of　the　flat…faced　houses；　Aunt　Anne　rang　the　bell；　and　an　old　woman　with　a　face　like　a　lemon　helped　the　cabman　with　the　boxes。　Maggie　was　standing　in　a　hall　that　smelt　of　damp　and　geraniums。　It　was　intensely　dark；　and　a　shrill　scream　from　somewhere　did　not　make　things　more　pleasant。

〃That's　Edward　the　parrot；〃　said　Aunt　Anne。　〃Take　care　not　to　approach　him　too　closely；　dear；　because　he　bites。〃

Then　they　went　upstairs；　Maggie　groping　her　way　and　stumbling　at　the　sharp　corners。　The　darkness　grew；　she　knocked　her　knee　on　the　corner　of　something；　cried　out；　and　a　suddenly　opened　door　threw　a　pale　green　light　upon　a　big　picture　of　men　in　armour　attacking　a　fortified　town　beneath　a　thundery　sky。　This　picture　wavered　and　faltered；　hung　as　it　was　upon　a　thin　cord　strained　to　breaking…　point。　Maggie　reached　the　security　of　the　room　beyond　the　passage；　her　shoulders　bent　a　little　as　though　she　expected　to　near　at　every　instant　the　crashing　collapse　of　the　armoured　men。　Her　eyes　unused　to　the　light；　she　stumbled　into　the　room；　fell　into　some　one's　arms；　felt　that　her　poor　hat　was　crooked　and　her　cheeks　burning；　and　then　was　rebuked；　as　it　seemed；　by　the　piercing　cry　of　Edward　the　parrot　from　the　very　bowels　of　the　house。

She　stammered　something　to　the　man　who　had　held　her　and　then　let　her　go。　She　was　confused；　hot　and　angry。　〃They'll　think　me　an　idiot　who　can't　enter　a　room　properly。〃　She　glared　about　her　and　felt　as　though　she　had　been　taken　prisoner　by　some　strange　people　who　lived　under　the　sea。　She　was　aware；　when　her　eyes　were　accustomed　to　the　dim　light；　that　the　entrance　of　herself　and　her　aunt　had　interrupted　the　conversation　of　three　people。　Near　the　fireplace　sat　a　little　woman　wearing　black　mittens　and　a　white　lace　cap；　standing　above　her　with　his　arm　on　the　mantelpiece　was　a　thin；　battered…looking　gentleman　with　large　spectacles；　high；　gaunt　features　and　a　very　thin　head　of　hair；　near　the　door　was　the　man　against　whom　Maggie　had　collided。　She　saw　that　he　was　young；　thick…set　and　restless。　She　noticed　even　then　his　eyes；　bright　and　laughing　as　though　he　were　immensely　amused。　His　mouth　opened　and　closed　again；　his　eyes　were　never　still；　and　he　made　fierce　dumb　protests　with　his　body；　jerking　it　forward　pulling　it　back；　as　a　rider　strives　to　restrain　an　unruly　horse。　Maggie　was　able　to　notice　these　things；　because　during　the　first　moments　her　Aunt　Anne　entirely　held　the　stage。　She　advanced　to　the　fireplace　with　her　halting　movement；　embraced　the　little　lady　by　the　fire　with　a　soft　and　unimpassioned　clasp。

〃Well；　Elizabeth；　here　we　are；　you　see；〃　turned　to　the　thin　gentleman　saying；　〃Why　you；　Mr。　Magnus！　I　thought　that　you　were　still　in　Wiltshire！　〃then　from　the　middle　of　the　room　addressing　the　stout　young　man：　〃I'm　very　glad　to　see　you；　Mr。　Warlock。〃

Maggie　fancied　that　the　three　persons　were　nervous　of　her　aunt；　the　stout　young　man　was　amused　perhaps　at　the　general　situation；　but　Mr。　Magnus　by　the　fireplace　showed　great　emotion；　the　colour　mounting　into　his　high　bony　cheeks　and　his　nostrils　twitching　like　a　horse's。　Maggie　had　been　always　very　observant；　and　she　was　detached　enough　now　to　notice　that　the　drawing…room　was　filled　with　ugly　and　cumbrous　things　and　yet　seemed　unfurnished。　Although　everything　was　old　and　had　been　there　obviously　for　years；　the　place　yet　reminded　one　of　a　bare　chamber　into　which；　furniture　had　just　been　piled　without　order　or　arrangement。　Opposite　the　door　was　a　large　and　very　bad　painting　of　the　two　sisters　as　young　girls；　sitting；　with　arms　encircled；　in　low　dresses；　on　the　seashore　before　a　grey　and　angry　sea；　and　Uncle　Mathew　as　a　small；　shiny…faced　boy　in　tight　short　blue　trousers；　carrying　a　bucket　and　spade；　and　a　smug；　pious　expression。　The　room　was　lit　with　gas　that　sizzled　and　hissed　in　a　protesting　undertone；　there　was　a　big　black　cat　near　the　fire；　and　this　watched　Maggie　with　green　and　fiery　eyes。

She　stood　there　by　the　door　tired　and　hungry；　she　felt　unacknowledged　and　forgotten。

〃I　know　I　shall　hate　it；〃　was　her　thought；　she　was　conscious　of　her　arms　and　her　legs；　her　ankle　tickled　in　her　shoe；　and　she　longed　to　scratch　it。　She　sneezed　suddenly；　and　they　all　jumped　as　though　the　floor　had　opened　beneath　them。

〃And　Maggie？〃　said　the　little　lady　by　the　fireplace。

Maggie　moved　forward　with　the　awkward　gestures　and　the　angry　｝ook　in　her　eyes　that　were　always　hers　when　she　was　ill　at　ease。

〃Maggie；〃　said　Aunt　Anne；　〃has　been　very　good。〃

〃And　she's　tired；　I'm　sure；〃　continued　the　little　lady；　who　must　of　course　be　Aunt　Elizabeth。　〃The　journey　was　easy；　dear。　And　you　had　no　change。　They　gave　you　footwarmers；　I　hope。　It's　been　lovely　weather。　I'm　so　glad　to　see　you；　dear。　I've　had　no　photograph　of　you　since　you　were　a　baby。〃

Aunt　Elizabeth　had　a　way；　Maggie　thought；　of　collecting　a　number　of　little　disconnected　statements　as　though　she　were　working　out　a　sum　and　hopedbut　was　not　very　certainthat　she　would　achieve　a　successful　answer。　〃Add　two　and　five　and　three　and　four　。　。　。〃　The　statements　that　she　made　were　apparently　worlds　apart　in　interest　and　importance；　but　she　hoped　with　good　fortune　to　flash　upon　the　boards　a　fine　result。　She　was　nervous；　Maggie　saw；　and　her　thin　shoulders　were　a　little　bent　as　though　she　expected　some　one　from　behind　to　strike　her　suddenly　in　the　small　of　the　back。

〃She's　afraid　of　something；〃　thought　Maggie。

Aunt　Elizabeth　had　obviously　not　the　strong　character　of　her　sister　Anne。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Maggie；　looking；　for　no　reason　at　all；　at　Mr。　Magnus；　〃I　slept　in　the　train；　so　I'm　not　tired。〃　She　stopped　then；　because　there　was　nothing　more　to　say。　She　felt　that　she　ought　to　kiss　her　aunt；　she　thought　she　saw　in　her　aunt's　small　rather　watery　eyes　an　appeal　that　she　should　do　so。　The　distance；　however；　seemed　infinite；　and　Maggie　had　a　strange　feeling　that　her　bending　down　would　break　some　spell；　that　the　picture　in　the　passage　would　fall　with　a　ghostly　clatter；　that　Edward　the　parrot　would　scream　and　shriek；　that　the　gas　would　burst　into　a　bubbling　horror；　that　the　big　black　cat　would　leap　upon　her　and　tear　her　with　its　claws。

〃Well；　I'm　not　afraid；〃　she　thought。　And；　as　though　she　were　defying　the　universe；　she　bent　down　and　kissed　her　aunt。　She　fancied　that　this　act　of　hers　produced　a　little　sigh　of　relief。　Every　one　seemed　to　settle　down。　They　all　sat；　and　conversation　was　general。

Mr。　Magnus　had　a　rather　melancholy；　deprecating　voice；　but　with　some　touch　of　irony　too；　as　though　he　were　used　to　being　called　a　fool　by　his　fellow…beings；　but　after　all　knew　better　than　they　did。　He　did　not　sound　at　all　conceited；　only　amused　with　a　little　gentle　melancholy　at　h