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And now followed the piquant days to which his position as her
architect； or； at worst； as one of her two architects；
naturally led。 His anticipations were for once surpassed by
the reality。 Perhaps Somerset's inherent unfitness for a
professional life under ordinary circumstances was only proved
by his great zest for it now。 Had he been in regular
practice； with numerous other clients； instead of having
merely made a start with this one； he would have totally
neglected their business in his exclusive attention to
Paula's。
The idea of a competition between Somerset and Havill had been
highly approved by Paula's solicitor； but she would not assent
to it as yet； seeming quite vexed that Somerset should not
have taken the good the gods provided without questioning her
justice to Havill。 The room she had offered him was prepared
as a studio。 Drawing…boards and Whatman's paper were sent
for； and in a few days Somerset began serious labour。 His
first requirement was a clerk or two； to do the drudgery of
measuring and figuring； but for the present he preferred to
sketch alone。 Sometimes； in measuring the outworks of the
castle； he ran against Havill strolling about with no apparent
object； who bestowed on him an envious nod； and passed by。
'I hope you will not make your sketches；' she said； looking in
upon him one day； 'and then go away to your studio in London
and think of your other buildings and forget mine。 I am in
haste to begin； and wish you not to neglect me。'
'I have no other building to think of；' said Somerset； rising
and placing a chair for her。 'I had not begun practice； as
you may know。 I have nothing else in hand but your castle。'
'I suppose I ought not to say I am glad of it； but it is an
advantage to have an architect all to one's self。 The
architect whom I at first thought of told me before I knew you
that if I placed the castle in his hands he would undertake no
other commission till its completion。'
'I agree to the same；' said Somerset。
'I don't wish to bind you。 But I hinder you nowdo pray go
on without reference to me。 When will there be some drawing
for me to see？'
'I will take care that it shall be soon。'
He had a metallic tape in his hand； and went out of the room
to take some dimension in the corridor。 The assistant for
whom he had advertised had not arrived； and he attempted to
fix the end of the tape by sticking his penknife through the
ring into the wall。 Paula looked on at a distance。
'I will hold it；' she said。
She went to the required corner and held the end in its place。
She had taken it the wrong way； and Somerset went over and
placed it properly in her fingers； carefully avoiding to touch
them。 She obediently raised her hand to the corner again； and
stood till he had finished； when she asked； 'Is that all？'
'That is all；' said Somerset。 'Thank you。' Without further
speech she looked at his sketch…book； while he marked down the
lines just acquired。
'You said the other day；' she observed； 'that early Gothic
work might be known by the under…cutting； or something to that
effect。 I have looked in Rickman and the Oxford Glossary； but
I cannot quite understand what you meant。'
It was only too probable to her lover； from the way in which
she turned to him； that she HAD looked in Rickman and the
Glossary； and was thinking of nothing in the world but of the
subject of her inquiry。
'I can show you； by actual example； if you will come to the
chapel？' he returned hesitatingly。
'Don't go on purpose to show mewhen you are there on your
own account I will come in。'
'I shall be there in half…an…hour。'
'Very well；' said Paula。 She looked out of a window； and；
seeing Miss De Stancy on the terrace； left him。
Somerset stood thinking of what he had said。 He had no
occasion whatever to go into the chapel of the castle that
day。 He had been tempted by her words to say he would be
there； and 'half…an…hour' had come to his lips almost without
his knowledge。 This community of interestif it were not
anything more tenderwas growing serious。 What had passed
between them amounted to an appointment； they were going to
meet in the most solitary chamber of the whole solitary pile。
Could it be that Paula had well considered this in replying
with her friendly 'Very well？' Probably not。
Somerset proceeded to the chapel and waited。 With the
progress of the seconds towards the half…hour he began to
discover that a dangerous admiration for this girl had risen
within him。 Yet so imaginative was his passion that he hardly
knew a single feature of her countenance well enough to
remember it in her absence。 The meditative judgment of things
and men which had been his habit up to the moment of seeing
her in the Baptist chapel seemed to have left himnothing
remained but a distracting wish to be always near her； and it
was quite with dismay that he recognized what immense
importance he was attaching to the question whether she would
keep the trifling engagement or not。
The chapel of Stancy Castle was a silent place； heaped up in
corners with a lumber of old panels； framework； and broken
coloured glass。 Here no clock could be heard beating out the
hours of the dayhere no voice of priest or deacon had for
generations uttered the daily service denoting how the year
rolls on。 The stagnation of the spot was sufficient to draw
Somerset's mind for a moment from the subject which absorbed
it； and he thought； 'So； too； will time triumph over all this
fervour within me。'
Lifting his eyes from the floor on which his foot had been
tapping nervously； he saw Paula standing at the other end。 It
was not so pleasant when he also saw that Mrs。 Goodman
accompanied her。 The latter lady； however； obligingly
remained where she was resting； while Paula came forward； and；
as usual； paused without speaking。
'It is in this little arcade that the example occurs；' said
Somerset。
'O yes；' she answered； turning to look at it。
'Early piers； capitals； and mouldings； generally alternated
with deep hollows； so as to form strong shadows。 Now look
under the abacus of this capital； you will find the stone
hollowed out wonderfully； and also in this arch…mould。 It is
often difficult to understand how it could be done without
cracking off the stone。 The difference between this and late
work can be felt by the hand even better than it can be seen。'
He suited the action to the word and placed his hand in the
hollow。
She listened attentively； then stretched up her own hand to
test the cutting as he had done； she was not quite tall
enough； she would step upon this piece of wood。 Having done
so she tried again； and succeeded in putting her finger on the
spot。 No； she could not understand it through her glove even
now。 She pulled off her glove； and； her hand resting in the
stone channel； her eyes became abstracted in the effort of
realization； the ideas derived through her hand passing into
her face。
'No； I am not sure now；' she said。
Somerset placed his own hand in the cavity。 Now their two
hands were close together again。 They had been close together
half…an…hour earlier； a