the captives-第66部分

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Did　Katherine　have　any　scruples　as　she　pursued　her　argument？　A　real　glance　at　Maggie's　confiding　trustful　gaze　might　have　shaken　her　resolve。　This　child　who　knew　so　little　about　anythingwas　Skeaton　the　world　for　her？　But　Katherine　had　so　many　philanthropies　that　she　was　given　to　finishing　one　off　a　little　abruptly　in　order　to　make　ready　for　the　next　one。

She　was　interested　just　now　in　a　scheme　for　adopting　illegitimate　babies。　She　thought　Maggie　an　〃angel〃　and　she　just　longed　for　her　to　be　happy。　Nevertheless　Maggie　was　very　ignorant；　and　it　was　a　little　difficult　to　see　what　trade　or　occupation　she　would　be　able　to　adopt。　She　was　nearly　well　now　and　Katherine　did　not　know　quite　what　to　do　with　her。　Here　was　an　admirable　marriage；　something　that　would　give　a　home　and　children　and　friends。　What　could　be　better？　She　had　just　passed　apparently　through　a　love　affair　that　could　have　led　to　no　possible　goodsolve　the　difficulty；　make　Maggie　safe　for　life；　and　pass　on　to　the　illegitimate　babies！

〃Of　course；　I　don't　love　him；〃　said　Maggie；　staring　in　front　of　her。

〃But　you　like　him；〃　said　Katherine。　〃It　isn't　as　though　Paul　were　a　very　young　man。　He　wouldn't　expect　anything　very　romantic。　He　isn't　really　a　romantic　man　himself。〃

〃And　I　shall　always　love　Martin；〃　pursued　Maggie。

Katherine's　own　romance　had　fulfilled　itself　so　thoroughly　that　it　had　almost　ceased　to　be　romantic。　The　Trenchard　blood　in　her　made　her　a　little　impatient　of　unfulfilled　romances。

〃Don't　you　think；　Maggie；　dear；〃　she　said　gently；　〃that　it　would　be　better　to　forget　him？〃

〃No；　I　don't；〃　said　Maggie；　moving　away　from　Katherine。　〃And　I　should　have　to　tell　Paul　about　him。　I'd　tell　Paul　the　exact　truth；　that　if　I　married　him　it　was　because　I　liked　him　and　I　thought　we'd　be　good　friends。　I　see　quite　clearly　that　I　can't　sit　for　ever　waiting　for　Martin　to　come　back；　and　the　sooner　I　settle　to　something　the　better。　If　Paul　wants　a　friend　I　can　be　one；　but　I　should　never　love　himeven　though　Martin　wasn't　there。　And　as　to　the　managing；　I'm　dreadfully　careless　and　forgetful。〃

〃You'd　soon　learn；〃　said　Katherine。

〃Do　you　think　I　should？〃　asked　Maggie。　〃I　don't　know；　I'm　sure。　As　to　Grace；　I　think　we'd　get　on　all　right。　There's　a　greater　difficulty　than　that　though。〃

〃What？〃　asked　Katherine　as　Maggie　hesitated。

〃Religion；〃　said　Maggie。　〃Paul's　a　clergyman　and　I　don't　believe　in　his　religion　at　all。　Two　months　ago　I'd　have　said　I　hated　all　religionand　so　would　you　if　you'd　had　a　time　like　me。　But　since　Martin's　gone　I'm　not　so　sure。　There's　some…thing　I　want　to　find　out　。　。　。　But　Paul's　found　out　everything。　He's　quite　sure　and　certain。　I'd　have　to　tell　him　I　don't　believe　in　any　of　his　faith。〃

〃Tell　him。　of　course；〃　said　Katherine。　〃I　think　he　knows　that　already。　He's　going　to　convert　you。　He　looks　forward　to　it。　If　he　hadn't　been　so　lazy　he'd　have　been　a　missionary。〃

〃Tell　me　about　Skeaton；〃　said　Maggie。

〃I've　only　been　there　once；〃　said　Katherine。　〃Frankly；　I　didn't　like　it　very　much；　but　then　I'm　so　used　to　the　Glebeshire　sea　that　it　all　seemed　rather　tame。　There　was　a　good　deal　of　sand　blowing　about　the　day　I　was　there；　but　Paul's　house　is　nice　with　a　garden　and　a　croquet…lawn；　andandOh！　very　nice；　and　nice　people　next　door　I　believe。〃

〃I'm　glad　it's　not　like　Glebeshire；〃　said　Maggie。　〃That's　a　point　in　its　favour。　I　want　to　be　somewhere　where　everything　is　quiet　and　orderly；　and　every　one　knows　their　own　mind　and　all　the　bells　ring　at　the　right　time　and　no　one's　strange　or　queer；　andmost　of　all　where　no　one's　afraid　of　anything。　All　my　life　I've　been　with　people　who　were　afraid　and　I've　been　afraid　myself。　Now　Paul　and　Grace　are　not　afraid　of　anything。〃

〃No；　they're　not；〃　said　Katherine；　laughing。

Suddenly　Maggie　broke　out：

〃Katherine！　Tell　me　truly。　Does　Paul　want　me；　does　he　need　me？　Does　he　indeed？〃

The　storm　of　appeal　in　Maggie's　voice　made　Katherine　suddenly　shy；　there　was　a　hint　at　loneliness　and　desolation　there　that　was　something　beyond　her　reach。　She　wanted　to　help。　She　was　suddenly　frightened　at　her　urging　of　Paul's　suit。　Something　seemed　to　say　to　her：　〃Leave　this　alone。　Don't　take　the　responsibility　of　this。　You　don't　understand　。　。　。〃

But　another　voice　said：　〃Poor　child　。　。　。　all　alone；　penniless；　without　a　friend。　What　a　chance　for　her！　Paul　such　a　kind　man。〃

So　she　kissed　Maggie；　and　said：　〃He　wants　you　dreadfully；　Maggie　dear。〃

Maggie's　cheeks　flushed。

〃That's　nice；〃　she　said　in　her　most　ordinary　voice。　〃Because　no　one　ever　has　before；　you　know。〃

Paul's　proposal　came　the　very　next　day。　It　came　after　luncheon　in　a　corner　of　the　drawing…room。

Maggie　knew　quite　well　that　it　was　coming。　She　was　lying　in　a　long　chair　near　the　fire；　a　shawl　over　her　knees。　It　was　a　blustering　day　at　the　end　of　February。　The　windows　rattled；　and　the　wind　rushing　down　the　chimney　blew　the　flame　into　little　flags　and　pennants　of　colour。

Paul　came　and　stood　by　the　fire；　warming　his　hands；　his　legs　spread　out。　Maggie　looked　at　him　with　a　long　comprehensive　glance　that　took　him　in　from　head　to　foot。　She　seemed　to　know　then　that　she　was　going　to　marry　him。　A　voice　seemed　to　say　to　her：　〃Look　at　him　well。　This　is　the　man　you're　going　to　live　with。　You'd　better　realise　him。〃

She　did　realise　him；　his　white　hair；　his　rosy　cheeks；　his　boyish　nose　and　mouth　and　rounded　chin；　his　broad　chest；　thick　long　legs　and　large　white　handssoft　perhaps；　but　warm　and　comfortable　and　safe。　Maggie　could　think　of　little　else　as　she　looked　at　him　but　of　how　nice　it　would　be　to　lay　her　head　back　on　that　broad　chest；　feel　his　arms　around　her；　and　forgetforgetforget！

That　was　what　she　neededforgetfulness　and　work　。　。　。　She　did　not　love　himno；　not　one　little　atom。　She　had　never　felt　less　excitement　about　anybody；　but　she　liked　him；　respected　him；　and　trusted　him。　And　he　wanted　her；　wanted　her　desperately；　Katherine　had　said；　that　was　the　chief　thing　of　all。

〃Maggie！〃　he　said　suddenly；　turning　round　to　her。　〃Would　you　ever　think　of　marrying　me　？〃

She　liked　that　directness　and　simplicity；　characteristic　of　him。

She　looked　up　at　him。

〃I　don't　think　I'd　be　much　of　a　success；　Paul；〃　she　said。

He　saw　at　once　from　that　that　she　did　not　intend　instantly　to　refuse　him。　His　rosy　cheeks　took　on　an　added　tinge　of　colour　and　he　caught　a　chair；　drew　it　up　to　her　long　one　and　sat　down；　bending　eagerly　towards　her。

〃Leave　that　to　me；〃　he　said。

〃I　oughtn't　to　think　of　it；〃　she　answered；　shaking　her　head。　〃And　for　very　good　reasons。　For　one　thing　I'm　not　in　love　with　you；　for　another　I'm　not　religious；　and　for　a　third　I'm　so　careless　that　I'd　never　do　for　your　wife。〃

〃Of　course　I　knew　about　the　first；〃　he　said　eagerly。　〃I　knew　you　didn't　love　me；　but　that　will　come；　Maggie。　It　MUST　come　。　。　。〃

Maggie　shook　her　head。　〃I　love　some　one　else；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　always　will。　But　he's　gone　away　and　will　never　come　back。　I've　made　up　my　mind　to　that。　But　if　he　did　come　back　and　wanted　me　I　couldn't　promise　that　I　wouldn't〃　She　broke　off。　〃You　can　see　that　it　wouldn't　do。〃

〃No；　I　can't　see；〃　he　said；　taking　her　hand。　〃I　can　see　that　you　like　me；　Maggie。　I　can　see　that　we're　splendid　friends。　If　your　otherfriendhas　left　you　altogether；　thenwell；　time　makes　a　great　difference　in　those　things。　I　think　after　we'd　been　together　a　littleOh；　Maggie；　do！〃　he　broke　off　just　like　a　boy。　〃Do！　We　suit　each　other　so　well　that　we　MUST　be　happy；　and　then　Grace　likes　you　she　likes　you　very　much。　She　does　indeed。〃

〃Let's　leave　Grace　out　of　this；〃　Maggie　said　firmly。　〃It's　between　you　and　me；　Paul。　It's　nobody　else's　affair。　What　about　the　other　two　objections？　I　don't　believe　in　your　faith　at　all；　and　I'm　unpunctual　and　forgetful；　and　break　things。〃

Strangely　she　was　wanting　him　urgently　now　to　reassure　her。　She　realised　that　if　now　he　withdrew　she　would　be　faced　with　a　loneliness　more　terrible　than　anything　that　she　had　known　since　Martin　had　left　her。　The　warm　pressure　of　his　hand　about　hers　reassured　her。

〃Maggie　dear；〃　he　said　softly；　〃I　love　you　better　because　you're　young　and　unformed。　I　can　help　you；　dear；　and　you　can　help　me；　of　course；　I'm　a　dreadful　old　buffer　in　many　ways。　I'm　forty；　you　know；　and　you're　such　a　child。　How　old　are　you；　Maggie？〃

〃Twenty；〃　she　said。

〃Twenty！　Fancy！　And　you　can　like　an　old　parsonwell；　well　。　。　。　If　you　care　for　me　nothing　else　matters。　God　will　see　to　the　rest。〃

〃I　don't　like　leaving　things　to　other　people；〃　Maggie　said　slowly。　〃Now　I　suppose　I've　shocked　you。　But　there　you　are；　I　shall　always　be　shocking　you。〃

〃Nothing　that　you　can　say　will　shock　me；〃　he　answered　firmly。　〃Do　you　know　that　that's　part　of　the　charm　you　have　for　me；　you　dear　little　wild　thing？　If　you　will　come　and　live　with　me　perhaps　you　will　see　how　God　works；　how　mysterious　are　His　ways；　and　what　He　means　to　do　for　you〃

Maggie　shivered：　〃Oh；　now　you're　talking　like　Aunt　Anne。　I　don't　want　to　feel　that　I'm　something　that　some　one　can　do　what　he　likes　with。　I'm　not。〃

〃No。　I　know　you're　not；〃　Paul　answered　eagerly。　〃You're　very　independent。　I　admire　that　in　youand　so　does　Grace〃

〃Would　Grace　like　us　to　marry？〃　asked　Maggie。

〃It's　the　desire　of　her　heart；〃　said　Paul。

〃But　how　can　you　want　to　marry　me　when　you　know　I　don't　love　you　？〃

〃Love's　a　strange　thing。　Companionship　can　make　great　changes。　You　like　me。　That　is　enough　for　the　present。　I　can　be　patient。　I'm　not　an　impetuous　man。〃

He　was　certainly　not。　He　was　just　a　large　warm　comfortable　creature　far；　far　from　the　terrified　and　strangely　travelled　soul　of　Martin　。　。　。　Insensibly；　hardly　realising　what　she　did；　Maggie　was　drawn　towards　Paul。　He　drew　close　to　her；　moved　on　to　the　sofa；　and　then　with　one　arm　about　her　let　her　head　rest　against　his　chest。　Maggie　could　neither　move　nor　speak。　She　only　felt　a　warm　comfort；　an　intense　desire　for　rest。

Very；　very　gently　he　bent　down　and　kissed　her　forehead。　The　clock　ticked　on。　The　flames　of　the　fire　spurted　and　fell。　Maggie's　eyes　closed；　she　gave　a　little　sigh；　and　soon；　her　cheek　against　his　waistcoat；　like　a　little　child；　was　fast　asleep。

The　engagement　was　a　settled　thing。　Every　one　in　the　house　was　relieved。　Maggie　herself　felt　as　though　she　had　found　lights　and　safety；　running　from　a　wood　full　of　lonel