第1章

Thechangingoftheoldorderincountrymanorsandmansionsmaybesloworsudden，mayhavemanyissuesromanticorotherwise，itsromanticissuesbeingnotnecessarilyrestrictedtoachangebacktotheoriginalorder；thoughthisadmissibleinstanceappearstohavebeentheonlyromanceformerlyrecognizedbynovelistsaspossibleinthecase。

Whetherthefollowingproductionbeapictureofotherpossibilitiesornot，itsincidentsmaybetakentobefairlywellsupportedbyevidenceeverydayforthcominginmostcounties。

Thewritingofthetalewasrenderedmemorabletotwopersons，atleast，byatediousillnessoffivemonthsthatlaidholdoftheauthorsoonafterthestorywasbeguninawell-knownmagazine；duringwhichperiodthenarrativehadtobestrenuouslycontinuedbydictationtoapredeterminedcheerfulending。

AssomeofthesenovelsofWessexlifeaddressthemselvesmoreespeciallytoreadersintowhosesoulstheironhasentered，andwhoseyearshavelesspleasureinthemnowthanheretofore，so"ALaodicean"mayperhapshelptowhileawayanidleafternoonofthecomfortableoneswhoselineshavefallentotheminpleasantplaces；aboveall，ofthatlargeandhappysectionofthereadingpublicwhichhasnotyetreachedripenessofyears；thosetowhommarriageisthepilgrim"sEternalCity，andnotamilestoneontheway。

Thesunblazeddownanddown，tillitwaswithinhalf-an-hourofitssetting；butthesketcherstilllingeredathisoccupationofmeasuringandcopyingthechevroneddoorway——aboldandquaintexampleofatransitionalstyleofarchitecture，whichformedthetowerentrancetoanEnglishvillagechurch。Thegraveyardbeingquiteopenonitswesternside，thetweed-cladfigureoftheyoungdraughtsman，andthetallmassofantiquemasonrywhichroseabovehimtoabattlementedparapet，werefiredtoagreatbrightnessbythesolarrays，thatcrossedtheneighbouringmeadlikeawarpofgoldthreads，inwhosemazesgroupsofequallylustrousgnatsdancedandwailedincessantly。

Hewassoabsorbedinhispursuitthathedidnotmarkthebrilliantchromaticeffectofwhichhecomposedthecentralfeature，tillitwasbroughthometohisintelligencebythewarmthofthemouldedstoneworkunderhistouchwhenmeasuring；whichledhimatlengthtoturnhisheadandgazeonitscause。

Therearefewinwhomthesightofasunsetdoesnotbegetasmuchmeditativemelancholyascontemplativepleasure，thehumandeclineanddeaththatitillustratesbeingtooobvioustoescapethenoticeofthesimplestobserver。Thesketcher，asifhehadbeenbroughttothisreflectionmanyhundredsoftimesbeforebythesamespectacle，showedthathedidnotwishtopursueitjustnow，byturningawayhisfaceafterafewmoments，toresumehisarchitecturalstudies。

Hetookhismeasurementscarefully，andasifhereverencedtheoldworkerswhosetrickhewasendeavouringtoacquiresixhundredyearsaftertheoriginalperformancehadceasedandtheperformerspassedintotheunseen。Bymeansofastripofleadcalledaleadentape，whichhepressedaroundandintothefilletsandhollowswithhisfingerandthumb，hetransferredtheexactcontourofeachmouldingtohisdrawing，thatlayonasketching-stoolafewfeetdistant；wherewerealsoasketching-block，asmallT-square，abow-pencil，andothermathematicalinstruments。Whenhehadmarkeddownthelinethusfixed，hereturnedtothedoorwaytocopyanotherasbefore。

ItbeingthemonthofAugust，whenthepalefaceofthetownsmanandthestrangeristobeseenamongthebrownskinsofremotestuplanders，notonlyinEngland，butthroughoutthetemperatezone，fewofthehomeward-boundlabourerspausedtonoticehimfurtherthanbyamomentaryturnofthehead。Theyhadbeheldsuchgentlemenbefore，notexactlymeasuringthechurchsoaccuratelyasthisoneseemedtobedoing，butpaintingitfromadistance，oratleastwalkingroundthemouldypile。Atthesametimethepresentvisitor，evenexteriorly，wasnotaltogethercommonplace。Hisfeaturesweregood，hiseyesofthedarkdeepsortcalledeloquentbythesexthatoughttoknow，andwiththatrayoflightinthemwhichannouncesaheartsusceptibletobeautyofallkinds，——

inwoman，inart，andininanimatenature。Thoughhewouldhavebeenbroadlycharacterizedasayoungman，hisfaceborecontradictorytestimoniestohispreciseage。Thiswasconceivablyowingtoatoodominantspeculativeactivityinhim，which，whileithadpreservedtheemotionalsideofhisconstitution，andwithitthesignificantflexuousnessofmouthandchin，hadplayeduponhisforeheadandtemplestill，atwearymoments，theyexhibitedsometracesofbeingover-

exercised。Ayouthfulnessaboutthemobilefeatures，amatureforehead——thoughnotexactlywhattheworldhasbeenfamiliarwithinpastages——isnowgrowingcommon；andwiththeadvanceofjuvenileintrospectionitprobablymustgrowcommonerstill。Briefly，hehadmoreofthebeauty——ifbeautyitoughttobecalled——ofthefuturehumantypethanofthepast；butnotsomuchastomakehimotherthananiceyoungman。

Hisbuildwassomewhatslenderandtall；hiscomplexion，thoughalittlebrownedbyrecentexposure，wasthatofamanwhospentmuchofhistimeindoors。Ofbeardhehadbutsmallshow，thoughhewasasinnocentasaNazariteoftheuseoftherazor；buthepossessedamoustacheall-sufficienttohidethesubtletiesofhismouth，whichcouldthusbetremulousattendermomentswithoutprovokinginconvenientcriticism。

Owingtohissituationonhighground，opentothewest，heremainedenvelopedinthelingeringaureatehazetillatimewhentheeasternpartofthechurchyardwasinobscurity，anddampwithrisingdew。Whenitwastoodarktosketchfurtherhepackeduphisdrawing，and，beckoningtoaladwhohadbeenidlingbythegate，directedhimtocarrythestoolandimplementstoaroadsideinnwhichhenamed，lyingamileortwoahead。Thedraughtsmanleisurelyfollowedtheladoutofthechurchyard，andalongalaneinthedirectionsignified。

ThespectacleofasummertravellerfromLondonsketchingmediaevaldetailsintheseneo-Pagandays，whenalullhascomeoverthestudyofEnglishGothicarchitecture，throughare-awakeningtotheart-formsoftimesthatmorenearlyneighbourourown，isaccountedforbythefactthatGeorgeSomerset，sonoftheAcademicianofthatname，wasamanofindependenttastesandexcursiveinstincts，whounconsciously，andperhapsunhappily，tookgreaterpleasureinfloatinginlonelycurrentsofthoughtthanwiththegeneraltideofopinion。Whenquitealad，inthedaysoftheFrenchGothicmaniawhichimmediatelysucceededtothegreatEnglish-pointedrevivalunderBritton，Pugin，Rickman，Scott，andothermediaevalists，hehadcreptawayfromthefashiontoadmirewhatwasgoodinPalladianandRenaissance。

AssoonasJacobean，QueenAnne，andkindredaccretionsofdecayedstylesbegantobepopular，hepurchasedsuchold-schoolworksasRevettandStuart，Chambers，andtherest，andworkeddiligentlyattheFiveOrders；tillquitebewilderedonthequestionofstyle，heconcludedthatallstyleswereextinct，andwiththemallarchitectureasalivingart。Somersetwasnotoldenoughatthattimetoknowthat，inpractice，arthadatalltimesbeenasfullofshiftsandcompromisesaseveryothermundanething；thatidealperfectionwasneverachievedbyGreek，Goth，orHebrewJew，andneverwouldbe；andthushewasthrownintoamoodofdisgustwithhisprofession，fromwhichmoodhewasonlydeliveredbyrecklesslyabandoningthesestudiesandindulginginanoldenthusiasmforpoeticalliterature。Fortwowholeyearshedidnothingbutwriteverseineveryconceivablemetre，andoneveryconceivablesubject，fromWordsworthiansonnetsonthesingingofhistea-

kettletoepicfragmentsontheFallofEmpires。Hisdiscoveryattheageoffive-and-twentythattheseinspiredworkswerenotjumpedatbythepublisherswithalltheeagernesstheydeserved，coincidedinpointoftimewithaseverehintfromhisfatherthatunlesshewentonwithhislegitimateprofessionhemighthavetolookelsewherethanathomeforanallowance。Mr。Somersetjuniorthenawoketorealities，becameintentlypractical，rushedbacktohisdustydrawing-boards，andworkedupthestylesanew，withaviewofregularlystartinginpracticeonthefirstdayofthefollowingJanuary。

Itisanoldstory，andperhapsonlydeservesthelighttoneinwhichthesoaringofayoungmanintotheempyrean，andhisdescentagain，isalwaysnarrated。Butashasoftenbeensaid，thelightandthetruthmaybeonthesideofthedreamer:afarwiderviewthanthewiseoneshavemaybehisatthatrecalcitranttime，andhisreductiontocommonmeasurebenothinglessthanatragicevent。Theoperationcalledlunging，inwhichahalteredcoltismadetotrotroundandroundahorsebreakerwhoholdstherope，tillthebeholdergrowsdizzyinlookingatthem，isaveryunhappyonefortheanimalconcerned。Duringitsprogressthecoltspringsupward，acrossthecircle，stops，fliesovertheturfwiththevelocityofabird，andindulgesinallsortsofgracefulantics；buthealwaysendsinoneway——thankstotheknottedwhipcord——inaleveltrotroundthelungerwiththeregularityofahorizontalwheel，andinthelossforevertohischaracteroftheboldcontourswhichthefinehandofNaturegaveit。Yettheprocessisconsideredtobethemakingofhim。

WhetherSomersetbecamepermanentlymadeundertheactionoftheinevitablelunge，orwhetherhelapsedintomeredabblingwiththeartisticsideofhisprofessiononly，itwouldbeprematuretosay；butatanyrateitwashiscontritereturntoarchitectureasacallingthatsenthimonthesketchingexcursionundernotice。Feelingthatsomethingstillwaswantingtoroundoffhisknowledgebeforehecouldtakehisprofessionallinewithconfidence，hewasledtorememberthathisownnativeGothicwastheoneformofdesignthathehadtotallyneglectedfromthebeginning，throughitshavinggreetedhimwithwearisomeiterationattheopeningofhiscareer。Nowithadagainreturnedtosilence；indeed——suchisthesurprisinginstabilityofart"principles"astheyarefacetiouslycalled——itwasjustaslikelyasnottosinkintotheneglectandoblivionwhichhadbeenitslotinGeorgiantimes。ThisaccidentofbeingoutofvoguelentEnglishGothicanadditionalcharmtooneofhisproclivities；andawayhewenttomakeitthebusinessofasummercircuitinthewest。

Thequiettimeofevening，thesecludedneighbourhood，theunusuallygorgeousliveriesofthecloudspackedinapileoverthatquarteroftheheavensinwhichthesunhaddisappeared，weresuchastomakeatravellerloiteronhiswalk。Comingtoastile，Somersetmountedhimselfonthetopbar，toimbibethespiritofthesceneandhour。Theeveningwassostillthateverytriflingsoundcouldbeheardformiles。Therewastherattleofareturningwaggon，mixedwiththesmacksofthewaggoner"swhip:theteammusthavebeenatleastthreemilesoff。Fromfaroverthehillcamethefaintperiodicyellofkennelledhounds；whilefromthenearestvillageresoundedthevoicesofboysatplayinthetwilight。

Thenapowerfulclockstruckthehour；itwasnotfromthedirectionofthechurch，butratherfromthewoodbehindhim；

andhethoughtitmustbetheclockofsomemansionthatway。

Butthemindofmancannotalwaysbeforcedtotakeupsubjectsbythepressureoftheirmaterialpresence，andSomerset"sthoughtswereoften，tohisgreatloss，apttobeevenmorethancommontruantsfromthetonesandimagesthatmethisoutersensesonwalksandrides。Hewouldsometimesgoquietlythroughthequeerest，gayest，mostextraordinarytowninEurope，andletitalone，provideditdidnotmeddlewithhimbyitsbeggars，beauties，innkeepers，police，coachmen，mongrels，badsmells，andsuchlikeobstructions。

Thisfeatofquestionableutilityhebeganperformingnow。

Sittingonthethree-inchashrailthathadbeenpeeledandpolishedlikeglassbytherubbingsofallthesmall-clothesintheparish，heforgotthetime，theplace，forgotthatitwasAugust——inshort，everythingofthepresentaltogether。

Hismindflewbacktohispastlife，anddeploredthewasteoftimethathadresultedfromhisnothavingbeenabletomakeuphismindwhichofthemanyfashionsofartthatwerecomingandgoinginkaleidoscopicchangewasthetruepointofdeparturefromhimself。Hehadsufferedfromthemodernmaladyofunlimitedappreciativenessasmuchasanylivingmanofhisownage。Dozensofhisfellowsinyearsandexperience，whohadneverthoughtspeciallyofthematter，buthadblunderinglyappliedthemselvestowhateverformofartconfrontedthematthemomentoftheirmakingamove，werebythistimeacquiringrenownasnewlights；whilehewasstillunknown。Hewishedthatsomeaccidentcouldhavehemmedinhiseyesbetweeninexorableblinkers，andspedhimoninachanneleversoworn。

Thusbalancedbetweenbelievingandnotbelievinginhisownfuture，hewasrecalledtothescenewithoutbyhearingthenotesofafamiliarhymn，risinginsubduedharmoniesfromavalleybelow。Helistenedmoreheedfully。Itwashisoldfriendthe"NewSabbath，"whichhehadneveronceheardsincethelispingdaysofchildhood，andwhoseexistence，muchasithadthenbeentohim，hehadtillthismomentquiteforgotten。

Wherethe"NewSabbath"hadkeptitselfalltheseyears——whythatsoundandheartymelodyhaddisappearedfromallthecathedrals，parishchurches，minstersandchapels-of-easethathehadbeenacquaintedwithduringhisapprenticeshiptolife，anduntilhiswayshadbecomeirregularanduncongregational——

hecouldnot，atfirst，say。Butthenherecollectedthatthetuneappertainedtotheoldwest-galleryperiodofchurch-

music，anteriortothegreatchoralreformationandtheruleofMonk——thatoldtimewhentherepetitionofaword，orhalf-

lineofaverse，wasnotconsideredadisgracetoanecclesiasticalchoir。

Willingtobeinterestedinanythingwhichwouldkeephimout-

of-doors，Somersetdismountedfromthestileanddescendedthehillbeforehim，tolearnwhencethesingingproceeded。

II。

Hefoundthatithaditsorigininabuildingstandingaloneinafield；andthoughtheeveningwasnotyetdarkwithout，lightsshonefromthewindows。InafewmomentsSomersetstoodbeforetheedifice。Beingjustthenenrapportwithecclesiasticismbyreasonofhisrecentoccupation，hecouldnothelpmurmuring，"ShadeofPugin，whatamonstrosity!"

Perhapsthisexclamation(ratheroutofdatesincethediscoverythatPuginhimselfoftennoddedamazingly)wouldnothavebeenindulgedinbySomersetbutforhisnewarchitecturalresolves，whichcausedprofessionalopinionstoadvancethemselvesofficiouslytohislipswheneveroccasionoffered。Thebuildingwas，inshort，arecently-erectedchapelofredbrick，withpseudo-classicornamentation，andthewhiteregularjointsofmortarcouldbeseenstreakingitssurfaceingeometricaloppressivenessfromtoptobottom。Theroofwasofblueslate，cleanasatable，andunbrokenfromgabletogable；thewindowswereglazedwithsheetsofplateglass，atemporaryironstovepipepassingoutnearoneofthese，andrunninguptotheheightoftheridge，whereitwasfinishedbyacoveringlikeaparachute。Walkingroundtotheend，heperceivedanoblongwhitestoneletintothewalljustabovetheplinth，onwhichwasinscribedindeepletters:——

Erected187-，ATTHESOLEEXPENSEOF

JOHNPOWER，ESQ。，M。P。

The"NewSabbath"stillproceededlinebyline，withalltheemotionalswellsandcadencesthathadofoldcharacterizedthetune:andthebodyofvocalharmonythatitevokedimpliedalargecongregationwithin，towhomitwasplainlyasfamiliarasithadbeentochurch-goersofapastgeneration。

WithawhimsicalsenseofregretatthesecessionofhisoncefavouriteairSomersetmovedaway，andwouldhavequitewithdrawnfromthefieldhadhenotatthatmomentobservedtwoyoungmenwithpitchersofwatercomingupfromastreamhardby，andhasteningwiththeirburdensintothechapelvestrybyasidedoor。Almostassoonastheyhadenteredtheyemergedagainwithemptypitchers，andproceededtothestreamtofillthemasbefore，anoperationwhichtheyrepeatedseveraltimes。Somersetwentforwardtothestream，andwaitedtilltheyoungmencameoutagain。

"Youarecarryinginagreatdealofwater，"hesaid，aseachdippedhispitcher。

Oneoftheyoungmenmodestlyreplied，"Yes:wefilledthecisternthismorning；butitleaks，andrequiresafewpitcherfulsmore。"

"Whydoyoudoit?"

"Thereistobeabaptism，sir。"

Somersetwasnotsufficientlyinterestedtodevelopafurtherconversation，andobservingtheminsilencetilltheyhadagainvanishedintothebuilding，hewentonhisway。

Reachingthebrowofthehillhestoppedandlookedback。Thechapelwasstillinview，andtheshadesofnighthavingdeepened，thelightsshonefromthewindowsyetmorebrightlythanbefore。Afewstepsfurtherwouldhidethemandtheedifice，andallthatbelongedtoitfromhissight，possiblyforever。Therewassomethinginthethoughtwhichledhimtolinger。Thechapelhadneitherbeauty，quaintness，norcongenialitytorecommendit:thedissimilitudebetweenthenewutilitarianismoftheplaceandthescenesofvenerableGothicartwhichhadoccupiedhisdaylighthourscouldnotwellbeexceeded。ButSomerset，ashasbeensaid，wasaninstrumentofnonarrowgamut:hehadakeyforothertouchesthanthepurelyaesthetic，evenonsuchanexcursionasthis。

Hismindwasarrestedbytheintenseandbusyenergywhichmustneedsbelongtoanassemblythatrequiredsuchaglareoflighttodoitsreligionby；intheheavingofthattunetherewasanearnestnesswhichmadehimthoughtful，andtheshineofthosewindowshehadcharacterizedasuglyremindedhimoftheshiningofthegooddeedinanaughtyworld。Thechapelanditsshabbyplotofground，fromwhichtheherbagewasalltroddenawaybybusyfeet，hadalivinghumaninterestthatthenumerousminstersandchurchesknee-deepinfreshgreengrass，visitedbyhimduringtheforegoingweek，hadoftenlacked。Moreover，therewasgoingtobeabaptism:thatmeanttheimmersionofagrown-upperson；andhehadbeentoldthatBaptistswereseriouspeopleandthatthescenewasmostimpressive。Whatmannerofmanwoulditbewhoonanordinaryploddingandbustlingeveningofthenineteenthcenturycouldsinglehimselfoutasonedifferentfromtherestoftheinhabitants，banishallshyness，andcomeforwardtoundergosuchatryingceremony?Whowashethathadpondered，goneintosolitudes，wrestledwithhimself，workeduphiscourageandsaid，Iwilldothis，thoughfewelsewill，forIbelieveittobemyduty?

Whetheronaccountofthesethoughts，orfromthecircumstancethathehadbeenaloneamongstthetombsalldaywithoutcommunionwithhiskind，hecouldnottellinafteryears(whenhehadgoodreasontothinkofthesubject)；butsoitwasthatSomersetwentback，andagainstoodunderthechapel-

wall。

Insteadofenteringhepassedroundtowherethestove-chimneycamethroughthebricks，andholdingontotheironstayheputhistoesontheplinthandlookedinatthewindow。Thebuildingwasquitefullofpeoplebelongingtothatvastmajorityofsocietywhoaredeniedtheartofarticulatingtheirhigheremotions，andcravedumblyforafugleman——

respectablydressedworkingpeople，whosefacesandformswerewornandcontortedbyyearsofdrearytoil。Onaplatformattheendofthechapelahaggardmanofmorethanmiddleage，withgreywhiskersasceticallycutbackfromtheforepartofhisfacesofarastobealmostbanishedfromthecountenance，stoodreadingachapter。Betweentheministerandthecongregationwasanopenspace，andinthefloorofthiswassunkatankfullofwater，whichjustmadeitssurfacevisibleabovetheblacknessofitsdepthsbyreflectingthelightsoverhead。

Somersetendeavouredtodiscoverwhichoneamongtheassemblagewastobethesubjectoftheceremony。Butnobodyappearedtherewhowasatalloutoftheregionofcommonplace。Thepeoplewereallquietandsettled；yethecoulddiscernontheirfacessomethingmorethanattention，thoughitwaslessthanexcitement:perhapsitwasexpectation。Andasiftobearouthissurmiseheheardatthatmomentthenoiseofwheelsbehindhim。

Hisgazeintothelightedchapelmadewhathadbeenaneveningscenewhenhelookedawayfromthelandscapenightitselfonlookingback；buthecouldseeenoughtodiscoverthatabroughamhaddrivenuptotheside-doorusedbytheyoungwater-bearers，andthataladyinwhite-and-blackhalf-

mourningwasintheactofalighting，followedbywhatappearedtobeawaiting-womancarryingwraps。Theyenteredthevestry-roomofthechapel，andthedoorwasshut。Theservicewentonasbeforetillatacertainmomentthedoorbetweenvestryandchapelwasopened，whenawomancameoutclothedinanamplerobeofflowingwhite，whichdescendedtoherfeet。Somersetwasunfortunateinhisposition；hecouldnotseeherface，buthergaitsuggestedatoncethatshewastheladywhohadarrivedjustbefore。Shewasrathertallthanotherwise，andthecontourofherheadandshouldersdenotedagirlintheheydayofyouthandactivity。Hisimagination，stimulatedbythisbeginning，setaboutfillinginthemeagreoutlinewithmostattractivedetails。

Shestooduponthebrinkofthepool，andtheministerdescendedthestepsatitsedgetillthesolesofhisshoesweremoistenedwiththewater。Heturnedtotheyoungcandidate，butshedidnotfollowhim:insteadofdoingsosheremainedrigidasastone。Hestretchedouthishand，butshestillshowedreluctance，till，withsomeembarrassment，hewentback，andspokesoftlyinherear。

Sheapproachedtheedge，lookedintothewater，andturnedawayshakingherhead。Somersetcouldforthefirsttimeseeherface。Thoughhumanlyimperfect，asiseveryfacewesee，itwasonewhichmadehimthinkthatthebestinwoman-kindnolessthanthebestinpsalm-tuneshadgoneovertotheDissenters。Hehadcertainlyseennobodysointerestinginhistourhitherto；shewasabouttwentyortwenty-one——perhapstwenty-three，foryearshaveawayofstealingmarchesevenuponbeauty"sanointed。Thetotaldissimilaritybetweentheexpressionofherlineamentsandthatofthecountenancesaroundherwasnotalittlesurprising，andwasproductiveofhypotheseswithoutmeasureastohowshecamethere。Shewas，infact，emphaticallyamoderntypeofmaidenhood，andshelookedultra-modernbyreasonofherenvironment:apresumablysophisticatedbeingamongthesimpleones——notwickedlyso，butonewhoknewlifefairlywellforherage。

Herhair，ofgoodEnglishbrown，neitherlightnordark，wasabundant——tooabundantforconvenienceintying，asitseemed；

anditthrewoffthelamp-lightinahazylustre。Andthoughitcouldnotbesaidofherfeaturesthatthisorthatwasflawless，thenamelesscharmofthemaltogetherwasonlyanotherinstanceofhowbeautifulawomancanbeasawholewithoutattaininginanyonedetailtothelinesmarkedoutasabsolutelycorrect。Thespiritandthelifewerethere:andmaterialshapescouldbedisregarded。

Whatevermoralcharacteristicsthismightbethesurfaceof，enoughwasshowntoassureSomersetthatshehadsomeexperienceofthingsfarremovedfromherpresentcircumscribedhorizon，andcouldlive，andwasevenatthatmomentliving，aclandestine，stealthyinnerlifewhichhadverylittletodowithheroutwardone。TherepressionofnearlyeveryexternalsignofthatdistressunderwhichSomersetknew，byasuddenintuitivesympathy，thatshewaslabouring，addedstrengthtotheseconvictions。

"Andyourefuse?"saidtheastonishedminister，asshestillstoodimmovableonthebrinkofthepool。Hepersuasivelytookhersleevebetweenhisfingerandthumbasiftodrawher；butsheresentedthisbyaquickmovementofdispleasure，andhereleasedher，seeingthathehadgonetoofar。

"But，mydearlady，"hesaid，"youpromised!Consideryourprofession，andthatyoustandintheeyesofthewholechurchasanexemplarofyourfaith。"

"Icannotdoit!"

"Butyourfather"smemory，miss；hislastdyingrequest!"

"Icannothelpit，"shesaid，turningtogetaway。

"YoucameherewiththeintentiontofulfiltheWord?"

"ButIwasmistaken。"

"Thenwhydidyoucome?"

Shetacitlyimpliedthattobeaquestionshedidnotcaretoanswer。"Pleasesaynomoretome，"shemurmured，andhastenedtowithdraw。

Duringthisunexpecteddialogue(whichhadreachedSomerset"searsthroughtheopenwindows)thatyoungman"sfeelingshadflownhitherandthitherbetweenministerandladyinamostcapriciousmanner:ithadseemedatonemomentaratheruncivilthingofher，charmingasshewas，togivetheministerandthewater-bearerssomuchtroublefornothing；

thenext，itseemedlikerevivingtheancientcrueltiesoftheducking-stooltotrytoforceagirlintothatdarkwaterifshehadnotamindtoit。Buttheministerwasnotwithoutinsight，andhehadseenthatitwouldbeuselesstosaymore。

Thecrestfallenoldmanhadtoturnrounduponthecongregationanddeclareofficiallythatthebaptismwaspostponed。

Shepassedthroughthedoorintothevestry。Duringtheexcitingmomentsofherrecusancytherehadbeenaperceptibleflutteramongthesensitivemembersofthecongregation；

nervousDissentersseemingtobeatonewithnervousEpiscopaliansinthisatleast，thattheyheartilydislikedasceneduringservice。Calmwasrestoredtotheirmindsbytheministerstartingaratherlonghymninminimsandsemibreves，amidthesingingofwhichheascendedthepulpit。Hisfacehadasevereandevendenunciatorylookashegaveouthistext，andSomersetbegantounderstandthatthismeantmischieftotheyoungpersonwhohadcausedthehitch。

"InthethirdchapterofRevelationandthefifteenthandfollowingverses，youwillfindthesewords:——

""Iknowthyworks，thatthouartneithercoldnorhot:I

wouldthouwertcoldorhot。Sothenbecausethouartlukewarm，andneithercoldnorhot，Iwillspuetheeoutofmymouth……Thousayest，Iamrich，andincreasedwithgoods，andhaveneedofnothing；andknowestnotthatthouartwretched，andmiserable，andpoor，andblind，andnaked。""

Thesermonstraightwaybegan，anditwassoonapparentthatthecommentarywastobenolessforciblethanthetext。Itwasalsoapparentthatthewordswere，virtually，notdirectedforwardinthelineinwhichtheywereuttered，butthroughthechinkofthevestry-door，thathadstoodslightlyajarsincetheexitoftheyounglady。ThelistenersappearedtofeelthisnolessthanSomersetdid，fortheireyes，oneandall，becamefixeduponthatvestrydoorasiftheywouldalmostpushitopenbytheforceoftheirgazing。Thepreacher"sheartwasfullandbitter；nobookornotewaswantedbyhim；neverwasspontaneitymoreabsolutethanhere。

Itwasnotimidreproofoftheornamentalkind，butadirectdenunciation，allthemorevigorousperhapsfromthelimitationofmindandlanguageunderwhichthespeakerlaboured。Yet，foolthathehadbeenmadebythecandidate，therewasnothingacridinhisattack。Genuineflashesofrhetoricalfirewereoccasionallystruckbythatplainandsimpleman，whoknewwhatstraightforwardconductwas，andwhodidnotknowtheillimitablecapriceofawoman"smind。

Atthismomenttherewasnotinthewholechapelapersonwhoseimaginationwasnotcentredonwhatwasinvisiblytakingplacewithinthevestry。Thethunderoftheminister"seloquenceechoed，ofcourse，throughtheweaksister"scavernofretreatnolessthanroundthepublicassembly。Whatshewasdoinginsidethere——whetherlisteningcontritely，orhaughtilyhasteningtoputonherthingsandgetawayfromthechapelandallitcontained——wasobviouslythethoughtofeachmember。Whatchangesweretracingthemselvesuponthatlovelyface:diditrisetophasesofRaffaelesqueresignationorsinksolowastoflushandfrown?wasSomerset"sinquiry；andahalf-explanationoccurredwhen，duringthediscourse，thedoorwhichhadbeenajarwasgentlypushedto。

Lookingonasastrangeritseemedtohimmorethanprobablethatthisyoungwoman"spowerofpersistenceinherunexpectedrepugnancetotheritewasstrengthenedbywealthandpositionofsomesort，andwasnottheunassistedgiftofnature。Themannerofherarrival，andherdignifiedbearingbeforetheassembly，strengthenedthebelief。Awomanwhodidnotfeelsomethingextraneoustohermentalselftofallbackuponwouldbesofaroverawedbythepeopleandthecrisisasnottoretainsufficientresolutionforachangeofmind。

Thesermonended，theministerwipedhissteamingfaceandturneddownhiscuffs，andnodsandsagaciousglanceswentround。Yetmany，evenofthosewhohadpresumablypassedthesameordealwithcredit，exhibitedgentlerjudgmentthanthepreacher"sonatergiversationofwhichtheyhadprobablyrecognizedsomegermintheirownbosomswheninthelady"ssituation。

ForSomersettherewasbutonescene:theimaginedsceneofthegirlherselfasshesataloneinthevestry。Theferventcongregationrosetosingagain，andthenSomersetheardaslightnoiseonhislefthandwhichcausedhimtoturnhishead。Thebrougham，whichhadretiredintothefieldtowait，wasbackagainatthedoor:thesubjectofhisruminationcameoutfromthechapel——notinhermysticrobeofwhite，butdressedinordinaryfashionablecostume——followedasbeforebytheattendantwithotherarticlesofclothingonherarm，includingthewhitegown。Somersetfanciedthattheyoungerwomanwasdryinghereyeswithherhandkerchief，buttherewasnotmuchtimetosee:theyquicklyenteredthecarriage，anditmovedon。Thenacatsuddenlymewed，andhesawawhitePersianstandingforlornwherethecarriagehadbeen。Thedoorwasopened，thecattakenin，andthecarriagedroveaway。

Thestranger"sgirlishformstampeditselfdeeplyonSomerset"ssoul。Hestrolledonhiswayquiteoblivioustothefactthatthemoonhadjustrisen，andthatthelandscapewasoneforhimtolingerover，especiallyiftherewereanyGothicarchitectureinthelineofthelunarrays。Theinferencewasthatthoughthisgirlmustbeofaseriousturnofmind，wilfulnesswasnotforeigntohercomposition:anditwasprobablethatherdailydoingsevincedwithoutmuchabatementbyreligiontheunbrokenspiritandprideoflifenaturaltoherage。

ThelittlevillageinnatwhichSomersetintendedtopassthenightlayamilefurtheron，andretracinghiswayuptothestileherambledalongthelane，nowbeginningtobestreakedlikeazebrawiththeshadowsofsomeyoungtreesthatedgedtheroad。Buthisattentionwasattractedtotheothersideofthewaybyahumasofanight-bee，whicharosefromtheplayofthebreezesoverasinglewireoftelegraphrunningparallelwithhistrackontallpolesthathadappearedbytheroad，hehardlyknewwhen，fromabranchroute，probablyleadingfromsometownintheneighbourhoodtothevillagehewasapproaching。HedidnotknowthepopulationofSleeping-

Green，asthevillageofhissearchwascalled，butthepresenceofthismarkofcivilizationseemedtosignifythatitsinhabitantswerenotquitesofarintherearoftheirageasmightbeimagined；aglanceatthestillungrassedheapofearthroundthefootofeachpostwas，however，sufficienttoshowthatitwasatnoveryremoteperiodthattheyhadmadetheiradvance。

AidedbythisfriendlywireSomersethadnodifficultyinkeepinghiscourse，tillhereachedapointintheascentofahillatwhichthetelegraphbranchedofffromtheroad，passingthroughanopeninginthehedge，tostrikeacrossanundulatingdown，whiletheroadwoundroundtotheleft。ForafewmomentsSomersetdoubtedandstoodstill。Thewiresangonoverheadwithdyingfallsandmelodiousrisesthatinvitedhimtofollow；whileabovethewirerodethestarsintheircourses，thelownocturnoftheformerseemingtobethevoicesofthosestars，"Stillquiringtotheyoung-eyedcherubim。"

RecallinghimselffromthesereflectionsSomersetdecidedtofollowtheleadofthewire。Itwasnotthefirsttimeduringhispresenttourthathehadfoundhiswayatnightbythehelpofthesemusicalthreadswhichthepost-officeauthoritieshaderectedalloverthecountryforquiteanotherpurposethantoguidebelatedtravellers。Plungingwithitacrossthedownhecametoahedgelessroadthatenteredaparkorchase，whichflourishedinallitsoriginalwildness。

Tuftsofrushesandbrakesoffernrosefromthehollows，andtheroadwasinplaceshalfovergrownwithgreen，asifithadnotbeentendedformanyyears；somuchsothat，whereshadedbytrees，hefoundsomedifficultyinkeepingit。Thoughhehadnoticedtheremainsofadeer-fencefurtherbacknodeerwerevisible，anditwasscarcelypossiblethatthereshouldbeanyintheexistingstateofthings:butrabbitsweremultitudinous，everyhillockbeingdottedwiththeirseatedfigurestillSomersetapproachedandsentthemlimpingintotheirburrows。Theroadnextwoundroundaclumpofunderwoodbesidewhichlayheapsoffaggotsforburning，andthenthereappearedagainsttheskythewallsandtowersofacastle，halfruin，halfresidence，standingonaneminencehardby。

Somersetstoppedtoexamineit。Thecastlewasnotexceptionallylarge，butithadallthecharacteristicsofitsmostimportantfellows。Irregular，dilapidated，andmuffledincreepersasagreatportionofitwas，somepart——acomparativelymodernwing——wasinhabited，foralightortwosteadilygleamedfromsomeupperwindows；inothersareflectionofthemoondenotedthatunbrokenglassyetfilledtheircasements。Overallrosethekeep，asquaresolidtowerapparentlynotmuchinjuredbywarsorweather，anddarkenedwithivyononeside，whereinwingscouldbeheardflappinguncertainly，asiftheybelongedtoabirdunabletofindaproperperch。Hissingnoisessupervened，andthenahoot，proclaimingthatabroodofyoungowlswereresidingthereinthecompanyofolderones。Inspiteofthehabitableandmoremodernwing，neglectanddecayhadsettheirmarkupontheoutworksofthepile，unfittingthemforamorepositivelightthanthatofthepresenthour。

Hewalkeduptoamodernarchspanningtheditch——nowdryandgreen——overwhichthedrawbridgeoncehadswung。Thelargedoorundertheporter"sarchwaywasclosedandlocked。Whilestandingherethesingingofthewire，whichforthelastfewminuteshehadquiteforgotten，againstruckuponhisear，andretreatingtoaconvenientplaceheobserveditsfinalcourse:

fromthepolesamidthetreesitleapedacrossthemoat，overthegirdlingwall，andthencebyatremendousstretchtowardsthekeepwhere，tojudgebysound，itvanishedthroughanarrow-slitintotheinterior。Thisfossiloffeudalism，then，wasthejourney"s-endofthewire，andnotthevillageofSleeping-Green。

Therewasacertainunexpectednessinthefactthatthehoarymemorialofastolidantagonismtotheinterchangeofideas，themonumentofharddistinctionsinbloodandrace，ofdeadlymistrustofone"sneighbourinspiteoftheChurch"steaching，andofasublimeunconsciousnessofanyotherforcethanabruteone，shouldbethegoalofamachinewhichbeyondeverythingmaybesaidtosymbolizecosmopolitanviewsandtheintellectualandmoralkinshipofallmankind。InthatlightthelittlebuzzingwirehadafarfinersignificancetothestudentSomersetthanthevastwallswhichneighbouredit。

Butthemodernfeverandfretwhichconsumespeoplebeforetheycangrowoldwasalsosignifiedbythewire；andthisaspectofto-daydidnotcontrastwellwiththefairersideoffeudalism——leisure，light-heartedgenerosity，intensefriendships，hawks，hounds，revels，healthycomplexions，freedomfromcare，andsuchalivingpowerinarchitecturalartastheworldmayneveragainsee。

Somersetwithdrewtillneitherthesingingofthewirenorthehissesoftheirritableowlscouldbeheardanymore。Aclockinthecastlestruckten，andherecognizedthestrokesasthosehehadheardwhensittingonthestile。ItwasindispensablethatheshouldretracehisstepsandpushontoSleeping-Greenifhewishedthatnighttoreachhislodgings，whichhadbeensecuredbyletteratalittleinninthestragglinglineofroadsidehousescalledbytheabovename，wherehisluggagehadbythistimeprobablyarrived。Inaquarterofanhourhewasagainatthepointwherethewirelefttheroad，andfollowingthehighwayoverahillhesawthehamletathisfeet。

III。

Byhalf-pasttenthenextmorningSomersetwasoncemoreapproachingtheprecinctsofthebuildingwhichhadinterestedhimthenightbefore。ReferringtohismaphehadlearntthatitborethenameofStancyCastleorCastledeStancy；andhehadbeenatoncestruckwithitsfamiliarity，thoughhehadneverunderstooditspositioninthecounty，believingitfurthertothewest。Ifreportspoketrulytherewassomeexcellentvaultingintheinterior，andachangeofstudyfromecclesiasticaltosecularGothicwasnotunwelcomeforawhile。

Theentrance-gatewasopennow，andunderthearchwaytheouterwardwasvisible，agreatpartofitbeinglaidoutasaflower-garden。Thiswasinprocessofclearingfromweedsandrubbishbyasetofgardeners，andthesoilwassoencumberedthatinrootingouttheweedssuchfewhardyflowersasstillremainedinthebedsweremostlybroughtupwiththem。Thegroovewhereintheportcullishadrunwasasfreshasifonlycutyesterday，theverytoolingofthestonebeingvisible。

Closetothishungabell-pullformedofalargewoodenacornattachedtoaverticalrod。Somerset"sapplicationbroughtawomanfromtheporter"sdoor，whoinformedhimthatthedaybeforehavingbeentheweeklyshow-dayforvisitors，itwasdoubtfulifhecouldbeadmittednow。

"Whoisathome?"saidSomerset。

"OnlyMissdeStancy，"theporteressreplied。

Hisdreadofbeingconsideredanintruderwassuchthathethoughtatfirsttherewasnohelpforitbuttowaittillthenextweek。Buthehadalreadythroughhiswantofeffronterylostasightofmanyinteriors，whoseexhibitionwouldhavebeenratherasatisfactiontotheinmatesthanatrouble。Itwasinconvenienttowait；heknewnobodyintheneighbourhoodfromwhomhecouldgetanintroductoryletter:heturnedandpassedthewoman，crossedthewardwherethegardenerswereatwork，overasecondandsmallerbridge，andupaflightofstonestairs，opentothesky，alongwhosestepssunburntTudorsoldiersandotherrenowneddeadmenhaddoubtlessmanytimeswalked。Itledtotheprincipaldooronthisside。

Thencehecouldobservethewallsofthelowercourtindetail，andtheoldmosseswithwhichtheywerepadded——mossesthatfromtimeimmemorialhadbeenburntbrowneverysummer，andeverywinterhadgrowngreenagain。Thearrow-slitandtheelectricwirethatenteredit，likeawormuneasyatbeingunearthed，weredistinctlyvisiblenow。Soalsowastheclock，not，ashehadsupposed，achronometercoevalwiththefortressitself，butnewandshining，andbearingthenameofarecentmaker。

Thedoorwasopenedbyabland，intenselyshavenmanoutoflivery，whotookSomerset"snameandpolitelywordedrequesttobeallowedtoinspectthearchitectureofthemorepublicportionsofthecastle。Hepronouncedtheword"architecture"

inthetoneofamanwhoknewandpractisedthatart；"for，"

hesaidtohimself，"ifshethinksIamamereidletourist，itwillnotbesowell。"

Nosuchuncomfortableconsequencesensued。MissDeStancyhadgreatpleasureingivingMr。Somersetfullpermissiontowalkthroughwhateverpartsofthebuildinghechose。

Hefollowedthebutlerintotheinnerbuildingsofthefortress，theponderousthicknessofwhosewallsmadeitselffeltlikeaphysicalpressure。Aninternalstonestaircase，rangedroundfoursidesofasquare，wasnextrevealed，leadingatthetopofoneflightintoaspacioushall，whichseemedtooccupythewholeareaofthekeep。Fromthisapartmentacorridorflooredwithblackoakledtothemoremodernwing，wherelightandairweretreatedinalessgingerlyfashion。

Herepassageswerebroaderthanintheoldestportion，andupholsteryenlistedintheserviceofthefineartshidtoagreatextentthecoldnessofthewalls。

Somersetwasnowlefttohimself，androvingfreelyfromroomtoroomhefoundtimetoinspectthedifferentobjectsofinterestthataboundedthere。Notallthechambers，evenofthehabitabledivision，wereinuseasdwelling-rooms，thoughthesewerestillnumerousenoughforthewantsofanordinarycountryfamily。Inalonggallerywithacovedceilingofarabesqueswhichhadoncebeengilded，hungaseriesofpaintingsrepresentingthepastpersonagesoftheDeStancyline。Itwasaremarkablearray——evenmoresoonaccountoftheincrediblyneglectedconditionofthecanvasesthanfortheartisticpeculiaritiestheyexhibited。Manyoftheframesweredroppingapartattheirangles，andsomeofthecanvaswassodingythatthefaceofthepersondepictedwasonlydistinguishableasthemoonthroughmist。Forthecolourtheyhadnowtheymighthavebeenpaintedduringaneclipse；while，tojudgebythewebstyingthemtothewall，thespidersthatranupanddowntheirbacksweresuchastomakethefairoriginalsshudderintheirgraves。

Hewonderedhowmanyoftheloftyforeheadsandsmilinglipsofthispictorialpedigreecouldbecreditedastruereflectionsoftheirprototypes。Somewerewilfullyfalse，nodoubt；manymoresobyunavoidableaccidentandwantofskill。

Somersetfeltthatitrequiredaprofoundermindthanhistodisinterfromthelumberofconventionalitythelineamentsthatreallysatinthepainter"spresence，andtodiscovertheirhistorybehindthecurtainofmeretradition。

Thepaintersofthislongcollectionwerethosewhousuallyappearinsuchplaces；Holbein，Jansen，andVandyck；SirPeter，SirGeoffrey，SirJoshua，andSirThomas。Theirsitters，too，hadmostlybeensirs；SirWilliam，SirJohn，orSirGeorgeDeStancy——someundoubtedlyhavinganobilitystampeduponthembeyondthatconferredbytheirrobesandorders；andothersnotsofortunate。Theirrespectiveladieshungbytheirsides——feebleandwatery，orfatandcomfortable，asthecasemightbe；alsotheirfathersandmothers-in-law，theirbrothersandremoterrelatives；theircontemporaryreigningprinces，andtheirintimatefriends。OftheDeStancyspurethereranthroughthecollectionamarkbywhichtheymightsurelyhavebeenrecognizedasmembersofonefamily；thisfeaturebeingtheupperpartofthenose。Everyone，eveniflackingotherpointsincommon，hadthespecialindentatthispointintheface——sometimesmoderateindegree，sometimesexcessive。

Whilelookingatthepictures——which，thoughnotinhisregularlineofstudy，interestedSomersetmorethanthearchitecture，becauseoftheirsingulardilapidation，itoccurredtohismindthathehadinhisyouthbeenschoolfellowforaveryshorttimewithapleasantboybearingasurnameattachedtooneofthepaintings——thenameofRavensbury。Theboyhadvanishedheknewnothow——hethoughthehadbeenremovedfromschoolsuddenlyonaccountofillhealth。Buttherecollectionwasvague，andSomersetmovedontotheroomsaboveandbelow。Inadditiontothearchitecturaldetailsofwhichhehadasyetobtainedbutglimpses，therewasagreatcollectionofoldmovablesandotherdomesticart-work——allmorethanacenturyold，andmostlylyingaslumber。Thereweresuitesoftapestryhangings，commonandfine；greenandscarletleather-work，onwhichthegildingwasstillbutlittleinjured；venerabledamaskcurtains；quiltedsilktable-covers，ebonycabinets，workedsatinwindow-cushions，carvedbedsteads，andembroideredbed-furniturewhichhadapparentlyscreenednosleeperforthesemanyyears。Downstairstherewasalsoaninterestingcollectionofarmour，togetherwithseveralhugetrunksandcoffers。Agreatmanyofthemhadbeenrecentlytakenoutandcleaned，asifalongdormantinterestinthemweresuddenlyrevived。Doubtlesstheywerethosewhichhadbeenusedbythelivingoriginalsofthephantomsthatlookeddownfromtheframes。

Thisexcellenthoardofsuggestivedesignsforwood-work，metal-work，andworkofothersorts，inducedSomersettodiverthisstudiesfromtheecclesiasticaldirection，toacquiresomenewideasfromtheobjectsherefordomesticapplication。Yetforthepresenthewasinclinedtokeephissketch-bookclosedandhisivoryrulefolded，anddevotehimselftoageneralsurvey。Emergingfromtheground-floorbyasmalldoorway，hefoundhimselfonaterracetothenorth-east，andontheothersidethanthatbywhichhehadentered。Itwasboundedbyaparapetbreasthigh，overwhichaviewofthedistantcountrymettheeye，stretchingfromthefootoftheslopetoadistanceofmanymiles。Somersetwentandleanedover，andlookeddownuponthetopsofthebushesbeneath。Theprospectincludedthevillagehehadpassedthroughonthepreviousday:andamidstthegreenlightsandshadesofthemeadowshecoulddiscerntheredbrickchapelwhoserecalcitrantinmatehadsoengrossedhim。

Beforehisattentionhadlongstrayedovertheincidentwhichromanticizedthatutilitarianstructure，hebecameawarethathewasnottheonlypersonwhowaslookingfromtheterracetowardsthatpointofthecompass。Attheright-handcorner，inanicheofthecurtain-wall，reclinedagirlishshape；andasleeponthebenchoverwhichsheleanedwasawhitecat——theidenticalPersianasitseemed——thathadbeentakenintothecarriageatthechapel-door。