a laodicean-第93章

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to　somebody　in　the　crowd　below。　　A　felt　hat　was　waved　in　the
air　in　response；　the　coach　swept　into　the　inn…yard；　followed
by　the　idlers；　and　all　disappeared。　　Paula's　face　was　crimson
as　their　own　carriage　swept　round　in　the　opposite　direction　to
the　rival　inn。

Once　in　her　room　she　breathed　like　a　person　who　had　finished　a
long　chase。　　They　did　not　go　down　before　dinner；　but　when　it
was　almost　dark　Paula　begged　her　aunt　to　wrap　herself　up　and
come　with　her　to　the　shore　hard　by。　　The　beach　was　deserted；
everybody　being　at　the　Casino；　the　gate　stood　invitingly　open；
and　they　went　in。　　Here　the　brilliantly　lit　terrace　was
crowded　with　promenaders；　and　outside　the　yellow　palings；
surmounted　by　its　row　of　lamps；　rose　the　voice　of　the
invisible　sea。　　Groups　of　people　were　sitting　under　the
verandah；　the　women　mostly　in　wraps；　for　the　air　was　growing
chilly。　　Through　the　windows　at　their　back　an　animated　scene
disclosed　itself　in　the　shape　of　a　room…full　of　waltzers；　the
strains　of　the　band　striving　in　the　ear　for　mastery　over　the
sounds　of　the　sea。　　The　dancers　came　round　a　couple　at　a　time；
and　were　individually　visible　to　those　people　without　who
chose　to　look　that　way；　which　was　what　Paula　did。

'Come　away；　come　away！'　she　suddenly　said。　　'It　is　not　right
for　us　to　be　here。'

Her　exclamation　had　its　origin　in　what　she　had　at　that　moment
seen　within；　the　spectacle　of　Mr。　George　Somerset　whirling
round　the　room　with　a　young　lady　of　uncertain　nationality　but
pleasing　figure。　　Paula　was　not　accustomed　to　show　the　white
feather　too　clearly；　but　she　soon　had　passed　out　through　those
yellow　gates　and　retreated；　till　the　mixed　music　of　sea　and
band　had　resolved　into　that　of　the　sea　alone。

'Well！'　said　her　aunt；　half　in　soliloquy；　'do　you　know　who　I
saw　dancing　there；　Paula？　　Our　Mr。　Somerset；　if　I　don't　make　a
great　mistake！'

'It　was　likely　enough　that　you　did；'　sedately　replied　her
niece。　　'He　left　Caen　with　the　intention　of　seeking
distractions　of　a　lighter　kind　than　those　furnished　by　art；
and　he　has　merely　succeeded　in　finding　them。　　But　he　has　made
my　duty　rather　a　difficult　one。　　Still；　it　was　my　duty；　for　I
very　greatly　wronged　him。　　Perhaps；　however；　I　have　done
enough　for　honour's　sake。　　I　would　have　humiliated　myself　by
an　apology　if　I　had　found　him　in　any　other　situation；　but；　of
course；　one　can't　he　expected　to　take　MUCH　trouble　when　he　is
seen　going　on　like　that！'

The　coolness　with　which　she　began　her　remarks　had　developed
into　something　like　warmth　as　she　concluded。

'He　is　only　dancing　with　a　lady　he　probably　knows　very　well。'

'He　doesn't　know　her！　　The　idea　of　his　dancing　with　a　woman　of
that　description！　　We　will　go　away　tomorrow。　　This　place　has
been　greatly　over…praised。'

'The　place　is　well　enough；　as　far　as　I　can　see。'

'He　is　carrying　out　his　programme　to　the　letter。　　He　plunges
into　excitement　in　the　most　reckless　manner；　and　I　tremble　for
the　consequences！　　I　can　do　no　more：　　I　have　humiliated　myself
into　following　him；　believing　that　in　giving　too　ready
credence　to　appearances　I　had　been　narrow　and　inhuman；　and　had
caused　him　much　misery。　　But　he　does　not　mind；　and　he　has　no
misery；　he　seems　just　as　well　as　ever。　　How　much　this　finding
him　has　cost　me！　　After　all；　I　did　not　deceive　him。　　He　must
have　acquired　a　natural　aversion　for　me。　　I　have　allowed
myself　to　be　interested　in　a　man　of　very　common　qualities；　and
am　now　bitterly　alive　to　the　shame　of　having　sought　him　out。
I　heartily　detest　him！　　I　will　go　backaunt；　you　are　rightI
had　no　business　to　come。　。　。　。　　His　light　conduct　has　rendered
him　uninteresting　to　me！'



III。

When　she　rose　the　next　morning　the　bell　was　clanging　for　the
second　breakfast；　and　people　were　pouring　in　from　the　beach　in
every　variety　of　attire。　　Paula；　whom　a　restless　night　had
left　with　a　headache；　which；　however；　she　said　nothing　about；
was　reluctant　to　emerge　from　the　seclusion　of　her　chamber；
till　her　aunt；　discovering　what　was　the　matter　with　her；
suggested　that　a　few　minutes　in　the　open　air　would　refresh
her；　and　they　went　downstairs　into　the　hotel　gardens。

The　clatter　of　the　big　breakfast　within　was　audible　from　this
spot；　and　the　noise　seemed　suddenly　to　inspirit　Paula；　who
proposed　to　enter。　　Her　aunt　assented。　　In　the　verandah　under
which　they　passed　was　a　rustic　hat…stand　in　the　form　of　a
tree；　upon　which　hats　and　other　body…gear　hung　like　bunches　of
fruit。　　Paula's　eye　fell　upon　a　felt　hat　to　which　a　small
block…book　was　attached　by　a　string。　　She　knew　that　hat　and
block…book　well；　and　turning　to　Mrs。　Goodman　said；　'After　all；
I　don't　want　the　breakfast　they　are　having：　　let　us　order　one
of　our　own　as　usual。　　And　we'll　have　it　here。'

She　led　on　to　where　some　little　tables　were　placed　under　the
tall　shrubs；　followed　by　her　aunt；　who　was　in　turn　followed　by
the　proprietress　of　the　hotel；　that　lady　having　discovered
from　the　French　maid　that　there　was　good　reason　for　paying
these　ladies　ample　personal　attention。

'Is　the　gentleman　to　whom　that　sketch…book　belongs　staying
here？'　Paula　carelessly　inquired；　as　she　indicated　the　object
on　the　hat…stand。

'Ah；　no！'　deplored　the　proprietress。　　'The　Hotel　was　full　when
Mr。　Somerset　came。　　He　stays　at　a　cottage　beyond　the　Rue
Anicet　Bourgeois：　　he　only　has　his　meals　here。'

Paula　had　taken　her　seat　under　the　fuchsia…trees　in　such　a
manner　that　she　could　observe　all　the　exits　from　the　salle　a
manger；　but　for　the　present　none　of　the　breakfasters　emerged；
the　only　moving　objects　on　the　scene　being　the　waitresses　who
ran　hither　and　thither　across　the　court；　the　cook's　assistants
with　baskets　of　long　bread；　and　the　laundresses　with　baskets
of　sun…bleached　linen。　　Further　back　towards　the　inn…yard；
stablemen　were　putting　in　the　horses　for　starting　the　flys　and
coaches　to　Les　Ifs；　the　nearest　railway…station。

'Suppose　the　Somersets　should　be　going　off　by　one　of　these
conveyances；'　said　Mrs。　Goodman　as　she　sipped　her　tea。

'Well；　aunt；　then　they　must；'　replied　the　younger　lady　with
composure。

Nevertheless　she　looked　with　some　misgiving　at　the　nearest
stableman　as　he　led　out　four　white　horses；　harnessed　them；　and
leisurely　brought　a　brush　with　which　he　began　blacking　their
yellow　hoofs。　　All　the　vehicles　were　ready　at　the　door　by　the
time　breakfast　was　over；　and　the　inmates　soon　turned　out；　some
to　mount　the　omnibuses　and　carriages；　some　to　ramble　on　the
adjacent　beach；　some　to　climb　the　verdant　slopes；　and　some　to
make　for　the　cliffs　that　shut　in　the　vale。　　The　fuchsia…trees
which　sheltered　Paula's　breakfast…table　from　the　blaze　of　the
sun；　also　screened　it　from　the　eyes　of　the　outpouring　company；
and　she　sat　on　with　her　aunt　in　perfect　comfort；　till　among
the　last　of　the　stream　came　Somerset　and　his　father。　　Paula
reddened　at　being　so　near　the　former　at　last。　　It　was　with
sensible　relief　that　she　observed　them　turn　towards　the　cliffs
and　not　to　the　carriages；　and　thus　signify　that　they　were　not
going　off　that　day。

Neither　of　the　two　saw　the　ladies；　and　when　the　latter　had
finished　their　tea　and　coffee　they　followed　to　the　shore；
where　they　sat　for　nearly　an　hour；　reading　and　watching　the
bathers。　At　length　footsteps　crunched　among　the　pebbles　in
their　vicinity；　and　looking　out　from　her　sunshade　Paula　saw
the　two　Somersets　close　at　hand。

The　elder　recognized　her；　and　the　younger；　observing　his
father's　action　of　courtesy；　turned　his　head。　　It　was　a
revelation　to　Paula；　for　she　was　shocked　to　see　that　he
appeared　worn　and　ill。　　The　expression　of　his　face　changed　at
sight　of　her；　increasing　its　shade　of　paleness；　but　he
immediately　withdrew　his　eyes　and　passed　by。

Somerset　was　as　much　surprised　at　encountering　her　thus　as　she
had　been　distressed　to　see　him。　　As　soon　as　they　were　out　of
hearing；　he　asked　his　father　quietly；　'What　strange　thing　is
this；　that　Lady　De　Stancy　should　be　here　and　her　husband　not
with　her？　　Did　she　bow　to　me；　or　to　you？'

'Lady　De　Stancythat　young　lady？'　asked　the　puzzled　painter。
He　proceeded　to　explain　all　he　knew；　that　she　was　a　young　lady
he　had　met　on　his　journey　at　two　or　three　different　times；
moreover；　that　if　she　were　his　son's　clientthe　w