a laodicean-第4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！
it could not be said of her features that this or that was
flawless； the nameless charm of them altogether was only
another instance of how beautiful a woman can be as a whole
without attaining in any one detail to the lines marked out as
absolutely correct。 The spirit and the life were there： and
material shapes could be disregarded。
Whatever moral characteristics this might be the surface of；
enough was shown to assure Somerset that she had some
experience of things far removed from her present
circumscribed horizon； and could live； and was even at that
moment living； a clandestine； stealthy inner life which had
very little to do with her outward one。 The repression of
nearly every external sign of that distress under which
Somerset knew； by a sudden intuitive sympathy； that she was
labouring； added strength to these convictions。
'And you refuse？' said the astonished minister； as she still
stood immovable on the brink of the pool。 He persuasively
took her sleeve between his finger and thumb as if to draw
her； but she resented this by a quick movement of displeasure；
and he released her； seeing that he had gone too far。
'But； my dear lady；' he said； 'you promised！ Consider your
profession； and that you stand in the eyes of the whole church
as an exemplar of your faith。'
'I cannot do it！'
'But your father's memory； miss； his last dying request！'
'I cannot help it；' she said； turning to get away。
'You came here with the intention to fulfil the Word？'
'But I was mistaken。'
'Then why did you come？'
She tacitly implied that to be a question she did not care to
answer。 'Please say no more to me；' she murmured； and
hastened to withdraw。
During this unexpected dialogue （which had reached Somerset's
ears through the open windows） that young man's feelings had
flown hither and thither between minister and lady in a most
capricious manner： it had seemed at one moment a rather
uncivil thing of her； charming as she was； to give the
minister and the water…bearers so much trouble for nothing；
the next； it seemed like reviving the ancient cruelties of the
ducking…stool to try to force a girl into that dark water if
she had not a mind to it。 But the minister was not without
insight； and he had seen that it would be useless to say more。
The crestfallen old man had to turn round upon the
congregation and declare officially that the baptism was
postponed。
She passed through the door into the vestry。 During the
exciting moments of her recusancy there had been a perceptible
flutter among the sensitive members of the congregation；
nervous Dissenters seeming to be at one with nervous
Episcopalians in this at least； that they heartily disliked a
scene during service。 Calm was restored to their minds by the
minister starting a rather long hymn in minims and semibreves；
amid the singing of which he ascended the pulpit。 His face
had a severe and even denunciatory look as he gave out his
text； and Somerset began to understand that this meant
mischief to the young person who had caused the hitch。
'In the third chapter of Revelation and the fifteenth and
following verses； you will find these words：
'〃I know thy works； that thou art neither cold nor hot： I
would thou wert cold or hot。 So then because thou art
lukewarm； and neither cold nor hot； I will spue thee out of my
mouth。 。 。 。 Thou sayest； I am rich； and increased with
goods； and have need of nothing； and knowest not that thou art
wretched； and miserable； and poor； and blind； and naked。〃'
The sermon straightway began； and it was soon apparent that
the commentary was to be no less forcible than the text。 It
was also apparent that the words were； virtually； not directed
forward in the line in which they were uttered； but through
the chink of the vestry…door； that had stood slightly ajar
since the exit of the young lady。 The listeners appeared to
feel this no less than Somerset did； for their eyes； one and
all； became fixed upon that vestry door as if they would
almost push it open by the force of their gazing。 The
preacher's heart was full and bitter； no book or note was
wanted by him； never was spontaneity more absolute than here。
It was no timid reproof of the ornamental kind； but a direct
denunciation； all the more vigorous perhaps from the
limitation of mind and language under which the speaker
laboured。 Yet； fool that he had been made by the candidate；
there was nothing acrid in his attack。 Genuine flashes of
rhetorical fire were occasionally struck by that plain and
simple man； who knew what straightforward conduct was； and who
did not know the illimitable caprice of a woman's mind。
At this moment there was not in the whole chapel a person
whose imagination was not centred on what was invisibly taking
place within the vestry。 The thunder of the minister's
eloquence echoed； of course； through the weak sister's cavern
of retreat no less than round the public assembly。 What she
was doing inside therewhether listening contritely； or
haughtily hastening to put on her things and get away from the
chapel and all it containedwas obviously the thought of each
member。 What changes were tracing themselves upon that lovely
face： did it rise to phases of Raffaelesque resignation or
sink so low as to flush and frown？ was Somerset's inquiry； and
a half…explanation occurred when； during the discourse； the
door which had been ajar was gently pushed to。
Looking on as a stranger it seemed to him more than probable
that this young woman's power of persistence in her unexpected
repugnance to the rite was strengthened by wealth and position
of some sort； and was not the unassisted gift of nature。 The
manner of her arrival； and her dignified bearing before the
assembly； strengthened the belief。 A woman who did not feel
something extraneous to her mental self to fall back upon
would be so far overawed by the people and the crisis as not
to retain sufficient resolution for a change of mind。
The sermon ended； the minister wiped his steaming face and
turned down his cuffs； and nods and sagacious glances went
round。 Yet many； even of those who had presumably passed the
same ordeal with credit； exhibited gentler judgment than the
preacher's on a tergiversation of which they had probably
recognized some germ in their own bosoms when in the lady's
situation。
For Somerset there was but one scene： the imagined scene of
the girl herself as she sat alone in the vestry。 The fervent
congregation rose to sing again； and then Somerset heard a
slight noise on his left hand which caused him to turn his
head。 The brougham； which had retired into the field to wait；
was back again at the door： the subject of his rumination
came out from the chapelnot in her mystic robe of white； but
dressed in ordinary fashionable costumefollowed as before by
the attendant with other articles of clothing on her arm；
including the white gown。 Somerset fancied that the younger
woman was drying her eyes with her handkerchief； but there was
not much time to see： they quickly entered the carriage； and
it moved on。 Then a cat suddenly mewed； and he saw a white
Persian standing forlorn where the carriage had been。 The
door was opened； the cat taken in； and the carriage drove
away。
The stranger's girlish form stamped itself deeply on
Somerset's soul。 He strolled on his way quite oblivious to
the fact that the moon had just risen； and that the landscape
was one for him to linger over； especially if there were any
Gothic architecture in the line of the lunar rays。 The
inference was that though this girl must be of a serious turn
of mind； wilfulness was not foreign to her composition： and
it was probable that her daily doings evinced without much
abatement by religion the unbroken spirit and pride of life
natural to her age。
The little village inn at which Somerset intended to pass the
night lay a mile further on； and retracing his way up to the
stile he rambled along the lane； now beginning to be streaked
like a zebra with the shadows of some young trees that edged
the road。 But his attention was attracted to the other side
of the way by a hum as of a nig
