a laodicean-第19章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



'It　looks　as　if　it　came　off　a　lady's　dress；'　he　said　idly。

'Off　a　lady's　fan；'　she　replied。

'O；　off　a　fan？'

'Yes；　off　mine。'

At　her　reply　Somerset　stretched　out　his　hand　for　the　swan's…
down；　and　put　it　carefully　in　his　pocket…book；　whereupon
Paula；　moulding　her　cherry…red　lower　lip　beneath　her　upper　one
in　arch　self…consciousness　at　his　act；　turned　away　to　the
window；　and　after　a　pause　said　softly　as　she　looked　out；　'Why
did　you　not　accept　our　invitation　to　dinner？'

It　was　impossible　to　explain　why。　　He　impulsively　drew　near
and　confronted　her；　and　said；　'I　hope　you　pardon　me？'

'I　don't　know　that　I　can　quite　do　that；'　answered　she；　with
ever　so　little　reproach。　　'I　know　why　you　did　not　comeyou
were　mortified　at　not　being　asked　sooner！　　But　it　was　purely
by　an　accident　that　you　received　your　invitation　so　late。　　My
aunt　sent　the　others　by　post；　but　as　yours　was　to　be　delivered
by　hand　it　was　left　on　her　table；　and　was　overlooked。'

Surely　he　could　not　doubt　her　words；　those　nice　friendly
accents　were　the　embodiment　of　truth　itself。

'I　don't　mean　to　make　a　serious　complaint；'　she　added；　in
injured　tones；　showing　that　she　did。　　'Only　we　had　asked
nearly　all　of　them　to　meet　you；　as　the　son　of　your　illustrious
father；　whom　many　of　my　friends　know　personally；　andthey
were　disappointed。'

It　was　now　time　for　Somerset　to　be　genuinely　grieved　at　what
he　had　done。　　Paula　seemed　so　good　and　honourable　at　that
moment　that　he　could　have　laid　down　his　life　for　her。

'When　I　was　dressed；　I　came　in　here　to　ask　you　to　reconsider
your　decision；'　she　continued；　'or　to　meet　us　in　the　drawing…
room　if　you　could　not　possibly　be　ready　for　dinner。　　But　you
were　gone。'

'And　you　sat　down　in　that　chair；　didn't　you；　darling；　and
remained　there　a　long　time　musing！'　he　thought。　　But　that　he
did　not　say。

'I　am　very　sorry；'　he　murmured。

'Will　you　make　amends　by　coming　to　our　garden　party？　　I　ask
you　the　very　first。'

'I　will；'　replied　Somerset。　　To　add　that　it　would　give　him
great　pleasure；　etc。；　seemed　an　absurdly　weak　way　of
expressing　his　feelings；　and　he　said　no　more。

'It　is　on　the　nineteenth。　　Don't　forget　the　day。'

He　met　her　eyes　in　such　a　way　that；　if　she　were　woman；　she
must　have　seen　it　to　mean　as　plainly　as　words：　　'Do　I　look　as
if　I　could　forget　anything　you　say？'

She　must；　indeed；　have　understood　much　more　by　this　timethe
whole　of　his　open　secret。　　But　he　did　not　understand　her。
History　has　revealed　that　a　supernumerary　lover　or　two　is
rarely　considered　a　disadvantage　by　a　woman；　from　queen　to
cottage…girl；　and　the　thought　made　him　pause。



XIV。

When　she　was　gone　he　went　on　with　the　drawing；　not　calling　in
Dare；　who　remained　in　the　room　adjoining。　　Presently　a　servant
came　and　laid　a　paper　on　his　table；　which　Miss　Power　had　sent。
It　was　one　of　the　morning　newspapers；　and　was　folded　so　that
his　eye　fell　immediately　on　a　letter　headed　'Restoration　or
Demolition。'

The　letter　was　professedly　written　by　a　dispassionate　person
solely　in　the　interests　of　art。　　It　drew　attention　to　the
circumstance　that　the　ancient　and　interesting　castle　of　the　De
Stancys　had　unhappily　passed　into　the　hands　of　an　iconoclast
by　blood；　who；　without　respect　for　the　tradition　of　the
county；　or　any　feeling　whatever　for　history　in　stone；　was
about　to　demolish　much；　if　not　all；　that　was　interesting　in
that　ancient　pile；　and　insert　in　its　midst　a　monstrous
travesty　of　some　Greek　temple。　　In　the　name　of　all　lovers　of
mediaeval　art；　conjured　the　simple…minded　writer；　let
something　be　done　to　save　a　building　which；　injured　and
battered　in　the　Civil　Wars；　was　now　to　be　made　a　complete　ruin
by　the　freaks　of　an　irresponsible　owner。　　Her　sending　him　the
paper　seemed　to　imply　that　she　required　his　opinion　on　the
case；　and　in　the　afternoon；　leaving　Dare　to　measure　up　a　wing
according　to　directions；　he　went　out　in　the　hope　of　meeting
her；　having　learnt　that　she　had　gone　to　the　village。　　On
reaching　the　church　he　saw　her　crossing　the　churchyard　path
with　her　aunt　and　Miss　De　Stancy。　　Somerset　entered　the
enclosure；　and　as　soon　as　she　saw　him　she　came　across。

'What　is　to　be　done？'　she　asked。

'You　need　not　be　concerned　about　such　a　letter　as　that。'

'I　am　concerned。'

'I　think　it　dreadful　impertinence；'　spoke　up　Charlotte；　who
had　joined　them。　　'Can　you　think　who　wrote　it；　Mr。　Somerset？'

Somerset　could　not。

'Well；　what　am　I　to　do？'　repeated　Paula。

'Just　as　you　would　have　done　before。'

'That's　what　_I_　say；'　observed　Mrs。　Goodman　emphatically。

'But　I　have　already　alteredI　have　given　up　the　Greek　court。'

'Oyou　had　seen　the　paper　this　morning　before　you　looked　at
my　drawing？'

'I　had；'　she　answered。

Somerset　thought　it　a　forcible　illustration　of　her　natural
reticence　that　she　should　have　abandoned　the　design　without
telling　him　the　reason；　but　he　was　glad　she　had　not　done　it
from　mere　caprice。

She　turned　to　him　and　said　quietly；　'I　wish　YOU　would　answer
that　letter。'

'It　would　be　ill…advised；'　said　Somerset。　　'Still；　if；　after
consideration；　you　wish　it　much；　I　will。　　Meanwhile　let　me
impress　upon　you　again　the　expediency　of　calling　in　Mr。
Havillto　whom；　as　your　father's　architect；　expecting　this
commission；　something　perhaps　is　owedand　getting　him　to
furnish　an　alternative　plan　to　mine；　and　submitting　the　choice
of　designs　to　some　members　of　the　Royal　Institute　of　British
Architects。　　This　letter　makes　it　still　more　advisable　than
before。'

'Very　well；'　said　Paula　reluctantly。

'Let　him　have　all　the　particulars　you　have　been　good　enough　to
explain　to　meso　that　we　start　fair　in　the　competition。'

She　looked　negligently　on　the　grass。　　'I　will　tell　the
building　steward　to　write　them　out　for　him；'　she　said。

The　party　separated　and　entered　the　church　by　different　doors。
Somerset　went　to　a　nook　of　the　building　that　he　had　often
intended　to　visit。　　It　was　called　the　Stancy　aisle；　and　in　it
stood　the　tombs　of　that　family。　　Somerset　examined　them：　　they
were　unusually　rich　and　numerous；　beginning　with　cross…legged
knights　in　hauberks　of　chain…mail；　their　ladies　beside　them　in
wimple　and　cover…chief；　all　more　or　less　coated　with　the　green
mould　and　dirt　of　ages：　　and　continuing　with　others　of　later
date；　in　fine　alabaster；　gilded　and　coloured；　some　of　them
wearing　round　their　necks　the　Yorkist　collar　of　suns　and
roses；　the　livery　of　Edward　the　Fourth。　　In　scrutinizing　the
tallest　canopy　over　these　he　beheld　Paula　behind　it；　as　if　in
contemplation　of　the　same　objects。

'You　came　to　the　church　to　sketch　these　monuments；　I　suppose；
Mr。　Somerset？'　she　asked；　as　soon　as　she　saw　him。

'No。　　I　came　to　speak　to　you　about　the　letter。'

She　sighed。　　'Yes：　　that　letter；'　she　said。　　'I　am　persecuted！
If　I　had　been　one　of　these　it　would　never　have　been　written。'
She　tapped　the　alabaster　effigy　of　a　recumbent　lady　with　her
parasol。

'They　are　interesting；　are　they　not？'　he　said。　　'She　is
beautifully　preserved。　　The　gilding　is　nearly　gone；　but　beyond
that　she　is　perfect。'

'She　is　like　Charlotte；'　said　Paula。　　And　what　was　much　like
another　sigh　escaped　her　lips。

Somerset　admitted　that　there　was　a　resemblance；　while　Paula
drew　her　forefinger　across　the　marble　face　of　the　effigy；　and
at　length　took　out　her　handkerchief；　and　began　wiping　the　dust
from　the　hollows　of　the　features。　　He　looked　on；　wondering
what　her　sigh　had　meant；　but　guessing　that　it　had　been　somehow
caused　by　the　sight　of　these　sculptures　in　connection　with　the
newspaper　writer's　denunciation　of　her　as　an　irresponsible
outsider。

The　secret　was　out　when　in　answer　to　his　question；　idly　put；
if　she　wished　she　were　like　one　of　these；　she　said；　with
exceptional　vehemence　for　one　of　her　demeanour

'I　don't　wish　I　was　like　one　of　them：　　I　wish　I　WAS　one　of
them。'

'Whatyou　wish　you　were　a　De　Stancy？'

'Yes。　　It　is　very　dreadful　to　be　denounced　as　a　barbarian。　　I
want　to　be　romantic　and　historical。'

'Miss　De　Stancy　seems　not　to　value　the　privilege；'　he　said；
looking　round　at　another　part　of　the　church　where　Charlotte
was　innocently　prattling　to　Mrs。　Goodman；　quite　heedless　of
the　tombs　of　her　forefathers。

'If　I　were　one；'　she　continued；　'I　should　come　here　when　I
feel　alone　in　the　world；　as　I　do　to…day；　and　I　would　defy
people；　and　say；　〃You　cannot　spoil　what　has　been！〃'

They　walked　on　till　they　reached　the　old　black　pew　attached　to
the　castlea　vast　square　enclosure　of　oak　panelling　occupying
half　the　aisle；　and　surmounted　with　a　little　balustrade　above
the　framework。　　Within；　the　baize　lining　that　had　once　been
green；　now　faded　to　the　colour　of　a　common　in　August；　was
torn；　kicked　and　scraped　to　rags　by　the　feet　and　hands　of　the
ploughboys　who　had　appropriated　the　pew　as　their　own　special
place　of　worship　since　it　had　ceased　to　be　used　by　any
resident　at　the　castle；　because　its　height　afforded　convenient
shelter　for　playing　at　marbles　and　pricking　with　pins。

Charlotte　and　Mrs。　Goodman　had　by　this　time　left　the　building；
and　could　be　seen　looking　at　the　headstones　outside。

'If　you　were　a　De　Stancy；'　said　Somerset；　who　had　pondered
more　deeply　upon　that　new　wish　of　hers　than　he　had　seemed　to
do；　'you　would　be　a　churchwoman；　and　sit　here。'

'And　I　should　have　the　pew　done　up；'　she　said　readily；　as　she
rested　her　pretty　chin　on　the　top　rail　and　looked　at　the
interior；　her　cheeks　pressed　into　deep　dimples。　　Her　quick
reply　told　him　that　the　idea　was　no　new　one　with　her；　and　he
thought　of　poor　Mr。　Woodwell's　shrewd　prophecy　as　he　perceived
that　her　days　as　a　separatist　were　numbered。

'Well；　why　can't　you　have　it　done　up；　and　sit　here？'　he　said
warily。

Paula　shook　her　head。

'You　are　not　at　enmity　with　Anglicanism；　I　am　sure？'

'I　want　not　to　be。　　I　want　to　bewhat'

'What　the　De　Stancys　were；　and　are；'　he　said　insidiously；　and
her　silenced　bearing　told　him　that　he　had　hit　the　nail。

It　was　a　strange　idea　to　get　possession　of　such　a　nature　as
hers；　and　for　a　minute　he　felt　himself　on　the　side　of　the
minister。　　So　strong　was　Somerset's　feeling　of　wishing　her　to
show　the　quality　of　fidelity　to　paternal　dogma　and　party；　that
he　could　not　help　adding

'But　have　you　forgotten　that　other　nobilitythe　nobility　of
talent　and　enterprise？'

'No。　　But　I　wish　I　had　a　well…known　line　of　ancestors。'

'You　have。　　Archimedes；　Newcomen；　Watt；　Telford；　Stephenson；
those　are　your　father's　direct　ancestors。　　Have　you　forgotten
them？　　Have　you　forgotten　your　father；　and　the　railways　he
made　over　half　Europe；　and　his　great　energy　and　skill；　and　all
connected　with　him　as　if　he　had　never　lived？'

She　did　not　answer　for　some　time。　　'No；　I　have　not　forgotten
it；'　she　said；　still　looking　into　the　pew。　　'But；　I　have　a
predilection　d'artiste　for　ancestors　of　the　other　sort；　like
the　De　Stancys。'

Her　hand　was　resting　on　the　low　pew　next　the　high　one　of　the
De　Stancys。　　Somerset　looked　at　the　hand；　or　rather　at　the
glove　which　covered　it；　then　at　her　averted　cheek；　then　beyond
it　into　the　pew；　then　at　her　hand　again；　until　by　an
indescribable　consciousness　that　he　was　not　going　too　far　he
laid　his　own　upon　it。

'No；　no；'　said　Paula　quickly；　withdrawing　her　hand。　　But　there
was　nothing　resentful　or　haughty