a laodicean-第14节

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with　exhaustive　detail。　　Somerset　evaded　this　with　alacrity；
and　once　having　won　his　companion　to　other　subjects　he　found
that　the　austere　man　had　a　smile　as　pleasant　as　an　infant's　on
the　rare　moments　when　he　indulged　in　it；　moreover；　that　he　was
warmly　attached　to　Miss　Power。

'Though　she　gives　me　more　trouble　than　all　the　rest　of　the
Baptist　church　in　this　district；'　he　said；　'I　love　her　as　my
own　daughter。　　But　I　am　sadly　exercised　to　know　what　she　is　at
heart。　　Heaven　supply　me　with　fortitude　to　contest　her　wild
opinions；　and　intractability！　　But　she　has　sweet　virtues；　and
her　conduct　at　times　can　be　most　endearing。'

'I　believe　it！'　said　Somerset；　with　more　fervour　than　mere
politeness　required。

'Sometimes　I　think　those　Stancy　towers　and　lands　will　be　a
curse　to　her。　　The　spirit　of　old　papistical　times　still
lingers　in　the　nooks　of　those　silent　walls；　like　a　bad　odour
in　a　still　atmosphere；　dulling　the　iconoclastic　emotions　of
the　true　Puritan。　　It　would　be　a　pity　indeed　if　she　were　to　be
tainted　by　the　very　situation　that　her　father's　indomitable
energy　created　for　her。'

'Do　not　be　concerned　about　her；'　said　Somerset　gently。　　'She's
not　a　Paedobaptist　at　heart；　although　she　seems　so。'

Mr。　Woodwell　placed　his　finger　on　Somerset's　arm；　saying；　'If
she's　not　a　Paedobaptist；　or　Episcopalian；　if　she　is　not
vulnerable　to　the　mediaeval　influences　of　her　mansion；　lands；
and　new　acquaintance；　it　is　because　she's　been　vulnerable　to
what　is　worse：　　to　doctrines　beside　which　the　errors　of
Paaedobaptists；　Episcopalians；　Roman　Catholics；　are　but　as
air。'

'How？　　You　astonish　me。'

'Have　you　heard　in　your　metropolitan　experience　of　a　curious
body　of　New　Lights；　as　they　think　themselves？'　　The　minister
whispered　a　name　to　his　listener；　as　if　he　were　fearful　of
being　overheard。

'O　no；'　said　Somerset；　shaking　his　head；　and　smiling　at　the
minister's　horror。　　'She's　not　that；　at　least；　I　think　not。　。
。　。　　She's　a　woman；　nothing　more。　　Don't　fear　for　her；　all
will　be　well。'

The　poor　old　man　sighed。　　'I　love　her　as　my　own。　　I　will　say
no　more。'

Somerset　was　now　in　haste　to　go　back　to　the　lady；　to　ease　her
apparent　anxiety　as　to　the　result　of　his　mission；　and　also
because　time　seemed　heavy　in　the　loss　of　her　discreet　voice
and　soft；　buoyant　look。　　Every　moment　of　delay　began　to　be　as
two。　　But　the　minister　was　too　earnest　in　his　converse　to　see
his　companion's　haste；　and　it　was　not　till　perception　was
forced　upon　him　by　the　actual　retreat　of　Somerset　that　he
remembered　time　to　be　a　limited　commodity。　　He　then　expressed
his　wish　to　see　Somerset　at　his　house　to　tea　any　afternoon　he
could　spare；　and　receiving　the　other's　promise　to　call　as　soon
as　he　could；　allowed　the　younger　man　to　set　out　for　the
summer…house；　which　he　did　at　a　smart　pace。　　When　he　reached
it　he　looked　around；　and　found　she　was　gone。

Somerset　was　immediately　struck　by　his　own　lack　of　social
dexterity。　　Why　did　he　act　so　readily　on　the　whimsical
suggestion　of　another　person；　and　follow　the　minister；　when　he
might　have　said　that　he　would　call　on　Mr。　Woodwell　to…morrow；
and；　making　himself　known　to　Miss　Power　as　the　visiting
architect　of　whom　she　had　heard　from　Miss　De　Stancy；　have　had
the　pleasure　of　attending　her　to　the　castle？　　'That's　what　any
other　man　would　have　had　wit　enough　to　do！'　he　said。

There　then　arose　the　question　whether　her　despatching　him
after　the　minister　was　such　an　admirable　act　of　good…nature　to
a　good　man　as　it　had　at　first　seemed　to　be。　　Perhaps　it　was
simply　a　manoeuvre　for　getting　rid　of　himself；　and　he
remembered　his　doubt　whether　a　certain　light　in　her　eyes　when
she　inquired　concerning　his　sincerity　were　innocent
earnestness　or　the　reverse。　　As　the　possibility　of　levity
crossed　his　brain；　his　face　warmed；　it　pained　him　to　think
that　a　woman　so　interesting　could　condescend　to　a　trick　of
even　so　mild　a　complexion　as　that。　　He　wanted　to　think　her　the
soul　of　all　that　was　tender；　and　noble；　and　kind。　　The
pleasure　of　setting　himself　to　win　a　minister's　goodwill　was　a
little　tarnished　now。



VIII。

That　evening　Somerset　was　so　preoccupied　with　these　things
that　he　left　all　his　sketching　implements　out…of…doors　in　the
castle　grounds。　　The　next　morning　he　hastened　thither　to
secure　them　from　being　stolen　or　spoiled。　　Meanwhile　he　was
hoping　to　have　an　opportunity　of　rectifying　Paula's　mistake
about　his　personality；　which；　having　served　a　very　good
purpose　in　introducing　them　to　a　mutual　conversation；　might
possibly　be　made　just　as　agreeable　as　a　thing　to　be　explained
away。

He　fetched　his　drawing　instruments；　rods；　sketching…blocks　and
other　articles　from　the　field　where　they　had　lain；　and　was
passing　under　the　walls　with　them　in　his　hands；　when　there
emerged　from　the　outer　archway　an　open　landau；　drawn　by　a　pair
of　black　horses　of　fine　action　and　obviously　strong　pedigree；
in　which　Paula　was　seated；　under　the　shade　of　a　white　parasol
with　black　and　white　ribbons　fluttering　on　the　summit。　　The
morning　sun　sparkled　on　the　equipage；　its　newness　being　made
all　the　more　noticeable　by　the　ragged　old　arch　behind。

She　bowed　to　Somerset　in　a　way　which　might　have　been　meant　to
express　that　she　had　discovered　her　mistake；　but　there　was　no
embarrassment　in　her　manner；　and　the　carriage　bore　her　away
without　her　making　any　sign　for　checking　it。　　He　had　not　been
walking　towards　the　castle　entrance；　and　she　could　not　be
supposed　to　know　that　it　was　his　intention　to　enter　that　day。

She　had　looked　such　a　bud　of　youth　and　promise　that　his
disappointment　at　her　departure　showed　itself　in　his　face　as
he　observed　her。　　However；　he　went　on　his　way；　entered　a
turret；　ascended　to　the　leads　of　the　great　tower；　and　stepped
out。

From　this　elevated　position　he　could　still　see　the　carriage
and　the　white　surface　of　Paula's　parasol　in　the　glowing　sun。
While　he　watched　the　landau　stopped；　and　in　a　few　moments　the
horses　were　turned；　the　wheels　and　the　panels　flashed；　and　the
carriage　came　bowling　along　towards　the　castle　again。

Somerset　descended　the　stone　stairs。　　Before　he　had　quite　got
to　the　bottom　he　saw　Miss　De　Stancy　standing　in　the　outer
hall。

'When　did　you　come；　Mr。　Somerset？'　she　gaily　said；　looking　up
surprised。　　'How　industrious　you　are　to　be　at　work　so
regularly　every　day！　　We　didn't　think　you　would　be　here　to…
day：　　Paula　has　gone　to　a　vegetable　show　at　Markton；　and　I　am
going　to　join　her　there　soon。'

'O！　gone　to　a　vegetable　show。　　But　I　think　she　has　altered
her'

At　this　moment　the　noise　of　the　carriage　was　heard　in　the
ward；　and　after　a　few　seconds　Miss　Power　came　inSomerset
being　invisible　from　the　door　where　she　stood。

'O　Paula；　what　has　brought　you　back？'　said　Miss　De　Stancy。

'I　have　forgotten　something。'

'Mr。　Somerset　is　here。　　Will　you　not　speak　to　him？'

Somerset　came　forward；　and　Miss　De　Stancy　presented　him　to　her
friend。　　Mr。　Somerset　acknowledged　the　pleasure　by　a
respectful　inclination　of　his　person；　and　said　some　words
about　the　meeting　yesterday。

'Yes；'　said　Miss　Power；　with　a　serene　deliberateness　quite
noteworthy　in　a　girl　of　her　age；　'I　have　seen　it　all　since。　　I
was　mistaken　about　you；　was　I　not？　　Mr。　Somerset；　I　am　glad　to
welcome　you　here；　both　as　a　friend　of　Miss　De　Stancy's　family；
and　as　the　son　of　your　fatherwhich　is　indeed　quite　a
sufficient　introduction　anywhere。'

'You　have　two　pictures　painted　by　Mr。　Somerset's　father；　have
you　not？　　I　have　already　told　him　about　them；'　said　Miss　De
Stancy。　　'Perhaps　Mr。　Somerset　would　like　to　see　them　if　they
are　unpacked？'

As　Somerset　had　from　his　infancy　suffered　from　a　plethora　of
those　productions；　excellent　as　they　were；　he　did　not　reply
quite　so　eagerly　as　Miss　De　Stancy　seemed　to　expect　to　her
kind　suggestion；　and　Paula　remarked　to　him；　'You　will　stay　to
lunch？　　Do　order　it　at　your　own　time；　if　our　hour　should　not
be　convenient。'

Her　voice　was　a　voice　of　low　note；　in　quality　that　of　a　flute
at　the　grave　end　of　its　gamut。　　If　she　sang；　she　was　a　pure
contralto　unmistakably。

'I　am　making　use　of　the　permission　you　have　been　good　enough
to　grant　meof　sketching　what　is　valuable　within　these
walls。'

'Yes；　of　course；　I　am　willing　for　anybody　to　come。　　People
hold　these　places　in　trust　for　the　nation；　in　one　sense。　　You
lift　your　hands；　Charlotte；　I　see　I　have　not　convinced　you　on
that　point　yet。'

Miss　De　Stancy　laughed；　and　said　something　to　no　purpose。

Somehow　Miss　Power　seemed　not　only　more　woman　than　Miss　De
Stancy；　but　more　woman　than　Somerset　was　man；　and　yet　in　years
she　was　inferior　to　both。　　Though　becomingly　girlish　and
modest；　she　appeared　to　possess　a　good　deal　of　composure；
which　was　well　expressed　by　the　shaded　light　of　her　eyes。

'You　have　then　met　Mr。　Somerset　before？'　said　Charlotte。

'He　was　kind　enough　to　deliver　an　address　in　my　defence
yesterday。　　I　suppose　I　seemed　quite　unable　to　defend　myself。'

'O　no！'　said　he。　　When　a　few　more　words　had　passed　she　turned
to　Miss　De　Stancy　and　spoke　of　some　domestic　matter；　upon
which　Somerset　withdrew；　Paula　accompanying　his　exit　with　a
remark　that　she　hoped　to　see　him　again　a　little　later　in　the
day。

Somerset　retired　to　the　chambers