\'AndinthatONE!\'hesaid，lookingdevotedlyather。\'IfI
hadonlybeenfortunateenoughtoincludeitwiththerest，myalbumwouldindeedhavebeenatreasuretoporeoverbythebivouacfire!\'
\'O，CaptainDeStancy，thisisprovokingperseverance!\'criedPaula，laughinghalfcrossly。\'IexpectedthatafterexpressingmydecisionsoplainlythefirsttimeIshouldnothavebeenfurtherurgeduponthesubject。\'Sayingwhichsheturnedandmoveddecisivelyaway。
Ithadnotbeenaproductivemeeting，thusfar。\'Oneword!\'
saidDeStancy，followingandalmostclaspingherhand。\'I
havegivenoffence，Iknow:butdoletitallfallonmyownhead——don\'ttellmysisterofmymisbehaviour!Shelovesyoudeeply，anditwouldwoundhertotheheart。\'
\'Youdeservetobetoldupon，\'saidPaulaasshewithdrew，withjustenoughplayfulnesstoshowthatherangerwasnottooserious。
CharlottelookedatPaulauneasilywhenthelatterjoinedherinthedrawing-room。Shewantedtosay，\'Whatisthematter?\'
butguessingthatherbrotherhadsomethingtodowithit，forboretospeakatfirst。Shecouldnotcontainheranxietylong。\'Wereyoutalkingwithmybrother?\'shesaid。
\'Yes，\'returnedPaula，withreservation。However，shesoonadded，\'Henotonlywantstophotographhisancestors，butMY
portraittoo。Theyareadreadfullyencroachingsex，andperhapsbeinginthearmymakesthemworse!\'
\'I\'llgivehimahint，andtellhimtobecareful。\'
\'Don\'tsayIhavedefinitelycomplainedofhim；itisnotworthwhiletodothat；thematteristootriflingforrepetition。Uponthewhole，Charlotte，Iwouldratheryousaidnothingatall。\'
DeStancy\'shobbyofphotographinghisancestorsseemedtobecomeaperfectmaniawithhim。Almosteverymorningdiscoveredhiminthelargerapartmentsofthecastle，takingdownandrehangingthedilapidatedpictures，withtheassistanceoftheindispensableDare；hisfingersstainedblackwithdust，andhisfaceexpressingabusyattentiontotheworkinhand，thoughalwaysreservingalookaskanceforthepresenceofPaula。
Thoughtherewassomethingofsubterfuge，therewasnodeepanddoublesubterfugeinallthis。DeStancytooknoparticularinterestinhisancestralportraits；buthewasenamouredofPaulatoweakness。Perhapsthecompositionofhislovewouldhardlybearlookinginto，butitwasrecklesslyfrankandnotquitemercenary。Hisphotographicschemewasnothingworsethanalover\'snottooscrupulouscontrivance。
AftertherefusalofhisrequesttocopyherpicturehefumedandfrettedattheprospectofSomerset\'sreturnbeforeanyimpressionhadbeenmadeonherheartbyhimself；hesworeatDare，andaskedhimhotlywhyhehaddraggedhimintosuchahopelessdilemmaasthis。
\'Hopeless?Somersetmuststillbekeptaway，sothatitisnothopeless。Iwillconsiderhowtoprolonghisstay。\'
ThereuponDareconsidered。
Thetimewascoming——hadindeedcome——whenitwasnecessaryforPaulatomakeuphermindaboutherarchitect，ifshemeanttobeginbuildinginthespring。Thetwosetsofplans，Somerset\'sandHavill\'s，werehangingonthewallsoftheroomthathadbeenusedbySomersetashisstudio，andwereaccessiblebyanybody。Daretookoccasiontogoandstudybothsets，withaviewtofindingaflawinSomerset\'swhichmighthavebeenpassedoverunnoticedbythecommitteeofarchitects，owingtotheirabsencefromtheactualsite。Butnotablundercouldhefind。
HenextwenttoHavill；andherehewasmetbyanamazingstateofaffairs。Havill\'screditors，atlastsuspectingsomethingmythicalinHavill\'sassurancethatthegrandcommissionwashis，hadlostallpatience；hishousewasturnedupside-down，andapostergleamedonthefrontwall，statingthattheexcellentmodernhouseholdfurniturewastobesoldbyauctiononFridaynext。Troubleshadapparentlycomeinbattalions，forDarewasinformedbyabystanderthatHavill\'swifewasseriouslyillalso。
Withoutstayingforamomenttoenterhisfriend\'shouse，backwentMr。Daretothecastle，andtoldCaptainDeStancyofthearchitect\'sdesperatecircumstances，begginghimtoconveythenewsinsomewaytoMissPower。DeStancypromisedtomakerepresentationsintheproperquarterwithoutperceivingthathewasdoingthebestpossibledeedforhimselfthereby。
HetoldPaulaofHavill\'smisfortunesinthepresenceofhissister，whoturnedpale。Shediscernedhowthismisfortunewouldbearupontheundecidedcompetition。
\'Poorman，\'murmuredPaula。\'Hewasmyfather\'sarchitect，andsomehowexpected，thoughIdidnotpromiseit，theworkofrebuildingthecastle。\'
ThenDeStancysawDare\'saiminsendinghimtoMissPowerwiththenews；and，seeingit，concurred:Somersetwashisrival，andallwasfair。\'Andishenottohavetheworkofthecastleafterexpectingit?\'heasked。
Paulawaslostinreflection。\'Theotherarchitect\'sdesignandMr。Havill\'sareexactlyequalinmerit，andwecannotdecidehowtogiveittoeither，\'explainedCharlotte。
\'Thatisourdifficulty，\'Paulamurmured。\'Abankrupt，andhiswifeill——dearme!Iwonderwhat\'sthecause。\'
\'Hehasborrowedontheexpectationofhavingtoexecutethecastleworks，andnowheisunabletomeethisliabilities。\'
\'Itisverysad，\'saidPaula。
\'Letmesuggestaremedyforthisdead-lock，\'saidDeStancy。
\'Do，\'saidPaula。
\'Dotheworkofbuildingintwohalvesorsections。GiveHavillthefirsthalf，sinceheisinneed；whenthatisfinishedthesecondhalfcanbegiventoyourLondonarchitect。If，asIunderstand，theplansareidentical，exceptinornamentaldetails，therewillbenodifficultyaboutitatall。\'
Paulasighed——justalittleone；andyetthesuggestionseemedtosatisfyherbyitsreasonableness。Sheturnedsad，wayward，butwasimpressedbyDeStancy\'smannerandwords。
Sheappearedindeedtohaveasmoulderingdesiretopleasehim。IntheafternoonshesaidtoCharlotte，\'Imeantodoasyourbrothersays。\'
AnotewasdespatchedtoHavillthatveryday，andinanhourthecrestfallenarchitectpresentedhimselfatthecastle。
Paulainstantlygavehimaudience，commiseratedhim，andcommissionedhimtocarryoutafirstsectionofthebuildings，comprisingworktotheextentofabouttwentythousandpoundsexpenditure；andthen，withaprematurenessquiteamazingamongarchitects\'clients，shehandedhimoverachequeforfivehundredpoundsonaccount。
Whenhehadgone，Paula\'sbearingshowedsomesignofbeingdisquietedatwhatshehaddone；butshecoveredhermoodunderacloakofsaucyserenity。PerhapsatenderremembranceofacertainthunderstormintheforegoingAugustwhenshestoodwithSomersetinthearbour，anddidnotownthatshelovedhim，waspressingonhermemoryandbewilderingher。
Shehadnotseenquiteclearly，inadoptingDeStancy\'ssuggestion，thatSomersetwouldnowhavenoprofessionalreasonforbeingatthecastleforthenexttwelvemonths。
Butthecaptainhad，andwhenHavillenteredthecastleherejoicedwithgreatjoy。Dare，too，rejoicedinhiscoldway，andwentonwithhisphotography，saying，\'Thegameprogresses，captain。\'
\'Game?CallitDivineComedy，rather!\'saidthesoldierexultingly。
\'Heispracticallybanishedforayearormore。Whatcan\'tyoudoinayear，captain!\'
Havill，inthemeantime，havingrespectfullywithdrawnfromthepresenceofPaula，passedbyDareandDeStancyinthegalleryashehaddoneinentering。HespokeafewwordstoDare，whocongratulatedhim。Whiletheyweretalkingsomebodywasheardinthehall，inquiringhastilyforMr。Havill。
\'WhatshallItellhim?\'demandedtheporter。
\'Hiswifeisdead，\'saidthemessenger。
Havilloverheardthewords，andhastenedaway。
\'Anunluckyman!\'saidDare。
\'That，happilyforus，willnotaffecthisinstallationhere，\'
saidDeStancy。\'Nowholdyourtongueandkeepatadistance。
Shemaycomethisway。\'
Surelyenoughinafewminutesshecame。DeStancy，tomakeconversation，toldherofthenewmisfortunewhichhadjustbefallenMr。Havill。
Paulawasverysorrytohearit，andremarkedthatitgavehergreatsatisfactiontohaveappointedhimasarchitectofthefirstwingbeforehelearntthebadnews。\'Ioweyoubestthanks，CaptainDeStancy，forshowingmesuchanexpedient。\'
\'DoIreallydeservethanks?\'askedDeStancy。\'IwishI
deservedareward；butImustbearinmindthefableofthepriestandthejester。\'
\'Ineverheardit。\'
\'Thejesterimploredthepriestforalms，butthesmallestsumwasrefused，thoughtheholymanreadilyagreedtogivehimhisblessing。Query，itsvalue?\'
\'Howdoesitapply?\'
\'Yougivemeunlimitedthanks，butdenymethetiniestsubstantialtrifleIdesire。\'
\'Whatpersistence!\'exclaimedPaula，colouring。\'Verywell，ifyouWILLphotographmypictureyoumust。Itisreallynotworthyfurtherpleading。Takeitwhenyoulike。\'
WhenPaulawasalonesheseemedvexedwithherselfforhavinggivenway；andrisingfromherseatshewentquietlytothedooroftheroomcontainingthepicture，intendingtolockituptillfurtherconsideration，whateverhemightthinkofher。
Butoncastinghereyesroundtheapartmentthepaintingwasgone。Thecaptain，wiselytakingthecurrentwhenitserved，alreadyhaditinthegallery，wherehewastobeseenbendingattentivelyoverit，arrangingthelightsanddirectingDarewiththeinstruments。Onleavinghethankedher，andsaidthathehadobtainedasplendidcopy。Wouldshelookatit?
Paulawassevereandicy。\'Thankyou——Idon\'twishtoseeit，\'shesaid。
DeStancybowedanddepartedinaglowoftriumph；satisfied，notwithstandingherfrigidity，thathehadcompassedhisimmediateaim，whichwasthatshemightnotbeabletodismissfromherthoughtshimandhisperseveringdesirefortheshadowofherfaceduringthenextfour-and-twenty-hours。Andhisconfidencewaswellfounded:shecouldnot。
\'IfearthisDivineComedywillbeslowbusinessforus，captain，\'saidDare，whohadheardhercoldwords。
\'Ono!\'saidDeStancy，flushingalittle:hehadnotbeenperceivingthattheladhadthemeasureofhismindsoentirelyastogaugehispositionatanymoment。Buthewouldshownoshamefacedness。\'Evenifitis，myboy，\'heanswered，\'there\'splentyoftimebeforetheothercancome。\'
AtthathourandminuteofDeStancy\'sremark\'theother，\'tolookathim，seemedindeedsecurelyshelved。Hewassittinglonelyinhischambersfaraway，wonderingwhyshedidnotwrite，andyethopingtohear——wonderingifithadallbeenbutashort-livedstrainoftenderness。Heknewaswellasifithadbeenstatedinwordsthatherseriousacceptanceofhimasasuitorwouldbeheracceptanceofhimasanarchitect——
thatherschemesinlovewouldbeexpressedintermsofart；
andconverselythatherrefusalofhimasaloverwouldbeneatlyeffectedbyherchoosingHavill\'splansforthecastle，andreturninghisownwiththanks。Thepositionwassoclear:
hewassowellwalledinbycircumstancesthathewasabsolutelyhelpless。
Towaitforthelinethatwouldnotcome——thelettersayingthat，asshehaddesired，hiswasthedesignthatpleasedher——
wasstilltheonlythingtodo。ThetoSomersetsurprisingaccidentthatthecommitteeofarchitectsshouldhavepronouncedthedesignsabsolutelyequalinpointofmerit，andthushavecausedthefinalchoicetorevertafteralltoPaula，hadbeenajoyousthingtohimwhenhefirstheardofit，fullofconfidenceinherfavour。Butthefactofherhavingagainbecomethearbitrator，thoughithadmadeacceptanceofhisplansallthemoreprobable，maderefusalofthem，shouldithappen，allthemorecrushing。HecouldhaveconceivedhimselffavouredbyPaulaasherlover，evenhadthecommitteedecidedinfavourofHavillasherarchitect。Butnottobechosenasarchitectnowwastoberejectedinbothkinds。
IV。
ItwastheSundayfollowingthefuneralofMrs。Havill，newsofwhosedeathhadbeensounexpectedlybroughttoherhusbandatthemomentofhisexitfromStancyCastle。Theminister，aswashiscustom，improvedtheoccasionbyacoupleofsermonsontheuncertaintyoflife。OnewaspreachedinthemorningintheoldchapelofMarkton；thesecondateveningserviceintheruralchapelnearStancyCastle，builtbyPaula\'sfather，whichboretothefirstsomewhattherelationofanepiscopalchapel-of-easetothemotherchurch。
Theunscreenedlightsblazedthroughtheplate-glasswindowsofthesmallerbuildingandoutshonethesteelystarsoftheearlynight，justastheyhaddonewhenSomersetwasattractedbytheirglarefourmonthsbefore。Thefervidminister\'srhetoricequalleditsforceonthatmoreromanticoccasion:
butPaulawasnotthere。Shewasnotafrequentattendantnowatherfather\'svotivebuilding。Themysterioustank，whosedarkwatershadsorepelledheratthelastmoment，wasboardedover:atablestoodonitscentre，withanopenquartoBibleuponit，behindwhichHavill，inanewsuitofblack，satinalargechair。Havillheldtheofficeofdeacon:andhehadmechanicallytakenthedeacon\'sseatasusualto-night，inthefaceofthecongregation，andunderthenoseofMr。Woodwell。
Mr。Woodwellwasalwaysgladofanopportunity。Hewasgiftedwithaburningnaturaleloquence，which，thoughperhapsalittletoofreelyemployedinexcitingthe\'Wertherismoftheuncultivated，\'hadinitgenuinepower。Hewasamasterofthatoratorywhichnolimitationofknowledgecanrepress，andwhichnotrainingcanimpart。TheneighbouringrectorcouldeclipseWoodwell\'sscholarship，andthefreethinkeratthecornershopinMarktoncoulddemolishhislogic；buttheBaptistcoulddoinfiveminuteswhatneitherofthesehaddoneinalifetime；hecouldmovesomeofthehardestofmentotears。
Thusithappenedthat，whenthesermonwasfairlyunderway，Havillbegantofeelhimselfinatryingposition。Itwasnotthathehadbestowedmuchaffectionuponhisdeceasedwife，irreproachablewomanasshehadbeen；butthesuddennessofherdeathhadshakenhisnerves，andMr。Woodwell\'saddressontheuncertaintyoflifeinvolvedconsiderationsofconductonearththatborewithsingulardirectnessuponHavill\'sunprincipledmanoeuvreforvictoryinthecastlecompetition。
Hewishedhehadnotbeensoinadvertentastotakehiscustomarychairinthechapel。PeoplewhosawHavill\'sagitationdidnotknowthatitwasmostlargelyowingtohissenseofthefraudwhichhadbeenpractisedontheunoffendingSomerset；andwhen，unablelongertoendurethetortureofWoodwell\'swords，herosefromhisplaceandwentintothechapelvestry，thepreacherlittlethoughtthatremorseforacontemptiblyunfairact，ratherthangriefforadeadwife，wasthecauseofthearchitect\'swithdrawal。
WhenHavillgotintotheopenairhismorbidexcitementcalmeddown，butasickeningself-abhorrencefortheproceedinginstigatedbyDaredidnotabate。Toappropriateanotherman\'sdesignwasnomorenorlessthantoembezzlehismoneyorstealhisgoods。Theintensereactionfromhisconductofthepasttwoorthreemonthsdidnotleavehimwhenhereachedhisownhouseandobservedwherethehandbillsofthecountermandedsalehadbeentorndown，astheresultofthepaymentmadeinadvancebyPaulaofmoneywhichshouldreallyhavebeenSomerset\'s。
Themoodwentonintensifyingwhenhewasinbed。Helayawaketilltheclockreachedthosestill，small，ghastlyhourswhenthevitalfiresburnattheirlowestinthehumanframe，anddeathseizesmoreofhisvictimsthaninanyotherofthetwenty-four。Havillcouldbearitnolonger；hegotalight，wentdownintohisofficeandwrotethenotesubjoined。
\'MADAM，——Therecentdeathofmywifenecessitatesaconsiderablechangeinmyprofessionalarrangementsandplanswithregardtothefuture。Oneofthechiefresultsofthechangeis，Iregrettostate，thatInolongerfindmyselfinapositiontocarryouttheenlargementofthecastlewhichyouhadsogenerouslyentrustedtomyhands。
\'Ibegleavethereforetoresignallfurtherconnectionwiththesame，andtoexpress，ifyouwillallowme，ahopethatthecommissionmaybeplacedinthehandsoftheothercompetitor。Herewithisreturnedachequeforone-halfofthesumsokindlyadvancedinanticipationofthecommissionI
shouldreceive；theotherhalf，withwhichIhadclearedoffmyimmediateembarrassmentsbeforeperceivingthenecessityforthiscourse，shallbereturnedtoyouassoonassomepaymentsfromotherclientsdropin——Ibegtoremain，Madam，yourobedientservant，JAMESHAVILL。\'
Havillwouldnottrusthimselftillthemorningtopostthisletter。Hesealeditup，wentoutwithitintothestreet，andwalkedthroughthesleepingtowntothepost-office。Atthemouthoftheboxheheldtheletterlong。Bydroppingit，hewasdroppingatleasttwothousandfivehundredpoundswhich，howeverobtained，werenowsecurelyhis。Itwasagreatdealtoletgo；andtherehestoodtillanotherwaveofconscienceboreinuponhissoultheabsolutenatureofthetheft，andmadehimshudder。Thefootstepsofasolitarypolicemancouldbeheardnearinghimalongthedesertedstreet；hesitationended，andheletthelettergo。
Whenheawokeinthemorninghethoughtoverthecircumstancesbythecheerfullightofaloweasternsun。Thehorrorsofthesituationseemedmuchlessformidable；yetitcannotbesaidthatheactuallyregrettedhisact。Lateronhewalkedout，withthestrangesenseofbeingamanwho，fromonehavingalargeprofessionalundertakinginhand，had，byhisownact，suddenlyreducedhimselftoanunoccupiednondescript。FromtheupperendofthetownhesawinthedistancethegrandgreytowersofStancyCastleloomingovertheleaflesstrees；hefeltstupefiedatwhathehaddone，andsaidtohimselfwithbitterdiscontent:\'Well，well，whatismorecontemptiblethanahalf-heartedrogue!\'
Thatmorningthepost-baghadbeenbroughttoPaulaandMrs。
Goodmanintheusualway，andMissPowerreadtheletter。Hisresignationwasasurprise；thequestionwhetherhewouldorwouldnotrepaythemoneywaspassedover；thenecessityofinstallingSomersetafterallassolearchitectwasanagitation，oremotion，theprecisenatureofwhichitisimpossibletoaccuratelydefine。
However，shewentaboutthehouseafterbreakfastwithverymuchthemannerofonewhohadhadaweightremovedeitherfromherheartorfromherconscience；moreover，herfacewasalittleflushedwhen，inpassingbySomerset\'slatestudio，shesawtheplansbearinghismotto，andknewthathisandnotHavill\'swouldbethepresidingpresenceinthecomingarchitecturalturmoil。Shewentonfurther，andcalledtoCharlotte，whowasnowregularlysleepinginthecastle，toaccompanyher，andtogethertheyascendedtothetelegraph-
roominthedonjontower。
\'Whomareyougoingtotelegraphto?\'saidMissDeStancywhentheystoodbytheinstrument。
\'Myarchitect。\'
\'O——Mr。Havill。\'
\'Mr。Somerset。\'
MissDeStancyhadschooledheremotionsonthatsidecruellywell，andsheaskedcalmly，\'What，haveyouchosenhimafterall?\'
\'Thereisnochoiceinit——readthat，\'saidPaula，handingHavill\'sletter，asifshefeltthatProvidencehadsteppedintoshapeendsthatshewastooundecidedorunpractisedtoshapeforherself。
\'Itisverystrange，\'murmuredCharlotte；whilePaulaappliedherselftothemachineanddespatchedthewords:——
\'MissPower，StancyCastle，toG。Somerset，Esq。，F。S。A。，F。R。I。B。A。，QueenAnne\'sChambers，St。James\'s。
\'Yourdesignisacceptedinitsentirety。Itwillbenecessarytobeginsoon。Ishallwishtoseeandconsultyouonthematteraboutthe10thinstant。\'
WhenthemessagewasfairlygoneoutofthewindowPaulaseemedstillfurthertoexpand。Thestrangespellcastoverherbysomethingorother——probablythepresenceofDeStancy，andtheweirdromanticismofhismannertowardsher，whichwasasifthehistoricpasthadtouchedherwithayetlivinghand——inagreatmeasurebecamedissipated，leavingherthearchandserenemaidenthatshehadbeenbefore。
AboutthistimeCaptainDeStancyandhisAchateswereapproachingthecastle，andhadarrivedaboutfiftypacesfromthespotatwhichitwasDare\'scustomtodropbehindhiscompanion，inorderthattheirappearanceatthelodgeshouldbethatofmasterandman。
Darewassaying，ashehadsaidbefore:\'Ican\'thelpfancying，captain，thatyourapproachtothiscastleanditsmistressisbyaverytedioussystem。Yourtrenches，zigzags，counterscarps，andravelinsmaybeallverywell，andaverysuresystemofattackinthelongrun；butuponmysoultheyarealmostasslowinmaturingasthoseofUncleTobyhimself。
FormypartIshouldbeinclinedtotryanassault。\'
\'Don\'tpretendtogiveadvice，Willy，onmattersbeyondyouryears。\'
\'Ionlymeantitforyourgood，andyourproperadvancementintheworld，\'saidDareinwoundedtones。
\'Differentcharacters，differentsystems，\'returnedthesoldier。\'Thisladyisofareticent，independent，complicateddisposition，andanysuddenproceedingwouldputheronhermettle。Youdon\'tdreamwhatmyimpatienceis，myboy。Itisathingtranscendingyourutmostconceptions!ButIproceedslowly；Iknowbetterthantodootherwise。ThankGodthereisplentyoftime。AslongasthereisnoriskofSomerset\'sreturnmysituationissure。\'
\'Andprofessionaletiquettewillpreventhimcomingyet。
Havillandhewillchangelikethemeninasentry-box；whenHavillwalksout，he\'llwalkin，andnotamomentbefore。\'
\'Thatwillnotbetilleighteenmonthshavepassed。AndastheJesuitsaid，\"TimeandIagainstanytwo。\"……Nowdroptotherear，\'addedCaptainDeStancyauthoritatively。Andtheypassedunderthewallsofthecastle。
Thegravefrontsandbastionswerewrappedinsilence；somuchso，that，standingawhileintheinnerward，theycouldhearthroughanopenwindowafaintlyclickingsoundfromwithin。
\'She\'satthetelegraph，\'saidDare，throwingforwardhisvoicesoftlytothecaptain。\'Whatcanthatbeforsoearly?
Thatwireisanuisance，tomymind；suchconstantintercoursewiththeouterworldisbadforourromance。\'
Thespeakerenteredtoarrangehisphotographicapparatus，ofwhich，intruth，hewasgettingweary；andDeStancysmokedontheterracetillDareshouldbeready。Whilehewaitedhissisterlookedoutuponhimfromanuppercasement，havingcaughtsightofhimasshecamefromPaulainthetelegraph-
room。
\'Well，Lottie，whatnewsthismorning?\'hesaidgaily。
\'Nothingofimportance。Wearequitewell。\'……Sheaddedwithhesitation，\'Thereisonepieceofnews；Mr。Havill——butperhapsyouhavehearditinMarkton?\'
\'Nothing。\'
\'Mr。Havillhasresignedhisappointmentasarchitecttothecastle。\'
\'What?——whohasit，then?\'
\'Mr。Somerset。\'
\'Appointed?\'
\'Yes——bytelegraph。\'
\'Whenishecoming?\'saidDeStancyinconsternation。
\'Aboutthetenth，wethink。\'
Charlottewasconcernedtoseeherbrother\'sface，andwithdrewfromthewindowthathemightnotquestionherfurther。DeStancywentintothehall，andontothegallery，whereDarewasstandingasstillasacaryatid。
\'Ihaveheardeveryword，\'saidDare。
\'Well，whatdoesitmean?HasthatfoolHavilldoneitonpurposetoannoyme?Whatconceivablereasoncanthemanhaveforthrowingupanappointmenthehasworkedsohardfor，atthemomenthehasgotit，andinthetimeofhisgreatestneed?\'
Dareguessed，forhehadseenalittlewayintoHavill\'ssoulduringthebriefperiodoftheirconfederacy。Buthewasveryfarfromsayingwhatheguessed。Yetheunconsciouslyrevealedbyotherwordsthenocturnalshadesinhischaracterwhichhadmadethatconfederacypossible。
\'Somersetcomingafterall!\'hereplied。\'ByGod!thatlittlesix-barrelledfriendofmine，andagoodresolution，andhewouldneverarrive!\'
\'What!\'saidCaptainDeStancy，palingwithhorrorashegatheredtheother\'ssinistermeaning。
Dareinstantlyrecollectedhimself。\'Oneistemptedtosayanythingatsuchamoment，\'herepliedhastily。
\'Sinceheistocome，lethimcome，forme，\'continuedDeStancy，withreactionarydistinctness，andstillgazinggravelyintotheyoungman\'sface。\'Thebattleshallbefairlyfoughtout。Fairplay，eventoarival——rememberthat，boy……Whyareyouhere?——unnaturallyconcerningyourselfwiththepassionsofamanofmyage，asifyouweretheparent，andItheson?Wouldtoheaven，Willy，youhaddoneasIwishedyoutodo，andledthelifeofasteady，thoughtfulyoungman!Insteadofmeddlinghere，youshouldnowhavebeeninsomestudio，college，orprofessionalman\'schambers，engagedinausefulpursuitwhichmighthavemadeoneproudtoownyou。Butyouweresoprecociousandheadstrong；andthisiswhatyouhavecometo:youpromisetobeworthless!\'
\'IthinkIshallgotomylodgingsto-dayinsteadofstayinghereoverthesepictures，\'saidDare，afterasilenceduringwhichCaptainDeStancyendeavouredtocalmhimself。\'Iwasgoingtotellyouthatmydinnerto-daywillunfortunatelybeoneofherbs，forwantoftheneedful。Ihavecometomylaststiver——Youdineatthemess，Isuppose，captain?\'
DeStancyhadwalkedaway；butDareknewthatheplayedaprettysurecardinthatspeech。DeStancy\'sheartcouldnotwithstandthesuggestedcontrastbetweenalonelymealofbread-and-cheeseandawell-ordereddinneramidcheerfulcompanions。\'Here，\'hesaid，emptyinghispocketandreturningtothelad\'sside。\'Takethis，andorderyourselfagoodmeal。Youkeepmeaspoorasacrow。Thereshallbemoreto-morrow。\'
ThepeculiarlybifoldnatureofCaptainDeStancy，asshowninhisconductatdifferenttimes，wassomethingrareinlife，andperhapshappilyso。Thatmechanicaladmixtureofblackandwhitequalitieswithoutcoalescence，onwhichthetheoryofmen\'scharacterswasbasedbymoralanalysisbeforetheriseofmodernethicalschools，fictitiousasitwasingeneralapplication，wouldhavealmosthitoffthetruthasregardsCaptainDeStancy。Removedtosomehalf-knowncentury，hisdeedswouldhavewonapicturesquenessoflightandshadethatmighthavemadehimafascinatingsubjectforsomegalleryofillustrioushistoricalpersonages。Itwasthistendencytomoralchequer-workwhichaccountedforhisvariedbearingstowardsDare。
Darewithdrewtotakehisdeparture。Whenhehadgoneafewsteps，despondent，hesuddenlyturned，andranbackwithsomeexcitement。
\'Captain——he\'scomingonthetenth，don\'ttheysay?Well，fourdaysbeforethetenthcomesthesixth。Haveyouforgottenwhat\'sfixedforthesixth?\'
\'Ihadquiteforgotten!\'
\'Thatdaywillbeworththreemonthsofquietattentions:
withluck，skill，andaboldheart，whatmayn\'tyoudo?\'
CaptainDeStancy\'sfacesoftenedwithsatisfaction。
\'Thereissomethinginthat；thegameisnotupafterall。
Thesixth——ithadgonecleanoutofmyhead，bygad!\'
V。
ThecheeringmessagefromPaulatoSomersetspedthroughtheloopholeofStancyCastlekeep，overthetrees，alongtherailway，underbridges，acrossfourcounties——fromextremeantiquityofenvironmenttosheermodernism——andfinallylandeditselfonatableinSomerset\'schambersinthemidstofacloudoffog。Hereaditand，inthemomentofreactionfromthedepressionofhispastdays，clappedhishandslikeachild。
Thenheconsideredthedateatwhichshewantedtoseehim。
Hadshesowordedherdespatchhewouldhavegonethatveryday；buttherewasnothingtocomplainofinhergivinghimaweek\'snotice。Puremaidenmodestymighthavecheckedherindulgenceinatooardentrecall。
Time，however，draggedsomewhatheavilyalongintheinterim，andontheseconddayhethoughthewouldcallonhisfatherandtellhimofhissuccessinobtainingtheappointment。
TheelderMr。Somersetlivedinadetachedhouseinthenorth-
westpartoffashionableLondon；andascendingthechiefstaircasetheyoungmanbranchedofffromthefirstlandingandenteredhisfather\'spainting-room。Itwasanhourwhenhewasprettysureoffindingthewell-knownpainteratwork，andonliftingthetapestryhewasnotdisappointed，Mr。
Somersetbeingbusilyengagedwithhisbacktowardsthedoor。
Artandvitiatednaturewerestrugglinglikewrestlersinthatapartment，andartwasgettingtheworstofit。Theoverpoweringgloompervadingtheclammyair，renderedstillmoreintensebytheheightofthewindowfromthefloor，reducedallthepicturesthatwerestandingaroundtothewizenedfeeblenessofcorpsesonend。Theshadowypartsoftheroombehindthedifferenteaselswereveiledinabrownvapour，precludingallestimateoftheextentofthestudio，andonlysubduedintheforegroundbytheruddyglarefromanopenstoveofDutchtiles。Somerset\'sfootstepshadbeensonoiselessoverthecarpetingofthestairsandlanding，thathisfatherwasunawareofhispresence；hecontinuedathisworkasbefore，whichheperformedbythehelpofacomplicatedapparatusoflamps，candles，andreflectors，soarrangedastoekeoutthemiserabledaylight，toapowerapparentlysufficientfortheneutraltouchesonwhichhewasatthatmomentengaged。
Thefirstthoughtofanunsophisticatedstrangeronenteringthatroomcouldonlybetheamazedinquirywhyaprofessoroftheartofcolour，whichbeyondallotherartsrequirespuredaylightforitsexercise，shouldfixhimselfonthesinglesquareleagueinhabitableEuropetowhichlightisdeniedatnoondayforweeksinsuccession。
\'O!it\'syou，George，isit?\'saidtheAcademician，turningfromthelamps，whichshoneoverhisbaldcrownatsuchaslantastorevealeverycranialirregularity。\'Howareyouthismorning?Stilladeadsilenceaboutyourgrandcastlecompetition?\'
Somersettoldthenews。Hisfatherdulycongratulatedhim，andaddedgenially，\'Itiswelltobeyou，George。Onelargecommissiontoattendto，andnothingtodistractyoufromit。
Iambotheredbyhavingadozenironsinthefireatonce。
Andpeoplearesounreasonable——Onlythismorning，amongotherthings，whenyougotyourordertogoonwithyoursinglestudy，Ireceivedaletterfromawoman，anoldfriendwhomIcanscarcelyrefuse，beggingmeasagreatfavourtodesignherasetoftheatricalcostumes，inwhichsheandherfriendscanperformforsomecharity。Itwouldoccupymeagoodweektogointothesubjectanddothethingproperly。
SucharethesortoflettersIget。Iwish，George，youcouldknockoutsomethingforherbeforeyouleavetown。Itispositivelyimpossibleformetodoitwithallthisworkinhand，andtheseeternalfogstocontendagainst。\'
\'Ifearcostumesareratheroutofmyline，\'saidtheson。
\'However，I\'lldowhatIcan。Whatperiodandcountryaretheytorepresent?\'
Hisfatherdidn\'tknow。Hehadneverlookedattheplayoflateyears。Itwas\'Love\'sLabour\'sLost。\'\'Youhadbetterreaditforyourself，\'hesaid，\'anddothebestyoucan。\'
DuringthemorningSomersetjuniorfoundtimetorefreshhismemoryoftheplay，andafterwardswentandhuntedupmaterialsfordesignstosuitthesame，whichoccupiedhissparehoursforthenextthreedays。AstheseoccupationsmadenogreatdemandsuponhisreasoningfacultieshemostlyfoundhismindwanderingofftoimaginaryscenesatStancyCastle:particularlydidhedwellatthistimeuponPaula\'slivelyinterestinthehistory，relics，tombs，architecture，——
nay，theveryChristiannamesoftheDeStancyline，andher\'artistic\'preferenceforCharlotte\'sancestorsinsteadofherown。Yetwhatmorenaturalthanthataclevermeditativegirl，encasedinthefeudallumberofthatfamily，shouldimbibeatleastanantiquarianinterestinit?Humannatureatbottomisromanticratherthanascetic，andthelocalhabitationwhichaccidenthadprovidedforPaulawasperhapsactingasasolventofthehard，morbidlyintrospectiveviewsthrustuponherinearlylife。
SomersetwonderedifhisownpossessionofasubstantialgenealogylikeCaptainDeStancy\'swouldhavehadanyappreciableeffectuponherregardforhim。HissuggestiontoPaulaofherbelongingtoaworthystrainofengineershadbeenbasedonhiscontentwithhisownintellectuallineofdescentthroughPheidias，IctinusandCallicrates，Chersiphron，Vitruvius，WilarsofCambray，WilliamofWykeham，andtherestofthatlongandillustriousroll；butMissPower\'smarkedpreferenceforananimalpedigreeledhimtomuseonwhathecouldshowforhimselfinthatkind。
Thesethoughtssofaroccupiedhimthatwhenhetookthesketchestohisfather，onthemorningofthefifth，hewasledtoask:\'Hasanyoneeversiftedoutourfamilypedigree?\'
\'Familypedigree?\'
\'Yes。Haveweanypedigreeworthytobecomparedwiththatofprofessedlyoldfamilies?Ineverrememberhearingofanyancestorfurtherbackthanmygreat-grandfather。\'
Somersettheelderreflectedandsaidthathebelievedtherewasagenealogicaltreeaboutthehousesomewhere，reachingbacktoaveryrespectabledistance。\'NotthatIevertookmuchinterestinit，\'hecontinued，withoutlookingupfromhiscanvas；\'butyourgreatuncleJohnwasamanwithatasteforthosesubjects，andhedrewupsuchasheet:hemadeseveralcopiesonparchment，andgaveonetoeachofhisbrothersandsisters。Theonehegavetomyfatherisstillinmypossession，Ithink。\'
Somersetsaidthatheshouldliketoseeit；buthalf-an-
hour\'ssearchaboutthehousefailedtodiscoverthedocument；
andtheAcademicianthenrememberedthatitwasinanironboxathisbanker\'s。Hehaduseditasawrapperforsometitle-
deedsandothervaluablewritingswhichweredepositedthereforsafety。\'Whydoyouwantit?\'heinquired。
Theyoungmanconfessedhiswhimtoknowifhisownantiquitywouldbearcomparisonwiththatofanotherperson，whosenamehedidnotmention；whereuponhisfathergavehimakeythatwouldfitthesaidchest，ifhemeanttopursuethesubjectfurther。Somerset，however，didnothinginthematterthatday，butthenextmorning，havingtocallatthebankonotherbusiness，herememberedhisnewfancy。
Itwasabouteleveno\'clock。Thefog，thoughnotsobrownasithadbeenonpreviousdays，wasstilldenseenoughtonecessitatelightsintheshopsandoffices。WhenSomersethadfinishedhisbusinessintheouterofficeofthebankhewenttothemanager\'sroom。Thehourbeingsomewhatearlytheonlypersonspresentinthatsanctuaryofbalances，besidesthemanagerwhowelcomedhim，weretwogentlemen，apparentlylawyers，whosattalkingearnestlyoveraboxofpapers。Themanager，onlearningwhatSomersetwanted，unlockedadoorfromwhichaflightofstonestepsledtothevaults，andsentdownaclerkandaporterforthesafe。
Before，however，theyhaddescendedfaragentletapcametothedoor，andinresponsetoaninvitationtoenteraladyappeared，wrappedupinfurstoherverynose。
Themanagerseemedtorecognizeher，forhewentacrosstheroominamoment，andsetherachairatthemiddletable，replyingtosomeobservationofherswiththewords，\'Oyes，certainly，\'inadeferentialtone。
\'Ishouldlikeitbroughtupatonce，\'saidthelady。
Somerset，whohadseatedhimselfatatableinasomewhatobscurecorner，screenedbythelawyers，startedatthewords。
ThevoicewasMissPower\'s，andsoplainlyenoughwasthefigureassoonasheexaminedit。Herbackwastowardshim，andeitherbecausetheroomwasonlylightedintwoplaces，orbecauseshewasabsorbedinherownconcerns，sheseemedtobeunconsciousofanyone\'spresenceonthesceneexceptthebankerandherself。Theformercalledbacktheclerk，andtwootherportershavingbeensummonedtheydisappearedtogetwhateversherequired。
Somerset，somewhatexcited，satwonderingwhatcouldhavebroughtPaulatoLondonatthisjuncture，andwasinsomedoubtiftheoccasionwereasuitableoneforrevealinghimself，hererrandtoherbankerbeingpossiblyofaveryprivatenature。Nothinghelpedhimtoadecision。Paulaneveronceturnedherhead，andtheprogressoftimewasmarkedonlybythemurmursofthetwolawyers，andtheceaselessclashofgoldandrattleofscalesfromtheouterroom，wherethebusyheadsofcashierscouldbeseenthroughthepartitionmovingaboutundertheglobesofthegas-lamps。
Footstepswerehearduponthecellar-steps，andthethreemenpreviouslysentbelowstaggeredfromthedoorway，bearingahugesafewhichnearlybrokethemdown。Somersetknewthathisfather\'sbox，orboxes，couldboastofnosuchdimensions，andhewasnotsurprisedtoseethechestdepositedinfrontofMissPower。Whentheimmenseaccumulationofdusthadbeenclearedoffthelid，andthechestconvenientlyplacedforher，Somersetwasattendedto，hismodestboxbeingbroughtupbyonemanunassisted，andwithoutmuchexpenditureofbreath。
HisinterestinPaulawasofsoemotionalacastthathisattentiontohisownerrandwasofthemostperfunctorykind。
Shewasclosetoagas-standard，andthelawyers，whoseseatshadintervened，havingfinishedtheirbusinessandgoneaway，allheractionswerevisibletohim。Whilehewasopeninghisfather\'sboxthemanagerassistedPaulatounsealandunlockhers，andhenowsawherliftfromitamoroccocase，whichsheplacedonthetablebeforeher，andunfastened。Outofitshetookadazzlingobjectthatfelllikeacascadeoverherfingers。Itwasanecklaceofdiamondsandpearls，apparentlyoflargesizeandmanystrands，thoughhewasnotnearenoughtoseedistinctly。Whensatisfiedbyherexaminationthatshehadgottherightarticlesheshutitintoitscase。
Themanagerclosedthechestforher；andwhenitwasagainsecuredPaulaarose，tossedthenecklaceintoherhand-bag，bowedtothemanager，andwasabouttobidhimgoodmorning。
Thereuponhesaidwithsomehesitation:\'Pardononequestion，MissPower。Doyouintendtotakethosejewelsfar?\'
\'Yes，\'shesaidsimply，\'toStancyCastle。\'
\'Youaregoingstraightthere?\'
\'Ihaveoneortwoplacestocallatfirst。\'
\'Iwouldsuggestthatyoucarrytheminsomeotherway——byfasteningthemintothepocketofyourdress，forinstance。\'
\'ButIamgoingtoholdthebaginmyhandandneveronceletitgo。\'
Thebankerslightlyshookhishead。\'Supposeyourcarriagegetsoverturned:youwouldletitgothen。\'
\'Perhapsso。\'
\'Orifyousawachildunderthewheelsjustasyouweresteppingin；orifyouaccidentallystumbledingettingout；
oriftherewasacollisionontherailway——youmightletitgo。\'
\'Yes；IseeIwastoocareless。Ithankyou。\'
Paularemovedthenecklacefromthebag，turnedherbacktothemanager，andspentseveralminutesinplacinghertreasureinherbosom，pinningitandotherwisemakingitabsolutelysecure。
\'That\'sit，\'saidthegrey-hairedmanofcaution，withevidentsatisfaction。\'Thereisnotmuchdangernow:youarenottravellingalone?\'
Paularepliedthatshewasnotalone，andwenttothedoor。
TherewasonemomentduringwhichSomersetmighthaveconvenientlymadehispresenceknown；butthejuxtapositionofthebank-manager，andhisowndisarrangedboxofsecurities，embarrassedhim:themomentslippedby，andshewasgone。
Inthemeantimehehadmechanicallyunearthedthepedigree，and，lockinguphisfather\'schest，SomersetalsotookhisdepartureattheheelsofPaula。
Hewalkedalongthemistystreet，sodeeplymusingastobequiteunconsciousofthedirectionofhiswalk。What，heinquiredofhimself，couldshewantthatnecklaceforsosuddenly?HerecollectedaremarkofDare\'stotheeffectthatherappearanceonaparticularoccasionatStancyCastlehadbeenmagnificentbyreasonofthejewelsshewore；whichprovedthatshehadretainedasufficientquantityofthosevaluablesatthecastleforordinaryrequirements。Whatexceptionaloccasion，then，wasimpendingonwhichshewishedtoglorifyherselfbeyondallpreviousexperience?Hecouldnotguess。HewasinterruptedintheseconjecturesbyacarriagenearlypassingoverhistoesatacrossinginBondStreet:lookinguphesawbetweenthetwowindowsofthevehicletheprofileofathicklymantledbosom，onwhichacamelliaroseandfell。Alltheremainderpartofthelady\'spersonwashidden；butherememberedthatflowerofconvenientseasonasonewhichhadfiguredinthebankparlourhalf-an-hourearlierto-day。
Somersethastenedafterthecarriage，andinaminutesawitstopoppositeajeweller\'sshop。OutcamePaula，andthenanotherwoman，inwhomherecognizedMrs。Birch，oneofthelady\'smaidsatStancyCastle。TheyoungmanwasatPaula\'ssidebeforeshehadcrossedthepavement。
VI。
Aquickarrestedexpressioninhertwosapphirineeyes，accompaniedbyalittle，averylittle，blushwhichloiteredlong，wasalltheoutwarddisturbancethatthesightofherlovercaused。Thehabitofself-repressionatanynewemotionalimpactwasinstinctivewithheralways。Somersetcouldnotsaymorethanaword；helookedhisintensesolicitude，andPaulaspoke。