the captives-第95部分

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As　though　she　were　scanning　something　that　she　had　already　seen；　she　read：

I　made　you　a　promise　and　I　will　now　fulfil　it。

My　brother；　Martin；　arrived　in　London　three　days　ago。　He　is　staying　at　No。　13A　Lynton　Street；　King's　Cross。

I　have　seen　him　but　he　has　told　me　that　he　does　not　wish　to　see　me　again。　He　is　very　ill；　his　heart　is　bad　and　his　lungs　are　affected。　He　has　also　spent　all　his　money。　I　mentioned　your　name　but　he　did　not　seem　to　be　at　all　interested。　I　think　it　fair　to　tell　you　this　lest　you　should　have　a　fruitless　journey。　I　have　now　kept　my　promise　to　you；　unwisely　perhaps。　AMY　WARLOCK。

Maggie　sat　down　on　the　bed　and　considered。　There　was　a　train　at　10。30　reaching　London　about　midnight。　She　could　just　catch　it　if　she　were　quick。　She　found　a　pencil　and　a　piece　of　paper　and　wrote：

DEAR　PAULI　have　to　go　to　London　suddenly　on　very　urgent　business。　I　will　write　to　you　from　there。　Good…bye。　MAGGIE。

She　propped　this　up　against　the　looking…glass。　She　put　a　few　things；　including　the　box　with　Martin's　letters　and　the　ring　into　a　little　bag；　put　on　her　hat　and　coat　and　went　downstairs。　She　waited　for　a　moment　in　the　hall　but　there　was　no　sound　anywhere。　She　went　out　down　the　dark　drive。

As　she　passed　along　the　lonely　road　she　heard　the　gate；　screaming　faintly；　behind　her。




PART　IV

THE　JOURNEY　HOME　AGAIN


CHAPTER　I

THE　DARK　ROOM


It　was　after　midnight　when　Maggie　was　turned　out　on　to　the　long　grim　platform　of　the　London　station。　On　that　other　London　arrival　of　hers　the　terminus　had　been　a　boiling　cauldron　of　roar　and　rattle。　Now　everything　was　dead　and　asleep。　No　trains　moved；　they　slept；　ancient　monsters；　chained　down　with　dirt　and　fog。　Two　or　three　porters　crept　slothfully　as　though　hypnotised。　The　face　of　the　great　clock；　golden　in　the　dusk；　dominated；　like　a　heathen　god；　the　scene。　Maggie　asked　a　porter　the　way　to　the　Station　Hotel。　He　showed　her；　she　climbed　stairs；　pushed　back　swing　doors；　trod　oil…clothed　passages；　and　arrived　at　a　tired　young　woman　who　told　her　that　she　could　have　a　room。

Arrived　there；　herself　somnambulistic；　she　flung　off　her　clothes；　crept　into　bed；　and　was　instantly　asleep。

Next　morning　she　kept　to　her　room；　she　went　down　the　long　dusty　stairs　before　one　o'clock　because　she　was　hungry；　and　she　discovered　the　restaurant　and　had　a　meal　there；　but　all　the　time　she　was　expecting　Martin　to　appear。　Every　step　seemed　to　be　his；　every　voice　to　have　an　echo　of　his　tones。　Then　in　the　dusky　afternoon　she　decided　that　she　would　be　cowardly　no　longer。　She　started　off　on　her　search　for　No。　13A　Lynton　Street；　King's　Cross。

She　searched　through　a　strange　blue　opaque　light　which　always　afterwards　she　recollected　as　accompanying　her　with　mystery；　as　though　it　followed　her　about　deliberately　veiling　her　from　the　rest　of　the　world。　She　felt　different　from　them　all；　she　found　an　omnibus　that　was　going　to　King's　Cross；　but　when　she　was　inside　it　and　looked　at　the　people　around　her　she　felt　of　them　all　that　they　had　no　reality　beside　the　intensity　of　her　own　search。　She；　hot　like　a　fiery　coal；　existed　in　a　land　of　filmy　ghosts。　She　repeated　to　herself　over　and　over；　〃No。　13A　Lynton　Street；　King's　Cross。〃

She　got　out　opposite　the　huge　station　and　looked　about　her。　She　saw　a　policeman　and　went　across　to　him。

〃Can　you　tell　me　where　Lynton　Street　is；　please？〃　she　asked　him。

He　smiled。　〃Yes；　miss。　Down　on　your　right；　then　first　to　your　right　again。〃

She　thanked　him　and　wanted　for　a　silly　moment　to　remain　with　him。　She　wanted　to　stand　there　where　she　was；　on　the　island；　she　couldn't　go　back；　she　was　afraid　to　go　forward。　Then　the　moment　left　her　and　she　moved　on。　When　she　saw　Lynton　Street　written　up　her　heart　gave　a　strange　little　whirr　and　then　tightened　within　herself；　but　she　marched　on　and　found　13A。　A　dirty　house；　pots　with　ferns　in　the　two　grimy　windows；　and　the　walls　streaky　with　white　stains　against　the　grey。　The　door　was　ajar　and；　pushing　it　a　little；　she　saw　a　servant…　girl　on　her　knees　scrubbing　the　floor。　At　the　noise　of　her　step　the　girl　looked　up。

〃Is　Mr。　Warlock　here？〃　Maggie　asked；　but　the　words　were　choked　in　her　throat。

〃Wot　d'ye　sye？〃　the　girl　asked。

Maggie　repeated　her　question。

〃Yes'e's　upstairs。　Always　is。　Fust　floor；　second　door　on　yer　left。〃

Maggie　went　up。　She　found　the　door。　She　knocked。　There　was　no　answer。　She　pushed　the　door；　peered　through　and　looked　in。　She　saw　a　room　with　a　dirty　grimy　window；　a　broken　faded　red　sofa；　a　deal　table。　No　one　there。

She　entered　and　stood　listening。　A　door　beyond　her　opened　and　a　man　came　in。　She　knew　at　once　that　it　was　Martin。　Her　thoughts　followed　one　another　in　strange　flurried　inconsequence。　Yes；　it　was　Martin。　He　was　fatter　than　he　had　beenfat　and　ill。　Very　ill。　His　face　was　pale；　his　hair；　thinner　than　before；　unbrushed。　He　was　wearing　an　old　dirty　blue　suit　with　a　coat　that　buttoned　over　the　waistcoat　like　a　seaman's　jacket。　Yes；　he　was　ill　and　fat　and　unkempt；　but　it　was　Martin。　At　that　reiterated　assurance　in　the　depths　of　her　soul　she　seemed　to　sink　into　a　marvellous　certain　tranquillityso　certain　that　she　shed；　as　it　were　with　a　gesture；　all　the　unhappiness　and　doubt　and　desolation　with　which　the　last　years　had　burdened　her。

She　had　〃touched〃　Martin　again；　and　with　that　〃touch〃　she　was　safe。　It　did　not　matter　how　he　treated　her　nor　whether　he　wanted　her。　She　was　sane　and　happy　and　whole　again　as　she　had　not　been　since　he　left　her。

Meanwhile　he　looked　at　her　across　the　dark　room；　frowning。

〃Who　is　it？〃　he　asked。　〃What　do　you　want？〃

The　sound　of　his　voice　moved　her　passionately。　For　how　long　she　had　ached　and　yearned　for　it！　He　spoke　more　huskily；　with　a　thicker　tone　than　he　had　done；　but　it　was　the　same　voice；　rough　a　little　and　slow。

〃Don't　you　know　me；　Martin？〃　she　said；　laughing　for　sheer　happiness。　She　saw　before　she　spoke　that　he　had　recognised　her。　He　said　nothing；　staring　at　her　across　the　table；　and　she；　held　by　some　safe　instinct；　did　not　move　from　where　she　was。

At　last　he　said：

〃Well　。　。　。　What　do　you　want？〃

〃Oh；　Martin；　don't　you　recognise　me？　I'm　Maggie。〃

He　nodded。　〃Yes；　I　know。　You　mustn't　come　here；　though。　We've　nothing　to　say　to　one　another　nowadaysno；　nothing。〃　He　didn't　look　at　her；　his　eyes　were　turned　towards　the　grimy　window。

She　had　an　astonishing　sense　of　her　possession　of　him。　She　laughed　and　came　close　to　the　table。

〃I'm　not　going　away；　Martin　。　。　。　not　until　we've　had　a　talk。　Nothing　can　make　me。　So　there！〃

He　was　looking　at　her　again。

〃Why；　you've　cut　your　hair！〃　he　said。

〃Yes。〃　she　said。

Then　he　turned　roughly　right　round　upon　her　as　though　he　meant　to　end　the　matter　once　and　for　all。

〃Look　here！　。　。　。　I　do　mean　what　I　say〃　He　was　cut　off　then　by　a　fit　of　coughing。　He　leant　back　against　the　wall　and　fought　with　it；　his　hand　against　his　chest。　She　made　no　movement　and　said　no　word　while　the　attack　lasted。

He　gasped；　recovering　his　breath；　then；　speaking　in　a　voice　lower　than　before：　〃I　mean　what　I　say。　I　don't　want　you。　I　don't　want　any　one。　There's　nothing　for　us　to　say　to　one　another。　It's　only　waste　of　time。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　answered。　〃That's　your　side　of　the　question。　There's　also　mine。　Once　before　you　had　your　own　way　and　I　was　very　miserable　about　it。　Now　it's　my　turn。　I'm　going　to　stay　here　until　we've　talked。〃

He　turned；　his　face　working　angrily；　upon　her。

〃You　can't　stay　here。　It's　impossible。　What　do　you　do　it　for　when　I　tell　you　I　don't　want　you？　First　my　sister　。　。　。　then　you　。　。　。　come　here　spying。　Well；　now　you're　seen　what　it's　like；　haven't　you？　Very　jolly；　isn't　it？　Very　handsome？　You'd　better　go　away　again；　then。　You've　seen　all　you've　wanted　to。〃

〃I'm　not　going　away；〃　repeated　Maggie；　〃I　didn't　come　to　spy。　You　know　that。　Of　course　you　can　turn　me　out；　but　you'll　have　to　use　force。〃

〃Oh；　no；　I　won't；〃　he　answered。　〃There　are　other　ways。〃

He　disappeared　into　the　other　room。　A　moment　later　he　returned；　he　was　wearing　a　soft　black　hat　and　a　shabby　grey　overcoat。

〃You'll　get　tired　of　waiting；　I　expect；〃　he　said；　and；　without　looking　at　her　but　just　touching　her　arm　as　he　brushed　past　her；　he　left　the　room。　She　heard　him　descend　the　stairs。　Then　the　street…　door　closed。

She　sat　down　upon　the　shabby　red　sofa　and　looked　about　her。　What　a　horrible　room！　Its　darkness　was　tainted　with　a　creeping　coldness　that　seemed　to　steal　in　wavering　gusts　from　wall　to　wall。　The　carpet　was　faded　to　a　nondescript　colour　and　was　gashed　into　torn　strips　near　the　fireplace。　No　pictures　were　on　the　walls　from　which　the　wall…paper　was　peeling。　He　had　done　nothing　whatever　to　make　it　more　habitable。

He　must　have　been　staying　there　for　several　weeks；　and　yet　there　were　no　signs　of　any　personal　belongings。　Nothing　of　himself　to　be　seen！　Nothing！　It　was　as　though　in　the　bitterness　of　his　spirit　he　had　said　that　he　would　not　touch　such　a　spot　save；　of　necessity；　with　his　body。　It　should　remain；　so　far　as　be　might　go；　for　ever　tenantless。

She　felt　that。　She　seemed　to　be　now　marvellously　perceptive。　Until　an　hour　ago　she　had　been　lost；　ostracised；　now　she　was　at　home　again；　clear　in　purpose；　afraid　of　no　one　and　of　nothing。　Strangely；　although　his　sickness　both　of　body　and　soul　touched　her　to　the　very　depths　of　her　being；　her　predominant　sensation　was　of　happiness。　She　had　found　him　again！　Oh；　she　had　found　him　again！　Nothing；　in　this　world　or　the　next；　counted　in　comparison　with　that。　If　she　were　close　to　him　she　would　make　him　well；　she　would　make　him　rich；　she　would　make　him　happy。　Where　he　had　been；　what　he　had　done；　mattered　nothing。　Where　she　had　been；　what　she　had　done；　nothing。　Nothing　in　their　two　lives　counted　but　their　meeting　again；　and　she　who　had　been　always　so　shy　and　so　diffident　felt　no　doubt　at　all　about　his　returning　to　her。　There　would　be　a　fight。　As　she　looked　around　the　gradually　darkening　room　she　realised　that。　It　might　be　a　long　fight　and　a　difficult　one；　but　that　she　would　win　she　had　no　doubt。　It　had　been　preordained　that　she　should　win。　No　one　on　this　earth　or　above　it　could　beat　her。

Gradually　she　became　more　practical。　Slowly　she　formed　her　plans。　First；　what　had　Martin　done？　Perhaps　he　had　told　the　woman　of　the　house　that　she；　Maggie；　was　to　be　turned　out；　did　she　not；