a laodicean-第17章

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no　remark　to　her。

Mrs。　Goodman　broke　the　silence　by　saying；　'If　it　were　not　a
railway　we　should　call　it　a　lovely　dell。'

Somerset　agreed　with　her；　adding　that　it　was　so　charming　that
he　felt　inclined　to　go　down。

'If　you　do；　perhaps　Miss　Power　will　order　you　up　again；　as　a
trespasser；'　said　Charlotte　De　Stancy。　　'You　are　one　of　the
largest　shareholders　in　the　railway；　are　you　not；　Paula？'

Miss　Power　did　not　reply。

'I　suppose　as　the　road　is　partly　yours　you　might　walk　all　the
way　to　London　along　the　rails；　if　you　wished；　might　you　not；
dear？'　Charlotte　continued。

Paula　smiled；　and　said；　'No；　of　course　not。'

Somerset；　feeling　himself　superfluous；　raised　his　hat　to　his
companions　as　if　he　meant　not　to　see　them　again　for　a　while；
and　began　to　descend　by　some　steps　cut　in　the　earth；　Miss　De
Stancy　asked　Mrs。　Goodman　to　accompany　her　to　a　barrow　over
the　top　of　the　tunnel；　and　they　left　the　carriage；　Paula
remaining　alone。

Down　Somerset　plunged　through　the　long　grass；　bushes；　late
summer　flowers；　moths；　and　caterpillars；　vexed　with　himself
that　he　had　come　there；　since　Paula　was　so　inscrutable；　and
humming　the　notes　of　some　song　he　did　not　know。　　The　tunnel
that　had　seemed　so　small　from　the　surface　was　a　vast　archway
when　he　reached　its　mouth；　which　emitted；　as　a　contrast　to　the
sultry　heat　on　the　slopes　of　the　cutting；　a　cool　breeze；　that
had　travelled　a　mile　underground　from　the　other　end。　　Far　away
in　the　darkness　of　this　silent　subterranean　corridor　he　could
see　that　other　end　as　a　mere　speck　of　light。

When　he　had　conscientiously　admired　the　construction　of　the
massive　archivault；　and　the　majesty　of　its　nude　ungarnished
walls；　he　looked　up　the　slope　at　the　carriage；　it　was　so　small
to　the　eye　that　it　might　have　been　made　for　a　performance　by
canaries；　Paula's　face　being　still　smaller；　as　she　leaned　back
in　her　seat；　idly　looking　down　at　him。　　There　seemed　something
roguish　in　her　attitude　of　criticism；　and　to　be　no　longer　the
subject　of　her　contemplation　he　entered　the　tunnel　out　of　her
sight。

In　the　middle　of　the　speck　of　light　before　him　appeared　a
speck　of　black；　and　then　a　shrill　whistle；　dulled　by　millions
of　tons　of　earth；　reached　his　ears　from　thence。　　It　was　what
he　had　been　on　his　guard　against　all　the　time；a　passing
train；　and　instead　of　taking　the　trouble　to　come　out　of　the
tunnel　he　stepped　into　a　recess；　till　the　train　had　rattled
past　and　vanished　onward　round　a　curve。

Somerset　still　remained　where　he　had　placed　himself；　mentally
balancing　science　against　art；　the　grandeur　of　this　fine　piece
of　construction　against　that　of　the　castle；　and　thinking
whether　Paula's　father　had　not；　after　all；　the　best　of　it；
when　all　at　once　he　saw　Paula's　form　confronting　him　at　the
entrance　of　the　tunnel。　　He　instantly　went　forward　into　the
light；　to　his　surprise　she　was　as　pale　as　a　lily。

'O；　Mr。　Somerset！'　she　exclaimed。　　'You　ought　not　to　frighten
me　soindeed　you　ought　not！　　The　train　came　out　almost　as
soon　as　you　had　gone　in；　and　as　you　did　not　returnan
accident　was　possible！'

Somerset　at　once　perceived　that　he　had　been　to　blame　in　not
thinking　of　this。

'Please　do　forgive　my　thoughtlessness　in　not　reflecting　how　it
would　strike　you！'　he　pleaded。　'II　see　I　have　alarmed　you。'

Her　alarm　was；　indeed；　much　greater　than　he　had　at　first
thought：　　she　trembled　so　much　that　she　was　obliged　to　sit
down；　at　which　he　went　up　to　her　full　of　solicitousness。

'You　ought　not　to　have　done　it！'　she　said。　　'I　naturally
thoughtany　person　would'

Somerset；　perhaps　wisely；　said　nothing　at　this　outburst；　the
cause　of　her　vexation　was；　plainly　enough；　his　perception　of
her　discomposure。　　He　stood　looking　in　another　direction；　till
in　a　few　moments　she　had　risen　to　her　feet　again；　quite　calm。

'It　would　have　been　dreadful；'　she　said　with　faint　gaiety；　as
the　colour　returned　to　her　face；　'if　I　had　lost　my　architect；
and　been　obliged　to　engage　Mr。　Havill　without　an　alternative。'

'I　was　really　in　no　danger；　but　of　course　I　ought　to　have
considered；'　he　said。

'I　forgive　you；'　she　returned　good…naturedly。　　'I　knew　there
was　no　GREAT　danger　to　a　person　exercising　ordinary
discretion；　but　artists　and　thinkers　like　you　are　indiscreet
for　a　moment　sometimes。　　I　am　now　going　up　again。　　What　do　you
think　of　the　tunnel？'

They　were　crossing　the　railway　to　ascend　by　the　opposite　path；
Somerset　keeping　his　eye　on　the　interior　of　the　tunnel　for
safety；　when　suddenly　there　arose　a　noise　and　shriek　from　the
contrary　direction　behind　the　trees。　　Both　knew　in　a　moment
what　it　meant；　and　each　seized　the　other　as　they　rushed　off
the　permanent　way。　　The　ideas　of　both　had　been　so　centred　on
the　tunnel　as　the　source　of　danger；　that　the　probability　of　a
train　from　the　opposite　quarter　had　been　forgotten。　　It　rushed
past　them；　causing　Paula's　dress；　hair；　and　ribbons　to　flutter
violently；　and　blowing　up　the　fallen　leaves　in　a　shower　over
their　shoulders。

Neither　spoke；　and　they　went　up　several　steps；　holding　each
other　by　the　hand；　till；　becoming　conscious　of　the　fact；　she
withdrew　hers；　whereupon　Somerset　stopped　and　looked　earnestly
at　her；　but　her　eyes　were　averted　towards　the　tunnel　wall。

'What　an　escape！'　he　said。

'We　were　not　so　very　near；　I　think；　were　we？'　she　asked
quickly。　　'If　we　were；　I　think　you　werevery　good　to　take　my
hand。'

They　reached　the　top　at　last；　and　the　new　level　and　open　air
seemed　to　give　her　a　new　mind。　　'I　don't　see　the　carriage
anywhere；'　she　said；　in　the　common　tones　of　civilization。

He　thought　it　had　gone　over　the　crest　of　the　hill；　he　would
accompany　her　till　they　reached　it。

'NopleaseI　would　rather　notI　can　find　it　very　well。'
Before　he　could　say　more　she　had　inclined　her　head　and　smiled
and　was　on　her　way　alone。

The　tunnel…cutting　appeared　a　dreary　gulf　enough　now　to　the
young　man；　as　he　stood　leaning　over　the　rails　above　it；
beating　the　herbage　with　his　stick。　　For　some　minutes　he　could
not　criticize　or　weigh　her　conduct；　the　warmth　of　her　presence
still　encircled　him。　　He　recalled　her　face　as　it　had　looked
out　at　him　from　under　the　white　silk　puffing　of　her　black　hat；
and　the　speaking　power　of　her　eyes　at　the　moment　of　danger。
The　breadth　of　that　clear…complexioned　foreheadalmost
concealed　by　the　masses　of　brown　hair　bundled　up　around　it
signified　that　if　her　disposition　were　oblique　and　insincere
enough　for　trifling；　coquetting；　or　in　any　way　making　a　fool
of　him；　she　had　the　intellect　to　do　it　cruelly　well。

But　it　was　ungenerous　to　ruminate　so　suspiciously。　　A　girl　not
an　actress　by　profession　could　hardly　turn　pale　artificially
as　she　had　done；　though　perhaps　mere　fright　meant　nothing；　and
would　have　arisen　in　her　just　as　readily　had　he　been　one　of
the　labourers　on　her　estate。

The　reflection　that　such　feeling　as　she　had　exhibited　could
have　no　tender　meaning　returned　upon　him　with　masterful　force
when　he　thought　of　her　wealth　and　the　social　position　into
which　she　had　drifted。　　Somerset；　being　of　a　solitary　and
studious　nature；　was　not　quite　competent　to　estimate　precisely
the　disqualifying　effect；　if　any；　of　her　nonconformity；　her
newness　of　blood；　and　other　things；　among　the　old　county
families　established　round　her；　but　the　toughest　prejudices；
he　thought；　were　not　likely　to　be　long　invulnerable　to　such
cheerful　beauty　and　brightness　of　intellect　as　Paula's。　　When
she　emerged；　as　she　was　plainly　about　to　do；　from　the
seclusion　in　which　she　had　been　living　since　her　father's
death；　she　would　inevitably　win　her　way　among　her　neighbours。
She　would　become　the　local　topic。　　Fortune…hunters　would　learn
of　her　existence　and　draw　near　in　shoals。　　What　chance　would
there　then　be　for　him？

The　points　in　his　favour　were　indeed　few；　but　they　were　just
enough　to　keep　a　tantalizing　hope　alive。　　Modestly　leaving　out
of　count　his　personal　and　intellectual　qualifications；　he
thought　of　his　family。　　It　was　an　old　stock　enough；　though　not
a　rich　one。　　His　great…uncle　had　been　the　well…known　Vice…
admiral　Sir　Armstrong　Somerset；　who　served　his　country　well　in
the　Baltic；　the　Indies；　China；　and　the　Caribbean　Sea。　　His
grandfather　had　been　a　notable　metaphysician。　　His　father；　the
Royal　Academician；　was　popular。　　But　perhaps　this　was　not　the
sort　of　reasoning　likely　to　occupy　the　mind　of　a　young　woman；
the　personal　aspect　of　the　situation　was　in　such　circumstances
of　far　more　import。　　He　had　come　as　a　wandering　strangerthat
possibly　lent　some　interest　to　him　in　her　eyes。　　He　was
installed　in　an　office　which　would　necessitate　free　communion
with　her　for　some　time　to　come；　that　was　another　advantage；
and　would　be　a　still　greater　one　if　she　showed；　as　Paula
seemed　disposed　to　do；　such　artistic　sympathy　with　his　work　as
to　follow　up　with　interest　the　details　of　its　progress。

The　carriage　did　not　reappear；　and　he　went　on　towards　Markton；
disinclined　to　return　again　that　day　to　the　studio　which　had
been　prepared　for　him　at　the　castle。　　He　heard　feet　brushing
the　grass　behind　him；　and；　looking　round；　saw　the　Baptist
minister。

'I　have　just　come　from　the　village；'　said　Mr。　Woodwell；　who
looked　worn　and　weary；　his　boots　being　covered　with　dust；　'and
I　have　learnt　that　which　confirms　my　fears　for　her。'

'For　Miss　Power？'

'Most　assuredly。'

'What　danger　is　there？'　said　Somerset。

'The　temptations　of　her　position　have　become　too　much　for　her！
She　is　going　out　of　mourning　next　week；　and　will　give　a　large
dinner…party　on　the　occasion；　for　though　the　invitations　are
partly　in　the　name　of　her　relative　Mrs。　Goodman；　they　must
come　from　her。　　The　guests　are　to　include　people　of　old
cavalier　families　who　would　have　treated　her　grandfather；　sir；
and　even　her　father；　with　scorn　for　their　religion　and
connections；　also　the　parson　and　curateyes；　actually　people
who　believe　in　the　Apostolic　Succession；　and　what's　more；
they're　coming。　　My　opinion　is；　that　it　has　all　arisen　from
her　friendship　with　Miss　De　Stancy。'

'Well；'　cried　Somerset　warmly；　'this　only　shows　liberality　of
feeling　on　both　sides！　　I　suppose　she　has　invited　you　as
well？'

'She　has　not　invited　me！。　。　。　　Mr。　Somerset；　not　withstanding
your　erroneous　opinions　on　important　matters；　I　speak　to　you
as　a　friend；　and　I　tell　you　that　she　has　never　in　her　secret
heart　forgiven　that　sermon　of　mine；　in　which　I　likened　her　to
the　church　at　Laodicea。　　I　admit　the　words　were　harsh；　but　I
was　doing　my　duty；　and　if　the　case　arose　to…morrow　I　would　do
it　again。　　Her　displeasure　is　a　deep　grief　to　me；　but　I　serve
One　greater　than　she。　。　。　。　　You；　of　course；　are　invited　to
this　dinner？'

'I　have　heard　nothing　of　it；'　murmured　the　young　man。

Their　paths　diverged；　and　when　Somerset　reached　the　hotel　he
was　informed　that　somebody　was　waiting　to　see　him。

'Man　or　woman？'　he　asked。

The　landlady；　who　always　liked　to　reply　in　person　to
Somerset's　inquiries；　apparently　thinking　him；　by　virtue　of
his　drawing　implements　and　liberality　of　payment；　a　possible
lord　of　Burleigh；　came　forward　and　said　it　was　certainly　not　a
woman；　but　whether　man　or　boy　she　could　not　say。　　'His　name　is
Mr。　Dare；'　she　added。

'Othat　youth；'　he　said。

Somerset　went　upstairs；　along　the　passage；　down　two　steps；
round