a laodicean-第45章
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De Stancy in such a work。〃'
Dare obeyed； and before leaving De Stancy arranged to begin
performing on his venerated forefathers the next morning； the
youth so accidentally engaged agreeing to be there at the same
time to assist in the technical operations。
III。
As he had promised； De Stancy made use the next day of the
coveted permission that had been brought about by the
ingenious Dare。 Dare's timely suggestion of tendering
assistance had the practical result of relieving the other of
all necessity for occupying his time with the proceeding；
further than to bestow a perfunctory superintendence now and
then； to give a colour to his regular presence in the
fortress； the actual work of taking copies being carried on by
the younger man。
The weather was frequently wet during these operations； and
Paula； Miss De Stancy； and her brother； were often in the
house whole mornings together。 By constant urging and coaxing
the latter would induce his gentle sister； much against her
conscience； to leave him opportunities for speaking to Paula
alone。 It was mostly before some print or painting that these
conversations occurred； while De Stancy was ostensibly
occupied with its merits； or in giving directions to his
photographer how to proceed。 As soon as the dialogue began；
the latter would withdraw out of earshot； leaving Paula to
imagine him the most deferential young artist in the world。
'You will soon possess duplicates of the whole gallery；' she
said on one of these occasions； examining some curled sheets
which Dare had printed off from the negatives。
'No；' said the soldier。 'I shall not have patience to go on。
I get ill…humoured and indifferent； and then leave off。'
'Why ill…humoured？'
'I scarcely knowmore than that I acquire a general sense of
my own family's want of merit through seeing how meritorious
the people are around me。 I see them happy and thriving
without any necessity for me at all； and then I regard these
canvas grandfathers and grandmothers； and ask； 〃Why was a line
so antiquated and out of date prolonged till now？〃'
She chid him good…naturedly for such views。 'They will do you
an injury；' she declared。 'Do spare yourself； Captain De
Stancy！'
De Stancy shook his head as he turned the painting before him
a little further to the light。
'But； do you know；' said Paula； 'that notion of yours of being
a family out of date is delightful to some people。 I talk to
Charlotte about it often。 I am never weary of examining those
canopied effigies in the church； and almost wish they were
those of my relations。'
'I will try to see things in the same light for your sake；'
said De Stancy fervently。
'Not for my sake； for your own was what I meant； of course；'
she replied with a repressive air。
Captain De Stancy bowed。
'What are you going to do with your photographs when you have
them？' she asked； as if still anxious to obliterate the
previous sentimental lapse。
'I shall put them into a large album； and carry them with me
in my campaigns； and may I ask； now I have an opportunity；
that you would extend your permission to copy a little
further； and let me photograph one other painting that hangs
in the castle； to fittingly complete my set？'
'Which？'
'That half…length of a lady which hangs in the morning…room。
I remember seeing it in the Academy last year。'
Paula involuntarily closed herself up。 The picture was her
own portrait。 'It does not belong to your series；' she said
somewhat coldly。
De Stancy's secret thought was； I hope from my soul it will
belong some day！ He answered with mildness： 'There is a sort
of connectionyou are my sister's friend。'
Paula assented。
'And hence； might not your friend's brother photograph your
picture？'
Paula demurred。
A gentle sigh rose from the bosom of De Stancy。 'What is to
become of me？' he said； with a light distressed laugh。 'I am
always inconsiderate and inclined to ask too much。 Forgive
me！ What was in my mind when I asked I dare not say。'
'I quite understand your interest in your family picturesand
all of it；' she remarked more gently； willing not to hurt the
sensitive feelings of a man so full of romance。
'And in that ONE！' he said； looking devotedly at her。 'If I
had only been fortunate enough to include it with the rest； my
album would indeed have been a treasure to pore over by the
bivouac fire！'
'O； Captain De Stancy； this is provoking perseverance！' cried
Paula； laughing half crossly。 'I expected that after
expressing my decision so plainly the first time I should not
have been further urged upon the subject。' Saying which she
turned and moved decisively away。
It had not been a productive meeting； thus far。 'One word！'
said De Stancy； following and almost clasping her hand。 'I
have given offence； I know： but do let it all fall on my own
headdon't tell my sister of my misbehaviour！ She loves you
deeply； and it would wound her to the heart。'
'You deserve to be told upon；' said Paula as she withdrew；
with just enough playfulness to show that her anger was not
too serious。
Charlotte looked at Paula uneasily when the latter joined her
in the drawing…room。 She wanted to say； 'What is the matter？'
but guessing that her brother had something to do with it；
forbore to speak at first。 She could not contain her anxiety
long。 'Were you talking with my brother？' she said。
'Yes；' returned Paula； with reservation。 However； she soon
added； 'He not only wants to photograph his ancestors； but MY
portrait too。 They are a dreadfully encroaching sex； and
perhaps being in the army makes them worse！'
'I'll give him a hint； and tell him to be careful。'
'Don't say I have definitely complained of him； it is not
worth while to do that； the matter is too trifling for
repetition。 Upon the whole； Charlotte； I would rather you
said nothing at all。'
De Stancy's hobby of photographing his ancestors seemed to
become a perfect mania with him。 Almost every morning
discovered him in the larger apartments of the castle； taking
down and rehanging the dilapidated pictures； with the
assistance of the indispensable Dare； his fingers stained
black with dust； and his face expressing a busy attention to
the work in hand； though always reserving a look askance for
the presence of Paula。
Though there was something of subterfuge； there was no deep
and double subterfuge in all this。 De Stancy took no
particular interest in his ancestral portraits； but he was
enamoured of Paula to weakness。 Perhaps the composition of
his love would hardly bear looking into； but it was recklessly
frank and not quite mercenary。 His photographic scheme was
nothing worse than a lover's not too scrupulous contrivance。
After the refusal of his request to copy her picture he fumed
and fretted at the prospect of Somerset's return before any
impression had been made on her heart by himself； he swore at
Dare； and asked him hotly why he had dragged him into such a
hopeless dilemma as this。
'Hopeless？ Somerset must still be kept away； so that it is
not hopeless。 I will consider how to prolong his stay。'
Thereupon Dare considered。
The time was cominghad indeed comewhen it was necessary
for Paula to make up her mind about her architect； if she
meant to begin building in the spring。 The two sets of plans；
Somerset's and Havill's； were hanging on the walls of the room
that had been used by Somerset as his studio； and were
accessible by anybody。 Dare took occasion to go and study
both sets； with a view to finding a flaw in Somerset's which
might have been passed over unnoticed by the committee of
architects； owing to their absence from the actual site。 But
not a blunder could he find。
He next went to Havill； and here he was met by an amazing
state of affairs。 Havill's creditors； at last suspecting
something mythical in Havill's assurance that the grand
commission was his； had lost all patience； his house was
turned upside…down； and a poster gleamed on the front wall；
stating that the excellent modern household furniture was to
be sold by auction on Friday next。 Troubles had apparently
come in battalions； for Dare wa
