第6章

"Oindeed!"

"Adinner-party，Ihear；eighteenguests。"

"Ah，"saidSomerset。

"Theyoungladywasmagnificent——sapphiresandopals——shecarriedasmuchasathousandpoundsuponherheadandshouldersduringthatthreeorfourhour。Ofcoursetheycallhercharming；Compuestanohaymugerfea，astheysayatMadrid。"

"Idon"tdoubtitforamoment，"saidSomerset，withreserve。

Daresaidnomore，andpresentlythedooropened，andtherestoodPaula。

SomersetnoddedtoDaretowithdrawintoanadjoiningroom，andofferedherachair。

"Youwishtoshowmethedesignyouhaveprepared?"sheasked，withouttakingtheseat。

"Yes；Ihavecomeroundtoyouropinion。IhavemadeaplanfortheGreekcourtyouwereanxioustobuild。"Andheelevatedthedrawing-boardagainstthewall。

Sheregardeditattentivelyforsomemoments，herfingerrestinglightlyagainstherchin，andsaid，"IhavegivenuptheideaofaGreekcourt。"

Heshowedhisastonishment，andwasalmostdisappointed。HehadbeengrindingupGreekarchitectureentirelyonheraccount；hadwrenchedhismindroundtothisstrangearrangement，allfornothing。

"Yes，"shecontinued；"onreconsiderationIperceivethewantofharmonythatwouldresultfrominsertingsuchapieceofmarble-workinamediaevalfortress；soinfuturewewilllimitourselvesstrictlytosynchronismofstyle——thatistosay，makegoodtheNormanworkbyNorman，thePerpendicularbyPerpendicular，andsoon。IhaveinformedMr。Havillofthesamething。"

SomersetpulledtheGreekdrawingofftheboard，andtoreitintwopieces。

Sheinvoluntarilyturnedtolookinhisface，butstoppedbeforeshehadquiteliftedhereyeshighenough。"Whydidyoudothat?"sheaskedwithsuavecuriosity。

"Itisofnofurtheruse，"saidSomerset，tearingthedrawingintheotherdirection，andthrowingthepiecesintothefireplace。"Youhavebeenreadingupordersandstylestosomepurpose，Iperceive。"Heregardedherwithafaintsmile。

"Ihavehadafewbooksdownfromtown。Itisdesirabletoknowalittleaboutthearchitectureofone"sownhouse。"

Sheremainedlookingatthetorndrawing，whenSomerset，observingonthetabletheparticleofswan"s-downhehadfoundinthechair，gentlyblewitsothatitskimmedacrossthetableunderhereyes。

"Itlooksasifitcameoffalady"sdress，"hesaididly。

"Offalady"sfan，"shereplied。

"O，offafan?"

"Yes；offmine。"

AtherreplySomersetstretchedouthishandfortheswan"s-

down，andputitcarefullyinhispocket-book；whereuponPaula，mouldinghercherry-redlowerlipbeneathherupperoneinarchself-consciousnessathisact，turnedawaytothewindow，andafterapausesaidsoftlyasshelookedout，"Whydidyounotacceptourinvitationtodinner?"

Itwasimpossibletoexplainwhy。Heimpulsivelydrewnearandconfrontedher，andsaid，"Ihopeyoupardonme?"

"Idon"tknowthatIcanquitedothat，"answeredshe，witheversolittlereproach。"Iknowwhyyoudidnotcome——youweremortifiedatnotbeingaskedsooner!Butitwaspurelybyanaccidentthatyoureceivedyourinvitationsolate。Myauntsenttheothersbypost，butasyourswastobedeliveredbyhanditwasleftonhertable，andwasoverlooked。"

Surelyhecouldnotdoubtherwords；thosenicefriendlyaccentsweretheembodimentoftruthitself。

"Idon"tmeantomakeaseriouscomplaint，"sheadded，ininjuredtones，showingthatshedid。"Onlywehadaskednearlyallofthemtomeetyou，asthesonofyourillustriousfather，whommanyofmyfriendsknowpersonally；and——theyweredisappointed。"

ItwasnowtimeforSomersettobegenuinelygrievedatwhathehaddone。Paulaseemedsogoodandhonourableatthatmomentthathecouldhavelaiddownhislifeforher。

"WhenIwasdressed，Icameinheretoaskyoutoreconsideryourdecision，"shecontinued；"ortomeetusinthedrawing-

roomifyoucouldnotpossiblybereadyfordinner。Butyouweregone。"

"Andyousatdowninthatchair，didn"tyou，darling，andremainedtherealongtimemusing!"hethought。Butthathedidnotsay。

"Iamverysorry，"hemurmured。

"Willyoumakeamendsbycomingtoourgardenparty?Iaskyoutheveryfirst。"

"Iwill，"repliedSomerset。Toaddthatitwouldgivehimgreatpleasure，etc。，seemedanabsurdlyweakwayofexpressinghisfeelings，andhesaidnomore。

"Itisonthenineteenth。Don"tforgettheday。"

Hemethereyesinsuchawaythat，ifshewerewoman，shemusthaveseenittomeanasplainlyaswords:"DoIlookasifIcouldforgetanythingyousay?"

Shemust，indeed，haveunderstoodmuchmorebythistime——thewholeofhisopensecret。Buthedidnotunderstandher。

Historyhasrevealedthatasupernumeraryloverortwoisrarelyconsideredadisadvantagebyawoman，fromqueentocottage-girl；andthethoughtmadehimpause。

XIV。

Whenshewasgonehewentonwiththedrawing，notcallinginDare，whoremainedintheroomadjoining。Presentlyaservantcameandlaidapaperonhistable，whichMissPowerhadsent。

Itwasoneofthemorningnewspapers，andwasfoldedsothathiseyefellimmediatelyonaletterheaded"RestorationorDemolition。"

Theletterwasprofessedlywrittenbyadispassionatepersonsolelyintheinterestsofart。ItdrewattentiontothecircumstancethattheancientandinterestingcastleoftheDeStancyshadunhappilypassedintothehandsofaniconoclastbyblood，who，withoutrespectforthetraditionofthecounty，oranyfeelingwhateverforhistoryinstone，wasabouttodemolishmuch，ifnotall，thatwasinterestinginthatancientpile，andinsertinitsmidstamonstroustravestyofsomeGreektemple。Inthenameofallloversofmediaevalart，conjuredthesimple-mindedwriter，letsomethingbedonetosaveabuildingwhich，injuredandbatteredintheCivilWars，wasnowtobemadeacompleteruinbythefreaksofanirresponsibleowner。Hersendinghimthepaperseemedtoimplythatsherequiredhisopiniononthecase；andintheafternoon，leavingDaretomeasureupawingaccordingtodirections，hewentoutinthehopeofmeetingher，havinglearntthatshehadgonetothevillage。OnreachingthechurchhesawhercrossingthechurchyardpathwithherauntandMissDeStancy。Somersetenteredtheenclosure，andassoonasshesawhimshecameacross。

"Whatistobedone?"sheasked。

"Youneednotbeconcernedaboutsuchaletterasthat。"

"Iamconcerned。"

"Ithinkitdreadfulimpertinence，"spokeupCharlotte，whohadjoinedthem。"Canyouthinkwhowroteit，Mr。Somerset?"

Somersetcouldnot。

"Well，whatamItodo?"repeatedPaula。

"Justasyouwouldhavedonebefore。"

"That"swhat_I_say，"observedMrs。Goodmanemphatically。

"ButIhavealreadyaltered——IhavegivenuptheGreekcourt。"

"O——youhadseenthepaperthismorningbeforeyoulookedatmydrawing?"

"Ihad，"sheanswered。

Somersetthoughtitaforcibleillustrationofhernaturalreticencethatsheshouldhaveabandonedthedesignwithouttellinghimthereason；buthewasgladshehadnotdoneitfrommerecaprice。

Sheturnedtohimandsaidquietly，"IwishYOUwouldanswerthatletter。"

"Itwouldbeill-advised，"saidSomerset。"Still，if，afterconsideration，youwishitmuch，Iwill。MeanwhileletmeimpressuponyouagaintheexpediencyofcallinginMr。

Havill——towhom，asyourfather"sarchitect，expectingthiscommission，somethingperhapsisowed——andgettinghimtofurnishanalternativeplantomine，andsubmittingthechoiceofdesignstosomemembersoftheRoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects。Thislettermakesitstillmoreadvisablethanbefore。"

"Verywell，"saidPaulareluctantly。

"Lethimhavealltheparticularsyouhavebeengoodenoughtoexplaintome——sothatwestartfairinthecompetition。"

Shelookednegligentlyonthegrass。"Iwilltellthebuildingstewardtowritethemoutforhim，"shesaid。

Thepartyseparatedandenteredthechurchbydifferentdoors。

Somersetwenttoanookofthebuildingthathehadoftenintendedtovisit。ItwascalledtheStancyaisle；andinitstoodthetombsofthatfamily。Somersetexaminedthem:theywereunusuallyrichandnumerous，beginningwithcross-leggedknightsinhauberksofchain-mail，theirladiesbesidetheminwimpleandcover-chief，allmoreorlesscoatedwiththegreenmouldanddirtofages:andcontinuingwithothersoflaterdate，infinealabaster，gildedandcoloured，someofthemwearingroundtheirneckstheYorkistcollarofsunsandroses，theliveryofEdwardtheFourth。InscrutinizingthetallestcanopyoverthesehebeheldPaulabehindit，asifincontemplationofthesameobjects。

"Youcametothechurchtosketchthesemonuments，Isuppose，Mr。Somerset?"sheasked，assoonasshesawhim。

"No。Icametospeaktoyouabouttheletter。"

Shesighed。"Yes:thatletter，"shesaid。"Iampersecuted!

IfIhadbeenoneoftheseitwouldneverhavebeenwritten。"

Shetappedthealabastereffigyofarecumbentladywithherparasol。

"Theyareinteresting，aretheynot?"hesaid。"Sheisbeautifullypreserved。Thegildingisnearlygone，butbeyondthatsheisperfect。"

"SheislikeCharlotte，"saidPaula。Andwhatwasmuchlikeanothersighescapedherlips。

Somersetadmittedthattherewasaresemblance，whilePauladrewherforefingeracrossthemarblefaceoftheeffigy，andatlengthtookoutherhandkerchief，andbeganwipingthedustfromthehollowsofthefeatures。Helookedon，wonderingwhathersighhadmeant，butguessingthatithadbeensomehowcausedbythesightofthesesculpturesinconnectionwiththenewspaperwriter"sdenunciationofherasanirresponsibleoutsider。

Thesecretwasoutwheninanswertohisquestion，idlyput，ifshewishedshewerelikeoneofthese，shesaid，withexceptionalvehemenceforoneofherdemeanour——

"Idon"twishIwaslikeoneofthem:IwishIWASoneofthem。"

"What——youwishyouwereaDeStancy?"

"Yes。Itisverydreadfultobedenouncedasabarbarian。I

wanttoberomanticandhistorical。"

"MissDeStancyseemsnottovaluetheprivilege，"hesaid，lookingroundatanotherpartofthechurchwhereCharlottewasinnocentlyprattlingtoMrs。Goodman，quiteheedlessofthetombsofherforefathers。

"IfIwereone，"shecontinued，"IshouldcomeherewhenI

feelaloneintheworld，asIdoto-day；andIwoulddefypeople，andsay，"Youcannotspoilwhathasbeen!""

Theywalkedontilltheyreachedtheoldblackpewattachedtothecastle——avastsquareenclosureofoakpanellingoccupyinghalftheaisle，andsurmountedwithalittlebalustradeabovetheframework。Within，thebaizeliningthathadoncebeengreen，nowfadedtothecolourofacommoninAugust，wastorn，kickedandscrapedtoragsbythefeetandhandsoftheploughboyswhohadappropriatedthepewastheirownspecialplaceofworshipsinceithadceasedtobeusedbyanyresidentatthecastle，becauseitsheightaffordedconvenientshelterforplayingatmarblesandprickingwithpins。

CharlotteandMrs。Goodmanhadbythistimeleftthebuilding，andcouldbeseenlookingattheheadstonesoutside。

"IfyouwereaDeStancy，"saidSomerset，whohadponderedmoredeeplyuponthatnewwishofhersthanhehadseemedtodo，"youwouldbeachurchwoman，andsithere。"

"AndIshouldhavethepewdoneup，"shesaidreadily，assherestedherprettychinonthetoprailandlookedattheinterior，hercheekspressedintodeepdimples。Herquickreplytoldhimthattheideawasnonewonewithher，andhethoughtofpoorMr。Woodwell"sshrewdprophecyasheperceivedthatherdaysasaseparatistwerenumbered。

"Well，whycan"tyouhaveitdoneup，andsithere?"hesaidwarily。

Paulashookherhead。

"YouarenotatenmitywithAnglicanism，Iamsure?"

"Iwantnottobe。Iwanttobe——what——"

"WhattheDeStancyswere，andare，"hesaidinsidiously；andhersilencedbearingtoldhimthathehadhitthenail。

Itwasastrangeideatogetpossessionofsuchanatureashers，andforaminutehefelthimselfonthesideoftheminister。SostrongwasSomerset"sfeelingofwishinghertoshowthequalityoffidelitytopaternaldogmaandparty，thathecouldnothelpadding——

"Buthaveyouforgottenthatothernobility——thenobilityoftalentandenterprise?"

"No。ButIwishIhadawell-knownlineofancestors。"

"Youhave。Archimedes，Newcomen，Watt，Telford，Stephenson，thoseareyourfather"sdirectancestors。Haveyouforgottenthem?Haveyouforgottenyourfather，andtherailwayshemadeoverhalfEurope，andhisgreatenergyandskill，andallconnectedwithhimasifhehadneverlived?"

Shedidnotanswerforsometime。"No，Ihavenotforgottenit，"shesaid，stilllookingintothepew。"But，Ihaveapredilectiond"artisteforancestorsoftheothersort，liketheDeStancys。"

HerhandwasrestingonthelowpewnextthehighoneoftheDeStancys。Somersetlookedatthehand，orratherattheglovewhichcoveredit，thenatheravertedcheek，thenbeyonditintothepew，thenatherhandagain，untilbyanindescribableconsciousnessthathewasnotgoingtoofarhelaidhisownuponit。

"No，no，"saidPaulaquickly，withdrawingherhand。Buttherewasnothingresentfulorhaughtyinhertone——nothing，inshort，whichmakesamaninsuchcircumstancesfeelthathehasdoneaparticularlyfoolishaction。

Thefloweronherbosomroseandfellsomewhatmorethanusualassheadded，"Iamgoingawaynow——Iwillleaveyouhere。"

Withoutwaitingforareplysheadroitlysweptbackherskirtstofreeherfeetandwentoutofthechurchblushing。

Somersettookherhintanddidnotfollow；andwhenheknewthatshehadrejoinedherfriends，andheardthecarriagerollaway，hemadetowardstheoppositedoor。Pausingtoglanceoncemoreatthealabastereffigiesbeforeleavingthemtotheirsilenceandneglect，hebeheldDarebendingoverthem，toallappearanceintentlyoccupied。

Hemusthavebeeninthechurchsometime——certainlyduringthetenderepisodebetweenSomersetandPaula，andcouldnothavefailedtoperceiveit。Somersetblushed:itwasunpleasantthatDareshouldhaveseentheinteriorofhisheartsoplainly。Hewentacrossandsaid，"IthinkIleftyoutofinishthedrawingofthenorthwing，Mr。Dare?"

"Threehoursago，sir，"saidDare。"Havingfinishedthat，I

cametolookatthechurch——finebuilding——finemonuments——twointerestingpeoplelookingatthem。"

"What?"

"Istandcorrected。Pensamolto，parlapoco，astheItalianshaveit。"

"Well，now，Mr。Dare，supposeyougetbacktothecastle?"

"WhichhistorydubsCastleStancy……Certainly。"

"Howdoyougetonwiththemeasuring?"

Daresighedwhimsically。"Badlyinthemorning，whenIhavebeentemptedtoindulgeovernight，andworseintheafternoon，whenIhavebeentemptedinthemorning!"

Somersetlookedattheyouth，andsaid，"IfearIshallhavetodispensewithyourservices，Dare，forIthinkyouhavebeentemptedto-day。"

"Onmyhonourno。Mymannerisalittleagainstme，Mr。

Somerset。Butyouneednotfearformyabilitytodoyourwork。Iamayoungmanwasted，andamthoughtofslightaccount:itisthetruemenwhogetsnubbed，whiletraitorsareallowedtothrive!"

"Hangsentiment，Dare，andoffwithyou!"Alittleruffled，Somersethadturnedhisbackupontheinterestingspeaker，sothathedidnotobservetheslytwistDarethrewintohisrighteyeashespoke。ThelatterwentoffinonedirectionandSomersetintheother，pursuinghispensivewaytowardsMarktonwiththoughtsnotdifficulttodivine。

Fromonepointinhernaturehewenttoanother，tillheagainrecurredtoherromanticinterestintheDeStancyfamily。Towishshewasoneofthem:howveryinconsistentofher。Thatshereallydidwishitwasunquestionable。

Itwasthedayofthegarden-party。Theweatherwastoocloudytobecalledperfect，butitwasassultryasthemostthinly-cladyoungladycoulddesire。GreattroublehadbeentakenbyPaulatobringthelawntoafitconditionaftertheneglectofrecentyears，andSomersethadsuggestedthedesignforthetents。Asheapproachedtheprecinctsofthecastlehediscernedaflagofnewestfabricfloatingoverthekeep，andsoonhisflyfellinwiththestreamofcarriagesthatwerepassingoverthebridgeintotheouterward。

Mrs。GoodmanandPaulawerereceivingthepeopleinthedrawing-room。Somersetcameforwardinhisturn；butashewasimmediatelyfollowedbyotherstherewasnotmuchopportunity，evenhadshefeltthewish，foranyspecialmarkoffeelingintheyoungerlady"sgreetingofhim。

Hewentonthroughacanvaspassage，linedoneachsidewithfloweringplants，tillhereachedthetents；thence，afternoddingtooneortwoguestsslightlyknowntohim，heproceededtothegrounds，withasenseofbeingratherlonely。

Fewvisitorshadasyetgotsofarin，andashewalkedupanddownashadyalleyhisminddweltuponthenewaspectunderwhichPaulahadgreetedhiseyesthatafternoon。Herblack-

and-whitecostumehadfinallydisappeared，andinitsplaceshehadadoptedapicturesquedressofivorywhite，withsatinenrichmentsofthesamehue；whileuponherbosomsheworeablueflower。Herdaysofinfestivitywereplainlyended，andherdaysofgladnessweretobegin。

Hisreveriewasinterruptedbythesoundofhisname，andlookingroundhebeheldHavill，whoappearedtobeasmuchaloneashimself。

SomersetalreadyknewthatHavillhadbeenappointedtocompetewithhim，accordingtohisrecommendation。Inmeasuringadarkcorneradayortwobefore，hehadstumbleduponHavillengagedinthesamepursuitwithaviewtotherivaldesign。AfterwardshehadseenhimreceivingPaula"sinstructionspreciselyashehaddonehimself。Itwasashehadwished，forfairness"sake:andyethefeltaregret，forhewaslessPaula"sownarchitectnow。

"Well，Mr。Somerset，"saidHavill，"sincewefirstmetanunexpectedrivalryhasarisenbetweenus!ButIdaresayweshallsurvivethecontest，asitisnotonearisingoutoflove。Ha-ha-ha!"Hespokeinalevelvoiceoffiercepleasantry，anduncoveredhisregularwhiteteeth。

Somersetsupposedhimtoalludetothecastlecompetition?

"Yes，"saidHavill。"Herproposedundertakingbroughtoutsomeadversecriticismtillitwasknownthatsheintendedtohavemorethanonearchitecturalopinion。Anexcellentstrokeofherstodisarmcriticism。Yousawthesecondletterinthemorningpapers?"

"No，"saidtheother。

"Thewriterstatesthathehasdiscoveredthatthecompetentadviceoftwoarchitectsistobetaken，andwithdrawshisaccusations。"

Somersetsaidnothingforaminute。"Haveyoubeensuppliedwiththenecessarydataforyourdrawings?"heasked，showingbythequestionthetrackhisthoughtshadtaken。

Havillsaidthathehad。"Butpossiblynotsocompletelyasyouhave，"headded，againsmilingfiercely。Somersetdidnotquiteliketheinsinuation，andthetwospeakersparted，theyoungergoingtowardsthemusicians，whohadnowbeguntofilltheairwiththeirstrainsfromtheemboweredenclosureofadroopingash。Whenhegotbacktothemarqueestheywerequitecrowded，andtheguestsbegantopouroutuponthegrass，thetoiletsoftheladiespresentingabrilliantspectacle——herebeingcoloureddresseswithwhitedevices，therewhitedresseswithcoloureddevices，andyondertransparentdresseswithnodeviceatall。Alavenderhazehungintheair，thetreeswereasstillasthoseofasubmarineforest；whilethesun，incolourlikeabrassplaque，hadahairyoutlineinthelividsky。

Afterwatchingawhilesomeyoungpeoplewhoweresomadlydevotedtolawn-tennisthattheysetaboutitlikeday-

labourersatthemomentoftheirarrival，heturnedandsawapproachingagracefulfigureincream-colouredhues，whosegloveslostthemselvesbeneathherlaceruffles，evenwhensheliftedherhandtomakefirmthebluefloweratherbreast，andwhosehairhungunderherhatingreatknotssowellcompactedthatthesungildedtheconvexityofeachknotlikeaball。

"Youseemtobealone，"saidPaula，whohadatlastescapedfromthedutyofreceivingguests。

"Idon"tknowmanypeople。"

"Yes:IthoughtofthatwhileIwasinthedrawing-room。ButIcouldnotgetoutbefore。Iamnownolongeraresponsiblebeing:Mrs。Goodmanismistressfortheremainderoftheday。

Willyoubeintroducedtoanybody?Whomwouldyouliketoknow?"

"Iamnotparticularlyunhappyinmysolitude。"

"Butyoumustbemadetoknowafew。"

"Verywell——Isubmitreadily。"

Shelookedawayfromhim，andwhilehewasobservinguponhercheekthemovingshadowofleavescastbythedecliningsun，shesaid，"O，thereismyaunt，"andbeckonedwithherparasoltothatlady，whoapproachedinthecomparativelyyouthfulguiseofagreysilkdressthatwhistledateverytouch。

Paulaleftthemtogether，andMrs。Goodmanthenmadehimacquaintedwithafewofthebestpeople，describingwhattheywereinawhisperbeforetheycameup，amongthembeingtheRadicalmemberforMarkton，whohadsucceededtotheseatrenderedvacantbythedeathofPaula"sfather。Whiletalkingtothisgentlemanontheproposedenlargementofthecastle，Somersetraisedhiseyesandhandtowardsthewalls，thebettertopointouthismeaning；insodoinghesawafaceinthesquareofdarknessformedbyoneoftheopenwindows，theeffectbeingthatofahighlightportraitbyVandyckorRembrandt。

ItwashisassistantDare，leaningonthewindow-sillofthestudio，ashesmokedhiscigaretteandsurveyedthegaygroupspromenadingbeneath。

Afterholdingachatteringconversationwithsomeladiesfromaneighbouringcountryseatwhohadknownhisfatherinbygoneyears，andhandingthemicesandstrawberriestilltheyweresatisfied，hefoundanopportunityofleavingthegrounds，wishingtolearnwhatprogressDarehadmadeinthesurveyofthecastle。

Darewasstillinthestudiowhenheentered。Somersetinformedtheyouththattherewasnonecessityforhisworkinglaterthatday，unlesstopleasehimself，andproceededtoinspectDare"sachievementsthusfar。TohisvexationDarehadnotplottedthreedimensionsduringtheprevioustwodays。

ThiswasnotthefirsttimethatDare，eitherfromincompetenceorindolence，hadshownhisinutilityasahouse-

surveyoranddraughtsman。

"Mr。Dare，"saidSomerset，"Ifearyoudon"tsuitmewellenoughtomakeitnecessarythatyoushouldstayafterthisweek。"

Dareremovedthecigarettefromhislipsandbowed。"IfI

don"tsuit，thesoonerIgothebetter；whywaittheweek?"hesaid。

"Well，that"sasyoulike。"

Somersetdrewtheinkstandtowardshim，wroteoutachequeforDare"sservices，andhandeditacrossthetable。

"I"llnottroubleyouto-morrow，"saidDare，seeingthatthepaymentincludedtheweekinadvance。

"Verywell，"repliedSomerset。"Pleaselockthedoorwhenyouleave。"ShakinghandswithDareandwishinghimwell，helefttheroomanddescendedtothelawnbelow。

TherehecontrivedtogetnearMissPoweragain，andinquiredofherforMissDeStancy。

"O!didyounotknow?"saidPaula；"herfatherisunwell，andshepreferredstayingwithhimthisafternoon。"

"Ihopedhemighthavebeenhere。"

"Ono；henevercomesoutofhishousetoanypartyofthissort；itexciteshim，andhemustnotbeexcited。"

"PoorSirWilliam!"mutteredSomerset。

"No，"saidPaula，"heisgrandandhistorical。"

"ThatishardlyanorthodoxnotionforaPuritan，"saidSomersetmischievously。

"IamnotaPuritan，"insistedPaula。

Thedayturnedtodusk，andtheguestsbegangoinginrelaystothedining-hall。WhenSomersethadtakenintwoorthreeladiestowhomhehadbeenpresented，andattendedtotheirwants，whichoccupiedhimthree-quartersofanhour，hereturnedagaintothelargetent，withaviewtofindingPaulaandtakinghisleave。Itwasnowbrilliantlylightedup，andthemusicians，whoduringdaylighthadbeeninvisiblebehindtheash-tree，wereensconcedatoneendwiththeirharpsandviolins。Itremindedhimthattherewastobedancing。Thetenthadinthemeantimehalffilledwithanewsetofyoungpeoplewhohadcomeexpresslyforthatpastime。Behindthegirlsgatherednumbersofnewlyarrivedyoungmenwithlowshouldersanddiminutivemoustaches，whowereevidentlypreparedforoncetosacrificethemselvesaspartners。

Somersetfeltsomethingofathrillatthesight。Hewasaninfrequentdancer，andparticularlyunpreparedfordancingatpresent；buttodanceoncewithPaulaPowerhewouldgiveayearofhislife。Helookedround；butshewasnowheretobeseen。Thefirstsetbegan；oldandmiddle-agedpeoplegatheredfromthedifferentroomstolookonatthegyrationsoftheirchildren，butPauladidnotappear。Whenanotherdanceortwohadprogressed，andanincreaseintheaverageageofthedancerswasmakingitselfperceptible，especiallyonthemasculineside，Somersetwasarousedbyawhisperathiselbow——

"Youdance，Ithink?MissDeverellisdisengaged。Shehasnotbeenaskedoncethisevening。"ThespeakerwasPaula。

SomersetlookedatMissDeverell——asallowladywithblacktwinklingeyes，yellowcostume，andgaylaugh，whohadbeentherealltheafternoon——andsaidsomethingabouthavingthoughtofgoinghome。

"IsthatbecauseIaskedyoutodance?"shemurmured。"There——

sheisappropriated。"AyounggentlemanhadatthatmomentapproachedtheuninvitingMissDeverell，claimedherhandandledheroff。

"That"sright，"saidSomerset。"Ioughttoleaveroomforyoungermen。"

"Youneednotsayso。Thatbald-headedgentlemanisforty-

five。Hedoesnotthinkofyoungermen。"

"HaveYOUadancetospareforme?"

Herfacegrewstealthilyredderinthecandle-light。"O!——I

havenoengagementatall——Ihaverefused。Ihardlyfeelatlibertytodance；itwouldbeaswelltoleavethattomyvisitors。"

"Why?"

"Myfather，thoughheallowedmetobetaught，neverlikedtheideaofmydancing。"

"Didhemakeyoupromiseanythingonthepoint?"

"Hesaidhewasnotinfavourofsuchamusements——nomore。"

"Ithinkyouarenotboundbythat，onaninformaloccasionlikethepresent。"

Shewassilent。

"Youwilljustonce?"saidhe。

Anothersilence。"Ifyoulike，"sheventuresomelyansweredatlast。

Somersetclosedthehandwhichwashangingbyhisside，andsomehowherswasinit。Thedancewasnearlyformed，andheledherforward。Severalpersonslookedatthemsignificantly，buthedidnotnoticeitthen，andplungedintothemaze。

NeverhadMr。Somersetpassedthroughsuchanexperiencebefore。Hadhenotfeltheractualweightandwarmth，hemighthavefanciedthewholeepisodeafigmentoftheimagination。Itseemedasifthosemusicianshadthrownadoublesweetnessintotheirnotesonseeingthemistressofthecastleinthedance，thataperfumedsouthernatmospherehadbeguntopervadethemarquee，andthathumanbeingswereshakingthemselvesfreeofallinconvenientgravitation。

Somerset"sfeelingsburstfromhislips。"ThisisthehappiestmomentIhaveeverknown，"hesaid。"Doyouknowwhy?"

"IthinkIsawaflashoflightningthroughtheopeningofthetent，"saidPaula，withroguishabruptness。

Hedidnotpressforananswer。Withinafewminutesalonggrowlofthunderwasheard。ItwasasifJovecouldnotrefrainfromtestifyinghisjealousyofSomersetfortakingthiscovetablewomansopresumptuouslyinhisarms。

Thedancewasover，andhehadretiredwithPaulatothebackofthetent，whenanotherfaintflashoflightningwasvisiblethroughanopening。Sheliftedthecanvas，andlookedout，Somersetlookingoutbehindher。Anotherdancewasbegun，andbeingonthisaccountleftoutofnotice，SomersetdidnothastentoleavePaula"sside。

"Ithinktheybegintofeeltheheat，"shesaid。

"Alittleventilationwoulddonoharm。"Heflungbackthetentdoorwherehestood，andthelightshoneoutuponthegrass。

"Imustgotothedrawing-roomsoon，"sheadded。"Theywillbegintoleaveshortly。"

"Itisnotlate。Thethunder-cloudhasmadeitseemdark——seethere；alineofpaleyellowstretchesalongthehorizonfromwesttonorth。That"sevening——notgoneyet。Shallwegointothefreshairforaminute?"

Sheseemedtosignifyassent，andhesteppedoffthetent-

floorupontheground。Shesteppedoffalso。

Theairout-of-doorshadnotcooled，andwithoutdefinitelychoosingadirectiontheyfoundthemselvesapproachingalittlewoodentea-housethatstoodonthelawnafewyardsoff。Arrivedhere，theyturned，andregardedthetenttheyhadjustleft，andlistenedtothestrainsthatcamefromwithinit。

"Ifeelmoreateasenow，"saidPaula。

"SodoI，"saidSomerset。

"Imean，"sheaddedinanundeceivingtone，"becauseIsawMrs。Goodmanenterthetentagainjustaswecameouthere；soIhavenofurtherresponsibility。"

"Imeantsomethingquitedifferent。Trytoguesswhat。"

Sheteasinglydemurred，finallybreakingthesilencebysaying，"Therainiscomeatlast，"asgreatdropsbegantofalluponthegroundwithasmack，likepelletsofclay。

Inamomentthestormpoureddownwithsuddenviolence，andtheydrewfurtherbackintothesummer-house。Thesideofthetentfromwhichtheyhademergedstillremainedopen，therainstreamingdownbetweentheireyesandthelightedinteriorofthemarqueelikeatissueofglassthreads，thebrilliantformsofthedancerspassingandrepassingbehindthewateryscreen，asiftheywerepeopleinanenchantedsubmarinepalace。

"Howhappytheyare!"saidPaula。"Theydon"tevenknowthatitisraining。Iamsogladthatmyaunthadthetentlined；

otherwisesuchadownpourwouldhavegonecleanthroughit。"

Thethunder-stormshowednosymptomsofabatement，andthemusicanddancingwentonmoremerrilythanever。

"Wecannotgoin，"saidSomerset。"Andwecannotshoutforumbrellas。Wewillstaytillitisover，willwenot?"

"Yes，"shesaid，"ifyoucareto。Ah!"

"Whatisit?"

"Onlyabigdropcameuponmyhead。"

"Letusstandfurtherin。"

Herhandwashangingbyherside，andSomerset"swascloseby。

Hetookit，andshedidnotdrawitaway。Thustheystoodalongwhile，therainhissingdownuponthegrass-plot，andnotasoulbeingvisibleoutsidethedancing-tentsavethemselves。

"MayIcallyouPaula?"askedhe。

Therewasnoanswer。

"MayI?"herepeated。

"Yes，occasionally，"shemurmured。

"DearPaula!——mayIcallyouthat?"

"Ono——notyet。"

"ButyouknowIloveyou?"

"Yes，"shewhispered。

"AndshallIloveyoualways?"

"Ifyouwishto。"

"Andwillyouloveme?"

Pauladidnotreply。

"Willyou，Paula?"herepeated。

"Youmayloveme。"

"Butdon"tyoulovemeinreturn?"

"Iloveyoutoloveme。"