a laodicean-第7部分

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let　him　stay　if　the　house　were　mine。　　But　she　has　often　before
allowed　him　to　scold　her　from　the　pulpit　in　a　smaller　way
once　it　was　about　an　expensive　dress　she　had　wornnot
mentioning　her　by　name；　you　know；　but　all　the　people　are　quite
aware　that　it　is　meant　for　her；　because　only　one　person　of　her
wealth　or　position　belongs　to　the　Baptist　body　in　this
county。'

Somerset　was　looking　at　the　homely　affectionate　face　of　the
little　speaker。　　'You　are　her　good　friend；　I　am　sure；'　he
remarked。

She　looked　into　the　distant　air　with　tacit　admission　of　the
impeachment。　　'So　would　you　be　if　you　knew　her；'　she　said；　and
a　blush　slowly　rose　to　her　cheek；　as　if　the　person　spoken　of
had　been　a　lover　rather　than　a　friend。

'But　you　are　not　a　Baptist　any　more　than　I？'　continued
Somerset。

'O　no。　　And　I　never　knew　one　till　I　knew　Paula。　　I　think　they
are　very　nice；　though　I　sometimes　wish　Paula　was　not　one；　but
the　religion　of　reasonable　persons。'

They　walked　on；　and　came　opposite　to　where　the　telegraph
emerged　from　the　trees；　leapt　over　the　parapet；　and　up　through
the　loophole　into　the　interior。

'That　looks　strange　in　such　a　building；'　said　her　companion。

'Miss　Power　had　it　put　up　to　know　the　latest　news　from　town。
It　costs　six　pounds　a　mile。　　She　can　work　it　herself；
beautifully：　　and　so　can　I；　but　not　so　well。　　It　was　a　great
delight　to　learn。　　Miss　Power　was　so　interested　at　first　that
she　was　sending　messages　from　morning　till　night。　　And　did　you
hear　the　new　clock？'

'Is　it　a　new　one？Yes；　I　heard　it。'

'The　old　one　was　quite　worn　out；　so　Paula　has　put　it　in　the
cellar；　and　had　this　new　one　made；　though　it　still　strikes　on
the　old　bell。　　It　tells　the　seconds；　but　the　old　one；　which　my
very　great　grandfather　erected　in　the　eighteenth　century；　only
told　the　hours。　　Paula　says　that　time；　being　so　much　more
valuable　now；　must　of　course　be　cut　up　into　smaller　pieces。'

'She　does　not　appear　to　be　much　impressed　by　the　spirit　of
this　ancient　pile。'

Miss　De　Stancy　shook　her　head　too　slightly　to　express　absolute
negation。

'Do　you　wish　to　come　through　this　door？'　she　asked。　　'There　is
a　singular　chimney…piece　in　the　kitchen；　which　is　considered　a
unique　example　of　its　kind；　though　I　myself　don't　know　enough
about　it　to　have　an　opinion　on　the　subject。'

When　they　had　looked　at　the　corbelled　chimney…piece　they
returned　to　the　hall；　where　his　eye　was　caught　anew　by　a　large
map　that　he　had　conned　for　some　time　when　alone；　without　being
able　to　divine　the　locality　represented。　　It　was　called
'General　Plan　of　the　Town；'　and　showed　streets　and　open　spaces
corresponding　with　nothing　he　had　seen　in　the　county。

'Is　that　town　here？'　he　asked。

'It　is　not　anywhere　but　in　Paula's　brain；　she　has　laid　it　out
from　her　own　design。　　The　site　is　supposed　to　be　near　our
railway　station；　just　across　there；　where　the　land　belongs　to
her。　　She　is　going　to　grant　cheap　building　leases；　and　develop
the　manufacture　of　pottery。'

'Potteryhow　very　practical　she　must　be！'

'O　no！　no！'　replied　Miss　De　Stancy；　in　tones　showing　how
supremely　ignorant　he　must　be　of　Miss　Power's　nature　if　he
characterized　her　in　those　terms。　　'It　is　GREEK　pottery　she
meansHellenic　pottery　she　tells　me　to　call　it；　only　I
forget。　　There　is　beautiful　clay　at　the　place；　her　father　told
her：　　he　found　it　in　making　the　railway　tunnel。　　She　has
visited　the　British　Museum；　continental　museums；　and　Greece；
and　Spain：　　and　hopes　to　imitate　the　old　fictile　work　in　time；
especially　the　Greek　of　the　best　period；　four　hundred　years
after　Christ；　or　before　ChristI　forget　which　it　was　Paula
said。　。　。　。　　O　no；　she　is　not　practical　in　the　sense　you　mean；
at　all。'

'A　mixed　young　lady；　rather。'

Miss　De　Stancy　appeared　unable　to　settle　whether　this　new
definition　of　her　dear　friend　should　be　accepted　as　kindly；　or
disallowed　as　decidedly　sarcastic。　　'You　would　like　her　if　you
knew　her；'　she　insisted；　in　half　tones　of　pique；　after　which
she　walked　on　a　few　steps。

'I　think　very　highly　of　her；'　said　Somerset。

'And　I！　　And　yet　at　one　time　I　could　never　have　believed　that
I　should　have　been　her　friend。　　One　is　prejudiced　at　first
against　people　who　are　reported　to　have　such　differences　in
feeling；　associations；　and　habit；　as　she　seemed　to　have　from
mine。　　But　it　has　not　stood　in　the　least　in　the　way　of　our
liking　each　other。　　I　believe　the　difference　makes　us　the　more
united。'

'It　says　a　great　deal　for　the　liberality　of　both；'　answered
Somerset　warmly。　　'Heaven　send　us　more　of　the　same　sort　of
people！　　They　are　not　too　numerous　at　present。'

As　this　remark　called　for　no　reply　from　Miss　De　Stancy；　she
took　advantage　of　an　opportunity　to　leave　him　alone；　first
repeating　her　permission　to　him　to　wander　where　he　would。　　He
walked　about　for　some　time；　sketch…book　in　hand；　but　was
conscious　that　his　interest　did　not　lie　much　in　the
architecture。　　In　passing　along　the　corridor　of　an　upper　floor
he　observed　an　open　door；　through　which　was　visible　a　room
containing　one　of　the　finest　Renaissance　cabinets　he　had　ever
seen。　　It　was　impossible；　on　close　examination；　to　do　justice
to　it　in　a　hasty　sketch；　it　would　be　necessary　to　measure
every　line　if　he　would　bring　away　anything　of　utility　to　him
as　a　designer。　　Deciding　to　reserve　this　gem　for　another
opportunity　he　cast　his　eyes　round　the　room　and　blushed　a
little。　　Without　knowing　it　he　had　intruded　into　the　absent
Miss　Paula's　own　particular　set　of　chambers；　including　a
boudoir　and　sleeping　apartment。　　On　the　tables　of　the　sitting…
room　were　most　of　the　popular　papers　and　periodicals　that　he
knew；　not　only　English；　but　from　Paris；　Italy；　and　America。
Satirical　prints；　though　they　did　not　unduly　preponderate；
were　not　wanting。　　Besides　these　there　were　books　from　a
London　circulating　library；　paper…covered　light　literature　in
French　and　choice　Italian；　and　the　latest　monthly　reviews；
while　between　the　two　windows　stood　the　telegraph　apparatus
whose　wire　had　been　the　means　of　bringing　him　hither。

These　things；　ensconced　amid　so　much　of　the　old　and　hoary；
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