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unpleasant that Dare should have seen the interior of his
heart so plainly。 He went across and said； 'I think I left
you to finish the drawing of the north wing； Mr。 Dare？'
'Three hours ago； sir；' said Dare。 'Having finished that； I
came to look at the churchfine buildingfine monumentstwo
interesting people looking at them。'
'What？'
'I stand corrected。 Pensa molto； parla poco； as the Italians
have it。'
'Well； now； Mr。 Dare； suppose you get back to the castle？'
'Which history dubs Castle Stancy。 。 。 。 Certainly。'
'How do you get on with the measuring？'
Dare sighed whimsically。 'Badly in the morning； when I have
been tempted to indulge overnight； and worse in the afternoon；
when I have been tempted in the morning！'
Somerset looked at the youth； and said； 'I fear I shall have
to dispense with your services； Dare； for I think you have
been tempted to…day。'
'On my honour no。 My manner is a little against me； Mr。
Somerset。 But you need not fear for my ability to do your
work。 I am a young man wasted； and am thought of slight
account： it is the true men who get snubbed； while traitors
are allowed to thrive！'
'Hang sentiment； Dare； and off with you！' A little ruffled；
Somerset had turned his back upon the interesting speaker； so
that he did not observe the sly twist Dare threw into his
right eye as he spoke。 The latter went off in one direction
and Somerset in the other； pursuing his pensive way towards
Markton with thoughts not difficult to divine。
From one point in her nature he went to another； till he again
recurred to her romantic interest in the De Stancy family。 To
wish she was one of them： how very inconsistent of her。 That
she really did wish it was unquestionable。
XV。
It was the day of the garden…party。 The weather was too
cloudy to be called perfect； but it was as sultry as the most
thinly…clad young lady could desire。 Great trouble had been
taken by Paula to bring the lawn to a fit condition after the
neglect of recent years； and Somerset had suggested the design
for the tents。 As he approached the precincts of the castle
he discerned a flag of newest fabric floating over the keep；
and soon his fly fell in with the stream of carriages that
were passing over the bridge into the outer ward。
Mrs。 Goodman and Paula were receiving the people in the
drawing…room。 Somerset came forward in his turn； but as he
was immediately followed by others there was not much
opportunity； even had she felt the wish； for any special mark
of feeling in the younger lady's greeting of him。
He went on through a canvas passage； lined on each side with
flowering plants； till he reached the tents； thence； after
nodding to one or two guests slightly known to him； he
proceeded to the grounds； with a sense of being rather lonely。
Few visitors had as yet got so far in； and as he walked up and
down a shady alley his mind dwelt upon the new aspect under
which Paula had greeted his eyes that afternoon。 Her black…
and…white costume had finally disappeared； and in its place
she had adopted a picturesque dress of ivory white； with satin
enrichments of the same hue； while upon her bosom she wore a
blue flower。 Her days of infestivity were plainly ended； and
her days of gladness were to begin。
His reverie was interrupted by the sound of his name； and
looking round he beheld Havill； who appeared to be as much
alone as himself。
Somerset already knew that Havill had been appointed to
compete with him； according to his recommendation。 In
measuring a dark corner a day or two before； he had stumbled
upon Havill engaged in the same pursuit with a view to the
rival design。 Afterwards he had seen him receiving Paula's
instructions precisely as he had done himself。 It was as he
had wished； for fairness' sake： and yet he felt a regret； for
he was less Paula's own architect now。
'Well； Mr。 Somerset；' said Havill； 'since we first met an
unexpected rivalry has arisen between us！ But I dare say we
shall survive the contest； as it is not one arising out of
love。 Ha…ha…ha！' He spoke in a level voice of fierce
pleasantry； and uncovered his regular white teeth。
Somerset supposed him to allude to the castle competition？
'Yes；' said Havill。 'Her proposed undertaking brought out
some adverse criticism till it was known that she intended to
have more than one architectural opinion。 An excellent stroke
of hers to disarm criticism。 You saw the second letter in the
morning papers？'
'No；' said the other。
'The writer states that he has discovered that the competent
advice of two architects is to be taken； and withdraws his
accusations。'
Somerset said nothing for a minute。 'Have you been supplied
with the necessary data for your drawings？' he asked； showing
by the question the track his thoughts had taken。
Havill said that he had。 'But possibly not so completely as
you have；' he added； again smiling fiercely。 Somerset did not
quite like the insinuation； and the two speakers parted； the
younger going towards the musicians； who had now begun to fill
the air with their strains from the embowered enclosure of a
drooping ash。 When he got back to the marquees they were
quite crowded； and the guests began to pour out upon the
grass； the toilets of the ladies presenting a brilliant
spectaclehere being coloured dresses with white devices；
there white dresses with coloured devices； and yonder
transparent dresses with no device at all。 A lavender haze
hung in the air； the trees were as still as those of a
submarine forest； while the sun； in colour like a brass
plaque； had a hairy outline in the livid sky。
After watching awhile some young people who were so madly
devoted to lawn…tennis that they set about it like day…
labourers at the moment of their arrival； he turned and saw
approaching a graceful figure in cream…coloured hues； whose
gloves lost themselves beneath her lace ruffles； even when she
lifted her hand to make firm the blue flower at her breast；
and whose hair hung under her hat in great knots so well
compacted that the sun gilded the convexity of each knot like
a ball。
'You seem to be alone；' said Paula； who had at last escaped
from the duty of receiving guests。
'I don't know many people。'
'Yes： I thought of that while I was in the drawing…room。 But
I could not get out before。 I am now no longer a responsible
being： Mrs。 Goodman is mistress for the remainder of the day。
Will you be introduced to anybody？ Whom would you like to
know？'
'I am not particularly unhappy in my solitude。'
'But you must be made to know a few。'
'Very wellI submit readily。'
She looked away from him； and while he was observing upon her
cheek the moving shadow of leaves cast by the declining sun；
she said； 'O； there is my aunt；' and beckoned with her parasol
to that lady； who approached in the comparatively youthful
guise of a grey silk dress that whistled at every touch。
Paula left them together； and Mrs。 Goodman then made him
acquainted with a few of the best people； describing what they
were in a whisper before they came up； among them being the
Radical member for Markton； who had succe