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！
sweetest； and most honest way of making amends； but having
arrived there she seemed further off from his sphere of
existence than when she had been at Stancy Castle。 Virtually
she was； for if he thought of her at all； he probably thought
of her there； if he sought her he would seek her there。
However； as he would probably never do the latter； it was
necessary to go on。 It had been her sudden dream before
starting； to light accidentally upon him in some romantic old
town of this romantic old province； but she had become aware
that the recorded fortune of lovers in that respect was not to
be trusted too implicitly。
Somerset's search for her in the south was now inversely
imitated。 By diligent inquiry in Cherbourg during the gloom
of evening； in the disguise of a hooded cloak； she learnt out
the place of his stay while there； and that he had gone thence
to Lisieux。 What she knew of the architectural character of
Lisieux half guaranteed the truth of the information。 Without
telling her aunt of this discovery she announced to that lady
that it was her great wish to go on and see the beauties of
Lisieux。
But though her aunt was simple； there were bounds to her
simplicity。 'Paula；' she said； with an undeceivable air； 'I
don't think you should run after a young man like this。
Suppose he shouldn't care for you by this time。'
It was no occasion for further affectation。 'I am SURE he
will；' answered her niece flatly。 'I have not the least fear
about itnor would you； if you knew how he is。 He will
forgive me anything。'
'Well； pray don't show yourself forward。 Some people are apt
to fly into extremes。'
Paula blushed a trifle； and reflected； and made no answer。
However； her purpose seemed not to be permanently affected；
for the next morning she was up betimes and preparing to
depart； and they proceeded almost without stopping to the
architectural curiosity…town which had so quickly interested
her。 Nevertheless her ardent manner of yesterday underwent a
considerable change； as if she had a fear that； as her aunt
suggested； in her endeavour to make amends for cruel
injustice； she was allowing herself to be carried too far。
On nearing the place she said； 'Aunt； I think you had better
call upon him； and you need not tell him we have come on
purpose。 Let him think； if he will； that we heard he was
here； and would not leave without seeing him。 You can also
tell him that I am anxious to clear up a misunderstanding； and
ask him to call at our hotel。'
But as she looked over the dreary suburban erections which
lined the road from the railway to the old quarter of the
town； it occurred to her that Somerset would at that time of
day be engaged in one or other of the mediaeval buildings
thereabout； and that it would be a much neater thing to meet
him as if by chance in one of these edifices than to call upon
him anywhere。 Instead of putting up at any hotel； they left
the maids and baggage at the station； and hiring a carriage；
Paula told the coachman to drive them to such likely places as
she could think of。
'He'll never forgive you；' said her aunt； as they rumbled into
the town。
'Won't he？' said Paula； with soft faith。 'I'll see about
that。'
'What are you going to do when you find him？ Tell him point…
blank that you are in love with him？'
'Act in such a manner that he may tell me he is in love with
me。'
They first visited a large church at the upper end of a square
that sloped its gravelled surface to the western shine； and
was pricked out with little avenues of young pollard limes。
The church within was one to make any Gothic architect take
lodgings in its vicinity for a fortnight； though it was just
now crowded with a forest of scaffolding for repairs in
progress。 Mrs。 Goodman sat down outside； and Paula； entering；
took a walk in the form of a horse…shoe； that is； up the south
aisle； round the apse； and down the north side； but no figure
of a melancholy young man sketching met her eye anywhere。 The
sun that blazed in at the west doorway smote her face as she
emerged from beneath it and revealed real sadness there。
'This is not all the old architecture of the town by far；' she
said to her aunt with an air of confidence。 'Coachman； drive
to St。 Jacques'。'
He was not at St。 Jacques'。 Looking from the west end of that
building the girl observed the end of a steep narrow street of
antique character； which seemed a likely haunt。 Beckoning to
her aunt to follow in the fly Paula walked down the street。
She was transported to the Middle Ages。 It contained the
shops of tinkers； braziers； bellows…menders； hollow…turners；
and other quaintest trades； their fronts open to the street
beneath stories of timber overhanging so far on each side that
a slit of sky was left at the top for the light to descend；
and no more。 A blue misty obscurity pervaded the atmosphere；
into which the sun thrust oblique staves of light。 It was a
street for a mediaevalist to revel in； toss up his hat and
shout hurrah in； send for his luggage； come and live in； die
and be buried in。 She had never supposed such a street to
exist outside the imaginations of antiquarians。 Smells direct
from the sixteenth century hung in the air in all their
original integrity and without a modern taint。 The faces of
the people in the doorways seemed those of individuals who
habitually gazed on the great Francis； and spoke of Henry the
Eighth as the king across the sea。
She inquired of a coppersmith if an English artist had been
seen here lately。 With a suddenness that almost discomfited
her he announced that such a man had been seen； sketching a
house just belowthe 'Vieux Manoir de Francois premier。'
Just turning to see that her aunt was following in the fly；
Paula advanced to the house。 The wood framework of the lower
story was black and varnished； the upper story was brown and
not varnished； carved figures of dragons； griffins； satyrs；
and mermaids swarmed over the front； an ape stealing apples
was the subject of this cantilever； a man undressing of that。
These figures were cloaked with little cobwebs which waved in
the breeze； so that each figure seemed alive。
She examined the woodwork closely； here and there she
discerned pencil…marks which had no doubt been jotted thereon
by Somerset as points of admeasurement； in the way she had
seen him mark them at the castle。 Some fragments of paper lay
below： there were pencilled lines on them； and they bore a
strong resemblance to a spoilt leaf of Somerset's sketch…book。
Paula glanced up； and from a window above protruded an old
woman's head； which； with the exception of the white
handkerchief tied round it； was so nearly of the colour of the
carvings that she might easily have passed as of a piece with
them。 The aged woman continued motionless； the remains of her
eyes being bent upon Paula； who asked her in Englishwoman's
French where the sketcher had gone。 Without replying； the
crone produced a hand and extended finger from her side； and
pointed towards the lower end of the street。
Paula went on； the carriage following with difficulty； on
account of the obstructions in the th