the captives-第84部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃How　is　Aunt？〃　she　asked　him。　He　looked　very　grave；　and　behind　his　smiles　and　welcome　to　her　she　saw　that　he　was　a　tired　and　even　exhausted　man。

〃They　don't　think　she　can　live　through　the　night；〃　he　answered　her；　〃but；　thank　God；　she's　out　of　all　pain　and　will　never　suffer　any　more。　She's　tranquil　in　her　mind　too；　and　the　one　thing　she　wanted　to　put　her　quiet　was　to　see　you。　She's　been　worrying　about　you　for　months。　Why　didn't　you　come　up　to　see　us　all　this　time；　Maggie？　That　wasn't　kind　of　you。〃

〃No；　it　wasn't；〃　said　Maggie。　〃But　I　didn't　dare。〃

〃Didn't　dare？〃　he　asked；　astonished。

〃No；　there　were　things　all　this　would　have　reminded　me　of　too　badly。　It　wasn't　safe　to　be　reminded　of　them。〃

〃Haven't　you　been　happy；　then；　there？〃　he　asked　her　almost　in　a　whisper。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；〃　she　didn't　look　up　at　him。　〃I　made　a　mistake　in　doing　it。　It　was　my　fault；　not　theirs。　No；　I　haven't　been　happy　if　you　want　to　know。　And　I　shan't　be。　There's　no　chance。　It's　all　wrong；　they　all　hate　me。　I　seem　to　them　odd；　mad；　like　a　witch　they　used　to　burn　in　the　old　days。　And　I　can't　alter　myself。　And　I　don't　want　to。〃

It　was　amazing　what　good　it　did　her　to　bring　all　this　out。　She　had　said　none　of　it　to　any　one　before。

〃Oh　dear；　oh　dear；〃　sighed　Mr。　Magnus。　〃I　hadn't　known。　I　thought　it　was　all　going　so　well。　But　don't　tell　your　aunt　this。　When　she　asks　you；　say　you're　very；　very　happy　and　it's　all　going　perfectly。　She　must　die　at　peace。　Will　you；　my　dear；　will　you？〃

His　almost　trembling　anxiety　touched　her。

〃Why；　dear　Mr。　Magnus；　of　course　I　will。　And　I　am　happy　now　that　I'm　back　with　all　of　you。　All　I　want　is　for　people　to　be　fond　of　me；　you　know；　but　there's　something　in　me〃　She　jumped　up　and　stood　in　front　of　him。　〃Mr。　Magnus！　You're　wise；　you　write　books；　you　know　all　about　things；　tell　metell　me　the　absolute　truth。　Am　I　odd；　am　I　queer；　am　I　like　a　witch　that　ought　to　be　burnt　at　the　stake？〃

He　was　deeply　touched。　He　put　his　hands　on　her　shoulders；　then　suddenly　drew　her　to　him　and　kissed　her。

〃I　don't　find　you　odd；　my　dear；　but　then；　God　forgive　me；　I'm　odd　myself。　We're　all　rather　odd　in　this　house；　I'm　afraid。　But　don't　you　worry；　Maggie。　You're　worth　a　wagon…load　of　ordinary　people。〃

She　drew　slowly　away。　She　sighed。

〃I　wish　Paul　and　Grace　only　thought　so；〃　she　said。

They　had　a　quiet　little　tea　together；　Maggie　was　longing　to　ask　Mr。　Magnus　questions　about　himself；　but　she　didn't　dare　to　do　so。　He　wrapped　himself　in　a　reserved　friendly　melancholy　which　she　could　not　penetrate。　He　looked　so　much　older；　so　much　more　faded；　as　though　the　heat　and　fire　had　gradually　stolen　away　from　him　and　left　him　only　the　grey　ghost　of　what　he　had　been。

〃Are　you　writing　any　books；　Mr。　Magnus　？〃　she　asked　him。

〃Any　books？〃　he　answered　smiling。　〃Surely　one　would　be　enough；　my　dear。　I　have　one　half…finished　as　a　matter　of　fact；　but　it's　not　satisfactory。　If　it　weren't　for　the　bread　and　butter　I　don't　think　I'd　ever　tackle　it　again。　Or　rather　the　bread；　I　should　say。　It's　precious　little　butter　it　brings　in。〃

〃What's　it　called？〃　she　asked。

〃'The　Toad　in　the　Hole；'〃　he　said。

〃What　a　funny　name！　What　does　it　mean？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃It　meant　something　when　I　began　it；　but　the　meaning　doesn't　seem　important　now。〃

In　a　little　while　he　left　her；　saying：　〃Now　if　I　were　you　I'd　take　a　little　nap；　and　later　on　I'll　wake　you　and　we'll　go　and　see　your　aunt。〃

She　slept；　lying　back　in　the　blue　armchair　in　front　of　the　fire；　with　only　the　leaping　flames　as　light　to　the　room。　Strange　and　dim　but　unspeakably　sweet　were　her　dreams。　It　seemed　that　she　had　escaped　for　ever　from　Paul　and　Grace　and　Skeaton；　and　that　in　some　strange　way　Martin　was　back　with　her　again；　the　same　old　Martin；　with　his　laugh　and　the　light　in　his　eyes　and　his　rough　red　face。　He　had　come　into　the　roomhe　was　standing　by　the　door　looking　at　her；　she　ran　to　him；　her　hands　stretched　out；　cries　of　joy　on　her　lips；　but　oven　as　she　reached　him　there　was　a　cry　through　the　house：　〃Your　Aunt　Anne　is　dead！　Your　Aunt　Anne　is　dead！〃　and　all　the　bells　began　to　toll；　and　she　was　in　the　Chapel　again　and　great　crowds　surged　past　her。　Aunt　Anne's　bier　borne　on　high　above　them　all。　She　cried　aloud；　and　woke　to　find　Mr。　Magnus　standing　at　her　side；　one　glance　at　him　told　her　that　he　was　in　terrible　distress。

〃You　must　come　at　once；〃　he　said。　〃Your　aunt　may　have　only　a　few　minutes　to　live。〃

She　followed　him；　still　only　half…awake；　rubbing　her　eyes　with　her　knuckles；　and　feeling　as　though　she　were　continuing　that　episode　when　Martha　had　led　her　at　the　dead　of　night　into　her　aunt's　bedroom。

The　chill　of　the　passages　however　woke　her　fully；　and　then　her　one　longing　and　desire　was　that　Aunt　Anne　should　be　conscious　enough　to　recognise　her　and　be　aware　of　her　love　for　her。

The　close　room；　with　its　smell　of　medicines　and　eau…de…Cologne　and　its　strange　breathless　hush；　frightened　her　just　as　it　had　done　once　before。　She　saw　again　the　religious　picture；　the　bleeding　Christ　and　the　crucifix；　the　high　white　bed；　the　dim　windows　and　the　little　table　with　the　bottles　and　the　glasses。　It　was　all　as　it　had　been　before。　Her　terror　grew。　She　felt　as　though　no　power　could　drag　her　to　that　bed。　Something　lurked　there；　something　horrible　and　unclean；　that　would　spring　upon　her　and　hold　her　down　with　its　claws　。　。　。

〃Maggie！〃　said　the　clear　faint　voice　that　she　knew　so　well。　Her　terror　left　her。　She　did　not　notice　Aunt　Elizabeth；　who　was　seated　close　to　the　bed；　nor　Mr。　Magnus；　nor　the　nurse；　nor　the　doctor。　She　went　forward　unafraid。

〃Doctor；　would　you　mind　。　。　。〃　the　voice　went　on。　〃Three　minutes　alone　with　my　niece　。　。　。〃　The　doctor；　a　stout　red…faced　man；　said　something；　the　figures；　all　shadowy　in　the　dim　light；　withdrew。

Maggie　was　aware　of　nothing　except　that　there　was　something　of　the　utmost　urgency　that　she　must　say。　She　came　close　to　the　bed；　found　a　chair　there；　sat　down　and　bent　forward。　There　her　aunt　was　lying；　the　black　hair　in　a　dark　shadow　across　the　pillow；　the　face　white　and　sharp；　and　the　eyes　burning　with　a　fierce　far…seeing　light。

They　had　the　intense　gaze　of　a　blind　man　to　whom　sight　has　suddenly　been　given：　he　cries　〃I　see！　I　see！〃　stretching　out　his　arms　towards　the　sun；　the　trees；　the　rich　green　fields。　She　turned　her　head　and　put　both　her　hands　about　Maggie's；　she　smiled。

Maggie　said；　〃Oh；　Aunt　Anne；　do　you　feel　bad？〃

〃No　dear。　I'm　in　no　pain　at　all。　Now　that　you've　come　I'm　quite　happy。　It　was　my　one　anxiety。〃　Her　voice　was　very　faint；　so　that　Maggie　had　to　lean　forward　to　catch　the　words。

〃You'll　have　thought　me　unkind　all　this　time；〃　said　Maggie；　〃not　to　have　come；　but　it　hasn't　been　unkindness。　Many　times　I've　wanted；　but　there　seemed　to　be　so　much　to　do　that　it　wasn't　RIGHT　to　come　away。〃

〃Are　you　happy；　dear？〃　Aunt　Anne　said　in　her　ghostly　whisper。

〃Very；　very　happy；〃　said　Maggie；　remembering　what　Mr。　Magnus　had　said　to　her。

Aunt　Anne　sighed。　〃Ah；　that's　good。　It　was　my　one　worry　that　you　mightn't　be　happy。　I　was　all　wrong　about　you；　Maggie；　trying　to　push　you　my　way　instead　of　letting　you　go　your　own。　I　should　have　waited　for　God　to　show　His　direction。　But　I　was　impatientand　if　you　were　unhappy〃　She　broke　off　and　for　a　moment　Maggie　thought　that　she　would　speak　no　more。　She　lay　there；　with　her　eyes　closed；　like　a　waxen　image。

She　went　on　again：　〃I've　always　loved　you；　Maggie；　from　the　very　first；　but　I　was　so　impatient　for　you　to　come　to　God。　I　thought　He　would　reveal　Himself　and　you　not　be　ready。　He　did　reveal　Himself；　but　not　as　I　had　thought。　He　came　that　night　and　took　Mr。　Warlock　with　Himthat　was　true；　Maggie；　that　night。　All　trueAll　true。　God　will　show　you　His　way。　It　will　be　revealed　to　you。　Heaven　and　its　glories。　God　and　His　dear　Son　。　。　。〃

She　stopped　again　and　lay　with　her　eyes　closed。

Maggie　timidly；　at　last；　said：

〃Aunt　Anne；　I　want　you　to　forgive　me　for　all　my　wickedness。　I　didn't　mean　to　be　wicked；　but　I　just　couldn't　say　my　feelings　out　loud。　I　was　shy　of　them　somehow。　I　still　am；　perhaps。　Maybe　I　always　will　be。　But　I　just　want　to　say　that　I　know　now　how　good　you　were　to　me　all　that　time　and　I'm　grateful　from　my　heart。〃

〃You'll　get　better　won't　you；　Aunt　Anne；　and　then　I'll　come　often？　I'm　shy　to　say　my　feelings；　but　I　love　you。　Aunt　Anne；　for　what　you've　been　to　me。〃

She　stopped。　There　was　a　deathly　stillness　in　the　chamber。　The　lamp　had　sunk　low　and　the　fire　was　a　gold　cavern。　Dusk　stole　on　stealthy　feet　from　wall　to　wall。　Aunt　Anne　did　not；　it　seemed；　breathe。　Her　hands　had　dropped　from　Maggie's　and　her　arms　lay　straight　upon　the　sheet。　Her　eyes　were　closed。

Suddenly　she　whispered：

〃Dear　Maggie　。　。　。　Maggie　。　。　。　My　Lord　and　my　God　。　。　。　My　Master　。　。　。〃

Then　very　faintly：　〃The　Lord　is　my　Shepherd　。　。　。　My　Shepherd　。　。　。　He　shall　lead　me　forth　。　。　。　beside　the　pastures　。　。　。　my　rod　and　my　staff　。　。　。　The　Lord　。　。　。〃

She　gave　a　little　sigh　and　her　head　rolled　to　one　side。

Maggie；　with　a　startled　fear；　was　suddenly　conscious　that　she　was　alone　in　the　room。　She　went　to　the　door　and　called　for　the　doctor。　As　they　gathered　about　the　bed　the　caverns　of　the　fire　fell　with　the　sharp　sound　of　a　closing　door。

Next　morning　Maggie　wrote　to　Paul　telling　him　that　her　aunt　was　dead；　that　the　funeral　would　be　in　two　days'　time；　and　that　she　would　stay　in　London　until　that　was　over。　She　had　not　very　much　time　just　then　to　think　of　the　house　and　the　dead　woman　in　it；　because　on　the　breakfast…table　there　was　this　letter　for　her。

23　CROMWELL　RD。；　KENSINGTON；　March　12；　1912。

DEAR　MRS。　TRENCHARD；

I　hear　that　you　have　come　to　London　to　visit　your　aunt。　I　have　been　hoping　for　some　time　past　to　have　an　opportunity　of　seeing　you。　I　am　sure　that　you　will　have　no　wish　at　all　to　see　me；　at　the　same　time　I　do　beg　you　to　give　me　half　an　hour　at　the　above　address。　Five　o'clock　to…morrow　would　be　a　good　time。　Please　ask　for　Miss　Warlock。

Believe　me；　Yours　faithfully；　AMY　WARLOCK。

Maggie　stared　at　the　signature；　then；　with　a　thickly　beating　heart；　decided　that　of　course　she　would　go。　She　was　not　afraid　but　Martin's　sister！　What　would　come　of　it？　The　house　was　strangely　silent；　Aunt　Elizabeth　sniffed　into　her　handkerchief　a　good　deal；　Mr。　Magnus；　his　face　strain