a laodicean-第7章

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were　as　if　a　stray　hour　from　the　nineteenth　century　had
wandered　like　a　butterfly　into　the　thirteenth；　and　lost　itself
there。

The　door　between　this　ante…chamber　and　the　sleeping…room　stood
open。　　Without　venturing　to　cross　the　threshold；　for　he　felt
that　he　would　be　abusing　hospitality　to　go　so　far；　Somerset
looked　in　for　a　moment。　　It　was　a　pretty　place；　and　seemed　to
have　been　hastily　fitted　up。　　In　a　corner；　overhung　by　a　blue
and　white　canopy　of　silk；　was　a　little　cot；　hardly　large
enough　to　impress　the　character　of　bedroom　upon　the　old　place。
Upon　a　counterpane　lay　a　parasol　and　a　silk　neckerchief。　　On
the　other　side　of　the　room　was　a　tall　mirror　of　startling
newness；　draped　like　the　bedstead；　in　blue　and　white。　　Thrown
at　random　upon　the　floor　was　a　pair　of　satin　slippers　that
would　have　fitted　Cinderella。　　A　dressing…gown　lay　across　a
settee；　and　opposite；　upon　a　small　easy…chair　in　the　same　blue
and　white　livery；　were　a　Bible；　the　Baptist　Magazine；　Wardlaw
on　Infant　Baptism；　Walford's　County　Families；　and　the　Court
Journal。　　On　and　over　the　mantelpiece　were　nicknacks　of
various　descriptions；　and　photographic　portraits　of　the
artistic；　scientific；　and　literary　celebrities　of　the　day。

A　dressing…room　lay　beyond；　but；　becoming　conscious　that　his
study　of　ancient　architecture　would　hardly　bear　stretching
further　in　that　direction；　Mr。　Somerset　retreated　to　the
outside；　obliviously　passing　by　the　gem　of　Renaissance　that
had　led　him　in。

'She　affects　blue；'　he　was　thinking。　　'Then　she　is　fair。'

On　looking　up；　some　time　later；　at　the　new　clock　that　told　the
seconds；　he　found　that　the　hours　at　his　disposal　for　work　had
flown　without　his　having　transferred　a　single　feature　of　the
building　or　furniture　to　his　sketch…book。　　Before　leaving　he
sent　in　for　permission　to　come　again；　and　then　walked　across
the　fields　to　the　inn　at　Sleeping…Green；　reflecting　less　upon
Miss　De　Stancy　（so　little　force　of　presence　had　she　possessed）
than　upon　the　modern　flower　in　a　mediaeval　flower…pot　whom
Miss　De　Stancy's　information　had　brought　before　him；　and　upon
the　incongruities　that　were　daily　shaping　themselves　in　the
world　under　the　great　modern　fluctuations　of　classes　and
creeds。

Somerset　was　still　full　of　the　subject　when　he　arrived　at　the
end　of　his　walk；　and　he　fancied　that　some　loungers　at　the　bar
of　the　inn　were　discussing　the　heroine　of　the　chapel…scene
just　at　the　moment　of　his　entry。　　On　this　account；　when　the
landlord　came　to　clear　away　the　dinner；　Somerset　was　led　to
inquire　of　him；　by　way　of　opening　a　conversation；　if　there
were　many　Baptists　in　the　neighbourhood。

The　landlord　（who　was　a　serious　man　on　the　surface；　though　he
occasionally　smiled　beneath）　replied　that　there　were　a　great
manyfar　more　than　the　average　in　country　parishes。　　'Even
here；　in　my　house；　now；'　he　added；　'when　volks　get　a　drop　of
drink　into　'em；　and　their　feelings　rise　to　a　zong；　some　man
will　strike　up　a　hymn　by　preference。　　But　I　find　no　fault　with
that；　for　though　'tis　hardly　human　nature　to　be　so　calculating
in　yer　cups；　a　feller　may　as　well　sing　to　gain　something　as
sing　to　waste。'

'How　do　you　account　for　there　being　so　many？'

'Well；　you　zee；　sir；　some　says　one　thing；　and　some　another；　I
think　they　does　it　to　save　the　expense　of　a　Christian　burial
for　ther　children。　　Now　there's　a　poor　family　out　in　Long
Lanethe　husband　used　to　smite　for　Jimmy　More　the　blacksmith
till　'a　hurt　his　armthey'd　have　no　less　than　eleven　children
if　they'd　not　been　lucky　t'other　way；　and　buried　five　when
they　were　three　or　four　months　old。　　Now　every　one　of　them
children　was　given　to　the　sexton　in　a　little　box　that　any
journeyman　could　nail　together　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　and　he
buried　'em　at　night　for　a　shilling　a　head；　whereas　'twould
have　cost　a　couple　of　pounds　each　if　they'd　been　christened　at
church。　。　。　。　　Of　course　there's　the　new　lady　at　the　castle；
she's　a　chapel　member；　and　that　may　make　a　little　difference；
but　she's　not　been　here　long　enough　to　show　whether　'twill　be
worth　while　to　join　'em　for　the　profit　o't　or　whether　'twill
not。　　No　doubt　if　it　turns　out　that　she's　of　a　sort　to　relieve
volks　in　trouble；　more　will　join　her　set　than　belongs　to　it
already。　　〃Any　port　in　a　storm；〃　of　course；　as　the　saying　is。'

'As　for　yourself；　you　are　a　Churchman　at　present；　I　presume？'

'Yes；　not　but　I　was　a　Methodist　onceay；　for　a　length　of
time。　　'Twas　owing　to　my　taking　a　house　next　door　to　a　chapel；
so　that　what　with　hearing　the　organ　bizz　like　a　bee　through
the　wall；　and　what　with　finding　it　saved　umbrellas　on　wet
Zundays；　I　went　over　to　that　faith　for　two　yearsthough　I
believe　I　dropped　money　by　itI　wouldn't　be　the　man　to　say　so
if　I　hadn't。　　Howsomever；　when　I　moved　into　this　house　I
turned　back　again　to　my　old　religion。　　Faith；　I　don't　zee　much
difference：　　be　you　one；　or　be　you　t'other；　you've　got　to　get
your　living。'

'The　De　Stancys；　of　course；　have　not　much　influence　here　now；
for　that；　or　any　other　thing？'

'O　no；　no；　not　any　at　all。　　They　be　very　low　upon　ground；　and
always　will　be　now；　I　suppose。　　It　was　thoughted　worthy　of
being　recorded　in　historyyou've　read　it；　sir；　no　doubt？'

'Not　a　word。'

'O；　then；　you　shall。　　I've　got　the　history　zomewhere。　　'Twas
gay　manners　that　did　it。　　The　only　bit　of　luck　they　have　had
of　late　years　is　Miss　Power's　taking　to　little　Miss　De　Stancy；
and　making　her　her　company…keeper。　　I　hope　'twill　continue。'

That　the　two　daughters　of　these　antipodean　families　should　be
such　intimate　friends　was　a　situation　which　pleased　Somerset
as　much　as　it　did　the　landlord。　　It　was　an　engaging　instance
of　that　human　progress　on　which　he　had　expended　many　charming
dreams　in　the　years　when　poetry；　theology；　and　the
reorganization　of　society　had　seemed　matters　of　more
importance　to　him　than　a　profession　which　should　help　him　to　a
big　house　and　income；　a　fair　Deiopeia；　and　a　lovely　progeny。
When　he　was　alone　he　poured　out　a　glass　of　wine；　and　silently
drank　the　healths　of　the　two　generous…minded　young　women　who；
in　this　lonely　district；　had　found　sweet　communion　a　necessity
of　life；　and　by　pure　and　instinctive　good　sense　had　broken
down　a　barrier　which　men　thrice　their　age　and　repute　would
probably　have　felt　it　imperative　to　maintain。　　But　perhaps
this　was　premature：　　the　omnipotent　Miss　Power's　character
practical　or　ideal；　politic　or　impulsivehe　as　yet　knew
nothing　of；　and　giving　over　reasoning　from　insufficient　data
he　lapsed　into　mere　conjecture。



V。

The　next　morning　Somerset　was　again　at　the　castle。　　He　passed
some　interval　on　the　walls　before　encountering　Miss　De　Stancy；
whom　at　last　he　observed　going　towards　a　pony…carriage　that
waited　near　the　door。

A　smile　gained　strength　upon　her　face　at　his　approach；　and　she
was　the　first　to　speak。　　'I　am　sorry　Miss　Power　has　not
returned；'　she　said；　and　accounted　for　that　lady's　absence　by
her　distress　at　the　event　of　two　evenings　earlier。

'But　I　have　driven　over　to　my　father'sSir　William　De
Stancy'shouse　this　morning；'　she　went　on。　　'And　on
mentioning　your　name　to　him；　I　found　he　knew　it　quite　well。
You　will；　will　you　not；　forgive　my　ignorance　in　having　no
better　knowledge　of　the　elder　Mr。　Somerset's　works　than　a　dim
sense　of　his　fame　as　a　painter？　　But　I　was　going　to　say　that
my　father　would　much　like　to　include　you　in　his　personal
acquaintance；　and　wishes　me　to　ask　if　you　will　give　him　the
pleasure　of　lunching　with　him　to…day。　　My　cousin　John；　whom
you　once　knew；　was　a　great　favourite　of　his；　and　used　to　speak
of　you　sometimes。　　It　will　be　so　kind　if　you　can　come。　　My
father　is　an　old　man；　out　of　society；　and　he　would　be　glad　to
hear　the　news　of　town。'

Somerset　said　he　was　glad　to　find　himself　among　friends　where
he　had　only　expected　strangers；　and　promised　to　come　that　day；
if　she　would　tell　him　the　way。

That　she　could　easily　do。　　The　short　way　was　across　that　glade
he　saw　therethen　over　the　stile　into　the　wood；　following　the
path　till　it　came　out　upon　the　turnpike…road。　　He　would　then
be　almost　close　to　the　house。　　The　distance　was　about　two
miles　and　a　half。　　But　if　he　thought　it　too　far　for　a　walk；
she　would　drive　on　to　the　town；　where　she　had　been　going　when
he　came；　and　instead　of　returning　straight　to　her　father's
would　come　back　and　pick　him　up。

It　was　not　at　all　necessary；　he　thought。　　He　was　a　walker；　and
could　find　the　path。

At　this　moment　a　servant　came　to　tell　Miss　De　Stancy　that　the
telegraph　was　calling　her。

'Ahit　is　lucky　that　I　was　not　gone　again！'　she　exclaimed。
'John　seldom　reads　it　right　if　I　am　away。'

It　now　seemed　quite　in　the　ordinary　course　that；　as　a　friend
of　her　father's；　he　should　accompany　her　to　the　instrument。
So　up　they　went　together；　and　immediately　on　reaching　it　she
applied　her　ear　to　the　instrument；　and　began　to　gather　the
message。　　Somerset　fancied　himself　like　a　person　overlooking
another's　letter；　and　moved　aside。

'It　is　no　secret；'　she　said；　smiling。　　'〃Paula　to　Charlotte；〃
it　begins。'

'That's　very　pretty。'

'Oand　it　is　aboutyou；'　murmured　Miss　De　Stancy。

'Me？'　　The　architect　blushed　a　little。

She　made　no　answer；　and　the　machine　went　on　with　its　story。
There　was　something　curious　in　watching　this　utterance　about
himself；　under　his　very　nose；　in　language　unintelligible　to
him。　　He　conjectured　whether　it　were　inquiry；　praise；　or
blame；　with　a　sense　that　it　might　reasonably　be　the　latter；　as
the　result　of　his　surreptitious　look　into　that　blue　bedroom；
possibly　observed　and　reported　by　some　servant　of　the　house。

'〃Direct　that　every　facility　be　given　to　Mr。　Somerset　to　visit
any　part　of　the　castle　he　may　wish　to　see。　　On　my　return　I
shall　be　glad　to　welcome　him　as　the　acquaintance　of　your
relatives。　　I　have　two　of　his　father's　pictures。〃'

'Dear　me；　the　plot　thickens；'　he　said；　as　Miss　De　Stancy
announced　the　words。　　'How　could　she　know　about　me？'

'I　sent　a　message　to　her　this　morning　when　I　saw　you　crossing
the　park　on　your　way　heretelling　her　that　Mr。　Somerset；　son
of　the　Academician；　was　making　sketches　of　the　castle；　and
that　my　father　knew　something　of　you。　　That's　her　answer。'

'Where　are　the　pictures　by　my　father　that　she　has　purchased？'

'O；　not　hereat　least；　not　unpacked。'

Miss　de　Stancy　then　left　him　to　proceed　on　her　journey　to
Markton　（so　the　nearest　little　town　was　called）；　informing　him
that　she　would　be　at　her　father's　house　to　receive　him　at　two
o'clock。　　Just　about　one　he　closed　his　sketch…book；　and　set
out　in　the　direction　she　had　indicated。　　At　the　entrance　to
the　wood　a　man　was　at　work　pulling　down　a　rotten　gate　that
bore　on　its　battered　lock　the　initials　'W。　De　S。'　and　erecting
a　new　one　whose　ironmongery　exhibited　　the　letters　'P。　P。'

The　warmth　of　the　summer　noon　did　not　inconveniently　penetrate
the　dense　masses　of　foliage　which　now　began　to　overhang　the
path；　except　in　spots　where　a　ruthless　timber…felling　had
taken　place　in　previous　years　for　the　purpose　of　sale。　　It　was
that　particular　half…hour　of　the　day　in　which　the　birds　of　the
forest　prefer　walking　to　flying；　and　there　being　no　wind；　the
hopping　of　the　smallest　songster　over　the　dead　leaves　reached
his　ear　from　behind　the　undergrowth。　　The　track　had　orig