a laodicean-第47部分

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the　plan　added　largely　to　the　responsibilities　of　the
architect；　who；　with　his　master…mason；　master…carpenter；
master…plumber；　and　what　not；　had　scarcely　a　moment　to　call
his　own。　　Still；　the　method　being　upon　the　face　of　it　the　true
one；　Somerset　supervised　with　a　will。

But　there　seemed　to　float　across　the　court　to　him　from　the
inhabited　wing　an　intimation　that　things　were　not　as　they　had
been　before；　that　an　influence　adverse　to　himself　was　at　work
behind　the　ashlared　face　of　inner　wall　which　confronted　him。
Perhaps　this　was　because　he　never　saw　Paula　at　the　windows；　or
heard　her　footfall　in　that　half　of　the　building　given　over　to
himself　and　his　myrmidons。　　There　was　really　no　reason　other
than　a　sentimental　one　why　he　should　see　her。　　The　uninhabited
part　of　the　castle　was　almost　an　independent　structure；　and　it
was　quite　natural　to　exist　for　weeks　in　this　wing　without
coming　in　contact　with　residents　in　the　other。

A　more　pronounced　cause　than　vague　surmise　was　destined　to
perturb　him；　and　this　in　an　unexpected　manner。　　It　happened
one　morning　that　he　glanced　through　a　local　paper　while
waiting　at　the　Lord…Quantock…Arms　for　the　pony…carriage　to　be
brought　round　in　which　he　often　drove　to　the　castle。　　The
paper　was　two　days　old；　but　to　his　unutterable　amazement　he
read　therein　a　paragraph　which　ran　as　follows：

'We　are　informed　that　a　marriage　is　likely　to　be　arranged
between　Captain　De　Stancy；　of　the　Royal　Horse　Artillery；　only
surviving　son　of　Sir　William　De　Stancy；　Baronet；　and　Paula；
only　daughter　of　the　late　John　Power；　Esq。；　M。P。；　of　Stancy
Castle。'

Somerset　dropped　the　paper；　and　stared　out　of　the　window。
Fortunately　for　his　emotions；　the　horse　and　carriage　were　at
this　moment　brought　to　the　door；　so　that　nothing　hindered
Somerset　in　driving　off　to　the　spot　at　which　he　would　be
soonest　likely　to　learn　what　truth　or　otherwise　there　was　in
the　newspaper　report。　　From　the　first　he　doubted　it：　　and　yet
how　should　it　have　got　there？　　Such　strange　rumours；　like
paradoxical　maxims；　generally　include　a　portion　of　truth。
Five　days　had　elapsed　since　he　last　spoke　to　Paula。

Reaching　the　castle　he　entered　his　own　quarters　as　usual；　and
after　setting　the　draughtsmen　to　work　walked　up　and　down
pondering　how　he　might　best　see　her　without　making　the
paragraph　the　ground　of　his　request　for　an　interview；　for　if
it　were　a　fabrication；　such　a　reason　would　wound　her　pride　in
her　own　honour　towards　him；　and　if　it　were　partly　true；　he
would　certainly　do　better　in　leaving　her　alone　than　in
reproaching　her。　　It　would　simply　amount　to　a　proof　that　Paula
was　an　arrant　coquette。

In　his　meditation　he　stood　still；　closely　scanning　one　of　the
jamb…stones　of　a　doorless　entrance；　as　if　to　discover　where
the　old　hinge…hook　had　entered　the　stonework。　　He　heard　a
footstep　behind　him；　and　looking　round　saw　Paula　standing　by。
She　held　a　newspaper　in　her　hand。　　The　spot　was　one　quite
hemmed　in　from　observation；　a　fact　of　which　she　seemed　to　be
quite　aware。

'I　have　something　to　tell　you；'　she　said；　'something
important。　　But　you　are　so　occupied　with　that　old　stone　that　I
am　obliged　to　wait。'

'It　is　not　true　surely！'　he　said；　looking　at　the　paper。

'No；　look　here；'　she　said；　holding　up　the　sheet。　　It　was　not
what　he　had　supposed；　but　a　new　onethe　local　rival　to　that
which　had　contained　the　announcement；　and　was　still　damp　from
the　press。　　She　pointed；　and　he　read

'We　are　authorized　to　state　that　there　is　no　foundation
whatever　for　the　assertion　of　our　contemporary　that　a　marriage
is　likely　to　be　arranged　between　Captain　De　Stancy　and　Miss
Power　of　Stancy　Castle。'

Somerset　pressed　her　hand。　　'It　disturbed　me；'　he　said；
'though　I　did　not　believe　it。'

'It　astonished　me；　as　much　as　it　disturbed　you；　and　I　sent
this　contradiction　at　once。'

'How　could　it　have　got　there？'

She　shook　her　head。

'You　have　not　the　least　knowledge？'

'Not　the　least。　　I　wish　I　had。'

'It　was　not　from　any　friends　of　De　Stancy's？　or　himself？'

'It　was　not。　　His　sister　has　ascertained　beyond　doubt　that　he
knew　nothing　of　it。　　Well；　now；　don't　say　any　more　to　me　about
the　matter。'

'I'll　find　out　how　it　got　into　the　paper。'

'Not　nowany　future　time　will　do。　　I　have　something　else　to
tell　you。'

'I　hope　the　news　is　as　good　as　the　last；'　he　said；　looking
into　her　face　with　anxiety；　for　though　that　face　was　blooming；
it　seemed　full　of　a　doubt　as　to　how　her　next　information　would
be　taken。

'O　yes；　it　is　good；　because　everybody　says　so。　　We　are　going
to　take　a　delightful　journey。　　My　new…created　uncle；　as　he
seems；　and　I；　and　my　aunt；　and　perhaps　Charlotte；　if　she　is
well　enough；　are　going　to　Nice；　and　other　places　about　there。'

'To　Nice！'　said　Somerset；　rather　blankly。　　'And　I　must　stay
here？'

'Why；　of　course　you　must；　considering　what　you　have
undertaken！'　she　said；　looking　with　saucy　composure　into　his
eyes。　　'My　uncle's　reason　for　proposing　the　journey　just　now
is；　that　he　thinks　the　alterations　will　make　residence　here
dusty　and　disagreeable　during　the　spring。　　The　opportunity　of
going　with　him　is　too　good　a　one　for　us　to　lose；　as　I　have
never　been　there。'

'I　wish　I　was　going　to　be　one　of　the　party！　。　。　。　　What　do　YOU
wish　about　it？'

She　shook　her　head　impenetrably。　　'A　woman　may　wish　some
things　she　does　not　care　to　tell！'

'Are　you　really　glad　you　are　going；　dearest？as　I　MUST　call
you　just　once；'　said　the　young　man；　gazing　earnestly　into　her
face；　which　struck　him　as　looking　far　too　rosy　and　radiant　to
be　consistent　with　ever　so　little　regret　at　leaving　him
behind。

'I　take　great　interest　in　foreign　trips；　especially　to　the
shores　of　the　Mediterranean：　　and　everybody　makes　a　point　of
getting　away　when　the　house　is　turned　out　of　the　window。'

'But　you　do　feel　a　little　sadness；　such　as　I　should　feel　if
our　positions　were　reversed？'

'I　think　you　ought　not　to　have　asked　that　so　incredulously；'
she　murmured。　　'We　can　be　near　each　other　in　spirit；　when　our
bodies　are　far　apart；　can　we　not？'　　Her　tone　grew　softer　and
she　drew　a　little　closer　to　his　side　with　a　slightly　nestling
motion；　as　she　went　on；　'May　I　be　sure　that　you　will　not　think
unkindly　of　me　when　I　am　absent　from　your　sight；　and　not
begrudge　me　any　little　pleasure　because　you　are　not　there　to
share　it　with　me？'

'May　you！　　Can　you　ask　it？　。　。　。　　As　for　me；　I　shall　have　no
pleasure　to　be　begrudged　or　otherwise。　　The　only　pleasure　I
have　is；　as　you　well　know；　in　you。　　When　you　are　with　me；　I　am
happy：　　when　you　are　away；　I　take　no　pleasure　in　anything。'

'I　don't　deserve　it。　　I　have　no　right　to　disturb　you　so；'　she
said；　very　gently。　　'But　I　have　given　you　some　pleasure；　have
I　not？　　A　little　more　pleasure　than　pain；　perhaps？'

'You　have；　and　yet　。　。　。　。　　But　I　don't　accuse　you；　dearest。
Yes；　you　have　given　me　pleasure。　　One　truly　pleasant　time　was
when　we　stood　together　in　the　summer…house　on　the　evening　of
the　garden…party；　and　you　said　you　liked　me　to　love　you。'

'Yes；　it　was　a　pleasant　time；'　she　returned　thoughtfully。
'How　the　rain　came　down；　and　formed　a　gauze　between　us　and　the
dancers；　did　it　not；　and　how　afraid　we　wereat　least　I　was
lest　anybody　should　discover　us　there；　and　how　quickly　I　ran
in　after　the　rain　was　over！'

'Yes'；　said　Somerset；　'I　remember　it。　　But　no　harm　came　of　it
to　you　。　。　。　。　　And　perhaps　no　good　will　come　of　it　to　me。'

'Do　not　be　premature　in　your　conclusions；　sir；'　she　said
archly。　　'If　you　really　do　feel　for　me　only　half　what　you　say；
we　shallyou　will　make　good　come　of　itin　some　way　or
other。'

'Dear　Paulanow　I　believe　you；　and　can　bear　anything。'

'Then　we　will　say　no　more；　because；　as　you　recollect；　we
agreed　not　to　go　too　far。　　No　expostulations；　for　we　are　going
to　be　practical　young　people；　besides；　I　won't　listen　if　you
utter　them。　　I　simply　echo　your　words；　and　say　I；　too；　believe
you。　　Now　I　must　go。　　Have　faith　in　me；　and　don't　magnify
trifles　light　as　air。'

'I　THINK　I　understand　you。　　And　if　I　do；　it　will　make　a　great
difference　in　my　conduct。　　You　will　have　no　cause　to
complain。'

'Then　you　must　not　understand　me　so　much　as　to　make　much
difference；　for　your　conduct　as　my　architect　is　perfect。　　But
I　must　not　linger　longer；　though　I　wished　you　to　know　this
news　from　my　very　own　lips。'

'Bless　you　for　it！　　When　do　you　leave？'

'The　day　after　to…morrow。'

'So　early？　　Does　your　uncle　guess　anything？　　Do　you　wish　him
to　be　told　just　yet？'

'Yes；　to　the　first；　no；　to　the　second。'

'I　may　write　to　you？'

'On　business；　yes。　　It　will　be　necessary。'

'How　can　you　speak　so　at　a　time　of　parting？'

'Now；　Georgeyou　see　I　say　George；　and　not　Mr。　Somerset；　and
you　may　draw　your　own　inferencedon't　be　so　morbid　in　your
reproaches！　　I　have　informed　you　that　you　may　write；　or　still
better；　telegraph；　since　the　wire　is　so　handyon　business。
Well；　of　course；　it　is　for　you　to　judge　whether　you　will　add
postscripts　of　another　sort。　　There；　you　make　me　say　more　than
a　woman　ought；　because　you　are　so　obtuse　and　literal。　　Good
afternoongood…bye！　　This　will　be　my　address。'

She　handed　him　a　slip　of　paper；　and　flitted　away。

Though　he　saw　her　again　after　this；　it　was　during　the　bustle
of　preparation；　when　there　was　always　a　third　person　present；
usually　in　the　shape　of　that　breathing　refrigerator；　her
uncle。　　Hence　the　few　words　that　passed　between　them　were　of
the　most　formal　description；　and　chiefly　concerned　the
restoration　of　the　castle；　and　a　church　at　Nice　designed　by
him；　which　he　wanted　her　to　inspect。

They　were　to　leave　by　an　early　afternoon　train；　and　Somerset
was　invited　to　lunch　on　that　day。　　The　morning　was　occupied　by
a　long　business　consultation　in　the　studio　with　Mr。　Power　and
Mrs。　Goodman　on　what　rooms　were　to　be　left　locked　up；　what
left　in　charge　of　the　servants；　and　what　thrown　open　to　the
builders　and　workmen　under　the　surveillance　of　Somerset。　　At
present　the　work　consisted　mostly　of　repairs　to　existing
rooms；　so　as　to　render　those　habitable　which　had　long　been
used　only　as　stores　for　lumber。　　Paula　did　not　appear　during
this　discussion；　but　when　they　were　all　seated　in　the　dining…
hall　she　came　in　dressed　for　the　journey；　and；　to　outward
appearance；　with　b