a laodicean-第54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！


questions。　　I　may　as　well　proceed　on　my　way；　as　you　advised。'

De　Stancy；　who　had　also　gazed　with　dismay　at　Somerset's
passing　figure；　though　with　dismay　of　another　sort；　was
recalled　from　his　vexation　by　Dare's　remarks；　and　turning　upon
him　he　said　sharply；　'Well　may　you　be　in　such　a　hurry　all　of　a
sudden！'

'True；　I　am　superfluous　now。'

'You　have　been　doing　a　foolish　thing；　and　you　must　suffer　its
inconveniences。Will；　I　am　sorry　for　one　thing；　I　am　sorry　I
ever　owned　you；　for　you　are　not　a　lad　to　my　heart。　　You　have
disappointed　medisappointed　me　almost　beyond　endurance。'

'I　have　acted　according　to　my　illumination。　　What　can　you
expect　of　a　man　born　to　dishonour？'

'That's　mere　speciousness。　　Before　you　knew　anything　of　me；
and　while　you　thought　you　were　the　child　of　poverty　on　both
sides；　you　were　well　enough；　but　ever　since　you　thought　you
were　more　than　that；　you　have　led　a　life　which　is　intolerable。
What　has　become　of　your　plan　of　alliance　between　the　De
Stancys　and　the　Powers　now？　　The　man　is　gone　upstairs　who　can
overthrow　it　all。'

'If　the　man　had　not　gone　upstairs；　you　wouldn't　have
complained　of　my　nature　or　my　plans；'　said　Dare　drily。　　'If　I
mistake　not；　he　will　come　down　again　with　the　flea　in　his　ear。
However；　I　have　done；　my　play　is　played　out。　　All　the　rest
remains　with　you。　　But；　captain；　grant　me　this！　　If　when　I　am
gone　this　difficulty　should　vanish；　and　things　should　go　well
with　you；　and　your　suit　should　prosper；　will　you　think　of　him；
bad　as　he　is；　who　first　put　you　on　the　track　of　such
happiness；　and　let　him　know　it　was　not　done　in　vain？'

'I　will；'　said　De　Stancy。　　'Promise　me　that　you　will　be　a
better　boy？'

'Very　wellas　soon　as　ever　I　can　afford　it。　　Now　I　am　up　and
away；　when　I　have　explained　to　them　that　I　shall　not　require
my　room。'

Dare　fetched　his　bag；　touched　his　hat　with　his　umbrella　to　the
captain　and　went　out　of　the　hotel　archway。　　De　Stancy　sat　down
in　the　stuffy　drawing…room；　and　wondered　what　other　ironies
time　had　in　store　for　him。

A　waiter　in　the　interim　had　announced　Somerset　to　the　group
upstairs。　　Paula　started　as　much　as　Charlotte　at　hearing　the
name；　and　Abner　Power　stared　at　them　both。

'If　Mr。　Somerset　wishes　to　see　me　ON　BUSINESS；　show　him　in；'
said　Paula。

In　a　few　seconds　the　door　was　thrown　open　for　Somerset。　　On
receipt　of　the　pointed　message　he　guessed　that　a　change　had
come。　　Time；　absence；　ambition；　her　uncle's　influence；　and　a
new　wooer；　seemed　to　account　sufficiently　well　for　that
change；　and　he　accepted　his　fate。　　But　a　stoical　instinct　to
show　her　that　he　could　regard　vicissitudes　with　the　equanimity
that　became　a　man；　a　desire　to　ease　her　mind　of　any　fear　she
might　entertain　that　his　connection　with　her　past　would　render
him　troublesome　in　future；　induced　him　to　accept　her
permission；　and　see　the　act　to　the　end。

'How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Somerset？'　said　Abner　Power；　with　sardonic
geniality：　　he　had　been　far　enough　about　the　world　not　to　be
greatly　concerned　at　Somerset's　apparent　failing；　particularly
when　it　helped　to　reduce　him　from　the　rank　of　lover　to　his
niece　to　that　of　professional　adviser。

Miss　De　Stancy　faltered　a　welcome　as　weak　as　that　of　the　Maid
of　Neidpath；　and　Paula　said　coldly；　'We　are　rather　surprised
to　see　you。　　Perhaps　there　is　something　urgent　at　the　castle
which　makes　it　necessary　for　you　to　call？'

'There　is　something　a　little　urgent；'　said　Somerset　slowly；　as
he　approached　her；　'and　you　have　judged　rightly　that　it　is　the
cause　of　my　call。'　　He　sat　down　near　her　chair　as　he　spoke；
put　down　his　hat；　and　drew　a　note…book　from　his　pocket　with　a
despairing　sang　froid　that　was　far　more　perfect　than　had　been
Paula's　demeanour　just　before。

'Perhaps　you　would　like　to　talk　over　the　business　with　Mr。
Somerset　alone？'　murmured　Charlotte　to　Miss　Power；　hardly
knowing　what　she　said。

'O　no；'　said　Paula；　'I　think　not。　　Is　it　necessary？'　she　said；
turning　to　him。

'Not　in　the　least；'　replied　he；　bestowing　a　penetrating　glance
upon　his　questioner's　face；　which　seemed　however　to　produce　no
effect；　and　turning　towards　Charlotte；　he　added；　'You　will
have　the　goodness；　I　am　sure；　Miss　De　Stancy；　to　excuse　the
jargon　of　professional　details。'

He　spread　some　tracings　on　the　table；　and　pointed　out　certain
modified　features　to　Paula；　commenting　as　he　went　on；　and
exchanging　occasionally　a　few　words　on　the　subject　with　Mr。
Abner　Power　by　the　distant　window。

In　this　architectural　dialogue　over　his　sketches；　Somerset's
head　and　Paula's　became　unavoidably　very　close。　　The
temptation　was　too　much　for　the　young　man。　　Under　cover　of　the
rustle　of　the　tracings；　he　murmured；　'Paula；　I　could　not　get
here　before！'　in　a　low　voice　inaudible　to　the　other　two。

She　did　not　reply；　only　busying　herself　the　more　with　the
notes　and　sketches；　and　he　said　again；　'I　stayed　a　couple　of
days　at　Genoa；　and　some　days　at　San　Remo；　and　Mentone。'

'But　it　is　not　the　least　concern　of　mine　where　you　stayed；　is
it？'　she　said；　with　a　cold　yet　disquieted　look。

'Do　you　speak　seriously？'　Somerset　brokenly　whispered。

Paula　concluded　her　examination　of　the　drawings　and　turned
from　him　with　sorrowful　disregard。　　He　tried　no　further；　but；
when　she　had　signified　her　pleasure　on　the　points　submitted；
packed　up　his　papers；　and　rose　with　the　bearing　of　a　man
altogether　superior　to　such　a　class　of　misfortune　as　this。
Before　going　he　turned　to　speak　a　few　words　of　a　general　kind
to　Mr。　Power　and　Charlotte。

'You　will　stay　and　dine　with　us？'　said　the　former；　rather　with
the　air　of　being　unhappily　able　to　do　no　less　than　ask　the
question。　　'My　charges　here　won't　go　down　to　the　table…d'hote；
I　fear；　but　De　Stancy　and　myself　will　be　there。'

Somerset　excused　himself；　and　in　a　few　minutes　withdrew。　　At
the　door　he　looked　round　for　an　instant；　and　his　eyes　met
Paula's。　　There　was　the　same　miles…off　expression　in　hers　that
they　had　worn　when　he　entered；　but　there　was　also　a　look　of
distressful　inquiry；　as　if　she　were　earnestly　expecting　him　to
say　something　more。　　This　of　course　Somerset　did　not
comprehend。　　Possibly　she　was　clinging　to　a　hope　of　some
excuse　for　the　message　he　was　supposed　to　have　sent；　or　for
the　other　and　more　degrading　matter。　　Anyhow；　Somerset　only
bowed　and　went　away。

A　moment　after　he　had　gone；　Paula；　impelled　by　something　or
other；　crossed　the　room　to　the　window。　　In　a　short　time　she
saw　his　form　in　the　broad　street　below；　which　he　traversed
obliquely　to　an　opposite　corner；　his　head　somewhat　bent；　and
his　eyes　on　the　ground。　　Before　vanishing　into　the
Ritterstrasse　he　turned　his　head　and　glanced　at　the　hotel
windows；　as　if　he　knew　that　she　was　watching　him。　　Then　he
disappeared；　and　the　only　real　sign　of　emotion　betrayed　by
Paula　during　the　whole　episode　escaped　her　at　this　moment。　　It
was　a　slight　trembling　of　the　lip　and　a　sigh　so　slowly
breathed　that　scarce　anybody　could　hearscarcely　even
Charlotte；　who　was　reclining　on　a　couch　her　face　on　her　hand
and　her　eyes　downcast。

Not　more　than　two　minutes　had　elapsed　when　Mrs。　Goodman　came
in　with　a　manner　of　haste。

'You　have　returned；'　said　Mr。　Power。　　'Have　you　made　your
purchases？'

Without　answering；　she　asked；　'Whom；　of　all　people　on　earth；
do　you　think　I　have　met？　　Mr。　Somerset！　　Has　he　been　here？he
passed　me　almost　without　speaking！'

'Yes；　he　has　been　here；'　said　Paula。　　'He　is　on　the　way　from
Genoa　home；　and　called　on　business。'

'You　will　have　him　here　to　dinner；　of　course？'

'I　asked　him；'　said　Mr。　Power；　'but　he　declined。'

'O；　that's　unfortunate！　　Surely　we　could　get　him　to　come。　　You
would　like　to　have　him　here；　would　you　not；　Paula？'

'No；　indeed。　　I　don't　want　him　here；'　said　she。

'You　don't？'

'No！'　she　said　sharply。

'You　used　to　like　him　well　enough；　anyhow；'　bluntly　rejoined
Mrs。　Goodman。

Paula　sedately：　　'It　is　a　mistake　to　suppose　that　I　ever
particularly　liked　the　gentleman　mentioned。'

'Then　you　are　wrong；　Mrs。　Goodman；　it　seems；'　said　Mr。　Power。

Mrs。　Goodman；　who　had　been　growing　quietly　indignant；
notwithstanding　a　vigorous　use　of　her　fan；　at　this　said。
'Fie；　fie；　Paula！　you　did　like　him。　　You　said　to　me　only　a
week　or　two　ago　that　you　should　not　at　all　object　to　marry
him。'

'It　is　a　mistake；'　repeated　Paula　calmly。　　'I　meant　the　other
one　of　the　two　we　were　talking　about。'

'What；　Captain　De　Stancy？'

'Yes。'

Knowing　this　to　be　a　fiction；　Mrs。　Goodman　made　no　remark；　and
hearing　a　slight　noise　behind；　turned　her　head。　　Seeing　her
aunt's　action；　Paula　also　looked　round。　　The　door　had　been
left　ajar；　and　De　Stancy　was　standing　in　the　room。　　The　last
words　of　Mrs。　Goodman；　and　Paula's　reply；　must　have　been　quite
audible　to　him。

They　looked　at　each　other　much　as　if　they　had　unexpectedly　met
at　the　altar；　but　after　a　momentary　start　Paula　did　not　flinch
from　the　position　into　which　hurt　pride　had　betrayed　her。　　De
Stancy　bowed　gracefully；　and　she　merely　walked　to　the　furthest
window；　whither　he　followed　her。

'I　am　eternally　grateful　to　you　for　avowing　that　I　have　won
favour　in　your　sight　at　last；'　he　whispered。

She　acknowledged　the　remark　with　a　somewhat　reserved　bearing。
'Really　I　don't　deserve　your　gratitude；'　she　said。　　'I　did　not
know　you　were　there。'

'I　know　you　did　notthat's　why　the　avowal　is　so　sweet　to　me。
Can　I　take　you　at　your　word？'

'Yes；　I　suppose。'

'Then　your　preference　is　the　greatest　honour　that　has　ever
fallen　to　my　lot。　　It　is　enough：　　you　accept　me？'

'As　a　lover　on　probationno　more。'

The　conversation　being　carried　on　in　low　tones；　Paula's　uncle
and　aunt　took　it　as　a　hint　that　their　presence　could　be
spared；　and　severally　left　the　roomthe　former　gladly；　the
latter　with　some　vexation。　　Charlotte　De　Stancy　followed。

'And　to　what　am　I　indebted　for　this　happy　change？'　inquired　De
Stancy；　as　soon　as　they　were　alone。

'You　shouldn't　look　a　gift…horse　in　the　mouth；'　she　replied
brusquely；　and　with　tears　in　her　eyes　for　one　gone。

'You　mistake　my　motive。　　I　am　like　a　reprieved　criminal；　and
can　scarcely　believe　the　news。'

'You　shouldn't　say　that　to　me；　or　I　shall　begin　to　think　I
have　been　too　kind；'　she　answered；　some　of　the　archness　of　her
manner　returning。　　'Now；　I　know　what　you　mean　to　say　in
answer；　but　I　don't　want　to　hear　more　at　present；　and　whatever
you　do；　don't　fall　into　the　mistake　of　supposing　I　have
accepted　you　in　any　other　sense　than　the　way　I　say。　　If　you
don't　like　such　a　limitation　you　can　go　away。　　I　dare　say　I
shall　get　over　it。'

'Go　away！　　Could　I　go　away？But　you　are　beginning　to　tease；
and　will　soon　punish　me　severely；　so　I　will　make　my　escape
while　all　is　well。　　It　would　be　presumptuous　to　expect　more　in
one　day。'

'It　would　indeed；'　said　Paula；　with　her　eyes　on　a　bunch　of
flowers。



VI。

On　leaving　the　hotel；　Somerset's　first　impulse　was　to　get　out
of　sight　of　its　windows；　and　his　glance　upward　had　perhaps　not
the　tender　significance　that　Paula　imagined；　the　last　look
impelled　by　any　such　whiff　of　emotion　having　been　the
lingering　one　he　bestowed　upon　her　in　passing　out　of　the　room。
Unluckily　for　the　prospects　of　this　attachment；　Paula's
conduct　towards　him　now；　as　a　result　of　misrepresentation；　had
enough　in　common　with　her