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She remained still as death while one might count ten； then
turned her back upon him。 'I think you had better go away；'
she whispered。 'You need not come again。'
He did not move。 'Paulado you indeed mean this？' he asked。
'I do。'
De Stancy walked a few paces； then said in a low voice： 'Miss
Power； I knewI guessed just now； as soon as it beganthat
we were going to split on this rock。 Welllet it beit
cannot be helped； destiny is supreme。 The boy was to be my
ruin； he is my ruin； and rightly。 But before I go grant me
one request。 Do not prosecute him。 Believe me； I will do
everything I can to get him out of your way。 He shall annoy
you no more。 。 。 。 Do you promise？'
'I do；' she said。 'Now please leave me。'
'Once moream I to understand that no marriage is to take
place to…day between you and me？'
'You are。'
Sir William De Stancy left the room。 It was noticeable
throughout the interview that his manner had not been the
manner of a man altogether taken by surprise。 During the few
preceding days his mood had been that of the gambler seasoned
in ill…luck； who adopts pessimist surmises as a safe
background to his most sanguine hopes。
She remained alone for some time。 Then she rang； and
requested that Mr。 Wardlaw； her father's solicitor and friend；
would come up to her。 A messenger was despatched； not to Mr。
Cunningham Haze； but to the parson of the parish； who in his
turn sent to the clerk and clerk's wife； then busy in the
church。 On receipt of the intelligence the two latter
functionaries proceeded to roll up the carpet which had been
laid from the door to the gate； put away the kneeling…
cushions； locked the doors； and went off to inquire the reason
of so strange a countermand。 It was soon proclaimed in
Markton that the marriage had been postponed for a fortnight
in consequence of the bride's sudden indisposition： and less
public emotion was felt than the case might have drawn forth；
from the ignorance of the majority of the populace that a
wedding had been going to take place at all。
Meanwhile Miss De Stancy had been closeted with Paula for more
than an hour。 It was a difficult meeting； and a severe test
to any friendship but that of the most sterling sort。 In the
turmoil of her distraction Charlotte had the consolation of
knowing that if her act of justice to Somerset at such a
moment were the act of a simpleton； it was the only course
open to honesty。 But Paula's cheerful serenity in some
measure laid her own troubles to rest； till they were
reawakened by a rumourwhich got wind some weeks later； and
quite drowned all other surprisesof the true relation
between the vanished clerk of works； Mr。 Dare； and the fallen
family of De Stancy。
BOOK THE SIXTH。 PAULA。
I。
'I have decided that I cannot see Sir William again： I shall
go away；' said Paula on the evening of the next day； as she
lay on her bed in a flushed and highly…strung condition；
though a person who had heard her words without seeing her
face would have assumed perfect equanimity to be the mood
which expressed itself with such quietness。 This was the case
with her aunt； who was looking out of the window at some
idlers from Markton walking round the castle with their eyes
bent upon its windows； and she made no haste to reply。
'Those people have come to see me； as they have a right to do
when a person acts so strangely；' Paula continued。 'And hence
I am better away。'
'Where do you think to go to？'
Paula replied in the tone of one who was actuated entirely by
practical considerations： 'Out of England certainly。 And as
Normandy lies nearest； I think I shall go there。 It is a very
nice country to ramble in。'
'Yes； it is a very nice country to ramble in；' echoed her
aunt； in moderate tones。 'When do you intend to start？'
'I should like to cross to…night。 You must go with me； aunt；
will you not？'
Mrs。 Goodman expostulated against such suddenness。 'It will
redouble the rumours that are afloat； if； after being supposed
ill； you are seen going off by railway perfectly well。'
'That's a contingency which I am quite willing to run the risk
of。 Well； it would be rather sudden； as you say； to go to…
night。 But we'll go to…morrow night at latest。' Under the
influence of the decision she bounded up like an elastic ball
and went to the glass； which showed a light in her eye that
had not been there before this resolution to travel in
Normandy had been taken。
The evening and the next morning were passed in writing a
final and kindly note of dismissal to Sir William De Stancy；
in making arrangements for the journey； and in commissioning
Havill to take advantage of their absence by emptying certain
rooms of their furniture； and repairing their dilapidationsa
work which； with that in hand； would complete the section for
which he had been engaged。 Mr。 Wardlaw had left the castle；
so also had Charlotte； by her own wish； her residence there
having been found too oppressive to herself to be continued
for the present。 Accompanied by Mrs。 Goodman； Milly； and
Clementine； the elderly French maid； who still remained with
them； Paula drove into Markton in the twilight and took the
train to Budmouth。
When they got there they found that an unpleasant breeze was
blowing out at sea； though inland it had been calm enough。
Mrs。 Goodman proposed to stay at Budmouth till the next day；
in hope that there might be smooth water； but an English
seaport inn being a thing that Paula disliked more than a
rough passage； she would not listen to this counsel。 Other
impatient reasons； too； might have weighed with her。 When
night came their looming miseries began。 Paula found that in
addition to her own troubles she had those of three other
people to support； but she did not audibly complain。
'Paula； Paula；' said Mrs。 Goodman from beneath her load of
wretchedness； 'why did we think of undergoing this？'
A slight gleam of humour crossed Paula's not particularly
blooming face； as she answered； 'Ah； why indeed？'
'What is the real reason； my dear？ For God's sake tell me！'
'It begins with S。'
'Well； I would do anything for that young man short of
personal martyrdom； but really when it comes to that'
'Don't criticize me； auntie； and I won't criticize you。'
'Well； I am open to criticism just now； I am sure；' said her
aunt； with a green smile； and speech was again discontinued。
The morning was bright and beautiful； and it could again be
seen in Paula's looks that she was glad she had come； though；
in taking their rest at Cherbourg； fate consigned them to an
hotel breathing an atmosphere that seemed specially compounded
for depressing the spirits of a young woman； indeed nothing
had particularly encouraged her thus far in her somewhat
peculiar scheme of searching out and expressing sorrow to a
gentleman for having believed those who traduced him； and this
coup d'audace to which she had committed herself began to look
somewhat formidable。 When in England the plan of following
him to Normandy had suggested itself as the quickest；
sweetest； and most honest way of making amends； but having
arrived there she see