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chargers at Budmouth； and ever so many hacks。'
'And he lost all by his racing speculations？' the stranger
observed； and Somerset fancied that the voice had in it
something more than the languid carelessness of a casual
sojourner。
'Partly by that； partly in other ways。 He spent a mint o'
money in a wild project of founding a watering…place； and sunk
thousands in a useless silver mine； so 'twas no wonder that
the castle named after him vell into other hands。 。 。 。 The
way it was done was curious。 Mr。 Wilkins； who was the first
owner after it went from Sir William； actually sat down as a
guest at his table； and got up as the owner。 He took off； at
a round sum； everything saleable； furniture； plate； pictures；
even the milk and butter in the dairy。 That's how the
pictures and furniture come to be in the castle still；
wormeaten rubbish zome o' it； and hardly worth moving。'
'And off went the baronet to Myrtle Villa？'
'O no！ he went away for many years。 'Tis quite lately； since
his illness； that he came to that little place； in zight of
the stone walls that were the pride of his forefathers。'
'From what I hear； he has not the manner of a broken…hearted
man？'
'Not at all。 Since that illness he has been happy； as you see
him： no pride； quite calm and mild； at new moon quite
childish。 'Tis that makes him able to live there； before he
was so ill he couldn't bear a zight of the place； but since
then he is happy nowhere else； and never leaves the parish
further than to drive once a week to Markton。 His head won't
stand society nowadays； and he lives quite lonely as you zee；
only zeeing his daughter； or his son whenever he comes home；
which is not often。 They say that if his brain hadn't
softened a little he would ha' died'twas that saved his
life。'
'What's this I hear about his daughter？ Is she really hired
companion to the new owner？'
'Now that's a curious thing again； these two girls being so
fond of one another； one of 'em a dissenter； and all that； and
t'other a De Stancy。 O no； not hired exactly； but she mostly
lives with Miss Power； and goes about with her； and I dare say
Miss Power makes it wo'th her while。 One can't move a step
without the other following； though judging by ordinary volks
you'd think 'twould be a cat…and…dog friendship rather。'
'But 'tis not？'
''Tis not； they be more like lovers than maid and maid。 Miss
Power is looked up to by little De Stancy as if she were a
god…a'mighty； and Miss Power lets her love her to her heart's
content。 But whether Miss Power loves back again I can't zay；
for she's as deep as the North Star。'
The landlord here left the stranger to go to some other part
of the house； and Somerset drew near to the glass partition to
gain a glimpse of a man whose interest in the neighbourhood
seemed to have arisen so simultaneously with his own。 But the
inner room was empty： the man had apparently departed by
another door。
VI。
The telegraph had almost the attributes of a human being at
Stancy Castle。 When its bell rang people rushed to the old
tapestried chamber allotted to it； and waited its pleasure
with all the deference due to such a novel inhabitant of that
ancestral pile。 This happened on the following afternoon
about four o'clock； while Somerset was sketching in the room
adjoining that occupied by the instrument。 Hearing its call；
he looked in to learn if anybody were attending； and found
Miss De Stancy bending over it。
She welcomed him without the least embarrassment。 'Another
message；' she said。'〃Paula to Charlotte。Have returned to
Markton。 Am starting for home。 Will be at the gate between
four and five if possible。〃'
Miss De Stancy blushed with pleasure when she raised her eyes
from the machine。 'Is she not thoughtful to let me know
beforehand？'
Somerset said she certainly appeared to be； feeling at the
same time that he was not in possession of sufficient data to
make the opinion of great value。
'Now I must get everything ready； and order what she will
want； as Mrs。 Goodman is away。 What will she want？ Dinner
would be bestshe has had no lunch； I know； or tea perhaps；
and dinner at the usual time。 Still； if she has had no lunch…
…Hark； what do I hear？'
She ran to an arrow…slit； and Somerset； who had also heard
something； looked out of an adjoining one。 They could see
from their elevated position a great way along the white road；
stretching like a tape amid the green expanses on each side。
There had arisen a cloud of dust； accompanied by a noise of
wheels。
'It is she；' said Charlotte。 'O yesit is past fourthe
telegram has been delayed。'
'How would she be likely to come？'
'She has doubtless hired a carriage at the inn： she said it
would be useless to send to meet her； as she couldn't name a
time。 。 。 。 Where is she now？'
'Just where the boughs of those beeches overhang the road
there she is again！'
Miss De Stancy went away to give directions； and Somerset
continued to watch。 The vehicle； which was of no great
pretension； soon crossed the bridge and stopped： there was a
ring at the bell； and Miss De Stancy reappeared。
'Did you see her as she drove upis she not interesting？'
'I could not see her。'
'Ah； noof course you could not from this window because of
the trees。 Mr。 Somerset； will you come downstairs？ You will
have to meet her； you know。'
Somerset felt an indescribable backwardness。 'I will go on
with my sketching；' he said。 'Perhaps she will not be'
'O； but it would be quite natural； would it not？ Our manners
are easier here； you know； than they are in town； and Miss
Power has adapted herself to them。'
A compromise was effected by Somerset declaring that he would
hold himself in readiness to be discovered on the landing at
any convenient time。
A servant entered。 'Miss Power？' said Miss De Stancy； before
he could speak。
The man advanced with a card： Miss De Stancy took it up； and
read thereon： 'Mr。 William Dare。'
'It is not Miss Power who has come； then？' she asked； with a
disappointed face。
'No； ma'am。'
She looked again at the card。 'This is some man of business；
I supposedoes he want to see me？'
'Yes； miss。 Leastwise； he would be glad to see you if Miss
Power is not at home。'
Miss De Stancy left the room； and soon returned； saying； 'Mr。
Somerset； can you give me your counsel in this matter？ This
Mr。 Dare says he is a photographic amateur； and it seems that
he wrote some time ago to Miss Power； who gave him permission
to take views of the castle； and promised to show him the best
points。 But I have heard nothing of it； and scarcely know
whether I ought to take his word in her absence。 Mrs。
Goodman； Miss Power's relative； who usually attends to these
things； is away。'
'I dare say it is all right；' said Somerset。
'Would you mind seeing him？ If you think it quite in order；
perhaps you will instruct him where the best views are to be
obtained？'
Thereupon Somerset at once went down to Mr。 Dare。 His coming
as a sort of counterfeit of Miss Power disposed Somerset to
judge him with as much severity as justice would allow； and
his manner for the m