按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ung man； the thin spectacled man； what would they think of her？ They would name it affectation； perhaps； and imagine that she had acted in such a way that she might gain their interest and sympathy。 Such a thought sent the colour flaming to her cheeks； she sat up on the sofa。 She would go to them at once and show them that she was perfectly strong and well。
The door opened and Aunt Elizabeth came in； very gently as though she were going to steal something。 She was； Maggie saw now； so little as to be almost deformed； with a soft pale face； lined and wrinkled； and blue watery eyes。 She wore a black silk wrapper over her shoulders； and soft black slippers。 Alice in Wonderland was one of the few books that Maggie had read in her childhood； Aunt Elizabeth reminded her strongly of the White Queen in the second part of that masterpiece。
〃Oh； you're not asleep； dear；〃 said Aunt Elizabeth。
〃No； I'm not；〃 said Maggie。 〃I'm perfectly all right。 I can't think what made me behave like that。 I've never done such a thing before。 I'm ashamed！〃
〃It was very natural；〃 said Aunt Elizabeth。 〃You should have had some tea at once。 It was my fault。 It's late now。 Nine o'clock。 My sister suggests bed。 Supper in bed。 Very nice； I always think； after a long journey。 It will be fine to…morrow； I expect。 We've had beautiful weather until this morning； when it rained for an hour。 Chicken and some pudding。 There's a little Australian wine that my sister keeps in the house for accidents。 I liked it myself when I had it once for severe neuralgia。〃
She suddenly； with a half…nervous； half…desperate gesture； put out her hand and took Maggie's。 Her hand was soft like blanc…mange； it had apparently no bones in it。
Maggie was touched and grateful。 She liked this little shy； frightened woman。 She would do anything to please her。
〃Don't think；〃 she said eagerly； 〃that I've ever fainted like that before。 I assure you that I've never done anything so silly。 You mustn't think that I'm not strong。 I'm strong as a horsefather always said so。 I've come to help you and Aunt Anne in any way I can。 You mustn't think that I'm going to be in the way。 I only want to be useful。〃
Aunt Elizabeth started and looked at the door。 〃I thought I heard something；〃 she said。 They both listened。
〃Perhaps it was the parrot；〃 said Maggie。
Aunt Elizabeth smiled bravely。
〃There are often noises in an old house like this；〃 she said。 The black cat came towards them； slowly； with immense dignified indifference。 He swung his tail as though to show them that he cared for no one。 He walked to the door and waited； then followed them out of the room。
Maggie found that her bedroom was a room at the top of the house； very white and clean； with a smell of soot and tallow candle that was new and attractive。 There was a large text in bright purple over the bed〃The Lord cometh； prepare ye the way of the Lord。〃 From the window one saw roofs； towers； chimneys； a sweeping arc of sky…lights now spun and sparkled into pathways and out again； driven by the rumble behind them that never ceased； although muffled by the closed window。
They talked together for a little while； standing near the window； the candle wavering in Aunt Elizabeth's unsteady hand。
〃We thought you'd like this top room。 It's quieter than the rest of the house。 Sometimes when the sweep hasn't been the soot tumbles down the chimney。 You mustn't mind that。 Thomas will push open the door and walk in at times。 It's his way。〃
〃Thomas？〃 said Maggie bewildered。
〃Our cat。 He has been with us for many years now。 Those who know say that he might have taken prizes once。 I can't tell I'm sure。 If you pull that bell when you want anything Martha will come。 She will call you at half…past seven； prayers are in the dining…room at a quarter past eight。 Sometimes the wind blows through the wall…paper； but it is only the wind。〃
Maggie drew back the curtains that hid the glitter of the lights。
〃Were those great friends of yours； those gentlemen this evening？〃
〃The one who wears spectacles； Mr。 Magnusyes； he is a very old friend。 He is devoted to my sister。 He writes stories。〃
〃What； in the papers？〃
〃No； in books。 Two every year。〃
〃And the other one？〃
〃That is young Mr。 Warlockhe is the son of our minister。〃
〃Does he live near here？〃
〃He lives just now with his parents。 Of late years he has been abroad。〃
〃He doesn't look like the son of a minister；〃 said Maggie。
〃No； I'm afraid〃 Aunt Elizabeth suddenly stopped。 〃His father has been minister of our chapel for twenty years。 He is a great and wonderful man。〃
〃Where is the chapel？〃
〃Very near at hand。 You will see it to…morrow。 To…morrow is Sunday。〃
There was a long pause。 Maggie knew that now was the time when she should say something friendly and affectionate。 She could say nothing。 She stared at her aunt； then at a long mirror that faced her bed； then at the lighted sky。 She felt warmly grateful； eager to show all the world that she would do her best； that she was ready to give herself to this new life with all her soul and strengthshe could say nothing。
They waited。
At last her aunt said：
〃Good…night； dear Maggie。〃
〃Good…night； Aunt Elizabeth。〃
She stole away； leaving the candle upon the chest of drawers； the cat followed her； swinging his tail。
Left alone； Maggie felt the whole sweep of her excitement。 She was exhausted； her body felt as though it had been trampled upon； she was so tired that she could scarcely drag her clothes from her； but the exaltation of her spirit was beyond and above all this。 Half undressed she stood before the long mirror。 She had never before possessed a long looking…glass； and now she seemed to see herself as she really was for the first time。 Was she very ugly and unattractive？ Yes； she must be with that stumpy body； those thick legs and arms； that short nose and large mouth。 And she did not know what to do to herself to make herself attractive。 Other girls knew but she had never had any one who could tell her。 Perhaps she would make girl friends now who would show her。
But； after all； she did not care。 She was herself。 People who did not like her could leave heryes they could； and she would not stir a finger to fetch them back。
Then； deep down in her soul； she knew that she wanted success； a magnificent life； a great future。 Nay more； she expected it。 She had force and strength； and she would compel life to give her what she wanted。 She laughed at herself in the glass。 She was happy； almost triumphant； and for no reason at all。
She went to her windows and opened them； there came up to her the tramping progress of the motor…omnibuses。 They advanced； like elephants charging down a jungle； nearer； nearer； nearer。 Before the tramp of one had passed another was advancing； and then upon that anotherceaselessly； advancing and retreating。
In her nightdress she leaned out of the window； poised； as it seemed to her； above a swaying carpet of lights。
Life seemed to hold every promise in store for her。
She crossed to her bed； drew the clothes about her and； forgetting her supper； forgetting all that had happened to her； her journey； her fainting； the young man； Edward the parro