a laodicean-第57章

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signs　that　he　would　begin　again　on　the　eternal　subject；　she
seemed　to　be　struck　with　a　sense　of　the　ludicrous。

De　Stancy　reddened。　　'Something　seems　to　amuse　you；'　he　said。

'It　is　over；'　she　replied；　becoming　serious。

'Was　it　about　me；　and　this　unhappy　fever　in　me？'

'If　I　speak　the　truth　I　must　say　it　was。'

'You　thought；　〃Here's　that　absurd　man　again；　going　to　begin
his　daily　supplication。〃'

'Not　〃absurd；〃'　she　said；　with　emphasis；　'because　I　don't
think　it　is　absurd。'

She　continued　looking　through　the　windows　at　the　Lurlei
Heights　under　which　they　were　now　passing；　and　he　remained
with　his　eyes　on　her。

'May　I　stay　here　with　you？'　he　said　at　last。　　'I　have　not　had
a　word　with　you　alone　for　four…and…twenty　hours。'

'You　must　be　cheerful；　then。'

'You　have　said　such　as　that　before。　　I　wish　you　would　say
〃loving〃　instead　of　〃cheerful。〃'

'Yes；　I　know；　I　know；'　she　responded；　with　impatient
perplexity。　　'But　why　must　you　think　of　meme　only？　　Is　there
no　other　woman　in　the　world　who　has　the　power　to　make　you
happy？　　I　am　sure　there　must　be。'

'Perhaps　there　is；　but　I　have　never　seen　her。'

'Then　look　for　her；　and　believe　me　when　I　say　that　you　will
certainly　find　her。'

He　shook　his　head。

'Captain　De　Stancy；　I　have　long　felt　for　you；'　she　continued；
with　a　frank　glance　into　his　face。　　'You　have　deprived
yourself　too　long　of　other　women's　company。　　Why　not　go　away
for　a　little　time？　and　when　you　have　found　somebody　else
likely　to　make　you　happy；　you　can　meet　me　again。　　I　will　see
you　at　your　father's　house；　and　we　will　enjoy　all　the　pleasure
of　easy　friendship。'

'Very　correct；　and　very　cold；　O　best　of　women！'

'You　are　too　full　of　exclamations　and　transports；　I　think！'

They　stood　in　silence；　Paula　apparently　much　interested　in　the
manoeuvring　of　a　raft　which　was　passing　by。　　'Dear　Miss
Power；'　he　resumed；　'before　I　go　and　join　your　uncle　above；
let　me　just　ask；　Do　I　stand　any　chance　at　all　yet？　　Is　it
possible　you　can　never　be　more　pliant　than　you　have　been？'

'You　put　me　out　of　all　patience！'

'But　why　did　you　raise　my　hopes？　　You　should　at　least　pity　me
after　doing　that。'

'Yes；　it's　that　again！　　I　unfortunately　raised　your　hopes
because　I　was　a　foolwas　not　myself　that　moment。　　Now
question　me　no　more。　　As　it　is　I　think　you　presume　too　much
upon　my　becoming　yours　as　the　consequence　of　my　having
dismissed　another。'

'Not　on　becoming　mine；　but　on　listening　to　me。'

'Your　argument　would　be　reasonable　enough　had　I　led　you　to
believe　I　would　listen　to　youand　ultimately　accept　you；　but
that　I　have　not　done。　　I　see　now　that　a　woman　who　gives　a　man
an　answer　one　shade　less　peremptory　than　a　harsh　negative　may
be　carried　beyond　her　intentions；　and　out　of　her　own　power
before　she　knows　it。'

'Chide　me　if　you　will；　I　don't　care！'

She　looked　steadfastly　at　him　with　a　little　mischief　in　her
eyes。　　'You　DO　care；'　she　said。

'Then　why　don't　you　listen　to　me？　　I　would　not　persevere　for　a
moment　longer　if　it　were　against　the　wishes　of　your　family。
Your　uncle　says　it　would　give　him　pleasure　to　see　you　accept
me。'

'Does　he　say　why？'　she　asked　thoughtfully。

'Yes；　he　takes；　of　course；　a　practical　view　of　the　matter；　he
thinks　it　commends　itself　so　to　reason　and　common　sense　that
the　owner　of　Stancy　Castle　should　become　a　member　of　the　De
Stancy　family。'

'Yes；　that's　the　horrid　plague　of　it；'　she　said；　with　a
nonchalance　which　seemed　to　contradict　her　words。　　'It　is　so
dreadfully　reasonable　that　we　should　marry。　　I　wish　it
wasn't！'

'Well；　you　are　younger　than　I；　and　perhaps　that's　a　natural
wish。　　But　to　me　it　seems　a　felicitous　combination　not　often
met　with。　　I　confess　that　your　interest　in　our　family　before
you　knew　me　lent　a　stability　to　my　hopes　that　otherwise　they
would　not　have　had。'

'My　interest　in　the　De　Stancys　has　not　been　a　personal
interest　except　in　the　case　of　your　sister；'　she　returned。
'It　has　been　an　historical　interest　only；　and　is　not　at　all
increased　by　your　existence。'

'And　perhaps　it　is　not　diminished？'

'No；　I　am　not　aware　that　it　is　diminished；'　she　murmured；　as
she　observed　the　gliding　shore。

'Well；　you　will　allow　me　to　say　this；　since　I　say　it　without
reference　to　your　personality　or　to　minethat　the　Power　and
De　Stancy　families　are　the　complements　to　each　other；　and
that；　abstractedly；　they　call　earnestly　to　one　another：　　〃How
neat　and　fit　a　thing　for　us　to　join　hands！〃'

Paula；　who　was　not　prudish　when　a　direct　appeal　was　made　to
her　common　sense；　answered　with　ready　candour：　　'Yes；　from　the
point　of　view　of　domestic　politics；　that　undoubtedly　is　the
case。　　But　I　hope　I　am　not　so　calculating　as　to　risk　happiness
in　order　to　round　off　a　social　idea。'

'I　hope　not；　or　that　I　am　either。　　Still　the　social　idea
exists；　and　my　increased　years　make　its　excellence　more
obvious　to　me　than　to　you。'

The　ice　once　broken　on　this　aspect　of　the　question；　the
subject　seemed　further　to　engross　her；　and　she　spoke　on　as　if
daringly　inclined　to　venture　where　she　had　never　anticipated
going；　deriving　pleasure　from　the　very　strangeness　of　her
temerity：　　'You　mean　that　in　the　fitness　of　things　I　ought　to
become　a　De　Stancy　to　strengthen　my　social　position？'

'And　that　I　ought　to　strengthen　mine　by　alliance　with　the
heiress　of　a　name　so　dear　to　engineering　science　as　Power。'

'Well；　we　are　talking　with　unexpected　frankness。'

'But　you　are　not　seriously　displeased　with　me　for　saying　what；
after　all；　one　can't　help　feeling　and　thinking？'

'No。　　Only　be　so　good　as　to　leave　off　going　further　for　the
present。　　Indeed；　of　the　two；　I　would　rather　have　the　other
sort　of　address。　　I　mean；'　she　hastily　added；　'that　what　you
urge　as　the　result　of　a　real　affection；　however　unsuitable；　I
have　some　remote　satisfaction　in　listening　tonot　the　least
from　any　reciprocal　love　on　my　side；　but　from　a　woman's
gratification　at　being　the　object　of　anybody's　devotion；　for
that　feeling　towards　her　is　always　regarded　as　a　merit　in　a
woman's　eye；　and　taken　as　a　kindness　by　her；　even　when　it　is
at　the　expense　of　her　convenience。'

She　had　said；　voluntarily　or　involuntarily；　better　things　than
he　expected；　and　perhaps　too　much　in　her　own　opinion；　for　she
hardly　gave　him　an　opportunity　of　replying。

They　passed　St。　Goar　and　Boppard；　and　when　steering　round　the
sharp　bend　of　the　river　just　beyond　the　latter　place　De　Stancy
met　her　again；　exclaiming；　'You　left　me　very　suddenly。'

'You　must　make　allowances；　please；'　she　said；　'I　have　always
stood　in　need　of　them。'

'Then　you　shall　always　have　them。'

'I　don't　doubt　it；'　she　said　quickly；　but　Paula　was　not　to　be
caught　again；　and　kept　close　to　the　side　of　her　aunt　while
they　glided　past　Brauback　and　Oberlahnstein。　　Approaching
Coblenz　her　aunt　said；　'Paula；　let　me　suggest　that　you　be　not
so　much　alone　with　Captain　De　Stancy。'

'And　why？'　said　Paula　quietly。

'You'll　have　plenty　of　offers　if　you　want　them；　without　taking
trouble；'　said　the　direct　Mrs。　Goodman。　　'Your　existence　is
hardly　known　to　the　world　yet；　and　Captain　De　Stancy　is　too
near　middle…age　for　a　girl　like　you。'　　Paula　did　not　reply　to
either　of　these　remarks；　being　seemingly　so　interested　in
Ehrenbreitstein's　heights　as　not　to　hear　them。



IX。

It　was　midnight　at　Coblenz；　and　the　travellers　had　retired　to
rest　in　their　respective　apartments；　overlooking　the　river。
Finding　that　there　was　a　moon　shining；　Paula　leant　out　of　her
window。　　The　tall　rock　of　Ehrenbreitstein　on　the　opposite
shore　was　flooded　with　light；　and　a　belated　steamer　was
drawing　up　to　the　landing…stage；　where　it　presently　deposited
its　passengers。

'We　should　have　come　by　the　last　boat；　so　as　to　have　been
touched　into　romance　by　the　rays　of　this　moon；　like　those
happy　people；'　said　a　voice。

She　looked　towards　the　spot　whence　the　voice　proceeded；　which
was　a　window　quite　near　at　hand。　　De　Stancy　was　smoking
outside　it；　and　she　became　aware　that　the　words　were　addressed
to　her。

'You　left　me　very　abruptly；'　he　continued。

Paula's　instinct　of　caution　impelled　her　to　speak。

'The　windows　are　all　open；'　she　murmured。　　'Please　be
careful。'

'There　are　no　English　in　this　hotel　except　ourselves。　　I　thank
you　for　what　you　said　to…day。'

'Please　be　careful；'　she　repeated。

'My　dear　Miss　P'

'Don't　mention　names；　and　don't　continue　the　subject！'

'Life　and　death　perhaps　depend　upon　my　renewing　it　soon！'

She　shut　the　window　decisively；　possibly　wondering　if　De
Stancy　had　drunk　a　glass　or　two　of　Steinberg　more　than　was
good　for　him；　and　saw　no　more　of　moonlit　Ehrenbreitstein　that
night；　and　heard　no　more　of　De　Stancy。　　But　it　was　some　time
before　he　closed　his　window；　and　previous　to　doing　so　saw　a
dark　form　at　an　adjoining　one　on　the　other　side。

It　was　Mr。　Power；　also　taking　the　air。　　'Well；　what　luck　to…
day？'　said　Power。

'A　decided　advance；'　said　De　Stancy。

None　of　the　speakers　knew　that　a　little　person　in　the　room
above　heard　all　this　out…of…window　talk。　　Charlotte；　though
not　looking　out；　had　left　her　casement　open；　and　what　reached
her　ears　set　her　wondering　as　to　the　result。

It　is　not　necessary　to　detail　in　full　De　Stancy's
imperceptible　advances　with　Paula　during　that　northward
journeyso　slowly　performed　that　it　seemed　as　if　she　must
perceive　there　was　a　special　reason　for　delaying　her　return　to
England。　　At　Cologne　one　day　he　conveniently　overtook　her　when
she　was　ascending　the　hotel　staircase。　　Seeing　him；　she　went
to　the　window　of　the　entresol　landing；　which　commanded　a　view
of　the　Rhine；　meaning　that　he　should　pass　by　to　his　room。

'I　have　been　very　uneasy；'　began　the　captain；　drawing　up　to
her　side；　'and　I　am　obliged　to　trouble　you　sooner　than　I　meant
to　do。'

Paula　turned　her　eyes　upon　him　with　some　curiosity　as　to　what
was　coming　of　this　respectful　demeanour。　　'Indeed！'　she　said；

He　then　informed　her　that　he　had　been　overhauling　himself
since　they　last　talked；　and　had　some　reason　to　blame　himself
for　bluntness　and　general　want　of　euphemism；　which；　although
he　had　meant　nothing　by　it；　must　have　been　very　disagreeable
to　her。　　But　he　had　always　aimed　at　sincerity；　particularly　as
he　had　to　deal　with　a　lady　who　despised　hypocrisy　and　was
above　flattery。　　However；　he　feared　he　might　have　carried　his
disregard　for　conventionality　too　far。　　But　from　that　time　he
would　promise　that　she　should　find　an　alteration　by　which　he
hoped　he　might　return　the　friendship　at　least　of　a　young　lady
he　honoured　more　than　any　other　in　the　world。

This　retrograde　movement　was　evidently　unexpected　by　the
honoured　young　lady　herself。　　After　being　so　long　accustomed
to　rebuke　him　for　his　persistence　there　was　novelty　in　finding
him　do　the　work　for　her。　　The　guess　might　even　have　been
hazarded　that　there　was　also　disappointment。

Still　looking　across　the　river　at　the　bridge　of　boats　which
stretched　to　the　opposite　suburb　of　Deutz：　　'You　need　not
blame　yourself；'　she　said；　with　the　mildest　conceivable
manner；　'I　can　make　allowances。　　All　I　wish　is　that　you　should
remain　under　no　misapprehension。'

'I　comprehend；'　he　said　thoughtfully。　　'But　since；　by　a
perverse　fate；　I　have　been　thrown　into　your　company；　you　could
hardly　expect　me　to　feel　and