a laodicean-第30部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


his　office　or　something　of　the　sort。'　　De　Stancy　briefly
related　what　Somerset　had　explained　to　him　at　the　dinner…
table。

'It　was　merely　diamond　cut　diamond　between　us；　on　an
architectural　matter；'　murmured　Dare。　　'Ho！　and　he　suspects；
and　that's　his　remedy！'

'I　hope　this　is　nothing　serious？'　asked　De　Stancy　gravely。

'I　peeped　at　his　drawingthat's　all。　　But　since　he　chooses　to
make　that　use　of　my　photograph；　which　I　gave　him　in
friendship；　I'll　make　use　of　his　in　a　way　he　little　dreams　of。
Well　now；　let's　on。'

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　they　met　in　the　vestry　of　the
church　at　Sleeping…Green。

'I　have　only　just　transferred　my　account　to　the　bank　here；'
said　De　Stancy；　as　he　took　out　his　cheque…book；　'and　it　will
be　more　convenient　to　me　at　present　to　draw　but　a　small　sum。
I　will　make　up　the　balance　afterwards。'

When　he　had　written　it　Dare　glanced　over　the　paper　and　said
ruefully；　'It　is　small；　dad。　　Well；　there　is　all　the　more
reason　why　I　should　broach　my　scheme；　with　a　view　to　making
such　documents　larger　in　the　future。'

'I　shall　be　glad　to　hear　of　any　such　scheme；'　answered　De
Stancy；　with　a　languid　attempt　at　jocularity。

'Then　here　it　is。　　The　plan　I　have　arranged　for　you　is　of　the
nature　of　a　marriage。'

'You　are　very　kind！'　said　De　Stancy；　agape。

'The　lady's　name　is　Miss　Paula　Power；　who；　as　you　may　have
heard　since　your　arrival；　is　in　absolute　possession　of　her
father's　property　and　estates；　including　Stancy　Castle。　　As
soon　as　I　heard　of　her　I　saw　what　a　marvellous　match　it　would
be　for　you；　and　your　family；　it　would　make　a　man　of　you；　in
short；　and　I　have　set　my　mind　upon　your　putting　no　objection
in　the　way　of　its　accomplishment。'

'But；　Willy；　it　seems　to　me　that；　of　us　two；　it　is　you　who
exercise　paternal　authority？'

'True；　it　is　for　your　good。　　Let　me　do　it。'

'Well；　one　must　be　indulgent　under　the　circumstances；　I
suppose。　。　。　。　　But；'　added　De　Stancy　simply；　'Willy；　Idon't
want　to　marry；　you　know。　　I　have　lately　thought　that　some　day
we　may　be　able　to　live　together；　you　and　I：　　go　off　to　America
or　New　Zealand；　where　we　are　not　known；　and　there　lead　a
quiet；　pastoral　life；　defying　social　rules　and　troublesome
observances。'

'I　can't　hear　of　it；　captain；'　replied　Dare　reprovingly。　　'I
am　what　events　have　made　me；　and　having　fixed　my　mind　upon
getting　you　settled　in　life　by　this　marriage；　I　have　put
things　in　train　for　it　at　an　immense　trouble　to　myself。　　If
you　had　thought　over　it　o'　nights　as　much　as　I　have；　you　would
not　say　nay。'

'But　I　ought　to　have　married　your　mother　if　anybody。　　And　as　I
have　not　married　her；　the　least　I　can　do　in　respect　to　her　is
to　marry　no　other　woman。'

'You　have　some　sort　of　duty　to　me；　have　you　not；　Captain　De
Stancy？'

'Yes；　Willy；　I　admit　that　I　have；'　the　elder　replied
reflectively。　　'And　I　don't　think　I　have　failed　in　it　thus
far？'

'This　will　be　the　crowning　proof。　　Paternal　affection；　family
pride；　the　noble　instincts　to　reinstate　yourself　in　the　castle
of　your　ancestors；　all　demand　the　step。　　And　when　you　have
seen　the　lady！　　She　has　the　figure　and　motions　of　a　sylph；　the
face　of　an　angel；　the　eye　of　love　itself。　　What　a　sight　she　is
crossing　the　lawn　on　a　sunny　afternoon；　or　gliding　airily
along　the　corridors　of　the　old　place　the　De　Stancys　knew　so
well！　　Her　lips　are　the　softest；　reddest；　most　distracting
things　you　ever　saw。　　Her　hair　is　as　soft　as　silk；　and　of　the
rarest；　tenderest　brown。'

The　captain　moved　uneasily。　　'Don't　take　the　trouble　to　say
more；　Willy；'　he　observed。　　'You　know　how　I　am。　　My　cursed
susceptibility　to　these　matters　has　already　wasted　years　of　my
life；　and　I　don't　want　to　make　myself　a　fool　about　her　too。'

'You　must　see　her。'

'No；　don't　let　me　see　her；'　De　Stancy　expostulated。　　'If　she
is　only　half　so　good…looking　as　you　say；　she　will　drag　me　at
her　heels　like　a　blind　Samson。　　You　are　a　mere　youth　as　yet；
but　I　may　tell　you　that　the　misfortune　of　never　having　been　my
own　master　where　a　beautiful　face　was　concerned　obliges　me　to
be　cautious　if　I　would　preserve　my　peace　of　mind。'

'Well；　to　my　mind；　Captain　De　Stancy；　your　objections　seem
trivial。　　Are　those　all？'

'They　are　all　I　care　to　mention　just　now　to　you。'

'Captain！　can　there　be　secrets　between　us？'

De　Stancy　paused　and　looked　at　the　lad　as　if　his　heart　wished
to　confess　what　his　judgment　feared　to　tell。　　'There　should
not　beon　this　point；'　he　murmured。

'Then　tell　mewhy　do　you　so　much　object　to　her？'

'I　once　vowed　a　vow。'

'A　vow！'　said　Dare；　rather　disconcerted。

'A　vow　of　infinite　solemnity。　　I　must　tell　you　from　the
beginning；　perhaps　you　are　old　enough　to　hear　it　now；　though
you　have　been　too　young　before。　　Your　mother's　life　ended　in
much　sorrow；　and　it　was　occasioned　entirely　by　me。　　In　my
regret　for　the　wrong　done　her　I　swore　to　her　that　though　she
had　not　been　my　wife；　no　other　woman　should　stand　in　that
relationship　to　me；　and　this　to　her　was　a　sort　of　comfort。
When　she　was　dead　my　knowledge　of　my　own　plaguy
impressionableness；　which　seemed　to　be　ineradicableas　it
seems　stillled　me　to　think　what　safeguards　I　could　set　over
myself　with　a　view　to　keeping　my　promise　to　live　a　life　of
celibacy；　and　among　other　things　I　determined　to　forswear　the
society；　and　if　possible　the　sight；　of　women　young　and
attractive；　as　far　as　I　had　the　power　to　do。'

'It　is　not　so　easy　to　avoid　the　sight　of　a　beautiful　woman　if
she　crosses　your　path；　I　should　think？'

'It　is　not　easy；　but　it　is　possible。'

'How？'

'By　directing　your　attention　another　way。'

'But　do　you　mean　to　say；　captain；　that　you　can　be　in　a　room
with　a　pretty　woman　who　speaks　to　you；　and　not　look　at　her？'

'I　do：　　though　mere　looking　has　less　to　do　with　it　than　mental
attentivenessallowing　your　thoughts　to　flow　out　in　her
directionto　comprehend　her　image。'

'But　it　would　be　considered　very　impolite　not　to　look　at　the
woman　or　comprehend　her　image？'

'It　would；　and　is。　　I　am　considered　the　most　impolite　officer
in　the　service。　　I　have　been　nicknamed　the　man　with　the
averted　eyesthe　man　with　the　detestable　habitthe　man　who
greets　you　with　his　shoulder；　and　so　on。　　Ninety…and…nine　fair
women　at　the　present　moment　hate　me　like　poison　and　death　for
having　persistently　refused　to　plumb　the　depths　of　their
offered　eyes。'

'How　can　you　do　it；　who　are　by　nature　courteous？'

'I　cannot　alwaysI　break　down　sometimes。　　But；　upon　the
whole；　recollection　holds　me　to　it：　　dread　of　a　lapse。
Nothing　is　so　potent　as　fear　well　maintained。'

De　Stancy　narrated　these　details　in　a　grave　meditative　tone
with　his　eyes　on　the　wall；　as　if　he　were　scarcely　conscious　of
a　listener。

'But　haven't　you　reckless　moments；　captain？when　you　have
taken　a　little　more　wine　than　usual；　for　instance？'

'I　don't　take　wine。'

'O；　you　are　a　teetotaller？'

'Not　a　pledged　onebut　I　don't　touch　alcohol　unless　I　get
wet；　or　anything　of　that　sort。'

'Don't　you　sometimes　forget　this　vow　of　yours　to　my　mother？'

'No；　I　wear　a　reminder。'

'What　is　that　like？'

De　Stancy　held　up　his　left　hand；　on　the　third　finger　of　which
appeared　an　iron　ring。

Dare　surveyed　it；　saying；　'Yes；　I　have　seen　that　before；
though　I　never　knew　why　you　wore　it。　　Well；　I　wear　a　reminder
also；　but　of　a　different　sort。'

He　threw　open　his　shirt…front；　and　revealed　tattooed　on　his
breast　the　letters　DE　STANCY；　the　same　marks　which　Havill　had
seen　in　the　bedroom　by　the　light　of　the　moon。

The　captain　rather　winced　at　the　sight。　　'Well；　well；'　he　said
hastily；　'that's　enough。　。　。　。　　Now；　at　any　rate；　you
understand　my　objection　to　know　Miss　Power。'

'But；　captain；'　said　the　lad　coaxingly；　as　he　fastened　his
shirt；　'you　forget　me　and　the　good　you　may　do　me　by　marrying？
Surely　that's　a　sufficient　reason　for　a　change　of　sentiment。
This　inexperienced　sweet　creature　owns　the　castle　and　estate
which　bears　your　name；　even　to　the　furniture　and　pictures。
She　is　the　possessor　of　at　least　forty　thousand　a　yearhow
much　more　I　cannot　saywhile；　buried　here　in　Outer　Wessex；
she　lives　at　the　rate　of　twelve　hundred　in　her　simplicity。'

'It　is　very　good　of　you　to　set　this　before　me。　　But　I　prefer
to　go　on　as　I　am　going。'

'Well；　I　won't　bore　you　any　more　with　her　to…day。　　A　monk　in
regimentals！'tis　strange。'　　Dare　arose　and　was　about　to　open
the　door；　when；　looking　through　the　window；　Captain　De　Stancy
said；　'Stop。'　　He　had　perceived　his　father；　Sir　William　De
Stancy；　walking　among　the　tombstones　without。

'Yes；　indeed；'　said　Dare；　turning　the　key　in　the　door。　　'It
would　look　strange　if　he　were　to　find　us　here。'

As　the　old　man　seemed　indisposed　to　leave　the　churchyard　just
yet　they　sat　down　again。

'What　a　capital　card…table　this　green　cloth　would　make；'　said
Dare；　as　they　waited。　　'You　play；　captain；　I　suppose？'

'Very　seldom。'

'The　same　with　me。　　But　as　I　enjoy　a　hand　of　cards　with　a
friend；　I　don't　go　unprovided。'　　Saying　which；　Dare　drew　a
pack　from　the　tail　of　his　coat。　　'Shall　we　while　away　this
leisure　with　the　witching　things？'

'Really；　I'd　rather　not。'

'But；'　coaxed　the　young　man；　'I　am　in　the　humour　for　it；　so
don't　be　unkind！'

'But；　Willy；　why　do　you　care　for　these　things？　　Cards　are
harmless　enough　in　their　way；　but　I　don't　like　to　see　you
carrying　them　in　your　pocket。　　It　isn't　good　for　you。'

'It　was　by　the　merest　chance　I　had　them。　　Now　come；　just　one
hand；　since　we　are　prisoners。　　I　want　to　show　you　how　nicely　I
can　play。　　I　won't　corrupt　you！'

'Of　course　not；'　said　De　Stancy；　as　if　ashamed　of　what　his
objection　implied。　　'You　are　not　corrupt　enough　yourself　to　do
that；　I　should　hope。'

The　cards　were　dealt　and　they　began　to　playCaptain　De　Stancy
abstractedly；　and　with　his　eyes　mostly　straying　out　of　the
window　upon　the　large　yew；　whose　boughs　as　they　moved　were
distorted　by　the　old　green　window…panes。

'It　is　better　than　doing　nothing；'　said　Dare　cheerfully；　as
the　game　went　on。　　'I　hope　you　don't　dislike　it？'

'Not　if　it　pleases　you；'　said　De　Stancy　listlessly。

'And　the　consecration　of　this　place　does　not　extend　further
than　the　aisle　wall。'

'Doesn't　it？'　said　De　Stancy；　as　he　mechanically　played　out
his　cards。　　'What　became　of　that　box　of　books　I　sent　you