a laodicean-第88章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


her　brother　and　his　friend　at　the　breakfast…table。

That　clearing　Somerset's　reputation　from　the　stain　which　had
been　thrown　on　it　would　cause　a　sufficient　reaction　in　Paula's
mind　to　dislocate　present　arrangements　she　did　not　so
seriously　anticipate；　now　that　morning　had　a　little　calmed
her。　　Since　the　rupture　with　her　former　architect　Paula　had
sedulously　kept　her　own　counsel；　but　Charlotte　assumed　from
the　ease　with　which　she　seemed　to　do　it　that　her　feelings
towards　him　had　never　been　inconveniently　warm；　and　she　hoped
that　Paula　would　learn　of　Somerset's　purity　with　merely　the
generous　pleasure　of　a　friend；　coupled　with　a　friend's
indignation　against　his　traducer。

Still；　the　possibility　existed　of　stronger　emotions；　and　it
was　only　too　evident　to　poor　Charlotte　that；　knowing　this；　she
had　still　less　excuse　for　delaying　the　intelligence　till　the
strongest　emotion　would　be　purposeless。

On　approaching　the　castle　the　first　object　that　caught　her　eye
was　Dare；　standing　beside　Havill　on　the　scaffolding　of　the　new
wing。　　He　was　looking　down　upon　the　drive　and　court；　as　if　in
anticipation　of　the　event。　　His　contiguity　flurried　her；　and
instead　of　going　straight　to　Paula　she　sought　out　Mrs。
Goodman。

'You　are　come　early；　that's　right！'　said　the　latter。　　'You
might　as　well　have　slept　here　last　night。　　We　have　only　Mr。
Wardlaw；　the　London　lawyer　you　have　heard　of；　in　the　house。
Your　brother's　solicitor　was　here　yesterday；　but　he　returned
to　Markton　for　the　night。　　We　miss　Mr。　Power　so　muchit　is　so
unfortunate　that　he　should　have　been　obliged　to　go　abroad；　and
leave　us　unprotected　women　with　so　much　responsibility。'

'Yes；　I　know；'　said　Charlotte　quickly；　having　a　shy　distaste
for　the　details　of　what　troubled　her　so　much　in　the　gross。

'Paula　has　inquired　for　you。'

'What　is　she　doing？'

'She　is　in　her　room：　　she　has　not　begun　to　dress　yet。　　Will
you　go　to　her？'

Charlotte　assented。　　'I　have　to　tell　her　something；'　she　said；
'which　will　make　no　difference；　but　which　I　should　like　her　to
know　this　morningat　once。　　I　have　discovered　that　we　have
been　entirely　mistaken　about　Mr。　Somerset。'　　She　nerved
herself　to　relate　succinctly　what　had　come　to　her　knowledge
the　day　before。

Mrs。　Goodman　was　much　impressed。　　She　had　never　clearly　heard
before　what　circumstances　had　attended　the　resignation　of
Paula's　architect。　　'We　had　better　not　tell　her　till　the
wedding　is　over；'　she　presently　said；　'it　would　only　disturb
her；　and　do　no　good。'

'But　will　it　be　right？'　asked　Miss　De　Stancy。

'Yes；　it　will　be　right　if　we　tell　her　afterwards。　　O　yesit
must　be　right；'　she　repeated　in　a　tone　which　showed　that　her
opinion　was　unstable　enough　to　require　a　little　fortification
by　the　voice。　　'She　loves　your　brother；　she　must；　since　she　is
going　to　marry　him；　and　it　can　make　little　difference　whether
we　rehabilitate　the　character　of　a　friend　now；　or　some　few
hours　hence。　　The　author　of　those　wicked　tricks　on　Mr。
Somerset　ought　not　to　go　a　moment　unpunished。'

'That's　what　I　think；　and　what　right　have　we　to　hold　our
tongues　even　for　a　few　hours？'

Charlotte　found　that　by　telling　Mrs。　Goodman　she　had　simply
made　two　irresolute　people　out　of　one；　and　as　Paula　was　now
inquiring　for　her；　she　went　upstairs　without　having　come　to
any　decision。



XIV。

Paula　was　in　her　boudoir；　writing　down　some　notes　previous　to
beginning　her　wedding　toilet；　which　was　designed　to　harmonize
with　the　simplicity　that　characterized　the　other　arrangements。
She　owned　that　it　was　depriving　the　neighbourhood　of　a　pageant
which　it　had　a　right　to　expect　of　her；　but　the　circumstance
was　inexorable。

Mrs。　Goodman　entered　Paula's　room　immediately　behind
Charlotte。　　Perhaps　the　only　difference　between　the　Paula　of
to…day　and　the　Paula　of　last　year　was　an　accession　of
thoughtfulness；　natural　to　the　circumstances　in　any　case；　and
more　particularly　when；　as　now；　the　bride's　isolation　made
self…dependence　a　necessity。　　She　was　sitting　in　a　light
dressing…gown；　and　her　face；　which　was　rather　pale；　flushed　at
the　entrance　of　Charlotte　and　her　aunt。

'I　knew　you　were　come；'　she　said；　when　Charlotte　stooped　and
kissed　her。　　'I　heard　you。　　I　have　done　nothing　this　morning；
and　feel　dreadfully　unsettled。　　Is　all　well？'

The　question　was　put　without　thought；　but　its　aptness　seemed
almost　to　imply　an　intuitive　knowledge　of　their　previous
conversation。　　'Yes；'　said　Charlotte　tardily。

'Well；　now；　Clementine　shall　dress　you；　and　I　can　do　with
Milly；'　continued　Paula。　　'Come　along。　　Well；　auntwhat's　the
matter？and　you；　Charlotte？　　You　look　harassed。'

'I　have　not　slept　well；'　said　Charlotte。

'And　have　not　you　slept　well　either；　aunt？　　You　said　nothing
about　it　at　breakfast。'

'O；　it　is　nothing；'　said　Mrs。　Goodman　quickly。　　'I　have　been
disturbed　by　learning　of　somebody's　villainy。　　I　am　going　to
tell　you　all　some　time　to…day；　but　it　is　not　important　enough
to　disturb　you　with　now。'

'No　mystery！'　argued　Paula。　　'Come！　it　is　not　fair。'

'I　don't　think　it　is　quite　fair；'　said　Miss　De　Stancy；　looking
from　one　to　the　other　in　some　distress。　　'Mrs。　GoodmanI　must
tell　her！　　Paula；　Mr。　Som'

'He's　dead！'　cried　Paula；　sinking　into　a　chair　and　turning　as
pale　as　marble。　　'Is　he　dead？tell　me！'　she　whispered。

'No；　nohe's　not　deadhe　is　very　well；　and　gone　to　Normandy
for　a　holiday！'

'OI　am　glad　to　hear　it；'　answered　Paula；　with　a　sudden　cool
mannerliness。

'He　has　been　misrepresented；'　said　Mrs。　Goodman。　　'That's
all。'

'Well？'　said　Paula；　with　her　eyes　bent　on　the　floor。

'I　have　been　feeling　that　I　ought　to　tell　you　clearly；　dear
Paula；'　declared　her　friend。　　'It　is　absolutely　false　about
his　telegraphing　to　you　for　moneyit　is　absolutely　false　that
his　character　is　such　as　that　dreadful　picture　represented　it。
Therethat's　the　substance　of　it；　and　I　can　tell　you
particulars　at　any　time。'

But　Paula　would　not　be　told　at　any　time。　　A　dreadful　sorrow
sat　in　her　face；　she　insisted　upon　learning　everything　about
the　matter　there　and　then；　and　there　was　no　withstanding　her。

When　it　was　all　explained　she　said　in　a　low　tone：　　'It　is　that
pernicious；　evil　man　Dareyet　why　is　it　he？what　can　he　have
meant　by　it！　　Justice　before　generosity；　even　on　one's
wedding…day。　　Before　I　become　any　man's　wife　this　morning　I'll
see　that　wretch　in　jail！　　The　affair　must　be　sifted。　。　。　。　　O；
it　was　a　wicked　thing　to　serve　anybody　so！I'll　send　for
Cunningham　Haze　this　momentthe　culprit　is　even　now　on　the
premises；　I　believeacting　as　clerk　of　the　works！'　　The
usually　well…balanced　Paula　was　excited；　and　scarcely　knowing
what　she　did　went　to　the　bell…pull。

'Don't　act　hastily；　Paula；'　said　her　aunt。　　'Had　you　not
better　consult　Sir　William？　　He　will　act　for　you　in　this。'

'YesHe　is　coming　round　in　a　few　minutes；'　said　Charlotte；
jumping　at　this　happy　thought　of　Mrs。　Goodman's。　　'He's　going
to　run　across　to　see　how　you　are　getting　on。　　He　will　be　here
by　ten。'

'Yeshe　promised　last　night。'

She　had　scarcely　done　speaking　when　the　prancing　of　a　horse
was　heard　in　the　ward　below；　and　in　a　few　minutes　a　servant
announced　Sir　William　De　Stancy。

De　Stancy　entered　saying；　'I　have　ridden　across　for　ten
minutes；　as　I　said　I　would　do；　to　know　if　everything　is　easy
and　straightforward　for　you。　　There　will　be　time　enough　for　me
to　get　back　and　prepare　if　I　start　shortly。　　Well？'

'I　am　ruffled；'　said　Paula；　allowing　him　to　take　her　hand。

'What　is　it？'　said　her　betrothed。

As　Paula　did　not　immediately　answer　Mrs。　Goodman　beckoned　to
Charlotte；　and　they　left　the　room　together。

'A　man　has　to　be　given　in　charge；　or　a　boy；　or　a　demon；'　she
replied。　　'I　was　going　to　do　it；　but　you　can　do　it　better　than
I。　　He　will　run　away　if　we　don't　mind。'

'But；　my　dear　Paula；　who　is　it？what　has　he　done？'

'It　is　Darethat　young　man　you　see　out　there　against　the
sky。'　　She　looked　from　the　window　sideways　towards　the　new
wing；　on　the　roof　of　which　Dare　was　walking　prominently　about；
after　having　assisted　two　of　the　workmen　in　putting　a　red
streamer　on　the　tallest　scaffold…pole。　　'You　must　send
instantly　for　Mr。　Cunningham　Haze！'

'My　dearest　Paula；'　repeated　De　Stancy　faintly；　his　comp