a laodicean-第12章

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little　tarnished　now。



VIII。

That　evening　Somerset　was　so　preoccupied　with　these　things
that　he　left　all　his　sketching　implements　out…of…doors　in　the
castle　grounds。　　The　next　morning　he　hastened　thither　to
secure　them　from　being　stolen　or　spoiled。　　Meanwhile　he　was
hoping　to　have　an　opportunity　of　rectifying　Paula's　mistake
about　his　personality；　which；　having　served　a　very　good
purpose　in　introducing　them　to　a　mutual　conversation；　might
possibly　be　made　just　as　agreeable　as　a　thing　to　be　explained
away。

He　fetched　his　drawing　instruments；　rods；　sketching…blocks　and
other　articles　from　the　field　where　they　had　lain；　and　was
passing　under　the　walls　with　them　in　his　hands；　when　there
emerged　from　the　outer　archway　an　open　landau；　drawn　by　a　pair
of　black　horses　of　fine　action　and　obviously　strong　pedigree；
in　which　Paula　was　seated；　under　the　shade　of　a　white　parasol
with　black　and　white　ribbons　fluttering　on　the　summit。　　The
morning　sun　sparkled　on　the　equipage；　its　newness　being　made
all　the　more　noticeable　by　the　ragged　old　arch　behind。

She　bowed　to　Somerset　in　a　way　which　might　have　been　meant　to
express　that　she　had　discovered　her　mistake；　but　there　was　no
embarrassment　in　her　manner；　and　the　carriage　bore　her　away
without　her　making　any　sign　for　checking　it。　　He　had　not　been
walking　towards　the　castle　entrance；　and　she　could　not　be
supposed　to　know　that　it　was　his　intention　to　enter　that　day。

She　had　looked　such　a　bud　of　youth　and　promise　that　his
disappointment　at　her　departure　showed　itself　in　his　face　as
he　observed　her。　　However；　he　went　on　his　way；　entered　a
turret；　ascended　to　the　leads　of　the　great　tower；　and　stepped
out。

From　this　elevated　position　he　could　still　see　the　carriage
and　the　white　surface　of　Paula's　parasol　in　the　glowing　sun。
While　he　watched　the　landau　stopped；　and　in　a　few　moments　the
horses　were　turned；　the　wheels　and　the　panels　flashed；　and　the
carriage　came　bowling　along　towards　the　castle　again。

Somerset　descended　the　stone　stairs。　　Before　he　had　quite　got
to　the　bottom　he　saw　Miss　De　Stancy　standing　in　the　outer
hall。

'When　did　you　come；　Mr。　Somerset？'　she　gaily　said；　looking　up
surprised。　　'How　industrious　you　are　to　be　at　work　so
regularly　every　day！　　We　didn't　think　you　would　be　here　to…
day：　　Paula　has　gone　to　a　vegetable　show　at　Markton；　and　I　am
going　to　join　her　there　soon。'

'O！　gone　to　a　vegetable　show。　　But　I　think　she　has　altered
her'

At　this　moment　the　noise　of　the　carriage　was　heard　in　the
ward；　and　after　a　few　seconds　Miss　Power　came　inSomerset
being　invisible　from　the　door　where　she　stood。

'O　Paula；　what　has　brought　you　back？'　said　Miss　De　Stancy。

'I　have　forgotten　something。'

'Mr。　Somerset　is　here。　　Will　you　not　speak　to　him？'

Somerset　came　forward；　and　Miss　De　Stancy　presented　him　to　her
friend。　　Mr。　Somerset　acknowledged　the　pleasure　by　a
respectful　inclination　of　his　person；　and　said　some　words
about　the　meeting　yesterday。

'Yes；'　said　Miss　Power；　with　a　serene　deliberateness　quite
noteworthy　in　a　girl　of　her　age；　'I　have　seen　it　all　since。　　I
was　mistaken　about　you；　was　I　not？　　Mr。　Somerset；　I　am　glad　to
welcome　you　here；　both　as　a　friend　of　Miss　De　Stancy's　family；
and　as　the　son　of　your　fatherwhich　is　indeed　quite　a
sufficient　introduction　anywhere。'

'You　have　two　pictures　painted　by　Mr。　Somerset's　father；　have
you　not？　　I　have　already　told　him　about　them；'　said　Miss　De
Stancy。　　'Perhaps　Mr。　Somerset　would　like　to　see　them　if　they
are　unpacked？'

As　Somerset　had　from　his　infancy　suffered　from　a　plethora　of
those　productions；　excellent　as　they　were；　he　did　not　reply
quite　so　eagerly　as　Miss　De　Stancy　seemed　to　expect　to　her
kind　suggestion；　and　Paula　remarked　to　him；　'You　will　stay　to
lunch？　　Do　order　it　at　your　own　time；　if　our　hour　should　not
be　convenient。'

Her　voice　was　a　voice　of　low　note；　in　quality　that　of　a　flute
at　the　grave　end　of　its　gamut。　　If　she　sang；　she　was　a　pure
contralto　unmistakably。

'I　am　making　use　of　the　permission　you　have　been　good　enough
to　grant　meof　sketching　what　is　valuable　within　these
walls。'

'Yes；　of　course；　I　am　willing　for　anybody　to　come。　　People
hold　these　places　in　trust　for　the　nation；　in　one　sense。　　You
lift　your　hands；　Charlotte；　I　see　I　have　not　convinced　you　on
that　point　yet。'

Miss　De　Stancy　laughed；　and　said　something　to　no　purpose。

Somehow　Miss　Power　seemed　not　only　more　woman　than　Miss　De
Stancy；　but　more　woman　than　Somerset　was　man；　and　yet　in　years
she　was　inferior　to　both。　　Though　becomingly　girlish　and
modest；　she　appeared　to　possess　a　good　deal　of　composure；
which　was　well　expressed　by　the　shaded　light　of　her　eyes。

'You　have　then　met　Mr。　Somerset　before？'　said　Charlotte。

'He　was　kind　enough　to　deliver　an　address　in　my　defence
yesterday。　　I　suppose　I　seemed　quite　unable　to　defend　myself。'

'O　no！'　said　he。　　When　a　few　more　words　had　passed　she　turned
to　Miss　De　Stancy　and　spoke　of　some　domestic　matter；　upon
which　Somerset　withdrew；　Paula　accompanying　his　exit　with　a
remark　that　she　hoped　to　see　him　again　a　little　later　in　the
day。

Somerset　retired　to　the　chambers　of　antique　lumber；　keeping　an
eye　upon　the　windows　to　see　if　she　re…entered　the　carriage　and
resumed　her　journey　to　Markton。　　But　when　the　horses　had　been
standing　a　long　time　the　carriage　was　driven　round　to　the
stables。　　Then　she　was　not　going　to　the　vegetable　show。　　That
was　rather　curious；　seeing　that　she　had　only　come　back　for
something　forgotten。

These　queries　and　thoughts　occupied　the　mind　of　Somerset　until
the　bell　was　rung　for　luncheon。　　Owing　to　the　very　dusty
condition　in　which　he　found　himself　after　his　morning's
labours　among　the　old　carvings　he　was　rather　late　in　getting
downstairs；　and　seeing　that　the　rest　had　gone　in　he　went
straight　to　the　dining…hall。

The　population　of　the　castle　had　increased　in　his　absence。
There　were　assembled　Paula　and　her　friend　Charlotte；　a　bearded
man　some　years　older　than　himself；　with　a　cold　grey　eye；　who
was　cursorily　introduced　to　him　in　sitting　down　as　Mr。　Havill；
an　architect　of　Markton；　also　an　elderly　lady　of　dignified
aspect；　in　a　black　satin　dress；　of　which　she　apparently　had　a
very　high　opinion。　　This　lady；　who　seemed　to　be　a　mere　dummy
in　the　establishment；　was；　as　he　now　learnt；　Mrs。　Goodman　by
name；　a　widow　of　a　recently　deceased　gentleman；　and　aunt　to
Paulathe　identical　aunt　who　had　smuggled　Paula　into　a　church
in　her　helpless　infancy；　and　had　her　christened　without　her
parents'　knowledge。　　Having　been　left　in　narrow　circumstances
by　her　husband；　she　was　at　present　living　with　Miss　Power　as
chaperon　and　adviser　on　practical　mattersin　a　word；　as
ballast　to　the　management。　　Beyond　her　Somerset　discerned　his
new　acquaintance　Mr。　Woodwell；　who　on　sight　of　Somerset　was
for　hastening　up　to　him　and　performing　a　laboured　shaking　of
hands　in　earnest　recognition。

Paula　had　just　come　in　from　the　garden；　and　was　carelessly
laying　down　her　large　shady　hat　as　he　entered。　　Her　dress；　a
figured　material　in　black　and　white；　was　short；　allowing　her
feet　to　appear。　　There　was　something　in　her　look；　and　in　the
style　of　her　corsage；　which　reminded　him　of　several　of　the
bygone　beauties　in　the　gallery。　　The　thought　for　a　moment
crossed　his　mind　that　she　might　have　been　imitating　one　of
them。

'Fine　old　screen；　sir！'　said　Mr。　Havill；　in　a　long…drawn　voice
across　the　table　when　they　were　seated；　pointing　in　the
direction　of　the　traceried　oak　division　between　the　dining…
hall　and　a　vestibule　at　the　end。　　'As　good　a　piece　of
fourteenth…century　work　as　you　shall　see　in　this　part　of　the
country。'

'You　mean　fifteenth　century；　of　course？'　said　Somerset。

Havill　was　silent。　　'You　are　one　of　the　profession；　perhaps？'
asked　the　latter；　after　a　while。

'You　mean　that　I　am　an　architect？'　said　Somerset。　　'Yes。'

'Ahone　of　my　own　honoured　vocation。'　　Havill's　face　had　been
not　unpleasant　until　this　moment；　when　he　smiled；　whereupon
there　instantly　gleamed　over　him　a　phase　of　meanness；
remaining　until　the　smile　died　away。

Havill　continued；　with　slow　watchfulness：

'What　enormous　sacrileges　are　committed　by　the　builders　every
day；　I　observe！　　I　was　driving　yesterday　to　Toneborough　where
I　am　erecting　a　town…hall；　and　passing　through　a　village　on　my
way　I　saw　the　workmen　pulling　down　a　chancel…wall　in　which
they　found　imbedded　a　unique　specimen　of　Perpendicular　worka
capital　from　some　old　arcadethe　mouldings　wonderfully
undercut。　　They　were　smashing　it　up　as　filling…in　for　the　new
wall。'

'It　must　have　been　unique；'　said　Somerset；　in　the　too…readily
controversial　tone　of　the　educated　young　man　who　has　yet　to
learn　diplomacy。　　'I　have　never　seen　much　undercutting　in
Perpendicular　stone…work；　nor　anybody　else；　I　think。'

'O　yeslots　of　it！'　said　Mr。　Havill；　nettled。

Paula　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　　'Which　am　I　to　take　as
guide？'　she　asked。　　'Are　Perpendicular　capitals　undercut；　as
you　call　it；　Mr。　Havill；　or　no？'

'It　depends　upon　circumstances；'　said　Mr。　Havill。

But　Somerset　had　answered　at　the　same　time：　　'There　is　seldom
or　never　any　marked　undercutting　in　moulded　work　later　than
the　middle　of　the　fourteenth　century。'

Havill　looked　keenly　at　Somerset　for　a　time：　　then　he　turned
to　Paula：　　'As　regards　that　fine　Saxon　vaulting　you　did　me　the
honour　to　consult　me　about　the　other　day；　I　should　advise
taking　out　some　of　the　old　stones　and　reinstating　new　ones
exactly　like　them。'

'But　the　new　ones　won't　be　Saxon；'　said　Paula。　　'And　then　in
time　to　come；　when　I　have　passed　away；　and　those　stones　have
become　stained　like　the　rest；　people　will　be　deceived。　　I
should　prefer　an　honest　patch　to　any　such　make…believe　of
Saxon　relics。'

As　she　concluded　she　let　her　eyes　rest　on　Somerset　for　a
moment；　as　if　to　ask　him　to　side　with　her。　　Much　as　he　liked
talking　to　Paula；　he　would　have　preferred　not　to　enter　into
this　discussion　with　another　professional　man；　even　though
that　man　were　a　spurious　article；　but　he　was　led　on　to
enthusiasm　by　a　sudden　pang　of　regret　at　finding　that　the
masterly　workmanship　in　this　fine　castle　was　likely　to　be
tinkered　and　spoilt　by　such　a　man　as　Havill。

'You　will　deceive　nobody　into　believing　that　anything　is　Saxon
here；'　he　said　warmly。　　'There　is　not　a　square　inch　of　Saxon
work；　as　it　is　called；　in　the　whole　castle。'

Paula；　in　doubt；　looked　to　Mr。　Havill。

'O　yes；　sir；　you　are　quite　mistaken；'　said　that　gentleman
slowly。　　'Every　stone　of　those　lower　vaults　was　reared　in
Saxon　times。'

'I　can　assure　you；'　said　Somerset　deferentially；　but　firmly；
'that　there　is　not　an　arch　or　wall　in　this　castle　of　a　date
anterior　to　the　year　1100；　no　one　whose　attention　has　ever
been　given　to　the　study　of　architectural　details　of　that　age
can　be　of　a　different　opinion。'

'I　have　studied　architecture；　and　I　am　of　a　different　opinion。
I　have　the　best　reason　in　the　world　for　the　difference；　for　I
have　history　herself　on　my　side。　　What　will　you　say　when　I
tell　you　that　it　is　a　recorded　fact　that　this　was　used　as　a
castle　by　the　Romans；　and　that　it　is　mentioned　in　Domesday　as
a　building　of　long　standing？'

'I　shall　say　that　has　nothing　to　do　with　it；'　replied　the
young　man。　　'I　don't