اعماق قرمز

CHAPTER SIX

The Red Deeps

For a few years, the Tullivers’ lives were difficult. Mr Tulliver hated Lawyer Wakem. But he had to work for the lawyer. Tom worked for Guest and Company, in St Ogg’s. Tom saved all his money. Maggie stayed in the house. She helped her mother.

One day, in June 1837, Maggie’s life changed.

That afternoon, she was very tired. ‘I will walk to the Red Deeps,’ she thought. ‘I will be alone there.’

The Red Deeps was a beautiful, quiet place. There were many tall trees there. The grass was soft, and the earth on the ground was red. Maggie liked the Red Deeps.

Maggie walked slowly under the trees. But she was not alone. Philip Wakem was in the Red Deeps too.

Maggie had not seen Philip for five years.

‘Philip! Why are you here’ Maggie asked.

‘I saw you leaving Dorlcote Mill,’ Philip replied. ‘I followed you. I have never forgotten you, Maggie. You are beautiful.’

‘Am I beautiful, Philip’ Maggie said. ‘I am not beautiful. I am very unhappy.’

‘I am unhappy too, Maggie,’ Philip said. ‘I am a man now. But I will never be tall and strong. My back will always be twisted.’

‘Oh, Philip, that is not important,’ Maggie said.

‘Will we meet again’ Philip asked. ‘Will you be my friend?’

‘No, Philip,’ Maggie said. ‘We must not meet again. We must not be friends. I must go now. Goodbye.’

And Maggie walked away quickly.

‘I will come here again,’ Philip thought. ‘I want to meet Maggie. I want to be her friend.’

Philip walked to the Red Deeps every day. Then one afternoon, he saw Maggie again. They talked for a long time. After that, they often met in the Red Deeps. But Maggie told nobody. Their meetings were secret.

One day, Philip said, ‘I love you Maggie. I want to marry you.’

‘We cannot get married,’ Maggie replied. ‘The Tullivers hate the Wakem’s. I love you but I cannot marry you.’

A year passed. One day, Tom saw Philip Wakem walking from the Red Deeps. Tom went back to the house. Maggie was reading a book. Tom looked at Maggie’s shoes. There was red earth on them.

‘Maggie, have you been to the Red Deeps’ Tom asked.

Maggie looked at her shoes. She saw the red earth. It was earth from the ground at the Red Deeps.

‘Yes, I have been there,’ she said. ‘I went for a walk.’ ‘Did you meet Philip Wakem there’ Tom asked. ‘Yes, Tom,’ Maggie replied. ‘I often meet him there. We talk about books and music. He lends me books.’

Tom was angry. ‘Father hates Lawyer Wakem. And I hate him too,’ Tom said. ‘You must not talk to his son!’ ‘Philip loves me,’ Maggie replied. ‘And I love him.’ ‘You are a bad daughter and a bad sister’ Tom said.

The next afternoon, Tom went with Maggie to the Red Deeps. Philip Wakem was there. He was waiting for Maggie. Philip looked at Tom. Then he looked at Maggie and he understood everything. Tom spoke first.

‘You and Maggie have met secretly,’ he said. ‘She is a bad sister! And you are a bad man! Your body is twisted and your mind is twisted too!’

Tom went towards Philip and he lifted his hand. ‘Don’t write to Maggie’ he said. ‘Don’t speak to her! I’ll beat you-‘

‘Tom, please stop’ said Maggie. She was crying. ‘Forgive me, Philip,’ she said.

‘I understand, Maggie,’ said Philip. ‘You have an unkind, stupid brother. I love you, Maggie. Tom does not love you.’

Tom pulled Maggie’s arm. ‘Come home, Maggie,’ he said angrily.

Maggie touched Philip’s hand. Then Philip turned away. Tom and Maggie walked back to the mill.

‘Tom, you were cruel to Philip,’ Maggie said. ‘You are very hard, Tom. You are very unkind.’