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best he could。 To begin this course of procedure was easy；
but to abide in patience till it should produce fruit was an
irksome task。 As nearly as he could guessfor his watch had
been stopped by the fallit was now about four o'clock； and
it would be scarcely possible for evening to approach without
some eye or other noticing the white signal。 So Somerset
waited； his eyes lingering on the little world of objects
around him； till they all became quite familiar。 Spiders'…
webs in plenty were there； and one in particular just before
him was in full use as a snare； stretching across the arch of
the window； with radiating threads as its ribs。 Somerset had
plenty of time； and he counted their numberfifteen。 He
remained so silent that the owner of this elaborate structure
soon forgot the disturbance which had resulted in the breaking
of his diagonal ties； and crept out from the corner to mend
them。 In watching the process； Somerset noticed that on the
stonework behind the web sundry names and initials had been
cut by explorers in years gone by。 Among these antique
inscriptions he observed two bright and clean ones； consisting
of the words 'De Stancy' and 'W。 Dare；' crossing each other at
right angles。 From the state of the stone they could not have
been cut more than a month before this date； and； musing on
the circumstance； Somerset passed the time until the sun
reached the slit in that side of the tower； where； beginning
by throwing in a streak of fire as narrow as a corn…stalk； it
enlarged its width till the dusty nook was flooded with
cheerful light。 It disclosed something lying in the corner；
which on examination proved to be a dry bone。 Whether it was
human； or had come from the castle larder in bygone times； he
could not tell。 One bone was not a whole skeleton； but it
made him think of Ginevra of Modena； the heroine of the
Mistletoe Bough； and other cribbed and confined wretches； who
had fallen into such traps and been discovered after a cycle
of years。
The sun's rays had travelled some way round the interior when
Somerset's waiting ears were at last attracted by footsteps
above； each tread being brought down by the hollow turret with
great fidelity。 He hoped that with these sounds would arise
that of a soft voice he had begun to like well。 Indeed；
during the solitary hour or two of his waiting here he had
pictured Paula straying alone on the terrace of the castle；
looking up； noting his signal； and ascending to deliver him
from his painful position by her own exertions。 It seemed
that at length his dream had been verified。 The footsteps
approached the opening of the turret； and； attracted by the
call which Somerset now raised； began to descend towards him。
In a moment； not Paula's face； but that of a dreary footman of
her household； looked into the hole。
Somerset mastered his disappointment； and the man speedily
fetched a ladder； by which means the prisoner of two hours
ascended to the roof in safety。 During the process he
ventured to ask for the ladies of the house； and learnt that
they had gone out for a drive together。
Before he left the castle； however； they had returned； a
circumstance unexpectedly made known to him by his receiving a
message from Miss Power； to the effect that she would be glad
to see him at his convenience。 Wondering what it could
possibly mean； he followed the messenger to her rooma small
modern library in the Jacobean wing of the house； adjoining
that in which the telegraph stood。 She was alone； sitting
behind a table littered with letters and sketches； and looking
fresh from her drive。 Perhaps it was because he had been shut
up in that dismal dungeon all the afternoon that he felt
something in her presence which at the same time charmed and
refreshed him。
She signified that he was to sit down； but finding that he was
going to place himself on a straight…backed chair some
distance off she said； 'Will you sit nearer to me？' and then；
as if rather oppressed by her dignity； she left her own chair
of business and seated herself at ease on an ottoman which was
among the diversified furniture of the apartment。
'I want to consult you professionally；' she went on。 'I have
been much impressed by your great knowledge of castellated
architecture。 Will you sit in that leather chair at the
table； as you may have to take notes？'
The young man assented； expressed his gratification； and went
to the chair she designated。
'But； Mr。 Somerset；' she continued； from the ottomanthe
width of the table only dividing them'I first should just
like to know； and I trust you will excuse my inquiry； if you
are an architect in practice； or only as yet studying for the
profession？'
'I am just going to practise。 I open my office on the first
of January next；' he answered。
'You would not mind having me as a clientyour first client？'
She looked curiously from her sideway face across the table as
she said this。
'Can you ask it！' said Somerset warmly。 'What are you going
to build？'
'I am going to restore the castle。'
'What； all of it？' said Somerset； astonished at the audacity
of such an undertaking。
'Not the parts that are absolutely ruinous： the walls
battered by the Parliament artillery had better remain as they
are； I suppose。 But we have begun wrong； it is I who should
ask you； not you me 。 。 。 。 I fear；' she went on； in that low
note which was somewhat difficult to catch at a distance； 'I
fear what the antiquarians will say if I am not very careful。
They come here a great deal in summer and if I were to do the
work wrong they would put my name in the papers as a dreadful
person。 But I must live here； as I have no other house；
except the one in London； and hence I must make the place
habitable。 I do hope I can trust to your judgment？'
'I hope so；' he said； with diffidence； for； far from having
much professional confidence； he often mistrusted himself。 'I
am a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries； and a Member of the
Institute of British Architectsnot a Fellow of that body
yet； though I soon shall be。'
'Then I am sure you must be trustworthy；' she said； with
enthusiasm。 'Well； what am I to do？How do we begin？'
Somerset began to feel more professional； what with the
business chair and the table； and the writing…paper；
notwithstanding that these articles； and the room they were
in； were hers instead of his； and an evenness of manner which
he had momentarily lost returned to him。 'The very first
step；' he said； 'is to decide upon the outlaywhat is it to
cost？'
He faltered a little； for it seemed to disturb the softness of
their relationship to talk thus of hard cash。 But her
sympathy with his feeling was apparently not great； and she
said； 'The expenditure shall be what you advise。'
'What a heavenly client！' he thought。 'But you must just give
some idea；' he said gently。 'For the fact is； any sum almost
may be spent on such a building： five thousand； ten thousand；
twenty thousand； fifty thousand； a hundred thousand。'
'I want it done well； so suppose we say a hundred thousand？
My father's solicitormy solicitor nowsays I may go to a
hundred thous