第9章

"Thenhereitis。TheplanIhavearrangedforyouisofthenatureofamarriage。"

"Youareverykind!"saidDeStancy，agape。

"Thelady"snameisMissPaulaPower，who，asyoumayhaveheardsinceyourarrival，isinabsolutepossessionofherfather"spropertyandestates，includingStancyCastle。AssoonasIheardofherIsawwhatamarvellousmatchitwouldbeforyou，andyourfamily；itwouldmakeamanofyou，inshort，andIhavesetmyminduponyourputtingnoobjectioninthewayofitsaccomplishment。"

"But，Willy，itseemstomethat，ofustwo，itisyouwhoexercisepaternalauthority?"

"True，itisforyourgood。Letmedoit。"

"Well，onemustbeindulgentunderthecircumstances，I

suppose……But，"addedDeStancysimply，"Willy，I——don"twanttomarry，youknow。Ihavelatelythoughtthatsomedaywemaybeabletolivetogether，youandI:goofftoAmericaorNewZealand，wherewearenotknown，andthereleadaquiet，pastorallife，defyingsocialrulesandtroublesomeobservances。"

"Ican"thearofit，captain，"repliedDarereprovingly。"I

amwhateventshavemademe，andhavingfixedmymindupongettingyousettledinlifebythismarriage，Ihaveputthingsintrainforitatanimmensetroubletomyself。Ifyouhadthoughtoverito"nightsasmuchasIhave，youwouldnotsaynay。"

"ButIoughttohavemarriedyourmotherifanybody。AndasI

havenotmarriedher，theleastIcandoinrespecttoheristomarrynootherwoman。"

"Youhavesomesortofdutytome，haveyounot，CaptainDeStancy?"

"Yes，Willy，IadmitthatIhave，"theelderrepliedreflectively。"AndIdon"tthinkIhavefailedinitthusfar?"

"Thiswillbethecrowningproof。Paternalaffection，familypride，thenobleinstinctstoreinstateyourselfinthecastleofyourancestors，alldemandthestep。Andwhenyouhaveseenthelady!Shehasthefigureandmotionsofasylph，thefaceofanangel，theeyeofloveitself。Whatasightsheiscrossingthelawnonasunnyafternoon，orglidingairilyalongthecorridorsoftheoldplacetheDeStancysknewsowell!Herlipsarethesoftest，reddest，mostdistractingthingsyoueversaw。Herhairisassoftassilk，andoftherarest，tenderestbrown。"

Thecaptainmoveduneasily。"Don"ttakethetroubletosaymore，Willy，"heobserved。"YouknowhowIam。Mycursedsusceptibilitytothesemattershasalreadywastedyearsofmylife，andIdon"twanttomakemyselfafoolabouthertoo。"

"Youmustseeher。"

"No，don"tletmeseeher，"DeStancyexpostulated。"Ifsheisonlyhalfsogood-lookingasyousay，shewilldragmeatherheelslikeablindSamson。Youareamereyouthasyet，butImaytellyouthatthemisfortuneofneverhavingbeenmyownmasterwhereabeautifulfacewasconcernedobligesmetobecautiousifIwouldpreservemypeaceofmind。"

"Well，tomymind，CaptainDeStancy，yourobjectionsseemtrivial。Arethoseall?"

"TheyareallIcaretomentionjustnowtoyou。"

"Captain!cantherebesecretsbetweenus?"

DeStancypausedandlookedattheladasifhisheartwishedtoconfesswhathisjudgmentfearedtotell。"Thereshouldnotbe——onthispoint，"hemurmured。

"Thentellme——whydoyousomuchobjecttoher?"

"Ioncevowedavow。"

"Avow!"saidDare，ratherdisconcerted。

"Avowofinfinitesolemnity。Imusttellyoufromthebeginning；perhapsyouareoldenoughtohearitnow，thoughyouhavebeentooyoungbefore。Yourmother"slifeendedinmuchsorrow，anditwasoccasionedentirelybyme。InmyregretforthewrongdoneherIsworetoherthatthoughshehadnotbeenmywife，nootherwomanshouldstandinthatrelationshiptome；andthistoherwasasortofcomfort。

Whenshewasdeadmyknowledgeofmyownplaguyimpressionableness，whichseemedtobeineradicable——asitseemsstill——ledmetothinkwhatsafeguardsIcouldsetovermyselfwithaviewtokeepingmypromisetolivealifeofcelibacy；andamongotherthingsIdeterminedtoforswearthesociety，andifpossiblethesight，ofwomenyoungandattractive，asfarasIhadthepowertodo。"

"Itisnotsoeasytoavoidthesightofabeautifulwomanifshecrossesyourpath，Ishouldthink?"

"Itisnoteasy；butitispossible。"

"How?"

"Bydirectingyourattentionanotherway。"

"Butdoyoumeantosay，captain，thatyoucanbeinaroomwithaprettywomanwhospeakstoyou，andnotlookather?"

"Ido:thoughmerelookinghaslesstodowithitthanmentalattentiveness——allowingyourthoughtstoflowoutinherdirection——tocomprehendherimage。"

"Butitwouldbeconsideredveryimpolitenottolookatthewomanorcomprehendherimage?"

"Itwould，andis。Iamconsideredthemostimpoliteofficerintheservice。Ihavebeennicknamedthemanwiththeavertedeyes——themanwiththedetestablehabit——themanwhogreetsyouwithhisshoulder，andsoon。Ninety-and-ninefairwomenatthepresentmomenthatemelikepoisonanddeathforhavingpersistentlyrefusedtoplumbthedepthsoftheirofferedeyes。"

"Howcanyoudoit，whoarebynaturecourteous?"

"Icannotalways——Ibreakdownsometimes。But，uponthewhole，recollectionholdsmetoit:dreadofalapse。

Nothingissopotentasfearwellmaintained。"

DeStancynarratedthesedetailsinagravemeditativetonewithhiseyesonthewall，asifhewerescarcelyconsciousofalistener。

"Buthaven"tyourecklessmoments，captain?——whenyouhavetakenalittlemorewinethanusual，forinstance?"

"Idon"ttakewine。"

"O，youareateetotaller?"

"Notapledgedone——butIdon"ttouchalcoholunlessIgetwet，oranythingofthatsort。"

"Don"tyousometimesforgetthisvowofyourstomymother?"

"No，Iwearareminder。"

"Whatisthatlike?"

DeStancyhelduphislefthand，onthethirdfingerofwhichappearedanironring。

Daresurveyedit，saying，"Yes，Ihaveseenthatbefore，thoughIneverknewwhyyouworeit。Well，Iwearareminderalso，butofadifferentsort。"

Hethrewopenhisshirt-front，andrevealedtattooedonhisbreastthelettersDESTANCY；thesamemarkswhichHavillhadseeninthebedroombythelightofthemoon。

Thecaptainratherwincedatthesight。"Well，well，"hesaidhastily，"that"senough……Now，atanyrate，youunderstandmyobjectiontoknowMissPower。"

"But，captain，"saidtheladcoaxingly，ashefastenedhisshirt；"youforgetmeandthegoodyoumaydomebymarrying?

Surelythat"sasufficientreasonforachangeofsentiment。

Thisinexperiencedsweetcreatureownsthecastleandestatewhichbearsyourname，eventothefurnitureandpictures。

Sheisthepossessorofatleastfortythousandayear——howmuchmoreIcannotsay——while，buriedhereinOuterWessex，shelivesattherateoftwelvehundredinhersimplicity。"

"Itisverygoodofyoutosetthisbeforeme。ButIprefertogoonasIamgoing。"

"Well，Iwon"tboreyouanymorewithherto-day。Amonkinregimentals!——"tisstrange。"Darearoseandwasabouttoopenthedoor，when，lookingthroughthewindow，CaptainDeStancysaid，"Stop。"Hehadperceivedhisfather，SirWilliamDeStancy，walkingamongthetombstoneswithout。

"Yes，indeed，"saidDare，turningthekeyinthedoor。"Itwouldlookstrangeifheweretofindushere。"

Astheoldmanseemedindisposedtoleavethechurchyardjustyettheysatdownagain。

"Whatacapitalcard-tablethisgreenclothwouldmake，"saidDare，astheywaited。"Youplay，captain，Isuppose?"

"Veryseldom。"

"Thesamewithme。ButasIenjoyahandofcardswithafriend，Idon"tgounprovided。"Sayingwhich，Daredrewapackfromthetailofhiscoat。"Shallwewhileawaythisleisurewiththewitchingthings?"

"Really，I"drathernot。"

"But，"coaxedtheyoungman，"Iaminthehumourforit；sodon"tbeunkind!"

"But，Willy，whydoyoucareforthesethings?Cardsareharmlessenoughintheirway；butIdon"tliketoseeyoucarryingtheminyourpocket。Itisn"tgoodforyou。"

"ItwasbythemerestchanceIhadthem。Nowcome，justonehand，sinceweareprisoners。IwanttoshowyouhownicelyI

canplay。Iwon"tcorruptyou!"

"Ofcoursenot，"saidDeStancy，asifashamedofwhathisobjectionimplied。"Youarenotcorruptenoughyourselftodothat，Ishouldhope。"

Thecardsweredealtandtheybegantoplay——CaptainDeStancyabstractedly，andwithhiseyesmostlystrayingoutofthewindowuponthelargeyew，whoseboughsastheymovedweredistortedbytheoldgreenwindow-panes。

"Itisbetterthandoingnothing，"saidDarecheerfully，asthegamewenton。"Ihopeyoudon"tdislikeit?"

"Notifitpleasesyou，"saidDeStancylistlessly。

"Andtheconsecrationofthisplacedoesnotextendfurtherthantheaislewall。"

"Doesn"tit?"saidDeStancy，ashemechanicallyplayedouthiscards。"WhatbecameofthatboxofbooksIsentyouwithmylastcheque?"

"Well，asIhadn"ttimetoreadthem，andasIknewyouwouldnotlikethemtobewasted，Isoldthemtoablokewhoperusesthemfrommorningtillnight。Ah，nowyouhavelostafiveraltogether——howqueer!We"lldoublethestakes。So，asIwassaying，justatthetimethebookscameIgotaninklingofthisimportantbusiness，andliteraturewenttothewall。"

"Importantbusiness——what?"

"Thecaptureofthislady，tobesure。"

DeStancysighedimpatiently。"Iwishyouwerelesscalculating，andhadmoreoftheimpulsenaturaltoyouryears!"

"Game——byJove!Youhavelostagain，captain。Thatmakes——

letmesee——ninepoundsfifteentosquareus。"

"Ioweyouthat?"saidDeStancy，startled。"ItismorethanIhaveincash。Imustwriteanothercheque。"

"Nevermind。Makeitpayabletoyourself，andourconnectionwillbequiteunsuspected。"

CaptainDeStancydidasrequested，androsefromhisseat。

SirWilliam，thoughfurtheroff，wasstillinthechurchyard。

"Howcanyouhesitateforamomentaboutthisgirl?"saidDare，pointingtothebentfigureoftheoldman。"Thinkofthesatisfactionitwouldbetohimtoseehissonwithinthefamilywallsagain。Itshouldbeareligionwithyoutocompasssuchalegitimateendasthis。"

"Well，well，I"llthinkofit，"saidthecaptain，withanimpatientlaugh。"YouarequiteaMephistopheles，Will——Isayittomysorrow!"

"WouldthatIwereinyourplace。"

"Wouldthatyouwere!FifteenyearsagoImighthavecalledthechanceamagnificentone。"

"Butyouareayoungmanstill，andyoulookyoungerthanyouare。Nobodyknowsourrelationship，andIamnotsuchafoolastodivulgeit。Ofcourse，ifthroughmeyoureclaimthissplendidpossession，Ishouldleaveittoyourfeelingswhatyouwoulddoforme。"

SirWilliamhadbythistimeclearedoutofthechurchyard，andthepairemergedfromthevestryanddeparted。ProceedingtowardsMarktonbythesamebypath，theypresentlycametoaneminencecoveredwithbushesofblackthorn，andtuftsofyellowingfern。FromthispointagoodviewofthewoodsandgladesaboutStancyCastlecouldbeobtained。Darestoodstillonthetopandstretchedouthisfinger；thecaptain"seyefollowedthedirection，andhesawabovethemany-huedfoliageinthemiddledistancethetoweringkeepofPaula"scastle。

"That"sthegoalofyourambition，captain——ambitiondoI

say?——mostrighteousanddutifulendeavour!Howthehoaryshapecatchesthesunlight——itistheraisond"etreofthelandscape，anditspossessioniscovetedbyathousandhearts。

Surelyitisanhereditarydesireofyours?Youmustmakeapointofreturningtoit，andappearinginthemapofthefutureasinthatofthepast。Idelightinthisworkofencouragingyou，andpushingyouforwardtowardsyourown。

Youarereallyveryclever，youknow，but——Isayitwithrespect——howcomesitthatyouwantsomuchwakingup?"

"BecauseIknowthedayisnotsobrightasitseems，myboy。

However，youmakealittlemistake。IfIcareforanythingonearth，Idocareforthatoldfortressofmyforefathers。I

respectsolittleamongthelivingthatallmyreverenceisformyowndead。Butmanoeuvring，evenformyown，asyoucallit，isnotinmyline。Itisdistasteful——itispositivelyhatefultome。"

"Well，well，letitstandthusforthepresent。Butwillyourefusemeonelittlerequest——merelytoseeher?I"llcontriveitsothatshemaynotseeyou。Don"trefuseme，itistheonethingIask，andIshallthinkithardifyoudenyme。"

"OWill!"saidthecaptainwearily。"Whywillyoupleadso?

No——eventhoughyourmindisparticularlysetuponit，I

cannotseeher，orbestowathoughtuponher，muchasIshouldliketogratifyyou。"

VI。

WhentheyhadpartedDarewalkedalongtowardsMarktonwithresolveonhismouthandanunscrupulouslightinhisprominentblackeye。Couldanypersonwhohadheardthepreviousconversationhaveseenhimnow，hewouldhavefoundlittledifficultyindiviningthat，notwithstandingDeStancy"sobduracy，thereinstationofCaptainDeStancyinthecastle，andthepossiblelegitimationandenrichmentofhimself，wasstillthedreamofhisbrain。Evenshouldanylegalsettlementoroffspringintervenetoniptheextremedevelopmentofhisprojects，therewasabundantopportunityforhisglorification。Twoconditionswereimperative。DeStancymustseePaulabeforeSomerset"sreturn。AnditwasnecessarytohavehelpfromHavill，evenifitinvolvedlettinghimknowall。

WhetherHavillalreadyknewallwasanicequestionforMr。

Dare"sluminousmind。Havillhadhadopportunitiesofreadinghissecret，particularlyonthenighttheyoccupiedthesameroom。Ifso，byrevealingittoPaula，Havillmightutterlyblasthisprojectforthemarriage。Havill，then，wasatallriskstoberetainedasanally。

YetDarewouldhavepreferredastrongercheckuponhisconfederatethanwasaffordedbyhisownknowledgeofthatanonymousletterandthecompetitiontrick。Forwerethecompetitionlosttohim，HavillwouldhavenofurtherinterestinconciliatingMissPower；wouldassoonasnotletherknowthesecretofDeStancy"srelationtohim。

Fortuneasusualhelpedhiminhisdilemma。EnteringHavill"soffice，Darefoundhimsittingthere；butthedrawingshadalldisappearedfromtheboards。Thearchitectheldanopenletterinhishand。

"Well，whatnews?"saidDare。

"MissPowerhasreturnedtothecastle，SomersetisdetainedinLondon，andthecompetitionisdecided，"saidHavill，withaglanceofquietdubiousness。

"Andyouhavewonit?"

"No。Wearebracketed——it"satie。Thejudgessaythereisnochoicebetweenthedesigns——thattheyaresingularlyequalandsingularlygood。Thatshewoulddowelltoadopteither。

SignedSo-and-So，FellowsoftheRoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects。Theresultisthatshewillemploywhichshepersonallylikesbest。ItisasifIhadspunasovereignintheairandithadalightedonitsedge。Theleastfalsemovementwillmakeittails；theleastwisemovementheads。"

"Singularlyequal。Well，weowethattoournocturnalvisit，whichmustnotbeknown。"

"OLord，no!"saidHavillapprehensively。

Darefeltsecureofhimatthosewords。Havillhadmuchatstake；theslightestrumourofhistrickinbringingaboutthecompetition，wouldbefataltoHavill"sreputation。

"ThepermanentabsenceofSomersetthenisdesirablearchitecturallyonyouraccount，matrimoniallyonmine。"

"Matrimonially?Bytheway——whowasthatcaptainyoupointedouttomewhentheartilleryenteredthetown?"

"CaptainDeStancy——sonofSirWilliamDeStancy。He"sthehusband。O，youneedn"tlookincredulous:itispracticable；

butwewon"targuethat。InthefirstplaceIwanthimtoseeher，andtoseeherinthemostlove-kindling，passion-

begettingcircumstancesthatcanbethoughtof。Andhemustseehersurreptitiously，forherefusestomeether。"

"Lethimseehergoingtochurchorchapel?"

Dareshookhishead。

"Drivingout?"

"Common-place!"

"Walkinginthegardens?"

"Ditto。"

"Athertoilet?"

"Ah——ifitwerepossible!"

"Whichithardlyis。Well，youhadbetterthinkitoverandmakeinquiriesaboutherhabits，andastowhensheisinafavourableaspectforobservation，asthealmanacssay。"

ShortlyafterwardsDaretookhisleave。Intheeveninghemadeithisbusinesstositsmokingontheboleofatreewhichcommandedaviewoftheupperwardofthecastle，andalsooftheoldpostern-gate，nowenlargedandusedasatradesmen"sentrance。Itwashalf-pastsixo"clock；thedressing-bellrang，andDaresawalight-footedyoungwomanhastenatthesoundacrossthewardfromtheservants"

quarter。AlightappearedinachamberwhichheknewtobePaula"sdressing-room；andthereitremainedhalf-an-hour，ashadowpassingandrepassingontheblindinthestyleofhead-dresswornbythegirlhehadpreviouslyseen。Thedinner-bellsoundedandthelightwentout。

Asyetitwasscarcelydarkoutofdoors，andinafewminutesDarehadthesatisfactionofseeingthesamewomancrossthewardandemergeupontheslopewithout。Thistimeshewasbonneted，andcarriedalittlebasketinherhand。Anearerviewshowedhertobe，ashehadexpected，MillyBirch，Paula"smaid，whohadfriendslivinginMarkton，whomshewasinthehabitofvisitingalmosteveryeveningduringthethreehoursofleisurewhichintervenedbetweenPaula"sretirementfromthedressing-roomandreturnthitheratteno"clock。

Whentheyoungwomanhaddescendedtheroadandpassedintothelargedrive，Dareroseandfollowedher。

"O，itisyou，MissBirch，"saidDare，onovertakingher。"I

amgladtohavethepleasureofwalkingbyyourside。"

"Yes，sir。Oit"sMr。Dare。Wedon"tseeyouatthecastlenow，sir。"

"No。Anddoyougetawalklikethiseveryeveningwhentheothersareattheirbusiest?"

"Almosteveryevening；that"stheonereturntothepoorlady"smaidforlosingherleisurewhentheothersgetit——intheabsenceofthefamilyfromhome。"

"IsMissPowerahardmistress?"

"No。"

"Ratherfancifulthanhard，Ipresume?"

"Justso，sir。"

"Andshelikestoappeartoadvantage，nodoubt。"

"Isupposeso，"saidMilly，laughing。"Wealldo。"

"Whendoessheappeartothebestadvantage?Whenriding，ordriving，orreadingherbook?"

"Notaltogetherthen，ifyoumeantheverybest。"

"Perhapsitiswhenshesitslookingintheglassatherself，andyouletdownherhair。"

"Notparticularly，tomymind。"

"Whendoesshetoyourmind?Whendressedforadinner-partyorball?"

"She"smiddling，then。Butthereisonetimewhenshelooksnicerandclevererthanatany。Itiswhensheisinthegymnasium。"

"O——gymnasium?"

"Becausewhensheisthereshewearssuchaprettyboy"scostume，andissocharminginhermovements，thatyouthinksheisalovelyyoungyouthandnotagirlatall。"

"Whendoesshegotothisgymnasium?"

"Notsomuchassheusedto。Onlyonwetmorningsnow，whenshecan"tgetoutforwalksordrives。Butsheusedtodoiteveryday。"

"Ishouldliketoseeherthere。"

"Why，sir?"

"Iamapoorartist，andcan"taffordmodels。ToseeherattitudeswouldbeofgreatassistancetomeintheartIlovesowell。"

Millyshookherhead。"She"sverystrictaboutthedoorbeinglocked。IfIweretoleaveitopenshewoulddismissme，asI

shoulddeserve。"

"Butconsider，dearMissBirch，theadvantagetoapoorartistthesightofherwouldbe:ifyoucouldholdthedoorajaritwouldbeworthfivepoundstome，andagooddealtoyou。"

"No，"saidtheincorruptibleMilly，shakingherhead。

"Besides，Idon"talwaysgotherewithher。Ono，I

couldn"t!"

MillyremainedsofirmatthispointthatDaresaidnomore。

Whenhehadleftherhereturnedtothecastlegrounds，andthoughtherewasnotmuchlighthehadnodifficultyindiscoveringthegymnasium，theoutsideofwhichhehadobservedbefore，withoutthinkingtoinquireitspurpose。

Liketheerectionsinotherpartsoftheshrubberiesitwasconstructedofwood，theintersticesbetweentheframingbeingfilledupwithshortbilletsoffirnaileddiagonally。Dare，evenwhenwithoutasettledplaninhishead，couldarrangeforprobabilities；andwrenchingoutoneofthebilletshelookedinside。Itseemedtobeasimpleoblongapartment，fittedupwithropes，withalittledressing-closetatoneend，andlightedbyaskylightorlanternintheroof。Darereplacedthewoodandwentonhisway。

HavillwassmokingonhisdoorstepwhenDarepassedupthestreet。Hehelduphishand。

"Sinceyouhavebeengone，"saidthearchitect，"I"vehituponsomethingthatmayhelpyouinexhibitingyourladytoyourgentleman。InthesummerIhadorderstodesignagymnasiumforher，whichIdid；andtheysaysheisverycleverontheropesandbars。Now——"

"I"vediscoveredit。Ishallcontriveforhimtoseeherthereonthefirstwetmorning，whichiswhenshepractises。

Whatmadeherthinkofit?"

"Asyoumayhaveheard，sheholdsadvancedviewsonsocialandothermatters；andinthoseonthehighereducationofwomensheisverystrong，talkingagooddealaboutthephysicaltrainingoftheGreeks，whomsheadores，ordid。Everyphilosopherandmanofsciencewhoventilateshistheoriesinthemonthlyreviewshasadevoutlistenerinher；andthissubjectofthephysicaldevelopmentofhersexhashaditsturnwithotherthingsinhermind。Soshehadtheplacebuiltonherveryfirstarrival，accordingtothelatestlightsonathletics，andinimitationofthoseatthenewcollegesforwomen。"

"Howdeucedcleverofthegirl!Shemeanstolivetobeahundred!"

VII。

Thewetdayarrivedwithallthepromptnessthatmighthavebeenexpectedofitinthislandofrainsandmists。Thealderbushesbehindthegymnasiumdrippedmonotonouslyleafuponleaf，addedtothisbeingthepurloftheshallowstreamalittlewayoff，producingasenseofsatietyinwaterysounds。Thoughtherewasdrizzleintheopenmeads，therainhereinthethicketwascomparativelyslight，andtwomenwithfishingtacklewhostoodbeneathoneofthelargerbushesfounditsboughsasufficientshelter。

"Wemayaswellwalkhomeagainasstudynaturehere，Willy，"

saidthetallerandelderofthetwain。"Ifeareditwouldcontinuewhenwestarted。Themagnificentsportyouspeakofmustrestforto-day。"

Theotherlookedathiswatch，butmadenoparticularreply。

"Come，letusmoveon。Idon"tlikeintrudingintootherpeople"sgroundslikethis，"DeStancycontinued。

"Wearenotintruding。Anybodywalksoutsidethisfence。"Heindicatedanironrailingnewlytarred，dividingthewilderunderwoodamidwhichtheystoodfromtheinnerandwell-keptpartsoftheshrubbery，andagainstwhichthebackofthegymnasiumwasbuilt。

Lightfootstepsuponagravelwalkcouldbeheardontheothersideofthefence，andatrioofcloakedandumbrella-screenedfigureswereforamomentdiscernible。Theyvanishedbehindthegymnasium；andagainnothingresoundedbuttherivermurmursandtheclock-likedrippingsoftheleafage。

"Hush!"saidDare。

"Nopranks，myboy，"saidDeStancysuspiciously。"Youshouldbeabovethem。"

"Andyoushouldtrusttomygoodsense，captain，"Dareremonstrated。"Ihavenotindulgedinapranksincethesixthyearofmypilgrimage。Ihavefoundthemtoodamagingtomyinterests。Well，itisnottoodryhere，anddampinjuresyourhealth，yousay。Haveapullforsafety"ssake。"HepresentedaflasktoDeStancy。

Theartilleryofficerlookeddownathisnethergarments。

"Idon"tbreakmyrulewithoutgoodreason，"heobserved。

"Iamafraidthatreasonexistsatpresent。"

"Iamafraiditdoes。Whathaveyougot?"

"Onlyalittlewine。"

"Whatwine?"

"Dotryit。Icallit"theblushfulHippocrene，"thatthepoetdescribesas"TastingofFloraandthecountrygreen；

Dance，andProvencalsong，andsun-burntmirth。""

DeStancytooktheflask，anddrankalittle。

"Itwarms，doesitnot?"saidDare。

"Toomuch，"saidDeStancywithmisgiving。"Ihavebeentakenunawares。Why，itisthreepartsbrandy，tomytaste，youscamp!"

Dareputawaythewine。"Nowyouaretoseesomething，"hesaid。

"Something——whatisit?"CaptainDeStancyregardedhimwithapuzzledlook。

"Itisquiteacuriosity，andreallyworthseeing。Nowjustlookinhere。"

Thespeakeradvancedtothebackofthebuilding，andwithdrewthewoodbilletfromthewall。

"Will，Ibelieveyouareuptosometrick，"saidDeStancy，not，however，suspectingtheactualtruthintheseunsuggestivecircumstances，andwithacomfortableresignation，producedbythepotentliquor，whichwouldhavebeencomicaltoanoutsider，butwhich，toonewhohadknownthehistoryandrelationshipofthetwospeakers，wouldhavewornasaddersignificance。"IamtoobigafoolaboutyoutokeepyoudownasIought；that"sthefaultofme，worseluck。"

Hepressedtheyouth"shandwithasmile，wentforward，andlookedthroughtheholeintotheinteriorofthegymnasium。

Darewithdrewtosomelittledistance，andwatchedCaptainDeStancy"sface，whichpresentlybegantoassumeanexpressionofinterest。

Whatwasthecaptainseeing?Asortofopticalpoem。

Paula，inapinkflannelcostume，wasbending，wheelingandundulatingintheairlikeagold-fishinitsglobe，sometimesascendingbyherarmsnearlytothelantern，thenloweringherselftillsheswunglevelwiththefloor。HerauntMrs。

Goodman，andCharlotteDeStancy，weresittingoncamp-stoolsatoneend，watchinghergyrations，Paulaoccasionallyaddressingthemwithsuchanexpressionas——"Now，Aunt，lookatme——andyou，Charlotte——isnotthatshockingtoyourweaknerves，"whensomeadroitfeatwouldberepeated，which，however，seemedtogivemuchmorepleasuretoPaulaherselfinperformingitthantoMrs。Goodmaninlookingon，thelattersometimessaying，"O，itisterrific——donotrunsuchariskagain!"

ItwouldhavedemandedthepoeticpassionofsomejoyousElizabethanlyristlikeLodge，Nash，orConstable，tofitlyphrasePaula"spresentationofherselfatthismomentofabsoluteabandonmenttoeverymuscularwhimthatcouldtakepossessionofsuchasuppleform。Thewhitemanillaropesclungabouttheperformerlikesnakesasshetookherexercise，andthecolourinherfacedeepenedasshewenton。

CaptainDeStancyfeltthat，muchashehadseeninearlylifeofbeautyinwoman，hehadneverseenbeautyofsucharealandlivingsortasthis。Arecollectionofhisvow，togetherwithasensethattogazeonthefestivalofthisBonaDeawas，thoughsoinnocentandprettyasight，hardlyfairorgentlemanly，wouldhavecompelledhimtowithdrawhiseyes，hadnotthesportivefascinationofherappearancegluedthemthereinspiteofall。AndasiftocompletethepictureofGracepersonifiedandaddtheonethingwantingtothecharmwhichboundhim，theclouds，tillthattimethickinthesky，brokeawayfromtheupperheaven，andallowedthenoondaysuntopourdownthroughthelanternuponher，irradiatingherwithawarmlightthatwasincarnadinedbyherpinkdoubletandhose，andreflectedinuponherface。Sheonlyrequiredacloudtorestoninsteadofthegreensilknetwhichactuallysupportedherrecliningfigureforthemoment，tobequiteOlympian；saveindeedthatinplaceofhaughtyeffronterytheresatonhercountenanceonlythehealthfulsprightlinessofanEnglishgirl。

DarehadwithdrawntoapointatwhichanotherpathcrossedthepathoccupiedbyDeStancy。Lookinginasidedirection，hesawHavillidlingslowlyuptohimoverthesilentgrass。

Havill"sknowledgeoftheappointmenthadbroughthimouttoseewhatwouldcomeofit。WhenhenearedDare，butwasstillpartiallyhiddenbytheboughsfromthethirdoftheparty，theformersimplypointedtoDeStancyuponwhichHavillstoodandpeepedathim。"Isshewithinthere?"heinquired。

Darenodded，andwhispered，"Youneednothaveasked，ifyouhadexaminedhisface。"

"That"strue。"

"Afermentationisbeginninginhim，"saidDare，halfpitifully；"apurelychemicalprocess；andwhenitiscompletehewillprobablybeclear，andfiery，andsparkling，andquiteanothermanthanthegood，weak，easyfellowthathewas。"

TopreciselydescribeCaptainDeStancy"sadmirationwasimpossible。Asunseemedtoriseinhisface。Bywatchinghimtheycouldalmostseetheaspectofherwithinthewall，soaccuratelywereherchangingphasesreflectedinhim。Heseemedtoforgetthathewasnotalone。

"Andisthis，"hemurmured，inthemannerofoneonlyhalfapprehendinghimself，"andisthistheendofmyvow?"

Paulawassayingatthismoment，"Arielsleepsinthisposture，doeshenot，Auntie?"Suitingtheactiontothewordsheflungoutherarmsbehindherheadasshelayinthegreensilkhammock，idlyclosedherpinkeyelids，andswungherselftoandfro。

BOOKTHETHIRD。DESTANCY。

I。

CaptainDeStancywasachangedman。Ahithertowell-

repressedenergywasgivinghimmotiontowardslong-shunnedconsequences。Hisfeatureswere，indeed，thesameasbefore；

though，hadaphysiognomistchosentostudythemwiththeclosenessofanastronomerscanningtheuniverse，hewoulddoubtlesshavediscernedabundantnovelty。

InrecentyearsDeStancyhadbeenaneasy，melancholy，unaspiringofficer，enervatedanddepressedbyaparentalaffectionquitebeyondhiscontrolforthegracelessladDare——

theobtrusivemementoofashadowyperiodinDeStancy"syouth，whothreatenedtobethecurseofhisoldage。

Throughoutalongspacehehadperseveredinhissystemofrigidlyincarceratingwithinhimselfallinstinctstowardstheoppositesex，witharesolutionthatwouldnothavedisgracedamuchstrongerman。Bythishabit，maintainedwithfairsuccess，achamberofhisnaturehadbeenpreservedintactduringmanylateryears，liketheonesolitarysealed-upcelloccasionallyretainedbybeesinalobeofdrainedhoney-comb。

Andthus，thoughhehadirretrievablyexhaustedtherelishofsociety，ofambition，ofaction，andofhisprofession，thelove-forcethathehadkeptimmuredalivewasstillareproduciblething。

ThesightofPaulainhergracefulperformance，whichthejudiciousDarehadsocarefullyplanned，leduptoandheightenedbysubtleaccessories，operatedonDeStancy"ssurprisedsoulwithapromptnessalmostmagical。

Ontheeveningoftheself-sameday，havingdinedasusual，heretiredtohisrooms，wherehefoundahamperofwineawaitinghim。Ithadbeenanonymouslysent，andtheaccountwaspaid。

Hesmiledgrimly，butnolongerwithheaviness。InthisheinstantlyrecognizedthehandiworkofDare，who，havingatlastbrokendownthebarrierwhichDeStancyhaderectedroundhisheartforsomanyyears，actedlikeaskilledstrategist，andtookswiftmeasurestofollowuptheadvantagesotardilygained。

CaptainDeStancyknewhimselfconquered:heknewheshouldyieldtoPaula——hadindeedyielded；buttherewasnow，inhissolitude，anhourortwoofreaction。Hedidnotdrinkfromthebottlessent。Hewentearlytobed，andlaytossingthereontillfarintothenight，thinkingoverthecollapse。