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！
barrack lane along which any soldier； in the natural course of
things； would pass either to enter the town； to call at Myrtle
Villa； or to go to Stancy Castle。
Dare seemed to act as if there were plenty of time for his
business。 Some few days had slipped by when； perceiving
Captain De Stancy walk past his window and into the town； Dare
took his hat and cane； and followed in the same direction。
When he was about fifty yards short of Myrtle Villa on the
other side of the town he saw De Stancy enter its gate。
Dare mounted a stile beside the highway and patiently waited。
In about twenty minutes De Stancy came out again and turned
back in the direction of the town； till Dare was revealed to
him on his left hand。 When De Stancy recognized the youth he
was visibly agitated； though apparently not surprised。
Standing still a moment he dropped his glance upon the ground；
and then came forward to Dare； who having alighted from the
stile stood before the captain with a smile。
'My dear lad！' said De Stancy； much moved by recollections。
He held Dare's hand for a moment in both his own； and turned
askance。
'You are not astonished；' said Dare； still retaining his
smile； as if to his mind there were something comic in the
situation。
'I knew you were somewhere near。 Where do you come from？'
'From going to and fro in the earth； and walking up and down
in it； as Satan said to his Maker。Southampton last； in
common speech。'
'Have you come here to see me？'
'Entirely。 I divined that your next quarters would be
Markton； the previous batteries that were at your station
having come on here。 I have wanted to see you badly。'
'You have？'
'I am rather out of cash。 I have been knocking about a good
deal since you last heard from me。'
'I will do what I can again。'
'Thanks； captain。'
'But； Willy； I am afraid it will not be much at present。 You
know I am as poor as a mouse。'
'But such as it is； could you write a cheque for it now？'
'I will send it to you from the barracks。'
'I have a better plan。 By getting over this stile we could go
round at the back of the villas to Sleeping…Green Church。
There is always a pen…and…ink in the vestry； and we can have a
nice talk on the way。 It would be unwise for me to appear at
the barracks just now。'
'That's true。'
De Stancy sighed； and they were about to walk across the
fields together。 'No；' said Dare； suddenly stopping： my
plans make it imperative that we should not run the risk of
being seen in each other's company for long。 Walk on； and I
will follow。 You can stroll into the churchyard； and move
about as if you were ruminating on the epitaphs。 There are
some with excellent morals。 I'll enter by the other gate； and
we can meet easily in the vestry…room。'
De Stancy looked gloomy； and was on the point of acquiescing
when he turned back and said； 'Why should your photograph be
shown to the chief constable？'
'By whom？'
'Somerset the architect。 He suspects your having broken into
his office or something of the sort。' De Stancy briefly
related what Somerset had explained to him at the dinner…
table。
'It was merely diamond cut diamond between us； on an
architectural matter；' murmured Dare。 'Ho！ and he suspects；
and that's his remedy！'
'I hope this is nothing serious？' asked De Stancy gravely。
'I peeped at his drawingthat's all。 But since he chooses to
make that use of my photograph； which I gave him in
friendship； I'll make use of his in a way he little dreams of。
Well now； let's on。'
A quarter of an hour later they met in the vestry of the
church at Sleeping…Green。
'I have only just transferred my account to the bank here；'
said De Stancy； as he took out his cheque…book； 'and it will
be more convenient to me at present to draw but a small sum。
I will make up the balance afterwards。'
When he had written it Dare glanced over the paper and said
ruefully； 'It is small； dad。 Well； there is all the more
reason why I should broach my scheme； with a view to making
such documents larger in the future。'
'I shall be glad to hear of any such scheme；' answered De
Stancy； with a languid attempt at jocularity。
'Then here it is。 The plan I have arranged for you is of the
nature of a marriage。'
'You are very kind！' said De Stancy； agape。
'The lady's name is Miss Paula Power； who； as you may have
heard since your arrival； is in absolute possession of her
father's property and estates； including Stancy Castle。 As
soon as I heard of her I saw what a marvellous match it would
be for you； and your family； it would make a man of you； in
short； and I have set my mind upon your putting no objection
in the way of its accomplishment。'
'But； Willy； it seems to me that； of us two； it is you who
exercise paternal authority？'
'True； it is for your good。 Let me do it。'
'Well； one must be indulgent under the circumstances； I
suppose。 。 。 。 But；' added De Stancy simply； 'Willy； Idon't
want to marry； you know。 I have lately thought that some day
we may be able to live together； you and I： go off to America
or New Zealand； where we are not known； and there lead a
quiet； pastoral life； defying social rules and troublesome
observances。'
'I can't hear of it； captain；' replied Dare reprovingly。 'I
am what events have made me； and having fixed my mind upon
getting you settled in life by this marriage； I have put
things in train for it at an immense trouble to myself。 If
you had thought over it o' nights as much as I have； you would
not say nay。'
'But I ought to have married your mother if anybody。 And as I
have not married her； the least I can do in respect to her is
to marry no other woman。'
'You have some sort of duty to me； have you not； Captain De
Stancy？'
'Yes； Willy； I admit that I have；' the elder replied
reflectively。 'And I don't think I have failed in it thus
far？'
'This will be the crowning proof。 Paternal affection； family
pride； the noble instincts to reinstate yourself in the castle
of your ancestors； all demand the step。 And when you have
seen the lady！ She has the figure and motions of a sylph； the
face of an angel； the eye of love itself。 What a sight she is
crossing the lawn on a sunny afternoon； or gliding airily
along the corridors of the old place the De Stancys knew so
well！ Her lips are the softest； reddest； most distracting
things you ever saw。 Her hair is as soft as silk； and of the
rarest； tenderest brown。'
The captain moved uneasily。 'Don't take the trouble to say
more； Willy；' he observed。 'You know how I am。 My cursed
susceptibility to these matters has already wasted years of my
life； and I don't want to make myself a fool about her too。'
'You must see her。'
'No； don't let me see her；' De Stancy expostulated。 'If she
is only half so good…looking as you say； she will drag me at
her heels like a blind Samson。 You are a mere youth as yet；
but I may tell you that the misfortune of never having been my
own master where a beautiful face was concerned obliges me to
be cautious if I would preserve my peace of mind。'
'Well； to my mind； Captain De Stancy； your objections seem
trivial。 Are