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it in a book； don't you remember？and then you were going to
have a fountain in the middle； and statues like those in the
British Museum。'
'I did say so；' remarked Paula； pulling the leaves from a
young sycamore…tree that had sprung up between the joints of
the paving。
From the spot where they sat they could see over the roofs the
upper part of the great tower wherein Somerset had met with
his misadventure。 The tower stood boldly up in the sun； and
from one of the slits in the corner something white waved in
the breeze。
'What can that be？' said Charlotte。 'Is it the fluff of owls；
or a handkerchief？'
'It is my handkerchief；' Somerset answered。 'I fixed it there
with a stone to attract attention； and forgot to take it
away。'
All three looked up at the handkerchief with interest。 'Why
did you want to attract attention？' said Paula。
'O； I fell into the turret； but I got out very easily。'
'O Paula；' said Charlotte； turning to her friend； 'that must
be the place where the man fell in； years ago； and was starved
to death！'
'Starved to death？' said Paula。
'They say so。 O Mr。 Somerset； what an escape！' And Charlotte
De Stancy walked away to a point from which she could get a
better view of the treacherous turret。
'Whom did you think to attract？' asked Paula； after a pause。
'I thought you might see it。'
'Me personally？' And； blushing faintly； her eyes rested upon
him。
'I hoped for anybody。 I thought of you；' said Somerset。
She did not continue。 In a moment she arose and went across
to Miss De Stancy。 'Don't YOU go falling down and becoming a
skeleton；' she saidSomerset overheard the words； though
Paula was unaware of itafter which she clasped her fingers
behind Charlotte's neck； and smiled tenderly in her face。
It seemed to be quite unconsciously done； and Somerset thought
it a very beautiful action。 Presently Paula returned to him
and said； 'Mr。 Somerset； I think we have had enough
architecture for to…day。'
The two women then wished him good…morning and went away。
Somerset； feeling that he had now every reason for prowling
about the castle； remained near the spot； endeavouring to
evolve some plan of procedure for the project entertained by
the beautiful owner of those weather…scathed walls。 But for a
long time the mental perspective of his new position so
excited the emotional side of his nature that he could not
concentrate it on feet and inches。 As Paula's architect
（supposing Havill not to be admitted as a competitor）； he must
of necessity be in constant communication with her for a space
of two or three years to come； and particularly during the
next few months。 She； doubtless； cherished far too ambitious
views of her career to feel any personal interest in this
enforced relationship with him； but he would be at liberty to
feel what he chose： and to be the victim of an unrequited
passion； while afforded such splendid opportunities of
communion with the one beloved； deprived that passion of its
most deplorable features。 Accessibility is a great point in
matters of love； and perhaps of the two there is less misery
in loving without return a goddess who is to be seen and
spoken to every day； than in having an affection tenderly
reciprocated by one always hopelessly removed。
With this view of having to spend a considerable time in the
neighbourhood Somerset shifted his quarters that afternoon
from the little inn at Sleeping…Green to a larger one at
Markton。 He required more rooms in which to carry out Paula's
instructions than the former place afforded； and a more
central position。 Having reached and dined at Markton he
found the evening tedious； and again strolled out in the
direction of the castle。
When he reached it the light was declining； and a solemn
stillness overspread the pile。 The great tower was in full
view。 That spot of white which looked like a pigeon
fluttering from the loophole was his handkerchief； still
hanging in the place where he had left it。 His eyes yet
lingered on the walls when he noticed； with surprise； that the
handkerchief suddenly vanished。
Believing that the breezes； though weak below； might have been
strong enough at that height to blow it into the turret； and
in no hurry to get off the premises； he leisurely climbed up
to find it； ascending by the second staircase； crossing the
roof； and going to the top of the treacherous turret。 The
ladder by which he had escaped still stood within it； and
beside the ladder he beheld the dim outline of a woman； in a
meditative attitude； holding his handkerchief in her hand。
Somerset softly withdrew。 When he had reached the ground he
looked up。 A girlish form was standing at the top of the
tower looking over the parapet upon himpossibly not seeing
him； for it was dark on the lawn。 It was either Miss De
Stancy or Paula； one of them had gone there alone for his
handkerchief and had remained awhile； pondering on his escape。
But which？ 'If I were not a faint…heart I should run all risk
and wave my hat or kiss my hand to her； whoever she is；' he
thought。 But he did not do either。
So he lingered about silently in the shades； and then thought
of strolling to his rooms at Markton。 Just at leaving； as he
passed under the inhabited wing； whence one or two lights now
blinked； he heard a piano； and a voice singing 'The Mistletoe
Bough。' The song had probably been suggested to the romantic
fancy of the singer by her visit to the scene of his
captivity。
XI。
The identity of the lady whom he had seen on the tower and
afterwards heard singing was established the next day。
'I have been thinking；' said Miss Power； on meeting him； 'that
you may require a studio on the premises。 If so； the room I
showed you yesterday is at your service。 If I employ Mr。
Havill to compete with you I will offer him a similar one。'
Somerset did not decline； and she added； 'In the same room you
will find the handkerchief that was left on the tower。'
'Ah； I saw that it was gone。 Somebody brought it down？'
'I did；' she shyly remarked； looking up for a second under her
shady hat…brim。
'I am much obliged to you。'
'O no。 I went up last night to see where the accident
happened； and there I found it。 When you came up were you in
search of it； or did you want me？'
'Then she saw me；' he thought。 'I went for the handkerchief
only； I was not aware that you were there；' he answered
simply。 And he involuntarily sighed。
It was very soft； but she might have heard him； for there was
interest in her voice as she continued； 'Did you see me before
you went back？'
'I did not know it was you； I saw that some lady was there；
and I would not disturb her。 I wondered all the evening if it
were you。'
Paula hastened to explain： 'We understood that you would stay
to dinner； and as you did not come in we wondered where you
were。 That made me think of your accident； and after dinner I
went up to the place where it happened。'
Somerset almost wished she had not explained so lucidly。
And now followed the piquant days to which his position as her
architect； or； at worst； as one of her two architects；
natural