the captives-第81部分

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ay；　a　Friday　afternoon。　Grace　was　knitting　a　grey　stocking；　a　long　one　that　curled　on　her　lap。　She　knitted　badly；　clumsily；　twisting　her　fingers　into　odd　shapes　and　muddling　her　needles。　Now　and　then　she　would　look　up　as　though　she　meant　to　talk；　and　then　remembering　that　it　was　Maggie　who　was　opposite　to　her　she　would　purse　her　lips　and　look　down　again。　The　fire　hummed　and　sputtered；　the　clock　ticked；　and　Grace　breathed　in　heavy　despairing　pants　over　the　difficulties　of　her　work。　The　door　opened　and　the　little　maid；　her　eyes　nervously　wandering　towards　Grace；　murmured；　〃Mr。　Cardinal；　mum。〃

The　next　thing　of　which　Maggie　was　conscious　was　Uncle　Mathew　standing　clumsily　just　inside　the　door　shifting　his　bowler　hat　between　his　two　hands。

The　relief　of　seeing　him　was　so　great　that　she　jumped　up　and　ran　towards　him　crying；　〃Oh；　Uncle　Mathew！　I'm　so　glad！　At　last！〃

He　dropped　his　bowler　in　giving　her　his　hand。　She　noticed　at　once　that　he　was　looking　very　unhappy　and　had　terribly　run　to　seed。

He　was　badly　shaved；　his　blue　suit　was　shabby　and　soiled。　He　was　fatter；　and　his　whole　body　was　flabby　and　uncared　for。　Maggie　saw　at　once　that　he　had　been　drinking；　not　very　much；　but　enough　to　make　him　a　little　uncertain　on　his　feet　and　unsteady　in　his　gaze。　Maggie；　when　she　saw　him；　felt　nothing　but　a　rush　of　pity　and　desire　to　protect　him。　Very　strangely　she　felt　the　similarity　between　him　and　herself。　Nobody　wanted　either　of　themthey　must　just　love　one　another　because　there　was　no　one　else　to　love　them。

She　was　aware　then　that　Grace　had　risen　and　was　standing　looking　at　them　both。

She　turned　round　to　her　saying；　〃Grace；　this　is　my　uncle。　You've　heard　me　speak　of　him；　haven't　you？　He　was　very　kind　to　me　when　I　was　a　little　girl　。　。　。　Uncle；　this　is　my　sister…in…law；　Miss　Trenchard。〃

Uncle　Mathew　smiled　and；　rather　unsteadily；　came　forward；　he　caught　her　hand　in　both　his　damp；　hot　ones。　〃Very　pleased　to　meet　you；　Miss　Trenchard。　I　know　you've　been　very　good　to　my　little　Maggie；　at　least　when　I　say　'my　little　Maggie'　she's　not　mine　any　longer。　She　belongs　to　your　brother　now；　doesn't　she？　Of　course　she　does。　I　hope　you're　well。〃

Maggie　realised　then　the　terrified　distress　in　Grace's　eyes。　The　grey　stocking　had　fallen　to　the　ground；　and　Grace　stared　at　Uncle　Mathew　in　a　kind　of　fascinated　horror。　She　realised　of　course　at　once　that　he　was　what　she　would　call　〃tipsy。〃　He　was　not　〃tipsy；〃　but　nevertheless　〃tipsy〃　enough　for　Grace。　Maggie　saw　her　take　in　every　detail　of　his　appearancehis　unshaven　cheeks；　the　wisps　of　hair　over　the　bald　top　of　his　head；　the　spots　on　his　waistcoat；　the　mud　on　his　boots；　and　again　as　she　watched　Grace　make　this　summary；　love　and　protection　for　that　unhappy　man　filled　her　heart。　For　unhappy　he　was！　She　saw　at　once　that　he　had　had　a　long　slide　downhill　since　his　last　visit　to　her。　He　was　frightenedfrightened　immediately　now　of　Grace　and　the　room　and　the　physical　worldbut　frightened　also　behind　these　things　at　some　spectre　all　his　own。　Grace　sat　down　and　tried　to　recover　herself。　She　began　to　talk　in　her　society　voice。　Maggie　knew　that　she　was　praying；　over　and　over　again；　with　a　monotony　possible　only　to　the　very　stupid；　that　there　would　be　no　callers　that　afternoon。

〃And　so　you　know　Glebeshire；　Mr。　Cardinal！　Fancy！　I've　never　been　therenever　been　there　in　my　life。　Fancy　that！　Although　so　many　of　my　relations　live　there。　I　once　nearly　went　down；　one　wet　Christmas；　and　I　was　going　to　stay　with　my　aunt；　but　something　happened　to　prevent　me。　I　think　I　caught　a　cold　at　the　time。　I　can't　quite　remember。　But　fancy　you　knowing　Glebeshire　so　well！〃

All　this　came　out　in　a　voice　that　might　have　issued　from　a　gramophone；　so　little　did　it　represent　Grace's　real　feelings　or　emotions。　Maggie　knew　so　well　that　inside　her　head　these　exclamations　were　rising　and　falling：　〃What　a　horrible　man！　What　a　dreadful　man！　Maggie's　uncle！　We're　lost　if　any　one　calls！　Oh！　I　do　hope　no　one　calls！〃

It　was　obvious　meanwhile　that　Mathew　was　urgently　wishing　for　a　moment　alone　with　Maggie。　He　looked　at　her　with　pleading　eyes；　and　once　he　winked　towards　Grace。　He　talked　on；　however；　running　some　of　his　words　into　one　another　and　paying　very　little　attention　to　anything　that　Grace　might　say：　〃No；　I　haven't　seen　my　little　niece；　Miss　Trenchard；　for　a　long　timedidn't　like　to　interfere；　in　a　way。　Thought　she'd　ask　for　me　when　she　wanted　me。　We've　always　been　the　greatest　friends。　I'm　a　bachelor；　you　seenever　married。　Not　that　I'd　like　you　to　fancy　that　I've　no　interest　in　the　other　sex；　far　from　it；　but　I'm　a　wanderer　by　nature。　A　wife　in　every　port；　perhaps。　Well；　who　knows？　But　one's　lonely　at　times；　one　is　indeed。　A　pretty　tidy　little　place　you've　got　here。　Yes；　you　havewith　a　garden　too。〃

Paul　came　in；　and　Maggie　saw　him　start　as　Mathew's　stout　figure　surprised　him。　She　felt　then　a　rush　of　hostility　against　Paul。　It　was　as　though；　at　every　point；　she　must　run　in　fiercely　to　defend　her　uncle。

Meanwhile　Grace's　worst　fears　were　realised。　The　little　maid　announced　Miss　Purves　and　Mrs。　Maxse。　A　terrible　half…hour　followed。　Miss　Purves；　as　soon　as　she　understood　that　this　strange　man　was　Mrs。　Trenchard's　uncle；　was　all　eager　excitement；　and　Uncle　Mathew；　bewildered　by　so　many　strangers；　confused　by　a　little　unsteadiness　in　his　legs　that　would　have　been　nothing　had　he　not　been　in　a　small　room　crowded　with　furniture；　finally　clasped　Mrs。　Maxse　by　the　shoulder　in　his　endeavour　to　save　himself　from　tumbling　over　the　little　table　that　held　the　cakes　and　bread…and…butter。　His　hot；　heavy　hand　pressed　into　Mrs。　Maxse's　flesh；　and　Mrs。　Maxse；　terrified　indeed；　screamed。

He　began　to　apologise；　and　in　his　agitation　jerked　Miss　Purves'　cup　of　tea　from　the　table　on　to　the　floor。

After　that　he　realised　that　it　would　be　better　for　him　to　go。　He　began　elaborate　apologies。　Paul　saw　him　to　the　door。　He　gripped　Paul　by　the　hand。　〃I'm　delighted　to　have　met　you；〃　he　said　in　full　hearing　of　the　trembling　ladies。　〃You've　given　me　such　a　good　time。　Give　my　little　Maggie　a　good　time　too。　She's　not　looking　over　well。　Send　her　up　to　London　to　stay　with　me　for　a　bit。〃

Maggie　saw　him　to　the　gate。　In　the　middle　of　the　little　drive　he　stopped；　turning　towards　her；　leaning　his　hands　heavily　upon　her。　〃Maggie　dear；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　in　a　bad　way；　a　very　bad　way。　You　won't　desert　me？〃

〃Of　course　I　won't；〃　she　answered。　〃I　may　want　your　help　in　a　week　or　two。〃

He　looked　dismally　about　him；　at　the　thick；　dull　laurel　bushes　and　the　heavy；　grey　sky。　〃I　don't　like　this　place；　Maggie；〃　he　said；　〃and　all　those　women。　It's　religion　again；　and　it's　worse　than　that　Chapel。　You　don't　seem　to　be　able　to　get　away　from　religion。　You're　not　happy；　my　dear。〃

〃Yes；　I　am；〃　she　answered　firmly。

〃No；　you're　not。　And　I'm　not。　But　it　will　be　all　right　in　the　end；　I've　no　doubt。　You'll　never　desert　me；　Maggie。〃

〃I'll　never　desert　you；〃　Maggie　answered。

He　bent　down　and　kissed　her；　his　breath　whisky…laden。　She　kissed　him　eagerly；　tenderly。　For　a　moment　she　felt　that　she　would　go　with　him；　just　as　she　was；　and　leave　them　all。

〃Uncle；〃　she　said；　〃you　understand　how　it　is；　don't　you？　We'd　have　asked　you　to　stay　if　we'd　known。〃

〃Oh；　that's　all　right。〃　He　looked　at　her　mysteriously。　〃That　new　sister…in…law　of　yours　was　shocked　with　me。　They　wouldn't　have　me　in　the　house。　I　saw　that。　And　I　only　had　one　glass　at　the　station。　I'm　not　much　of　a　man　in　society　now。　That's　the　trouble　。　。　。　But　next　time　I'll　come　down　and　just　send　you　a　line　and　you'll　come　to　see　me　in　my　own　little　placewon't　you？　I'm　in　the　devil　of　a　mess；　Maggie；　that's　the　truth；　and　I　don't　know　how　to　get　out　of　it。　I've　been　a　bit　of　a　fool；　I　have。〃

She　saw　the　look　of　terror　in　his　eye　again。

〃Would　some　money〃　she　suggested。

〃Oh；　I'm　afraid　it's　past　five　pounds　now；　my　dear。〃　He　sighed　heavily。　〃Well；　I　must　be　getting　along。　You'll　catch　your　death　of　cold　standing　out　here。　We　ought　to　have　been　together　all　this　time；　you　know。　It　would　have　been　better　for　both　of　us。〃

He　kissed　her　again　and　left　her。　She　slowly　returned　into　the　house。　Curiously；　he　had　made　her　happier　by　his　visit。　Her　pluck　returned。　She　needed　it。　Grace　was　now　stirred　by　the　most　active　of　all　her　passionsfear。

Nevertheless　Grace　and　Paul　behaved　very　well。　Maggie　understood　the　shock　that　visit　must　have　given　them。　She　watched　Grace　imagining　the　excited　stories　that　would　flow　from　the　lips　of　Miss　Purves　and　Mrs。　Maxse。　She　was　determined；　however；　that　Grace　and　Paul　should　not　suffer　in　silenceand　Uncle　Mathew　must　be　vindicated。

At　supper　that　night　she　plunged：

〃Uncle　Mathew's　been　very　ill；〃　she　began；　〃for　a　long　time　now。　He　wasn't　himself　this　afternoon；　I'm　afraid。　He　was　very　upset　at　some　news　that　he'd　just　had。　And　then　meeting　so　many　strangers　at　once…　…〃

Maggie　saw　that　Grace　avoided　her　eyes。

〃I　don't　think　we'll　discuss　it；　Maggie；　if　you　don't　mind。　Mr。　Cardinal　was　strange　in　his　behaviour；　certainly。　It　was　a　pity　that　Miss　Purves　came。　But　it's　better　not　to　discuss　it。〃

〃I　don't　agree；〃　said　Maggie。　〃If　you　think　that　I'm　ashamed　of　Uncle　Mathew　you're　quite　wrong。　He's　very　unhappy　and　lonely〃　She　felt　her　voice　tremble。　〃He　hasn't　got　any　one　to　look　after　him〃

Grace's　hand　was　trembling　as　she　nervously　crumbled　her　bread。　Still　without　looking　at　Maggie　she　said：

〃By　the　way；　you　did　the　church　flowers　this　morning　didn't　you；　eh？〃

Maggie　turned　white　and；　as　always　on　these　occasions；　her　heart　thumped；　leaping；　as　it　seemed；　into　the　very　palms　of　her　hands。

〃But　it　was　to…morrow〃　she　began。

〃You　remember　that　I　told　you　three　days　ago　that　it　was　to　be　this　morning　instead　of　the　usual　Thursday　because　of　the　Morgans'　wedding。〃

〃Oh；　Grace；　I'm　so　sorry！　I　had　remembered；　I　had　indeed；　and　then　Lucy　suddenly　having　that　chill。〃

Paul　struck　in。　〃Really；　Maggie；　that's　too　bad。　No　flowers　to…　morrow？　Those　others　were　quite　dead　yesterday。　I　noticed　at　evensong　。　。　。　Really；　really。　And　the　Morgans'　wedding！〃

Maggie　sat　there；　trembling。

〃I'm　very　sorry；〃　she　said；　almost　whispering。　Why　did　fate　play　against　her？　Why；　when　she　might　have　fought　the　Uncle　Mathew　battle　victoriously；　had　Grace　suddenly　been　given　this　weapon　wi