a laodicean-第50章

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The　voice　was　Miss　Power's；　and　so　plainly　enough　was　the
figure　as　soon　as　he　examined　it。　　Her　back　was　towards　him；
and　either　because　the　room　was　only　lighted　in　two　places；　or
because　she　was　absorbed　in　her　own　concerns；　she　seemed　to　be
unconscious　of　any　one's　presence　on　the　scene　except　the
banker　and　herself。　　The　former　called　back　the　clerk；　and　two
other　porters　having　been　summoned　they　disappeared　to　get
whatever　she　required。

Somerset；　somewhat　excited；　sat　wondering　what　could　have
brought　Paula　to　London　at　this　juncture；　and　was　in　some
doubt　if　the　occasion　were　a　suitable　one　for　revealing
himself；　her　errand　to　her　banker　being　possibly　of　a　very
private　nature。　　Nothing　helped　him　to　a　decision。　　Paula
never　once　turned　her　head；　and　the　progress　of　time　was
marked　only　by　the　murmurs　of　the　two　lawyers；　and　the
ceaseless　clash　of　gold　and　rattle　of　scales　from　the　outer
room；　where　the　busy　heads　of　cashiers　could　be　seen　through
the　partition　moving　about　under　the　globes　of　the　gas…lamps。

Footsteps　were　heard　upon　the　cellar…steps；　and　the　three　men
previously　sent　below　staggered　from　the　doorway；　bearing　a
huge　safe　which　nearly　broke　them　down。　　Somerset　knew　that
his　father's　box；　or　boxes；　could　boast　of　no　such　dimensions；
and　he　was　not　surprised　to　see　the　chest　deposited　in　front
of　Miss　Power。　　When　the　immense　accumulation　of　dust　had　been
cleared　off　the　lid；　and　the　chest　conveniently　placed　for
her；　Somerset　was　attended　to；　his　modest　box　being　brought　up
by　one　man　unassisted；　and　without　much　expenditure　of　breath。

His　interest　in　Paula　was　of　so　emotional　a　cast　that　his
attention　to　his　own　errand　was　of　the　most　perfunctory　kind。
She　was　close　to　a　gas…standard；　and　the　lawyers；　whose　seats
had　intervened；　having　finished　their　business　and　gone　away；
all　her　actions　were　visible　to　him。　　While　he　was　opening　his
father's　box　the　manager　assisted　Paula　to　unseal　and　unlock
hers；　and　he　now　saw　her　lift　from　it　a　morocco　case；　which
she　placed　on　the　table　before　her；　and　unfastened。　　Out　of　it
she　took　a　dazzling　object　that　fell　like　a　cascade　over　her
fingers。　　It　was　a　necklace　of　diamonds　and　pearls；　apparently
of　large　size　and　many　strands；　though　he　was　not　near　enough
to　see　distinctly。　　When　satisfied　by　her　examination　that　she
had　got　the　right　article　she　shut　it　into　its　case。

The　manager　closed　the　chest　for　her；　and　when　it　was　again
secured　Paula　arose；　tossed　the　necklace　into　her　hand…bag；
bowed　to　the　manager；　and　was　about　to　bid　him　good　morning。
Thereupon　he　said　with　some　hesitation：　　'Pardon　one　question；
Miss　Power。　　Do　you　intend　to　take　those　jewels　far？'

'Yes；'　she　said　simply；　'to　Stancy　Castle。'

'You　are　going　straight　there？'

'I　have　one　or　two　places　to　call　at　first。'

'I　would　suggest　that　you　carry　them　in　some　other　wayby
fastening　them　into　the　pocket　of　your　dress；　for　instance。'

'But　I　am　going　to　hold　the　bag　in　my　hand　and　never　once　let
it　go。'

The　banker　slightly　shook　his　head。　　'Suppose　your　carriage
gets　overturned：　　you　would　let　it　go　then。'

'Perhaps　so。'

'Or　if　you　saw　a　child　under　the　wheels　just　as　you　were
stepping　in；　or　if　you　accidentally　stumbled　in　getting　out；
or　if　there　was　a　collision　on　the　railwayyou　might　let　it
go。'

'Yes；　I　see　I　was　too　careless。　　I　thank　you。'

Paula　removed　the　necklace　from　the　bag；　turned　her　back　to
the　manager；　and　spent　several　minutes　in　placing　her　treasure
in　her　bosom；　pinning　it　and　otherwise　making　it　absolutely
secure。

'That's　it；'　said　the　grey…haired　man　of　caution；　with　evident
satisfaction。　　'There　is　not　much　danger　now：　　you　are　not
travelling　alone？'

Paula　replied　that　she　was　not　alone；　and　went　to　the　door。
There　was　one　moment　during　which　Somerset　might　have
conveniently　made　his　presence　known；　but　the　juxtaposition　of
the　bank…manager；　and　his　own　disarranged　box　of　securities；
embarrassed　him：　　the　moment　slipped　by；　and　she　was　gone。

In　the　meantime　he　had　mechanically　unearthed　the　pedigree；
and；　locking　up　his　father's　chest；　Somerset　also　took　his
departure　at　the　heels　of　Paula。　　He　walked　along　the　misty
street；　so　deeply　musing　as　to　be　quite　unconscious　of　the
direction　of　his　walk。　　What；　he　inquired　of　himself；　could
she　want　that　necklace　for　so　suddenly？　　He　recollected　a
remark　of　Dare's　to　the　effect　that　her　appearance　on　a
particular　occasion　at　Stancy　Castle　had　been　magnificent　by
reason　of　the　jewels　she　wore；　which　proved　that　she　had
retained　a　sufficient　quantity　of　those　valuables　at　the
castle　for　ordinary　requirements。　　What　exceptional　occasion；
then；　was　impending　on　which　she　wished　to　glorify　herself
beyond　all　previous　experience？　　He　could　not　guess。　　He　was
interrupted　in　these　conjectures　by　a　carriage　nearly　passing
over　his　toes　at　a　crossing　in　Bond　Street：　　looking　up　he　saw
between　the　two　windows　of　the　vehicle　the　profile　of　a
thickly　mantled　bosom；　on　which　a　camellia　rose　and　fell。　　All
the　remainder　part　of　the　lady's　person　was　hidden；　but　he
remembered　that　flower　of　convenient　season　as　one　which　had
figured　in　the　bank　parlour　half…an…hour　earlier　to…day。

Somerset　hastened　after　the　carriage；　and　in　a　minute　saw　it
stop　opposite　a　jeweller's　shop。　　Out　came　Paula；　and　then
another　woman；　in　whom　he　recognized　Mrs。　Birch；　one　of　the
lady's　maids　at　Stancy　Castle。　　The　young　man　was　at　Paula's
side　before　she　had　crossed　the　pavement。



VI。

A　quick　arrested　expression　in　her　two　sapphirine　eyes；
accompanied　by　a　little；　a　very　little；　blush　which　loitered
long；　was　all　the　outward　disturbance　that　the　sight　of　her
lover　caused。　　The　habit　of　self…repression　at　any　new
emotional　impact　was　instinctive　with　her　always。　　Somerset
could　not　say　more　than　a　word；　he　looked　his　intense
solicitude；　and　Paula　spoke。

She　declared　that　this　was　an　unexpected　pleasure。　　Had　he
arranged　to　come　on　the　tenth　as　she　wished？　　How　strange　that
they　should　meet　thus！and　yet　not　strangethe　world　was　so
small。

Somerset　said　that　he　was　coming　on　the　very　day　she
mentionedthat　the　appointment　gave　him　infinite
gratification；　which　was　quite　within　the　truth。

'Come　into　this　shop　with　me；'　said　Paula；　with　good…humoured
authoritativeness。

They　entered　the　shop　and　talked　on　while　she　made　a　small
purchase。　　But　not　a　word　did　Paula　say　of　her　sudden　errand
to　town。

'I　am　having　an　exciting　morning；'　she　said。　　'I　am　going　from
here　to　catch　the　one…o'clock　train　to　Markton。'

'It　is　important　that　you　get　there　this　afternoon；　I
suppose？'

'Yes。　　You　know　why？'

'Not　at　all。'

'The　Hunt　Ball。　　It　was　fixed　for　the　sixth；　and　this　is　the
sixth。　　I　thought　they　might　have　asked　you。'

'No；'　said　Somerset；　a　trifle　gloomily。　'No；　I　am　not　asked。
But　it　is　a　great　task　for　youa　long　journey　and　a　ball　all
in　one　day。'

'Yes：　　Charlotte　said　that。　　But　I　don't　mind　it。'

'You　are　glad　you　are　going。　　Are　you　glad？'　he　said　softly。

Her　air　confessed　more　than　her　words。　　'I　am　not　so　very　glad
that　I　am　going　to　the　Hunt　Ball；'　she　replied　confidentially。

'Thanks　for　that；'　said　he。

She　lifted　her　eyes　to　his　for　a　moment。　　Her　manner　had
suddenly　become　so　nearly　the　counterpart　of　that　in　the　tea…
house　that　to　suspect　any　deterioration　of　affection　in　her
was　no　longer　generous。　　It　was　only　as　if　a　thin　layer　of
recent　events　had　overlaid　her　memories　of　him；　until　his
presence　swept　them　away。

Somerset　looked　up；　and　finding　the　shopman　to　be　still　some
way　off；　he　added；　'When　will　you　assure　me　of　something　in
return　for　what　I　assured　you　that　evening　in　the　rain？'

'Not　before　you　have　built　the　castle。　　My　aunt　does　not　know
about　it　yet；　nor　anybody。'

'I　ought　to　tell　her。'

'No；　not　yet。　　I　don't　wish　it。'

'Then　everything　stands　as　usual？'

She　lightly　nodded。

'That　is；　I　may　love　you：　　but　you　still　will　not　say　you　love
me。'

She　nodded　again；　and　directing　his　attention　to　the　advancing
shopman；　said；　'Please　not　a　word　more。'

Soon　after　this；　they　left　the　jeweller's；　and　parted；　Paula
driving　straight　off　to　the　stat