the captives-第15部分

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She　was　awakened　by　a　consciousness　that　some　one　was　in　the　room　and；　sitting　up；　staring　through　the　gloom；　heard　a　movement　near　the　door；　a　rustle；　a　little　jingle；　a　laugh。

〃Is　any　one　there？〃　said　a　high；　shrill　voice。

Maggie　got　up。

〃I'm　here；〃　she　said。

Some　one　came　forward；　it　was　the　girl　of　the　blue　dress　who　had　smiled　at　Maggie　in　chapel。　She　held　out　her　hand〃I　hope　you　don't　think　me　too　awful。　My　name's　Caroline　Smith。　How　do　you　do？〃

They　shook　hands。　Maggie；　still　bewildered　by　sleep；　said；　stammering；〃　Won't　you　sit　down？　I　beg　your　pardon。　My　aunts〃

〃Oh；　it　isn't　the　aunts　I　wanted　to　see；〃　replied　Miss　Smith；　laughing　so　that　a　number　of　little　bracelets　jingled　most　tunefully　together。　〃I　came　to　see　you。　We　smiled　at　one　another　in　chapel。　It　was　your　first　time；　wasn't　it？　Didn't　you　think　it　all　awfully　quaint？〃

〃Won't　you　sit　down？〃　said　Maggie　again；　〃and　I'll　ring　for　the　lamp。〃

〃Oh！　don't　ring　for　the　lamp。　I　like　the　dusk。　And　we　can　make　friends　so　much　better　without　a　lamp。　I　always　say　if　you　want　to　know　anybody　really　well；　don't　have　a　light。〃

She　seated　herself　near　the　fire；　arranging　her　dress　very　carefully；　patting　her　hair　beneath　her　hat；　poking　her　shoes　out　from　beneath　her　skirts；　then　withdrawing　them　again。　〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　it　all？〃

Maggie　stared。　She　did　not　know　what　to　say。　She　had　never　met　any　one　in　the　least　like　this　before。

〃I　do　hope；〃　Miss　Smith　went　on；　〃that　you　don't　think　me　forward。　I　daresay　you　do。　But　I　can't　bear　wasting　time。　Of　course　I　heard　that　you　were　coming；　so　then　I　looked　out　for　you　in　chapel　to…day。　I　thought　you　looked　so　nice　that　I　said　to　mother；　'I'll　go　and　see　her　this　very　afternoon。'　Of　course　I've　known　your　aunts　for　ages。　I'm　always　in　and　out　here　so　that　it　isn't　as　bad　as　it　seems。　They'll　all　be　back　for　tea　soon　and　I　want　to　have　a　talk　first。〃

〃Thank　you　very　much；〃　was　all　that　Maggie　could　think　of　to　say。

〃You've　come　to　live　here；　haven't　you？〃　continued　Miss　Smith。　〃I'm　so　glad。　I　think　you　look　so　nice。　You　don't　mind　my　saying　that；　do　you？　I　always　tell　people　what　I　think　of　them　and　then　one　knows　where　one　is。　Now；　do　tell　meI'm　simply　dying　to　knowwhat　do　you　think　of　everything？〃

〃Well；〃　said　Maggie；　smiling；　〃I　only　arrived　here　yesterday。　It's　rather　difficult　to　say。〃

〃Oh！　I　know。　I　saw　Mr。　Magnus　this　morning　and　he　told　me　that　he　met　you。　He　said　you　were　ill。　You　don't　look　ill。〃

〃It　was　very　silly　of　me；〃　said　Maggie；　〃I　don't　know　what　made　me　faint。　I've　never　done　such　a　thing　before。〃

〃I　used　to　faint　simply　heaps　of　times　when　I　was　a　kid；〃　said　Miss　Smith；　〃I　was　always　doing　it。　I　had　all　sorts　of　doctors。　They　thought　I'd　never　grow　up。　I'm　not　very　strong　now　really。　They　say　it's　heart；　but　I　always　say　it　can't　be　that　because　I've　given　it　all　away。〃　Here　Miss　Smith　laughed　immoderately。

〃Weren't　they　the　most　terrible　set　of　frumps　at　chapel　this　morning？〃

She　did　not　wait　for　an　answer；　but　went　on：　〃Mr。　Warlock's　all　right；　of　course。　I　think　he's　such　a　fine…looking　man；　don't　you？　Of　course　he's　old　now；　but　his　beard's　rather　attractive　I　think。　He's　a　duck；　but　isn't　that　harmonium　ghastly？　I　can't　think　why　they　don't　buy　an　organ；　they're　most　awfully　rich　I　know；　and　do　simply　nothing　with　their　money。〃

〃Why　do　you　go；〃　said　Maggie；　〃if　you　think　it　all　so　dreadful？〃

〃Oh！　I　have　to　go；〃　said　Miss　Smith；　〃to　please　mother。　And　one　has　to　do　something　on　Sunday；　and　besides　one　sees　one's　friends。　Did　you　notice　Martin　Warlock；　Mr。　Warlock's　son；　you　know。　He　was　sitting　quite　close　to　me。〃

〃He　was　here　yesterday　afternoon；〃　said　Maggie　quietly。

〃Oh；　was　he　really？　Now　that　is　interesting。　I　wonder　what　he　came　for。　He　scarcely　ever　comes　here。　Did　you　like　him？〃

〃I　didn't　speak　to　him；〃　said　Maggie。

〃Of　course　he's　only　been　here　a　little　time。　He's　Mr。　Warlock's　only　son。　He's　lived　for　years　abroad　and　then　the　other　day　his　aunt　died　and　left　him　some　money　so　he　came　home。　His　father　simply　adores　him。　They　saybut　of　course　I　don't　know。　Don't　quote　me　that　he's　been　most　awfully　wild。　Drink；　all　sorts　of　things。　But　of　course　they'll　say　anything　of　anybody。　I　think　he's　got　such　an　interesting　face；　don't　you？〃

〃I　don't　think；〃　said　Maggie；　〃that　you　ought　to　say　those　things　of　any　one　if　you　don't　know　they're　true。〃

〃Oh！　what　a　darling　you　are！〃　said　Miss　Smith。　〃You're　perfectly　rightone　oughtn't。　But　every　one　does。　When　you've　lived　up　here　a　little　while　you　will　too。　And　what　does　it　matter？　You're　sure　to　hear　it　sooner　or　later。　But　that's　right。　You　keep　me　straight。　I　know　I　talk　far　too　much。　I'm　always　being　told　about　it。　But　what　can　one　do？　Life's　so　funnyone　must　talk　about　it。　You　haven't　seen　Miss　Avies　and　Mr。　Thurston　yet；　have　you？〃

〃No；〃　said　Maggie。　〃Not　unless　I　saw　them　in　Chapel　this　morning。〃

〃Ah！　they're　the　ones；〃　said　Miss　Smith。　〃No；　they　weren't　there　to…　day。　They're　away　on　a　mission。　They　make　things　hum。　They　quarrel　with　Mr。　Warlock　because　they　say　he　isn't　noisy　enough。　Mr。　Thurston's　awful　and　Miss　Avies　isn't　much　better。　You'll　have　them　on　to　you　soon　enough。　But　of　course　I'm　not　one　of　the　Inside　Ones。〃

〃Inside　Ones？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃Yes；　the　real　ones。　They'll　be　at　you　after　a　time　and　ask　you　if　you'll　join　them。　The　congregation　this　morning　was　just　anybody　who　likes　to　come。　But　the　real　brethren　have　to　swear　vows　and　be　baptized　and　all　sorts　of　things。　But　that's　only　if　you　believe　God's　really　coming　in　a　year　or　two。　Of　course　I　don't；　although　sometimes　it　makes　one　quite　creepyall　down　one's　spine。　In　case；　after　all；　He　really　should　come；　you　know。〃

〃Are　my　aunts　inside？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃Of　course　they　are。　Miss　Anne　Cardinal's　one　of　the　chief　of　them。　Miss　Avies　is　jealous　as　anything　of　her；　but　your　aunt's　so　quiet　that　Miss　Avies　can't　do　anything。　I　just　love　your　aunts。　I　think　they're　sweet。　You　will　be　a　friend　of　mine；　won't　you？　I　like　you　so　much。　I　like　your　being　quiet　and　telling　me　when　I　talk　too　much。　I　sound　silly；　I　know；　but　it's　really　mother's　fault；　as　I　always　tell　her。　She　never　brought　me　up　at　all。　She　likes　me　to　wear　pretty　things　and　doesn't　care　about　anything　else。　Poor　mother！　She's　had　such　a　time　with　father；　he's　one　of　the　most　serious　of　all　the　Brethren　and　never　has　time　to　think　about　any　of　us。　Then　he's　in　a　bank　all　the　week；　where　he　can't　think　about　God　much　because　he　makes　mistakes　about　figures　if　he　does；　so　he　has　to　put　it　all　into　Sunday。　We　will　be　friends；　won't　we？〃

It　came　to　Maggie　with　a　strange　ironic　little　pang　that　this　was　the　first　time　that　any　one　had　asked　for　her　friendship。

〃Of　course；〃　she　said。

Miss　Smith's　further　confidences　were　interrupted　by　the　aunts　and　behind　them；　to　Maggie's　great　surprise；　Mr。　Warlock　and　his　son。　The　sudden　descent　of　these　gentlemen　upon　the　still　lingering　echoes　of　Miss　Caroline　Smith's　critical　and　explanatory　remarks　embarrassed　Maggie。　Not　so　Miss　Smith。　She　kissed　both　the　aunts　with　an　emphasis　that　they　apparently　appreciated　for　they　smiled　and　Aunt　Anne　laid　her　hand　affectionately　upon　the　girl's　sleeve。　Maggie；　watching；　felt　the　strangest　little　pang　of　jealousy。　That　was　the　way　that　she　should　have　behaved；　been　warm　and　demonstrative　from　the　beginningbut　she　could　not。

Even　now　she　stood　back　in　the　shadows　of　the　room；　watching　them　all　with　large　grave　eyes；　hoping　that　they　would　not　notice　her。

With　Mr。　Warlock　and　his　son　also　Miss　Smith　seemed　perfectly　at　home；　chattering；　laughing　up　into　young　Warlock's　eyes；　as　though　there　were　some　especial　understanding　between　them。　Maggie；　nevertheless；　fancied　that　he；　young　Warlock；　was　not　listening　to　her。　His　eyes　wandered。　He　had　that　same　restlessness　of　body　that　she　had　before　noticed　in　him；　swinging　a　little　on　his　legs　set　apart；　his　hands　clasped　behind　his　thick　broad　back。　He　had　some　compelling　interest　for　her。　He　had　had　that；　she　now　realised；　since　the　first　moment　that　she　had　seen　him。　It　might　be　that　the　things　that　that　girl　had　told　her　about　him　increased　her　interest　and；　perhaps　her　sympathy？　But　it　was　his　strange　detached　air　of　observation　that　held　heras　though　he　were　a　being　from　some　other　planet　watching　them　all；　liking　them；　but　bearing　no　kind　of　relation　to　them　except　that　of　a　cheerful　observerit　was　this　that　attracted　her。　She　liked　his　thick；　rough　untidy　hair；　the　healthy　red　brown　of　his　cheeks；　his　light　blue　eyes；　his　air　of　vigour　and　bodily　health。

As　she　waited　she　was　startled　into　consciousness　by　a　voice　in　her　ear。　She　turned　to　find　the　elder　Mr。　Warlock　beside　her。

〃You　will　forgive　my　speaking　to　you；　Miss　Cardinal。　I　saw　you　at　our　Chapel　this　morning。〃

His　great　height　towered　above　her　short　clumsy　figure；　he　seemed　to　peer　down　at　her　from　above　his　snowy　beard　as　though　he　were　the　inhabitant　of　some　other　world。　His　voice　was　of　an　extreme　kindliness　and　his　eyes；　when　she　looked　up　at　him；　shone　with　friendliness。　She　found　herself；　to　her　own　surprise；　talking　to　him　with　great　ease。　He　was　perfectly　simple；　human　and　unaffected。　He　asked　her　about　her　country。

〃I　spend　my　days　in　longing　to　get　back　to　my　own　placeand　perhaps　I　shall　never　see　it　again。　I　was　born　in　WiltshireSalisbury　Plain。　My　great…grandfather；　my　grandfather；　my　father；　they　all　were　ministers　of　our　Chapel　there　before　me。　They　had　no　thought　in　their　day　of　London。　I　have　always　missed　that　space；　the　quiet。　I　shall　always　miss　it。　Towns　are　not　friendly　to　me。〃

She　told　him　about　St。　Dreots；　a　little　about　her　father。

〃Ah；　you're　lucky！〃　he　said。　〃You'll　return　many　times　before　you　dieand　you'll　find　no　change　there。　Those　places　do　not　change　as　towns　do。〃

They　were　standing　apart　from　the　others　near　the　window。　He　suddenly　put　his　hand　on　her　arm；　smiling　at　her。

〃My　dear；〃　he　said。　〃You　don't　mind　me　saying　'My　dear；'　but　an　old　man　has　his　privilegeswill　you　come　and　see　us　whenever　you　care　to？　My　wife　will　be　so　glad。　I　know　that　at　first　one　can　be　lonely　in　this　great　place。　Just　come　in　when　you　please。〃

He　took　her　hand　for　a　moment　and　then　turned　back　to　Aunt　Ann