the captives-第93部分

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Grace　started　as　though　Maggie　had　indeed　dropped　a　bomb　at　her　feet。　She　looked　up　at　Maggie；　wildly；　her　eyes　staring　about　the　room　as　though　she　were　looking　for　some　exit　of　escape。

〃Frightened？〃　she　repeated。

〃Yes；　you　are；〃　said　Maggie。　〃That's　what　worries　me　most。　No　one's　ever　been　frightened　of　me　beforeat　least　I　don't　think　any　one　has。〃　Maggie　laughed。　〃Why；　Grace；　it　seems　so　funny　any　one　being　frightened　of　me。　I　couldn't　hurt　any　one　if　I　wanted　to；　and　I'm　sure　I　never　want　to　unless　it's　Mrs。　Maxse。　Be　angry　with　me　as　much　as　you　like；　Grace；　but　don't　be　frightened　of　me。　Why；　that's　ridiculous！〃

It　was　the　worst　word　to　have　chosen。　Grace　flushed　a　dull　unwholesome　purple。

〃I'm　sorry　you　think　me　ridiculous；　Maggie；〃　she　said。　〃Perhaps　I　am。　I'm　sure　I　don't　know。　Yes；　perhaps　I　am。　What　I　mean　is　that　what's　ridiculous　to　one　is　not　ridiculous　to　another。　You're　a　strange　girl；　Maggie；　and　you　and　I　will　never　get　on。　No；　never。　But　all　I　ask　is　that　you　should　make　Paul　happy。　That　is　enough　for　me。　I　care　for　nothing　else。　He　isn't　very　happy　just　now。　What　I　mean　is　that　any　one　can　see　he　isn't　eating　his　meals　properly。〃

〃Oh；　Grace；〃　cried　Maggie。　〃I　didn't　mean　that　you　were　ridiculous。　I　meant　that　any　one　being　frightened　of　me　was　ridiculous。　Anyway；　I'm　very　sorry　that　I've　made　you　and　Paul　unhappy。　That's　all。〃

She　turned　and　went。

It　was　the　most　lovely　of　April　days；　soft；　primrose…coloured；　the　sea…breeze　gently　tempered　by　mist…veiled　sun。　Maggie　sat　at　her　bedroom　window　overlooking　the　drive　and　the　blue…grey　field　that　ran　to　the　woods。　She　knew　that　there　would　be　no　difficulty　about　her　escape　to　the　Revival　meeting。　Paul　had　arranged　that　there　should　be　an　evening　service　at　the　Church　at　the　same　hour；　an　act　of　rather　Un…Christian　defiance。　Maggie　sat　there；　looking　down　in　a　condition　of　strange　bewildering　excitement　on　to　the　laurel　bushes。　It　was　wonderful　to　think　that　in　another　half…hour　she　would　see　Miss　Avies　once　more；　hear　those　wild　hymns　again；　catch　the　stridency　of　Thurston's　voice；　all　these　things　spoke　of　Martin。　She　felt　as　though　he　were　stealing　towards　her　out　of　the　dusk；　it　was　as　though；　without　any　reason；　she　expected　to　find　him　at　the　service　。　。　。　although　she　knew　that　he　could　not　be　there。

She　heard　the　Church　bell　begin　to　ring；　then　the　hall…door　opened　and　Paul　came　out。　He　had　on　his　soft　black　hat；　he　was　carrying　his　Bible　and　prayer…book　under　his　arm。　He　stood；　for　a　moment；　beside　the　hall…door　as　though　he　were　listening　or　expecting　something。　She　had　a　strange　impulse　to　run　down　to　him；　so　strong　was　it　that　she　got　up　and　moved　to　the　door。　Then　slowly　she　came　back　to　the　window　and　stood　looking　down　upon　him。　Suddenly；　as　though　he　felt　her　gaze；　he　glanced　up；　saw　her；　and　waved　to　her。　She　waved　back　to　him。　He　turned　and　walked　quickly　away；　she　heard　the　gate　swing；　screaming　behind　him。

She　waited　for　a　little；　then　put　on　her　hat　and　coat　and　went　out。　She　knew　the　Flower　Street　Hall；　a　place　occasionally　used　by　touring　Companies；　Wandering　Lecturers；　Charitable　Concerts；　and　other　casual　festivals。　It　was　at　the　far　end　of　the　town　towards　the　end　of　the　Promenade。

The　town；　dim　in　the　first　dusk；　hummed　with　loiterers；　girls　released　from　the　shops　walking　with　their　young　men；　middle…aged　couples　sauntering　out　to　take　a　last　whiff　of　the　sea　before　going　in　to　the　evening　meal；　one　or　two　visitors　from　the　Hotel　strolling　across　to　the　beach　to　watch　the　first　evening　stars　and　the　rising　moon。　Pianos　were　playing；　children　shouting　over　the　last　game　of　the　day；　all　hushed　into　a　coloured　mild　tranquillity。　In　the　fields　beyond　the　houses　the　quiet　was　absolute。

Maggie　found　the　building。　The　facade　was　blazing　with　electric　light。　A　huge　poster；　of　the　now　familiar　pink；　declared：

　GRAND　RELIGIOUS　FESTIVAL。　All　are　invited。　IS　ALL　WELL　WITH　YOU；　BROTHER？

There　was　a　crowd　about　the　doors；　and　continually；　with　giggles　and　shamefaced　laughter；　couples　broke　away　and　climbed　the　steps　into　the　Hall。　Maggie；　feeling　that　all　eyes　were　upon　her；　entered　the　building。　In　the　vestibule　two　grave…faced　women　in　black　bonnets　handed　papers　with　prayers　and　hymns　to　every　newcomer。　Maggie　took　hers；　a　door　was　opened　in　front　of　her；　and　she　went　in。　The　auditorium　was　a　large　one；　semicircular　in　shape；　with　tiers　of　seats　rising　circus…fashion　to　a　ceiling　decorated　with　silver　stars　and　pink　naked　cherubs。　The　stage　had　upon　it　a　table；　some　chairs；　and　a　reading…desk　draped　in　crimson　cloth。　Below　the　stage　was　a　small　orchestra；　consisting　of　two　fiddles；　a　cornet；　drum；　and　a　piano。　There　was　also　what　seemed　to　Maggie　a　small　choir；　some　women　dressed　in　white　and　some　men　in　black　coats　and　white　bow　ties。　Across　the　stage　were　suspended　broad　white　bands　of　cloth　with　〃Come　to　Jesus！〃　〃Come　now！〃　〃He　is　waiting　for　you！〃　in　big　black　letters。

The　hall　seemed　very　full；　and　was　violently　illuminated　with　electric　light。　Maggie　took　this　in　as　she　stood　very　timidly　just　inside　the　door。　A　steward　came　forward　and　showed　her　a　corner…　seat。　She　saw；　then；　with　a　dramatic　flash　of　recognition；　Thurston　and　Mr。　Crashaw　sitting　behind　the　table；　then；　with　a　still　stranger　emotion；　Miss　Avies　as　one　of　the　white…robed　choir。　The　sight　of　those　three　familiar　faces　seemed　to　close；　finally　and　definitely；　the　impression　that　she　had　had　during　all　those　last　weeks。　They　had　〃got〃　her　again；　and　yet　not　they；　but　the　power　behind　them。　It　seemed　only　five　minutes　ago　that　she　had　sat　in　the　London　Chapel　and　heard　old　Crashaw　scream　〃Punishment！　Punishment！　Punishment！〃　She　turned　half　in　her　seat　as　though　she　expected　to　see　Aunt　Anne　and　Aunt　Elizabeth　sitting　one　on　either　side　of　her。　She　looked　at　Thurston；　he　had　coarsened　very　much　since　she　had　seen　him　last。　He　was　fatter；　his　cheeks　stained　with　an　unnaturally　high　colour；　his　eyes　brighter　and　sharper　and　yet　sensual　too。　He　was　smarter　than　he　had　been；　his　white　bow　tie　stiff　and　shapely；　his　cuffs　clean　and　shining；　his　hair　very　carefully　brushed　back　from　his　high　and　bony　forehead。　His　sharp　eyes　darted　all　over　the　building；　and　Maggie　felt　as　though　at　any　moment　she　would　be　discovered。　Crashaw　looked　more　like　a　decrepit　monkey　than　ever；　huddled　up　in　his　chair；　his　back　bow…shaped。　He　breathed　into　his　hands　as　though　he　wanted　to　warm　them；　and　looked　at　nobody。　Miss　Avies　Maggie　could　not　see　clearly。

Her　eyes　wandered　over　the　audience。　She　saw　many　townspeople　whom　she　knew；　and　she　realised；　for　the　first　time；　that　tomorrow　everywhere　it　would　be　said　that　the　Rector's　wife　had　been　at　the　Revival　meeting。

And　how　different　an　audience　from　the　old　London　one。　Every　one　had　come　on　this　occasion　to　see　a　show；　and　it　was　certainly　a　show　that　they　were　going　to　see。　Maggie　had　entered　during　a　pause；　and　all　the　faces　that　were　there　wore　that　look　of　expectation　that　demands　the　rising　of　the　curtain。　Soon；　Maggie　felt；　they　would　stamp　and　whistle　did　the　play　not　begin。

Thurston　rose　and　announced：

〃My　brothers；　we　will　sing　hymn　No。　14　on　the　paper。〃

Maggie　looked　and　discovered　that　it　was　the　hymn　that　had　once　moved　her　so　dramatically　in　London　with　the　words

By　all　Thy　sores　and　bloody　pain　Come　down　and　heal　our　sins　again。

and　with　the　last　refrain：

By　the　blood；　by　the　blood；　by　the　blood　of　the　Lamb　We　beseech　Thee。

Already；　in　spite　of　herself；　in　spite　of　her　consciousness　of　the　melodrama　and　meretricious　glitter　of　the　scene；　her　heart　was　beating。　She　was　more　deeply　moved；　even　now；　than　she　had　ever　been　by　all　the　services　of　the　Skeaton　Church。

And　Thurston　had　learnt　his　job　by　this　time。　Softly　one　of　the　violins　played　the　tune。　Then　Thurston　said：

〃The　first　verse　of　this　hymn　will　be　sung　by　the　choir　alone。　The　congregation　is　asked　to　stand　and　then　to　join　in　the　second　verse。　The　fourth　verse　will　be　sung　by　the　soloist。〃

The　audience　rose。　There　was　a　hush　of　expectation　throughout　the　building。　The　choir；　to　the　accompaniment　of　the　fiddlers　alone；　sang　the　first　verse。　They　had　been　well　selected　and　trained。　Thurston　obviously　spared　no　expense。　For　the　second　verse；　the　whole　orchestra　combined；　the　drum　booming　through　the　refrain。　At　first　the　congregation　was　timid；　but　the　tune　was　simple　and　attractive。　The　third　verse　was　sung　by　every　one；　and　Maggie　found　herself；　almost　against　her　will；　joining　in。　At　the　fourth　verse　there　was　again　the　hush　of　expectation；　then　a　soprano；　thin　and　clear；　accompanied　again　by　one　violin；　broke　the　silence。

There　was　no　doubt　that　this　was　very　moving。　Men　and　women　sat　down　at　the　hymn's　close　quite　visibly　affected。

Thurston　got　up　then　and　read　a　lesson　from　the　Bible。　He　read　from　the　Revelations：

〃After　this　I　looked；　and；　behold；　a　door　was　opened　in　heaven：　and　the　first　voice　which　I　heard　was　as　it　were　of　a　trumpet　talking　with　me；　which　said；　Come　up　hither；　and　I　will　show　thee　things　which　must　be　hereafter。〃

〃And　immediately　I　was　in　the　Spirit：　and；　behold；　a　throne　was　set　in　heaven；　and　one　sat　on　the　throne。〃

〃And　he　that　sat　was　to　look　upon　like　a　jasper　and　a　sardine　stone：　and　there　was　a　rainbow　round　about　the　throne；　in　sight　like　unto　an　emerald。　And　round　about　the　throne　were　four　and　twenty　seats：　and　upon　the　seats　I　saw　four　and　twenty　elders　sitting；　clothed　in　white　raiment；　and　they　had　on　their　heads　crowns　of　gold。〃

Thurston　had　worked　hard　during　these　last　years；　he　had　immensely　improved　his　accent；　and　his　h's　were　all　in　their　right　places。　He　read　very　dramatically；　dropping　his　voice　to　a　whisper；　then　pausing　and　staring　in　front　of　him　as　though　he　saw　God　only　a　few　yards　away。　The　people　of　Skeaton　had　had　few　opportunities　of　any　first…class　dramatic　entertainment。　When　Thurston　finished　there　passed　through　the　building　a　wave　of　excitement；　a　stir；　a　faint　murmur。　An　old　woman　next　to　Maggie　wiped　her　eyes。　〃Lovely！〃　Maggie　heard　her　whisper。　〃Lovely！〃

They　sang；　then；　another　hymn；　accompanied　by　the　orchestra。　This　was　a　dramatic　hymn　with　a　fiery　martial　tune：

The　Lord　of　War　He　cometh　down　With　Sword　and　Shield　and　Armour　Bri