Chapter XI. Maggie Tries to Run away from Her Shadow

Maggie’sintentions,asusual,wereonalargerscalethanTomimagined.Theresolutionthatgatheredinhermind,afterTomandLucyhadwalkedaway,wasnotsosimpleasthatofgoinghome.No!shewouldrunawayandgotothegypsies,andTomshouldneverseeheranymore.ThatwasbynomeansanewideatoMaggieshehadbeensooftentoldshewaslikeagypsy,and“halfwild,”thatwhenshewasmiserableitseemedtohertheonlywayofescapingopprobrium,andbeingentirelyinharmonywithcircumstances,wouldbetoliveinalittlebrowntentonthecommonsthegypsies,sheconsidered,wouldgladlyreceiveherandpayhermuchrespectonaccountofhersuperiorknowledge.ShehadoncementionedherviewsonthispointtoTomandsuggestedthatheshouldstainhisfacebrown,andtheyshouldrunawaytogetherbutTomrejectedtheschemewithcontempt,observingthatgypsieswerethieves,andhardlygotanythingtoeatandhadnothingtodrivebutadonkey.To-dayhowever,Maggiethoughthermiseryhadreachedapitchatwhichgypsydomwasherrefuge,andsherosefromherseatontherootsofthetreewiththesensethatthiswasagreatcrisisinherlifeshewouldrunstraightawaytillshecametoDunlowCommon,wheretherewouldcertainlybegypsiesandcruelTom,andtherestofherrelationswhofoundfaultwithher,shouldneverseeheranymore.Shethoughtofherfatherassheranalong,butshereconciledherselftotheideaofpartingwithhim,bydeterminingthatshewouldsecretlysendhimaletterbyasmallgypsy,whowouldrunawaywithouttellingwhereshewas,andjustlethimknowthatshewaswellandhappy,andalwayslovedhimverymuch. Maggiesoongotoutofbreathwithrunning,butbythetimeTomgottothepondagainshewasatthedistanceofthreelongfields,andwasontheedgeofthelaneleadingtothehighroad.Shestoppedtopantalittle,reflectingthatrunningawaywasnotapleasantthinguntilonehadgotquitetothecommonwherethegypsieswere,butherresolutionhadnotabatedshepresentlypassedthroughthegateintothelane,notknowingwhereitwouldleadher,foritwasnotthiswaythattheycamefromDorlcoteMilltoGarumFirs,andshefeltallthesaferforthat,becausetherewasnochanceofherbeingovertaken.Butshewassoonaware,notwithouttrembling,thatthereweretwomencomingalongthelaneinfrontofhershehadnotthoughtofmeetingstrangers,shehadbeentoomuchoccupiedwiththeideaofherfriendscomingafterher.Theformidablestrangersweretwoshabby-lookingmenwithflushedfaces,oneofthemcarryingabundleonastickoverhisshoulderbuttohersurprise,whileshewasdreadingtheirdisapprobationasarunaway,themanwiththebundlestopped,andinahalf-whining,half-coaxingtoneaskedherifshehadacoppertogiveapoorman.Maggiehadasixpenceinherpocket,—heruncleGlegg’spresent,—whichsheimmediatelydrewoutandgavethispoormanwithapolitesmile,hopinghewouldfeelverykindlytowardherasagenerousperson.“That’stheonlymoneyI’vegot,”shesaidapologetically.“Thankyou,littlemiss,”saidtheman,inalessrespectfulandgratefultonethanMaggieanticipated,andsheevenobservedthathesmiledandwinkedathiscompanion.Shewalkedonhurriedly,butwasawarethatthetwomenwerestandingstill,probablytolookafterher,andshepresentlyheardthemlaughingloudly.SuddenlyitoccurredtoherthattheymightthinkshewasanidiotTomhadsaidthathercroppedhairmadeherlooklikeanidiot,anditwastoopainfulanideatobereadilyforgotten.Besides,shehadnosleeveson,—onlyacapeandbonnet.Itwasclearthatshewasnotlikelytomakeafavourableimpressiononpassengers,andshethoughtshewouldturnintothefieldsagain,butnotonthesamesideofthelaneasbefore,lesttheyshouldstillbeunclePullet’sfields.Sheturnedthroughthefirstgatethatwasnotlocked,andfeltadelightfulsenseofprivacyincreepingalongbythehedgerows,afterherrecenthumiliatingencounter.Shewasusedtowanderingaboutthefieldsbyherself,andwaslesstimidtherethanonthehighroad.Sometimesshehadtoclimboverhighgates,butthatwasasmallevilshewasgettingoutofreachveryfast,andsheshouldprobablysooncomewithinsightofDunlowCommon,oratleastofsomeothercommon,forshehadheardherfathersaythatyoucouldn’tgoveryfarwithoutcomingtoacommon.Shehopedso,forshewasgettingrathertiredandhungry,anduntilshereachedthegypsiestherewasnodefiniteprospectofbreadandbutter.Itwasstillbroaddaylight,forauntPullet,retainingtheearlyhabitsoftheDodsonfamily,tookteaathalf-pastfourbythesun,andatfivebythekitchenclockso,thoughitwasnearlyanhoursinceMaggiestarted,therewasnogatheringgloomonthefieldstoremindherthatthenightwouldcome.Still,itseemedtoherthatshehadbeenwalkingaverygreatdistanceindeed,anditwasreallysurprisingthatthecommondidnotcomewithinsight.HithertoshehadbeenintherichparishofGarum,wherewasagr