a laodicean-第20章

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passage；　and　down　the　passage；　and　became　conscious　that　it
was　long　and　gloomy；　and　that　nobody　was　near。　　A　curious　coy
uneasiness　seemed　to　take　possession　of　her。　　Whether　she
thought；　for　the　first　time；　that　she　had　made　a　mistakethat
to　wander　about　the　castle　alone　with　him　was　compromising；　or
whether　it　was　the　mere　shy　instinct　of　maidenhood；　nobody
knows；　but　she　said　suddenly；　'I　will　get　something　for　you；
and　return　in　a　few　minutes。'

'Pray　don'tit　has　quite　passed！'　he　said；　stepping　out
again。

But　Paula　had　vanished。　　When　she　came　back　it　was　in　the　rear
of　Charlotte　De　Stancy。　　Miss　De　Stancy　had　a　tumbler　in　one
hand；　half　full　of　wine；　which　she　offered　him；　Paula
remaining　in　the　background。

He　took　the　glass；　and；　to　satisfy　his　companions；　drank　a
mouthful　or　two；　though　there　was　really　nothing　whatever　the
matter　with　him　beyond　the　slight　ache　above　mentioned。
Charlotte　was　going　to　retire；　but　Paula　said；　quite
anxiously；　'You　will　stay　with　me；　Charlotte；　won't　you？
Surely　you　are　interested　in　what　I　am　doing？'

'What　is　it？'　said　Miss　De　Stancy。

'Planning　how　to　mend　and　enlarge　the　castle。　　Tell　Mr。
Somerset　what　I　want　done　in　the　quadrangleyou　know　quite
welland　I　will　walk　on。'

She　walked　on；　but　instead　of　talking　on　the　subject　as
directed；　Charlotte　and　Somerset　followed　chatting　on
indifferent　matters。　　They　came　to　an　inner　court　and　found
Paula　standing　there。

She　met　Miss　De　Stancy　with　a　smile。　　'Did　you　explain？'　she
asked。

'I　have　not　explained　yet。'　　Paula　seated　herself　on　a　stone
bench；　and　Charlotte　went　on：　　'Miss　Power　thought　of　making　a
Greek　court　of　this。　　But　she　will　not　tell　you　so　herself；
because　it　seems　such　dreadful　anachronism。

'I　said　I　would　not　tell　any　architect　myself；'　interposed
Paula　correctingly。　　'I　did　not　then　know　that　he　would　be　Mr。
Somerset。'

'It　is　rather　startling；'　said　Somerset。

'A　Greek　colonnade　all　round；　you　said；　Paula；'　continued　her
less　reticent　companion。　　'A　peristyle　you　called　ityou　saw
it　in　a　book；　don't　you　remember？and　then　you　were　going　to
have　a　fountain　in　the　middle；　and　statues　like　those　in　the
British　Museum。'

'I　did　say　so；'　remarked　Paula；　pulling　the　leaves　from　a
young　sycamore…tree　that　had　sprung　up　between　the　joints　of
the　paving。

From　the　spot　where　they　sat　they　could　see　over　the　roofs　the
upper　part　of　the　great　tower　wherein　Somerset　had　met　with
his　misadventure。　　The　tower　stood　boldly　up　in　the　sun；　and
from　one　of　the　slits　in　the　corner　something　white　waved　in
the　breeze。

'What　can　that　be？'　said　Charlotte。　　'Is　it　the　fluff　of　owls；
or　a　handkerchief？'

'It　is　my　handkerchief；'　Somerset　answered。　　'I　fixed　it　there
with　a　stone　to　attract　attention；　and　forgot　to　take　it
away。'

All　three　looked　up　at　the　handkerchief　with　interest。　　'Why
did　you　want　to　attract　attention？'　said　Paula。

'O；　I　fell　into　the　turret；　but　I　got　out　very　easily。'

'O　Paula；'　said　Charlotte；　turning　to　her　friend；　'that　must
be　the　place　where　the　man　fell　in；　years　ago；　and　was　starved
to　death！'

'Starved　to　death？'　said　Paula。

'They　say　so。　　O　Mr。　Somerset；　what　an　escape！'　　And　Charlotte
De　Stancy　walked　away　to　a　point　from　which　she　could　get　a
better　view　of　the　treacherous　turret。

'Whom　did　you　think　to　attract？'　asked　Paula；　after　a　pause。

'I　thought　you　might　see　it。'

'Me　personally？'　　And；　blushing　faintly；　her　eyes　rested　upon
him。

'I　hoped　for　anybody。　　I　thought　of　you；'　said　Somerset。

She　did　not　continue。　　In　a　moment　she　arose　and　went　across
to　Miss　De　Stancy。　　'Don't　YOU　go　falling　down　and　becoming　a
skeleton；'　she　saidSomerset　overheard　the　words；　though
Paula　was　unaware　of　itafter　which　she　clasped　her　fingers
behind　Charlotte's　neck；　and　smiled　tenderly　in　her　face。

It　seemed　to　be　quite　unconsciously　done；　and　Somerset　thought
it　a　very　beautiful　action。　　Presently　Paula　returned　to　him
and　said；　'Mr。　Somerset；　I　think　we　have　had　enough
architecture　for　to…day。'

The　two　women　then　wished　him　good…morning　and　went　away。
Somerset；　feeling　that　he　had　now　every　reason　for　prowling
about　the　castle；　remained　near　the　spot；　endeavouring　to
evolve　some　plan　of　procedure　for　the　project　entertained　by
the　beautiful　owner　of　those　weather…scathed　walls。　　But　for　a
long　time　the　mental　perspective　of　his　new　position　so
excited　the　emotional　side　of　his　nature　that　he　could　not
concentrate　it　on　feet　and　inches。　　As　Paula's　architect
（supposing　Havill　not　to　be　admitted　as　a　competitor）；　he　must
of　necessity　be　in　constant　communication　with　her　for　a　space
of　two　or　three　years　to　come；　and　particularly　during　the
next　few　months。　　She；　doubtless；　cherished　far　too　ambitious
views　of　her　career　to　feel　any　personal　interest　in　this
enforced　relationship　with　him；　but　he　would　be　at　liberty　to
feel　what　he　chose：　　and　to　be　the　victim　of　an　unrequited
passion；　while　afforded　such　splendid　opportunities　of
communion　with　the　one　beloved；　deprived　that　passion　of　its
most　deplorable　features。　　Accessibility　is　a　great　point　in
matters　of　love；　and　perhaps　of　the　two　there　is　less　misery
in　loving　without　return　a　goddess　who　is　to　be　seen　and
spoken　to　every　day；　than　in　having　an　affection　tenderly
reciprocated　by　one　always　hopelessly　removed。

With　this　view　of　having　to　spend　a　considerable　time　in　the
neighbourhood　Somerset　shifted　his　quarters　that　afternoon
from　the　little　inn　at　Sleeping…Green　to　a　larger　one　at
Markton。　　He　required　more　rooms　in　which　to　carry　out　Paula's
instructions　than　the　former　place　afforded；　and　a　more
central　position。　　Having　reached　and　dined　at　Markton　he
found　the　evening　tedious；　and　again　strolled　out　in　the
direction　of　the　castle。

When　he　reached　it　the　light　was　declining；　and　a　solemn
stillness　overspread　the　pile。　　The　great　tower　was　in　full
view。　　That　spot　of　white　which　looked　like　a　pigeon
fluttering　from　the　loophole　was　his　handkerchief；　still
hanging　in　the　place　where　he　had　left　it。　　His　eyes　yet
lingered　on　the　walls　when　he　noticed；　with　surprise；　that　the
handkerchief　suddenly　vanished。

Believing　that　the　breezes；　though　weak　below；　might　have　been
strong　enough　at　that　height　to　blow　it　into　the　turret；　and
in　no　hurry　to　get　off　the　premises；　he　leisurely　climbed　up
to　find　it；　ascending　by　the　second　staircase；　crossing　the
roof；　and　going　to　the　top　of　the　treacherous　turret。　　The
ladder　by　which　he　had　escaped　still　stood　within　it；　and
beside　the　ladder　he　beheld　the　dim　outline　of　a　woman；　in　a
meditative　attitude；　holding　his　handkerchief　in　her　hand。

Somerset　softly　withdrew。　　When　he　had　reached　the　ground　he
looked　up。　　A　girlish　form　was　standing　at　the　top　of　the
tower　looking　over　the　parapet　upon　himpossibly　not　seeing
him；　for　it　was　dark　on　the　lawn。　　It　was　either　Miss　De
Stancy　or　Paula；　one　of　them　had　gone　there　alone　for　his
handkerchief　and　had　remained　awhile；　pondering　on　his　escape。
But　which？　　'If　I　were　not　a　faint…heart　I　should　run　all　risk
and　wave　my　hat　or　kiss　my　hand　to　her；　whoever　she　is；'　he
thought。　　But　he　did　not　do　either。

So　he　lingered　about　silently　in　the　shades；　and　then　thought
of　strolling　to　his　rooms　at　Markton。　　Just　at　leaving；　as　he
passed　under　the　inhabited　wing；　whence　one　or　two　lights　now
blinked；　he　heard　a　piano；　and　a　voice　singing　'The　Mistletoe
Bough。'　　The　song　had　probably　been　suggested　to　the　romantic
fancy　of　the　singer　by　her　visit　to　the　scene　of　his
captivity。



XI。

The　identity　of　the　lady　whom　he　had　seen　on　the　tower　and
afterwards　heard　singing　was　established　the　next　day。

'I　have　been　thinking；'　said　Miss　Power；　on　meeting　him；　'that
you　may　require　a　studio　on　the　premises。　　If　so；　the　room　I
showed　you　yesterday　is　at　your　service。　　If　I　employ　Mr。
Havill　to　compete　with　you　I　will　offer　him　a　similar　one。'

Somerset　did　not　decline；　and　she　added；　'In　the　same　room　you
will　find　the　handkerchief　that　was　left　on　the　tower。'

'Ah；　I　saw　that　it　was　gone。　　Somebody　brought　it　down？'

'I　did；'　she　shyly　remarked；　looking　up　for　a　second　under　her
shady　hat…brim。