a laodicean-第7章

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meaning　in　it；　till　she　suddenly　stood　erect；　and　revealed
herself　as　short　in　staturealmost　dumpyat　the　same　time
giving　him　a　distinct　view　of　her　profile。　　She　was　not　at　all
like　the　heroine　of　the　chapel。　　He　saw　the　dinted　nose　of　the
De　Stancys　outlined　with　Holbein　shadowlessness　against　the
blue…green　of　the　distant　wood。　　It　was　not　the　De　Stancy　face
with　all　its　original　specialities：　　it　was；　so　to　speak；　a
defective　reprint　of　that　face：　　for　the　nose　tried　hard　to
turn　up　and　deal　utter　confusion　to　the　family　shape。

As　for　the　rest　of　the　countenance；　Somerset　was　obliged　to
own　that　it　was　not　beautiful：　　Nature　had　done　there　many
things　that　she　ought　not　to　have　done；　and　left　undone　much
that　she　should　have　executed。　　It　would　have　been　decidedly
plain　but　for　a　precious　quality　which　no　perfection　of
chiselling　can　give　when　the　temperament　denies　it；　and　which
no　facial　irregularity　can　take　awaya　tender
affectionateness　which　might　almost　be　called　yearning；　such
as　is　often　seen　in　the　women　of　Correggio　when　they　are
painted　in　profile。　　But　the　plain　features　of　Miss　De　Stancy…
…who　she　undoubtedly　waswere　rather　severely　handled　by
Somerset's　judgment　owing　to　his　impression　of　the　previous
night。　　A　beauty　of　a　sort　would　have　been　lent　by　the
flexuous　contours　of　the　mobile　parts　but　for　that　unfortunate
condition　the　poor　girl　was　burdened　with；　of　having　to　hand
on　a　traditional　feature　with　which　she　did　not　find　herself
otherwise　in　harmony。

She　glanced　at　him　for　a　moment；　and　showed　by　an
imperceptible　movement　that　he　had　made　his　presence　felt。
Not　to　embarrass　her　Somerset　hastened　to　withdraw；　at　the
same　time　that　she　passed　round　to　the　other　part　of　the
terrace；　followed　by　the　cat；　in　whom　Somerset　could　imagine　a
certain　denominational　cast　of　countenance；　notwithstanding
her　company。　　But　as　white　cats　are　much　alike　each　other　at　a
distance；　it　was　reasonable　to　suppose　this　creature　was　not
the　same　one　as　that　possessed　by　the　beauty。



IV。

He　descended　the　stone　stairs　to　a　lower　story　of　the　castle；
in　which　was　a　crypt…like　hall　covered　by　vaulting　of
exceptional　and　massive　ingenuity：

　　　　　　　　　　'Built　ere　the　art　was　known；
　　　　　By　pointed　aisle　and　shafted　stalk
　　　　　The　arcades　of　an　alleyed　walk
　　　　　　　　　　　To　emulate　in　stone。'

It　happened　that　the　central　pillar　whereon　the　vaults　rested；
reputed　to　exhibit　some　of　the　most　hideous　grotesques　in
England　upon　its　capital；　was　within　a　locked　door。　　Somerset
was　tempted　to　ask　a　servant　for　permission　to　open　it；　till
he　heard　that　the　inner　room　was　temporarily　used　for　plate；
the　key　being　kept　by　Miss　De　Stancy；　at　which　he　said　no
more。　　But　afterwards　the　active　housemaid　redescended　the
stone　steps；　she　entered　the　crypt　with　a　bunch　of　keys　in　one
hand；　and　in　the　other　a　candle；　followed　by　the　young　lady
whom　Somerset　had　seen　on　the　terrace。

'I　shall　be　very　glad　to　unlock　anything　you　may　want　to　see。
So　few　people　take　any　real　interest　in　what　is　here　that　we
do　not　leave　it　open。'

Somerset　expressed　his　thanks。

Miss　De　Stancy；　a　little　to　his　surprise；　had　a　touch　of
rusticity　in　her　manner；　and　that　forced　absence　of　reserve
which　seclusion　from　society　lends　to　young　women　more
frequently　than　not。　　She　seemed　glad　to　have　something　to　do；
the　arrival　of　Somerset　was　plainly　an　event　sufficient　to　set
some　little　mark　upon　her　day。　　Deception　had　been　written　on
the　faces　of　those　frowning　walls　in　their　implying　the
insignificance　of　Somerset；　when　he　found　them　tenanted　only
by　this　little　woman　whose　life　was　narrower　than　his　own。

'We　have　not　been　here　long；'　continued　Miss　De　Stancy；　'and
that's　why　everything　is　in　such　a　dilapidated　and　confused
condition。'

Somerset　entered　the　dark　store…closet；　thinking　less　of　the
ancient　pillar　revealed　by　the　light　of　the　candle　than　what　a
singular　remark　the　latter　was　to　come　from　a　member　of　the
family　which　appeared　to　have　been　there　five　centuries。　　He
held　the　candle　above　his　head；　and　walked　round；　and
presently　Miss　De　Stancy　came　back。

'There　is　another　vault　below；'　she　said；　with　the　severe　face
of　a　young　woman　who　speaks　only　because　it　is　absolutely
necessary。　　'Perhaps　you　are　not　aware　of　it？　　It　was　the
dungeon：　　if　you　wish　to　go　down　there　too；　the　servant　will
show　you　the　way。　　It　is　not　at　all　ornamental：　　rough；　unhewn
arches　and　clumsy　piers。'

Somerset　thanked　her；　and　would　perhaps　take　advantage　of　her
kind　offer　when　he　had　examined　the　spot　where　he　was；　if　it
were　not　causing　inconvenience。

'No；　I　am　sure　Paula　will　be　glad　to　know　that　anybody　thinks
it　interesting　to　go　down　therewhich　is　more　than　she　does
herself。'

Some　obvious　inquiries　were　suggested　by　this；　but　Somerset
said；　'I　have　seen　the　pictures；　and　have　been　much　struck　by
them；　partly；'　he　added；　with　some　hesitation；　'because　one　or
two　of　them　reminded　me　of　a　schoolfellowI　think　his　name
was　John　Ravensbury？'

'Yes；'　she　said；　almost　eagerly。　　'He　was　my　cousin！'

'So　that　we　are　not　quite　strangers？'

'But　he　is　dead　now。　。　。　。　　He　was　unfortunate：　　he　was　mostly
spoken　of　as　〃that　unlucky　boy。〃　。　。　。　　You　know；　I　suppose；
Mr。　Somerset；　why　the　paintings　are　in　such　a　decaying　state！…
…it　is　owing　to　the　peculiar　treatment　of　the　castle　during
Mr。　Wilkins's　time。　　He　was　blind；　so　one　can　imagine　he　did
not　appreciate　such　things　as　there　are　here。'

'The　castle　has　been　shut　up；　you　mean？'

'O　yes；　for　many　years。　　But　it　will　not　be　so　again。　　We　are
going　to　have　the　pictures　cleaned；　and　the　frames　mended；　and
the　old　pieces　of　furniture　put　in　their　proper　places。　　It
will　be　very　nice　then。　　Did　you　see　those　in　the　east
closet？'

'I　have　only　seen　those　in　the　gallery。'

'I　will　just　show　you　the　way　to　the　others；　if　you　would　like
to　see　them？'

They　ascended　to　the　room　designated　the　east　closet。　　The
paintings　here；　mostly　of　smaller　size；　were　in　a　better
condition；　owing　to　the　fact　that　they　were　hung　on　an　inner
wall；　and　had　hence　been　kept　free　from　damp。　　Somerset
inquired　the　names　and　histories　of　one　or　two。

'I　really　don't　quite　know；'　Miss　De　Stancy　replied　after　some
thought。　　'But　Paula　knows；　I　am　sure。　　I　don't　study　them
muchI　don't　see　the　use　of　it。'　　She　swung　her　sunshade；　so
that　it　fell　open；　and　turned　it　up　till　it　fell　shut。　　'I
have　never　been　able　to　give　much　attention　to　ancestors；'　she
added；　with　her　eyes　on　the　parasol。

'These　ARE　your　ancestors？'　he　asked；　for　her　position　and
tone　were　matters　which　perplexed　him。　　In　spite　of　the　family
likeness　and　other　details　he　could　scarcely　believe　this
frank　and　communicative　country　maiden　to　be　the　modern
representative　of　the　De　Stancys。

'O　yes；　they　certainly　are；'　she　said；　laughing。　　'People　say
I　am　like　them：　　I　don't　know　if　I　amwell；　yes；　I　know　I　am：
I　can　see　that；　of　course；　any　day。　　But　they　have　gone　from
my　family；　and　perhaps　it　is　just　as　well　that　they　should
have　gone。　。　。　。　　They　are　useless；'　she　added；　with　serene
conclusiveness。

'Ah！　they　have　gone；　have　they？'

'Yes；　castle　and　furniture　went　together：　　it　was　long　ago
long　before　I　was　born。　　It　doesn't　seem　to　me　as　if　the　place
ever　belonged　to　a　relative　of　mine。'

Somerset　corrected　his　smiling　manner　to　one　of　solicitude。

'But　you　live　here；　Miss　De　Stancy？'

'Yesa　great　deal　now；　though　sometimes　I　go　home　to　sleep。'

'This　is　home　to　you；　and　not　home？'

'I　live　here　with　Paulamy　friend：　　I　have　not　been　here
long；　neither　has　she。　　For　the　first　six　months　after　her
father's　death　she　did　not　come　here　at　all。'

They　walked　on；　gazing　at　the　walls；　till　the　young　man　said：
'I　fear　I　may　be　making　some　mistake：　　but　I　am　sure　you　will
pardon　my　inquisitiveness　this　once。　　WHO　is　Paula？'

'Ah；　you　don't　know！　　Of　course　you　don'tlocal　changes　don't
get　talked　of　far　away。　　She　is　the　owner　of　this　castle　and
estate。　　My　father　sold　it　when　he　was　quite　a　young　man；
years　before　I　was　born；　and　not　long　after　his　father's
death。　　It　was　purchased　by　a　man　named　Wilkins；　a　rich　man
who　became　b