第 54 节
作者:你妹找1      更新:2022-06-15 12:55      字数:9321
  Havillwho would like to be friendly with you。  Poor man;
  since the death of his wife he seems to have something on his
  mindsome trouble which my words will not reach。  If ever you
  are passing his door; please give him a look in。  He fears
  that calling on you might be an intrusion。'
  Somerset did not clearly promise; and went his way。  The
  minister's allusion to the announcement of the marriage
  reminded Somerset that she had expressed a wish to know how
  the paragraph came to be inserted。  The wish had been
  carelessly spoken; but he went to the newspaper office to make
  inquiries on the point。
  The reply was unexpected。  The reporter informed his
  questioner that in returning from the theatricals; at which he
  was present; he shared a fly with a gentleman who assured him
  that such an alliance was certain; so obviously did it
  recommend itself to all concerned; as a means of strengthening
  both families。  The gentleman's knowledge of the Powers was so
  precise that the reporter did not hesitate to accept his
  assertion。  He was a man who had seen a great deal of the
  world; and his face was noticeable for the seams and scars on
  it。
  Somerset recognized Paula's uncle in the portrait。
  Hostilities; then; were beginning。  The paragraph had been
  meant as the first slap。  Taking her abroad was the second。
  BOOK THE FOURTH。  SOMERSET; DARE AND DE STANCY。
  I。
  There was no part of Paula's journey in which Somerset did not
  think of her。  He imagined her in the hotel at Havre; in her
  brief rest at Paris; her drive past the Place de la Bastille
  to the Boulevart Mazas to take the train for Lyons; her
  tedious progress through the dark of a winter night till she
  crossed the isothermal line which told of the beginning of a
  southern atmosphere; and onwards to the ancient blue sea。
  Thus; between the hours devoted to architecture; he passed the
  next three days。  One morning he set himself; by the help of
  John; to practise on the telegraph instrument; expecting a
  message。  But though he watched the machine at every
  opportunity; or kept some other person on the alert in its
  neighbourhood; no message arrived to gratify him till after
  the lapse of nearly a fortnight。  Then she spoke from her new
  habitation nine hundred miles away; in these meagre words:
  'Are settled at the address given。  Can now attend to any
  inquiry about the building。'
  The pointed implication that she could attend to inquiries
  about nothing else; breathed of the veritable Paula so
  distinctly that he could forgive its sauciness。  His reply was
  soon despatched:
  'Will write particulars of our progress。  Always the same。'
  The last three words formed the sentimental appendage which
  she had assured him she could tolerate; and which he hoped she
  might desire。
  He spent the remainder of the day in making a little sketch to
  show what had been done in the castle since her departure。
  This he despatched with a letter of explanation ending in a
  paragraph of a different tenor:
  'I have demonstrated our progress as well as I could; but
  another subject has been in my mind; even whilst writing the
  former。  Ask yourself if you use me well in keeping me a
  fortnight before you so much as say that you have arrived?
  The one thing that reconciled me to your departure was the
  thought that I should hear early from you:  my idea of being
  able to submit to your absence was based entirely upon that。
  'But I have resolved not to be out of humour; and to believe
  that your scheme of reserve is not unreasonable; neither do I
  quarrel with your injunction to keep silence to all relatives。
  I do not know anything I can say to show you more plainly my
  acquiescence in your wish 〃not to go too far〃 (in short; to
  keep yourself dearby dear I mean not cheapyou have been
  dear in the other sense a long time; as you know); than by not
  urging you to go a single degree further in warmth than you
  please。'
  When this was posted he again turned his attention to her
  walls and towers; which indeed were a dumb consolation in many
  ways for the lack of herself。  There was no nook in the castle
  to which he had not access or could not easily obtain access
  by applying for the keys; and this propinquity of things
  belonging to her served to keep her image before him even more
  constantly than his memories would have done。
  Three days and a half after the despatch of his subdued
  effusion the telegraph called to tell him the good news that
  'Your letter and drawing are just received。  Thanks for the
  latter。  Will reply to the former by post this afternoon。'
  It was with cheerful patience that he attended to his three
  draughtsmen in the studio; or walked about the environs of the
  fortress during the fifty hours spent by her presumably tender
  missive on the road。  A light fleece of snow fell during the
  second night of waiting; inverting the position of long…
  established lights and shades; and lowering to a dingy grey
  the approximately white walls of other weathers; he could
  trace the postman's footmarks as he entered over the bridge;
  knowing them by the dot of his walking…stick:  on entering the
  expected letter was waiting upon his table。  He looked at its
  direction with glad curiosity; it was the first letter he had
  ever received from her。
  'HOTEL …; NICE;
  Feb。 14。
  'MY DEAR MR。 SOMERSET' (the 'George;' then; to which she had
  so kindly treated him in her last conversation; was not to be
  continued in black and white);
  'Your letter explaining the progress of the work; aided by the
  sketch enclosed; gave me as clear an idea of the advance made
  since my departure as I could have gained by being present。  I
  feel every confidence in you; and am quite sure the
  restoration is in good hands。  In this opinion both my aunt
  and my uncle coincide。  Please act entirely on your own
  judgment in everything; and as soon as you give a certificate
  to the builders for the first instalment of their money it
  will be promptly sent by my solicitors。
  'You bid me ask myself if I have used you well in not sending
  intelligence of myself till a fortnight after I had left you。
  Now; George; don't be unreasonable!  Let me remind you that;
  as a certain apostle said; there are a thousand things lawful
  which are not expedient。  I say this; not from pride in my own
  conduct; but to offer you a very fair explanation of it。  Your
  resolve not to be out of humour with me suggests that you have
  been sorely tempted that way; else why should such a resolve
  have been necessary?
  'If you only knew what passes in my mind sometimes you would
  perhaps not be so ready to blame。  Shall I tell you?  No。
  For; if it is a great emotion; it may afford you a cruel
  satisfaction at finding I suffer through separation; and if it
  be a growing indifference to you; it will be inflicting
  gratuitous unhappiness upon you to say so; if you care for me;
  as I SOMETIMES think you may do A LITTLE。'
  ('O; Paula!' said Somerset。)
  'Please which way would you have it?  But it is better that
  you should guess at what I feel than that you should
  distinctly know it。  Notwithstanding this assertion you will;
  I know; adhere to your first prepossession in favour of prompt
  confessions。  In spite of that; I fear that upon trial such
  promptness would not produce that happiness which your fancy
  leads you to expect。  Your heart would weary in time; and when
  once that happens; good…bye to the emotion you have told me
  of。  Imagine such a case clearly; and you will perceive the
  probability of what I say。  At the same time I admit that a
  woman who is ONLY a creature of evasions and disguises is very
  disagreeable。
  'Do not write VERY frequently; and never write at all unless
  you have some real information about the castle works to
  communicate。  I will explain to you on another occasion why I
  make this request。  You will possibly set it down as
  additional evidence of my cold…heartedness。  If so you must。
  Would you also mind writing the business letter on an
  independent sheet; with a proper beginning and ending?
  Whether you inclose another sheet is of course optional。
  Sincerely yours;                PAULA POWER。'
  Somerset had a suspicion that her order to him not to neglect
  the business letter was to escape any invidious remarks from
  her uncle。  He wished she would be more explicit; so that he
  might know exactly how matters stood with them; and whether
  Abner Power had ever ventured to express disapproval of him as
  her lover。
  But not knowing; he waited anxiously for a new architectural
  event on which he might legitimately send her another line。
  This occurred about a week later; when the men engaged in
  digging foundations discovered remains of old ones which
  warranted a modification of the original plan。  He accordingly
  sent off his professional advice on the point; requesting her
  assent or otherwise to the amendment; winding up the inquiry
  with 'Yours faithfully。'  On another sheet he wrote:…
  'Do you suffer from any unpleasantness in the manner of others
  on account of me?  If so; inform me; Paula。  I cannot
  otherwise interpret your request for the separate sheets。
  While on this point I will tell you what