a laodicean-第6节

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glimpses；　there　was　a　great　collection　of　old　movables　and
other　domestic　art…workall　more　than　a　century　old；　and
mostly　lying　as　lumber。　　There　were　suites　of　tapestry
hangings；　common　and　fine；　green　and　scarlet　leather…work；　on
which　the　gilding　was　still　but　little　injured；　venerable
damask　curtains；　quilted　silk　table…covers；　ebony　cabinets；
worked　satin　window…cushions；　carved　bedsteads；　and
embroidered　bed…furniture　which　had　apparently　screened　no
sleeper　for　these　many　years。　　Downstairs　there　was　also　an
interesting　collection　of　armour；　together　with　several　huge
trunks　and　coffers。　　A　great　many　of　them　had　been　recently
taken　out　and　cleaned；　as　if　a　long　dormant　interest　in　them
were　suddenly　revived。　　Doubtless　they　were　those　which　had
been　used　by　the　living　originals　of　the　phantoms　that　looked
down　from　the　frames。

This　excellent　hoard　of　suggestive　designs　for　wood…work；
metal…work；　and　work　of　other　sorts；　induced　Somerset　to
divert　his　studies　from　the　ecclesiastical　direction；　to
acquire　some　new　ideas　from　the　objects　here　for　domestic
application。　　Yet　for　the　present　he　was　inclined　to　keep　his
sketch…book　closed　and　his　ivory　rule　folded；　and　devote
himself　to　a　general　survey。　　Emerging　from　the　ground…floor
by　a　small　doorway；　he　found　himself　on　a　terrace　to　the
north…east；　and　on　the　other　side　than　that　by　which　he　had
entered。　　It　was　bounded　by　a　parapet　breast　high；　over　which
a　view　of　the　distant　country　met　the　eye；　stretching　from　the
foot　of　the　slope　to　a　distance　of　many　miles。　　Somerset　went
and　leaned　over；　and　looked　down　upon　the　tops　of　the　bushes
beneath。　　The　prospect　included　the　village　he　had　passed
through　on　the　previous　day：　　and　amidst　the　green　lights　and
shades　of　the　meadows　he　could　discern　the　red　brick　chapel
whose　recalcitrant　inmate　had　so　engrossed　him。

Before　his　attention　had　long　strayed　over　the　incident　which
romanticized　that　utilitarian　structure；　he　became　aware　that
he　was　not　the　only　person　who　was　looking　from　the　terrace
towards　that　point　of　the　compass。　　At　the　right…hand　corner；
in　a　niche　of　the　curtain…wall；　reclined　a　girlish　shape；　and
asleep　on　the　bench　over　which　she　leaned　was　a　white　catthe
identical　Persian　as　it　seemedthat　had　been　taken　into　the
carriage　at　the　chapel…door。

Somerset　began　to　muse　on　the　probability　or　otherwise　of　the
backsliding　Baptist　and　this　young　lady　resulting　in　one　and
the　same　person；　and　almost　without　knowing　it　he　found
himself　deeply　hoping　for　such　a　unity。　　The　object　of　his
inspection　was　idly　leaning；　and　this　somewhat　disguised　her
figure。　　It　might　have　been　tall　or　short；　curvilinear　or
angular。　　She　carried　a　light　sunshade　which　she　fitfully
twirled　until；　thrusting　it　back　over　her　shoulder；　her　head
was　revealed　sufficiently　to　show　that　she　wore　no　hat　or
bonnet。　　This　token　of　her　being　an　inmate　of　the　castle；　and
not　a　visitor；　rather　damped　his　expectations：　　but　he
persisted　in　believing　her　look　towards　the　chapel　must　have　a
meaning　in　it；　till　she　suddenly　stood　erect；　and　revealed
herself　as　short　in　staturealmost　dumpyat　the　same　time
giving　him　a　distinct　view　of　her　profile。　　She　was　not　at　all
like　the　heroine　of　the　chapel。　　He　saw　the　dinted　nose　of　the
De　Stancys　outlined　with　Holbein　shadowlessness　against　the
blue…green　of　the　distant　wood。　　It　was　not　the　De　Stancy　face
with　all　its　original　specialities：　　it　was；　so　to　speak；　a
defective　reprint　of　that　face：　　for　the　nose　tried　hard　to
turn　up　and　deal　utter　confusion　to　the　family　shape。

As　for　the　rest　of　the　countenance；　Somerset　was　obliged　to
own　that　it　was　not　beautiful：　　Nature　had　done　there　many
things　that　she　ought　not　to　have　done；　and　left　undone　much
that　she　should　have　executed。　　It　would　have　been　decidedly
plain　but　for　a　precious　quality　which　no　perfection　of
chiselling　can　give　when　the　temperament　denies　it；　and　which
no　facial　irregularity　can　take　awaya　tender
affectionateness　which　might　almost　be　called　yearning；　such
as　is　often　seen　in　the　women　of　Correggio　when　they　are
painted　in　profile。　　But　the　plain　features　of　Miss　De　Stancy…
…who　she　undoubtedly　waswere　rather　severely　handled　by
Somerset's　judgment　owing　to　his　impression　of　the　previous
night。　　A　beauty　of　a　sort　would　have　been　lent　by　the
flexuous　contours　of　the　mobile　parts　but　for　that　unfortunate
condition　the　poor　girl　was　burdened　with；　of　having　to　hand
on　a　traditional　feature　with　which　she　did　not　find　herself
otherwise　in　harmony。

She　glanced　at　him　for　a　moment；　and　showed　by　an
imperceptible　movement　that　he　had　made　his　presence　felt。
Not　to　embarrass　her　Somerset　hastened　to　withdraw；　at　the
same　time　that　she　passed　round　to　the　other　part　of　the
terrace；　followed　by　the　cat；　in　whom　Somerset　could　imagine　a
certain　denominational　cast　of　countenance；　notwithstanding
her　company。　　But　as　white　cats　are　much　alike　each　other　at　a
distance；　it　was　reasonable　to　suppose　this　creature　was　not
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