a laodicean-第78部分

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a　rayless　kind；　into　the　castle　chambers　to　show　the　confusion
that　reigned　there。

At　this　time　an　eye　might　have　noticed　a　figure　flitting　in
and　about　those　draughty　apartments；　and　making　no　more　noise
in　so　doing　than　a　puff　of　wind。　　Its　motion　hither　and
thither　was　rapid；　but　methodical；　its　bearing　absorbed；　yet
cautious。　　Though　it　ran　more　or　less　through　all　the
principal　rooms；　the　chief　scene　of　its　operations　was　the
Long　Gallery　overlooking　the　Pleasance；　which　was　covered　by
an　ornamental　wood…and…plaster　roof；　and　contained　a　whole
throng　of　family　portraits；　besides　heavy　old　cabinets　and　the
like。　　The　portraits　which　were　of　value　as　works　of　art　were
smaller　than　these；　and　hung　in　adjoining　rooms。

The　manifest　occupation　of　the　figure　was　that　of　removing
these　small　and　valuable　pictures　from　other　chambers　to　the
gallery　in　which　the　rest　were　hung；　and　piling　them　in　a　heap
in　the　midst。　　Included　in　the　group　were　nine　by　Sir　Peter
Lely；　five　by　Vandyck；　four　by　Cornelius　Jansen；　one　by
Salvator　Rosa　（remarkable　as　being　among　the　few　English
portraits　ever　painted　by　that　master）；　many　by　Kneller；　and
two　by　Romney。　　Apparently　by　accident；　the　light　being
insufficient　to　distinguish　them　from　portraits；　the　figure
also　brought　a　Raffaelle　Virgin…and…Child；　a　magnificent
Tintoretto；　a　Titian；　and　a　Giorgione。

On　these　was　laid　a　large　collection　of　enamelled　miniature
portraits　of　the　same　illustrious　line；　afterwards　tapestries
and　cushions　embroidered　with　the　initials　'De　S。'；　and　next
the　cradle　presented　by　Charles　the　First　to　the　contemporary
De　Stancy　mother；　till　at　length　there　arose　in　the　middle　of
the　floor　a　huge　heap　containing　most　of　what　had　been
personal　and　peculiar　to　members　of　the　De　Stancy　family　as
distinct　from　general　furniture。

Then　the　figure　went　from　door　to　door；　and　threw　open　each
that　was　unfastened。　　It　next　proceeded　to　a　room　on　the
ground　floor；　at　present　fitted　up　as　a　carpenter's　shop；　and
knee…deep　in　shavings。　　An　armful　of　these　was　added　to　the
pile　of　objects　in　the　gallery；　a　window　at　each　end　of　the
gallery　was　opened；　causing　a　brisk　draught　along　the　walls；
and　then　the　activity　of　the　figure　ceased；　and　it　was　seen　no
more。

Five　minutes　afterwards　a　light　shone　upon　the　lawn　from　the
windows　of　the　Long　Gallery；　which　glowed　with　more　brilliancy
than　it　had　known　in　the　meridian　of　its　Caroline　splendours。
Thereupon　the　framed　gentleman　in　the　lace　collar　seemed　to
open　his　eyes　more　widely；　he　with　the　flowing　locks　and　turn…
up　mustachios　to　part　his　lips；　he　in　the　armour；　who　was　so
much　like　Captain　De　Stancy；　to　shake　the　plates　of　his　mail
with　suppressed　laughter；　the　lady　with　the　three…stringed
pearl　necklace；　and　vast　expanse　of　neck；　to　nod　with
satisfaction　and　triumphantly　signify　to　her　adjoining　husband
that　this　was　a　meet　and　glorious　end。

The　flame　increased；　and　blown　upon　by　the　wind　roared　round
the　pictures；　the　tapestries；　and　the　cradle；　up　to　the
plaster　ceiling　and　through　it　into　the　forest　of　oak　timbers
above。



The　best　sitting…room　at　the　Lord…Quantock…Arms　in　Markton　was
as　cosy　this　evening　as　a　room　can　be　that　lacks　the　minuter
furniture　on　which　cosiness　so　largely　depends。　　By　the　fire
sat　Paula　and　Somerset；　the　former　with　a　shawl　round　her
shoulders　to　keep　off　the　draught　which；　despite　the　curtains；
forced　its　way　in　on　this　gusty　night　through　the　windows
opening　upon　the　balcony。　　Paula　held　a　letter　in　her　hand；
the　contents　of　which　formed　the　subject　of　their
conversation。　　Happy　as　she　was　in　her　general　situation；
there　was　for　the　nonce　a　tear　in　her　eye。


'MY　EVER　DEAR　PAULA　（ran　the　letter）；Your　last　letter　has
just　reached　me；　and　I　have　followed　your　account　of　your
travels　and　intentions　with　more　interest　than　I　can　tell。
You；　who　know　me；　need　no　assurance　of　this。　　At　the　present
moment；　however；　I　am　in　the　whirl　of　a　change　that　has
resulted　from　a　resolution　taken　some　time　ago；　but　concealed
from　almost　everybody　till　now。　　Why？　　Well；　I　will　ownfrom
cowardicefear　lest　I　should　be　reasoned　out　of　my　plan。　　I
am　going　to　steal　from　the　world；　Paula；　from　the　social
world；　for　whose　gaieties　and　ambitions　I　never　had　much
liking；　and　whose　circles　I　have　not　the　ability　to　grace。　　My
home；　and　resting…place　till　the　great　rest　comes；　is　with　the
Protestant　Sisterhood　at　…。　　Whatever　shortcomings　may　be
found　in　such　a　community；　I　believe　that　I　shall　be　happier
there　than　in　any　other　place。

'Whatever　you　may　think　of　my　judgment　in　taking　this　step；　I
can　assure　you　that　I　have　not　done　it　without　consideration。
My　reasons　are　good；　and　my　determination　is　unalterable。
But；　my　own　very　best　friend；　and　more　than　sister；　don't
think　that　I　mean　to　leave　my　love　and　friendship　for　you
behind　me。　　No；　Paula；　you　will　ALWAYS　be　with　me；　and　I
believe　that　if　an　increase　in　what　I　already　feel　for　you　be
possible；　it　will　be　furthered　by　the　retirement　and
meditation　I　shall　enjoy　in　my　secluded　home。　　My　heart　is
very　full；　deartoo　full　to　write　more。　　God　bless　you；　and
your　husband。　　You　must　come　and　see　me　there；　I　have　not　so
many　friends　that　I　can　afford　to　lose　you　who　have　been　so
kind。　　I　write　this　with　the　fellow…pen　to　yours；　that　you
gave　me　when　we　went　to　Budmouth　together。　　Good…bye！Ever
your　own　sister；　　　　　　　　　　CHARLOTTE。'


Paula　had　first　read　this　through　silently；　and　now　in　reading
it　a　second　time　aloud　to　Somerset　her　voice　faltered；　and　she
wept　outright。　　'I　had　been　expecting　her　to　live　with　us
always；'　she　said　through　her　tears；　'and　to　think　she　should
have　decided　to　do　this！'

'It　is　a　pity　certainly；'　said　Somerset　gently。　　'She　was
genuine；　if　anybody　ever　was；　and　simple　as　she　was　true。'

'I　am　the　more　sorry；'　Paula　presently　resumed；　'because　of　a
little　plan　I　had　been　thinking　of　with　regard　to　her。　　You
know　that　the　pictures　and　curiosities　of　the　castle　are　not
included　in　the　things　I　cannot　touch；　or　impeach；　or　whatever
it　is。　　They　are　our　own　to　do　what　we　like　with。　　My　father
felt　in　devising　the　estate　that；　however　interesting　to　the
De　Stancys　those　objects　might　be；　they　did　not　concern　us
were　indeed　rather　in　the　way；　having　been　come　by　so
strangely；　through　Mr。　Wilkins；　though　too　valuable　to　be
treated　lightly。　　Now　I　was　going　to　suggest　that　we　would　not
sell　themindeed　I　could　not　bear　to　do　such　a　thing　with
what　had　belonged　to　Charlotte's　forefathersbut　to　hand　them
over　to　her　as　a　gift；　either　to　keep　for　herself；　or　to　pass
on　to　her　brother；　as　she　should　choose。　　Now　I　fear　there　is
no　hope　of　it：　　and　yet　I　shall　never　like　to　see　them　in　the
house。'

'It　can　be　done　still；　I　should　think。　　She　can　accept　them
for　her　brother　when　he　settles；　without　absolutely　taking
them　into　her　own　possession。'

'It　would　be　a　kind　of　generosity　which　hardly　amounts　to　more
than　justice　（although　they　were　purchased）　from　a　recusant
usurper　to　a　dear　friendnot　that　I　am　a　usurper　exactly；
well；　from　a　representative　of　the　new　aristocracy　of
internationality　to　a　representative　of　the　old　aristocracy　of
exclusiveness。'

'What　do　you　call　yourself；　Paula；　since　you　are　not　of　your
father's　creed？'

'I　suppose　I　am　what　poor　Mr。　Woodwell　saidby　the　way；　we
must　call　and　see　himsomething　or　other　that's　in
Revelation；　neither　cold　nor　hot。　　But　of　course　that's　a　sub…
speciesI　may　be　a　lukewarm　anything。　　What　I　really　am；　as
far　as　I　know；　is　one　of　that　body　to　whom　lukewarmth　is　not
an　accident　but　a　provisional　necessity；　till　they　see　a
little　more　clearly。'　　She　had　crossed　over　to　his　side；　and
pulling　his　head　towards　her　whispered　a　name　in　his　ear。

'Why；　Mr。　Woodwell　said　you　were　that　too！　　You　carry　your
beliefs　very　comfortably。　　I　shall　be　glad　when　enthusiasm　is
come　again。'

'I　am　going　to　revise　and　correct　my　beliefs　one　of　these　days
when　I　have　thought　a　little　further。'　　She　suddenly　breathed
a　sigh　and　added；　'How　transitory　our　best　emotions　are！　　In
talking　of　myself　I　am　heartlessly　forgetting　Charlotte；　and
becoming　happy　again。　　I　won't　be　happy　to…night　for　her
sake！'

A　few　minutes　after　this　their　attention　was　attracted　by　a
noise　of　footsteps　running　along　the　street；　then　a　heavy
tramp　of　horses；　and　lumbering　of　wheels。　　Other　feet　were
heard　scampering　at　intervals；　and　soon　somebody　ascended　the
staircase　and　approached　their　door。　　The　head　waiter
appeared。

'Ma'am；　Stancy　Castle　is　all　afire！'　said　the　waiter
breathlessly。

Somerset　jumped　up；　drew　aside　the　curtains；　and　stepped　into
the　bow…window。　　Right　before　him　rose　a　blaze。　　The　window
looked　upon　the　street　and　along　the　turnpike　road　to　the　very
hill　on　which　the　castle　stood；　the　keep　being　visible　in　the
daytime　above　the　trees。　　Here　rose　the　light；　which　appeared
little　further　off　than　a　stone's　throw　instead　of　nearly
three　miles。　　Every　curl　of　the　smoke　and　every　wave　of　the
flame　was　distinct；　and　Somerset　fancied　he　could　hear　the
crackling。

Paula　had　risen　from　her　seat　and　joined　him　in　the　window；
where　she　heard　some　people　in　the　street　saying　that　the
servants　were　all　safe；　after　which　she　gave　her　mind　more
fully　to　the　material　aspects　of　the　catastrophe。

The　whole　town　was　now　rushing　off　to　the　scene　of　the
conflagration；　which；　shining　straight　along　the　street；
showed　the　burgesses'　running　figures　distinctly　upon　the
illumined　road。　　Paula　was　quite　ready　to　act　upon　Somerset's
suggestion　that　they　too　should　hasten　to　the　spot；　and　a　fly
was　got　ready　in　a　few　minutes。　　With　lapse　of　time　Paula
evinced　more　anxiety　as　to　the　fate　of　her　castle；　and　when
they　had　driven　as　near　as　it　was　prudent　to　do；　they
dismounted；　and　went　on　foot　into　the　throng　of　people　which
was　rapidly　gathering　from　the　town　and　surrounding　villages。
Among　the　faces　they　recognized　Mr。　Woodwell；　Havill　the
architect；　the　rector　of　the　parish；　the　curate；　and　many
others　known　to　them　by　sight。　　These；　as　soon　as　they　saw　the
young　couple；　came　forward　with　words　of　condolence；　imagining
them　to　have　been　burnt　out　of　bed；　and　vied　with