a laodicean-第76章

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stiffly。

To　include　Somerset　in　the　conversation　the　young　man　turned
to　him　and　added：　　'You　carry　on　your　work　at　the　castle　con
amore；　no　doubt？'

'There　is　work　I　should　like　better；'　said　Somerset。

'Indeed？'

The　frigidity　of　his　manner　seemed　to　set　her　at　ease　by
dispersing　all　fear　of　a　scene；　and　alternate　dialogues　of
this　sort　with　the　gentleman　in　their　midst　were　more　or　less
continued　by　both　Paula　and　Somerset　till　they　rose　from
table。

In　the　bustle　of　moving　out　the　two　latter　for　one　moment
stood　side　by　side。

'Miss　Power；'　said　Somerset；　in　a　low　voice　that　was　obscured
by　the　rustle；　'you　have　nothing　more　to　say　to　me？'

'I　think　there　is　nothing　more？'　said　Paula；　lifting　her　eyes
with　longing　reticence。

'Then　I　take　leave　of　you；　and　tender　my　best　wishes　that　you
may　have　a　pleasant　time　before　you！　。　。　。　。　　I　set　out　for
England　to…night。'

'With　a　special　photographer；　no　doubt？'

It　was　the　first　time　that　she　had　addressed　Somerset　with　a
meaning　distinctly　bitter；　and　her　remark；　which　had　reference
to　the　forged　photograph；　fell　of　course　without　its　intended
effect。

'No；　Miss　Power；'　said　Somerset　gravely。　　'But　with　a　deeper
sense　of　woman's　thoughtless　trifling　than　time　will　ever
eradicate。'

'Is　not　that　a　mistake？'　she　asked　in　a　voice　that　distinctly
trembled。

'A　mistake？　　How？'

'I　mean；　do　you　not　forget　many　things？'　（throwing　on　him　a
troubled　glance）。　　'A　woman　may　feel　herself　justified　in　her
conduct；　although　it　admits　of　no　explanation。'

'I　don't　contest　the　point　for　a　moment。　。　。　。　　Goodbye。'

'Good…bye。'

They　parted　amid　the　flowering　shrubs　and　caged　birds　in　the
hall；　and　he　saw　her　no　more。　　De　Stancy　came　up；　and　spoke　a
few　commonplace　words；　his　sister　having　gone　out；　either
without　perceiving　Somerset；　or　with　intention　to　avoid　him。

That　night；　as　he　had　said；　he　was　on　his　way　to　England。



VII。

The　De　Stancys　and　Powers　remained　in　Heidelberg　for　some
days。　　All　remarked　that　after　Somerset's　departure　Paula　was
frequently　irritable；　though　at　other　times　as　serene　as　ever。
Yet　even　when　in　a　blithe　and　saucy　mood　there　was　at　bottom　a
tinge　of　melancholy。　　Something　did　not　lie　easy　in　her
undemonstrative　heart；　and　all　her　friends　excused　the
inequalities　of　a　humour　whose　source；　though　not　positively
known；　could　be　fairly　well　guessed。

De　Stancy　had　long　since　discovered　that　his　chance　lay
chiefly　in　her　recently　acquired　and　fanciful　predilection
d'artiste　for　hoary　mediaeval　families　with　ancestors　in
alabaster　and　primogenitive　renown。　　Seeing　this　he　dwelt　on
those　topics　which　brought　out　that　aspect　of　himself　more
clearly；　talking　feudalism　and　chivalry　with　a　zest　that　he
had　never　hitherto　shown。　　Yet　it　was　not　altogether
factitious。　　For；　discovering　how　much　this　quondam　Puritan
was　interested　in　the　attributes　of　long…chronicled　houses；　a
reflected　interest　in　himself　arose　in　his　own　soul；　and　he
began　to　wonder　why　he　had　not　prized　these　things　before。
Till　now　disgusted　by　the　failure　of　his　family　to　hold　its
own　in　the　turmoil　between　ancient　and　modern；　he　had　grown　to
undervalue　its　past　prestige；　and　it　was　with　corrective
ardour　that　he　adopted　while　he　ministered　to　her　views。

Henceforward　the　wooing　of　De　Stancy　took　the　form　of　an
intermittent　address；　the　incidents　of　their　travel　furnishing
pegs　whereon　to　hang　his　subject；　sometimes　hindering　it；　but
seldom　failing　to　produce　in　her　a　greater　tolerance　of　his
presence。　　His　next　opportunity　was　the　day　after　Somerset's
departure　from　Heidelberg。　　They　stood　on　the　great　terrace　of
the　Schloss…Garten；　looking　across　the　intervening　ravine　to
the　north…east　front　of　the　castle　which　rose　before　them　in
all　its　customary　warm　tints　and　battered　magnificence。

'This　is　a　spot；　if　any；　which　should　bring　matters　to　a
crisis　between　you　and　me；'　he　asserted　good…humouredly。　　'But
you　have　been　so　silent　to…day　that　I　lose　the　spirit　to　take
advantage　of　my　privilege。'

She　inquired　what　privilege　he　spoke　of；　as　if　quite　another
subject　had　been　in　her　mind　than　De　Stancy。

'The　privilege　of　winning　your　heart　if　I　can；　which　you　gave
me　at　Carlsruhe。'

'O；'　she　said。　　'Well；　I've　been　thinking　of　that。　　But　I　do
not　feel　myself　absolutely　bound　by　the　statement　I　made　in
that　room；　and　I　shall　expect；　if　I　withdraw　it；　not　to　be
called　to　account　by　you。'

De　Stancy　looked　rather　blank。

'If　you　recede　from　your　promise　you　will　doubtless　have　good
reason。　　But　I　must　solemnly　beg　you；　after　raising　my　hopes；
to　keep　as　near　as　you　can　to　your　word；　so　as　not　to　throw　me
into　utter　despair。'

Paula　dropped　her　glance　into　the　Thier…Garten　below　them；
where　gay　promenaders　were　clambering　up　between　the　bushes
and　flowers。　　At　length　she　said；　with　evident　embarrassment；
but　with　much　distinctness：　　'I　deserve　much　more　blame　for
what　I　have　done　than　you　can　express　to　me。　　I　will　confess
to　you　the　whole　truth。　　All　that　I　told　you　in　the　hotel　at
Carlsruhe　was　said　in　a　moment　of　pique　at　what　had　happened
just　before　you　came　in。　　It　was　supposed　I　was　much　involved
with　another　man；　and　circumstances　made　the　supposition
particularly　objectionable。　　To　escape　it　I　jumped　at　the
alternative　of　yourself。'

'That's　bad　for　me！'　he　murmured。

'If　after　this　avowal　you　bind　me　to　my　words　I　shall　say　no
more：　　I　do　not　wish　to　recede　from　them　without　your　full
permission。'

'What　a　caprice！　　But　I　release　you　unconditionally；'　he　said。
'And　I　beg　your　pardon　if　I　seemed　to　show　too　much　assurance。
Please　put　it　down　to　my　gratified　excitement。　　I　entirely
acquiesce　in　your　wish。　　I　will　go　away　to　whatever　place　you
please；　and　not　come　near　you　but　by　your　own　permission；　and
till　you　are　quite　satisfied　that　my　presence　and　what　it　may
lead　to　is　not　undesirable。　　I　entirely　give　way　before　you；
and　will　endeavour　to　make　my　future　devotedness；　if　ever　we
meet　again；　a　new　ground　for　expecting　your　favour。'

Paula　seemed　struck　by　the　generous　and　cheerful　fairness　of
his　remarks；　and　said　gently；　'Perhaps　your　departure　is　not
absolutely　necessary　for　my　happiness；　and　I　do　not　wish　from
what　you　call　caprice'

'I　retract　that　word。'

'Well；　whatever　it　is；　I　don't　wish　you　to　do　anything　which
should　cause　you　real　pain；　or　trouble；　or　humiliation。'

'That's　very　good　of　you。'

'But　I　reserve　to　myself　the　right　to　accept　or　refuse　your
addressesjust　as　if　those　rash　words　of　mine　had　never　been
spoken。'

'I　must　bear　it　all　as　best　I　can；　I　suppose；'　said　De　Stancy；
with　melancholy　humorousness。

'And　I　shall　treat　you　as　your　behaviour　shall　seem　to
deserve；'　she　said　playfully。

'Then　I　may　stay？'

'Yes；　I　am　willing　to　give　you　that　pleasure；　if　it　is　one；　in
return　for　the　attentions　you　have　shown；　and　the　trouble　you
have　taken　to　make　my　journey　pleasant。'

She　walked　on　and　discovered　Mrs。　Goodman　near；　and　presently
the　whole　party　met　together。　　De　Stancy　did　not　find　himself
again　at　her　side　till　later　in　the　afternoon；　when　they　had
left　the　immediate　precincts　of　the　castle　and　decided　on　a
drive　to　the　Konigsstuhl。

The　carriage；　containing　only　Mrs。　Goodman；　was　driven　a　short
way　up　the　winding　incline；　Paula；　her　uncle；　and　Miss　De
Stancy　walking　behind　under　the　shadow　of　the　trees。　　Then
Mrs。　Goodman　called　to　them　and　asked　when　they　were　going　to
join　her。

'We　are　going　to　walk　up；'　said　Mr。　Power。

Paula　seemed　seized　with　a　spirit　of　boisterousness　quite
unlike　her　usual　behaviour。　　'My　aunt　may　drive　up；　and　you
may　walk　up；　but　I　shall　run　up；'　she　said。　　'See；　here's　a
way。'　　She　tripped　towards　a　path　through　the　bushes　which；
instead　of　winding　like　the　regular　track；　made　straight　for
the　summit。

Paula　had　not　the　remotest　conception　of　the　actual　distance
to　the　top；　imagining　it　to　be　but　a　couple　of　hundred　yards
at　the　outside；　whereas　it　was　really　nearer　a　mile；　the
ascent　being　uniformly　steep　all　the　way。　　When　her　uncle　and
De　Stancy　had　seen　her　vanish　they　stood　still；　the　former
evidently　reluctant　to　forsake　the　easy　ascent　for　a　dif