\'Won\'tyousayanythingmoreexplicit?\'
\'Iwouldrathernot。\'
Somersetemittedhalfasigh:hewishedshehadbeenmoredemonstrative，yetfeltthatthispassivewayofassentingwasasmuchashecouldhopefor。Hadtherebeenanythingcoldinherpassivityhemighthavefeltrepressed；butherstillnesssuggestedthestillnessofmotionimperceptiblefromitsintensity。
\'Wemustgoin，\'saidshe。\'Therainisalmostover，andthereisnolongeranyexcuseforthis。\'
Somersetbenthislipstowardhers。\'No，\'saidthefairPuritandecisively。
\'Whynot?\'heasked。
\'Nobodyeverhas。\'
\'But!——\'expostulatedSomerset。
\'Toeverythingthereisaseason，andtheseasonforthisisnotjustnow，\'sheanswered，walkingaway。
Theycrossedthewetandglisteninglawn，steppedunderthetentandparted。Shevanished，hedidnotknowwhither；and，standingwithhisgazefixedonthedancers，theyoungmanwaited，till，beinginnomoodtojointhem，hewentslowlythroughtheartificialpassagelinedwithflowers，andenteredthedrawingroom。Mrs。Goodmanwasthere，biddinggood-nighttotheearlygoers，andPaulawasjustbehindher，apparentlyinherusualmood。Hispartingwithherwasquiteformal，butthathedidnotmind，forhercolourrosedecidedlyhigherasheapproached，andthelightinhereyeswasliketherayofadiamond。
WhenhereachedthedoorhefoundthathisbroughamfromtheQuantockArms，whichhadbeenwaitingmorethananhour，couldnotbeheardof。Thatvagrancyofspiritwhichloveinduceswouldnotpermithimtowait；and，leavingwordthatthemanwastofollowhimwhenhereturned，hewentpasttheglareofcarriage-lampsrankedintheward，andundertheouterarch。
Thenightwasnowclearandbeautiful，andhestrolledalonghiswayfullofmysteriouselationtillthevehicleovertookhim，andhegotin。
UptothispointSomerset\'sprogressinhissuithadbeen，thoughincomplete，souninterrupted，thathealmostfearedthegoodchanceheenjoyed。Howshoulditbeinamortalofhiscalibretocommandsuccesswithsuchasweetwomanforlong?
Hemight，indeed，turnouttobeoneofthesingularexceptionswhicharesaidtoproverules；butwhenfortunemeanstomenmostgood，observesthebard，shelooksuponthemwithathreateningeye。Somersetwouldevenhavebeencontentthatalittledisapprovalofhiscourseshouldhaveoccurredinsomequarter，soastomakehiswooingmorelikeordinarylife。ButPaulawasnotclearlywon，andthatwasdrawbacksufficient。InthesepleasingagoniesandpainfuldelightshepassedthejourneytoMarkton。
BOOKTHESECOND。DAREANDHAVILL。
I。
YoungDaresatthoughtfullyatthewindowofthestudioinwhichSomersethadlefthim，tillthegayscenebeneathbecameembrownedbythetwilight，andthebrilliantredstripesofthemarquees，thebrightsunshades，themany-tintedcostumesoftheladies，wereindistinguishablefromtheblacksandgreysofthemasculinecontingentmovingamongthem。Hehadoccasionallyglancedawayfromtheoutwardprospecttostudyasmalloldvolumethatlaybeforehimonthedrawing-board。
Nearscrutinyrevealedthebooktobearthetitle\'Moivre\'sDoctrineofChances。\'
TheeveninghadbeensostillthatDarehadheardconversationsfrombelowwithaclearnessunsuspectedbythespeakersthemselves；andamongthedialogueswhichthusreachedhisearswasthatbetweenSomersetandHavillontheirprofessionalrivalry。Whentheyparted，andSomersethadmingledwiththethrong，Havillwenttoaseatatadistance。
Afterwardsherose，andwalkedaway；butonthebenchhehadquittedthereremainedasmallobjectresemblingabookorleathercase。
Dareputawaythedrawing-boardandplotting-scaleswhichhehadkeptbeforehimduringtheeveningasareasonforhispresenceatthatpostofespial，lockedupthedoor，andwentdownstairs。NotwithstandinghisdismissalbySomerset，hewassosereneincountenanceandeasyingaitastomakeitafairconjecturethatprofessionalservitude，howeverprofitable，wasnonecessitywithhim。ThegloomnowrendereditpracticableforanyunbiddenguesttojoinPaula\'sassemblagewithoutcriticism，andDarewalkedboldlyoutuponthelawn。
Thecrowdonthegrasswasrapidlydiminishing；thetennis-
playershadrelinquishedsport；manypeoplehadgoneintodinnerorsupper；andmanyothers，attractedbythecheerfulradianceofthecandles，weregatheringinthelargetentthathadbeenlightedupfordancing。
Darewenttothegarden-chaironwhichHavillhadbeenseated，andfoundthearticleleftbehindtobeapocket-book。
Whetherbecauseitwasunclaspedandfellopeninhishand，orotherwise，hedidnothesitatetoexaminethecontents。Amongamassofarchitect\'scustomarymemorandaoccurredadraftoftheletterabusingPaulaasaniconoclastorVandalbyblood，whichhadappearedinthenewspaper:thedraftwassointerlinedandalteredastobearevidenceofbeingtheoriginalconceptionofthatungentlemanlyattack。
Theladreadtheletter，smiled，andstrolledaboutthegrounds，onlymetbyanoccasionalpairofindividualsofoppositesexindeepconversation，thestateofwhoseemotionsledthemtoprefertheeveningshadetothepublicityandglareofthetentsandrooms。Atlastheobservedthewhitewaistcoatofthemanhesought。
\'Mr。Havill，thearchitect，Ibelieve?\'saidDare。\'Theauthorofmostofthenoteworthybuildingsinthisneighbourhood?\'
Havillassentedblandly。
\'Ihavelongwishedforthepleasureofyouracquaintance，andnowanaccidenthelpsmetomakeit。Thispocket-book，I
think，isyours?\'
Havillclappedhishandtohispocket，examinedthebookDareheldouttohim，andtookitwiththanks。\'IseeIamspeakingtotheartist，archaeologist，Gothicphotographer——
Mr。Dare。\'
\'ProfessorDare。\'
\'Professor?Pardonme，Ishouldnothaveguessedit——soyoungasyouare。\'
\'Well，itismerelyornamental；andintruth，IdropthetitleinEngland，particularlyunderpresentcircumstances。\'
\'Ah——theyarepeculiar，perhaps?Ah，Iremember。Ihaveheardthatyouareassistingagentlemaninpreparingadesigninoppositiontomine——adesign——\'
\'\"Thatheisnotcompetenttopreparehimself，\"youwereperhapsgoingtoadd?\'
\'Notpreciselythat。\'
\'Youcouldhardlybeblamedforsuchwords。However，youaremistaken。Ididassisthimtogainalittlefurtherinsightintotheworkingofarchitecturalplans；butourviewsonartareantagonistic，andIassisthimnomore。Mr。Havill，itmustbeveryprovokingtoawell-establishedprofessionalmantohavearivalsprungathiminagrandundertakingwhichhehadarighttoexpectashisown。\'
Professionalsympathyisoftenacceptedfromthosewhosecondolenceonanydomesticmatterwouldbeconsideredintrusive。HavillwalkedupanddownbesideDareforafewmomentsinsilence，andatlastshowedthatthewordshadtold，bysaying:\'Everyonemayhavehisopinion。HadIbeenastrangertothePowerfamily，thecasewouldhavebeendifferent；buthavingbeenspeciallyelectedbythelady\'sfatherasacompetentadviserinsuchmatters，andthentobedegradedtothepositionofamerecompetitor，itwoundsmetothequick——\'
\'Bothinpurseandinperson，liketheill-usedhostessoftheGarter。\'
\'AladytowhomIhavebeenastaunchfriend，\'continuedHavill，notheedingtheinterruption。
AtthatmomentsoundsseemedtocomefromDarewhichborearemarkableresemblancetothewords，\'Ho，ho，Havill!\'Itwashardlycredible，andyet，couldhebemistaken?Havillturned。Dare\'seyewastwistedcomicallyupward。
\'Whatdoesthatmean?\'saidHavillcoldly，andwithsomeamazement。
\'Ho，ho，Havill!\"Staunchfriend\"isgood——especiallyafter\"aniconoclastandVandalbyblood\"——\"monstrosityintheformofaGreektemple，\"andsoon，eh!\'
\'Sir，youhavetheadvantageofme。Perhapsyoualludetothatanonymousletter?\'
\'O-ho，Havill!\'repeatedtheboy-man，turninghiseyesyetfurthertowardsthezenith。\'Toanoutsidersuchconductwouldbenatural；buttoafriendwhofindsyourpocket-book，andlooksintoitbeforereturningit，andkindlyremovesaleafbearingthedraftofaletterwhichmightinjureyouifdiscoveredthere，andcarefullyconcealsitinhisownpocket——
why，suchconductisunkind!\'Darehelduptheabstractedleaf。
Havilltrembled。\'Icanexplain，\'hebegan。
\'Itisnotnecessary:wearefriends，\'saidDareassuringly。
Havilllookedasifhewouldliketosnatchtheleafaway，butalteringhismind，hesaidgrimly:\'Well，Itakeyouatyourword:wearefriends。ThatletterwasconcoctedbeforeI
knewofthecompetition:itwasduringmyfirstdisgust，whenIbelievedmyselfentirelysupplanted。\'
\'Iamnotintheleastsurprised。ButifsheknewYOUtobethewriter!\'
\'Ishouldberuinedasfarasthiscompetitionisconcerned，\'
saidHavillcarelessly。\'HadIknownIwastobeinvitedtocompete，Ishouldnothavewrittenit，ofcourse。Tobesupplantedishard；andtherebyhangsatale。\'
\'Anothertale?Youastonishme。\'
\'Thenyouhavenotheardthescandal，thougheverybodyistalkingaboutit。\'
\'Ascandalimpliesindecorum。\'
\'Well，\'tisindecorous。Herinfatuatedpartialityforhimispatenttotheeyesofachild；amanshehasonlyknownafewweeks，andonewhoobtainedadmissiontoherhouseinthemostirregularmanner!Hadsheawatchfulfriendbesideher，insteadofthatmoonstruckMrs。Goodman，shewouldbecautionedagainstbestowingherfavoursonthefirstadventurerwhoappearsatherdoor。Itisapity，agreatpity!\'
\'O，thereislove-makinginthewind?\'saidDareslowly。
\'Thataltersthecaseforme。Butitisnotproved?\'
\'Itcaneasilybeproved。\'
\'Iwishitwere，ordisproved。\'
\'Youhaveonlytocomethiswaytoclearupalldoubts。\'
Havilltooktheladtowardsthetent，fromwhichthestrainsofawaltznowproceeded，andonwhosesidesflittingshadowstoldoftheprogressofthedance。Thecompanionslookedin。
Therosysilkliningofthemarquee，andthenumerouscoronasofwaxlights，formedacanopytoaradiantscenewhich，fortwoatleastofthosewhocomposedit，wasanintoxicatingone。PaulaandSomersetweredancingtogether。
\'Thatprovesnothing，\'saidDare。
\'Lookattheirraptfaces，andsayifitdoesnot，\'sneeredHavill。
Dareobjectedtoajudgmentbasedonlooksalone。
\'Verywell——timewillshow，\'saidthearchitect，droppingthetent-curtain……\'GoodGod!agirlworthfiftythousandandmoreayeartothrowherselfawayuponafellowlikethat——
sheoughttobewhipped。\'
\'TimemustNOTshow!\'saidDare。
\'Youspeakwithemphasis。\'
\'Ihavereason。Iwouldgivesomethingtobesureonthispoint，onewayortheother。Letuswaittillthedanceisover，andobservethemmorecarefully。Horensagenisthalbgelogen!Hearsayishalflies。\'
Sheet-lightningsincreasedinthenorthernsky，followedbythunderliketheindistinctnoiseofabattle。HavillandDareretiredtothetrees。WhenthedanceendedSomersetandhispartneremergedfromthetent，andslowlymovedtowardsthetea-house。DiviningtheirgoalDareseizedHavill\'sarm；
andthetwoworthiesenteredthebuildingunseen，byfirstpassingroundbehindit。Theyseatedthemselvesinthebackpartoftheinterior，wheredarknessprevailed。
Asbeforerelated，PaulaandSomersetcameandstoodwithinthedoor。Whentherainincreasedtheydrewthemselvesfurtherinward，theirformsbeingdistinctlyoutlinedtothegazeofthoselurkingbehindbythelightfromthetentbeyond。Butthehissofthefallingrainandthelownessoftheirtonespreventedtheirwordsfrombeingheard。
\'Iwishmyselfoutofthis!\'breathedHavilltoDare，ashebuttonedhiscoatoverhiswhitewaistcoat。\'Itoldyouitwastrue，butyouwouldn\'tbelieve。Iwouldn\'tsheshouldcatchmehereeavesdroppingfortheworld!\'
\'Courage，ManFriday，\'saidhiscoolercomrade。
Paulaandherloverbackedyetfurther，tillthehemofherskirttouchedHavill\'sfeet。TheirattitudesweresufficienttoprovetheirrelationstothemostobstinateDidymuswhoshouldhavewitnessedthem。Tenderemotionsseemedtopervadethesummer-houselikeanaroma。Thecalmecstasyoftheconditionofatleastoneofthemwasnotwithoutacoerciveeffectuponthetwoinvidiousspectators，sothattheymustneedhaveremainedpassivehadtheycometheretodisturborannoy。TheserenityofPaulawasevenmoreimpressivethanthehushedardourofSomerset:shedidnotsatisfycuriosityasSomersetsatisfiedit；shepiquedit。PoorSomersethadreachedaperfectlyintelligibledepth——onewhichhadasingleblissfulwayoutofit，andninecalamitousones；butPaularemainedanenigmaallthroughthescene。
Therainceased，andthepairmovedaway。Theenchantmentworkedbytheirpresencevanished，thedetailsofthemeetingsettleddowninthewatchers\'minds，andtheirtongueswereloosened。Dare，turningtoHavill，said，\'Thankyou；youhavedonemeatimelyturnto-day。\'
\'What!hadyouhopesthatway?\'askedHavillsatirically。
\'I!Thewomanthatinterestsmyhearthasyettobeborn，\'
saidDare，withasteelycoldnessstrangeinsuchajuvenile，andyetalmostconvincing。\'ButthoughIhavenotpersonalhopes，Ihaveanobjectiontothiscourtship。NowIthinkwemayaswellfraternize，thesituationbeingwhatitis?\'
\'Whatisthesituation?\"
\'Heisinyourwayasherarchitect；heisinmywayasherlover:wedon\'twanttohurthim，butwewishhimcleanoutoftheneighbourhood。\'
\'I\'llgoasfarasthat，\'saidHavill。
\'Ihavecomehereatsometroubletomyself，merelytoobserve:IfindIoughttostaytoact。\'
\'Ifyouweremyself，amarriedmanwithpeopledependentonhim，whohashadaprofessionalcertaintyturnedtoamiserablyremotecontingencybytheseevents，youmightsayyououghttoact；butwhatconceivabledifferenceitcanmaketoyouwhoitistheyoungladytakestoherheartandhome，I
failtounderstand。\'
\'Well，I\'lltellyou——thismuchatleast。Iwanttokeeptheplacevacantforanotherman。\'
\'Theplace?\'
\'TheplaceofhusbandtoMissPower，andproprietorofthatcastleanddomain。\'
\'That\'saschemewithavengeance。Whoistheman?\'
\'Itismysecretatpresent。\'
\'Certainly。\'Havilldrewadeepbreath，anddroppedintoatoneofdepression。\'Well，schemeasyouwill，therewillbesmalladvantagetome，\'hemurmured。\'Thecastlecommissionisasgoodasgone，andabillfortwohundredpoundsfallsduenextweek。\'
\'Cheerup，heart!Myposition，ifyouonlyknewit，hastentimesthedifficultiesofyours，sincethisdisagreeablediscovery。Letusconsiderifwecanassisteachother。Thecompetitiondrawingsaretobesentin——when?\'
\'Insomethingoversixweeks——afortnightbeforeshereturnsfromtheScillyIsles，forwhichplacesheleaveshereinafewdays。\'
\'O，shegoesaway——that\'sbetter。Ourloverwillbeworkinghereathisdrawings，andshenotpresent。\'
\'Exactly。Perhapssheisalittleashamedoftheintimacy。\'
\'Andifyourdesignisconsideredbestbythecommittee，hewillhavenofurtherreasonforstaying，assumingthattheyarenotdefinitelyengagedtomarrybythattime?\'
\'Isupposeso，\'murmuredHavilldiscontentedly。\'Theconditions，assenttome，statethatthedesignsaretobeadjudicatedonbythreemembersoftheInstitutecalledinforthepurpose；sothatshemayreturn，andhaveseemedtoshownofavour。\'
\'Thenitamountstothis:yourdesignMUSTbebest。Itmustcombinetheexcellencesofyourinventionwiththeexcellencesofhis。Meanwhileacoolnessshouldbemadetoarisebetweenherandhim:andastherewouldbenoartisticreasonforhispresencehereaftertheverdictispronounced，hewouldperforcehiebacktotown。Doyousee?\'
\'Iseetheingenuityoftheplan，butIalsoseetwoinsurmountableobstaclestoit。Thefirstis，Icannotaddtheexcellencesofhisdesigntominewithoutknowingwhatthoseexcellencesare，whichhewillofcoursekeepasecret。
Second，itwillnotbeeasytopromoteacoolnessbetweensuchhotonesasthey。\'
\'Youmakeamistake。Itisonlyhewhoissoardent。Sheisonlylukewarm。Ifwehadanyspirit，abargainwouldbestruckbetweenus:youwouldappropriatehisdesign；Ishouldcausethecoolness。\'
\'HowcouldIappropriatehisdesign?\'
\'Bycopyingit，Isuppose。\'
\'Copyingit?\'
\'Bygoingintohisstudioandlookingitover。\'
HavillturnedtoDare，andstared。\'ByGeorge，youdon\'tstickattrifles，youngman。Youdon\'tsupposeIwouldgointoaman\'sroomsandstealhisinventionslikethat?\'
\'Iscarcelysupposeyouwould，\'saidDareindifferently，asherose。
\'AndifIwereto，\'saidHavillcuriously，\'howisthecoolnesstobecaused?\'
\'Bythesecondman。\'
\'Whoistoproducehim?\'
\'HerMajesty\'sGovernment。\'
Havilllookedmeditativelyathiscompanion，andshookhishead。\'Intheseidlesuppositionswehavebeenassumingconductwhichwouldbequiteagainstmyprinciplesasanhonestman。\'
II。
AfewdaysafterthepartyatStancyCastle，DarewaswalkingdowntheHighStreetofMarkton，acigarettebetweenhislipsandasilver-toppedcaneinhishand。Hiseyefelluponabrassplateonanoppositedoor，bearingthenameofMr。
Havill，Architect。Hecrossedover，andrangtheofficebell。
TheclerkwhoadmittedhimstatedthatMr。Havillwasinhisprivateroom，andwouldbedisengagedinashorttime。WhileDarewaitedtheclerkaffixedtothedoorapieceofpaperbearingthewords\'Backat2，\'andwentawaytohisdinner，leavingDareintheroomalone。
Darelookedatthedifferentdrawingsontheboardsabouttheroom。Theyallrepresentedonesubject，which，thoughunfinishedasyet，andbearingnoinscription，wasrecognizedbythevisitorasthedesignfortheenlargementandrestorationofStancyCastle。WhenhehadglanceditoverDaresatdown。
Thedoorsbetweentheofficeandprivateroomweredouble；buttheonetowardstheofficebeingonlyajarDarecouldhearaconversationinprogresswithin。Itpresentlyrosetoanaltercation，thetenorofwhichwasobvious。Somebodyhadcomeformoney。
\'ReallyIcanstanditnolonger，Mr。Havill——reallyIwillnot!\'saidthecreditorexcitedly。\'Nowthisbilloverdueagain——whatcanyouexpect?Why，Imighthavenegotiatedit；
andwherewouldyouhavebeenthen?Insteadofthat，Ihavelockeditupoutofconsiderationforyou；andwhatdoIgetformyconsiderateness?Ishallletthelawtakeitscourse!\'
\'You\'lldomeinexpressibleharm，andgetnothingwhatever，\'
saidHavill。\'Ifyouwouldrenewforanotherthreemonthstherewouldbenodifficultyinthematter。\'
\'Youhavesaidsobefore:Iwilldonosuchthing。\'
Therewasasilence；whereuponDarearosewithouthesitation，andwalkedboldlyintotheprivateoffice。Havillwasstandingatoneend，asgloomyasathundercloud，andattheotherwastheunfortunatecreditorwithhishaton。ThoughDare\'sentrysurprisedthem，bothpartiesseemedrelieved。
\'Ihavecalledinpassingtocongratulateyou，Mr。Havill，\'
saidDaregaily。\'Suchacommissionashasbeenentrustedtoyouwillmakeyoufamous!\'
\'Howdoyoudo?——Iwishitwouldmakemerich，\'saidHavilldrily。
\'Itwillbealiftinthatdirection，fromwhatIknowoftheprofession。Whatisshegoingtospend?\'
\'Ahundredthousand。\'
\'Yourcommissionasarchitect，fivethousand。Notbad，formakingafewsketches。Considerwhatothergreatcommissionssuchaworkwillleadto。\'
\'Whatgreatworkisthis?\'askedthecreditor。
\'StancyCastle，\'saidDare，sinceHavillseemedtooagapetoanswer。\'Youhavenotheardofit，then?Thosearethedrawings，Ipresume，inthenextroom?\'
Havillrepliedintheaffirmative，beginningtoperceivethemanoeuvre。\'Perhapsyouwouldliketoseethem?\'hesaidtothecreditor。
Thelatterofferednoobjection，andallthreewentintothedrawing-office。
\'Itwillcertainlybeamagnificentstructure，\'saidthecreditor，afterregardingtheelevationsthroughhisspectacles。\'StancyCastle:Ihadnoideaofit!andwhendoyoubegintobuild，Mr。Havill?\'heinquiredinmollifiedtones。
\'Inthreemonths，Ithink?\'saidDare，lookingtoHavill。
Havillassented。
\'Fivethousandpoundscommission，\'murmuredthecreditor。
\'Paiddown，Isuppose?\'
Havillnodded。
\'Andtheworkswillnotlingerforlackofmoneytocarrythemout，Iimagine，\'saidDare。\'Twohundredthousandwillprobablybespentbeforetheworkisfinished。\'
\'Thereisnotmuchdoubtofit，\'saidHavill。
\'Yousaidnothingtomeaboutthis?\'whisperedthecreditortoHavill，takinghimaside，withalookofregret。
\'Youwouldnotlisten!\'
\'Italtersthecasegreatly。\'ThecreditorretiredwithHavilltothedoor，andafterasubduedcolloquyinthepassagehewentaway，Havillreturningtotheoffice。
\'Whatthedevildoyoumeanbyhoaxinghimlikethis，whenthejobisnomoreminethanInigoJones\'s?\'
\'Don\'tbetoocurious，\'saidDare，laughing。\'Ratherthankmeforgettingridofhim。\'
\'Butitisallavision!\'saidHavill，ruefullyregardingthepencilledtowersofStancyCastle。\'Ifthecompetitionwerereallythecommissionthatyouhaverepresentedittobetheremightbesomethingtolaughat。\'
\'Itmustbemadeacommission，somehow，\'returnedDarecarelessly。\'Iamcometolendyoualittleassistance。I
muststayintheneighbourhood，andIhavenothingelsetodo。\'
Acarriageslowlypassedthewindow，andHavillrecognizedthePowerliveries。\'Hullo——she\'scominghere!\'hesaidunderhisbreath，asthecarriagestoppedbythekerb。\'Whatdoesshewant，Iwonder?Dare，doessheknowyou?\'
\'Iwouldjustassoonbeoutoftheway。\'
\'Thengointothegarden。\'
DarewentoutthroughthebackofficeasPaulawasshowninatthefront。Sheworeagreytravellingcostume，andseemedtobeinsomehaste。
\'Iamonmywaytotherailway-station，\'shesaidtoHavill。
\'Ishallbeabsentfromhomeforseveralweeks，andsinceyourequestedit，Ihavecalledtoinquirehowyouaregettingonwiththedesign。\'
\'Pleaselookitover，\'saidHavill，placingaseatforher。
\'No，\'saidPaula。\'Ithinkitwouldbeunfair。IhavenotlookedatMr——theotherarchitect\'splanssincehehasbeguntodesignseriously，andIwillnotlookatyours。Areyougettingonquitewell，anddoyouwanttoknowanythingmore?
Ifso，gotothecastle，andgetanybodytoassistyou。Whywouldyounotmakeuseoftheroomatyourdisposalinthecastle，astheotherarchitecthasdone?\'
Inaskingthequestionherfacewastowardsthewindow，andsuddenlyhercheeksbecamearosyred。Sheinstantlylookedanotherway。
\'Havingmyownofficesonear，itwasnotnecessary，thankyou，\'repliedHavill，as，notinghercountenance，heallowedhisglancetostrayintothestreet。Somersetwaswalkingpastontheoppositeside。
\'Thetimeis——thetimefixedforsendinginthedrawingsisthefirstofNovember，Ibelieve，\'shesaidconfusedly；\'andthedecisionwillbecometobythreegentlemenwhoareprominentmembersoftheInstituteofArchitects。\'
Havillthenaccompaniedhertothecarriage，andshedroveaway。
HavillwenttothebackwindowtotellDarethatheneednotstayinthegarden；butthegardenwasempty。Thearchitectremainedaloneinhisofficeforsometime；attheendofaquarterofanhour，whenthescreamofarailwaywhistlehadechoeddownthestillstreet，hebeheldSomersetrepassingthewindowinadirectionfromtherailway，withsomewhatofasadgait。InanotherminuteDareentered，hummingthelatestairofOffenbach。
\'\'Tisamerepieceofduplicity!\'saidHavill。
\'Whatis?\'
\'Herpretendingindifferenceastowhichofuscomesoutsuccessfulinthecompetition，whenshecolourscarminethemomentSomersetpassesby。\'HedescribedPaula\'svisit，andtheincident。
\'ItmaynotmeanCupid\'sEntireXXXafterall，\'saidDarejudicially。\'Themeresuspicionthatacertainmanlovesherwouldmakeagirlblushathisunexpectedappearance。Well，she\'sgonefromhimforatime；thebetterforyou。\'
\'Hehasbeenprivilegedtoseeheroffatanyrate。\'
\'Notprivileged。\'
\'Howdoyouknowthat?\'
\'Iwentoutofyourgardenbythebackgate，andfollowedhercarriagetotherailway。Hesimplywenttothefirstbridgeoutsidethestation，andwaited。Whenshewasinthetrain，itmovedforward；hewasallexpectation，anddrewouthishandkerchiefreadytowave，whileshelookedoutofthewindowtowardsthebridge。Thetrainbackedbeforeitreachedthebridge，toattachtheboxcontainingherhorses，andthecarriage-truck。Thenitstartedforgood，andwhenitreachedthebridgeshelookedoutagain，hewavinghishandkerchieftoher。\'
\'Andshewavinghersback?\'
\'No，shedidn\'t。\'
\'Ah!\'
\'Shelookedathim——nothingmore。Iwouldn\'tgivemuchforhischance。\'AfterawhileDareaddedmusingly:\'Youareamathematician:didyoueverinvestigatethedoctrineofexpectations?\'
\'Never。\'
Daredrewfromhispockethis\'BookofChances，\'avolumeaswellthumbedastheminister\'sBible。\'Thisisatreatiseonthesubject，\'hesaid。\'Iwillteachittoyousomeday。\'
ThesameeveningHavillaskedDaretodinewithhim。Hewasjustatthistimelivingengarcon，hiswifeandchildrenbeingawayonavisit。Afterdinnertheysatontilltheirfaceswereratherflushed。Thetalkturned，asbefore，onthecastle-competition。
\'Toknowhisdesignistowin，\'saidDare。\'AndtowinistosendhimbacktoLondonwherehecamefrom。\'
HavillinquiredifDarehadseenanysketchofthedesignwhilewithSomerset?
\'Notaline。Iwasconcernedonlywiththeoldbuilding。\'
\'Nottoknowitistolose，undoubtedly，\'murmuredHavill。
\'Supposewegoforawalkthatway，insteadofconsultinghere?\'
Theywentdownthetown，andalongthehighway。Whentheyreachedtheentrancetotheparkamandrivingabasket-
carriagecameoutfromthegateandpassedthembyinthegloom。
\'Thatwashe，\'saidDare。\'Hesometimesdrivesoverfromthehotel，andsometimeswalks。Hehasbeenworkinglatethisevening。\'
Strollingonunderthetreestheymetthreemasculinefigures，laughingandtalkingloudly。
\'Thosearethethreefirst-classLondondraughtsmen，Bowles，Knowles，andCockton，whomhehasengagedtoassisthim，regardlessofexpense，\'continuedDare。
\'OLord!\'groanedHavill。\'There\'snochanceforme。\'
Thecastlenowarosebeforethem，endowedbytheraylessshadewithamoremassivemajestythaneithersunlightormoonlightcouldimpart；andHavillsighedagainashethoughtofwhathewaslosingbySomerset\'srivalry。\'Well，whatwastheuseofcominghere?\'heasked。
\'Ithoughtitmightsuggestsomething——somewayofseeingthedesign。Theservantswouldletusintohisroom，Idaresay。\'
\'Idon\'tcaretoask。Letuswalkthroughthewards，andthenhomeward。\'
Theysaunteredonsmoking，Dareleadingthewaythroughthegate-houseintoacorridorwhichwasnotinclosed，alamphangingatthefurtherend。
\'Wearegettingintotheinhabitedpart，Ithink，\'saidHavill。
Dare，however，hadgoneon，andknowingthetortuouspassagesfromhisfewdays\'experienceinmeasuringthemwithSomerset，hecametothebutler\'spantry。Dareknocked，andnobodyansweringheentered，tookdownakeywhichhungbehindthedoor，andrejoinedHavill。\'Itisallright，\'hesaid。\'Thecat\'saway；andthemiceareatplayinconsequence。\'
Proceedingupastonestaircaseheunlockedthedoorofaroominthedark，struckalightinside，andreturningtothedoorcalledinawhispertoHavill，whohadremainedbehind。\'ThisisMr。Somerset\'sstudio，\'hesaid。
\'Howdidyougetpermission?\'inquiredHavill，notknowingthatDarehadseennoone。
\'Anyhow，\'saidDarecarelessly。\'Wecanexaminetheplansatleisure；foriftheplacidMrs。Goodman，whoistheonlyoneathome，seesthelight，shewillonlythinkitisSomersetstillatwork。\'
Dareuncoveredthedrawings，andyoungSomerset\'sbrain-workforthelastsixweekslayundertheireyes。ToDare，whowastoocursorytotroublehimselfbyenteringintosuchdetails，ithadverylittlemeaning；butthedesignshoneintoHavill\'sheadlikealightintoadarkplace。Itwasoriginal；anditwasfascinating。ItsoriginalitylaypartlyinthecircumstancethatSomersethadnotattemptedtoadaptanoldbuildingtothewantsofthenewcivilization。Hehadplacedhisnewerectionbesideitasaslightlyattachedstructure，harmonizingwiththeold；heighteningandbeautifying，ratherthansubduingit。Hisworkformedapalace，witharuinouscastleannexedasacuriosity。ToHavilltheconceptionhadmorecharmthanitcouldhavetothemostappreciativeoutsider；forwhenamediocreandjealousmindthathasbeencudgellingitselfoveraproblemcapableofmanysolutions，lightsonthesolutionofarival，allpossibilitiesinthatkindseemtomergeintheonebeheld。
Darewasstruckbythearrestedexpressionofthearchitect\'sface。\'Isitrathergood?\'heasked。
\'Yes，rather，\'saidHavill，subduinghimself。
\'Morethanrather?\'