exclaimedtheniecewithsuppressedexcitement。\'Hewouldscarcelysayanythingbutyesandno，andgavemenochanceatallofintroducingthesubject。Iwantedtoexplain——Icameallthewayonpurpose——IwouldhavebeggedGeorge\'spardononmytwokneesiftherehadbeenanywayofbeginning；buttherewasnot，andIcouldnotdoit!\'
Thoughshesleptbadlythatnight，Paulapromptlyappearedinthepublicroomtobreakfast，andthatnotfrommotivesofvanity；for，whilenotunconsciousofheraccessiontotheunstablethroneofqueen-beautyintheestablishment，sheseemedtoopreoccupiedtocareforthehonourjustthen，andwouldreadilyhavechangedplaceswithherunhappypredecessor，wholingeredoninthebackgroundlikeacandleaftersunrise。
Mrs。GoodmanwasdeterminedtotrustnolongertoPaulaforputtinganendtowhatmadehersorestlessandself-
reproachful。SeeingoldMr。Somersetentertoalittleside-
tablebehindforlackofroomatthecrowdedcentretables，againwithouthisson，sheturnedherheadandaskedpoint-
blankwheretheyoungmanwas。
Mr。Somerset\'sfacebecameashadegraverthanbefore。\'Mysonisunwell，\'hereplied；\'sounwellthathehasbeenadvisedtostayindoorsandtakeperfectrest。\'
\'Idohopeitisnothingserious。\'
\'Ihopesotoo。Thefactis，hehasoverdonehimselfalittle。Hewasnotwellwhenhecamehere；andtomakehimselfworsehemustneedsgodancingattheCasinowiththisladyandthat——amongotherswithayoungAmericanladywhoisherewithherfamily，andwhomhemetinLondonlastyear。I
advisedhimagainstit，butheseemeddesperatelydeterminedtoshakeofflethargybyanyrashmeans，andwouldn\'tlistentome。Luckilyheisnotinthehotel，butinaquietcottageahundredyardsupthehill。\'
Paula，whohadheardall，didnotshoworsaywhatshefeltatthenews:butafterbreakfast，onmeetingthelandladyinapassagealone，sheaskedwithsomeanxietyiftherewereareallyskilfulmedicalmaninEtretat；andonbeingtoldthattherewas，andhisname，shewentbacktolookforMr。
Somerset；buthehadgone。
TheyheardnothingmoreofyoungSomersetallthatmorning，buttowardsevening，whilePaulasatatherwindow，lookingovertheheadsoffuchsiasuponthepromenadebeyond，shesawthepainterwalkby。SheimmediatelywenttoherauntandbeggedhertogooutandaskMr。Somersetifhissonhadimproved。
\'IwillsendMillyorClementine，\'saidMrs。Goodman。
\'Iwishyouwouldseehimyourself。\'
\'Hehasgoneon。Ishallneverfindhim。\'
\'Hehasonlygoneroundtothefront，\'persistedPaula。\'Dowalkthatway，auntie，andaskhim。\'
Thuspressed，Mrs。Goodmanacquiesced，andbroughtbackintelligencetoMissPower，whohadwatchedthemthroughthewindow，thathissondidnotpositivelyimprove，butthathisAmericanfriendswereverykindtohim。
Havingmadeuseofheraunt，Paulaseemedparticularlyanxioustogetridofheragain，andwhenthatladysatdowntowriteletters，Paulawenttoherownroom，hastilydressedherselfwithoutassistance，askedprivatelythewaytothecottage，andwentoffthitherwardunobserved。
Attheupperendofthelaneshesawalittlehouseansweringtothedescription，whosefrontgarden，window-sills，palings，anddoorstepwereliterallyablazewithnasturtiumsinbloom。
Sheenteredthisinhabitednosegay，quietlyaskedfortheinvalid，andifhewerewellenoughtoseeMissPower。Thewomanofthehousesoonreturned，andshewasconductedupacrookedstaircasetoSomerset\'smodestapartments。Itappearedthatsomeroomsinthisdwellinghadbeenfurnishedbythelandladyoftheinn，whohiredthemofthetenantduringthesummerseasontouseasanannexetothehotel。
Admittedtotheouterroomshebeheldherarchitectlookingasunarchitecturalaspossible；lyingonasmallcouchwhichwasdrawnuptotheopencasement，whencehehadabackviewofthewindowflowers，andenjoyedagreentransparencythroughtheundersidesofthesamenasturtiumleavesthatpresentedtheirfacestothepasserswithout。
WhenthelatchhadagainclickedintothecatchofthecloseddoorPaulawentuptotheinvalid，uponwhosepaleandinterestingfaceaflushhadarisensimultaneouslywiththeannouncementofhername。Hewouldhavesprunguptoreceiveher，butshepressedhimdown，andthrowingallreserveononesideforthefirsttimeintheirintercourse，shecrouchedbesidethesofa，whisperingwithroguishsolicitude，herfacenottoofarfromhisown:\'Howfoolishyouare，George，togetilljustnowwhenIhavebeenwantingsomuchtoseeyouagain!——Iamsosorrytoseeyoulikethis——whatIsaidtoyouwhenwemetontheshorewasnotwhatIhadcometosay!\'
Somersettookherbythehand。\'Thenwhatdidyoucometosay，Paula?\'heasked。
\'Iwantedtotellyouthatthemerewantonwanderingofacapriciousmindwasnotthecauseofmyestrangementfromyou。
Therehasbeenagreatdeceptionpractised——theexactnatureofitIcannottellyouplainlyjustatpresent；itistoopainful——butitisallover，andIcanassureyouofmysorrowathavingbehavedasIdid，andofmysincerefriendshipnowasever。\'
\'ThereisnothingIshallvaluesomuchasthat。ItwillmakemyworkatthecastleverypleasanttofeelthatIcanconsultyouaboutitwithoutfearofintrudingonyouagainstyourwishes。\'
\'Yes，perhapsitwill。But——youdonotcomprehendme。\'
\'Youhavebeenanenigmaalways。\'
\'Andyouhavebeenprovoking；butneversoprovokingasnow。
Iwouldn\'tfortheworldtellyouthewholeofmyfanciesasI
camehitherthisevening:butIshouldthinkyournaturalintuitionwouldsuggestwhattheywere。\'
\'Itdoes，Paula。Buttherearemotivesofdelicacywhichpreventmyactingonwhatissuggestedtome。\'
\'Delicacyisagift，andyoushouldthankGodforit；butinsomecasesitisnotsopreciousaswewouldpersuadeourselves。\'
\'Notwhenthewomanisrich，andthemanispoor?\'
\'O，GeorgeSomerset——becold，orangry，oranything，butdon\'tbelikethis!Itisneverworthawoman\'swhiletoshowregretforherinjustice；forallshegetsbyitisanaccusationofwantofdelicacy。\'
\'IndeedIdon\'taccuseyouofthat——Iwarmly，tenderlythankyouforyourkindnessincomingheretoseeme。\'
\'Well，perhapsyoudo。ButIamnowinIcannottellwhatmood——Iwillnottellwhatmood，foritwouldbeconfessingmorethanIought。ThisfindingyououtisapieceofweaknessthatIshallnotrepeat；andIhaveonlyonethingmoretosay。Ihaveservedyoubadly，George，Iknowthat；
butitisnevertoolatetomend；andIhavecomebacktoyou。
However，Ishallneverrunafteryouagain，trustmeforthat，foritisnotthewoman\'spart。Still，beforeIgo，thattheremaybenomistakeastomymeaning，andmiseryentailedonusforwantofaword，I\'lladdthis:thatifyouwanttomarryme，asyouoncedid，youmustsayso；forIamheretobeasked。\'
ItwouldbesuperfluoustotranscribeSomerset\'sreply，andtheremainderofthescenebetweenthepair。Letitsufficethathalf-an-hourafterwards，whenthesunhadalmostgonedown，Paulawalkedbrisklyintothehotel，troubledherselfnothingaboutdinner，butwentupstairstotheirsitting-room，whereherauntpresentlyfoundheruponthecouchlookingupattheceilingthroughherfingers。Theytalkedondifferentsubjectsforsometimetilltheoldladysaid\'Mr。Somerset\'scottageistheonecoveredwithflowersupthelane，Ihear。\'
\'Yes，\'saidPaula。
\'Howdoyouknow?\'
\'I\'vebeenthere……Wearegoingtobemarried，aunt。\'
\'Indeed!\'repliedMrs。Goodman。\'Well，Ithoughtthismightbetheendofit:youweredeterminedonthepoint；andIamnotmuchsurprisedatyournews。Yourfatherwasverywiseafterallinentailingeverythingsostrictlyuponyouroffspring；forifhehadnotIshouldhavebeendrivenwildwiththeresponsibility!\'
\'Andnowthatthemurderisout，\'continuedPaula，passingoverthatviewofthecase，\'Idon\'tmindtellingyouthatsomehoworotherIhavegottolikeGeorgeSomersetasdesperatelyasawomancancareforanyman。IthoughtI
shouldhavediedwhenIsawhimdancing，andfearedIhadlosthim!Heseemedtentimesnicerthaneverthen!Sosillywewomenare，thatIwouldn\'tmarryadukeinpreferencetohim。
There，that\'smyhonestfeeling，andyoumustmakewhatyoucanofit；myconscienceisclear，thankHeaven!\'
\'Haveyoufixedtheday?\'
\'No，\'continuedtheyounglady，stillwatchingthesleepingfliesontheceiling。\'Itisleftunsettledbetweenus，whileIcomeandaskyouiftherewouldbeanyharm——ifitcouldconvenientlybebeforewereturntoEngland?\'
\'Paula，thisistooprecipitate!\'
\'Onthecontrary，aunt。Inmatrimony，asinsomeotherthings，youshouldbeslowtodecide，butquicktoexecute。
Nothingonearthwouldmakememarryanotherman；Iknoweveryfibreofhischaracter；andheknowsagoodmanyfibresofmine；soasthereisnothingmoretobelearnt，whyshouldn\'twemarryatonce?OnonepointIamfirm:IwillneverreturntothatcastleasMissPower。AnamelessdreadcomesovermewhenIthinkofit——afearthatsomeuncannyinfluenceofthedeadDeStancyswoulddrivemeagainfromhim。O，ifitweretodothat，\'shemurmured，buryingherfaceinherhands，\'IreallythinkitwouldbemorethanIcouldbear!\'
\'Verywell，\'saidMrs。Goodman；\'wewillseewhatcanbedone。
IwillwritetoMr。Wardlaw。\'
IV。
OnawindyafternooninNovember，whenmorethantwomonthshadclosedovertheincidentspreviouslyrecorded，anumberoffarmersweresittinginaroomoftheLord-Quantock-ArmsInn，Markton，thatwasusedfortheweeklyordinary。Itwasalong，lowapartment，formedbytheunionoftwoorthreesmallerrooms，withabow-windowlookinguponthestreet，andatthepresentmomentwaspervadedbyabluefogfromtobacco-
pipes，andatemperaturelikethatofakiln。Thebodyoffarmerswhostillsatontherewasgreaterthanusual，owingtothecoldairwithout，thetableshavingbeenclearedofdinnerforsometimeandtheirsurfacestampedwithliquidcirclesbythefeetofthenumerousglasses。
Besidesthefarmerstherewerepresentseveralprofessionalmenofthetown，whofounditdesirabletodinehereonmarket-daysfortheopportunityitaffordedthemofincreasingtheirpracticeamongtheagriculturists，manyofwhomweremenoflargebalances，evenluxuriouslivers，whodrovetomarketinelegantphaetonsdrawnbyhorsesofsupremeblood，bone，andaction，inastyleneveranticipatedbytheirfatherswhenjoggingthitherinlightcarts，orafootwithabutterbasketoneacharm。
Thebuzzofgroggyconversationwassuddenlyimpingedonbythenotesofapealofbellsfromthetowerhardby。Almostatthesameinstantthedooroftheroomopened，andthereenteredthelandlordofthelittleinnatSleeping-Green。
Drawinghissupplyofcordialsfromthissuperiorhouse，towhichhewassubject，hecamehereatstatedtimeslikeaprebendarytothecathedralofhisdiocesan，afterwardsretailingtohisownhumbleraudiencethesentimentswhichhehadlearntofthis。Butcuriositybeingawakenedbythechurchbellstheusualpositionwasforthemomentreversed，andoneofthefarmers，salutinghimbyname，askedhimthereasonoftheirstrikingupatthattimeofday。
\'Mymis\'essoutyonder，\'repliedtherurallandlord，noddingsideways，\'iscominghomewithherfancy-man。Theyhavebeena-gayingtogetherthisturkofawhileinforeignparts——Here，maid!——whatwiththewind，andstandingabout，myblood\'saslowaswater——bringusathimblefulofthatthatisn\'tginandnotfarfromit。\'
\'Itistrue，then，thatshe\'sbecomeMrs。Somerset?\'
indifferentlyaskedafarmerinbroadcloth，tenantofanestateinquiteanotherdirectionthanhers，ashecontemplatedthegrainofthetableimmediatelysurroundingthefootofhisglass。
\'True——ofcourseitis，\'saidHavill，whowasalsopresent，inthetoneofonewho，thoughsittinginthisrubicundcompany，wasnotofit。\'Icouldhavetoldyouthetruthofitanydaytheselastfiveweeks。\'
AmongthosewhohadlentanearwasDairymanJinks，anoldgnarledcharacterwhoworeawhitefustiancoatandyellowleggings；theonlymanintheroomwhoneverdressedupindarkclothesformarketing。Henowasked，\'Marriedabroad，wasthey?Andhowlongwillaweddingabroadstandgoodforinthiscountry?\'
\'Aslongasaweddingathome。\'
\'Willit?Faith；Ididn\'tknow:howshouldI?Ithoughtitmightbesomenewplano\'folksforleasingwomennowtheybesoplentiful，soastogetrido\'\'emwhenthemenbetiredo\'
\'em，andhevspentalltheirmoney。\'
\'Hewon\'tbeabletospendhermoney，\'saidthelandlordofSleeping-Green。\'\'Tisherveryownperson\'s——settleduponthehairsofherheadforever。\'
\'Onation!ThenifIwerethemanIshouldn\'tcareforsuchaone-eyedbenefitasthat，\'saidDairymanJinks，turningawaytolistentothetalkonhisotherhand。
\'Isthattrue?\'askedthegentleman-farmerinbroadcloth。
\'Itissufficientlynearthetruth，\'saidHavill。\'Thereisnothingatallunusualinthearrangement；itwasonlysettledsotopreventanyschemermakingabeggarofher。IfSomersetandshehaveanychildren，whichprobablytheywill，itwillbetheirs；andwhatcanamanwantmore?Besides，thereisalargeportionofpropertylefttoherpersonaluse——quiteasmuchastheycanwant。Oddlyenough，thecuriositiesandpicturesofthecastlewhichbelongedtotheDeStancysarenotrestrictedfromsale；theyareherstodowhatshelikeswith。OldPowerdidn\'tcareforarticlesthatremindedhimsomuchofhispredecessors。\'
\'Hey?\'saidDairymanJinks，turningbackagain，havingdecidedthattheconversationonhisrighthandwas，afterall，themoreinteresting。\'Well——whycan\'t\'emhireatravellingchaptotouchupthepictersintoherowngaffersandgammers?
Thenthey\'dbeworthsommattoher。\'
\'Ah，heretheyare?Ithoughtso，\'saidHavill，whohadbeenstandingupatthewindowforthelastfewmoments。\'Theringersweretoldtobeginassoonasthetrainsignalled。\'
Ashespokeacarriagedrewuptothehotel-door，followedbyanotherwiththemaidandluggage。Theinmatescrowdedtothebow-window，exceptDairymanJinks，whohadbecomeabsorbedinhisownreflections。
\'Whatbetheystoppingherefor?\'askedoneofthepreviousspeakers。
\'Theyaregoingtostayhereto-night，\'saidHavill。\'Theyhavecomequiteunexpectedly，andthecastleisinsuchastateofturmoilthatthereisnotasinglecarpetdown，orroomforthemtouse。Weshallgettwoorthreeinorderbynextweek。\'
\'Twolittlepeoplelikethemwillbelostinthechammersofthatwanderingplace!\'satirizedDairymanJinks。\'Theywillbeboundtohavearandyeveryfortnighttokeepthemothoutofthefurniture!\'
BythistimeSomersetwashandingoutthewifeofhisbosom，andDairymanJinkswenton:\'That\'snomoreMissPowerthatwas，thanmyniece\'sdaughterKeziaisMissPower——inshortitisadifferentwomanaltogether!\'
\'Thereisnomistakeaboutthewoman，\'saidthelandlord；\'itisherfurclothesthatmakeherlooksolikeacaterpillaronend。Well，sheisnotabadbargain!AsforCaptainDeStancy，he\'llfrethisgizzardgreen。\'
\'He\'sthemansheoughttoha\'married，\'declaredthefarmerinbroadcloth。\'AstheworldgoessheoughttohavebeenLadyDeStancy。Shegaveupherchapel-going，andyoumighthavethoughtshewouldhavegivenupherfirstyoungman:butshestucktohim，thoughbyallaccountshewouldsoonhavebeeninterestedinanotherparty。\'
\'\'Tiswoman\'snaturetobefalseexcepttoaman，andman\'snaturetobetrueexcepttoawoman，\'saidthelandlordofSleeping-Green。\'However，all\'swellthatendswell，andI
havesomethingelsetothinkofthannew-marriedcouples；\'
sayingwhichthespeakermovedoff，andtheothersreturnedtotheirseats，theyoungpairwhohadbeentheirthemevanishingthroughthehotelintosomeprivateparadisetorestanddine。
Bythistimetheirarrivalhadbecomeknown，andacrowdsoongatheredoutside，acquiringaudacitywithcontinuancethere。
Raisingahurrah，thegroupwouldnotleavetillSomersethadshowedhimselfonthebalconyabove；andthendeclinedtogoawaytillPaulaalsohadappeared；when，remarkingthatherhusbandseemedaquietyoungmanenough，andwouldmakeaverygoodboroughmemberwhentheirpresentonemisbehavedhimself，theassemblagegood-humouredlydispersed。
Amongthosewhoseearshadbeenreachedbythehurrahsoftheseidlerswasamaninsilenceandsolitude，faroutofthetown。HewasleaningoveragatethatdividedtwomeadsinawaterylevelbetweenStancyCastleandMarkton。Heturnedhisheadforafewseconds，thencontinuedhiscontemplativegazetowardsthetowersofthecastle，visibleoverthetreesasfaraswaspossibleintheleadengloomoftheNovembereve。
ThemilitaryformofthesolitaryloungerwasrecognizableasthatofSirWilliamDeStancy，notwithstandingthefailinglightandhisattitudeofsorestinghiselbowsonthegatethathishandsenclosedthegreaterpartofhisface。
Thescenewasinexpressiblycheerless。Nootherhumancreaturewasapparent，andtheonlysoundsaudibleabovethewindwerethoseofthetricklingstreamswhichdistributedthewateroverthemeadow。
Aheronhadbeenstandinginoneoftheserivuletsabouttwentyyardsfromtheofficer，andtheyviedwitheachotherinstillnesstillthebirdsuddenlyroseandflewofftotheplantationinwhichitwashiscustomtopassthenightwithothersofhistribe。DeStancysawtheheronrise，andseemedtoimaginethecreature\'sdeparturewithoutasuppertobeowingtotheincreasingdarkness；butinanotherminutehebecameconsciousthattheheronhadbeendisturbedbysoundstoodistanttoreachhisownearsatthetime。Theywerenearernow，andtherecamealongunderthehedgeayoungmanknowntoDeStancyexceedinglywell。
\'Ah，\'hesaidlistlessly，\'youhaveventuredback。\'
\'Yes，captain。Whydoyouwalkouthere?\'
\'Thebellsbeganringingbecausesheandhewereexpected，andmythoughtsnaturallydraggedmethisway。ThankHeaventhebatteryleavesMarktoninafewdays，andthenthepreciousplacewillknowmenomore!\'
\'Ihaveheardofit。\'Turningtowherethedimlinesofthecastlerosehecontinued:\'Well，thereitstands。\'
\'AndIamnotinit。\'
\'Theyarenotinityeteither。\'
\'Theysoonwillbe。\'
\'Well——whattuneisthatyouwerehumming，captain?\'
\'ALLISLOSTNOW，\'repliedthecaptaingrimly。
\'Ono；youhavegotme，andIamatreasuretoanyman。I
haveanothermatchinmyeyeforyou，andshallgetyouwellsettledyet，ifyoukeepyourselfrespectable。SothankGod，andtakecourage!\'
\'Ah，Will——youareaflippantyoungfool——wiseinyourownconceit；Isayittomysorrow!\'Twasyourdishonestyspoiltall。Thatladywouldhavebeenmywifebyfairdealing——timewasallIrequired。Butbaseattacksonaman\'scharacterneverdeservetowin，andifIhadoncebeencertainthatyouhadmadethem，mycoursewouldhavebeenverydifferent，bothtowardsyouandothers。ButwhyshouldItalktoyouaboutthis?IfIcaredanatomwhatbecomesofyouIwouldtakeyouinhandseverelyenough；notcaring，Ileaveyoualone，togotothedevilyourownway。\'
\'Thankyoukindly，captain。Well，sinceyouhavespokenplainly，Iwilldothesame。WeDeStancysareaworn-outoldparty——that\'sthelongandtheshortofit。Werepresentconditionsoflifethathavehadtheirday——especiallyme。
Ouroneremainingchancewasanalliancewithnewaristocrats；
andwehavefailed。Wearepastanddonefor。Ourlinehashadfivehundredyearsofglory，andweoughttobecontent。
Enfinlesrenardssetrouventchezlepelletier。\'
\'Speakforyourself，youngConsequence，andleavethedestiniesofoldfamiliestorespectablephilosophers。Thisfiascoisthedirectresultofevilconduct，andofnothingelseatall。Ihavemanagedbadly；Icountenancedyoutoofar。WhenIsawyourimpishtendenciesIshouldhaveforswornthealliance。\'
\'Don\'tstingme，captain。WhatIhavetoldyouistrue。Asformyconduct，catwillafterkind，youknow。Youshouldhaveheldyourtongueontheweddingmorning，andhaveletmetakemychance。\'
\'IsthatallIgetforsavingyoufromjail?Gad——Ialoneamthesufferer，andfeelIamalonethefool!……Come，offwithyou——Ineverwanttoseeyouanymore。\'
\'Partwewill，then——tillwemeetagain。Itwillbealightnighthereabouts，Ithink，thisevening。\'
\'Averydarkoneforme。\'
\'Nevertheless，Ithinkitwillbealightnight。Aurevoir!\'
Darewenthisway，andafterawhileDeStancywenthis。Bothweresoonlostintheshades。
V。
Thecastleto-nightwasasgloomyasthemeads。AsHavillhadexplained，thehabitableroomswerejustnowundergoingascour，andthemainblockofbuildingswasemptyevenofthefewservantswhohadbeenretained，theyhavingforcomfort\'ssaketakenuptheirquartersinthedetachedroomsadjoiningtheentrancearchway。Hencenotasinglelightshonefromthelonelywindows，atwhichivyleavestappedlikewoodpeckers，movedbyguststhatwerenumerousandcontraryratherthanviolent。Withinthewallsallwassilence，chaos，andobscurity，tilltowardseleveno\'clock，whenthethickimmovablecloudthathaddulledthedaytimebrokeintoascuddingfleece，throughwhichthemoonfordedherwayasanebulousspotofwaterywhite，sendinglightenough，thoughofaraylesskind，intothecastlechamberstoshowtheconfusionthatreignedthere。
Atthistimeaneyemighthavenoticedafigureflittinginandaboutthosedraughtyapartments，andmakingnomorenoiseinsodoingthanapuffofwind。Itsmotionhitherandthitherwasrapid，butmethodical，itsbearingabsorbed，yetcautious。Thoughitranmoreorlessthroughalltheprincipalrooms，thechiefsceneofitsoperationswastheLongGalleryoverlookingthePleasance，whichwascoveredbyanornamentalwood-and-plasterroof，andcontainedawholethrongoffamilyportraits，besidesheavyoldcabinetsandthelike。Theportraitswhichwereofvalueasworksofartweresmallerthanthese，andhunginadjoiningrooms。
Themanifestoccupationofthefigurewasthatofremovingthesesmallandvaluablepicturesfromotherchamberstothegalleryinwhichtherestwerehung，andpilingtheminaheapinthemidst。IncludedinthegroupwereninebySirPeterLely，fivebyVandyck，fourbyCorneliusJansen，onebySalvatorRosaremarkableasbeingamongthefewEnglishportraitseverpaintedbythatmaster，manybyKneller，andtwobyRomney。Apparentlybyaccident，thelightbeinginsufficienttodistinguishthemfromportraits，thefigurealsobroughtaRaffaelleVirgin-and-Child，amagnificentTintoretto，aTitian，andaGiorgione。
Onthesewaslaidalargecollectionofenamelledminiatureportraitsofthesameillustriousline；afterwardstapestriesandcushionsembroideredwiththeinitials\'DeS。\'；andnextthecradlepresentedbyCharlestheFirsttothecontemporaryDeStancymother，tillatlengththerearoseinthemiddleofthefloorahugeheapcontainingmostofwhathadbeenpersonalandpeculiartomembersoftheDeStancyfamilyasdistinctfromgeneralfurniture。
Thenthefigurewentfromdoortodoor，andthrewopeneachthatwasunfastened。Itnextproceededtoaroomonthegroundfloor，atpresentfittedupasacarpenter\'sshop，andknee-deepinshavings。Anarmfulofthesewasaddedtothepileofobjectsinthegallery；awindowateachendofthegallerywasopened，causingabriskdraughtalongthewalls；
andthentheactivityofthefigureceased，anditwasseennomore。
FiveminutesafterwardsalightshoneuponthelawnfromthewindowsoftheLongGallery，whichglowedwithmorebrilliancythanithadknowninthemeridianofitsCarolinesplendours。
Thereupontheframedgentlemaninthelacecollarseemedtoopenhiseyesmorewidely；hewiththeflowinglocksandturn-
upmustachiostoparthislips；heinthearmour，whowassomuchlikeCaptainDeStancy，toshaketheplatesofhismailwithsuppressedlaughter；theladywiththethree-stringedpearlnecklace，andvastexpanseofneck，tonodwithsatisfactionandtriumphantlysignifytoheradjoininghusbandthatthiswasameetandgloriousend。
Theflameincreased，andblownuponbythewindroaredroundthepictures，thetapestries，andthecradle，uptotheplasterceilingandthroughitintotheforestofoaktimbersabove。
Thebestsitting-roomattheLord-Quantock-ArmsinMarktonwasascosythiseveningasaroomcanbethatlackstheminuterfurnitureonwhichcosinesssolargelydepends。BythefiresatPaulaandSomerset，theformerwithashawlroundhershoulderstokeepoffthedraughtwhich，despitethecurtains，forceditswayinonthisgustynightthroughthewindowsopeninguponthebalcony。Paulaheldaletterinherhand，thecontentsofwhichformedthesubjectoftheirconversation。Happyasshewasinhergeneralsituation，therewasforthenonceatearinhereye。
\'MYEVERDEARPAULArantheletter，——Yourlastletterhasjustreachedme，andIhavefollowedyouraccountofyourtravelsandintentionswithmoreinterestthanIcantell。
You，whoknowme，neednoassuranceofthis。Atthepresentmoment，however，Iaminthewhirlofachangethathasresultedfromaresolutiontakensometimeago，butconcealedfromalmosteverybodytillnow。Why?Well，Iwillown——fromcowardice——fearlestIshouldbereasonedoutofmyplan。I
amgoingtostealfromtheworld，Paula，fromthesocialworld，forwhosegaietiesandambitionsIneverhadmuchliking，andwhosecirclesIhavenottheabilitytograce。Myhome，andresting-placetillthegreatrestcomes，iswiththeProtestantSisterhoodat。Whatevershortcomingsmaybefoundinsuchacommunity，IbelievethatIshallbehappiertherethaninanyotherplace。
\'Whateveryoumaythinkofmyjudgmentintakingthisstep，I
canassureyouthatIhavenotdoneitwithoutconsideration。
Myreasonsaregood，andmydeterminationisunalterable。
But，myownverybestfriend，andmorethansister，don\'tthinkthatImeantoleavemyloveandfriendshipforyoubehindme。No，Paula，youwillALWAYSbewithme，andI
believethatifanincreaseinwhatIalreadyfeelforyoubepossible，itwillbefurtheredbytheretirementandmeditationIshallenjoyinmysecludedhome。Myheartisveryfull，dear——toofulltowritemore。Godblessyou，andyourhusband。Youmustcomeandseemethere；IhavenotsomanyfriendsthatIcanaffordtoloseyouwhohavebeensokind。Iwritethiswiththefellow-pentoyours，thatyougavemewhenwewenttoBudmouthtogether。Good-bye!——Everyourownsister，CHARLOTTE。\'
Paulahadfirstreadthisthroughsilently，andnowinreadingitasecondtimealoudtoSomersethervoicefaltered，andsheweptoutright。\'Ihadbeenexpectinghertolivewithusalways，\'shesaidthroughhertears，\'andtothinksheshouldhavedecidedtodothis!\'
\'Itisapitycertainly，\'saidSomersetgently。\'Shewasgenuine，ifanybodyeverwas；andsimpleasshewastrue。\'
\'Iamthemoresorry，\'Paulapresentlyresumed，\'becauseofalittleplanIhadbeenthinkingofwithregardtoher。YouknowthatthepicturesandcuriositiesofthecastlearenotincludedinthethingsIcannottouch，orimpeach，orwhateveritis。Theyareourowntodowhatwelikewith。Myfatherfeltindevisingtheestatethat，howeverinterestingtotheDeStancysthoseobjectsmightbe，theydidnotconcernus——
wereindeedratherintheway，havingbeencomebysostrangely，throughMr。Wilkins，thoughtoovaluabletobetreatedlightly。NowIwasgoingtosuggestthatwewouldnotsellthem——indeedIcouldnotbeartodosuchathingwithwhathadbelongedtoCharlotte\'sforefathers——buttohandthemovertoherasagift，eithertokeepforherself，ortopassontoherbrother，assheshouldchoose。NowIfearthereisnohopeofit:andyetIshallneverliketoseetheminthehouse。\'
\'Itcanbedonestill，Ishouldthink。Shecanacceptthemforherbrotherwhenhesettles，withoutabsolutelytakingthemintoherownpossession。\'
\'Itwouldbeakindofgenerositywhichhardlyamountstomorethanjusticealthoughtheywerepurchasedfromarecusantusurpertoadearfriend——notthatIamausurperexactly；
well，fromarepresentativeofthenewaristocracyofinternationalitytoarepresentativeoftheoldaristocracyofexclusiveness。\'
\'Whatdoyoucallyourself，Paula，sinceyouarenotofyourfather\'screed?\'
\'IsupposeIamwhatpoorMr。Woodwellsaid——bytheway，wemustcallandseehim——somethingorotherthat\'sinRevelation，neithercoldnorhot。Butofcoursethat\'sasub-
species——Imaybealukewarmanything。WhatIreallyam，asfarasIknow，isoneofthatbodytowhomlukewarmthisnotanaccidentbutaprovisionalnecessity，tilltheyseealittlemoreclearly。\'Shehadcrossedovertohisside，andpullinghisheadtowardsherwhisperedanameinhisear。
\'Why，Mr。Woodwellsaidyouwerethattoo!Youcarryyourbeliefsverycomfortably。Ishallbegladwhenenthusiasmiscomeagain。\'
\'IamgoingtoreviseandcorrectmybeliefsoneofthesedayswhenIhavethoughtalittlefurther。\'Shesuddenlybreathedasighandadded，\'Howtransitoryourbestemotionsare!IntalkingofmyselfIamheartlesslyforgettingCharlotte，andbecominghappyagain。Iwon\'tbehappyto-nightforhersake!\'
Afewminutesafterthistheirattentionwasattractedbyanoiseoffootstepsrunningalongthestreet；thenaheavytrampofhorses，andlumberingofwheels。Otherfeetwereheardscamperingatintervals，andsoonsomebodyascendedthestaircaseandapproachedtheirdoor。Theheadwaiterappeared。
\'Ma\'am，StancyCastleisallafire!\'saidthewaiterbreathlessly。
Somersetjumpedup，drewasidethecurtains，andsteppedintothebow-window。Rightbeforehimroseablaze。Thewindowlookeduponthestreetandalongtheturnpikeroadtotheveryhillonwhichthecastlestood，thekeepbeingvisibleinthedaytimeabovethetrees。Hererosethelight，whichappearedlittlefurtheroffthanastone\'sthrowinsteadofnearlythreemiles。Everycurlofthesmokeandeverywaveoftheflamewasdistinct，andSomersetfanciedhecouldhearthecrackling。
Paulahadrisenfromherseatandjoinedhiminthewindow，wheresheheardsomepeopleinthestreetsayingthattheservantswereallsafe；afterwhichshegavehermindmorefullytothematerialaspectsofthecatastrophe。
Thewholetownwasnowrushingofftothesceneoftheconflagration，which，shiningstraightalongthestreet，showedtheburgesses\'runningfiguresdistinctlyupontheilluminedroad。PaulawasquitereadytoactuponSomerset\'ssuggestionthattheytooshouldhastentothespot，andaflywasgotreadyinafewminutes。WithlapseoftimePaulaevincedmoreanxietyastothefateofhercastle，andwhentheyhaddrivenasnearasitwasprudenttodo，theydismounted，andwentonfootintothethrongofpeoplewhichwasrapidlygatheringfromthetownandsurroundingvillages。
AmongthefacestheyrecognizedMr。Woodwell，Havillthearchitect，therectoroftheparish，thecurate，andmanyothersknowntothembysight。These，assoonastheysawtheyoungcouple，cameforwardwithwordsofcondolence，imaginingthemtohavebeenburntoutofbed，andviedwitheachotherinofferingthemalodging。Somersetexplainedwheretheywerestayingandthattheyrequirednoaccommodation，Paulainterruptingwith\'Omypoorhorses，whathasbecomeofthem?\'
\'Thefireisnotnearthestables，\'saidMr。Woodwell。\'Itbrokeoutinthebodyofthebuilding。Thehorses，however，aredrivenintothefield。\'
\'Icanassureyou，youneednotbealarmed，madam，\'saidHavill。\'Thechiefconstableishere，andthetwotownengines，andIamdoingallIcan。Thecastleengineunfortunatelyisoutofrepair。\'
SomersetandPaulathenwentontoanotherpointofviewnearthegymnasium，wheretheycouldnotbeseenbythecrowd。
Three-quartersofamileoff，ontheirlefthand，thepowerfulirradiationfelluponthebrickchapelinwhichSomersethadfirstseenthewomanwhonowstoodbesidehimashiswife。Itwastheonlyobjectvisibleinthatdirection，thedullhillsandtreesbehindfailingtocatchthelight。ShesignificantlypointeditouttoSomerset，whoknewhermeaning，andtheyturnedagaintothemoreseriousmatter。
Ithadlongbeenapparentthatinthefaceofsuchawindallthepigmyappliancesthatthepopulacecouldbringtoactuponsuchamassofcombustionwouldbeunavailing。Asmuchascouldburnthatnightwasburnt，whilesomeofthatwhichwouldnotburncrumbledandfellasaformlessheap，whencenewflamestoweredup，andinclinedtothenorth-eastsofarastosingethetreesofthepark。ThethickerwallsofNormandateremainedunmoved，partlybecauseoftheirthickness，andpartlybecauseinthemstonevaultstooktheplaceofwoodfloors。
Thetowerclockkeptmanfullygoingtillithadstruckone，itsfacesmilingoutfromthesmokeasifnothingwerethematter，afterwhichhoursomethingfelldowninside，anditwentnomore。
CunninghamHaze，withhisbodyofmen，wasdevotedinhisattention，andcameuptosayawordtoourtwospectatorsfromtimetotime。Towardsfouro\'clocktheflamesdiminished，andfeelingthoroughlyweary，SomersetandPaularemainednolonger，returningtoMarktonastheyhadcome。
Ontheirjourneytheyponderedanddiscussedwhatcourseitwouldbebesttopursueinthecircumstances，graduallydecidingnottoattemptrebuildingthecastleunlesstheywereabsolutelycompelled。True，themainwallswerestillstandingasfirmlyasever；buttherewasafeelingcommontobothofthemthatitwouldbewelltomakeanopportunityofamisfortune，andleavingtheedificeinruinsstarttheirmarriedlifeinamansionofindependentconstructionhardbytheoldone，unencumberedwiththeghostsofanunfortunateline。
\'Wewillbuildanewhousefromtheground，eclecticinstyle。
Wewillremovetheashes，charredwood，andsoonfromtheruin，andplantmoreivy。Thewinterrainswillsoonwashtheunsightlysmokefromthewalls，andStancyCastlewillbebeautifulinitsdecay。You，Paula，willbeyourselfagain，andrecover，ifyouhavenotalready，fromthewarpgiventoyourmindaccordingtoWoodwellbythemediaevalismofthatplace。\'
\'Andbeaperfectrepresentativeof\"themodernspirit\"?\'sheinquired；\'representingneitherthesensesandunderstanding，northeheartandimagination；butwhatafinishedwritercalls\"theimaginativereason\"?\'
\'Yes；forsinceitisratherinyourlineyoumayaswellkeepstraighton。\'
\'Verywell，I\'llkeepstraighton；andwe\'llbuildanewhousebesidetheruin，andshowthemodernspiritforevermore……But，George，Iwish——\'AndPaularepressedasigh。
\'Well?\'
\'Iwishmycastlewasn\'tburnt；andIwishyouwereaDeStancy!\'