a laodicean-第79部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


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　complexion
changing　to　that　of　a　man　who　had　died。

'Please　send　for　Mr。　Haze　at　once；'　returned　Paula；　with
graceful　firmness。　　'I　said　I　would　be　just　to　a　wronged　man
before　I　was　generous　to　youand　I　will。　　That　lad　Dareto
take　a　practical　view　of　ithas　attempted　to　defraud　me　of
one　hundred　pounds　sterling；　and　he　shall　suffer。　　I　won't
tell　you　what　he　has　done　besides；　for　though　it　is　worse；　it
is　less　tangible。　　When　he　is　handcuffed　and　sent　off　to　jail
I'll　proceed　with　my　dressing。　　Will　you　ring　the　bell？'

'Had　you　not　better　consider？'　began　De　Stancy。

'Consider！'　said　Paula；　with　indignation。　　'I　have　considered。
Will　you　kindly　ring；　Sir　William；　and　get　Thomas　to　ride　at
once　to　Mr。　Haze？　　Or　must　I　rise　from　this　chair　and　do　it
myself？'

'You　are　very　hasty　and　abrupt　this　morning；　I　think；'　he
faltered。

Paula　rose　determinedly　from　the　chair。　　'Since　you　won't　do
it；　I　must；'　she　said。

'No；　dearest！Let　me　beg　you　not　to！'

'Sir　William　De　Stancy！'

She　moved　towards　the　bell…pull；　but　he　stepped　before　and
intercepted　her。

'You　must　not　ring　the　bell　for　that　purpose；'　he　said　with
husky　deliberateness；　looking　into　the　depths　of　her　face。

'It　wants　two　hours　to　the　time　when　you　might　have　a　right　to
express　such　a　command　as　that；'　she　said　haughtily。

'I　certainly　have　not　the　honour　to　be　your　husband　yet；'　he
sadly　replied；　'but　surely　you　can　listen？　　There　exist
reasons　against　giving　this　boy　in　charge　which　I　could　easily
get　you　to　admit　by　explanation；　but　I　would　rather；　without
explanation；　have　you　take　my　word；　when　I　say　that　by　doing
so　you　are　striking　a　blow　against　both　yourself　and　me。'

Paula；　however；　had　rung　the　bell。

'You　are　jealous　of　somebody　or　something　perhaps！'　she　said；
in　tones　which　showed　how　fatally　all　this　was　telling　against
the　intention　of　that　day。　　'I　will　not　be　a　party　to
baseness；　if　it　is　to　save　all　my　fortune！'

The　bell　was　answered　quickly。　　But　De　Stancy；　though　plainly
in　great　misery；　did　not　give　up　his　point。　　Meeting　the
servant　at　the　door　before　he　could　enter　the　room　he　said。
'It　is　nothing；　you　can　go　again。'

Paula　looked　at　the　unhappy　baronet　in　amazement；　then　turning
to　the　servant；　who　stood　with　the　door　in　his　hand；　said；
'Tell　Thomas　to　saddle　the　chestnut；　and'

'It's　all　a　mistake；'　insisted　De　Stancy。　　'Leave　the　room；
James！'

James　looked　at　his　mistress。

'Yes；　James；　leave　the　room；'　she　calmly　said；　sitting　down。
'Now　what　have　you　to　say？'　she　asked；　when　they　were　again
alone。　　'Why　must　I　not　issue　orders　in　my　own　house？　　Who　is
this　young　criminal；　that　you　value　his　interests　higher　than
my　honour？　　I　have　delayed　for　one　moment　sending　my　messenger
to　the　chief　constable　to　hear　your　explanationonly　for
that。'

'You　will　still　persevere？'

'Certainly。　　Who　is　he？'

'Paula。　。　。　　he　is　my　son。'

She　remained　still　as　death　while　one　might　count　ten；　then
turned　her　back　upon　him。　　'I　think　you　had　better　go　away；'
she　whispered。　　'You　need　not　come　again。'

He　did　not　move。　　'Paulado　you　indeed　mean　this？'　he　asked。

'I　do。'

De　Stancy　walked　a　few　paces；　then　said　in　a　low　voice：　　'Miss
Power；　I　knewI　guessed　just　now；　as　soon　as　it　beganthat
we　were　going　to　split　on　this　rock。　　Welllet　it　beit
cannot　be　helped；　destiny　is　supreme。　　The　boy　was　to　be　my
ruin；　he　is　my　ruin；　and　rightly。　　But　before　I　go　grant　me
one　request。　　Do　not　prosecute　him。　　Believe　me；　I　will　do
everything　I　can　to　get　him　out　of　your　way。　　He　shall　annoy
you　no　more。　。　。　。　　Do　you　promise？'

'I　do；'　she　said。　　'Now　please　leave　me。'

'Once　moream　I　to　understand　that　no　marriage　is　to　take
place　to…day　between　you　and　me？'

'You　are。'

Sir　William　De　Stancy　left　the　room。　　It　was　noticeable
throughout　the　interview　that　his　manner　had　not　been　the
manner　of　a　man　altogether　taken　by　surprise。　　During　the　few
preceding　days　his　mood　had　been　that　of　the　gambler　seasoned
in　ill…luck；　who　adopts　pessimist　surmises　as　a　safe
background　to　his　most　sanguine　hopes。

She　remained　alone　for　some　time。　　Then　she　rang；　and
requested　that　Mr。　Wardlaw；　her　father's　solicitor　and　friend；
would　come　up　to　her。　　A　messenger　was　despatched；　not　to　Mr。
Cunningham　Haze；　but　to　the　parson　of　the　parish；　who　in　his
turn　sent　to　the　clerk　and　clerk's　wife；　then　busy　in　the
church。　　On　receipt　of　the　intelligence　the　two　latter
functionaries　proceeded　to　roll　up　the　carpet　which　had　been
laid　from　the　door　to　the　gate；　put　away　the　kneeling…
cushions；　locked　the　doors；　and　went　off　to　inquire　the　reason
of　so　strange　a　countermand。　　It　was　soon　proclaimed　in
Markton　that　the　marriage　had　been　postponed　for　a　fortnight
in　consequence　of　the　bride's　sudden　indisposition：　　and　less
public　emotion　was　felt　than　the　case　might　have　drawn　forth；
from　the　ignorance　of　the　majority　of　the　populace　that　a
wedding　had　been　going　to　take　place　at　all。

Meanwhile　Miss　De　Stancy　had　been　closeted　with　Paula　for　more
than　an　hour。　　It　was　a　difficult　meeting；　and　a　severe　test
to　any　friendship　but　that　of　the　most　sterling　sort。　　In　the
turmoil　of　her　distraction　Charlotte　had　the　consolation　of
knowing　that　if　her　act　of　justice　to　Somerset　at　such　a
moment　were　the　act　of　a　simpleton；　it　was　the　only　course
open　to　honesty。　　But　Paula's　cheerful　serenity　in　some
measure　laid　her　own　troubles　to　rest；　till　they　were
reawakened　by　a　rumourwhich　got　wind　some　weeks　later；　and
quite　drowned　all　other　surprisesof　the　true　relation
between　the　vanished　clerk　of　works；　Mr。　Dare；　and　the　fallen
family　of　De　Stancy。




BOOK　THE　SIXTH。　　PAULA。


I。

'I　have　decided　that　I　cannot　see　Sir　William　again：　　I　shall
go　away；'　said　Paula　on　the　evening　of　the　next　day；　as　she
lay　on　her　bed　in　a　flushed　and　highly…strung　condition；
though　a　person　who　had　heard　her　words　without　seeing　her
face　would　have　assumed　perfect　equanimity　to　be　the　mood
which　expressed　itself　with　such　quietness。　　This　was　the　case
with　her　aunt；　who　was　looking　out　of　the　window　at　some
idlers　from　Markton　walking　round　the　castle　with　their　eyes
bent　upon　its　windows；　and　she　made　no　haste　to　reply。

'Those　people　have　come　to　see　me；　as　they　have　a　right　to　do
when　a　person　acts　so　strangely；'　Paula　continued。　　'And　hence
I　am　better　away。'

'Where　do　you　think　to　go　to？'

Paula　replied　in　the　tone　of　one　who　was　actuated　entirely　by
practical　considerations：　　'Out　of　England　certainly。　　And　as
Normandy　lies　nearest；　I　think　I　shall　go　there。　　It　is　a　very
nice　country　to　ramble　in。'

'Yes；　it　is　a　very　nice　country　to　ramble　in；'　echoed　her
aunt；　in　moderate　tones。　　'When　do　you　intend　to　start？'

'I　should　like　to　cross　to…night。　　You　must　go　with　me；　aunt；
will　you　not？'

Mrs。　Goodman　expostulated　against　such　suddenness。　　'It　will
redouble　the　rumours　that　are　afloat；　if；　after　being　supposed
ill；　you　are　seen　going　off　by　railway　perfectly　well。'

'That's　a　contingency　which　I　am　quite　willing　to　run　the　risk
of。　　Well；　it　would　be　r