the captives-第59章
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ings that frightened Maggie。 It was the expression somewhere in the mouth； in the eyes； in the pale bony hands； that spoke of some meeting with a torturer whose powers were almost omniscientalmost； but not quite。 Pain； sheer physical； brutal pain； came into the room hulking； steering behind Aunt Anne's shoulder。 It grinned at Maggie and said； 〃You haven't begun to feel what I can do yet； but every one has his turn。 You needn't flatter yourself that you're going to escape。〃
When Aunt Anne moved now it was with infinite caution； as though she were stalking her enemy and was afraid lest any incautious gesture should betray her into his ambush。 No less marked than her torture was her courage and the expectation that sustained that courage。 She had her eyes set upon something very sure and very certain。 Maggie was afraid to think what that expectation might be。 But Maggie had grown during these last weeks。 She did not now kiss her aunt and try to show an affection which was not so genuine as she would have liked it to be by nervous little demonstrations。 She said gravely：
〃I am so sorry； Aunt Anne； that you have had so bad a night。 Shall I stay this morning and read to you？〃
Even as she spoke she realised with sharp pain what giving up her meeting with Martin meant。
〃What were you going to do； dear？〃 asked Aunt Anne； her eyes seeing as ever far beyond Maggie and the room and the house。 As she spoke Thomas； the cat； came forward and began rubbing himself very gently； as though he were whispering something to his mistress； against her dress。 Maggie had an impulse； so strong that it almost defeated her； to burst out with the whole truth。 She almost said： 〃I'm going out to meet Martin Warlock； whom I love and with whom I'm going to live。〃 She hated deceit； she hated lies。 But this was some one else's secret as well as her own； and telling the truth now would only lead to much pain and distress； and then more lies and more deceit。
So she said：
〃I'm going to Piccadilly to get some things for Aunt Elizabeth。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Aunt Elizabeth； 〃she saves me a great deal of trouble。 She's a good girl。〃
〃I know she's a good girl；〃 said Aunt Anne softly。
It was strange to remember the time not so long ago when to run out of the house and post a letter had seemed a bold defiant thing to do threatened with grave penalties。 The aunts had changed their plans about her and had given her no reasons for doing so。 No reasons were ever given in that house for anything that was done。 The more Maggie went out； the more she was drawn in。
On her way to Martin that morning the figure of Aunt Anne haunted her。 She felt for a brief moment that she would do anything； yes； even surrender Martin； to ease her aunt's pain。 And then she knew that she would not； and she called herself cruel and selfish and felt for an instant a dark shadow threatening her because she was so。 But when she saw Martin outside Hatchard's she forgot it all。 It was a strange thing that during those weeks they neither of them asked any questions about their home affairs。 It was as though they both inwardly realised that there was trouble for them of every kind waiting outside and that they could only definitely realise their happiness by building a wall around themselves。 They knew perhaps in their secret hearts； or at any rate Martin knew； that they could not hold their castle for long。 But is not the gift of three perfect weeks a great thing for any human being to be givenand who has the temerity； the challenging audacity； to ask with confidence for even so much？
On this particular morning Martin said to her：
〃Before we get into the 'bus； Maggie； you've got to come into a shop with me。〃 He was especially boyish and happy and natural that morning。 It was strange how his face altered when he was happy。 His brow was clear； his eyes were bright； and he had a kind of crooked confident smile that must have won anybody's heart。 His whole carriage was that of a boy who was entering life for the first time with undaunted expectation that it could give him nothing but the best and jolliest things。 Maggie as she looked at him this morning caught her breath with the astonishing force of her love for him。 〃Oh； how I'll look after him；〃 was her thought。 〃He shall never be unhappy again。〃
They crossed the street together； and stood for a moment close together on the kerb in the middle way as though they were quite alone in the world。 She caught his arm and they ran before a charging motor…'bus； laughing。 People turned back and looked at them； so happy they seemed。 They walked up Bond Street and Martin drew her into a jeweller's。 She had never possessed any ornament except her coral necklace in all her life and she knew now for the first time how terribly she liked beautiful things。 It was useless of her to pretend that she did not know that he was going to give her something。 She did not pretend。 A very thin old man； who looked like one of the prophets； drawn out of the wilderness and clothed by the most fashionable of London tailors； looking over their shoulders as he talked to them because he saw at once that they were not customers who were likely to add very much to his shop's exchequer； produced a large tray； full of rings that glittered and sparkled and danced as though they'd been told to show themselves off to the best possible advantage。 But for Maggie at once there was only one possible ring。 It was a thin hoop of gold with three small pearls set in the middle of it； nothing very especial about it； it was in fact less striking than almost any other ring in the tray。 Maggie looked at the ring and the ring looked at Maggie。 It was as though the ring said； 〃I shall belong to you whether you take me or no。〃
〃Now；〃 said Martin with a little catch in his throat； 〃you make your choice； Maggie。〃 He was not a millionaire； but he did honestly intend that whatever ring she chose she should have。
〃Oh；〃 said Maggie； whispering because the shop was so large and the prophet so indifferent； 〃don't you think you'd better choose？〃
At the same time she felt the anxious gaze of the three little pearls upon her。
〃No；〃 said Martin； 〃I want to give you what you'd like。〃
〃I'd like what you'd like；〃 said Maggie； still whispering。
At this banality the prophet made a little impatient movement as though he really could not be expected to stand waiting there for ever。 Also a magnificent lady； in furs so rich that you could see nothing of her but her powdered nose； was waving ropes of pearls about in a blase manner very close to them； and Maggie had a strange； entirely unreasonable fear that this splendour would suddenly turn round and snatch the little pearl ring and go off with it。
〃I'd like that one；〃 said Maggie； pointing。 She heard the prophet sniff his contempt； but she did not care。
Martin； although he would willingly have given her the most gorgeous ring in the shop； was delighted to find that her taste was so good； and like herself。 He had great ideas about taste； some of his secret fears had been lest her strange uncouth upbringing should have caused her to like gaudy things。 He could have hugged her before them all when she chose that particular ring； which he had himself noticed as the prettiest and neatest there。
〃Just see whether it fits； darling；〃 he said。 At the word 〃darling〃 the prophet cast another despairing look about the shop； as though he knew well the length of time that lovers could take over these things if they once put their hearts into it。 Maggie was ashamed of her stubby finger as she put her hand forwardbut the ring fitted exactly。
〃That's right；〃 said Martin； 〃Now we'll have this put into a case。〃
〃How wonderful he is；〃 thought Maggie。 Not as other women might have thought； 〃I wonder how many times he's done this before。〃 Maggie thought then that it would be more proper to retire a little so that she should not know the priceand she stood in the doorway of the shop； looking upon the wind and weather in Bond Street and the magnificent motor car that belonged to the lady with the pearls and a magnificent chauffeur； who was so superior that it was probable that the lady with the pearls belonged to himand she saw none of these things； b
