CHAPTER 4
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Brother and SisterMAGGIE was obliged to go to Toms lodgings in the middle of the day, when he would be ing in to dinner, else she would not have found him at home. He was not lodging with erangers. Our friend Bob Jakin had, with Mumpss tacit sent, taken not only a wife about eight months ago, but also one of those queer old houses pierced with surprising passages, by the water-side, where, as he observed, his wife and mother could keep themselves out of mischief by letting out two `pleasure-boats in which he had ied some of his savings, and by taking a lodger for the parlour and spare bedroom. Uhese circumstances, what could be better for the is of all parties, sanitary siderations apart, than that the lodger should be Mr Tom? It was Bobs wife who opehe door to Maggie. She was a tiny woman, with the general physiognomy of a Dutch doll, looking, in parison with Bobs mother who filled up the passage in the rear, very much like one of those human figures which the artist finds vely standing near a colossal statue to show the proportions. The tiny woman curtsied and looked up at Maggie with some awe as soon as she had opehe door; but the words, `Is my brother at home? which Maggie uttered smilingly, mad<u>99lib.</u>e her turn round with suddeement and say,
`Eh, mother, mother - tell Bob! - its Miss Maggie! e in, Miss, foodness do, she went on, opening a side door, and endeav to flatten her person against the wall to make the utmost space for the visitor.
Sad recolles crowded on Maggie as she ehe small parlour, which was now all that poor Tom had to call by the name of `home - that name which had once, so many years ago, meant for both of them the same sum of dear familiar objects. But everything was not strao her in this new room: the first thing her eyes dwelt on was the large old Bible, and the sight was not likely to disperse the old memories. She stood without speaking.
`If you please to take the privilege o sitting down, Miss, said Mrs Jakin, rubbing her apron over a perfectly chair, and then lifting up the er of that garment and holding it to her face with an air of embarrassment, as she looked wly at Maggie.
`Bob is at home, then? said Maggie, rec herself, and smiling at the bashful Dutch doll.
`Yes, Miss; but I think he must be washing and dressing himself - Ill go and see, said Mrs Jakin, disappearing.
But she presently came back walking with new ce a little way behind her husband, who showed the brilliancy of his blue eyes and regular white teeth in the doorway, bowing respectfully.
`How do you do, Bob? said Maggie, ing forward and putting out her hand to him. `I always meant to pay your wife a visit, and I shall e another day on purpose for that, if she will let me. But I was obliged to e today, to speak to my brother.
`Hell be in before long, Miss. Hes doin finely, Mr Tom is: hell be ohe fust men hereabouts - youll see that.
`Well, Bob, Im sure hell be ied to you, whatever he bees: he said so himself only the ht, when he was talking of you.
`Eh, Miss, thats his way o takin it. But I think the more ont when he says a thing, because his tongue doesnt over- shoot him as mine does. Lors! Im er nor a tilted bottle I arnt - I t stop mysen when once I begin. But you look rarely, Miss - it does me good to see you. What do you say now, Prissy? - here Bob turo his wife. `Isnt it all e true as I said? Though there isnt many sorts ogoods as I t over-praise when I set my too t.
Mrs Bobs small nose seemed to be following the example of her eyes in turning up reverentially towards Maggie, but she was able now to smile and curtsy, and say, `Id looked forrard like aenything to seein you, Miss, for my husbands tongues been runnin on you like as if he was light-headed, iver since first he e a-courtin on me.
`Well, well, said Bob, looking rather silly. `Go aer the taters, else Mr Tom ull have to wait for em.
`I hope Mumps is friendly with Mrs Jakin, Bob, said Maggie, smiling. `I remember you used to say, he wouldnt like your marrying.
`Eh, Miss, said Bob, grinning, `he made up his mind to t when he seed what a little un she was. He pretends not to see her mostly, or else to think as she isnt full-growed. But about Mr Tom, Miss, said Bob, speaking lower and looking serious. `Hes as close as a iron biler, he is; but Im a cutish chap, an when Ive left off carrying my pa am at a loose end - Ive got more brains nor I know what to do wi, an Im forced to busy myself wi other folkss insides. An it worrets me as Mr Tom ull sit by himself so glumpish, a-knittin his brow an a-lookin at the fire of a night. He should be a bit livelier now - a fine young fellow like him. My wife says, when she goes in sometimes aakes no notice of her, he sits lookin into the fire and frownin as if he was wat folks at work in it.
`He thinks so much about business, said Maggie.
`Ay, said Bob, speaking lower, `but do you think its nothin else, Miss? Hes close, Mr Tom is, but Im a cute chap, I am, an I thought towrt last Christmas, as Id found out a soft pla him. It was about a little black spaniel - a rare bit o breed - as he made a fuss to get. But sihen summats e over him as hes set his teeth again things more nor iver, for all hes had such good luck. An I wao tell you, Miss, cause I thought you might work it out of him a bit, now youre e. Hes a deal too lonely - a go into pany enough.
`Im afraid I have very little power over him, Bob, said Maggie, a good deal moved by Bobs suggestion. It was a totally new idea to her mind, that Tom could have his love troubles. Poor fellow! - and in love with Lucy too! But it erhaps a mere fancy of Bobs too officious brain. The present of the dog meant nothing more than cousinship and gratitude. But Bob and already said, `Heres Mr Tom, and the outer door ening.
`Theres no time to spare, Tom, said Maggie, as soon as Bob had left the room. `I must tell you at once what I came about, else I shall be hindering you from taking your dinner.
Tom stood with his back against the ey pied Maggie was seated opposite the light. He noticed that she was tremulous, and he had a prese of the subject she was going to speak about. The prese made his voice colder and harder as he said, `What is it?
This tone roused a spirit of resistan Maggie and she put her request in quite a different form from the one she had predetermined on. She rose from her seat and looking straight at Tom, said,
`I want you to absolve me from my promise about Philip Wakem. Or rather, I promised you not to see him without telling you. I am e to tell you that I wish to see him.
`Very well, said Tom, still more coldly.
But Maggie had hardly finished speaking in that chill, defiant manner, before she repented ahe dread of alienation from her brother.
`Not for myself, dear Tom. Dont be angry. I shouldnt have asked it, only that Philip, you know, is a friend of Lucys, and she wishes him to e - has invited him to e this evening, and I told her I couldnt see him without telling you. I shall only see him in the presence of other people. There will never be anythi between us again.
Tom looked away from Maggie, knitting his brow more strongly for a little while. Theuro her and said slowly and emphatically--
`You know what is my feeling on that subject, Maggie. There is no need for my repeating anything I said a year ago. While my father was living, I felt bound to use the utmost power over you, to prevent you from disgrag him as well as yourself and all of us. But now I must leave you to your own choice. You wish to be indepe - you told me so after my fathers death. My opinion is not ged. If you think of Philip Wakem as a lain, you must give up me.
`I dont wish it, dear Tom - at least as things are - I see that it would lead to misery. But I shall soon go away to another situation, and I should like to be friends with him again while I am here. Lucy wishes it.
The severity of Toms face relaxed a little.
`I shouldnt mind your seeing him occasionally at my uncles - I dont want you to make a fuss on the subject. But I have no fiden you, <var>?９９lib?</var>Maggie. You would be led away to do anything.
That was a cruel word. Maggies lip began to tremble.
`Why will you say that, Tom? It is very hard of you. Have I not done and borhing as well as I could? And I have kept my word to you - when - when... My life has not been a happy one any more than yours.
She was obliged to be childish - the tears would e. When Maggie was not angry, she was as depe on kind or cold words as a daisy on the sunshine or the cloud: the need of being loved would always subdue her as in old days it subdued her in the worm-eaten attic. The broodness came uppermost at this appeal, but it could only show itself in Toms fashio his haly on her arm and said ione of a kind pedagogue,
`Now listen to me, Maggie: Ill tell you what I mean. Youre always iremes - you have no judgment and self-and; a you think you know best, and will not submit to be guided. You know I didnt wish you to take a situation. My aunt Pullet was willing to give you a good home, and you might have lived respectably amongst your relations until I could have provided a home for you with my mother. And that is what I should like to do. I wished my sister to be a lady, and I would always have taken care of you as my father desired, until you were well married. But your ideas and mine never accord, and you will not give way. Yet you might have sense enough to see that a brother, who goes out into the world and mixes with men, necessarily knows better what is right and respectable for his sister than she know herself. You think I am not kind - but my kindness only be directed by what I believe to be good for you.
`Yes - I know - dear Tom, said Maggie, still half-s<tt></tt>obbing, but trying to trol her tears. `I know you would do a great deal for me - I know how you work and dont spare yourself. I am grateful to you. But, indeed, you t quite judge for me - our natures our very different. You dont know how differently things affect me from what they do you.
`Yes, I do know - I know it too well. I know how differently you must feel about all that affects our family and your own dignity as a young woman, before you could think of receivi addresses from Philip Wakem. If it was not disgusting to me in every other way, I should objey sisters name being associated for a moment with that of a young man whose father must hate the very thought of us all, and would spurn you. With any o you, I should think it quite certain that what you witnessed just before my fathers death, would secure you from ever thinking again of Philip Wakem as a lover. But I dont feel certain of it with you - I never feel certain about anything with you. At oime you take pleasure in a sort of perverse self-denial, and at another, you have not resolution to resist a thing that you know to be wrong.
There was a terrible cutting truth in Toms words - that hard rind of truth which is dised by unimaginative, unsympathetids. Maggie always writhed uhis judgment of Toms: she rebelled and was humiliated in the same moment: it seemed as if he held a glass before her to show her her own folly and weakness - as if he were a prophetic voice predig her future fallings - a, all the while, she judged him iurn: she said inwardly, that he was narrow and unjust, that he was below feeling those mental needs which were often the source of the wrong-doing or absurdity that made her life a planless riddle to him.
She did not answer directly - her heart was too full, and she sat down, leaning her arm oable. It was no use trying to make Tom feel that she was o him. He always repelled her. Her feeling under his words was plicated by the allusion to the last se between her father and Wakem, and at length that painful, solemn memory surmouhe immediate grievano! She did not think of such things with frivolous indifference, and Tom must not accuse her of that. She looked up at him with a grave, ear gaze, and said,
`I t make you thier of me, Tom, by anything I say. But I am not so shut out from all your feelings as you believe me to be. I see as well as you do, that from our position with regard to Philips father - not on rounds - it would be unreasonable - it would be wrong for us to eain the idea of marriage, and I have given up thinking of him as a lover... I am telling you the truth and you have nht to disbelieve me: I have ke<footer>藏书网</footer>pt my word to you, and you have never detected me in a falsehood. I should not only not ence, I should carefully avoid any intercourse with Philip on any other footing than that of quiet friendship - of a distant kind. You may think that I am uo keep my resolutions - but at least you ought not to treat me with that hard pt on the ground of faults that I have not itted yet.
`Well, Maggie, said Tom, softening uhis appeal, `I dont want to overstrain matters. I think, all things sidered, it will be best for you to see Philip Wakem, if Lucy wishes him to e to the house. I believe what you say - at least you believe it yourself, I know: I only warn you. I wish to be as good a brother to you as you will let me.
There was a little tremor in Toms voice as he uttered the last words, and Maggies ready affe came back with as sudden a glow as when they were children and bit their cake together as a sacrament of ciliation. She rose and laid her hand on Toms shoulder.
`Dear Tom - I know you mean to be good. I know you have had a great deal to bear, and have done a great deal. I should like to be a fort to you - not to vex you. You dont think Im altogether naughty, now, do you?
Tom smiled at the eager face: his smiles were very pleasant to see when they did e, for the grey eyes could be tender underh the frown.
`No, Maggie.
`I may turn out better than you expect.
`I hope you will.
`And may I e some day and make tea for you, ahis extremely small wife of Bobs again?
`Yes, but trot away now, for Ive no more ti<mark></mark>me to spare, said Tom, looking at his watch.
`Not to give me a kiss?
Tom bent to kiss her cheek, and then said,
`There! Be a good girl. Ive got a great deal to think of to-day. Im going to have a long sultation with my uncle Deahis afternoon.
`Youll e to aunt Gleggs tomorrow? Were going all to dine early, that we may go there to tea. You must e: Lue to say so.
`O Pooh! Ive plenty else to do, said Tom, pulling his bell violently and bringing down the small bell-rope.
`Im frightened - I shall run away, said Maggie, making a laughireat; while Tom, with mase philosophy, flung the bell-rope to the father end of the room - not very far either: a touch of human experience which I flatter myself will e home to the bosoms of not a few substantial or distinguished men who were o an early stage of their rise in the world and were cherishing very large hopes in very small lodgings.
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