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civil wars。 New doors were placed afterwards； but the old
keys were never given up； and have been preserved by us ever
since。'
'They are quite uselessmere lumberparticularly to me；'
said Sir William。
'And those huge paintings were a present from Paula；' she
continued。 'They are portraits of my great…grandfather and
mother。 Paula would give all the old family pictures back to
me if we had room for them； but they would fill the house to
the ceilings。'
Sir William was impatient of the subject。 'What is the
utility of such accumulations？' he asked。 'Their originals
are but clay nowmere forgotten dust； not worthy a moment's
inquiry or reflection at this distance of time。 Nothing can
retain the spirit； and why should we preserve the shadow of
the form？London has been very full this year； sir； I have
been told？'
'It has；' said Somerset； and he asked if they had been up that
season。 It was plain that the matter with which Sir William
De Stancy least cared to occupy himself before visitors was
the history of his own family； in which he was followed with
more simplicity by his daughter Charlotte。
'No；' said the baronet。 'One might be led to think there is a
fatality which prevents it。 We make arrangements to go to
town almost every year； to meet some old friend who combines
the rare conditions of being in London with being mindful of
me； but he has always died or gone elsewhere before the event
has taken place。 。 。 。 But with a disposition to be happy； it
is neither this place nor the other that can render us the
reverse。 In short each man's happiness depends upon himself；
and his ability for doing with little。' He turned more
particularly to Somerset； and added with an impressive smile：
'I hope you cultivate the art of doing with little？'
Somerset said that he certainly did cultivate that art； partly
because he was obliged to。
'Ahyou don't mean to the extent that I mean。 The world has
not yet learned the riches of frugality； says； I think；
Cicero； somewhere； and nobody can testify to the truth of that
remark better than I。 If a man knows how to spend less than
his income； however small that may be； whyhe has the
philosopher's stone。' And Sir William looked in Somerset's
face with frugality written in every pore of his own； as much
as to say； 'And here you see one who has been a living
instance of those principles from his youth up。'
Somerset soon found that whatever turn the conversation took；
Sir William invariably reverted to this topic of frugality。
When luncheon was over he asked his visitor to walk with him
into the garden； and no sooner were they alone than he
continued： 'Well； Mr。 Somerset； you are down here sketching
architecture for professional purposes。 Nothing can be
better： you are a young man； and your art is one in which
there are innumerable chances。'
'I had begun to think they were rather few；' said Somerset。
'No； they are numerous enough： the difficulty is to find out
where they lie。 It is better to know where your luck lies than
where your talent lies： that's an old man's opinion。'
'I'll remember it；' said Somerset。
'And now give me some account of your new clubs； new hotels；
and new men。 。 。 。 What I was going to add； on the subject of
finding out where your luck lies； is that nobody is so
unfortunate as not to have a lucky star in some direction or
other。 Perhaps yours is at the antipodes； if so； go there。
All I say is； discover your lucky star。'
'I am looking for it。'
'You may be able to do two things； one well； the other but
indifferently； and yet you may have more luck in the latter。
Then stick to that one； and never mind what you can do best。
Your star lies there。'
'There I am not quite at one with you； Sir William。'
'You should be。 Not that I mean to say that luck lies in any
one place long； or at any one person's door。 Fortune likes
new faces； and your wisdom lies in bringing your acquisitions
into safety while her favour lasts。 To do that you must make
friends in her time of smilesmake friends with people；
wherever you find them。 My daughter has unconsciously
followed that maxim。 She has struck up a warm friendship with
our neighbour； Miss Power； at the castle。 We are
diametrically different from her in associations； traditions；
ideas； religionshe comes of a violent dissenting family
among other thingsbut I say to Charlotte what I say to you：
win affection and regard wherever you can； and accommodate
yourself to the times。 I put nothing in the way of their
intimacy； and wisely so； for by this so many pleasant hours
are added to the sum total vouchsafed to humanity。'
It was quite late in the afternoon when Somerset took his
leave。 Miss De Stancy did not return to the castle that
night； and he walked through the wood as he had come； feeling
that he had been talking with a man of simple nature； who
flattered his own understanding by devising Machiavellian
theories after the event； to account for any spontaneous
action of himself or his daughter； which might otherwise seem
eccentric or irregular。
Before Somerset reached the inn he was overtaken by a slight
shower； and on entering the house he walked into the general
room； where there was a fire； and stood with one foot on the
fender。 The landlord was talking to some guest who sat behind
a screen； and； probably because Somerset had been seen passing
the window； and was known to be sketching at the castle； the
conversation turned on Sir William De Stancy。
'I have often noticed；' observed the landlord； 'that volks who
have come to grief； and quite failed； have the rules how to
succeed in life more at their vingers' ends than volks who
have succeeded。 I assure you that Sir William； so full as he
is of wise maxims； never acted upon a wise maxim in his life；
until he had lost everything； and it didn't matter whether he
was wise or no。 You know what he was in his young days； of
course？'
'No； I don't；' said the invisible stranger。
'O； I thought everybody knew poor Sir William's history。 He
was the star； as I may zay； of good company forty years ago。
I remember him in the height of his jinks； as I used to zee
him when I was a very little boy； and think how great and
wonderful he was。 I can seem to zee now the exact style of
his clothes； white hat； white trousers； white silk
handkerchief； and his jonnick face； as white as his clothes
with keeping late hours。 There was nothing black about him but
his hair and his eyeshe wore no beard at that timeand they
were black as slooes。 The like of his coming on the race…
course was never seen there afore nor since。 He drove his
ikkipage hisself； and it was always hauled by four beautiful
white horses； and two outriders rode in harness bridles。
There was a groom behind him； and another at the rubbing…post；
all in livery as glorious as New Jerusalem。 What a
'stablishment he kept up at that time！ I can mind him； sir；
with thirty race…horses in training at once； seventeen coach…
horses； twelve hunters at his box t'other side of London； four
chargers at Budmouth； and ever so many hacks。'
'And he lost all by his racing speculations？' the