a laodicean-第59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！


in　the　picture。　　'Well；　you　are　very　silent！'　continued　Paula
petulantly；　when　she　found　that　nobody　went　on　talking。　　'What
made　you　cry　out　〃O；〃　Charlotte；　when　Mr。　Dare　dropped　that
horrid　photograph？'

'I　don't　know；　I　suppose　it　frightened　me；'　stammered　the
girl。

'It　was　a　stupid　fuss　to　make　before　such　a　person。　　One　would
think　you　were　in　love　with　Mr。　Somerset。'

'What　did　you　say；　Paula？'　inquired　her　uncle；　looking　up　from
the　newspaper　which　he　had　again　resumed。

'Nothing；　Uncle　Abner。'　　She　walked　to　the　window；　and；　as　if
to　tide　over　what　was　plainly　passing　in　their　minds　about
her；　she　began　to　make　remarks　on　objects　in　the　street。
'What　a　quaint　beinglook；　Charlotte！'　　It　was　an　old　woman
sitting　by　a　stall　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　way；　which
seemed　suddenly　to　hit　Paula's　sense　of　the　humorous；　though
beyond　the　fact　that　the　dame　was　old　and　poor；　and　wore　a
white　handkerchief　over　her　head；　there　was　really　nothing
noteworthy　about　her。

Paula　seemed　to　be　more　hurt　by　what　the　silence　of　her
companions　implieda　suspicion　that　the　discovery　of
Somerset's　depravity　was　wounding　her　heartthan　by　the　wound
itself。　　The　ostensible　ease　with　which　she　drew　them　into　a
bye　conversation　had　perhaps　the　defect　of　proving　too　much：
though　her　tacit　contention　that　no　love　was　in　question　was
not　incredible　on　the　supposition　that　affronted　pride　alone
caused　her　embarrassment。　　The　chief　symptom　of　her　heart
being　really　tender　towards　Somerset　consisted　in　her　apparent
blindness　to　Charlotte's　secret；　so　obviously　suggested　by　her
momentary　agitation。



V。

And　where　was　the　subject　of　their　condemnatory　opinions　all
this　while？　　Having　secured　a　room　at　his　inn；　he　came　forth
to　complete　the　discovery　of　his　dear　mistress's　halting…place
without　delay。　　After　one　or　two　inquiries　he　ascertained
where　such　a　party　of　English　were　staying；　and　arriving　at
the　hotel；　knew　at　once　that　he　had　tracked　them　to　earth　by
seeing　the　heavier　portion　of　the　Power　luggage　confronting
him　in　the　hall。　　He　sent　up　intelligence　of　his　presence；　and
awaited　her　reply　with　a　beating　heart。

In　the　meanwhile　Dare；　descending　from　his　pernicious
interview　with　Paula　and　the　rest；　had　descried　Captain　De
Stancy　in　the　public　drawing…room；　and　entered　to　him
forthwith。　　It　was　while　they　were　here　together　that　Somerset
passed　the　door　and　sent　up　his　name　to　Paula。

The　incident　at　the　railway　station　was　now　reversed；　Somerset
being　the　observed　of　Dare；　as　Dare　had　then　been　the　observed
of　Somerset。　　Immediately　on　sight　of　him　Dare　showed　real
alarm。　　He　had　imagined　that　Somerset　would　eventually　impinge
on　Paula's　route；　but　he　had　scarcely　expected　it　yet；　and　the
architect's　sudden　appearance　led　Dare　to　ask　himself　the
ominous　question　whether　Somerset　had　discovered　his
telegraphic　trick；　and　was　in　the　mood　for　prompt　measures。

'There　is　no　more　for　me　to　do　here；'　said　the　boy　hastily　to
De　Stancy。　　'Miss　Power　does　not　wish　to　ask　me　any　more
questions。　　I　may　as　well　proceed　on　my　way；　as　you　advised。'

De　Stancy；　who　had　also　gazed　with　dismay　at　Somerset's
passing　figure；　though　with　dismay　of　another　sort；　was
recalled　from　his　vexation　by　Dare's　remarks；　and　turning　upon
him　he　said　sharply；　'Well　may　you　be　in　such　a　hurry　all　of　a
sudden！'

'True；　I　am　superfluous　now。'

'You　have　been　doing　a　foolish　thing；　and　you　must　suffer　its
inconveniences。Will；　I　am　sorry　for　one　thing；　I　am　sorry　I
ever　owned　you；　for　you　are　not　a　lad　to　my　heart。　　You　have
disappointed　medisappointed　me　almost　beyond　endurance。'

'I　have　acted　according　to　my　illumination。　　What　can　you
expect　of　a　man　born　to　dishonour？'

'That's　mere　speciousness。　　Before　you　knew　anything　of　me；
and　while　you　thought　you　were　the　child　of　poverty　on　both
sides；　you　were　well　enough；　but　ever　since　you　thought　you
were　more　than　that；　you　have　led　a　life　which　is　intolerable。
What　has　become　of　your　plan　of　alliance　between　the　De
Stancys　and　the　Powers　now？　　The　man　is　gone　upstairs　who　can
overthrow　it　all。'

'If　the　man　had　not　gone　upstairs；　you　wouldn't　have
complained　of　my　nature　or　my　plans；'　said　Dare　drily。　　'If　I
mistake　not；　he　will　come　down　again　with　the　flea　in　his　ear。
However；　I　have　done；　my　play　is　played　out。　　All　the　rest
remains　with　you。　　But；　captain；　grant　me　this！　　If　when　I　am
gone　this　difficulty　should　vanish；　and　things　should　go　well
with　you；　and　your　suit　should　prosper；　will　you　think　of　him；
bad　as　he　is；　who　first　put　you　on　the　track　of　such
happiness；　and　let　him　know　it　was　not　done　in　vain？'

'I　will；'　said　De　Stancy。　　'Promise　me　that　you　will　be　a
better　boy？'

'Very　wellas　soon　as　ever　I　can　afford　it。　　Now　I　am　up　and
away；　when　I　have　explained　to　them　that　I　shall　not　require
my　room。'

Dare　fetched　his　bag；　touched　his　hat　with　his　umbrella　to　the
captain　and　went　out　of　the　hotel　archway。　　De　Stancy　sat　down
in　the　stuffy　drawing…room；　and　wondered　what　other　ironies
time　had　in　store　for　him。

A　waiter　in　the　interim　had　announced　Somerset　to　the　group
upstairs。　　Paula　started　as　much　as　Charlotte　at　hearing　the
name；　and　Abner　Power　stared　at　them　both。

'If　Mr。　Somerset　wishes　to　see　me　ON　BUSINESS；　show　him　in；'
said　Paula。

In　a　few　seconds　the　door　was　thrown　open　for　Somerset。　　On
receipt　of　the　pointed　message　he　guessed　that　a　change　had
come。　　Time；　absence；　ambition；　her　uncle's　influence；　and　a
new　wooer；　seemed　to　account　sufficiently　well　for　that
change；　and　he　accepted　his　fate。　　But　a　stoical　instinct　to
show　her　that　he　could　regard　vicissitudes　with　the　equanimity
that　became　a　man；　a　desire　to　ease　her　mind　of　any　fear　she
might　entertain　that　his　connection　with　her　past　would　render
him　troublesome　in　future；　induced　him　to　accept　her
permission；　and　see　the　act　to　the　end。

'How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Somerset？'　said　Abner　Power；　with　sardonic
geniality：　　he　had　been　far　enough　about　the　world　not　to　be
greatly　concerned　at　Somerset's　apparent　failing；　particularly
when　it　helped　to　reduce　him　from　the　rank　of　lover　to　his
niece　to　that　of　professional　adviser。

Miss　De　Stancy　faltered　a　welcome　as　weak　as　that　of　the　Maid
of　Neidpath；　and　Paula　said　coldly；　'We　are　rather　surprised
to　see　you。　　Perhaps　there　is　something　urgent　at　the　castle
which　makes　it　necessary　for　you　to　call？'

'There　is　something　a　little　urgent；'　said　Somerset　slowly；　as
he　approached　her；　'and　you　have　judged　rightly　that　it　is　the
cause　of　my　call。'　　He　sat　down　near　her　chair　as　he　spoke；
put　down　his　hat；　and　drew　a　note…book　from　his　pocket　with　a
despairing　sang　froid　that　was　far　more　perfect　than　had　been
Paula's　demeanour　just　before。

'Perhaps　you　would　like　to　talk　over　the　business　with　Mr。
Somerset　alone？'　murmured　Charlotte　to　Miss　Power；　hardly
knowing　what　she　said。

'O　no；'　said　Paula；　'I　think　not。　　Is　it　necessary？'　she　said；
turning　to　him。

'Not　in　the　least；'　replied　he；　bestowing　a　penetrating　glance
upon　his　questioner's　face；　which　seemed　however　to　produce　no
effect；　and　turning　towards　Charlotte；　he　added；　'You　will
have　the　goodness；　I　am　sure；　Miss　De　Stancy；　to　excuse　the
jargon　of　professional　details。'

He　spread　some　tracings　on　the　table；　and　pointed　out　certain
modified　features　to　Paula；　commenting　as　he　went　on；　and
exchanging　occasionally　a　few　words　on　the　subject　with　Mr。
Abner　Power　by　the　distant　window。

In　this　architectural　dialogue　over　his　sketches；　Somerset's
head　and　Paula's　became　unavoidably　very　close。　　The
temptation　was　too　much　for　the　young　man。　　Under　cover　of　the
rustle　of　the　tracings；　he　murmured；　'Paula；　I　could　not　get
here　before！'　in　a　low　voice　inaudible　to　the　other　two。

She　did　not　reply；　only　busying　herself　the　more　with　the
notes　and　sketches；　and　he　said　again；　'I　stayed　a　couple　of
days　at　Genoa；　and　some　days　at　San　Remo；　and　Mentone。'

'But　it　is　not　the　least　concern　of　mine　where　you　stayed；　is
it？'　she　said；　with　a　cold　yet　disquieted　look。

'Do　you　speak　seriously？'　Somerset　brokenly　whispered。

Paula　concluded　her　examination　of　the　drawings　and　turned
from　him　with　sorrowful　disregard。　　He　tried　no　further；　but；
when　she　had　signified　her　pleasure　on　the　points　submitted；
packed　up　his　papers；　and　rose　with　the　bearing　of　a　man
altogether　superior　to　such　a　class　of　misfortune　as　this。
Before　going　he　turned　to　speak　a　few　words　of　a　general　kind
to　Mr。　Power　and　Charlotte。

'You　will　stay　and　dine　with　us？'　said　the　former；　rather　with
the　air　of　being　unhappily　able　to　do　no　less　than　ask　the
question。　　'My　charges　here　won't　go　down　to　the　table…d'hote；
I　fear；　but　De　Stancy　and　myself　will　be　there。'

Somerset　excused　himself；　and　in　a　few　minutes　withdrew。　　At
the　door　he　looked　round　for　an　instant；　and　his　eyes　met
Paula's。　　There　was　the　same　miles…off　expression　in　hers　that
they　had　worn　when　he　entered；　but　there　was　also　a　look　of
distressful　inquiry；　as　if　she　were　earnestly　expecting　him　to
say　something　more。　　This　of　course　Somerset　did　not
comprehend。　　Possibly　she　was　clinging　to　a　hope　of　some
excuse　for　the　message　he　was　supposed　to　have　sent；　or　for
the　other　and　more　degrading　matter。　　Anyhow；　Somerset　only
bowed　and　went　away。

A　moment　after　he　had　gone；　Paula；　impelled　by　something　or
other；　crossed　the　room　to　the　window。　　In　a　short　time　she
saw　his　form　in　the　broad　street　below；　which　he　traversed
obliquely　to　an　opposite　corner；　his　head　somewhat　bent；　and
his　eyes　on　the　ground。　　Before　vanishing　into　the
Ritterstrasse　he　turned　his　head　and　glanced　at　the　hotel
windows；　as　if　he　knew　that　she　was　watching　him。　　Then　he
disappeared；　and　the　only　real　sign　of　emotion　betrayed　by
Paula　during　the　whole　episode　escaped　her　at　this　moment。　　It
was　a　slight　trembling　of　the　lip　and　a　sigh　so　slowly
breathed　that　scarce　anybody　could　hearscarcely　even
Charlotte；　who　was　reclining　on　a　couch　her　face　on　her　hand
and　her　eyes　downcast。

Not　more　than　two　minutes　had　elapsed　when　Mrs。　Goodman　came
in　with　a　manner　of　haste。

'You　have　returned；'　said　Mr。　Power。　　'Have　you　made　your
purchases？'