a laodicean-第79部分

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young　couple；　came　forward　with　words　of　condolence；　imagining
them　to　have　been　burnt　out　of　bed；　and　vied　with　each　other
in　offering　them　a　lodging。　　Somerset　explained　where　they
were　staying　and　that　they　required　no　accommodation；　Paula
interrupting　with　'O　my　poor　horses；　what　has　become　of　them？'

'The　fire　is　not　near　the　stables；'　said　Mr。　Woodwell。　　'It
broke　out　in　the　body　of　the　building。　　The　horses；　however；
are　driven　into　the　field。'

'I　can　assure　you；　you　need　not　be　alarmed；　madam；'　said
Havill。　　'The　chief　constable　is　here；　and　the　two　town
engines；　and　I　am　doing　all　I　can。　　The　castle　engine
unfortunately　is　out　of　repair。'

Somerset　and　Paula　then　went　on　to　another　point　of　view　near
the　gymnasium；　where　they　could　not　be　seen　by　the　crowd。
Three…quarters　of　a　mile　off；　on　their　left　hand；　the　powerful
irradiation　fell　upon　the　brick　chapel　in　which　Somerset　had
first　seen　the　woman　who　now　stood　beside　him　as　his　wife。　　It
was　the　only　object　visible　in　that　direction；　the　dull　hills
and　trees　behind　failing　to　catch　the　light。　　She
significantly　pointed　it　out　to　Somerset；　who　knew　her
meaning；　and　they　turned　again　to　the　more　serious　matter。

It　had　long　been　apparent　that　in　the　face　of　such　a　wind　all
the　pigmy　appliances　that　the　populace　could　bring　to　act　upon
such　a　mass　of　combustion　would　be　unavailing。　　As　much　as
could　burn　that　night　was　burnt；　while　some　of　that　which
would　not　burn　crumbled　and　fell　as　a　formless　heap；　whence
new　flames　towered　up；　and　inclined　to　the　north…east　so　far
as　to　singe　the　trees　of　the　park。　　The　thicker　walls　of
Norman　date　remained　unmoved；　partly　because　of　their
thickness；　and　partly　because　in　them　stone　vaults　took　the
place　of　wood　floors。

The　tower　clock　kept　manfully　going　till　it　had　struck　one；
its　face　smiling　out　from　the　smoke　as　if　nothing　were　the
matter；　after　which　hour　something　fell　down　inside；　and　it
went　no　more。

Cunningham　Haze；　with　his　body　of　men；　was　devoted　in　his
attention；　and　came　up　to　say　a　word　to　our　two　spectators
from　time　to　time。　　Towards　four　o'clock　the　flames
diminished；　and　feeling　thoroughly　weary；　Somerset　and　Paula
remained　no　longer；　returning　to　Markton　as　they　had　come。

On　their　journey　they　pondered　and　discussed　what　course　it
would　be　best　to　pursue　in　the　circumstances；　gradually
deciding　not　to　attempt　rebuilding　the　castle　unless　they　were
absolutely　compelled。　　True；　the　main　walls　were　still
standing　as　firmly　as　ever；　but　there　was　a　feeling　common　to
both　of　them　that　it　would　be　well　to　make　an　opportunity　of　a
misfortune；　and　leaving　the　edifice　in　ruins　start　their
married　life　in　a　mansion　of　independent　construction　hard　by
the　old　one；　unencumbered　with　the　ghosts　of　an　unfortunate
line。

'We　will　build　a　new　house　from　the　ground；　eclectic　in　style。
We　will　remove　the　ashes；　charred　wood；　and　so　on　from　the
ruin；　and　plant　more　ivy。　　The　winter　rains　will　soon　wash　the
unsightly　smoke　from　the　walls；　and　Stancy　Castle　will　be
beautiful　in　its　decay。　　You；　Paula；　will　be　yourself　again；
and　recover；　if　you　have　not　already；　from　the　warp　given　to
your　mind　（according　to　Woodwell）　by　the　mediaevalism　of　that
place。'

'And　be　a　perfect　representative　of　〃the　modern　spirit〃？'　she
inquired；　'representing　neither　the　senses　and　understanding；
nor　the　heart　and　imagination；　but　what　a　finished　writer
calls　〃the　imaginative　reason〃？'

'Yes；　for　since　it　is　rather　in　your　line　you　may　as　well　keep
straight　on。'

'Very　well；　I'll　keep　straight　on；　and　we'll　build　a　new　house
beside　the　ruin；　and　show　the　modern　spirit　for　evermore。　。　。
。　　But；　George；　I　wish'　　And　Paula　repressed　a　sigh。

'Well？'

'I　wish　my　castle　wasn't　burnt；　and　I　wish　you　were　a　De
Stancy！'







End