第49章

Wewentinside。Anoldwomanwithverywhitehairwasinchargeoftheplaceandcringedratherobviouslytothenewmaster。Sheevidentlyfoundhimaverystrangeandfrightfulapparitionindeed，andwasdreadfullyafraidofhim。Butifthesurvivingpresentboweddowntous，thepastdidnot。Westooduptothedark，longportraitsoftheextinguishedrace——onewasaHolbein——andlookedthemintheirsidelongeyes。Theylookedbackatus。Weall，Iknow，felttheenigmaticalqualityinthem。Evenmyunclewasmomentarilyembarrassed，Ithink，bythatinvinciblyself-complacentexpression。Itwasjustasthough，afterall，hehadnotboughtthemupandreplacedthemaltogether；asthoughthat，secretly，theyknewbetterandcouldsmileathim。

ThespiritoftheplacewasakintoBladesover，buttouchedwithsomethingolderandremoter。Thatarmourthatstoodabouthadonceservedintilt-yards，ifindeedithadnotservedinbattle，andthisfamilyhadsentitsbloodandtreasure，timeaftertime，uponthemostromanticquestinhistory，toPalestine。Dreams，loyalties，placeandhonour，howutterlyhaditallevaporated，leaving，atlast，thefinalexpressionofitsspirit，thesequaintpaintedsmiles，thesesmilesoftriumphantcompletion！Ithadevaporated，indeed，longbeforetheultimateDurganhaddied，andinhisoldagehehadcumberedtheplacewithEarlyVictoriancushionsandcarpetsandtapestrytable-clothsandinvalidappliancesofatypeevenmoreextinct，itseemedtous，thanthecrusades。Yes，itwasdifferentfromBladesover。

“Bitstuffy，George。”saidmyuncle。“Theyhadn’tmuchideaofventilationwhenthiswasbuilt。”

Oneofthepanelledroomswashalf-filledwithpressesandafour-posterbed。“Mightbetheghostroom。”saidmyuncle；butitdidnotseemtomethatsoretiringafamilyastheDurgans，sooldandcompletelyexhaustedafamilyastheDurgans，waslikelytohauntanybody。Whatlivingthingnowhadanyconcernwiththeirhonourandjudgmentsandgoodandevildeeds？Ghostsandwitchcraftwerealaterinnovation——thatfashioncamefromScotlandwiththeStuarts。

Afterwards，pryingforepitaphs，wefoundamarblecrusaderwithabrokennose，underabatteredcanopyoffrettedstone，outsidetherestrictedlimitsofthepresentDuffieldchurch，andhalfburiedinnettles。“Ichabod。”saidmyuncle。“Eh？Weshallbelikethat，Susan，someday。I’mgoingtocleanhimupabitandputarailingtokeepoffthechildren。”

“Oldsavedattheeleventhhour。”saidmyaunt，quotingoneofthelesssuccessfuladvertisementsofTono-Bungay。

ButIdon’tthinkmyuncleheardher。

Itwasbyourcapturedcrusaderthatthevicarfoundus。Hecameroundthecorneratusbriskly，alittleoutofbreath。Hehadanairofhavingbeenrunningafterussincethefirsttootofourhornhadwarnedthevillageofourpresence。HewasanOxfordman，clean-shaven，withacadaverouscomplexionandaguardedlyrespectfulmanner，acultivatedintonation，andageneralairofaccommodationtotheneworderofthings。TheseOxfordmenaretheGreeksofourplutocraticempire。HewasaToryinspirit，andwhatonemaycallanadaptedTorybystressofcircumstances；thatistosay，hewasnolongeralegitimist；

hewaspreparedforthesubstitutionofnewlordsforold。Wewerepillvendorsheknew，andnodoubthorriblyvulgarinsoul；

butthenitmighthavebeensomepolygamousIndianrajah，agreatstrainonagoodman’stact，orsomeJewwithaninh