a laodicean-第52章
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'How is that？' asked Somerset with reproachful disappointment。
'I cannot dance again；' she said in a somewhat depressed tone；
'I must be released from every engagement to do so； on account
of Charlotte's illness。 I should have gone home with her if I
had not been particularly requested to stay a little longer；
since it is as yet so early； and Charlotte's illness is not
very serious。'
If Charlotte's illness was not very serious； Somerset thought；
Paula might have stretched a point； but not wishing to hinder
her in showing respect to a friend so well liked by himself；
he did not ask it。 De Stancy had promised to be back again in
half…an…hour； and Paula had heard the promise。 But at the end
of twenty minutes； still seeming indifferent to what was going
on around her； she said she would stay no longer； and
reminding Somerset that they were soon to meet and talk over
the rebuilding； drove off with her aunt to Stancy Castle。
Somerset stood looking after the retreating carriage till it
was enveloped in shades that the lamps could not disperse。
The ball…room was now virtually empty for him； and feeling no
great anxiety to return thither he stood on the steps for some
minutes longer； looking into the calm mild night； and at the
dark houses behind whose blinds lay the burghers with their
eyes sealed up in sleep。 He could not but think that it was
rather too bad of Paula to spoil his evening for a sentimental
devotion to Charlotte which could do the latter no appreciable
good； and he would have felt seriously hurt at her move if it
had not been equally severe upon Captain De Stancy； who was
doubtless hastening back； full of a belief that she would
still be found there。
The star of gas…jets over the entrance threw its light upon
the walls on the opposite side of the street； where there were
notice…boards of forthcoming events。 In glancing over these
for the fifth time； his eye was attracted by the first words
of a placard in blue letters； of a size larger than the rest；
and moving onward a few steps he read：
STANCY CASTLE。
By the kind permission of Miss Power；
A PLAY
Will shortly be performed at the above CASTLE；
IN AID OF THE FUNDS OF THE
COUNTY HOSPITAL；
By the Officers of the
ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY；
MARKTON BARRACKS；
ASSISTED BY SEVERAL
LADIES OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD。
The cast and other particulars will be duly announced in
small
bills。 Places will be reserved on application to Mr。
Clangham；
High Street； Markton； where a plan of the room may be seen。
N。BThe Castle is about twenty minutes' drive from Markton
Station；
to which there are numerous convenient trains from all parts
of the
county。
In a profound study Somerset turned and re…entered the ball…
room； where he remained gloomily standing here and there for
about five minutes； at the end of which he observed Captain De
Stancy； who had returned punctually to his word； crossing the
hall in his direction。
The gallant officer darted glances of lively search over every
group of dancers and sitters； and then with rather a blank
look in his face； he came on to Somerset。 Replying to the
latter's inquiry for his sister that she had nearly recovered；
he said； 'I don't see my father's neighbours anywhere。'
'They have gone home；' replied Somerset； a trifle drily。
'They asked me to make their apologies to you for leading you
to expect they would remain。 Miss Power was too anxious about
Miss De Stancy to care to stay longer。'
The eyes of De Stancy and the speaker met for an instant。
That curious guarded understanding； or inimical confederacy；
which arises at moments between two men in love with the same
woman； was present here； and in their mutual glances each said
as plainly as by words that her departure had ruined his
evening's hope。
They were now about as much in one mood as it was possible for
two such differing natures to be。 Neither cared further for
elaborating giddy curves on that town…hall floor。 They stood
talking languidly about this and that local topic； till De
Stancy turned aside for a short time to speak to a dapper
little lady who had beckoned to him。 In a few minutes he came
back to Somerset。
'Mrs。 Camperton； the wife of Major Camperton of my battery；
would very much like me to introduce you to her。 She is an
old friend of your father's； and has wanted to know you for a
long time。'
De Stancy and Somerset crossed over to the lady； and in a few
minutes； thanks to her flow of spirits； she and Somerset were
chatting with remarkable freedom。
'It is a happy coincidence；' continued Mrs。 Camperton； 'that I
should have met you here； immediately after receiving a letter
from your father： indeed it reached me only this morning。 He
has been so kind！ We are getting up some theatricals； as you
know； I suppose； to help the funds of the County Hospital；
which is in debt。'
'I have just seen the announcementnothing more。'
'Yes； such an estimable purpose； and as we wished to do it
thoroughly well； I asked Mr。 Somerset to design us the
costumes； and he has now sent me the sketches。 It is quite a
secret at present； but we are going to play Shakespeare's
romantic drama； 'Love's Labour's Lost；' and we hope to get
Miss Power to take the leading part。 You see； being such a
handsome girl； and so wealthy； and rather an undiscovered
novelty in the county as yet； she would draw a crowded room；
and greatly benefit the funds。'
'Miss Power going to play herself？I am rather surprised；'
said Somerset。 'Whose idea is all this？'
'O； Captain De Stancy'she's the originator entirely。 You
see he is so interested in the neighbourhood； his family
having been connected with it for so many centuries； that
naturally a charitable object of this local nature appeals to
his feelings。'
'Naturally！' her listener laconically repeated。 'And have you
settled who is to play the junior gentleman's part； leading
lover； hero； or whatever he is called？'
'Not absolutely； though I think Captain De Stancy will not
refuse it； and he is a very good figure。 At present it lies
between him and Mr。 Mild； one of our young lieutenants。 My
husband； of course； takes the heavy line； and I am to be the
second lady； though I am rather too old for the part really。
If we can only secure Miss Power for heroine the cast will be
excellent。'
'Excellent！' said Somerset； with a spectral smile。
VII。
When he awoke the next morning at the Lord…Quantock…Arms Hotel
Somerset felt quite morbid on recalling the intelligence he
had received from Mrs。 Camperton。 But as the day for serious
practical consultation about the castle works； to which Paula
had playfully alluded； was now close at hand； he determined to
banish sentimental reflections on the frailties that were
besieging her nature； by active preparation for his
professional undertaking。 To be her high…priest in art； to
elaborate a structure whose cunning workmanship would be
meeting her eye every day till the end of her natural life；
and saying to her； 'He invented it；' with all the eloquence of
an inanimate thing long regardedthis was no mean
satisfaction； come what else would。
He returned to town the next day to set matters there in such
trim that no inconvenience should result from his prolonged
absence at the castle； for having no other commission he
determined （with an eye rather to heart…interests than to
increasing his professional practice） to make； as before； the
castle itself his office； studio； and chief abiding…place till
the works were fairly in progress。
On the tenth he reappeared at Markton。 Passing through the
town； on the road to Stancy Castle； his eyes were again
arrested by the notice…board which had conveyed such startling
information to him on the night of the ball。 The small bills
now appeared thereon； but when he anxiously looked them over
to learn how the parts were to be allotted； he found that
intelligence still withheld。 Yet they told enoug
