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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 moment was not of a kind calculated to
dissipate antagonistic instincts。 Mr。 Dare was standing
before the fireplace with his feet wide apart； and his hands
in the pockets of his coat…tails； looking at a carving over
the mantelpiece。 He turned quickly at the sound of Somerset's
footsteps； and revealed himself as a person quite out of the
common。
His age it was impossible to say。 There was not a hair on his
face which could serve to hang a guess upon。 In repose he
appeared a boy； but his actions were so completely those of a
man that the beholder's first estimate of sixteen as his age
was hastily corrected to six…and…twenty； and afterwards
shifted hither and thither along intervening years as the
tenor of his sentences sent him up or down。 He had a broad
forehead； vertical as the face of a bastion； and his hair；
which was parted in the middle； hung as a fringe or valance
above； in the fashion sometimes affected by the other sex。 He
wore a heavy ring； of which the gold seemed fair； the diamond
questionable； and the taste indifferent。 There were the
remains of a swagger in his body and limbs as he came forward；
regarding Somerset with a confident smile； as if the wonder
were； not why Mr。 Dare should be present； but why Somerset
should be present likewise； and the first tone that came from
Dare's lips wound up his listener's opinion that he did not
like him。
A latent power in the man； or boy； was revealed by the
circumstance that Somerset did not feel； as he would
ordinarily have done； that it was a matter of profound
indifference to him whether this gentleman…photographer were a
likeable person or no。
'I have called by appointment； or rather； I left a card
stating that to…day would suit me； and no objection was made。'
Somerset recognized the voice； it was that of the invisible
stranger who had talked with the landlord about the De
Stancys。 Mr。 Dare then proceeded to explain his business。
Somerset found from his inquiries that the man had
unquestionably been instructed by somebody to take the views
he spoke of； and concluded that Dare's curiosity at the inn
was； after all； naturally explained by his errand to this
place。 Blaming himself for a too hasty condemnation of the
stranger； who though visually a little too assured was civil
enough verbally； Somerset proceeded with the young
photographer to sundry corners of the outer ward； and thence
across the moat to the field； suggesting advantageous points
of view。 The office； being a shadow of his own pursuits； was
not uncongenial to Somerset； and he forgot other things in
attending to it。
'Now in our country we should stand further back than this；
and so get a more comprehensive coup d'oeil；' said Dare； as
Somerset selected a good situation。
'You are not an Englishman； then；' said Somerset。
'I have lived mostly in India； Malta； Gibraltar； the Ionian
Islands； and Canada。 I there invented a new photographic
process； which I am bent upon making famous。 Yet I am but a
dilettante； and do not follow this art at the base dictation
of what men call necessity。'
'O indeed；' Somerset replied。
As soon as this business was disposed of； and Mr。 Dare had
brought up his van and assistant to begin operations； Somerset
returned to the castle entrance。 While under the archway a
man with a professional look drove up in a dog…cart and
inquired if Miss Power were at home to…day。
'She has not yet returned； Mr。 Havill；' was the reply。
Somerset； who had hoped to hear an affirmative by this time；
thought that Miss Power was bent on disappointing him in the
flesh； notwithstanding the interest she expressed in him by
telegraph； and as it was now drawing towards the end of the
afternoon； he walked off in the direction of his inn。
There were two or three ways to that spot； but the pleasantest
was by passing through a rambling shrubbery； between whose
bushes trickled a broad shallow brook； occasionally
intercepted in its course by a transverse chain of old stones；
evidently from the castle walls； which formed a miniature
waterfall。 The walk lay along the river…brink。 Soon Somerset
saw before him a circular summer…house formed of short sticks
nailed to ornamental patterns。 Outside the structure； and
immediately in the path； stood a man with a book in his hand；
and it was presently apparent that this gentleman was holding
a conversation with some person inside the pavilion； but the
back of the building being towards Somerset； the second
individual could not be seen。
The speaker at one moment glanced into the interior； and at
another at the advancing form of the architect； whom； though
distinctly enough beheld； the other scarcely appeared to heed
in the absorbing interest of his own discourse。 Somerset
became aware that it was the Baptist minister； whose rhetoric
he had heard in the chapel yonder。
'Now；' continued the Baptist minister； 'will you express to me
any reason or objection whatever which induces you to withdraw
from our communion？ It was that of your father； and of his
father before him。 Any difficulty you may have met with I
will honestly try to remove； for I need hardly say that in
losing you we lose one of the most valued members of the
Baptist church in this district。 I speak with all the respect
due to your position； when I ask you to realize how
irreparable is the injury you inflict upon the cause here by
this lukewarm backwardness。'
'I don't withdraw；' said a woman's low voice within。
'What do you do？'
'I decline to attend for the present。'
'And you can give no reason for this？'
There was no reply。
'Or for your refusal to proceed with the baptism？'
'I have been christened。'
'My dear young lady； it is well known that your christening
was the work of your aunt； who did it unknown to your parents
when she had you in her power； out of pure obstinacy to a
church with which she was not in sympathy； taking you
surreptitiously； and indefensibly； to the font of the
Establishment； so that the rite meant and could mean nothing
at all。 。 。 。 But I fear that your new position has brought
you into contact with the Paedobaptists； that they have
disturbed your old principles； and so induced you to believe
in the validity of that trumpery ceremony！'
'It seems sufficient。'
'I will demolish the basis of that seeming in three minutes；
give me but that time as a listener。'
'I have no objection。'
'Very well。 。 。 。 First； then； I will assume that those who
have influenced you in the matter have not been able to make
any impression upon one so well grounded as yourself in our
distinctive doctrine； by the stale old argument drawn from
circumcision？'
'You may assume it。'
'Goodthat clears the ground。 And we now come to the New
Testament。'
The minister began to turn over the leaves of his little
Bible； which it impressed Somerset to observe was bound with a
flap； like a pocket book； the black surface of the leather
being worn brown at the corners by long usage。 He turned on
till he came