a laodicean-第20章

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laid　his　own　upon　it。

'No；　no；'　said　Paula　quickly；　withdrawing　her　hand。　　But　there
was　nothing　resentful　or　haughty　in　her　tonenothing；　in
short；　which　makes　a　man　in　such　circumstances　feel　that　he
has　done　a　particularly　foolish　action。

The　flower　on　her　bosom　rose　and　fell　somewhat　more　than　usual
as　she　added；　'I　am　going　away　nowI　will　leave　you　here。'
Without　waiting　for　a　reply　she　adroitly　swept　back　her　skirts
to　free　her　feet　and　went　out　of　the　church　blushing。

Somerset　took　her　hint　and　did　not　follow；　and　when　he　knew
that　she　had　rejoined　her　friends；　and　heard　the　carriage　roll
away；　he　made　towards　the　opposite　door。　　Pausing　to　glance
once　more　at　the　alabaster　effigies　before　leaving　them　to
their　silence　and　neglect；　he　beheld　Dare　bending　over　them；
to　all　appearance　intently　occupied。

He　must　have　been　in　the　church　some　timecertainly　during
the　tender　episode　between　Somerset　and　Paula；　and　could　not
have　failed　to　perceive　it。　　Somerset　blushed：　　it　was
unpleasant　that　Dare　should　have　seen　the　interior　of　his
heart　so　plainly。　　He　went　across　and　said；　'I　think　I　left
you　to　finish　the　drawing　of　the　north　wing；　Mr。　Dare？'

'Three　hours　ago；　sir；'　said　Dare。　　'Having　finished　that；　I
came　to　look　at　the　churchfine　buildingfine　monumentstwo
interesting　people　looking　at　them。'

'What？'

'I　stand　corrected。　　Pensa　molto；　parla　poco；　as　the　Italians
have　it。'

'Well；　now；　Mr。　Dare；　suppose　you　get　back　to　the　castle？'

'Which　history　dubs　Castle　Stancy。　。　。　。　　Certainly。'

'How　do　you　get　on　with　the　measuring？'

Dare　sighed　whimsically。　　'Badly　in　the　morning；　when　I　have
been　tempted　to　indulge　overnight；　and　worse　in　the　afternoon；
when　I　have　been　tempted　in　the　morning！'

Somerset　looked　at　the　youth；　and　said；　'I　fear　I　shall　have
to　dispense　with　your　services；　Dare；　for　I　think　you　have
been　tempted　to…day。'

'On　my　honour　no。　　My　manner　is　a　little　against　me；　Mr。
Somerset。　　But　you　need　not　fear　for　my　ability　to　do　your
work。　　I　am　a　young　man　wasted；　and　am　thought　of　slight
account：　　it　is　the　true　men　who　get　snubbed；　while　traitors
are　allowed　to　thrive！'

'Hang　sentiment；　Dare；　and　off　with　you！'　　A　little　ruffled；
Somerset　had　turned　his　back　upon　the　interesting　speaker；　so
that　he　did　not　observe　the　sly　twist　Dare　threw　into　his
right　eye　as　he　spoke。　　The　latter　went　off　in　one　direction
and　Somerset　in　the　other；　pursuing　his　pensive　way　towards
Markton　with　thoughts　not　difficult　to　divine。

From　one　point　in　her　nature　he　went　to　another；　till　he　again
recurred　to　her　romantic　interest　in　the　De　Stancy　family。　　To
wish　she　was　one　of　them：　　how　very　inconsistent　of　her。　　That
she　really　did　wish　it　was　unquestionable。



XV。

It　was　the　day　of　the　garden…party。　　The　weather　was　too
cloudy　to　be　called　perfect；　but　it　was　as　sultry　as　the　most
thinly…clad　young　lady　could　desire。　　Great　trouble　had　been
taken　by　Paula　to　bring　the　lawn　to　a　fit　condition　after　the
neglect　of　recent　years；　and　Somerset　had　suggested　the　design
for　the　tents。　　As　he　approached　the　precincts　of　the　castle
he　discerned　a　flag　of　newest　fabric　floating　over　the　keep；
and　soon　his　fly　fell　in　with　the　stream　of　carriages　that
were　passing　over　the　bridge　into　the　outer　ward。

Mrs。　Goodman　and　Paula　were　receiving　the　people　in　the
drawing…room。　　Somerset　came　forward　in　his　turn；　but　as　he
was　immediately　followed　by　others　there　was　not　much
opportunity；　even　had　she　felt　the　wish；　for　any　special　mark
of　feeling　in　the　younger　lady's　greeting　of　him。

He　went　on　through　a　canvas　passage；　lined　on　each　side　with
flowering　plants；　till　he　reached　the　tents；　thence；　after
nodding　to　one　or　two　guests　slightly　known　to　him；　he
proceeded　to　the　grounds；　with　a　sense　of　being　rather　lonely。
Few　visitors　had　as　yet　got　so　far　in；　and　as　he　walked　up　and
down　a　shady　alley　his　mind　dwelt　upon　the　new　aspect　under
which　Paula　had　greeted　his　eyes　that　afternoon。　　Her　black…
and…white　costume　had　finally　disappeared；　and　in　its　place
she　had　adopted　a　picturesque　dress　of　ivory　white；　with　satin
enrichments　of　the　same　hue；　while　upon　her　bosom　she　wore　a
blue　flower。　　Her　days　of　infestivity　were　plainly　ended；　and
her　days　of　gladness　were　to　begin。

His　reverie　was　interrupted　by　the　sound　of　his　name；　and
looking　round　he　beheld　Havill；　who　appeared　to　be　as　much
alone　as　himself。

Somerset　already　knew　that　Havill　had　been　appointed　to
compete　with　him；　according　to　his　recommendation。　　In
measuring　a　dark　corner　a　day　or　two　before；　he　had　stumbled
upon　Havill　engaged　in　the　same　pursuit　with　a　view　to　the
rival　design。　　Afterwards　he　had　seen　him　receiving　Paula's
instructions　precisely　as　he　had　done　himself。　　It　was　as　he
had　wished；　for　fairness'　sake：　　and　yet　he　felt　a　regret；　for
he　was　less　Paula's　own　architect　now。

'Well；　Mr。　Somerset；'　said　Havill；　'since　we　first　met　an
unexpected　rivalry　has　arisen　between　us！　　But　I　dare　say　we
shall　survive　the　contest；　as　it　is　not　one　arising　out　of
love。　　Ha…ha…ha！'　　He　spoke　in　a　level　voice　of　fierce
pleasantry；　and　uncovered　his　regular　white　teeth。

Somerset　supposed　him　to　allude　to　the　castle　competition？

'Yes；'　said　Havill。　　'Her　proposed　undertaking　brought　out
some　adverse　criticism　till　it　was　known　that　she　intended　to
have　more　than　one　architectural　opinion。　　An　excellent　stroke
of　hers　to　disarm　criticism。　　You　saw　the　second　letter　in　the
morning　papers？'

'No；'　said　the　other。

'The　writer　states　that　he　has　discovered　that　the　competent
advice　of　two　architects　is　to　be　taken；　and　withdraws　his
accusations。'

Somerset　said　nothing　for　a　minute。　　'Have　you　been　supplied
with　the　necessary　data　for　your　drawings？'　he　asked；　showing
by　the　question　the　track　his　thoughts　had　taken。

Havill　said　that　he　had。　　'But　possibly　not　so　completely　as
you　have；'　he　added；　again　smiling　fiercely。　　Somerset　did　not
quite　like　the　insinuation；　and　the　two　speakers　parted；　the
younger　going　towards　the　musicians；　who　had　now　begun　to　fill
the　air　with　their　strains　from　the　embowered　enclosure　of　a
drooping　ash。　　When　he　got　back　to　the　marquees　they　were
quite　crowded；　and　the　guests　began　to　pour　out　upon　the
grass；　the　toilets　of　the　ladies　presenting　a　brilliant
spectaclehere　being　coloured　dresses　with　white　devices；
there　white　dresses　with　coloured　devices；　and　yonder
transparent　dresses　with　no　device　at　all。　　A　lavender　haze
hung　in　the　air；　the　trees　were　as　still　as　those　of　a
submarine　forest；　while　the　sun；　in　colour　like　a　brass
plaque；　had　a　hairy　outline　in　the　livid　sky。

After　watching　awhile　some　young　people　who　were　so　madly
devoted　to　lawn…tennis　that　they　set　about　it　like　day…
labourers　at　the　moment　of　their　arrival；　he　turned　and　saw
approaching　a　graceful　figure　in　cream…coloured　hues；　whose
gloves　lost　themselves　beneath　her　lace　ruffles；　even　when　she
lifted　her　hand　to　make　firm　the　blue　flower　at　her　breast；
and　whose　hair　hung　under　her　hat　in　great　knots　so　well
compacted　that　the　sun　gilded　the　convexity　of　each　knot　like
a　ball。

'You　seem　to　be　alone；'　said　Paula；　who　had　at　last　escaped
from　the　duty　of　receiving　guests。

'I　don't　know　many　people。'

'Yes：　　I　thought　of　that　while　I　was　in　the　drawing…room。　　But
I　could　not　get　out　before。　　I　am　now　no　longer　a　responsible
being：　　Mrs。　Goodman　is　mistress　for　the　remainder　of　the　day。
Will　you　be　introduced　to　anybody？　　Whom　would　you　like　to
know？'

'I　am　not　particularly　unhappy　in　my　solitude。'

'But　you　must　be　made　to　know　a　few。'

'Very　wellI　submit　readily。'

She　looked　away　from　him；　and　while　he　was　observing　upon　her
cheek　the　moving　shadow　of　leaves　cast　by　the　declining　sun；
she　said；　'O；　there　is　my　aunt；'　and　beckoned　with　her　parasol
to　that　lady；　who　approached　in　the　comparatively　youthful
guise　of　a　grey　silk　dress　that　whistled　at　every　touch。

Paula　left　them　together；　and　Mrs。　Goodman　then　made　him
acquainted　with　a　few　of　the　best　people；　describing　what　they
were　in　a　whisper　before　they　came　up；　among　them　being　the
Radical　member　for　Markton；　who　had　succeeded　to　the　seat
rendered　vacant　by　the　death　of　Paula's　father。　　While　talking
to　this　gentleman　on　the　proposed　enlargement　of　the　castle；
Somerset　raised　his　eyes　and　hand　towards　the　walls；　the
better　to　point　out　his　meaning；　in　so　doing　he　saw　a　face　in
the　square　of　darkness　formed　by　one　of　the　open　windows；　the
effect　being　that　of　a　highlight　portrait　by　Vandyck　or
Rembrandt。

It　was　his　assistant　Dare；　leaning　on　the　window…sill　of　the
studio；　as　he　smoked　his　cigarette　and　surveyed　the　gay　groups
promenading　beneath。

After　holding　a　chattering　conversation　with　some　ladies　from
a　neighbouring　country　seat　who　had　known　his　father　in　bygone
years；　and　handing　them　ices　and　strawberries　till　they　were
satisfied；　he　found　an　opportunity　of　leaving　the　grounds；
wishing　to　learn　what　progress　Dare　had　made　in　the　survey　of
the　castle。

Dare　was　still　in　the　studio　when　he　entered。　　Somerset
informed　the　youth　that　there　was　no　necessity　for　his　working
later　that　day；　unless　to　please　himself；　and　proceeded　to
inspect　Dare's　achievements　thus　far。　　To　his　vexation　Dare
had　not　plotted　three　dimensions　during　the　previous　two　days。
This　was　not　the　first　time　that　Dare；　either　from
incompetence　or　indolence；　had　shown　his　inutility　as　a　house…
surveyor　and　draughtsman。

'Mr。　Dare；'　said　Somerset；　'I　fear　you　don't　suit　me　well
enough　to　make　it　necessary　that　you　should　stay　after　this
week。'

Dare　removed　the　cigarette　from　his　lips　and　bowed。　　'If　I
don't　suit；　the　sooner　I　go　the　better；　why　wait　the　week？'　he
said。

'Well；　that's　as　you　like。'

Somerset　drew　the　inkstand　towards　him；　wrote　out　a　cheque　for
Dare's　services；　and　handed　it　across　the　table。

'I'll　not　trouble　you　to…morrow；'　said　Dare；　seeing　that　the
payment　included　the　week　in　advance。

'Very　well；'　replied　Somerset。　　'Please　lock　the　door　when　you
leave。'　　Shaking　hands　with　Dare　and　wishing　him　well；　he　left
the　room　and　descended　to　the　lawn　below。

There　he　contrived　to　get　near　Miss　Power　again；　and　inquired
of　her　for　Miss　De　Stancy。

'O！　did　you　not　know？'　said　Paula；　'her　father　is　unwell；　and
she　preferred　staying　with　him　this　afternoon。'

'I　hoped　he　might　have　been　here。'

'O　no；　he　never　comes　out　of　his　house　to　any　party　of　this
sort；　it　excites　him；　and　he　must　not　be　excited。'

'Poor　Sir　William！'　muttered　Somerset。

'No；'　said　Paula；　'he　is　grand　and　historical。'

'That　is　hardly　an　orthodox　notion　for　a　Puritan；'　said
Somerset　mischievously。

'I　am　not　a　Puritan；'　insisted　Paula。

The　day　turned　to　dusk；　and　the　guests　began　going　in　relays
to　the　dining…hall。　　When　Somerset　had　taken　in　two　or　three
ladies　to　whom　he　had　been　presented；　and　attended　to　their
wants；　which　occupied　him　three…quarters　of　an　hour；　he
returned　again　to　the　large　tent；　with　a　view　to　finding　Paula
and　taking　his　leave。　　It　was　now　brilliantly　lighted　up；　and
the　musicians；　who　during　daylight　had　been　invisible　behind
the　ash…tree；　were　ensconced　at　one　end　with　their　harp