第10章

Histeetotalismhad，withthelapseofyears，unconsciouslybecometheoutwardandvisiblesigntohimselfofhissecretvows；andareturntoitsopposite，howevermildlydone，signifiedwithceremoniousdistinctnesstheformalacceptanceofdelectationslongforsworn。

ButtheexceedingfreshnessofhisfeelingforPaula，whichbyreasonofitslongarrestwasthatofamanfarunderthirty，andwasawondertohimselfeveryinstant，wouldnotlongbrookweighinginbalances。Hewishedsuddenlytocommithimself；toremovethequestionofretreatoutoftheregionofdebate。Theclockstrucktwo:andthewishbecamedetermination。Hearose，andwrappinghimselfinhisdressing-gownwenttothenextroom，wherehetookfromashelfinthepantryseverallargebottles，whichhecarriedtothewindow，tilltheystoodonthesillagoodlyrow。Therehadbeensufficientlightintheroomforhimtodothiswithoutacandle。Nowhesoftlyopenedthesash，andtheradianceofagibbousmoonridingintheoppositeskyfloodedtheapartment。Itfellonthelabelsofthecaptain"sbottles，revealingtheircontentstobesimpleaeratedwatersfordrinking。

DeStancylookedoutandlistened。Thegunsthatstooddrawnupwithintheyardglistenedinthemoonlightreachingthemfromoverthebarrack-wall:therewasanoccasionalstampofhorsesinthestables；alsoameasuredtreadofsentinels——oneormoreatthegates，oneatthehospital，onebetweenthewings，twoatthemagazine，andothersfurtheroff。Recurringtohisintentionhedrewthecorksofthemineralwaters，andinvertingeachbottleonebyoneoverthewindow-sill，hearditscontentsdribbleinasmallstreamontothegravelbelow。

HethenopenedthehamperwhichDarehadsent。Uncorkingoneofthebottleshemurmured，"ToPaula!"anddrankaglassoftherubyliquor。

"Amanagainaftereighteenyears，"hesaid，shuttingthesashandreturningtohisbedroom。

ThefirstovertresultofhiskindledinterestinMissPowerwashissayingtohissisterthedayafterthesurreptitioussightofPaula:"Iamsorry，Charlotte，forawordortwoI

saidtheotherday。"

"Well?"

"IwasratherdisrespectfultoyourfriendMissPower。"

"Idon"tthinkso——wereyou?"

"Yes。Whenwewerewalkinginthewood，Imadeastupidjokeabouther……Whatdoessheknowaboutme——doyoueverspeakofmetoher?"

"Onlyingeneralterms。"

"Whatgeneralterms?"

"Youknowwellenough，William；ofyouridiosyncrasiesandsoon——thatyouareabitofawoman-hater，oratleastaconfirmedbachelor，andhavebutlittlerespectforyourownfamily。"

"Iwishyouhadnottoldherthat，"saidDeStancywithdissatisfaction。

"ButIthoughtyoualwayslikedwomentoknowyourprinciples!"saidCharlotte，ininjuredtones；"andwouldparticularlylikehertoknowthem，livingsonear。"

"Yes，yes，"repliedherbrotherhastily。"Well，Ioughttoseeher，justtoshowherthatIamnotquiteabrute。"

"Thatwouldbeverynice!"sheanswered，puttingherhandstogetherinagreeableastonishment。"ItisjustwhatIhavewished，thoughIdidnotdreamofsuggestingitafterwhatI

haveheardyousay。Iamgoingtostaywithheragainto-

morrow，andIwillletherknowaboutthis。"

"Don"ttellheranythingplainly，forheaven"ssake。Ireallywanttoseetheinteriorofthecastle；Ihaveneverentereditswallssincemybabyhood。"Heraisedhiseyesashespoketowherethewallsinquestionshowedtheirashlarfacesoverthetrees。

"Youmighthavegoneoveritatanytime。"

"Oyes。ItisonlyrecentlythatIhavethoughtmuchoftheplace:IfeelnowthatIshouldliketoexaminetheoldbuildingthoroughly，sinceitwasforsomanygenerationsassociatedwithourfortunes，especiallyasmostoftheoldfurnitureisstillthere。Mysedulousavoidancehithertoofallrelatingtoourfamilyvicissitudeshasbeen，Iown，stupidconductforanintelligentbeing；butimpossiblegrapesarealwayssour，andIhaveunconsciouslyadoptedRadicalnotionstoobliteratedisappointedhereditaryinstincts。Butthesehaveatrickofre-establishingthemselvesasonegetsolder，andthecastleandwhatitcontainshaveakeeninterestformenow。"

"ItcontainsPaula。"

DeStancy"spulse，whichhadbeenbeatinglanguidlyformanyyears，beatdoubleatthesoundofthatname。

"Imeantfurnitureandpicturesforthemoment，"hesaid；"butIdon"tmindextendingthemeaningtoher，ifyouwishit。"

"Sheistherarestthingthere。"

"Soyouhavesaidbefore。"

"Thecastleandourfamilyhistoryhaveasmuchromanticinterestforherastheyhaveforyou，"Charlottewenton。

"Shedelightsinvisitingourtombsandeffigiesandpondersoverthemforhours。"

"Indeed!"saidDeStancy，allowinghissurprisetohidethesatisfactionwhichaccompaniedit。"Thatshouldmakeusfriendly……Doessheseemanypeople?"

"Notmanyasyet。Andshecannothavemanystayingthereduringthealterations。"

"Ah!yes——thealterations。Didn"tyousaythatshehashadaLondonarchitectstoppingthereonthataccount?Whatwashe——

oldoryoung?"

"Heisayoungman:hehasbeentoourhouse。Don"tyourememberyoumethimthere?"

"Whatwashisname?"

"Mr。Somerset。"

"O，thatman!Yes，yes，Iremember……Hullo，Lottie!"

"What?"

"Yourfaceisasredasapeony。NowIknowasecret!"

Charlottevainlyendeavouredtohideherconfusion。"Verywell——notaword!Iwon"tsaymore，"continuedDeStancygood-humouredly，"exceptthatheseemstobeaverynicefellow。"

DeStancyhadturnedthedialogueontothislittlewell-

preservedsecretofhissister"swithsufficientoutwardlightness；butithadbeendoneininstinctiveconcealmentofthedisquietingstartwithwhichhehadrecognizedthatSomerset，Dare"senemy，whomhehadinterceptedinplacingDare"sportraitintothehandsofthechiefconstable，wasamanbelovedbyhissisterCharlotte。Thisnovelcircumstancemightleadtoacuriouscomplication。Buthewastohearmore。

"Hemaybeverynice，"repliedCharlotte，withaneffort，afterthissilence。"Butheisnothingtome，morethanaverygoodfriend。"

"There"snoengagement，orthoughtofonebetweenyou?"

"Certainlythere"snot!"saidCharlotte，withbraveemphasis。

"ItismorelikelytobebetweenPaulaandhimthanmeandhim。"

DeStancy"sbaremilitaryearsandcloselycroppedpollflushedhot。"MissPowerandhim?"

"Idon"tmeantosaythereis，becausePauladeniesit；butI

meanthathelovesPaula。ThatIdoknow。"

DeStancywasdumb。ThisitemofnewswhichDarehadkeptfromhim，notknowinghowfarDeStancy"ssenseofhonourmightextend，wasdecidedlygrave。Indeed，hewassogreatlyimpressedwiththefact，thathecouldnothelpsayingasmuchaloud:"Thisisveryserious!"

"Why!"shemurmuredtremblingly，forthefirstleakingoutofhertenderandswornsecrethaddisabledherquite。

"BecauseIlovePaulatoo。"

"Whatdoyousay，William，you?——awomanyouhaveneverseen?"

"Ihaveseenher——byaccident。Andnow，mydearlittlesis，youwillbemycloseally，won"tyou?asIwillbeyours，asbrotherandsistershouldbe。"HeplacedhisarmcoaxinglyroundCharlotte"sshoulder。

"O，William，howcanI?"atlastshestammered。

"Why，howcan"tyou，Ishouldsay?Wearebothinthesameship。IlovePaula，youloveMr。Somerset；itbehovesbothofustoseethatthisflirtationoftheirsendsinnothing。"

"Idon"tlikeyoutoputitlikethat——thatIlovehim——itfrightensme，"murmuredthegirl，visiblyagitated。"Idon"twanttodividehimfromPaula；Icouldn"t，Iwouldn"tdoanythingtoseparatethem。Believeme，Will，Icouldnot!I

amsorryyoulovetherealso，thoughIshouldbegladifithappenedinthenaturalorderofeventsthatsheshouldcomeroundtoyou。ButIcannotdoanythingtopartthemandmakeMr。Somersetsuffer。ItwouldbeTOOwrongandblamable。"

"Now，yousillyCharlotte，that"sjusthowyouwomenflyoffatatangent。Imeannothingdishonourableintheleast。

HaveIeverpromptedyoutodoanythingdishonourable?FairfightingallieswasallIthoughtof。"

MissDeStancybreathedmorefreely。"Yes，wewillbethat，ofcourse；wearealwaysthat，William。ButIhopeIcanbeyourally，andbequiteneutral；Iwouldsomuchrather。"

"Well，Isupposeitwillnotbeabreachofyourpreciousneutralityifyougetmeinvitedtoseethecastle?"

"Ono!"shesaidbrightly；"Idon"tminddoingsuchathingasthat。Whynotcomewithmetomorrow?IwillsayIamgoingtobringyou。Therewillbenotroubleatall。"

DeStancyreadilyagreed。Theeffectuponhimoftheinformationnowacquiredwastointensifyhisardourtenfold，thestimulusbeingduetoaperceptionthatSomerset，withalittlemoreknowledge，wouldholdacardwhichcouldbeplayedwithdisastrouseffectagainsthimself——hisrelationshiptoDare。ItsdisclosuretoaladyofsuchPuritanantecedentsasPaula"s，wouldprobablymeanherimmediateseverancefromhimselfasanuncleanthing。

"IsMissPoweraseverepietist，orprecisian；orissheacompromisinglady?"heaskedabruptly。

"Sheissevereanduncompromising——ifyoumeaninherjudgmentsonmorals，"saidCharlotte，notquitehearing。Theremarkwaspeculiarlyapposite，andDeStancywassilent。

Hespentsomefollowinghoursinaclosestudyofthecastlehistory，whichtillnowhadunutterablyboredhim。Moreparticularlydidhedwelloverdocumentsandnoteswhichreferredtothepedigreeofhisownfamily。Hewroteoutthenamesofall——andtheyweremany——whohadbeenbornwithinthosedomineeringwallssincetheirfirsterection；ofthoseamongthemwhohadbeenbroughtthitherbymarriagewiththeowner，andofstrangerknightsandgentlemenwhohadenteredthecastlebymarriagewithitsmistress。Herefreshedhismemoryonthestrangelovesandhatesthathadariseninthecourseofthefamilyhistory；onmemorableattacks，andthedatesofthesame，themostmemorableamongthembeingtheoccasiononwhichthepartyrepresentedbyPaulabattereddownthecastlewallsthatshewasnowabouttomend，and，ashehoped，returnintheiroriginalintactshapetothefamilydispossessed，bymarriagewithhimself，itslivingrepresentative。

InSirWilliam"svillaweresmallengravingsaftermanyoftheportraitsinthecastlegalleries，someofthemhanginginthedining-roominplainoakandmapleframes，andotherspreservedinportfolios。DeStancyspentmuchofhistimeoverthese，andingettinguptheromancesoftheiroriginals"

livesfrommemoirsandotherrecords，allwhichstorieswereasgreatnoveltiestohimastheycouldpossiblybetoanystranger。MostinterestingtohimwasthelifeofanEdwardDeStancy，whohadlivedjustbeforetheCivilWars，andtowhomCaptainDeStancyboreaverytraceablelikeness。Thisancestorhadamoleonhischeek，blackanddistinctasaflyincream；andasinthecaseofthefirstLordAmherst"swart，andBennetEarlofArlington"snose-scar，thepainterhadfaithfullyreproducedthedefectoncanvas。Itsohappenedthatthecaptainhadamole，thoughnotexactlyonthesamespotofhisface；andthismadetheresemblancestillgreater。

Hetookinfinitetroublewithhisdressthatday，showinganamountofanxietyonthematterwhichforhimwasquiteabnormal。Atlast，whenfullyequipped，hesetoutwithhissistertomakethecallproposed。Charlottewasratherunhappyatsightofherbrother"searnestattempttomakeanimpressiononPaula；butshecouldsaynothingagainstit，andtheyproceededontheirway。

ItwasthedarkestofNovemberweather，whenthedaysaresoshortthatmorningseemstojoinwitheveningwithouttheinterventionofnoon。Theskywaslinedwithlowcloud，withinwhosedensesubstancetempestswereslowlyfermentingforthecomingdays。Evennowawindyturbulencetroubledthehalf-nakedboughs，andalonelyleafwouldoccasionallyspindownwardstorejoinonthegrassthescathedmultitudeofitscomradeswhichhadprecededitinitsfall。Theriverbythepavilion，inthesummersoclearandpurling，nowslidonwardsbrownandthickandsilent，andenlargedtodoublesize。

II。

MeanwhilePaulawasalone。Ofanyoneelseitwouldhavebeensaidthatshemustbefindingtheafternoonratherdrearyinthequainthallsnotofherforefathers:butofMissPoweritwasunsafetopredicatesosurely。Shewalkedfromroomtoroominablackvelvetdresswhichgavedecisiontoheroutlinewithoutdeprivingitofsoftness。Sheoccasionallyclaspedherhandsbehindherheadandlookedoutofawindow；

butshemoreparticularlybentherfootstepsupanddowntheLongGallery，whereshehadcausedalargefireoflogstobekindled，inherendeavourtoextendcheerfulnesssomewhatbeyondtheprecinctsofthesitting-rooms。

ThefireglanceduponPaula，andPaulaglanceddownatthefire，andatthegnarledbeechfuel，andatthewood-licewhichranoutfrombeneaththebarktotheextremityofthelogsastheheatapproachedthem。Thelow-downruddylightspreadoverthedarkfloorlikethesettingsunoveramoor，flutteringonthegrotesquecountenancesofthebrightandirons，andtouchingallthefurnitureontheunderside。

Shenowandthencrossedtooneofthedeepembrasuresofthewindows，todeciphersomesentencefromalettersheheldinherhand。Thedaylightwouldhavebeenmorethansufficientforanybystandertodiscernthatthecapitalsinthatletterwereofthepeculiarsemi-gothictypeaffectedatthetimebySomersetandotheryoungarchitectsofhisschoolintheirepistolarycorrespondence。Shewasverypossiblythinkingofhim，evenwhennotreadinghisletter，fortheexpressionofsoftnesswithwhichsheperusedthepagewasmoreorlesswithherwhensheappearedtoexamineotherthings。

Shewalkedaboutforalittletimelonger，thenputawaytheletter，lookedattheclock，andthencereturnedtothewindows，straininghereyesoverthelandscapewithout，asshemurmured，"IwishCharlottewasnotsolongcoming!"

AsCharlottecontinuedtokeepaway，Paulabecamelessreasonableinherdesires，andproceededtowishthatSomersetwouldarrive；thenthatanybodywouldcome；then，walkingtowardstheportraitsonthewall，sheflippantlyaskedoneofthosecavalierstoobligeherfancyforcompanybysteppingdownfromhisframe。Thetemerityoftherequestledhertoprudentlywithdrawitalmostassoonasconceived:oldpaintingshadbeensaidtoplayqueertricksinextremecases，andtheshadowsthisafternoonwerefunerealenoughforanythingintheshapeofrevengeonanintruderwhoembodiedtheantagonisticmodernspirittosuchanextentasshe。

However，Paulastillstoodbeforethepicturewhichhadattractedher；andthis，byacoincidencecommonenoughinfact，thoughscarcelycreditedinchronicles，happenedtobethatoneoftheseventeenth-centuryportraitsofwhichDeStancyhadstudiedtheengravedcopyatMyrtleVillathesamemorning。

Whilstsheremainedbeforethepicture，wonderingherfavouritewonder，howwouldshefeelifthisanditsaccompanyingcanvaseswerepicturesofherownancestors，shewassurprisedbyalightfootstepuponthecarpetwhichcoveredpartoftheroom，andturningquicklyshebeheldthesmilinglittlefigureofCharlotteDeStancy。

"Whathasmadeyousolate?"saidPaula。"Youarecometostay，ofcourse?"

Charlottesaidshehadcometostay。"ButIhavebroughtsomebodywithme!"

"Ah——whom?"

"Mybrotherhappenedtobeathome，andIhavebroughthim。"

MissDeStancy"sbrotherhadbeensocontinuouslyabsentfromhomeinIndia，orelsewhere，solittlespokenof，and，whenspokenof，sotrulythoughunconsciouslyrepresentedasonewhoseinterestslaywhollyoutsidethisantiquatedneighbourhood，thattoPaulahehadbeenamerenebulositywhomshehadneverdistinctlyoutlined。Tohavehimthuscohereintosubstanceatamoment"snoticelenthimthenoveltyofanewcreation。

"Isheinthedrawing-room?"saidPaulainalowvoice。

"No，heishere。Hewouldfollowme。Ihopeyouwillforgivehim。"

AndthenPaulasawemergeintotheredbeamsofthedancingfire，frombehindahalf-drawnhangingwhichscreenedthedoor，themilitarygentlemanwhoseacquaintancethereaderhasalreadymade。

"Youknowthehouse，doubtless，CaptainDeStancy?"saidPaula，somewhatshyly，whenhehadbeenpresentedtoher。

"IhaveneverseentheinsidesinceIwasthreeweeksold，"

repliedtheartilleryofficergracefully；"andhencemyrecollectionsofitarenotremarkablydistinct。AyearortwobeforeIwasborntheentailwascutoffbymyfatherandgrandfather；sothatIsawthevenerableplaceonlytoloseit；atleast，Ibelievethat"sthetruthofthecase。Butmyknowledgeofthetransactionisnotprofound，anditisadelicatepointonwhichtoquestionone"sfather。"

Paulaassented，andlookedattheinterestingandnoblefigureofthemanwhoseparentshadseeminglyrightedthemselvesattheexpenseofwronginghim。

"Thepicturesandfurnitureweresoldaboutthesametime，I

think?"saidCharlotte。

"Yes，"murmuredDeStancy。"Theywentinamadbargainofmyfatherwithhisvisitor，astheysatovertheirwine。Myfathersatdownashostonthatoccasion，andaroseasguest。"

Heseemedtospeakwithsuchacourteousabsenceofregretforthealienation，thatPaula，whowasalwaysfearingthattherecollectionwouldriseasapainfulshadowbetweenherselfandtheDeStancys，feltreassuredbyhismagnanimity。

DeStancylookedwithinterestroundthegallery；seeingwhichPaulasaidshewouldhavelightsbroughtinamoment。

"No，pleasenot，"saidDeStancy。"Theroomandourselvesareofsomuchmoreinterestingacolourbythislight!"

Astheymovedhitherandthither，thevariousexpressionsofDeStancy"sfacemadethemselvespicturesquelyvisibleintheunsteadyshineoftheblaze。Inashorttimehehaddrawnneartothepaintingoftheancestorwhomhesogreatlyresembled。Whenherquickeyenotedthespeckontheface，indicativeofinheritedtraitsstronglypronounced，anewandromanticfeelingthattheDeStancyshadstretchedoutatentaclefromtheirgenealogicaltreetoseizeherbythehandanddrawherintotheirmasstookpossessionofPaula。Ashasbeensaid，theDeStancyswereafamilyonwhomthehall-

markofmembershipwasdeeplystamped，andbythepresentlighttherepresentativeundertheportraitandtherepresentativeintheportraitseemedbeingsnotfarremoved。

Paulawascontinuallystartingfromareverieandspeakingirrelevantly，asifsuchreflectionsasthoseseizedholdofherinspiteofhernaturalunconcern。

WhencandleswerebroughtinCaptainDeStancyardentlycontrivedtomakethepicturesthethemeofconversation。

Fromthenearesttheywenttothenext，whereuponPaulaashostesstookuponeofthecandlesticksandhelditalofttolightupthepainting。Thecandlestickbeingtallandheavy，DeStancyrelievedherofit，andtakinganothercandleintheotherhand，heimperceptiblyslidintothepositionofexhibitorratherthanspectator。Thushewalkedinadvanceholdingthetwocandlesonhigh，hisshadowformingagiganticfigureontheneighbouringwall，whileherecitedtheparticularsoffamilyhistorypertainingtoeachportrait，thathehadlearntupwithsucheagerpersistenceduringthepreviousfour-and-twenty-hours。"Ihaveoftenwonderedwhatcouldhavebeenthehistoryofthislady，butnobodyhaseverbeenabletotellme，"Paulaobserved，pointingtoaVandyckwhichrepresentedabeautifulwomanwearingcurlsacrossherforehead，asquare-cutbodice，andaheavypearlnecklaceuponthesmoothexpanseofherneck。

"Idon"tthinkanybodyknows，"Charlottesaid。

"Oyes，"repliedherbrotherpromptly，seeingwithenthusiasmthatitwasyetanotheropportunityformakingcapitalofhisacquiredknowledge，withwhichhefelthimselfasinconvenientlycrammedasacandidateforagovernmentexamination。"Thatladyhasbeenlargelycelebratedunderafancyname，thoughsheiscomparativelylittleknownbyherown。HerparentswerethechiefornamentsofthealmostirreproachablecourtofCharlestheFirst，andwerenotmoredistinguishedbytheirpolitenessandhonourthanbytheaffectionsandvirtueswhichconstitutethegreatcharmofprivatelife。"

Thestockverbiageofthefamilymemoirwassomewhatapparentinthiseffusion；butitmuchimpressedhislisteners；andhewentontopointoutthatfromthelady"snecklacewassuspendedaheart-shapedportrait——thatofthemanwhobrokehisheartbyherpersistentrefusaltoencouragehissuit。DeStancythenledthemalittlefurther，wherehungaportraitofthelover，oneofhisownfamily，whoappearedinfullpanoplyofplatemail，thepommelofhisswordstandingupunderhiselbow。Thegallantcaptainthenrelatedhowthispersonageofhislinewooedtheladyfruitlessly；how，afterhermarriagewithanother，sheandherhusbandvisitedtheparentsofthedisappointedlover，thethenoccupiersofthecastle；how，inafitofdesperationatthesightofher，heretiredtohisroom，wherehecomposedsomepassionateverses，whichhewrotewithhisblood，andafterdirectingthemtoherranhimselfthroughthebodywithhissword。Toolatethelady"sheartwastouchedbyhisdevotion；shewaseverafteramelancholywoman，andworehisportraitdespiteherhusband"sprohibition。"This，"continuedDeStancy，leadingthemthroughthedoorwayintothehallwherethecoatsofmailwerearrangedalongthewall，andstoppingoppositeasuitwhichboresomeresemblancetothatoftheportrait，"thisishisarmour，asyouwillperceivebycomparingitwiththepicture，andthisistheswordwithwhichhedidtherashdeed。"

"Whatunreasonabledevotion!"saidPaulapractically。"Itwastooromanticofhim。Shewasnotworthyofsuchasacrifice。"

"Healsoisonewhomtheysayyouresemblealittleinfeature，Ithink，"saidCharlotte。

"Dothey?"repliedDeStancy。"Iwonderifit"strue。"Hesetdownthecandles，andaskingthegirlstowithdrawforamoment，wasinsidetheupperpartofthesuitofarmourinincrediblyquicktime。Goingthenandplacinghimselfinfrontofalow-hangingpaintingneartheoriginal，soastobeenclosedbytheframewhilecoveringthefigure，arrangingtheswordasintheoneabove，andsettingthelightthatitmightfallintherightdirection，herecalledthem；whenheputthequestion，"Istheresemblancestrong?"

Helookedsomuchlikeamanofbygonetimesthatneitherofthemreplied，butremainedcuriouslygazingathim。Hismodernandcomparativelysallowcomplexion，asseenthroughtheopenvisor，lentanetherealidealitytohisappearancewhichthetime-stainedcountenanceoftheoriginalwarriortotallylacked。

AtlastPaulaspoke，sostillythatsheseemedastatueenunciating:"Aretheversesknownthathewrotewithhisblood?"

"Oyes，theyhavebeencarefullypreserved。"CaptainDeStancy，withtruewooer"sinstinct，hadcommittedsomeofthemtomemorythatmorningfromtheprintedcopytobefoundineverywell-orderedlibrary。"IfearIdon"trememberthemall，"hesaid，"buttheybegininthisway:——

"Fromonethatdyethinhisdiscontent，DearFaire，receivethisgreetingtotheesent；

Andstillasoftasitisreadbythee，Thenwithsomedeepsadsighremembermee!

O"twasmyfortune"serrortovowdutie，Toonethatbearsdefianceinherbeautie!

Sweetepoyson，pretiouswooe，infectiousjewell——

SuchisaLadiethatisfaireandcruell。

HowwellcouldIwithayre，camelion-like，Livehappie，andstillgazeingonthycheeke，Inwhich，forsakenman，methinkIseeHowgoodlielovedoththreatencarestomee。

Whydostthoufrownethusonakneelingesoule，Whosefaultsinlovethoumay"staswellcontroule?——

Inlove——butO，thatword；thatwordIfeareIshatefulstillbothtothyhartandeare!……

Ladie，inbreefe，myfatedothnowintendTheperiodofmydaiestohaveanend:

Wastenotonmethypittie，pretiousFaire:

Restyouinmuchcontent；I，indespaire!""

Asolemnsilencefollowedthecloseoftherecital，whichDeStancyimprovedbyturningthepointoftheswordtohisbreast，restingthepommeluponthefloor，andsaying:——

"Afterwritingthatwemaypicturehimturningthissameswordinthissameway，andfallingonitthus。"Heinclinedhisbodyforwardashespoke。

"Don"t，CaptainDeStancy，pleasedon"t!"criedPaulainvoluntarily。

"No，don"tshowusanyfurther，William!"saidhissister。

"Itistootragic。"

DeStancyputawaythesword，himselfratherexcited——not，however，byhisownrecital，butbythedirectgazeofPaulaathim。

ThisProteanqualityofDeStancy"s，bymeansofwhichhecouldassumetheshapeandsituationofalmostanyancestoratwill，hadimpressedher，andheperceiveditwithathroboffervour。Butithaddonenomorethanimpressher；forthoughindeliveringthelineshehadsofixedhislookuponherastosuggest，toanymaidenpractisedinthegameoftheeyes，apresentsignificanceinthewords，theideaofanysucharriere-penseehadbynomeanscommendeditselftohersoul。

AtthistimeamessengerfromMarktonbarracksarrivedatthecastleandwishedtospeaktoCaptainDeStancyinthehall。

Beggingthetwoladiestoexcusehimforamoment，hewentout。

WhileDeStancywastalkinginthetwilighttothemessengeratoneendoftheapartment，someotherarrivalwasshowninbythesidedoor，andinmakinghiswayaftertheconferenceacrossthehalltotheroomhehadpreviouslyquitted，DeStancyencounteredthenew-comer。TherewasjustenoughlighttorevealthecountenancetobeDare"s；heboreaportfoliounderhisarm，andhadbeguntowearamoustache，incasethechiefconstableshouldmeethimanywhereinhisrambles，andbestruckbyhisresemblancetothemaninthestudio。

"Whatthedevilareyoudoinghere?"saidCaptainDeStancy，intoneshehadneverusedbeforetotheyoungman。

Darestartedbackinsurprise，andnaturallyso。DeStancy，havingadoptedanewsystemofliving，andrelinquishedthemeagredietandenervatingwatersofhispastyears，wasrapidlyrecoveringtone。Hisvoicewasfirmer，hischeekswerelesspallid；andaboveallhewasauthoritativetowardshispresentcompanion，whoseingenuityinvampingupabeingforhisambitiousexperimentsseemedabouttoberewarded，likeFrankenstein"s，byhisdiscomfitureatthehandsofhisowncreature。

"Whatthedevilareyoudoinghere，Isay?"repeatedDeStancy。

"Youcantalktomelikethat，aftermyworkingsohardtogetyouoninlife，andmakearisingmanofyou!"expostulatedDare，asonewhofelthimselfnolongertheleaderinthisenterprise。

"But，"saidthecaptainlessharshly，"ifyouletthemdiscoveranyrelationsbetweenushere，youwillruinthefairestprospectsmaneverhad!"

"O，Ilikethat，captain——whenyouoweallofittome!"

"That"stoocool，Will。"

"No；whatIsayistrue。However，letthatgo。Sonowyouarehereonacall；buthowareyougoingtogethereoftenenoughtowinherbeforetheothermancomesback?Ifyoudon"tseehereveryday——twice，threetimesaday——youwillnotcaptureherinthetime。"

"Imustthinkofthat，"saidDeStancy。

"Thereisonlyonewayofbeingconstantlyhere:youmustcometocopythepicturesorfurniture，somethinginthewayhedid。"

"I"llthinkofit，"mutteredDeStancyhastily，asheheardthevoicesoftheladies，whomhehastenedtojoinastheywereappearingattheotherendoftheroom。Hiscountenancewasgloomyasherecrossedthehall，forDare"swordsontheshortnessofhisopportunitieshadimpressedhim。AlmostatonceheutteredahopetoPaulathathemighthavefurtherchanceofstudying，andifpossibleofcopying，someoftheancestralfaceswithwhichthebuildingabounded。

MeanwhileDarehadcomeforwardwithhisportfolio，whichprovedtobefullofphotographs。WhilePaulaandCharlottewereexaminingthemhesaidtoDeStancy，asastranger:

"Excusemyinterruption，sir，butifyoushouldthinkofcopyinganyoftheportraits，asyouwerestatingjustnowtotheladies，mypatentphotographicprocessisatyourservice，andis，Ibelieve，theonlyonewhichwouldbeeffectualinthedimindoorlights。"

"ItisjustwhatIwasthinkingof，"saidDeStancy，nowsofarcooleddownfromhisirritationastobequitereadytoacceptDare"sadroitlysuggestedscheme。

OnapplicationtoPaulasheimmediatelygaveDeStancypermissiontophotographtoanyextent，andtoldDarehemightbringhisinstrumentsassoonasCaptainDeStancyrequiredthem。

"Don"tstareatherinsuchabrazenway!"whisperedthelattertotheyoungman，whenPaulahadwithdrawnafewsteps。

"Say，"IshallhighlyvaluetheprivilegeofassistingCaptainDeStancyinsuchawork。""

Dareobeyed，andbeforeleavingDeStancyarrangedtobeginperformingonhisveneratedforefathersthenextmorning，theyouthsoaccidentallyengagedagreeingtobethereatthesametimetoassistinthetechnicaloperations。

III。

Ashehadpromised，DeStancymadeusethenextdayofthecovetedpermissionthathadbeenbroughtaboutbytheingeniousDare。Dare"stimelysuggestionoftenderingassistancehadthepracticalresultofrelievingtheotherofallnecessityforoccupyinghistimewiththeproceeding，furtherthantobestowaperfunctorysuperintendencenowandthen，togiveacolourtohisregularpresenceinthefortress，theactualworkoftakingcopiesbeingcarriedonbytheyoungerman。

Theweatherwasfrequentlywetduringtheseoperations，andPaula，MissDeStancy，andherbrother，wereofteninthehousewholemorningstogether。Byconstanturgingandcoaxingthelatterwouldinducehisgentlesister，muchagainstherconscience，toleavehimopportunitiesforspeakingtoPaulaalone。Itwasmostlybeforesomeprintorpaintingthattheseconversationsoccurred，whileDeStancywasostensiblyoccupiedwithitsmerits，oringivingdirectionstohisphotographerhowtoproceed。Assoonasthedialoguebegan，thelatterwouldwithdrawoutofearshot，leavingPaulatoimaginehimthemostdeferentialyoungartistintheworld。

"Youwillsoonpossessduplicatesofthewholegallery，"shesaidononeoftheseoccasions，examiningsomecurledsheetswhichDarehadprintedofffromthenegatives。

"No，"saidthesoldier。"Ishallnothavepatiencetogoon。

Igetill-humouredandindifferent，andthenleaveoff。"

"Whyill-humoured?"

"Iscarcelyknow——morethanthatIacquireageneralsenseofmyownfamily"swantofmeritthroughseeinghowmeritoriousthepeoplearearoundme。Iseethemhappyandthrivingwithoutanynecessityformeatall；andthenIregardthesecanvasgrandfathersandgrandmothers，andask，"Whywasalinesoantiquatedandoutofdateprolongedtillnow?""

Shechidhimgood-naturedlyforsuchviews。"Theywilldoyouaninjury，"shedeclared。"Dospareyourself，CaptainDeStancy!"

DeStancyshookhisheadasheturnedthepaintingbeforehimalittlefurthertothelight。

"But，doyouknow，"saidPaula，"thatnotionofyoursofbeingafamilyoutofdateisdelightfultosomepeople。ItalktoCharlotteaboutitoften。Iamneverwearyofexaminingthosecanopiedeffigiesinthechurch，andalmostwishtheywerethoseofmyrelations。"

"Iwilltrytoseethingsinthesamelightforyoursake，"

saidDeStancyfervently。

"Notformysake；foryourownwaswhatImeant，ofcourse，"

sherepliedwitharepressiveair。

CaptainDeStancybowed。

"Whatareyougoingtodowithyourphotographswhenyouhavethem?"sheasked，asifstillanxioustoobliteratetheprevioussentimentallapse。

"Ishallputthemintoalargealbum，andcarrythemwithmeinmycampaigns；andmayIask，nowIhaveanopportunity，thatyouwouldextendyourpermissiontocopyalittlefurther，andletmephotographoneotherpaintingthathangsinthecastle，tofittinglycompletemyset?"

"Which?"

"Thathalf-lengthofaladywhichhangsinthemorning-room。

IrememberseeingitintheAcademylastyear。"

Paulainvoluntarilyclosedherselfup。Thepicturewasherownportrait。"Itdoesnotbelongtoyourseries，"shesaidsomewhatcoldly。

DeStancy"ssecretthoughtwas，Ihopefrommysoulitwillbelongsomeday!Heansweredwithmildness:"Thereisasortofconnection——youaremysister"sfriend。"

Paulaassented。

"Andhence，mightnotyourfriend"sbrotherphotographyourpicture?"

Paulademurred。

AgentlesighrosefromthebosomofDeStancy。"Whatistobecomeofme?"hesaid，withalightdistressedlaugh。"Iamalwaysinconsiderateandinclinedtoasktoomuch。Forgiveme!WhatwasinmymindwhenIaskedIdarenotsay。"

"Iquiteunderstandyourinterestinyourfamilypictures——andallofit，"sheremarkedmoregently，willingnottohurtthesensitivefeelingsofamansofullofromance。