the captives-第50部分

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se　any　of　their　faculties。　Then　at　the　end；　when　the　middle…aged　gentleman　nobly　surrendered　his　Charity　girl　to　the　handsome　soldier；　the　little　tune　came　back　again　and　all　was　well。

They　came　out　of　the　theatre　into　lights　and　shadows　and　mists　cabs　and　omnibuses　and　crowds　of　people　。　。　。　Maggie　clung　to　Martin's　arm。　It　seemed　to　her；　dazzled　for　an　instant；　that　a　great　are　of　white　piercing　light　cut　the　black　street　and　that　in　the　centre　of　this　arc　a　tree；　painted　green；　stood；　and　round　the　tree　figures；　dark　shapes；　and　odd　shadows　danced。　She　shaded　her　eyes　with　her　hand。　The　long　shining　line　of　Shaftesbury　Avenue　ran　out；　from　her　feet；　into　thick　clusters　of　silver　lights。　The　tree　had　vanished　and　now　there　were　policemen　and　ladies　in　hats　and　strange　mysterious　houses。　She　caught　above　it　all；　between　the　roofs；　the　pale　flat　river　of　the　evening　sky　and　in　this　river　stars　like　golden　buttons　floated。　The　moon　was　there　too；　a　round　amber　coin　with　the　laughing　face　stamped　upon　it。

〃What　time　is　it？〃　she　asked　Martin。

〃Half…past　five；〃　he　said。　〃How　early　the　moon　rises。　It's　only　climbing　now。　See　the　chimney's　tossing　it　about。〃

〃I　must　get　home。〃

〃No；　no。〃　He　held　her　arm　fiercely。　〃You　must　come　to　tea。　That's　part　of　the　programme。　We　have　plenty　of　time　before　seven　o'clock。〃　She　knew　that　she　ought　to　return。　Something　seemed　to　tell　her；　as　she　stood　there；　that　now　was　the　moment　to　break　this　off。　But　when　his　hand　was　on　her　arm；　when　he　was　so　close　to　her；　she　could　not　leave　him。　She　would　have　one　hour　more　。　。　。　He　took　her　across　the　street；　down　into　darkness；　up　into　light。　Then　they　went　into　a　shop；　up　some　stairs；　and　were　suddenly　in　a　little　room　with　a　table　with　a　cloth；　a　window　looking　out　into　the　lamp…lit　square；　cherry…coloured　curtains　and　gay　hunting　pictures　on　the　walls。　Martin　pushed　a　bell　in　the　wall　and　a　stout　waiter；　perspiring；　smiling；　a　napkin　in　his　hand；　came　to　the　door。　〃Tea；〃　said　Martin；　and　he　vanished。　〃It's　all　right；〃　he　said；　drawing　her　to　a　creaking　wicker　armchair　near　the　empty　fireplace。　〃No　one　will　interrupt　us。　They　know　me　here。　I　ordered　the　room　yesterday。〃　Tea　came；　but　she　could　not　eat　anything。　In　some　strange　way　that　moment　in　the　theatre　when　he　had　pressed　her　hand　had　altered　everything。　She　recognised　in　herself　a　new　Maggie；　she　was　excited　with　a　thick　burning　excitement；　she　was　almost　sleepy　with　the　strain　of　it　and　her　cheeks　were　hot；　but　her　throat　icy　cold。　When　she　told　him　that　she　wasn't　hungry；　he　said；　〃I'm　not　either。〃　Then　he　added；　not　looking　at　her；　〃That　fellow　won't　be　back　for　an　hour。〃　He　came　and　stood　by　her　looking　down　on　her。　He　bent　forward　over　the　chair　and　put　his　hands　under　her　chin　and　pressed　her　face　up　towards　his。　But　he　did　not　kiss　her。　Then　he　took　her　hands　and　pulled　her　gently　out　of　the　chair；　sat　down　on　it　himself；　then；　still　very　tenderly；　put　his　arms　round　her　and　drew　her　down　to　him。　She　lay　back　against　him；　her　cheek　against　his；　his　arms　tight　around　her。　He　whispered　to　her　again　and　again；　〃Darling　。　。　。　Darling　。　。　。　Darling。〃　She　felt　now　so　terribly　part　of　him　that　she　seemed　to　have　lost　all　her　own　identity。　His　hands；　softly；　tenderly　passed　up　and　down　her　body；　stroking　her　hair；　her　cheeks；　her　arms。　Her　mouth　was　against　his　cheek　and　she　was　utterly　motionless；　shivering　a　little　sometimes　and　once　her　hand　moved　up　and　caught　his　and　then　moved　away　again。　At　last；　as　it　seemed　from　an　infinite　distance；　his　voice　came　to　her；　speaking　to　her。　〃Maggie；　darling；〃　he　said；　〃don't　go　back　till　late　to…night。　You　can　say　that　those　people　asked　you　to　stay　to　dinner。　Your　aunts　can't　do　anything。　Nothing　can　happen。　Stay　with　me　here　and　then　later　we'll　go　and　have　dinner　at　a　little　place　I　know　。　。　。　and　then　come　back　here　。　。　。　come　back　here　。　。　。　like　this。　Maggie；　darling；　say　you　will。　You　must。　We　mayn't　have　another　chance　for　so　long。　You're　coming　to　me　afterwards。　What　does　it　matter；　a　week　or　two　earlier？　What　does　it　matter；　Maggie？　Stay　here。　Let　us　love　one　another　and　have　something　to　think　about　。　。　。　to　remember　。　。　。　to　remember　。　。　。　to　remember　。　。　。〃　His　voice　seemed　to　slip　away　into　infinity　as　voices　in　a　dream　do。　She　could　not　say　anything　because　she　was　in　a　dream　too。　She　could　only　feel　his　hand　stroking　her　face。　He　seemed　to　take　her　silence　for　consent。　He　suddenly　kissed　her　furiously；　pressing　her　head　back　until　it　hurt。　That　woke　her。　She　pushed　his　arms　back　and　sprang　up。　Her　hands　were　trembling。　She　shook　her　head。　〃No；　Martin。　No；　not　now。〃　〃Why　not？〃　He　looked　at　her　angrily　from　the　chair。　His　face　was　altered；　he　was　frowning；　his　eyes　were　dark。　〃I'm　not　going　to　stay　now。〃　Her　voice　shook　in　spite　of　herself。　With　shaking　hands　she　patted　her　dress。　〃Why　not？〃　he　asked　again。　〃I'm　not。　I　promised　the　aunts。　Not　now。　It　would　spoil　everything。〃　〃Oh；　very　well。〃　He　was　furious　with　her。　He　wouldn't　meet　her　eyes。　〃Not　now。〃　She　felt　that　she　would　cry；　tears　flooded　her　eyes。　〃It's　been　so　lovely　。　。　。　Martin　。　。　。　Don't　look　like　that。　Oh；　I　love　you　too　much！〃　She　broke　off。　With　a　sudden　movement　she　fell　at　his　feet；　kneeling　there；　she　drew　his　hands　to　her　face；　she　kissed　them；　the　palms　of　his　hands　over　and　over　again。　His　anger　suddenly　left　him。　He　put　his　arms　round　her　and　kissed　her；　first　her　eyes；　then　her　cheeks；　then；　gently；　her　mouth。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Only　I　feel　somehow　。　。　。　I　feel　as　though　our　time　had　come　to　an　end。〃　〃But　it　shan't？〃　He　turned　upon　her　fiercely；　held　her　hands；　looked　in　her　face。　〃Maggie；　do　you　swear　that　you'll　love　me　always；　whatever　I　am；　whatever　I　do？〃　〃I　swear；〃　she　answered；　gazing　into　his　eyes；〃　that　I'll　love　you　always；　whatever　you　are；　whatever　you　do。〃　Then　she　went　away；　leaving　him　by　the　table；　staring　after　her。　In　the　street　she　saw　that　her　chrysanthemum　was　in　pieces；　torn　and　scattered　and　destroyed。　She　slipped　off　the　ring　and　put　it　into　her　pocket；　then；　with　forebodings　in　her　heart；　as　though　she　did　indeed　know　that　her　good　time　was　over；　she　turned　towards　home。　She　was　right。　Her　good　time　was　over。　That　night　she　was　left　alone。　Martha　let　her　in　and；　regarding　her　darkly；　said　nothing。　The　aunts　also　said　nothing；　sitting　all　the　evening　under　the　green　shade　of　the　lamp　in　the　drawing…room；　Aunt　Anne　reading　a　pamphlet；　Aunt　Elizabeth　sewing。　Maggie　pretended　to　read　but　she　saw　no　words。　She　saw　only　the　green　lamp　like　a　dreadful　bird　suspended　there　and　Aunt　Anne's　chiselled　sanctity。　Over　and　over　again　she　reasoned　with　herself。　There　was　no　cause　for　panic。　Nothing　had　happened　to　change　thingsand　yetand　yet　everything　was　changed。　Everything　had　been　changed　from　that　moment　when　Martin　pressed　her　hand　in　the　theatre。　Everything！　。　。　。　Danger　now　of　every　sort。　She　could　be　brave；　she　could　meet　anything　if　she　were　only　sure　of　Martin。　But　he　too　seemed　strange　to　her。　She　remembered　his　dark　look；　his　frown　when　she　had　refused　him。　Oh；　this　loneliness；　this　helplessness。　If　she　could　be　with　him；　beside　him；　she　would　fear　nothing。　That　night；　the　first　faint　suspicion　of　jealousy；　of　doubt；　an　agonising　dart　of　pain　at　the　knowledge　of　what　it　would　mean　to　her　now　if　he　left　her；　stirred　in　her　breast。　This　room　was　stifling。　She　got　up　from　her　chair；　went　to　the　window；　looked　out　between　the　thick　curtains　at　the　dark　deserted　street。　〃What　is　it；　Maggie？〃　〃Nothing；　Aunt　Anne。〃　〃You're　very　restless；　dear。〃　〃It's　close。　May　I　open　the　door？〃　〃A　little；　dear。〃　She　opened　the　door　and　then　sat　there　hearing　the　Armed　Men　sway　ever　so　slightly；　tap；　tap；　against　the　wall　in　the　passage。　That　night　she　scarcely　slept　at　all；　only　tumbling　into　sudden　nightmare　dreams　when　something　had　her　by　the　throat　and　Martin　was　not　there。　In　the　morning　as　soon　as　she　could　escape　she　hurried　to　Piccadilly。　Martin　was　waiting　for　her。　When　she　saw　him　she　realised　at　once　that　her　good　time　was　indeed　over。　His　face　was　white　and　strained。　He　scarcely　looked　at　her　but　stared　anxiously　up　and　down　the　street。

〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked　breathlessly。　〃Look　here；　Maggie；〃　he　began；　still　scarcely　looking　at　her。　〃I　must　get　back　at　once。　I　only　came　to　tell　you　that　we　must　drop　our　meetings　for　the　next　day　or　two　until　it's　blown　over。〃

〃Until　what's　blown　over；〃　she　asked　him。

〃It's　my　father。　I　don't　know　what　exactly　has　happened。　They'll　none　of　them　tell　me；　damn　them。　It's　Caroline　Smith。　She's　been　talking　to　Amy　about　you　and　me。　I　know　that　because　of　what　Amy　said　about　you　at　breakfast　this　morning。〃

〃What　did　she　say？〃

〃She　wouldn't　speak　out。　She　hinted。　But　she　admitted　that　Caroline　Smith　had　told　her　something。　But　she　doesn't　matter。　Nothing　matters　except　father。　He　mustn't　be　excited　just　now。　His　heart's　so　bad。　Any　little　thing　。　。　。　We　must　wait。〃

She　saw　that　he　was　scarcely　realising　her　at　all。　She　choked　down　all　questions　that　concerned　themselves。　She　simply　agreed；　nodding　her　head。

He　did　look　at　her　then；　smiling　as　he　used　to　do。

〃It's　awfully　hard　on　us。　It　won't　be　for　more　than　a　day　or　two。　But　I　must　put　things　right　at　home　or　it　will　be　all　up。　I　don't　care　for　the　others；　of　course；　but　if　anything　happened　to　father　through　me　。　。　。〃　He　told　her　to　write　to　the　Charing　Cross　post…　office。　He　would　do　the　same。　In　a　day　or　two　it　would　be　all　right。　He　pressed　her　hand　and　was　gone。

When　she　looked　about　her　the　street　seemed　quite　empty　although　it　was　full　of　people。　She　threw　up　her　head。　She　wouldn't　be　beaten　by　anybody　。　。　。　only；　it　was　lonely　going　back　to　the　house　and　all　of　them　。　。　。　alone　。　。　。　without　Martin。

She　cried　a　little　on　her　way　home。　But　they　were　the　last　tears　she　shed。




CHAPTER　IX

THE　INSIDE　SAINTS


Maggie；　when　she　was　nearly　home；　halted　suddenly。　She　stopped　as　when　on　the　threshold　of　a　room　that　should　be　empty　one　sees　waiting　a　stranger。　If　at　the　end　of　all　this　she　should　lose　Martin！　。　。　。

There　was　the　stranger　who　had　come　to　her　now　and　would　not　again　depart。　She　recognised　the　sharp　pain；　the　almost　unconscious　pulling　back　on　the　sudden　edge　of　a　dim　pit；　as　something　that　would　always　be　with　her　now