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！
should be older than the date of Waterloo。'
'How I wish I knew something precise of an art which makes one
so independent of written history！'
Mr。 Havill had lapsed into a mannerly silence that was only
sullenness disguised。 Paula turned her conversation to Miss
De Stancy； who had simply looked from one to the other during
the discussion； though she might have been supposed to have a
prescriptive right to a few remarks on the matter。 A
commonplace talk ensued； till Havill； who had not joined in
it； privately began at Somerset again with a mixed manner of
cordiality； contempt； and misgiving。
'You have a practice； I suppose； sir？'
'I am not in practice just yet。'
'Just beginning？'
'I am about to begin。'
'In London； or near here？'
'In London probably。'
'H'm。 。 。 。 I am practising in Markton。'
'Indeed。 Have you been at it long？'
'Not particularly。 I designed the chapel built by this lady's
late father； it was my first undertakingI owe my start； in
fact； to Mr。 Power。 Ever build a chapel？'
'Never。 I have sketched a good many churches。'
'Ahthere we differ。 I didn't do much sketching in my youth；
nor have I time for it now。 Sketching and building are two
different things； to my mind。 I was not brought up to the
professiongot into it through sheer love of it。 I began as
a landscape gardener； then I became a builder； then I was a
road contractor。 Every architect might do worse than have
some such experience。 But nowadays 'tis the men who can draw
pretty pictures who get recommended； not the practical men。
Young prigs win Institute medals for a pretty design or two
which； if anybody tried to build them； would fall down like a
house of cards； then they get travelling studentships and what
not； and then they start as architects of some new school or
other； and think they are the masters of us experienced ones。'
While Somerset was reflecting how far this statement was true；
he heard the voice of Paula inquiring； 'Who can he be？'
Her eyes were bent on the window。 Looking out； Somerset saw
in the mead beyond the dry ditch； Dare； with his photographic
apparatus。
'He is the young gentleman who called about taking views of
the castle；' said Charlotte。
'O yesI remember； it is quite right。 He met me in the
village and asked me to suggest him some views。 I thought him
a respectable young fellow。'
'I think he is a Canadian；' said Somerset。
'No；' said Paula； 'he is from the Eastat least he implied so
to me。'
'There is Italian blood in him；' said Charlotte brightly。
'For he spoke to me with an Italian accent。 But I can't think
whether he is a boy or a man。'
'It is to be earnestly hoped that the gentleman does not
prevaricate；' said the minister； for the first time attracted
by the subject。 'I accidentally met him in the lane； and he
said something to me about having lived in Malta。 I think it
was Malta； or Gibraltareven if he did not say that he was
born there。'
'His manners are no credit to his nationality；' observed Mrs。
Goodman； also speaking publicly for the first time。 'He asked
me this morning to send him out a pail of water for his
process； and before I had turned away he began whistling。 I
don't like whistlers。'
'Then it appears；' said Somerset； 'that he is a being of no
age； no nationality； and no behaviour。'
'A complete negative；' added Havill； brightening into a civil
sneer。 'That is； he would be； if he were not a maker of
negatives well known in Markton。'
'Not well known； Mr。 Havill；' answered Mrs。 Goodman firmly。
'For I lived in Markton for thirty years ending three months
ago； and he was never heard of in my time。'
'He is something like you； Charlotte；' said Paula； smiling
playfully on her companion。
All the men looked at Charlotte； on whose face a delicate
nervous blush thereupon made its appearance。
''Pon my word there is a likeness； now I think of it；' said
Havill。
Paula bent down to Charlotte and whispered： 'Forgive my
rudeness； dear。 He is not a nice enough person to be like
you。 He is really more like one or other of the old pictures
about the house。 I forget which； and really it does not
matter。'
'People's features fall naturally into groups and classes；'
remarked Somerset。 'To an observant person they often repeat
themselves； though to a careless eye they seem infinite in
their differences。'
The conversation flagged； and they idly observed the figure of
the cosmopolite Dare as he walked round his instrument in the
mead and busied himself with an arrangement of curtains and
lenses； occasionally withdrawing a few steps； and looking
contemplatively at the towers and walls。
IX。
Somerset returned to the top of the great tower with a vague
consciousness that he was going to do something up there
perhaps sketch a general plan of the structure。 But he began
to discern that this Stancy…Castle episode in his studies of
Gothic architecture might be less useful than ornamental to
him as a professional man； though it was too agreeable to be
abandoned。 Finding after a while that his drawing progressed
but slowly； by reason of infinite joyful thoughts more allied
to his nature than to his art； he relinquished rule and
compass； and entered one of the two turrets opening on the
roof。 It was not the staircase by which he had ascended； and
he proceeded to explore its lower part。 Entering from the
blaze of light without； and imagining the stairs to descend as
usual； he became aware after a few steps that there was
suddenly nothing to tread on； and found himself precipitated
downwards to a distance of several feet。
Arrived at the bottom； he was conscious of the happy fact that
he had not seriously hurt himself； though his leg was twisted
awkwardly。 Next he perceived that the stone steps had been
removed from the turret； so that he had dropped into it as
into a dry well； that； owing to its being walled up below；
there was no door of exit on either side of him； that he was；
in short； a prisoner。
Placing himself in a more comfortable position he calmly
considered the best means of getting out； or of making his
condition known。 For a moment he tried to drag himself up by
his arm； but it was a hopeless attempt； the height to the
first step being far too great。
He next looked round at a lower level。 Not far from his left
elbow； in the concave of the outer wall； was a slit for the
admission of light； and he perceived at once that through this
slit alone lay his chance of communicating with the outer
world。 At first it seemed as if it were to be done by
shouting； but when he learnt what little effect was produced
by his voice in the midst of such a mass of masonry； his heart
failed him for a moment。 Yet； as either Paula or Miss De
Stancy would probably guess his visit to the top of the tower；
there was no cause for terror； if some for alarm。
He put his handkerchief through the window…slit； so that it
fluttered outside； and； fixing it in its place by a large
stone drawn from the loose ones around him； awaited succour as
best he could。 To begin this course of procedure was easy；
but to abide in patience till it should