the captives-第96部分

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d　out；　did　she　not；　of　herself；　go　away。　No；　Martin　would　not　do　that。　Maggie　knew　quite　confidently　that　he　would　never　allow　any　one　to　insult　her。　Perhaps　Martin　would　not　come　back　at　all。　Perhaps　his　hat　and　his　coat　were　his　only　possessions。　That　was　a　terrible　thought！　Had　he　gone；　leaving　no　trace；　how　would　she　ever　find　him　again？　She　remembered　then　that　he　had　gone　straight　downstairs　and　out　of　the　house。　He　had　not　spoken　to　the　landlady。　That　did　not　look　like　a　permanent　departure。　But　she　would　make　certain。

She　pushed　open　the　other　door　and　peeped　into　the　further　room。　She　saw　a　dirty　unmade　bed；　a　tin　washhand　stand；　and　an　open　carpet…bag　filled　with　soiled　linen。　No；　he　would　come　back。

She　sat　there　thinking　out　her　plans。　She　was　suddenly　clear；　determined；　resourceful；　all　the　things　that　she　had　never　been　in　her　life　before。　First　she　must　see　the　landlady；　next　she　must　go　to　the　shopsbut　suppose　he　should　return　while　she　was　there；　pack　his　bag　and　leave　for　ever？　She　must　risk　that。　She　thought　that　he　would　not　return　at　once　because　he　would　want；　as　he　said；　〃to　tire　her　out。〃　〃To　tire　her　out！〃　She　laughed　at　that。　She　looked　about　the　room　and　decided　how　she　would　improve　it。　She　nodded　to　herself。　Yes；　and　the　bedroom　too。　All　this　time　she　was　so　happy　that　she　could　scarcely　prevent　herself　from　singing　aloud。

She　went　out；　down　the　dark　stairs；　and　found　the　maid；　under　a　swinging　candle…flame；　still　scrubbing。　How　strange　that　in　that　short　space　of　time；　when　the　whole　of　life　had　altered　for　her；　that　girl　had　been　on　her　knees　scrubbing！

〃Could　you　tell　me；　please；〃　she　asked；　〃whether　I　could　see　somebody　who　is　in　charge　of　this　housethe　landlady　or〃

〃Is　there　anything　I　can　do？〃　said　a　voice　behind　her。

She　turned　to　find　a　short　stout　woman　in　voluminous　blackblack　bonnet；　black　cape；　black　gloveswatching　her　with　sharp　bright　eyes。

〃Are　you　the　landlady？〃　Maggie　asked。

〃I　ham；〃　said　the　woman。　〃Mrs。　Brandonma'am。〃

The　servant…girl　had　suspended　operations；　kneeling　up　and　watching　with　open　mouth　developments。

〃I'm　very　glad　to　meet　you；〃　said　Maggie。　〃How　do　you　do？〃

〃How　do　you　do；　ma'am？〃　said　Mrs。　Brandon。

〃The　point　is　just　this；〃　said　Maggie；　speaking　rather　fast　as　though　she　were　confused；　which　she　was　not。　〃Mr。　Warlock　is　a　very　old　friend　of　mine　and　I'm　afraid　he's　very　ill　indeed。　He's　very　ill　and　there's　nobody　to　look　after　him。　What　I　was　wondering　was　whether　there　was　a　bedroom　in　your　house　that　I　could　haveso　that　I　could　look　after　him；　you　see；　and　get　him　anything　he　wants。〃

Mrs。　Brandon　overlooked　Maggie　from　head　to　footvery　slowly　she　did　it；　her　eyes　passing　over　the　rather　shabby　black　hat；　the　short　hair；　the　plain　black　dress；　the　shoes　worn　and　soiled。　She　also　looked　at　Maggie's　wedding…ring。

〃Well；　Mrs。〃　she　began。

〃Mrs。　Trenchard　is　my　name；〃　said　Maggie；　blushing　in　spite　of　herself　at　the　long　scrutiny。

〃I　'ope　you're　not　reproaching　anybody　with　neglect　of　the　gentleman。〃　She　had　an　action；　as　she　talked；　of　flinging　a　very　seedy…looking　black　boa　back　across　her　neck　vindictively。　〃Wot　I　mean　to　say　is　that　gentleman　lodgers　must　take　their　chance　and　e's　two　weeks　overdue　with　'is　rent　as　it　is　。　。　。　but　of　course　I'm　not　saying　I　couldn't　oblige。　'E's　a　nice　gentleman　too；　although　not　talkative　so　to　speak；　but　if　it　would　give　'im　'appiness　to　'ave　a　lady　friend　close　at　'and　as　you　might　say；　why　I　wouldn't　like　to　be　one　to　stand　in　'is　way。　'Live　and　let　live；'　'as　always　been　my　motter；　and　a　very　good　one　too。〃

She　said　all　this　very　slowly；　with　a　good　many　significant　pauses。　Maggie；　however；　felt　nothing　but　happiness　at　the　prospect　of　getting　her　way。　She　had　gone　far　beyond　all　personal　sensations　of　shame　or　fear　or　hesitation。

〃Would　you　show　me　the　room；　please？〃　she　asked。

They　pushed　past　the　servant…girl；　whose　eyes　followed　them　up　the　stairs　with　hungry　curiosity。

They　climbed　to　the　top　of　the　house。　Mrs。　Brandon　displayed　a　dark　sulky　little　room　with　damp　of　the　tomb　clinging　to　its　wall。

〃Ten　bob　a　week；〃　she　said。　She　sunk　her　voice　to　a　confidential　whisper。　〃The　best　of　this　'ouse　is　that　you　can　do　what　you　like。　No　one　minds　and　no　one　sees。　'Them　as　lives　in　glass　'ouses。'　That's　what　I　say。〃

〃I'll　take　it；〃　said　Maggie。

〃You'll　be　wanting　a　key；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Brandon；　suddenly　very　friendly。　〃To　let　yerself　in　an'　out　at　nights。　I'll　fetch　yer　one。〃

She　did。　Maggie　thanked　her。

〃I　wonder；〃　she　said；　〃whether　you　have　such　a　thing　as　a　small　basket　you　could　lend　me。　I'm　going　out　to　buy　one　or　two　necessaries。〃

〃Certingly；〃　said　Mrs。　Brandon；　all　smiles。　〃Certingly；　and　anythink　else　you'll　be　needing。　All　you've　got　to　do　is　ter　ask。〃

This　settled；　Maggie　departed　on　her　shopping　expedition。　She　was　still　driven　by　a　curious　clarity　and　decision　as　to　what　she　wanted　to　do。　She　felt　as　though　she　could　conquer　the　world　to…day　and　then　parcel　it　out　equitably　and　with　success　amongst　the　greedy　kings　of　the　earth。　What　were　kings　to　her　now　that　she　had　found　Martin？　Less　than　the　dust　。　。　。

Lynton　Street　offered　her　nothing　but　dirty　and　grime…stained　windows；　but　she　found　her　way　into　King　Edward　Street；　and　here　there　were　many　shops。　She　had　not　very　much　money　actually　upon　her；　and　the　remainder　of　her　precious　three　hundred　was　locked　up　in　a　bank　in　Skeaton；　but　it　was　a　bank　that　had；　she　knew；　branches　in　London。　She　looked　in　her　purse　and　found　that　she　had　three　pounds；　twelve　shillings　and　sixpence。　Martin　must　have　his　meals　upon　something　other　than　paper；　so　the　probability　was　that　there　was　crockery　of　a　kind　in　his　roomor　perhaps　Mrs。　Brandon　supplied　it。　Nevertheless　Maggie's　first　purchases　were　a　blue　teapot；　two　blue　plates；　and　two　blue　cups　and　saucers。

As　to　food　she　must　get　something　that　could　be　cooked　easily　on　his　fire。　She　bought　three　of　the　freshest　possible　eggs；　half　a　dozen　sausages；　a　loaf　of　bread；　half　a　pound　of　butter；　two　pots　of　jam；　one　pot　of　marmalade；　some　apples；　a　pound　of　tea；　a　pound　of　sugar。

〃This　will　do　as　a　start；〃　she　said　to　herself。

She　was　just　about　to　turn　into　Lynton　Street　when　she　stopped　at　a　flower　shop。　In　the　window；　smiling　at　her　most　fragrantly　under　the　gas…light　was　a　white　hyacinth　in　a　blue　pot。　It　seemed　to　speak　to　her　with；　the　same　significance　as　once　the　ring　with　the　three　pearls；　as　though　it　said：　〃You've　got　to　use　me。　I'm　a　link　in　the　chain。〃

She　went　in　and　asked　its　price；　not　very　much；　considering　the　splendour　of　the　blue　pot。　She　bought　it。　She　was　glad　that　13A　was　not　far；　because　now　the　basket　and　the　flower　weighed　heavily　upon　her。

She　climbed　the　stairs　to　Martin's　room　with　beating　heart。　Suppose　he　had　returned　and　was　there　and　would　not　let　her　in？　Or　suppose；　worse　than　that；　that　he　had　returned；　packed　his　bag　and　gone　away　again？　Her　heart　was　beating　so　terribly　when　at　last　she　had　arrived　outside　the　door　that　she　had　to　put　down　the　hyacinth　and　the　basket　and　stand　for　a　minute　there；　panting。

She　pushed　back　the　door；　the　room　was　lit　by　the　reflection　from　a　lamp　in　a　window　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　road；　this　flickered　with　a　pale　uncertain　glow　across　the　floor。　He　was　not　here。　She　opened　the　bedroom　door。　He　had　not　packed　his　bag。　She　sighed　with　relief。　She　found　a　bell　and　pressed　it。　To　her　great　surprise　the　scrubbing　maid　almost　instantly　presented　herself；　curiosity　had　undoubtedly　hastened　her　steps。

〃What's　your　name？〃　asked　Maggie；　smiling。

〃Emily；〃　said　the　girl。

〃The　first　thing　I　want　is　a　box　of　matches；〃　said　Maggie。　〃You'll　light　the　gas　for　me；　won't　you。　The　truth　is；　I'm　not　quite　tall　enough　to　reach　it。〃

Emily　lit　the　gas。

〃Thank　you　so　much；〃　said　Maggie。　〃I　must　have　a　fire。　That's　the　next　thing。　This　cold　room　must　have　been　a　bad　thing　for　Mr。　Warlock　with　his　cough。〃

〃Yes；　'e　'as　got　a　corf；〃　said　Emily；　watching　Maggie　with　all　her　eyes。

〃Well；　do　you　think　I　could　have　a　fire？〃　asked　Maggie。

Emily　considered。

〃I'll　ask　the　missus；〃　she　said；　〃I　shouldn't　wonder。〃

She　returned　soon　with　coal；　wood　and　newspaper。　She　also　informed　Maggie　that　Mrs。　Brandon　would　like　to　have　a　〃little　in　advance　if　convenient；　that　being　the　custom。〃

Maggie　delivered　up　ten　and　sixpence　and　was　left　with　exactly　two　shillings　in　her　pocket。　But　how　beautiful　the　room　appeared！　Emily；　whose　ugly　bony　countenance　now　wore　a　look　of　excited　breathlessness　as　though　she　were　playing　a　new　kind　of　game；　discovered　a　piece　of　dark　sad　cloth　somewhere　in　the　lower　region　and　this　was　pinned　up　over　the　window。　The　fire　was　soon　blazing　away　as　though　the　fireplace　rejoiced　to　have　a　chance　of　being　warm　once　more。　A　shabby　but　clean　table…cloth　was　discovered　and　placed　upon　the　table；　and　in　the　middle　of　this　the　hyacinth　was　triumphantly　stationed。

〃Now　I　tell　you　what　would　be　nice；〃　said　Maggie；　also　by　this　time　breathless；　〃and　that's　a　lamp。　This　gas　isn't　very　pleasant；　is　it；　and　it　DOES　make　such　a　noise。〃

〃It　DOES　make　a　noise；〃　said　Emily；　looking　at　the　gas　as　though　she　were　seeing　it　for　the　first　time。

〃Well；　do　you　think　there's　a　lamp　somewhere？〃

Emily　licked　her　finger。

〃I'll　ask　the　missus；〃　she　said　and　disappeared。　Soon　she　returned　with　a　lamp；　its　gloriea　hidden　beneath　a　bright　pink　paper　shade。

Maggie　removed　the　paper　shade；　placed　the　lamp　on　the　table；　then　the　blue　plates；　the　blue　cups　and　saucers；　the　blue　teapot。

A　shrill　voice　was　heard　calling　for　Emily。　Maggie　had　then　her　kingdom　to　herself。

She　stood　there；　waiting　and　listening。　The　approaching　interview　must　have　seemed　to　her　the　climax　of　her　whole　life。　She　stood；　clasping　and　unclasping　her　hands；　going　to　the　table；　moving　the　plates；　then　moving　them　back　again。　Perhaps　he　would　not　return　at　all　that　night；　perhaps　not　until　midnight　or　later。　He　might　be　drunk；　he　might　be　violent。　She　did　not　care。　It　was　enough　for　her　that　he　should　be　there。

〃Oh　I　do　wish　he'd　come；〃　she　whispered　aloud。

She　had　looked　at　her　watch　and　seen　that　it　was　just　eight　o'clock　when　she　heard　a　step　on　the　stair。　She　had　already　borrowed　from　Emi