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remark that she hoped to see him again a little later in the
day。
Somerset retired to the chambers of antique lumber； keeping an
eye upon the windows to see if she re…entered the carriage and
resumed her journey to Markton。 But when the horses had been
standing a long time the carriage was driven round to the
stables。 Then she was not going to the vegetable show。 That
was rather curious； seeing that she had only come back for
something forgotten。
These queries and thoughts occupied the mind of Somerset until
the bell was rung for luncheon。 Owing to the very dusty
condition in which he found himself after his morning's
labours among the old carvings he was rather late in getting
downstairs； and seeing that the rest had gone in he went
straight to the dining…hall。
The population of the castle had increased in his absence。
There were assembled Paula and her friend Charlotte； a bearded
man some years older than himself； with a cold grey eye； who
was cursorily introduced to him in sitting down as Mr。 Havill；
an architect of Markton； also an elderly lady of dignified
aspect； in a black satin dress； of which she apparently had a
very high opinion。 This lady； who seemed to be a mere dummy
in the establishment； was； as he now learnt； Mrs。 Goodman by
name； a widow of a recently deceased gentleman； and aunt to
Paulathe identical aunt who had smuggled Paula into a church
in her helpless infancy； and had her christened without her
parents' knowledge。 Having been left in narrow circumstances
by her husband； she was at present living with Miss Power as
chaperon and adviser on practical mattersin a word； as
ballast to the management。 Beyond her Somerset discerned his
new acquaintance Mr。 Woodwell； who on sight of Somerset was
for hastening up to him and performing a laboured shaking of
hands in earnest recognition。
Paula had just come in from the garden； and was carelessly
laying down her large shady hat as he entered。 Her dress； a
figured material in black and white； was short； allowing her
feet to appear。 There was something in her look； and in the
style of her corsage； which reminded him of several of the
bygone beauties in the gallery。 The thought for a moment
crossed his mind that she might have been imitating one of
them。
'Fine old screen； sir！' said Mr。 Havill； in a long…drawn voice
across the table when they were seated； pointing in the
direction of the traceried oak division between the dining…
hall and a vestibule at the end。 'As good a piece of
fourteenth…century work as you shall see in this part of the
country。'
'You mean fifteenth century； of course？' said Somerset。
Havill was silent。 'You are one of the profession； perhaps？'
asked the latter； after a while。
'You mean that I am an architect？' said Somerset。 'Yes。'
'Ahone of my own honoured vocation。' Havill's face had been
not unpleasant until this moment； when he smiled； whereupon
there instantly gleamed over him a phase of meanness；
remaining until the smile died away。
Havill continued； with slow watchfulness：
'What enormous sacrileges are committed by the builders every
day； I observe！ I was driving yesterday to Toneborough where
I am erecting a town…hall； and passing through a village on my
way I saw the workmen pulling down a chancel…wall in which
they found imbedded a unique specimen of Perpendicular worka
capital from some old arcadethe mouldings wonderfully
undercut。 They were smashing it up as filling…in for the new
wall。'
'It must have been unique；' said Somerset； in the too…readily
controversial tone of the educated young man who has yet to
learn diplomacy。 'I have never seen much undercutting in
Perpendicular stone…work； nor anybody else； I think。'
'O yeslots of it！' said Mr。 Havill； nettled。
Paula looked from one to the other。 'Which am I to take as
guide？' she asked。 'Are Perpendicular capitals undercut； as
you call it； Mr。 Havill； or no？'
'It depends upon circumstances；' said Mr。 Havill。
But Somerset had answered at the same time： 'There is seldom
or never any marked undercutting in moulded work later than
the middle of the fourteenth century。'
Havill looked keenly at Somerset for a time： then he turned
to Paula： 'As regards that fine Saxon vaulting you did me the
honour to consult me about the other day； I should advise
taking out some of the old stones and reinstating new ones
exactly like them。'
'But the new ones won't be Saxon；' said Paula。 'And then in
time to come； when I have passed away； and those stones have
become stained like the rest； people will be deceived。 I
should prefer an honest patch to any such make…believe of
Saxon relics。'
As she concluded she let her eyes rest on Somerset for a
moment； as if to ask him to side with her。 Much as he liked
talking to Paula； he would have preferred not to enter into
this discussion with another professional man； even though
that man were a spurious article； but he was led on to
enthusiasm by a sudden pang of regret at finding that the
masterly workmanship in this fine castle was likely to be
tinkered and spoilt by such a man as Havill。
'You will deceive nobody into believing that anything is Saxon
here；' he said warmly。 'There is not a square inch of Saxon
work； as it is called； in the whole castle。'
Paula； in doubt； looked to Mr。 Havill。
'O yes； sir； you are quite mistaken；' said that gentleman
slowly。 'Every stone of those lower vaults was reared in
Saxon times。'
'I can assure you；' said Somerset deferentially； but firmly；
'that there is not an arch or wall in this castle of a date
anterior to the year 1100； no one whose attention has ever
been given to the study of architectural details of that age
can be of a different opinion。'
'I have studied architecture； and I am of a different opinion。
I have the best reason in the world for the difference； for I
have history herself on my side。 What will you say when I
tell you that it is a recorded fact that this was used as a
castle by the Romans； and that it is mentioned in Domesday as
a building of long standing？'
'I shall say that has nothing to do with it；' replied the
young man。 'I don't deny that there may have been a castle
here in the time of the Romans： what I say is； that none of
the architecture we now see was standing at that date。'
There was a silence of a minute； disturbed only by a murmured
dialogue between Mrs。 Goodman and the minister； during which
Paula was looking thoughtfully on the table as if framing a
question。
'Can it be；' she said to Somerset； 'that such certainty has
been reached in the study of architectural dates？ Now； would
you really risk anything on your belief？ Would you agree to
be shut up in the vaults and fed upon bread and water for a
week if I could prove you wrong？'
'Willingly；' said Somerset。 'The date of those towers and
arches is matter of absolute certainty from the details。 That
they should have been built before the Conquest is as unlikely
as； say； that the rustiest old gun with a percussion lock
should be older than the date of Waterloo。'
'How I wish I knew something precise of an art which makes one
so inde