第21章

She was aware that she struggled to face him with fierce protesting eyes.The next thing she knew was that she lay for the second time that afternoon in his arms.She felt that he laid her, clumsily but gently, upon the sofa; some one sprinkled cold water on her forehead.Deep down in her soul she hated and despised herself for this weakness before strangers.She closed her eyes tightly, desiring to conceal not so much the others as herself from her scornful gaze.She heard some one say something about a cup of tea, and she wanted it suddenly with a desperate, fiery desire, but she would not speak, no, not if they were to torture her with thirst for days and days--to that extent at least she could preserve her independence.

She heard her Aunt Elizabeth say something like: "Poor thing--strain--last week--father--too much."

She gathered all her energies together to say "It hasn't been too much.I'm all right," but they brought her a cup of tea, and before that she succumbed.She drank it with eager greed, then lay back, her eyes closed, and slowly the bars of hot iron withdrew from her forehead.She slept.

She woke to a room wrapped in a green trembling twilight.She was alone save for the black cat.The fire crackled, the gas was turned low, and the London murmur beyond the window was like the hum of an organ.There was no one in the room; she felt, as she lay there, an increasing irritation at her weakness.She was afraid too for her future.Did she faint like this at the earliest opportunity people would allow her no chance of earning her living.Where was that fine independent life upon which, outside Borhedden Farm, she had resolved? And these people, her aunts, the young 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 Ihad 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 horse--father always said so.I've come to help you and Aunt Anne in any way Ican.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.