a laodicean-第5章
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the road。 But his attention was attracted to the other side
of the way by a hum as of a night…bee； which arose from the
play of the breezes over a single wire of telegraph running
parallel with his track on tall poles that had appeared by the
road； he hardly knew when； from a branch route； probably
leading from some town in the neighbourhood to the village he
was approaching。 He did not know the population of Sleeping…
Green； as the village of his search was called； but the
presence of this mark of civilization seemed to signify that
its inhabitants were not quite so far in the rear of their age
as might be imagined； a glance at the still ungrassed heap of
earth round the foot of each post was； however； sufficient to
show that it was at no very remote period that they had made
their advance。
Aided by this friendly wire Somerset had no difficulty in
keeping his course； till he reached a point in the ascent of a
hill at which the telegraph branched off from the road；
passing through an opening in the hedge； to strike across an
undulating down； while the road wound round to the left。 For
a few moments Somerset doubted and stood still。 The wire sang
on overhead with dying falls and melodious rises that invited
him to follow； while above the wire rode the stars in their
courses； the low nocturn of the former seeming to be the
voices of those stars；
'Still quiring to the young…eyed cherubim。'
Recalling himself from these reflections Somerset decided to
follow the lead of the wire。 It was not the first time during
his present tour that he had found his way at night by the
help of these musical threads which the post…office
authorities had erected all over the country for quite another
purpose than to guide belated travellers。 Plunging with it
across the down he came to a hedgeless road that entered a
park or chase； which flourished in all its original wildness。
Tufts of rushes and brakes of fern rose from the hollows； and
the road was in places half overgrown with green； as if it had
not been tended for many years； so much so that； where shaded
by trees； he found some difficulty in keeping it。 Though he
had noticed the remains of a deer…fence further back no deer
were visible； and it was scarcely possible that there should
be any in the existing state of things： but rabbits were
multitudinous； every hillock being dotted with their seated
figures till Somerset approached and sent them limping into
their burrows。 The road next wound round a clump of underwood
beside which lay heaps of faggots for burning； and then there
appeared against the sky the walls and towers of a castle；
half ruin； half residence； standing on an eminence hard by。
Somerset stopped to examine it。 The castle was not
exceptionally large； but it had all the characteristics of its
most important fellows。 Irregular； dilapidated； and muffled
in creepers as a great portion of it was； some parta
comparatively modern wingwas inhabited； for a light or two
steadily gleamed from some upper windows； in others a
reflection of the moon denoted that unbroken glass yet filled
their casements。 Over all rose the keep； a square solid tower
apparently not much injured by wars or weather； and darkened
with ivy on one side； wherein wings could be heard flapping
uncertainly； as if they belonged to a bird unable to find a
proper perch。 Hissing noises supervened； and then a hoot；
proclaiming that a brood of young owls were residing there in
the company of older ones。 In spite of the habitable and more
modern wing； neglect and decay had set their mark upon the
outworks of the pile； unfitting them for a more positive light
than that of the present hour。
He walked up to a modern arch spanning the ditchnow dry and
greenover which the drawbridge once had swung。 The large
door under the porter's archway was closed and locked。 While
standing here the singing of the wire； which for the last few
minutes he had quite forgotten； again struck upon his ear； and
retreating to a convenient place he observed its final course：
from the poles amid the trees it leaped across the moat； over
the girdling wall； and thence by a tremendous stretch towards
the keep where； to judge by sound； it vanished through an
arrow…slit into the interior。 This fossil of feudalism； then；
was the journey's…end of the wire； and not the village of
Sleeping…Green。
There was a certain unexpectedness in the fact that the hoary
memorial of a stolid antagonism to the interchange of ideas；
the monument of hard distinctions in blood and race； of deadly
mistrust of one's neighbour in spite of the Church's teaching；
and of a sublime unconsciousness of any other force than a
brute one； should be the goal of a machine which beyond
everything may be said to symbolize cosmopolitan views and the
intellectual and moral kinship of all mankind。 In that light
the little buzzing wire had a far finer significance to the
student Somerset than the vast walls which neighboured it。
But the modern fever and fret which consumes people before
they can grow old was also signified by the wire； and this
aspect of to…day did not contrast well with the fairer side of
feudalismleisure； light…hearted generosity； intense
friendships； hawks； hounds； revels； healthy complexions；
freedom from care； and such a living power in architectural
art as the world may never again see。
Somerset withdrew till neither the singing of the wire nor the
hisses of the irritable owls could be heard any more。 A clock
in the castle struck ten； and he recognized the strokes as
those he had heard when sitting on the stile。 It was
indispensable that he should retrace his steps and push on to
Sleeping…Green if he wished that night to reach his lodgings；
which had been secured by letter at a little inn in the
straggling line of roadside houses called by the above name；
where his luggage had by this time probably arrived。 In a
quarter of an hour he was again at the point where the wire
left the road； and following the highway over a hill he saw
the hamlet at his feet。
III。
By half…past ten the next morning Somerset was once more
approaching the precincts of the building which had interested
him the night before。 Referring to his map he had learnt that
it bore the name of Stancy Castle or Castle de Stancy； and he
had been at once struck with its familiarity； though he had
never understood its position in the county； believing it
further to the west。 If report spoke truly there was some
excellent vaulting in the interior； and a change of study from
ecclesiastical to secular Gothic was not unwelcome for a
while。
The entrance…gate was open now； and under the archway the
outer ward was visible； a great part of it being laid out as a
flower…garden。 This was in process of clearing from weeds and
rubbish by a set of gardeners； and the soil was so encumbered
that in rooting out the weeds such few hardy flowers as still
remained in the beds were mostly brought up with them。 The
groove wherein the portcullis had run was as fresh as if only
cut yesterday； the very tooling of the stone being visible。
Close to this hung a bell…pull formed of a large wooden acorn
attached to a vertical rod。 Somerset's application brought a
woman from the porter's door； who informed him that the day
before having been the weekly show…day for visitors； it was
doubtful if he could be admitted now。
'Who is at home？' said Somerset。
'Only Miss de Stancy；' the porteress replied。
His dread of being considered an intruder was such that he
thought at first there was no help for it but to wait till the
next week。 But he had already through his want of effrontery
lost a sight of many interiors； whose exhibition would have
been rather a satisfaction to the inmates than a trouble。 It
was inconvenient to wait； he knew nobody in the neighbourhood
from whom he could get an introductory letter： he turned and
passed the woman； crossed the ward where the gardeners were at
work； over a second and smaller bridge； and up a flight of
stone stairs； open to the sky； along whose steps sunburnt
Tudor soldiers and other renowned dead men had doubtless many
tim
