a laodicean-第29章

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shadow　passing　and　repassing　on　the　blind　in　the　style　of
head…dress　worn　by　the　girl　he　had　previously　seen。　　The
dinner…bell　sounded　and　the　light　went　out。

As　yet　it　was　scarcely　dark　out　of　doors；　and　in　a　few　minutes
Dare　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　the　same　woman　cross　the
ward　and　emerge　upon　the　slope　without。　　This　time　she　was
bonneted；　and　carried　a　little　basket　in　her　hand。　　A　nearer
view　showed　her　to　be；　as　he　had　expected；　Milly　Birch；
Paula's　maid；　who　had　friends　living　in　Markton；　whom　she　was
in　the　habit　of　visiting　almost　every　evening　during　the　three
hours　of　leisure　which　intervened　between　Paula's　retirement
from　the　dressing…room　and　return　thither　at　ten　o'clock。
When　the　young　woman　had　descended　the　road　and　passed　into
the　large　drive；　Dare　rose　and　followed　her。

'O；　it　is　you；　Miss　Birch；'　said　Dare；　on　overtaking　her。　　'I
am　glad　to　have　the　pleasure　of　walking　by　your　side。'

'Yes；　sir。　　O　it's　Mr。　Dare。　　We　don't　see　you　at　the　castle
now；　sir。'

'No。　　And　do　you　get　a　walk　like　this　every　evening　when　the
others　are　at　their　busiest？'

'Almost　every　evening；　that's　the　one　return　to　the　poor
lady's　maid　for　losing　her　leisure　when　the　others　get　itin
the　absence　of　the　family　from　home。'

'Is　Miss　Power　a　hard　mistress？'

'No。'

'Rather　fanciful　than　hard；　I　presume？'

'Just　so；　sir。'

'And　she　likes　to　appear　to　advantage；　no　doubt。'

'I　suppose　so；'　said　Milly；　laughing。　　'We　all　do。'

'When　does　she　appear　to　the　best　advantage？　　When　riding；　or
driving；　or　reading　her　book？'

'Not　altogether　then；　if　you　mean　the　very　best。'

'Perhaps　it　is　when　she　sits　looking　in　the　glass　at　herself；
and　you　let　down　her　hair。'

'Not　particularly；　to　my　mind。'

'When　does　she　to　your　mind？　　When　dressed　for　a　dinner…party
or　ball？'

'She's　middling；　then。　　But　there　is　one　time　when　she　looks
nicer　and　cleverer　than　at　any。　　It　is　when　she　is　in　the
gymnasium。'

'Ogymnasium？'

'Because　when　she　is　there　she　wears　such　a　pretty　boy's
costume；　and　is　so　charming　in　her　movements；　that　you　think
she　is　a　lovely　young　youth　and　not　a　girl　at　all。'

'When　does　she　go　to　this　gymnasium？'

'Not　so　much　as　she　used　to。　　Only　on　wet　mornings　now；　when
she　can't　get　out　for　walks　or　drives。　　But　she　used　to　do　it
every　day。'

'I　should　like　to　see　her　there。'

'Why；　sir？'

'I　am　a　poor　artist；　and　can't　afford　models。　　To　see　her
attitudes　would　be　of　great　assistance　to　me　in　the　art　I　love
so　well。'

Milly　shook　her　head。　　'She's　very　strict　about　the　door　being
locked。　　If　I　were　to　leave　it　open　she　would　dismiss　me；　as　I
should　deserve。'

'But　consider；　dear　Miss　Birch；　the　advantage　to　a　poor　artist
the　sight　of　her　would　be：　　if　you　could　hold　the　door　ajar　it
would　be　worth　five　pounds　to　me；　and　a　good　deal　to　you。'

'No；'　said　the　incorruptible　Milly；　shaking　her　head。
'Besides；　I　don't　always　go　there　with　her。　　O　no；　I
couldn't！'

Milly　remained　so　firm　at　this　point　that　Dare　said　no　more。

When　he　had　left　her　he　returned　to　the　castle　grounds；　and
though　there　was　not　much　light　he　had　no　difficulty　in
discovering　the　gymnasium；　the　outside　of　which　he　had
observed　before；　without　thinking　to　inquire　its　purpose。
Like　the　erections　in　other　parts　of　the　shrubberies　it　was
constructed　of　wood；　the　interstices　between　the　framing　being
filled　up　with　short　billets　of　fir　nailed　diagonally。　　Dare；
even　when　without　a　settled　plan　in　his　head；　could　arrange
for　probabilities；　and　wrenching　out　one　of　the　billets　he
looked　inside。　　It　seemed　to　be　a　simple　oblong　apartment；
fitted　up　with　ropes；　with　a　little　dressing…closet　at　one
end；　and　lighted　by　a　skylight　or　lantern　in　the　roof。　　Dare
replaced　the　wood　and　went　on　his　way。

Havill　was　smoking　on　his　doorstep　when　Dare　passed　up　the
street。　　He　held　up　his　hand。

'Since　you　have　been　gone；'　said　the　architect；　'I've　hit　upon
something　that　may　help　you　in　exhibiting　your　lady　to　your
gentleman。　　In　the　summer　I　had　orders　to　design　a　gymnasium
for　her；　which　I　did；　and　they　say　she　is　very　clever　on　the
ropes　and　bars。　　Now'

'I've　discovered　it。　　I　shall　contrive　for　him　to　see　her
there　on　the　first　wet　morning；　which　is　when　she　practises。
What　made　her　think　of　it？'

'As　you　may　have　heard；　she　holds　advanced　views　on　social　and
other　matters；　and　in　those　on　the　higher　education　of　women
she　is　very　strong；　talking　a　good　deal　about　the　physical
training　of　the　Greeks；　whom　she　adores；　or　did。　　Every
philosopher　and　man　of　science　who　ventilates　his　theories　in
the　monthly　reviews　has　a　devout　listener　in　her；　and　this
subject　of　the　physical　development　of　her　sex　has　had　its
turn　with　other　things　in　her　mind。　　So　she　had　the　place
built　on　her　very　first　arrival；　according　to　the　latest
lights　on　athletics；　and　in　imitation　of　those　at　the　new
colleges　for　women。'

'How　deuced　clever　of　the　girl！　　She　means　to　live　to　be　a
hundred！'



VII。

The　wet　day　arrived　with　all　the　promptness　that　might　have
been　expected　of　it　in　this　land　of　rains　and　mists。　　The
alder　bushes　behind　the　gymnasium　dripped　monotonously　leaf
upon　leaf；　added　to　this　being　the　purl　of　the　shallow　stream
a　little　way　off；　producing　a　sense　of　satiety　in　watery
sounds。　　Though　there　was　drizzle　in　the　open　meads；　the　rain
here　in　the　thicket　was　comparatively　slight；　and　two　men　with
fishing　tackle　who　stood　beneath　one　of　the　larger　bushes
found　its　boughs　a　sufficient　shelter。

'We　may　as　well　walk　home　again　as　study　nature　here；　Willy；'
said　the　taller　and　elder　of　the　twain。　　'I　feared　it　would
continue　when　we　started。　　The　magnificent　sport　you　speak　of
must　rest　for　to…day。'

The　other　looked　at　his　watch；　but　made　no　particular　reply。

'Come；　let　us　move　on。　　I　don't　like　intruding　into　other
people's　grounds　like　this；'　De　Stancy　continued。

'We　are　not　intruding。　　Anybody　walks　outside　this　fence。'　　He
indicated　an　iron　railing　newly　tarred；　dividing　the　wilder
underwood　amid　which　they　stood　from　the　inner　and　well…kept
parts　of　the　shrubbery；　and　against　which　the　back　of　the
gymnasium　was　built。

Light　footsteps　upon　a　gravel　walk　could　be　heard　on　the　other
side　of　the　fence；　and　a　trio　of　cloaked　and　umbrella…screened
figures　were　for　a　moment　discernible。　　They　vanished　behind
the　gymnasium；　and　again　nothing　resounded　but　the　river
murmurs　and　the　clock…like　drippings　of　the　leafage。

'Hush！'　said　Dare。

'No　pranks；　my　boy；'　said　De　Stancy　suspiciously。　　'You　should
be　above　them。'

'And　you　should　trust　to　my　good　sense；　captain；'　Dare
remonstrated。　　'I　have　not　indulged　in　a　prank　since　the　sixth
year　of　my　pilgrimage。　　I　have　found　them　too　damaging　to　my
interests。　　Well；　it　is　not　too　dry　here；　and　damp　injures
your　health；　you　say。　　Have　a　pull　for　safety's　sake。'　　He
presented　a　flask　to　De　Stancy。

The　artillery　officer　looked　down　at　his　nether　garments。

'I　don't　break　my　rule　without　good　reason；'　he　observed。

'I　am　afraid　that　reason　exists　at　present。'

'I　am　afraid　it　does。　　What　have　you　got？'

'Only　a　little　wine。'

'What　wine？'

'Do　try　it。　　I　call　it　〃the　blushful　Hippocrene；〃　that　the
poet　describes　as

　　　　　〃Tasting　of　Flora　and　the　country　green；
　　　　　　Dance；　and　Provencal　song；　and　sun…burnt　mirth。〃'

De　Stancy　took　the　flask；　and　drank　a　little。

'It　warms；　does　it　not？'　said　Dare。

'Too　much；'　said　De　Stancy　with　misgiving。　　'I　have　been　taken
unawares。　　Why；　it　is　three　parts　brandy；　to　my　taste；　you
scamp！'

Dare　put　away　the　wine。　　'Now　you　are　to　see　something；'　he
said。

'Somethingwhat　is　it？'　　Captain　De　Stancy　regarded　him　with
a　puzzled　look。

'It　is　quite　a　curiosity；　and　really　worth　seeing。　　Now　just
look　in　here。'

The　speaker　advanced　to　the　back　of　the　building；　and　withdrew
the　wood　billet　from　the　wall。

'Will；　I　believe　you　are　up　to　some　trick；'　said　De　Stancy；
not；　however；　suspecting　the　actual　truth　in　these
unsuggestive　circumstances；　and　with　a　comfortable
resignation；　produced　by　the　potent　liquor；　which　would　have
been　comical　to　an　outsider；　but　which；　to　one　who　had　known
the　history　and　relationship　of　the　two　speakers；　would　have
worn　a　sadder　significance。　　'I　am　too　big　a　fool　about　you　to
keep　you　down　as　I　ought；　that's　the　fault　of　me；　worse　luck。'

He　pressed　the　youth's　hand　with　a　smile；　went　forward；　and
looked　through　the　hole　into　the　interior　of　the　gymnasium。
Dare　withdrew　to　some　little　distance；　and　watched　Captain　De
Stancy's　face；　which　presently　began　to　assume　an　expression
of　interest。

What　was　the　captain　seeing？　　A　sort　of　optical　poem。

Paula；　in　a　pink　flannel　costume；　was　bending；　wheeling　and
undulating　in　the　air　like　a　gold…fish　in　its　globe；　sometimes
ascending　by　her　arms　nearly　to　the　lantern；　then　lowering
herself　till　she　swung　level　with　the　floor。　　Her　aunt　Mrs。
Goodman；　and　Charlotte　De　Stancy；　were　sitting　on　camp…stools
at　one　end；　watching　her　gyrations；　Paula　occasionally
addressing　them　with　such　an　expression　as'Now；　Aunt；　look
at　meand　you；　Charlotteis　not　that　shocking　to　your　weak
nerves；'　when　some　adroit　feat　would　be　repeated；　which；
however；　seemed　to　give　much　more　pleasure　to　Paula　herself　in
performing　it　than　to　Mrs。　Goodman　in　looking　on；　the　latter
sometimes　saying；　'O；　it　is　terrificdo　not　run　such　a　risk
again！'

It　would　have　demanded　the　poetic　passion　of　some　joyous
Elizabethan　lyrist　like　Lodge；　Nash；　or　Constable；　to　fitly
phrase　Paula's　presentation　of　herself　at　this　moment　of
absolute　abandonment　to　every　muscular　whim　that　could　take
possession　of　such　a　supple　form。　　The　white　manilla　ropes
clung　about　the　performer　like　snakes　as　she　took　her
exercise；　and　the　colour　in　her　face　deepened　as　she　went　on。
Captain　De　Stancy　felt　that；　much　as　he　had　seen　in　early　life
of　beauty　in　woman；　he　had　never　seen　beauty　of　such　a　real
and　living　sort　as　this。　　A　recollection　of　his　vow；　together
with　a　sense　that　to　gaze　on　the　festival　of　this　Bona　Dea
was；　though　so　innocent　and　pretty　a　sight；　hardly　fair　or
gentlemanly；　would　have　compelled　him　to　withdraw　his　eyes；
had　not　the　sportive　fascination　of　her　appearance　glued　them
there　in　spite　of　all。　　And　as　if　to　complete　the　picture　of
Grace　personified　and　add　the　one　thing　wanting　to　the　charm
which　bound　him；　the　clouds；　till　that　time　thick　in　the　sky；
broke　away　from　the　upper　heaven；　and　allowed　the　noonday　sun
to　pour　down　through　the　lantern　upon　her；　irradiating　her
with　a　warm　light　that　was　incarnadined　by　her　pink　doublet
and　hose；　and　reflected　in　upon　her　face。　　She　only　required　a
cloud　to　rest　on　instead　of　the　green　silk　net　which　actually
supported　her　reclining　figure　for　the　moment；　to　be　quite
Olympian；　save　indeed　that　in　place　of　haughty　effrontery
there　sat　on　her　countenance　only　the　healthful　sprightliness
of　an　English　girl。

Dare　had　withdrawn　to　a　point　at　which　another　path　crossed
the　path　occupied　by　De　Stancy。　　Looking　in　a　side　direction；
he　saw　Havill　idling　slowly　up　to　him　over　the　silent　grass。
Havill's　knowledge　of　the　appointment　had　brought　him　out　to
see　what　would　come　of　it。　　Wh