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worth while to join 'em for the profit o't or whether 'twill
not。 No doubt if it turns out that she's of a sort to relieve
volks in trouble； more will join her set than belongs to it
already。 〃Any port in a storm；〃 of course； as the saying is。'
'As for yourself； you are a Churchman at present； I presume？'
'Yes； not but I was a Methodist onceay； for a length of
time。 'Twas owing to my taking a house next door to a chapel；
so that what with hearing the organ bizz like a bee through
the wall； and what with finding it saved umbrellas on wet
Zundays； I went over to that faith for two yearsthough I
believe I dropped money by itI wouldn't be the man to say so
if I hadn't。 Howsomever； when I moved into this house I
turned back again to my old religion。 Faith； I don't zee much
difference： be you one； or be you t'other； you've got to get
your living。'
'The De Stancys； of course； have not much influence here now；
for that； or any other thing？'
'O no； no； not any at all。 They be very low upon ground； and
always will be now； I suppose。 It was thoughted worthy of
being recorded in historyyou've read it； sir； no doubt？'
'Not a word。'
'O； then； you shall。 I've got the history zomewhere。 'Twas
gay manners that did it。 The only bit of luck they have had
of late years is Miss Power's taking to little Miss De Stancy；
and making her her company…keeper。 I hope 'twill continue。'
That the two daughters of these antipodean families should be
such intimate friends was a situation which pleased Somerset
as much as it did the landlord。 It was an engaging instance
of that human progress on which he had expended many charming
dreams in the years when poetry； theology； and the
reorganization of society had seemed matters of more
importance to him than a profession which should help him to a
big house and income； a fair Deiopeia； and a lovely progeny。
When he was alone he poured out a glass of wine； and silently
drank the healths of the two generous…minded young women who；
in this lonely district； had found sweet communion a necessity
of life； and by pure and instinctive good sense had broken
down a barrier which men thrice their age and repute would
probably have felt it imperative to maintain。 But perhaps
this was premature： the omnipotent Miss Power's character
practical or ideal； politic or impulsivehe as yet knew
nothing of； and giving over reasoning from insufficient data
he lapsed into mere conjecture。
V。
The next morning Somerset was again at the castle。 He passed
some interval on the walls before encountering Miss De Stancy；
whom at last he observed going towards a pony…carriage that
waited near the door。
A smile gained strength upon her face at his approach； and she
was the first to speak。 'I am sorry Miss Power has not
returned；' she said； and accounted for that lady's absence by
her distress at the event of two evenings earlier。
'But I have driven over to my father'sSir William De
Stancy'shouse this morning；' she went on。 'And on
mentioning your name to him； I found he knew it quite well。
You will； will you not； forgive my ignorance in having no
better knowledge of the elder Mr。 Somerset's works than a dim
sense of his fame as a painter？ But I was going to say that
my father would much like to include you in his personal
acquaintance； and wishes me to ask if you will give him the
pleasure of lunching with him to…day。 My cousin John； whom
you once knew； was a great favourite of his； and used to speak
of you sometimes。 It will be so kind if you can come。 My
father is an old man； out of society； and he would be glad to
hear the news of town。'
Somerset said he was glad to find himself among friends where
he had only expected strangers； and promised to come that day；
if she would tell him the way。
That she could easily do。 The short way was across that glade
he saw therethen over the stile into the wood； following the
path till it came out upon the turnpike…road。 He would then
be almost close to the house。 The distance was about two
miles and a half。 But if he thought it too far for a walk；
she would drive on to the town； where she had been going when
he came； and instead of returning straight to her father's
would come back and pick him up。
It was not at all necessary； he thought。 He was a walker； and
could find the path。
At this moment a servant came to tell Miss De Stancy that the
telegraph was calling her。
'Ahit is lucky that I was not gone again！' she exclaimed。
'John seldom reads it right if I am away。'
It now seemed quite in the ordinary course that； as a friend
of her father's； he should accompany her to the instrument。
So up they went together； and immediately on reaching it she
applied her ear to the instrument； and began to gather the
message。 Somerset fancied himself like a person overlooking
another's letter； and moved aside。
'It is no secret；' she said； smiling。 '〃Paula to Charlotte；〃
it begins。'
'That's very pretty。'
'Oand it is aboutyou；' murmured Miss De Stancy。
'Me？' The architect blushed a little。
She made no answer； and the machine went on with its story。
There was something curious in watching this utterance about
himself； under his very nose； in language unintelligible to
him。 He conjectured whether it were inquiry； praise； or
blame； with a sense that it might reasonably be the latter； as
the result of his surreptitious look into that blue bedroom；
possibly observed and reported by some servant of the house。
'〃Direct that every facility be given to Mr。 Somerset to visit
any part of the castle he may wish to see。 On my return I
shall be glad to welcome him as the acquaintance of your
relatives。 I have two of his father's pictures。〃'
'Dear me； the plot thickens；' he said； as Miss De Stancy
announced the words。 'How could she know about me？'
'I sent a message to her this morning when I saw you crossing
the park on your way heretelling her that Mr。 Somerset； son
of the Academician； was making sketches of the castle； and
that my father knew something of you。 That's her answer。'
'Where are the pictures by my father that she has purchased？'
'O； not hereat least； not unpacked。'
Miss de Stancy then left him to proceed on her journey to
Markton （so the nearest little town was called）； informing him
that she would be at her father's house to receive him at two
o'clock。 Just about one he closed his sketch…book； and set
out in the direction she had indicated。 At the entrance to
the wood a man was at work pulling down a rotten gate that
bore on its battered lock the initials 'W。 De S。' and erecting
a new one whose ironmongery exhibited the letters 'P。 P。'
The warmth of the summer noon did not inconveniently penetrate
the dense masses of foliage which now began to overhang the
path； except in spots where a ruthless timber…felling had
taken place in previous years for the purpose of sale。 It was
that particular half…hour of the day in which the birds of the
forest prefer walking to flying； and there being no wind； the
hopping of the smallest songster over the dead leaves reached
his ear from behind the undergrowth。 The track