a laodicean-第87节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　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；　fr