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Nevertheless she looked with some misgiving at the nearest
stableman as he led out four white horses； harnessed them； and
leisurely brought a brush with which he began blacking their
yellow hoofs。 All the vehicles were ready at the door by the
time breakfast was over； and the inmates soon turned out； some
to mount the omnibuses and carriages； some to ramble on the
adjacent beach； some to climb the verdant slopes； and some to
make for the cliffs that shut in the vale。 The fuchsia…trees
which sheltered Paula's breakfast…table from the blaze of the
sun； also screened it from the eyes of the outpouring company；
and she sat on with her aunt in perfect comfort； till among
the last of the stream came Somerset and his father。 Paula
reddened at being so near the former at last。 It was with
sensible relief that she observed them turn towards the cliffs
and not to the carriages； and thus signify that they were not
going off that day。
Neither of the two saw the ladies； and when the latter had
finished their tea and coffee they followed to the shore；
where they sat for nearly an hour； reading and watching the
bathers。 At length footsteps crunched among the pebbles in
their vicinity； and looking out from her sunshade Paula saw
the two Somersets close at hand。
The elder recognized her； and the younger； observing his
father's action of courtesy； turned his head。 It was a
revelation to Paula； for she was shocked to see that he
appeared worn and ill。 The expression of his face changed at
sight of her； increasing its shade of paleness； but he
immediately withdrew his eyes and passed by。
Somerset was as much surprised at encountering her thus as she
had been distressed to see him。 As soon as they were out of
hearing； he asked his father quietly； 'What strange thing is
this； that Lady De Stancy should be here and her husband not
with her？ Did she bow to me； or to you？'
'Lady De Stancythat young lady？' asked the puzzled painter。
He proceeded to explain all he knew； that she was a young lady
he had met on his journey at two or three different times；
moreover； that if she were his son's clientthe woman who was
to have become Lady De Stancyshe was Miss Power still； for
he had seen in some newspaper two days before leaving England
that the wedding had been postponed on account of her illness。
Somerset was so greatly moved that he could hardly speak
connectedly to his father as they paced on together。 'But she
is not ill； as far as I can see；' he said。 'The wedding
postponed？You are sure the word was postponed？Was it
broken off？'
'No； it was postponed。 I meant to have told you before；
knowing you would be interested as the castle architect； but
it slipped my memory in the bustle of arriving。'
'I am not the castle architect。'
'The devil you are notwhat are you then？'
'Well； I am not that。'
Somerset the elder； though not of penetrating nature； began to
see that here lay an emotional complication of some sort； and
reserved further inquiry till a more convenient occasion。
They had reached the end of the level beach where the cliff
began to rise； and as this impediment naturally stopped their
walk they retraced their steps。 On again nearing the spot
where Paula and her aunt were sitting； the painter would have
deviated to the hotel； but as his son persisted in going
straight on； in due course they were opposite the ladies
again。 By this time Miss Power； who had appeared anxious
during their absence； regained her self…control。 Going
towards her old lover she said； with a smile； 'I have been
looking for you！'
'Why have you been doing that？' said Somerset； in a voice
which he failed to keep as steady as he could wish。
'BecauseI want some architect to continue the restoration。
Do you withdraw your resignation？'
Somerset appeared unable to decide for a few instants。 'Yes；'
he then answered。
For the moment they had ignored the presence of the painter
and Mrs。 Goodman； but Somerset now made them known to one
another； and there was friendly intercourse all round。
'When will you be able to resume operations at the castle？'
she asked； as soon as she could again speak directly to
Somerset。
'As soon as I can get back。 Of course I only resume it at
your special request。'
'Of course。' To one who had known all the circumstances it
would have seemed a thousand pities that； after again getting
face to face with him； she did not explain； without delay； the
whole mischief that had separated them。 But she did not do
itperhaps from the inherent awkwardness of such a topic at
this idle time。 She confined herself simply to the above…
mentioned business…like request； and when the party had walked
a few steps together they separated； with mutual promises to
meet again。
'I hope you have explained your mistake to him； and how it
arose； and everything？' said her aunt when they were alone。
'No； I did not。'
'What； not explain after all？' said her amazed relative。
'I decided to put it off。'
'Then I think you decided very wrongly。 Poor young man； he
looked so ill！'
'Did you； too； think he looked ill？ But he danced last night。
Why did he dance？' She turned and gazed regretfully at the
corner round which the Somersets had disappeared。
'I don't know why he danced； but if I had known you were going
to be so silent； I would have explained the mistake myself。'
'I wish you had。 But no； I have said I would； and I must。'
Paula's avoidance of tables d'hote did not extend to the
present one。 It was quite with alacrity that she went down；
and with her entry the antecedent hotel beauty who had reigned
for the last five days at that meal； was unceremoniously
deposed by the guests。 Mr。 Somerset the elder came in； but
nobody with him。 His seat was on Paula's left hand； Mrs。
Goodman being on Paula's right； so that all the conversation
was between the Academician and the younger lady。 When the
latter had again retired upstairs with her aunt； Mrs。 Goodman
expressed regret that young Mr。 Somerset was absent from the
table。 'Why has he kept away？' she asked。
'I don't knowI didn't ask；' said Paula sadly。 'Perhaps he
doesn't care to meet us again。'
'That's because you didn't explain。'
'Wellwhy didn't the old man give me an opportunity？'
exclaimed the niece with suppressed excitement。 'He would
scarcely say anything but yes and no； and gave me no chance at
all of introducing the subject。 I wanted to explainI came
all the way on purposeI would have begged George's pardon on
my two knees if there had been any way of beginning； but there
was not； and I could not do it！'
Though she slept badly that night； Paula promptly appeared in
the public room to breakfast； and that not from motives of
vanity； for； while not unconscious of her accession to the
unstable throne of queen…beauty in the establishment； she
seemed too preoccupied to care for the honour just then； and
would readily have changed places with her unhappy
predecessor； who lingered on in the background like a candle
after sunrise。
Mrs。 Goodman was determined to trust no longer to Paula for
putting an end to what made her so restless and self…