°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > a laodicean >

µÚ68ÕÂ

a laodicean-µÚ68ÕÂ

С˵£º a laodicean ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



strains¡¡of¡¡the¡¡band¡¡striving¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ear¡¡for¡¡mastery¡¡over¡¡the
sounds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡dancers¡¡came¡¡round¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time£»
and¡¡were¡¡individually¡¡visible¡¡to¡¡those¡¡people¡¡without¡¡who
chose¡¡to¡¡look¡¡that¡¡way£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡what¡¡Paula¡¡did¡£

'Come¡¡away£»¡¡come¡¡away£¡'¡¡she¡¡suddenly¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡'It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡right
for¡¡us¡¡to¡¡be¡¡here¡£'

Her¡¡exclamation¡¡had¡¡its¡¡origin¡¡in¡¡what¡¡she¡¡had¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment
seen¡¡within£»¡¡the¡¡spectacle¡¡of¡¡Mr¡£¡¡George¡¡Somerset¡¡whirling
round¡¡the¡¡room¡¡with¡¡a¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡of¡¡uncertain¡¡nationality¡¡but
pleasing¡¡figure¡£¡¡¡¡Paula¡¡was¡¡not¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡show¡¡the¡¡white
feather¡¡too¡¡clearly£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡soon¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡out¡¡through¡¡those
yellow¡¡gates¡¡and¡¡retreated£»¡¡till¡¡the¡¡mixed¡¡music¡¡of¡¡sea¡¡and
band¡¡had¡¡resolved¡¡into¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡alone¡£

'Well£¡'¡¡said¡¡her¡¡aunt£»¡¡half¡¡in¡¡soliloquy£»¡¡'do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡who¡¡I
saw¡¡dancing¡¡there£»¡¡Paula£¿¡¡¡¡Our¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Somerset£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡make¡¡a
great¡¡mistake£¡'

'It¡¡was¡¡likely¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡you¡¡did£»'¡¡sedately¡¡replied¡¡her
niece¡£¡¡¡¡'He¡¡left¡¡Caen¡¡with¡¡the¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡seeking
distractions¡¡of¡¡a¡¡lighter¡¡kind¡¡than¡¡those¡¡furnished¡¡by¡¡art£»
and¡¡he¡¡has¡¡merely¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡finding¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡has¡¡made
my¡¡duty¡¡rather¡¡a¡¡difficult¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡Still£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡my¡¡duty£»¡¡for¡¡I
very¡¡greatly¡¡wronged¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Perhaps£»¡¡however£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡done
enough¡¡for¡¡honour's¡¡sake¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡humiliated¡¡myself¡¡by
an¡¡apology¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡found¡¡him¡¡in¡¡any¡¡other¡¡situation£»¡¡but£»¡¡of
course£»¡¡one¡¡can't¡¡he¡¡expected¡¡to¡¡take¡¡MUCH¡¡trouble¡¡when¡¡he¡¡is
seen¡¡going¡¡on¡¡like¡¡that£¡'

The¡¡coolness¡¡with¡¡which¡¡she¡¡began¡¡her¡¡remarks¡¡had¡¡developed
into¡¡something¡¡like¡¡warmth¡¡as¡¡she¡¡concluded¡£

'He¡¡is¡¡only¡¡dancing¡¡with¡¡a¡¡lady¡¡he¡¡probably¡¡knows¡¡very¡¡well¡£'

'He¡¡doesn't¡¡know¡¡her£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡his¡¡dancing¡¡with¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡of
that¡¡description£¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡will¡¡go¡¡away¡¡tomorrow¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡place¡¡has
been¡¡greatly¡¡over¡­praised¡£'

'The¡¡place¡¡is¡¡well¡¡enough£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡£'

'He¡¡is¡¡carrying¡¡out¡¡his¡¡programme¡¡to¡¡the¡¡letter¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡plunges
into¡¡excitement¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡reckless¡¡manner£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡tremble¡¡for
the¡¡consequences£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡can¡¡do¡¡no¡¡more£º¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡humiliated¡¡myself
into¡¡following¡¡him£»¡¡believing¡¡that¡¡in¡¡giving¡¡too¡¡ready
credence¡¡to¡¡appearances¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡narrow¡¡and¡¡inhuman£»¡¡and¡¡had
caused¡¡him¡¡much¡¡misery¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡mind£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡has¡¡no
misery£»¡¡he¡¡seems¡¡just¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡ever¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡much¡¡this¡¡finding
him¡¡has¡¡cost¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡all£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡deceive¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡must
have¡¡acquired¡¡a¡¡natural¡¡aversion¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡allowed
myself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡very¡¡common¡¡qualities£»¡¡and
am¡¡now¡¡bitterly¡¡alive¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shame¡¡of¡¡having¡¡sought¡¡him¡¡out¡£
I¡¡heartily¡¡detest¡¡him£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡backaunt£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡rightI
had¡¡no¡¡business¡¡to¡¡come¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡light¡¡conduct¡¡has¡¡rendered
him¡¡uninteresting¡¡to¡¡me£¡'



III¡£

When¡¡she¡¡rose¡¡the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡the¡¡bell¡¡was¡¡clanging¡¡for¡¡the
second¡¡breakfast£»¡¡and¡¡people¡¡were¡¡pouring¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡beach¡¡in
every¡¡variety¡¡of¡¡attire¡£¡¡¡¡Paula£»¡¡whom¡¡a¡¡restless¡¡night¡¡had
left¡¡with¡¡a¡¡headache£»¡¡which£»¡¡however£»¡¡she¡¡said¡¡nothing¡¡about£»
was¡¡reluctant¡¡to¡¡emerge¡¡from¡¡the¡¡seclusion¡¡of¡¡her¡¡chamber£»
till¡¡her¡¡aunt£»¡¡discovering¡¡what¡¡was¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡with¡¡her£»
suggested¡¡that¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡open¡¡air¡¡would¡¡refresh
her£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡went¡¡downstairs¡¡into¡¡the¡¡hotel¡¡gardens¡£

The¡¡clatter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡breakfast¡¡within¡¡was¡¡audible¡¡from¡¡this
spot£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡noise¡¡seemed¡¡suddenly¡¡to¡¡inspirit¡¡Paula£»¡¡who
proposed¡¡to¡¡enter¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡aunt¡¡assented¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡verandah¡¡under
which¡¡they¡¡passed¡¡was¡¡a¡¡rustic¡¡hat¡­stand¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡a
tree£»¡¡upon¡¡which¡¡hats¡¡and¡¡other¡¡body¡­gear¡¡hung¡¡like¡¡bunches¡¡of
fruit¡£¡¡¡¡Paula's¡¡eye¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡felt¡¡hat¡¡to¡¡which¡¡a¡¡small
block¡­book¡¡was¡¡attached¡¡by¡¡a¡¡string¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡hat¡¡and
block¡­book¡¡well£»¡¡and¡¡turning¡¡to¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Goodman¡¡said£»¡¡'After¡¡all£»
I¡¡don't¡¡want¡¡the¡¡breakfast¡¡they¡¡are¡¡having£º¡¡¡¡let¡¡us¡¡order¡¡one
of¡¡our¡¡own¡¡as¡¡usual¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡we'll¡¡have¡¡it¡¡here¡£'

She¡¡led¡¡on¡¡to¡¡where¡¡some¡¡little¡¡tables¡¡were¡¡placed¡¡under¡¡the
tall¡¡shrubs£»¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡her¡¡aunt£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡in¡¡turn¡¡followed¡¡by
the¡¡proprietress¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hotel£»¡¡that¡¡lady¡¡having¡¡discovered
from¡¡the¡¡French¡¡maid¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡good¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡paying
these¡¡ladies¡¡ample¡¡personal¡¡attention¡£

'Is¡¡the¡¡gentleman¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡that¡¡sketch¡­book¡¡belongs¡¡staying
here£¿'¡¡Paula¡¡carelessly¡¡inquired£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡indicated¡¡the¡¡object
on¡¡the¡¡hat¡­stand¡£

'Ah£»¡¡no£¡'¡¡deplored¡¡the¡¡proprietress¡£¡¡¡¡'The¡¡Hotel¡¡was¡¡full¡¡when
Mr¡£¡¡Somerset¡¡came¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡stays¡¡at¡¡a¡¡cottage¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡Rue
Anicet¡¡Bourgeois£º¡¡¡¡he¡¡only¡¡has¡¡his¡¡meals¡¡here¡£'

Paula¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡her¡¡seat¡¡under¡¡the¡¡fuchsia¡­trees¡¡in¡¡such¡¡a
manner¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could¡¡observe¡¡all¡¡the¡¡exits¡¡from¡¡the¡¡salle¡¡a
manger£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡the¡¡present¡¡none¡¡of¡¡the¡¡breakfasters¡¡emerged£»
the¡¡only¡¡moving¡¡objects¡¡on¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡being¡¡the¡¡waitresses¡¡who
ran¡¡hither¡¡and¡¡thither¡¡across¡¡the¡¡court£»¡¡the¡¡cook's¡¡assistants
with¡¡baskets¡¡of¡¡long¡¡bread£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡laundresses¡¡with¡¡baskets
of¡¡sun¡­bleached¡¡linen¡£¡¡¡¡Further¡¡back¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡inn¡­yard£»
stablemen¡¡were¡¡putting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡horses¡¡for¡¡starting¡¡the¡¡flys¡¡and
coaches¡¡to¡¡Les¡¡Ifs£»¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡railway¡­station¡£

'Suppose¡¡the¡¡Somersets¡¡should¡¡be¡¡going¡¡off¡¡by¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these
conveyances£»'¡¡said¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Goodman¡¡as¡¡she¡¡sipped¡¡her¡¡tea¡£

'Well£»¡¡aunt£»¡¡then¡¡they¡¡must£»'¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡lady¡¡with
composure¡£

Nevertheless¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡with¡¡some¡¡misgiving¡¡at¡¡the¡¡nearest
stableman¡¡as¡¡he¡¡led¡¡out¡¡four¡¡white¡¡horses£»¡¡harnessed¡¡them£»¡¡and
leisurely¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡brush¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡began¡¡blacking¡¡their
yellow¡¡hoofs¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡the¡¡vehicles¡¡were¡¡ready¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡by¡¡the
time¡¡breakfast¡¡was¡¡over£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡inmates¡¡soon¡¡turned¡¡out£»¡¡some
to¡¡mount¡¡the¡¡omnibuses¡¡and¡¡carriages£»¡¡some¡¡to¡¡ramble¡¡on¡¡the
adjacent¡¡beach£»¡¡some¡¡to¡¡climb¡¡the¡¡verdant¡¡slopes£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡to
make¡¡for¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡¡that¡¡shut¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vale¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡fuchsia¡­trees
which¡¡sheltered¡¡Paula's¡¡breakfast¡­table¡¡from¡¡the¡¡blaze¡¡of¡¡the
sun£»¡¡also¡¡screened¡¡it¡¡from¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡outpouring¡¡company£»
and¡¡she¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡with¡¡her¡¡aunt¡¡in¡¡perfect¡¡comfort£»¡¡till¡¡among
the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡came¡¡Somerset¡¡and¡¡his¡¡father¡£¡¡¡¡Paula
reddened¡¡at¡¡being¡¡so¡¡near¡¡the¡¡former¡¡at¡¡last¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡with
sensible¡¡relief¡¡that¡¡she¡¡observed¡¡them¡¡turn¡¡towards¡¡the¡¡cliffs
and¡¡not¡¡to¡¡the¡¡carriages£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡signify¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not
going¡¡off¡¡that¡¡day¡£

Neither¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡ladies£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡had
finished¡¡their¡¡tea¡¡and¡¡coffee¡¡they¡¡followed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shore£»
where¡¡they¡¡sat¡¡for¡¡nearly¡¡an¡¡hour£»¡¡reading¡¡and¡¡watching¡¡the
bathers¡£¡¡At¡¡length¡¡footsteps¡¡crunched¡¡among¡¡the¡¡pebbles¡¡in
their¡¡vicinity£»¡¡and¡¡looking¡¡out¡¡from¡¡her¡¡sunshade¡¡Paula¡¡saw
the¡¡two¡¡Somersets¡¡close¡¡at¡¡hand¡£

The¡¡elder¡¡recognized¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡younger£»¡¡observing¡¡his
father's¡¡action¡¡of¡¡courtesy£»¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a
revelation¡¡to¡¡Paula£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡was¡¡shocked¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡he
appeared¡¡worn¡¡and¡¡ill¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡his¡¡face¡¡changed¡¡at
sight¡¡of¡¡her£»¡¡increasing¡¡its¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡paleness£»¡¡but¡¡he
immediately¡¡withdrew¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡passed¡¡by¡£

Somerset¡¡was¡¡as¡¡much¡¡surprised¡¡at¡¡encountering¡¡her¡¡thus¡¡as¡¡she
had¡¡been¡¡distressed¡¡to¡¡see¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡out¡¡of
hearing£»¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡his¡¡father¡¡quietly£»¡¡'What¡¡strange¡¡thing¡¡is
this£»¡¡that¡¡Lady¡¡De¡¡Stancy¡¡should¡¡be¡¡here¡¡and¡¡her¡¡husband¡¡not
with¡¡her£¿¡¡¡¡Did¡¡she¡¡bow¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡you£¿'

'Lady¡¡De¡¡Stancythat¡¡young¡¡lady£¿'¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡puzzled¡¡painter¡£
He¡¡proceeded¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡all¡¡he¡¡knew£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡a¡¡young¡¡lady
he¡¡had¡¡met¡¡on¡¡his¡¡journey¡¡at¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡different¡¡times£»
moreover£»¡¡that¡¡if¡¡she¡¡were¡¡his¡¡son's¡¡clientthe¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡was
to¡¡have¡¡become¡¡Lady¡¡De¡¡Stancyshe¡¡was¡¡Miss¡¡Power¡¡still£»¡¡for
he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡some¡¡newspaper¡¡two¡¡days¡¡before¡¡leaving¡¡England
that¡¡the¡¡wedding¡¡had¡¡been¡¡postponed¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡her¡¡illness¡£

Somerset¡¡was¡¡so¡¡greatly¡¡moved¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡hardly¡¡speak
connectedly¡¡to¡¡his¡¡father¡¡as¡¡they¡¡paced¡¡on¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡'But¡¡she
is¡¡not¡¡ill£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see£»'¡¡he¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡'The¡¡wedding
postponed£¿You¡¡are¡¡sure¡¡the¡¡word¡¡was¡¡postponed£¿Was¡¡it
broken¡¡off£¿'

'No£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡postponed¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡have¡¡told¡¡you¡¡before£»
knowing¡¡you¡¡would¡¡be¡¡interested¡¡as¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡architect£»¡¡but
it¡¡slipped¡¡my¡¡memory¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bustle¡¡of¡¡arriving¡£'

'I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡the¡¡castle¡¡architect¡£'

'The¡¡devil¡¡you¡¡are¡¡notwhat¡¡are¡¡you¡¡then£¿'

'Well£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡that¡£'

Somerset¡¡the¡¡elder£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡of¡¡penetrating¡¡nature£»¡¡began¡¡to
see¡¡that¡¡here¡¡lay¡¡an¡¡emotional¡¡complication¡¡of¡¡some¡¡sort£»¡¡and
reserved¡¡further¡¡inquiry¡¡till¡¡a¡¡more¡¡convenient¡¡occasion¡£
They¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡level¡¡beach¡¡where¡¡the¡¡cliff
began¡¡to¡¡rise£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡this¡¡impediment¡¡naturally¡¡stopped¡¡their
walk¡¡they¡¡retraced¡¡their¡¡steps¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡again¡¡nearing¡¡the¡¡spot
where¡¡Paula¡¡and¡¡her¡¡aunt¡¡were¡¡sitting£»¡¡the¡¡painter¡¡would¡¡have
deviated¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hotel£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡his¡¡son¡¡persisted¡¡in¡¡going
straight¡¡on£»¡¡in¡¡due¡¡course¡¡they¡¡were¡¡opposite¡¡the¡¡ladies
again¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡this¡¡time¡¡Miss¡¡Power£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡appeared¡¡anxious
during¡¡their¡¡absence£»¡¡regained¡¡her¡¡self¡­control¡£¡¡¡¡Going
towards¡¡her¡¡old¡¡lover¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡smile£»¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡been
looking¡¡for¡¡you£¡'

'Why¡¡have¡¡you¡¡been¡¡doing¡¡that£¿'¡¡said¡¡Somerset£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡voice
which¡¡he¡¡failed¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡as¡¡steady¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡wish¡£

'BecauseI¡¡want¡¡some¡¡architect¡¡to¡¡continue¡¡the¡¡restoration¡£
Do¡¡you¡¡withdraw¡¡your¡¡resignation£¿'

Somerset¡¡appeared¡¡unable¡¡to¡¡decide¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡instants¡£¡¡¡¡'Yes£»'
he¡¡then¡¡answered¡£

For¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡they¡¡had¡¡ignored¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡painter
and¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Goodman£»¡¡but¡¡Somerset¡¡now¡¡made¡¡them¡¡known¡¡to¡¡one
another£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡friendly¡¡intercourse¡¡all¡¡round¡£

'When¡¡will¡¡you¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡resume¡¡operations¡¡at¡¡the¡¡castle£¿'
she¡¡asked£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡she¡¡could¡¡again¡¡speak¡¡directly¡¡to
Somerset¡£

'As¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡¡get¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡I¡¡only¡¡resume¡¡it¡¡at
your¡¡special¡¡request¡£'

'Of¡¡course¡£'¡¡¡¡To¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡known¡¡all¡¡the¡¡circumstances¡¡it
would¡¡have¡¡seemed¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡pities¡¡that£»¡¡after¡¡again¡¡getting
face¡¡to¡¡face¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡explain£»¡¡without¡¡delay£»¡¡the
whole¡¡mischief¡¡that¡¡had¡¡separated¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡she¡¡did¡¡not¡¡do
itperhaps¡¡from¡¡the¡¡inherent¡¡awkwardness¡¡of¡¡such¡¡a¡¡topic¡¡at
this¡¡idle¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡confined¡¡herself¡¡simply¡¡to¡¡the¡¡above¡­
mentioned¡¡business¡­like¡¡request£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡party¡¡had¡¡walked
a¡¡few¡¡steps¡¡together¡¡they¡¡separated£»¡¡with¡¡mutual¡¡promises¡¡to
meet¡¡again¡£

'I¡¡hope¡¡you¡¡have¡¡explained¡¡your¡¡mistake¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡it
arose£»¡¡and¡¡everything£¿'¡¡said¡¡her¡¡aunt¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡alone¡£

'No£»¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡£'

'What£»¡¡not¡¡explain¡¡after¡¡all£¿'¡¡said¡¡her¡¡amazed¡¡relative¡£

'I¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡put¡¡it¡¡off¡£'

'Then¡¡I¡¡think¡¡you¡¡decided¡¡very¡¡wrongly¡£¡¡¡¡Poor¡¡young¡¡man£»¡¡he
looked¡¡so¡¡ill£¡'

'Did¡¡you£»¡¡too£»¡¡think¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡ill£¿¡¡¡¡But¡¡he¡¡danced¡¡last¡¡night¡£
Why¡¡did¡¡he¡¡dance£¿'¡¡¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡gazed¡¡regretfully¡¡at¡¡the
corner¡¡round¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Somersets¡¡had¡¡disappeared¡£

'I¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡why¡¡he¡¡danced£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡known¡¡you¡¡were¡¡going
to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡silent£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡explained¡¡the¡¡mistake¡¡myself¡£'

'I¡¡wish¡¡you¡¡had¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡no£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡said¡¡I¡¡would£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡must¡£'

Paula's¡¡avoidance¡¡of¡¡tables¡¡d'hote¡¡did¡¡not¡¡extend¡¡to¡¡the
present¡¡one¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡with¡¡alacrity¡¡that¡¡she¡¡went¡¡down£»
and¡¡with¡¡her¡¡entry¡¡the¡¡antecedent¡¡hotel¡¡beauty¡¡who¡¡had¡¡reigned
for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡five¡¡days¡¡at¡¡that¡¡meal£»¡¡was¡¡unceremoniously
deposed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡guests¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Somerset¡¡the¡¡elder¡¡came¡¡in£»¡¡but
nobody¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡seat¡¡was¡¡on¡¡Paula's¡¡left¡¡hand£»¡¡Mrs¡£
Goodman¡¡being¡¡on¡¡Paula's¡¡right£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡all¡¡the¡¡conversation
was¡¡between¡¡the¡¡Academician¡¡and¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡lady¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡the
latter¡¡had¡¡again¡¡retired¡¡upstairs¡¡with¡¡her¡¡aunt£»¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Goodman
expressed¡¡regret¡¡that¡¡young¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Somerset¡¡was¡¡absent¡¡from¡¡the
table¡£¡¡¡¡'Why¡¡has¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡away£¿'¡¡she¡¡asked¡£

'I¡¡don't¡¡knowI¡¡didn't¡¡ask£»'¡¡said¡¡Paula¡¡sadly¡£¡¡¡¡'Perh

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ