a laodicean-第39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！


indisposed　at　her　father's　house；　she　rang　for　tea　and　sat
down　beside　a　little　table。

'Shall　we　proceed　to　business　at　once？'　she　asked　him。

'I　suppose　so。'

'First　then；　when　will　the　working　drawings　be　ready；　which　I
think　you　said　must　be　made　out　before　the　work　could　begin？'

While　Somerset　informed　her　on　this　and　other　matters；　Mrs。
Goodman　entered　and　joined　in　the　discussion；　after　which　they
found　it　would　be　necessary　to　adjourn　to　the　room　where　the
plans　were　hanging。　　On　their　walk　thither　Paula　asked　if　he
stayed　late　at　the　ball。

'I　left　soon　after　you。'

'That　was　very　early；　seeing　how　late　you　arrived。'

'Yes。　。　。　。　　I　did　not　dance。'

'What　did　you　do　then？'

'I　moped；　and　walked　to　the　door；　and　saw　an　announcement。'

'I　knowthe　play　that　is　to　be　performed。'

'In　which　you　are　to　be　the　Princess。'

'That's　not　settled；I　have　not　agreed　yet。　　I　shall　not　play
the　Princess　of　France　unless　Mr。　Mild　plays　the　King　of
Navarre。'

This　sounded　rather　well。　　The　Princess　was　the　lady　beloved
by　the　King；　and　Mr。　Mild；　the　young　lieutenant　of　artillery；
was　a　diffident；　inexperienced；　rather　plain…looking　fellow；
whose　sole　interest　in　theatricals　lay　in　the　consideration　of
his　costume　and　the　sound　of　his　own　voice　in　the　ears　of　the
audience。　　With　such　an　unobjectionable　person　to　enact　the
part　of　lover；　the　prominent　character　of　leading　young　lady
or　heroine；　which　Paula　was　to　personate；　was　really　the　most
satisfactory　in　the　whole　list　for　her。　　For　although　she　was
to　be　wooed　hard；　there　was　just　as　much　love…making　among　the
remaining　personages；　while；　as　Somerset　had　understood　the
play；　there　could　occur　no　flingings　of　her　person　upon　her
lover's　neck；　or　agonized　downfalls　upon　the　stage；　in　her
whole　performance；　as　there　were　in　the　parts　chosen　by　Mrs。
Camperton；　the　major's　wife；　and　some　of　the　other　ladies。

'Why　do　you　play　at　all！'　he　murmured。

'What　a　question！　　How　could　I　refuse　for　such　an　excellent
purpose？　　They　say　that　my　taking　a　part　will　be　worth　a
hundred　pounds　to　the　charity。　　My　father　always　supported　the
hospital；　which　is　quite　undenominational；　and　he　said　I　was
to　do　the　same。'

'Do　you　think　the　peculiar　means　you　have　adopted　for
supporting　it　entered　into　his　view？'　inquired　Somerset；
regarding　her　with　critical　dryness。　　'For　my　part　I　don't。'

'It　is　an　interesting　way；'　she　returned　persuasively；　though
apparently　in　a　state　of　mental　equipoise　on　the　point　raised
by　his　question。　　'And　I　shall　not　play　the　Princess；　as　I
said；　to　any　other　than　that　quiet　young　man。　　Now　I　assure
you　of　this；　so　don't　be　angry　and　absurd！　　Besides；　the　King
doesn't　marry　me　at　the　end　of　the　play；　as　in　Shakespeare's
other　comedies。　　And　if　Miss　De　Stancy　continues　seriously
unwell　I　shall　not　play　at　all。'

The　young　man　pressed　her　hand；　but　she　gently　slipped　it
away。

'Are　we　not　engaged；　Paula！'　he　asked。　　She　evasively　shook
her　head。

'Comeyes　we　are！　　Shall　we　tell　your　aunt？'　he　continued。
Unluckily　at　that　moment　Mrs。　Goodman；　who　had　followed　them
to　the　studio　at　a　slower　pace；　appeared　round　the　doorway。

'No；to　the　last；'　replied　Paula　hastily。　　Then　her　aunt
entered；　and　the　conversation　was　no　longer　personal。

Somerset　took　his　departure　in　a　serener　mood　though　not
completely　assured。



VIII。

His　serenity　continued　during　two　or　three　following　days；
when；　continuing　at　the　castle；　he　got　pleasant　glimpses　of
Paula　now　and　then。　　Her　strong　desire　that　his　love　for　her
should　be　kept　secret；　perplexed　him；　but　his　affection　was
generous；　and　he　acquiesced　in　that　desire。

Meanwhile　news　of　the　forthcoming　dramatic　performance
radiated　in　every　direction。　　And　in　the　next　number　of　the
county　paper　it　was　announced；　to　Somerset's　comparative
satisfaction；　that　the　cast　was　definitely　settled；　Mr。　Mild
having　agreed　to　be　the　King　and　Miss　Power　the　French
Princess。　　Captain　De　Stancy；　with　becoming　modesty　for　one
who　was　the　leading　spirit；　figured　quite　low　down；　in　the
secondary　character　of　Sir　Nathaniel。

Somerset　remembered　that；　by　a　happy　chance；　the　costume　he
had　designed　for　Sir　Nathaniel　was　not　at　all　picturesque；
moreover　Sir　Nathaniel　scarcely　came　near　the　Princess　through
the　whole　play。

Every　day　after　this　there　was　coming　and　going　to　and　from
the　castle　of　railway　vans　laden　with　canvas　columns；
pasteboard　trees；　limp　house…fronts；　woollen　lawns；　and　lath
balustrades。　　There　were　also　frequent　arrivals　of　young
ladies　from　neighbouring　country　houses；　and　warriors　from　the
X　and　Y　batteries　of　artillery；　distinguishable　by　their
regulation　shaving。

But　it　was　upon　Captain　De　Stancy　and　Mrs。　Camperton　that　the
weight　of　preparation　fell。　　Somerset；　through　being　much
occupied　in　the　drawing…office；　was　seldom　present　during　the
consultations　and　rehearsals：　　until　one　day；　tea　being　served
in　the　drawing…room　at　the　usual　hour；　he　dropped　in　with　the
rest　to　receive　a　cup　from　Paula's　table。　　The　chatter　was
tremendous；　and　Somerset　was　at　once　consulted　about　some
necessary　carpentry　which　was　to　be　specially　made　at　Markton。
After　that　he　was　looked　on　as　one　of　the　band；　which　resulted
in　a　large　addition　to　the　number　of　his　acquaintance　in　this
part　of　England。

But　his　own　feeling　was　that　of　being　an　outsider　still。　　This
vagary　had　been　originated；　the　play　chosen；　the　parts
allotted；　all　in　his　absence；　and　calling　him　in　at　the　last
moment　might；　if　flirtation　were　possible　in　Paula；　be　but　a
sop　to　pacify　him。　　What　would　he　have　given　to　impersonate
her　lover　in　the　piece！　　But　neither　Paula　nor　any　one　else
had　asked　him。

The　eventful　evening　came。　　Somerset　had　been　engaged　during
the　day　with　the　different　people　by　whom　the　works　were　to　be
carried　out　and　in　the　evening　went　to　his　rooms　at　the　Lord…
Quantock…Arms；　Markton；　where　he　dined。　　He　did　not　return　to
the　castle　till　the　hour　fixed　for　the　performance；　and　having
been　received　by　Mrs。　Goodman；　entered　the　large　apartment；
now　transfigured　into　a　theatre；　like　any　other　spectator。

Rumours　of　the　projected　representation　had　spread　far　and
wide。　　Six　times　the　number　of　tickets　issued　might　have　been
readily　sold。　　Friends　and　acquaintances　of　the　actors　came
from　curiosity　to　see　how　they　would　acquit　themselves；　while
other　classes　of　people　came　because　they　were　eager　to　see
well…known　notabilities　in　unwonted　situations。　　When　ladies；
hitherto　only　beheld　in　frigid；　impenetrable　positions　behind
their　coachmen　in　Markton　High　Street；　were　about　to　reveal
their　hidden　traits；　home　attitudes；　intimate　smiles；　nods；
and　perhaps　kisses；　to　the　public　eye；　it　was　a　throwing　open
of　fascinating　social　secrets　not　to　be　missed　for　money。

The　performance　opened　with　no　further　delay　than　was
occasioned　by　the　customary　refusal　of　the　curtain　at　these
times　to　rise　more　than　two　feet　six　inches；　but　this　hitch
was　remedied；　and　the　play　began。　　It　was　with　no　enviable
emotion　that　Somerset；　who　was　watching　intently；　saw；　not　Mr。
Mild；　but　Captain　De　Stancy；　enter　as　the　King　of　Navarre。

Somerset　as　a　friend　of　the　family　had　had　a　seat　reserved　for
him　next　to　that　of　Mrs。　Goodman；　and　turning　to　her　he　said
with　some　excitement；　'I　understood　that　Mr。　Mild　had　agreed
to　take　that　part？'

'Yes；'　she　said　in　a　whisper；　'so　he　had；　but　he　broke　down。
Luckily　Captain　De　Stancy　was　familiar　with　the　part；　through
having　coached　the　others　so　persistently；　and　he　undertook　it
off…hand。　　Being　about　the　same　figure　as　Lieutenant　Mild　the
same　dress　fits　him；　with　a　little　alteration　by　the　tailor。'

It　did　fit　him　indeed；　and　of　the　male　costumes　it　was　that　on
which　Somerset　had　bestowed　most　pains　when　designing　them。
It　shrewdly　burst　upon　his　mind　that　there　might　have　been
collusion　between　Mild　and　De　Stancy；　the　former　agreeing　to
take　the　captain's　place　and　act　as　blind　till　the　last
moment。　　A　greater　question　was；　could　Paula　have　been　aware
of　this；　and　would　she　perform　as　the　Princess　of　France　now
De　Stancy　was　to　be　her　lover？

'Does　Miss　Power　know　of　this　change？'　he　inquired。

'She　did　not　till　quite　a　short　time　ago。'

He　controlled　his　impatience　till　the　beginning　of　the　second
act。　　The　Princess　entered；　it　was　Paula。　　But　whether　the
slight　embarrassment　with　which　she　pronounced　her　opening
words；

　　　　　'Good　Lord　Boyet；　my　beauty；　though　but　mean；
　　　　　　Needs　not　the　painted　flourish　of　your　praise；'

was　due　to　the　newness　of　her　situation；　or　to　her　knowledge
that　De　Stancy　had　usurped　Mild's　part　of　her　lover；　he　could
not　guess。　　De　Stancy　appeared；　and　Somerset　felt　grim　as　he
listened　to　the　gallant　captain's　salutation　of　the　Princess；
and　her　response。

　　De　S。　　　Fair　Princess；　welcome　to　the　court　of　Navarre。
　　Paula。　　Fair；　I　give　you　back　again：　　and　welcome；　I　have
not　yet。

Somerset　listened　to　this　and　to　all　that　which　followed　of
the　same　sort；　with　the　reflection　that；　after　all；　the
Princess　never　throughout　the　piece　compromised　her　dignity　by
showing　her　love　for　the　King；　and　that　the　latter　never
addressed　her　in　words　in　which　passion　got　the　better　of
courtesy。　　Moreover；　as　Paula　had　herself　observed；　they　did
not　marry　at　the　end　of　the　piece；　as　in　Shakespeare's　other
comedies。　　Somewhat　calm　in　this　assurance；　he　waited　on　while
the　other　couples　respectively　indulged　in　their　love…making；
and　banter；　including　Mrs。　Camperton　as　the　sprightly
Rosaline。　　But　he　was　doomed　to　be　surprised　out　of　his　humour
when　the　end　of　the　act　came　on。　　In　abridging　the　play　for
the　convenience　of　representation；　the　favours　or　gifts　from
the　gentlemen　to　the　ladies　were　personally　presented：　　and
now　Somerset　saw　De　Stancy　advance　with　the　necklace　fetched
by　Paula　from　London；　and　clasp　it　on　her　neck。

This　seemed　to　throw　a　less　pleasant　light　on　her　hasty
journey。　　To　fetch　a　valuable　ornament　to　lend　it　to　a　poorer
friend　was　estimable；　but　to　fetch　it　that　the　friend's
brother　should　have　something　magnificent　to　use　as　a　lover's
offering　to　herself　in　public；　that　wore　a　different
complexion。　　And　if　the　article　were　recognized　by　the
spectators　as　the　same　that　Charlotte　had　worn　at　the　ball；
the　presentation　by　De　Stancy　of　what　must　seem　to　be　an
heirloom　of　his　house　would　be　read　as　symbolizing　a　union　of
the　families。

De　Stancy's　mode　of　presenting　the　necklace；　though
unauthorized　by　Shakespeare；　had　the　full　approval　of　the
company；　and　set　them　in　good　humour　to　receive　Major
Camperton　as　Armado　the　braggart。　　Nothing　calculated　to
stimulate　jealousy　occurred　again　till　the　fifth　act；　and　then
there　arose　full　cause　for　it。

The　scene　was　the　outside　of　the　Princess's　pavilion。　　De
Stancy；　as　the　King　of　Navarre；　stood　with　his　group　of
attendants　awaiting　the　Princess；　who　presently　entered　from
her　door。　　The　two　began　to　converse　as　the　play　appointed；　De
Stancy　turning　to　her　with　this　reply

　　　　　'Rebuke　me　not　for　that　which　you　provoke；
　　　　　　The　virtue　of　your　eye　must　break　my　oath。'

So　far　all　was　well；　and　Paula　opened　her　lips　for　the　set
rejoinder。　　But　before　she