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thought of her being possibly a finished coquette and
dissembler。 Whatever she might be； she was not a creature
starched very stiffly by Puritanism。
Somerset looked down on the mouth of the tunnel。 The popular
commonplace that science； steam； and travel must always be
unromantic and hideous； was not proven at this spot。 On
either slope of the deep cutting； green with long grass； grew
drooping young trees of ash； beech； and other flexible
varieties； their foliage almost concealing the actual railway
which ran along the bottom； its thin steel rails gleaming like
silver threads in the depths。 The vertical front of the
tunnel； faced with brick that had once been red； was now
weather…stained； lichened； and mossed over in harmonious
rusty…browns； pearly greys； and neutral greens； at the very
base appearing a little blue…black spot like a mouse…holethe
tunnel's mouth。
The carriage was drawn up quite close to the wood railing； and
Paula was looking down at the same time with him； but he made
no remark to her。
Mrs。 Goodman broke the silence by saying； 'If it were not a
railway we should call it a lovely dell。'
Somerset agreed with her； adding that it was so charming that
he felt inclined to go down。
'If you do； perhaps Miss Power will order you up again； as a
trespasser；' said Charlotte De Stancy。 'You are one of the
largest shareholders in the railway； are you not； Paula？'
Miss Power did not reply。
'I suppose as the road is partly yours you might walk all the
way to London along the rails； if you wished； might you not；
dear？' Charlotte continued。
Paula smiled； and said； 'No； of course not。'
Somerset； feeling himself superfluous； raised his hat to his
companions as if he meant not to see them again for a while；
and began to descend by some steps cut in the earth； Miss De
Stancy asked Mrs。 Goodman to accompany her to a barrow over
the top of the tunnel； and they left the carriage； Paula
remaining alone。
Down Somerset plunged through the long grass； bushes； late
summer flowers； moths； and caterpillars； vexed with himself
that he had come there； since Paula was so inscrutable； and
humming the notes of some song he did not know。 The tunnel
that had seemed so small from the surface was a vast archway
when he reached its mouth； which emitted； as a contrast to the
sultry heat on the slopes of the cutting； a cool breeze； that
had travelled a mile underground from the other end。 Far away
in the darkness of this silent subterranean corridor he could
see that other end as a mere speck of light。
When he had conscientiously admired the construction of the
massive archivault； and the majesty of its nude ungarnished
walls； he looked up the slope at the carriage； it was so small
to the eye that it might have been made for a performance by
canaries； Paula's face being still smaller； as she leaned back
in her seat； idly looking down at him。 There seemed something
roguish in her attitude of criticism； and to be no longer the
subject of her contemplation he entered the tunnel out of her
sight。
In the middle of the speck of light before him appeared a
speck of black； and then a shrill whistle； dulled by millions
of tons of earth； reached his ears from thence。 It was what
he had been on his guard against all the time；a passing
train； and instead of taking the trouble to come out of the
tunnel he stepped into a recess； till the train had rattled
past and vanished onward round a curve。
Somerset still remained where he had placed himself； mentally
balancing science against art； the grandeur of this fine piece
of construction against that of the castle； and thinking
whether Paula's father had not； after all； the best of it；
when all at once he saw Paula's form confronting him at the
entrance of the tunnel。 He instantly went forward into the
light； to his surprise she was as pale as a lily。
'O； Mr。 Somerset！' she exclaimed。 'You ought not to frighten
me soindeed you ought not！ The train came out almost as
soon as you had gone in； and as you did not returnan
accident was possible！'
Somerset at once perceived that he had been to blame in not
thinking of this。
'Please do forgive my thoughtlessness in not reflecting how it
would strike you！' he pleaded。 'II see I have alarmed you。'
Her alarm was； indeed； much greater than he had at first
thought： she trembled so much that she was obliged to sit
down； at which he went up to her full of solicitousness。
'You ought not to have done it！' she said。 'I naturally
thoughtany person would'
Somerset； perhaps wisely； said nothing at this outburst； the
cause of her vexation was； plainly enough； his perception of
her discomposure。 He stood looking in another direction； till
in a few moments she had risen to her feet again； quite calm。
'It would have been dreadful；' she said with faint gaiety； as
the colour returned to her face； 'if I had lost my architect；
and been obliged to engage Mr。 Havill without an alternative。'
'I was really in no danger； but of course I ought to have
considered；' he said。
'I forgive you；' she returned good…naturedly。 'I knew there
was no GREAT danger to a person exercising ordinary
discretion； but artists and thinkers like you are indiscreet
for a moment sometimes。 I am now going up again。 What do you
think of the tunnel？'
They were crossing the railway to ascend by the opposite path；
Somerset keeping his eye on the interior of the tunnel for
safety； when suddenly there arose a noise and shriek from the
contrary direction behind the trees。 Both knew in a moment
what it meant； and each seized the other as they rushed off
the permanent way。 The ideas of both had been so centred on
the tunnel as the source of danger； that the probability of a
train from the opposite quarter had been forgotten。 It rushed
past them； causing Paula's dress； hair； and ribbons to flutter
violently； and blowing up the fallen leaves in a shower over
their shoulders。
Neither spoke； and they went up several steps； holding each
other by the hand； till； becoming conscious of the fact； she
withdrew hers； whereupon Somerset stopped and looked earnestly
at her； but her eyes were averted towards the tunnel wall。
'What an escape！' he said。
'We were not so very near； I think； were we？' she asked
quickly。 'If we were； I think you werevery good to take my
hand。'
They reached the top at last； and the new level and open air
seemed to give her a new mind。 'I don't see the carriage
anywhere；' she said； in the common tones of civilization。
He thought it had gone over the crest of the hill； he would
accompany her till they reached it。
'NopleaseI would rather notI can find it very well。'
Before he could say more she had inclined her head and smiled
and was on her way alone。
The tunnel…cutting appeared a dreary gulf enough now to the
young man； as he stood leaning over the rails above it；
beating the herbage with his stick。 For some minutes he could
not criticize or weigh her conduct； the warmth of her presence
still encircled him。 He recalled her face as it had looked
out at him from under the white silk puffing of her black hat；
and the speaki