a laodicean-第6部分

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the　same　one　as　that　possessed　by　the　beauty。



IV。

He　descended　the　stone　stairs　to　a　lower　story　of　the　castle；
in　which　was　a　crypt…like　hall　covered　by　vaulting　of
exceptional　and　massive　ingenuity：

　　　　　　　　　　'Built　ere　the　art　was　known；
　　　　　By　pointed　aisle　and　shafted　stalk
　　　　　The　arcades　of　an　alleyed　walk
　　　　　　　　　　　To　emulate　in　stone。'

It　happened　that　the　central　pillar　whereon　the　vaults　rested；
reputed　to　exhibit　some　of　the　most　hideous　grotesques　in
England　upon　its　capital；　was　within　a　locked　door。　　Somerset
was　tempted　to　ask　a　servant　for　permission　to　open　it；　till
he　heard　that　the　inner　room　was　temporarily　used　for　plate；
the　key　being　kept　by　Miss　De　Stancy；　at　which　he　said　no
more。　　But　afterwards　the　active　housemaid　redescended　the
stone　steps；　she　entered　the　crypt　with　a　bunch　of　keys　in　one
hand；　and　in　the　other　a　candle；　followed　by　the　young　lady
whom　Somerset　had　seen　on　the　terrace。

'I　shall　be　very　glad　to　unlock　anything　you　may　want　to　see。
So　few　people　take　any　real　interest　in　what　is　here　that　we
do　not　leave　it　open。'

Somerset　expressed　his　thanks。

Miss　De　Stancy；　a　little　to　his　surprise；　had　a　touch　of
rusticity　in　her　manner；　and　that　forced　absence　of　reserve
which　seclusion　from　society　lends　to　young　women　more
frequently　than　not。　　She　seemed　glad　to　have　something　to　do；
the　arrival　of　Somerset　was　plainly　an　event　sufficient　to　set
some　little　mark　upon　her　day。　　Deception　had　been　written　on
the　faces　of　those　frowning　walls　in　their　implying　the
insignificance　of　Somerset；　when　he　found　them　tenanted　only
by　this　little　woman　whose　life　was　narrower　than　his　own。

'We　have　not　been　here　long；'　continued　Miss　De　Stancy；　'and
that's　why　everything　is　in　such　a　dilapidated　and　confused
condition。'

Somerset　entered　the　dark　store…closet；　thinking　less　of　the
ancient　pillar　revealed　by　the　light　of　the　candle　than　what　a
singular　remark　the　latter　was　to　come　from　a　member　of　the
family　which　appeared　to　have　been　there　five　centuries。　　He
held　the　candle　above　his　head；　and　walked　round；　and
presently　Miss　De　Stancy　came　back。

'There　is　another　vault　below；'　she　said；　with　the　severe　face
of　a　young　woman　who　speaks　only　because　it　is　absolutely
necessary。　　'Perhaps　you　are　not　aware　of　it？　　It　was　the
dungeon：　　if　you　wish　to　go　down　there　too；　the　servant　will
show　you　the　way。　　It　is　not　at　all　ornamental：　　rough；　unhewn
arches　and　clumsy　piers。'

Somerset　thanked　her；　and　would　perhaps　take　advantage　of　her
kind　offer　when　he　had　examined　the　spot　where　he　was；　if　it
were　not　causing　inconvenience。

'No；　I　am　sure　Paula　will　be　glad　to　know　that　anybody　thinks
it　interesting　to　go　down　therewhich　is　more　than　she　does
herself。'

Some　obvious　inquiries　were　suggested　by　this；　but　Somerset
said；　'I　have　seen　the　pictures；　and　have　been　much　struck　by
them；　partly；'　he　added；　with　some　hesitation；　'because　one　or
two　of　them　reminded　me　of　a　schoolfellowI　think　his　name
was　John　Ravensbury？'

'Yes；'　she　said；　almost　eagerly。　　'He　was　my　cousin！'

'So　that　we　are　not　quite　strangers？'

'But　he　is　dead　now。　。　。　。　　He　was　unfortunate：　　he　was　mostly
spoken　of　as　〃that　unlucky　boy。〃　。　。　。　　You　know；　I　suppose；
Mr。　Somerset；　why　the　paintings　are　in　such　a　decaying　state！…
…it　is　owing　to　the　peculiar　treatment　of　the　castle　during
Mr。　Wilkins's　time。　　He　was　blind；　so　one　can　imagine　he　did
not　appreciate　such　things　as　there　are　here。'

'The　castle　has　been　shut　up；　you　mean？'

'O　yes；　for　many　years。　　But　it　will　not　be　so　again。　　We　are
going　to　have　the　pictures　cleaned；　and　the　frames　mended；　and
the　old　pieces　of　furniture　put　in　their　proper　places。　　It
will　be　very　nice　then。　　Did　you　see　those　in　the　east
closet？'

'I　have　only　seen　those　in　the　gallery。'

'I　will　just　show　you　the　way　to　the　others；　if　you　would　like
to　see　them？'

They　ascended　to　the　room　designated　the　east　closet。　　The
paintings　here；　mostly　of　smaller　size；　were　in　a　better
condition；　owing　to　the　fact　that　they　were　hung　on　an　inner
wall；　and　had　hence　been　kept　free　from　damp。　　Somerset
inquired　the　names　and　histories　of　one　or　two。

'I　really　don't　quite　know；'　Miss　De　Stancy　replied　after　some
thought。　　'But　Paula　knows；　I　am　sure。　　I　don't　study　them
muchI　don't　see　the　use　of　it。'　　She　swung　her　sunshade；　so
that　it　fell　open；　and　turned　it　up　till　it　fell　shut。　　'I
have　never　been　able　to　give　much　attention　to　ancestors；'　she
added；　with　her　eyes　on　the　parasol。

'These　ARE　your　ancestors？'　he　asked；　for　her　position　and
tone　were　matters　which　perplexed　him。　　In　spite　of　the　family
likeness　and　other　details　he　could　scarcely　believe　this
frank　and　communicative　country　maiden　to　be　the　modern
representative　of　the　De　Stancys。

'O　yes；　they　certainly　are；'　she　said；　laughing。　　'People　say
I　am　like　them：　　I　don't　know　if　I　amwell；　yes；　I　know　I　am：
I　can　see　that；　of　course；　any　day。　　But　they　have　gone　from
my　family；　and　perhaps　it　is　just　as　well　that　they　should
have　gone。　。　。　。　　They　are　useless；'　she　added；　with　serene
conclusiveness。

'Ah！　they　have　gone；　have　they？'

'Yes；　castle　and　furniture　went　together：　　it　was　long　ago
long　before　I　was　born。　　It　doesn't　seem　to　me　as　if　the　place
ever　belonged　to　a　relative　of　mine。'

Somerset　corrected　his　smiling　manner　to　one　of　solicitude。

'But　you　live　here；　Miss　De　Stancy？'

'Yesa　great　deal　now；　though　sometimes　I　go　home　to　sleep。'

'This　is　home　to　you；　and　not　home？'

'I　live　here　with　Paulamy　friend：　　I　have　not　been　here
long；　neither　has　she。　　For　the　first　six　months　after　her
father's　death　she　did　not　come　here　at　all。'

They　walked　on；　gazing　at　the　walls；　till　the　young　man　said：
'I　fear　I　may　be　making　some　mistake：　　but　I　am　sure　you　will
pardon　my　inquisitiveness　this　once。　　WHO　is　Paula？'

'Ah；　you　don't　know！　　Of　course　you　don'tlocal　changes　don't
get　talked　of　far　away。　　She　is　the　owner　of　this　castle　and
estate。　　My　father　sold　it　when　he　was　quite　a　young　man；
years　before　I　was　born；　and　not　long　after　his　father's
death。　　It　was　purchased　by　a　man　named　Wilkins；　a　rich　man
who　became　blind　soon　after　he　had　bought　it；　and　never　lived
here；　so　it　was　left　uncared　for。'

She　went　out　upon　the　terrace；　and　without　exactly　knowing
why；　Somerset　followed。

'Your　friend'

'Has　only　come　here　quite　recently。　　She　is　away　from　home　to…
day。　。　。　。　　It　was　very　sad；'　murmured　the　young　girl
thoughtfully。　　'No　sooner　had　Mr。　Power　bought　it　of　the
representatives　of　Mr。　Wilkinsalmost　immediately　indeed
than　he　died　from　a　chill　caught　after　a　warm　bath。　　On
account　of　that　she　did　not　take　possession　for　several
months；　and　even　now　she　has　only　had　a　few　rooms　prepared　as
a　temporary　residence　till　she　can　think　what　to　do。　　Poor
thing；　it　is　sad　to　be　left　alone！'

Somerset　heedfully　remarked　that　he　thought　he　recognized　that
name　Power；　as　one　he　had　seen　lately；　somewhere　or　other。

'Perhaps　you　have　been　hearing　of　her　father。　　Do　you　know
what　he　was？'

Somerset　did　not。

She　looked　across　the　distant　country；　where　undulations　of
dark…green　foliage　formed　a　prospect　extending　for　miles。　　And
as　she　watched；　and　Somerset's　eyes；　led　by　hers；　watched
also；　a　white　streak　of　steam；　thin　as　a　cotton　thread；　could
be　discerned　ploughing　that　green　expanse。　　'Her　father　made
THAT；'　Miss　De　Stancy　said；　directing　her　finger　towards　the
object。

'That　what？'

'That　railway。　　He　was　Mr。　John　Power；　the　great　railway
contractor。　　And　it　was　through　making　the　railway　that　he
discovered　this　castlethe　railway　was　diverted　a　little　on
its　account。'

'A　clash　between　ancient　and　modern。'

'Yes；　but　he　took　an　interest　in　the　locality　long　before　he
purchased　the　estate。　　And　he　built　the　people　a　chapel　on　a
bit　of　freehold　he　bought　for　them。　　He　was　a　great
Nonconformist；　a　staunch　Baptist　up　to　the　day　of　his　deatha
much　stauncher　one；'　she　said　significantly；　'than　his
daughter　is。'

'Ah；　I　begin　to　spot　her！'

'You　have　heard　about　the　baptism？'

'I　know　something　of　it。'

'Her　conduct　has　given　mortal　offence　to　the　scattered　people
of　the　denomination　that　her　father　was　at　such　pains　to　unite
into　a　body。'

Somerset　could　guess　the　remainder；　and　in　thinking　over　the
circumstances　did　not　state　what　he　had　seen。　　She　added；　as
if　disappointed　at　his　want　of　curiosity

'She　would　not　submit　to　the　rite　when　it　came　to　the　point。
The　water　looked　so　cold　and　dark　and　fearful；　she　said；　that
she　could　not　do　it　to　save　her　life。'

'Surely　she　should　have　known　her　mind　before　she　had　gone　so
far？'　　Somerset's　words　had　a　condemnatory　form；　but　perhaps
his　actual　feeling　was　that　if　Miss　Power　had　known　her　own
mind；　she　would　have　not　interested　him　half　so　much。

'Paula's　own　mind　had　nothing　to　do　with　it！'　said　Miss　De
Stancy；　warming　up　to　staunch　partizanship　in　a　moment。　　'It
was　all　undertaken　by　her　from　a　mistaken　sense　of　duty。　　It
was　her　father's　dying　wish　that　she　should　make　public
profession　of　herwhat　do　you　call　itof　the　denomination
she　belonged　to；　as　soon　as　she　felt　herself　fit　to　do　it：　　so
when　he　was　dead　she　tried　and　tried；　and　didn't　get　any　more
fit；　and　at　last　she　screwed　herself　up　to　the　pitch；　and
thought　she　must　undergo　the　ceremony　out　of　pure　reverence
for　his　memory。　　It　was　very　short…sighted　of　her　father　to
put　her　in　such　a　position：　　because　she　is　now　very　sad；　as
she　feels　she　can　never　try　again　after　such　a　sermon　as　was
delivered　against　her。'

Somerset　presumed　that　Miss　Power　need　not　have　heard　this
Knox　or　Bossuet　of　hers　if　she　had　chosen　to　go　away？

'She　did　not　hear　it　in　the　face　of　the　congregation；　but　from
the　vestry。　　She　told　me　some　of　it　when　she　reached　home。
Would　you　believe　it；　the　man　who　preached　so　bitterly　is　a
tenant　of　hers？　　I　said；　〃Surely　you　will　turn　him　out　of　his
house？〃But　she　answered；　in　her　calm；　deep；　nice　way；　that
she　supposed　he　had　a　perfect　right　to　preach　against　her；
that　she　could　not　in　justice　molest　him　at　all。　　I　wouldn't
let　him　stay　if　the　house　were　mine。　　But　she　has　often　before