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countrywomen。 They did not part from him till they had come
out from the crypt； and again reached the west front； on their
way to which he additionally explained that it was his son he
was looking for； who had arranged to meet him here； but had
mentioned no inn at which he might be expected。
When he had left them； Paula informed her aunt whose company
they had been sharing。 Her aunt began expostulating with
Paula for not telling Mr。 Somerset what they had seen of his
son's movements。 'It would have eased his mind at least；' she
said。
'I was not bound to ease his mind at the expense of showing
what I would rather conceal。 I am continually hampered in
such generosity as that by the circumstance of being a woman！'
'Well； it is getting too late to search further tonight。'
It was indeed almost evening twilight in the streets； though
the graceful freestone spires to a depth of about twenty feet
from their summits were still dyed with the orange tints of a
vanishing sun。 The two relatives dined privately as usual；
after which Paula looked out of the window of her room； and
reflected upon the events of the day。 A tower rising into the
sky quite near at hand showed her that some church or other
stood within a few steps of the hotel archway； and saying
nothing to Mrs。 Goodman； she quietly cloaked herself； and went
out towards it； apparently with the view of disposing of a
portion of a dull dispiriting evening。 The church was open；
and on entering she found that it was only lighted by seven
candles burning before the altar of a chapel on the south
side； the mass of the building being in deep shade。
Motionless outlines； which resolved themselves into the forms
of kneeling women； were darkly visible among the chairs； and
in the triforium above the arcades there was one hitherto
unnoticed radiance； dim as that of a glow…worm in the grass。
It was seemingly the effect of a solitary tallow…candle behind
the masonry。
A priest came in； unlocked the door of a confessional with a
click which sounded in the silence； and entered it； a woman
followed； disappeared within the curtain of the same； emerging
again in about five minutes； followed by the priest； who
locked up his door with another loud click； like a tradesman
full of business； and came down the aisle to go out。 In the
lobby he spoke to another woman； who replied； 'Ah； oui；
Monsieur l'Abbe！'
Two women having spoken to him； there could be no harm in a
third doing likewise。 'Monsieur l'Abbe；' said Paula in
French； 'could you indicate to me the stairs of the
triforium？' and she signified her reason for wishing to know
by pointing to the glimmering light above。
'Ah； he is a friend of yours； the Englishman？' pleasantly said
the priest； recognizing her nationality； and taking her to a
little door he conducted her up a stone staircase； at the top
of which he showed her the long blind story over the aisle
arches which led round to where the light was。 Cautioning her
not to stumble over the uneven floor； he left her and
descended。 His words had signified that Somerset was here。
It was a gloomy place enough that she found herself in； but
the seven candles below on the opposite altar； and a faint sky
light from the clerestory； lent enough rays to guide her。
Paula walked on to the bend of the apse： here were a few
chairs； and the origin of the light。
This was a candle stuck at the end of a sharpened stick； the
latter entering a joint in the stones。 A young man was
sketching by the glimmer。 But there was no need for the blush
which had prepared itself beforehand； the young man was Mr。
Cockton； Somerset's youngest draughtsman。
Paula could have cried aloud with disappointment。 Cockton
recognized Miss Power； and appearing much surprised； rose from
his seat with a bow； and said hastily； 'Mr。 Somerset left to…
day。'
'I did not ask for him；' said Paula。
'No； Miss Power： but I thought'
'Yes； yesyou know； of course； that he has been my architect。
Well； it happens that I should like to see him； if he can call
on me。 Which way did he go？'
'He's gone to Etretat。'
'What for？ There are no abbeys to sketch at Etretat。'
Cockton looked at the point of his pencil； and with a
hesitating motion of his lip answered； 'Mr。 Somerset said he
was tired。'
'Of what？'
'He said he was sick and tired of holy places； and would go to
some wicked spot or other； to get that consolation which
holiness could not give。 But he only said it casually to
Knowles； and perhaps he did not mean it。'
'Knowles is here too？'
'Yes； Miss Power； and Bowles。 Mr。 Somerset has been kind
enough to give us a chance of enlarging our knowledge of
French Early…pointed； and pays half the expenses。'
Paula said a few other things to the young man； walked slowly
round the triforium as if she had come to examine it； and
returned down the staircase。 On getting back to the hotel she
told her aunt； who had just been having a nap； that next day
they would go to Etretat for a change。
'Why？ There are no old churches at Etretat。'
'No。 But I am sick and tired of holy places； and want to go
to some wicked spot or other to find that consolation which
holiness cannot give。'
'For shame； Paula！ Now I know what it is； you have heard that
he's gone there！ You needn't try to blind me。'
'I don't care where he's gone！' cried Paula petulantly。 In a
moment； however； she smiled at herself； and added； 'You must
take that for what it is worth。 I have made up my mind to let
him know from my own lips how the misunderstanding arose。
That done； I shall leave him； and probably never see him
again。 My conscience will be clear。'
The next day they took the steamboat down the Orne； intending
to reach Etretat by way of Havre。 Just as they were moving
off an elderly gentleman under a large white sunshade； and
carrying his hat in his hand； was seen leisurely walking down
the wharf at some distance； but obviously making for the boat。
'A gentleman！' said the mate。
'Who is he？' said the captain。
'An English；' said Clementine。
Nobody knew more； but as leisure was the order of the day the
engines were stopped； on the chance of his being a passenger；
and all eyes were bent upon him in conjecture。 He disappeared
and reappeared from behind a pile of merchandise and
approached the boat at an easy pace； whereupon the gangway was
replaced； and he came on board； removing his hat to Paula；
quietly thanking the captain for stopping； and saying to Mrs。
Goodman； 'I am nicely in time。'
It was Mr。 Somerset the elder； who by degrees informed our
travellers； as sitting on their camp…stools they advanced
between the green banks bordered by elms； that he was going to
Etretat； that the young man he had spoken of yesterday had
gone to that romantic watering…place instead of studying art
at Caen； and that he was going to join him there。
Paula preserved an entire silence as to her own intentions；
partly from natural reticence； and partly； as it appeared；
from the difficulty of explaining a complication which was not
very clear to herself。 At Havre they parted from Mr。
Somerset； and did not see him again till t