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Radical member for Markton； who had succeeded to the seat
rendered vacant by the death of Paula's father。 While talking
to this gentleman on the proposed enlargement of the castle；
Somerset raised his eyes and hand towards the walls； the
better to point out his meaning； in so doing he saw a face in
the square of darkness formed by one of the open windows； the
effect being that of a highlight portrait by Vandyck or
Rembrandt。
It was his assistant Dare； leaning on the window…sill of the
studio； as he smoked his cigarette and surveyed the gay groups
promenading beneath。
After holding a chattering conversation with some ladies from
a neighbouring country seat who had known his father in bygone
years； and handing them ices and strawberries till they were
satisfied； he found an opportunity of leaving the grounds；
wishing to learn what progress Dare had made in the survey of
the castle。
Dare was still in the studio when he entered。 Somerset
informed the youth that there was no necessity for his working
later that day； unless to please himself； and proceeded to
inspect Dare's achievements thus far。 To his vexation Dare
had not plotted three dimensions during the previous two days。
This was not the first time that Dare； either from
incompetence or indolence； had shown his inutility as a house…
surveyor and draughtsman。
'Mr。 Dare；' said Somerset； 'I fear you don't suit me well
enough to make it necessary that you should stay after this
week。'
Dare removed the cigarette from his lips and bowed。 'If I
don't suit； the sooner I go the better； why wait the week？' he
said。
'Well； that's as you like。'
Somerset drew the inkstand towards him； wrote out a cheque for
Dare's services； and handed it across the table。
'I'll not trouble you to…morrow；' said Dare； seeing that the
payment included the week in advance。
'Very well；' replied Somerset。 'Please lock the door when you
leave。' Shaking hands with Dare and wishing him well； he left
the room and descended to the lawn below。
There he contrived to get near Miss Power again； and inquired
of her for Miss De Stancy。
'O！ did you not know？' said Paula； 'her father is unwell； and
she preferred staying with him this afternoon。'
'I hoped he might have been here。'
'O no； he never comes out of his house to any party of this
sort； it excites him； and he must not be excited。'
'Poor Sir William！' muttered Somerset。
'No；' said Paula； 'he is grand and historical。'
'That is hardly an orthodox notion for a Puritan；' said
Somerset mischievously。
'I am not a Puritan；' insisted Paula。
The day turned to dusk； and the guests began going in relays
to the dining…hall。 When Somerset had taken in two or three
ladies to whom he had been presented； and attended to their
wants； which occupied him three…quarters of an hour； he
returned again to the large tent； with a view to finding Paula
and taking his leave。 It was now brilliantly lighted up； and
the musicians； who during daylight had been invisible behind
the ash…tree； were ensconced at one end with their harps and
violins。 It reminded him that there was to be dancing。 The
tent had in the meantime half filled with a new set of young
people who had come expressly for that pastime。 Behind the
girls gathered numbers of newly arrived young men with low
shoulders and diminutive moustaches； who were evidently
prepared for once to sacrifice themselves as partners。
Somerset felt something of a thrill at the sight。 He was an
infrequent dancer； and particularly unprepared for dancing at
present； but to dance once with Paula Power he would give a
year of his life。 He looked round； but she was nowhere to be
seen。 The first set began； old and middle…aged people
gathered from the different rooms to look on at the gyrations
of their children； but Paula did not appear。 When another
dance or two had progressed； and an increase in the average
age of the dancers was making itself perceptible； especially
on the masculine side； Somerset was aroused by a whisper at
his elbow
'You dance； I think？ Miss Deverell is disengaged。 She has
not been asked once this evening。' The speaker was Paula。
Somerset looked at Miss Deverella sallow lady with black
twinkling eyes； yellow costume； and gay laugh； who had been
there all the afternoonand said something about having
thought of going home。
'Is that because I asked you to dance？' she murmured。 'There…
…she is appropriated。' A young gentleman had at that moment
approached the uninviting Miss Deverell； claimed her hand and
led her off。
'That's right；' said Somerset。 'I ought to leave room for
younger men。'
'You need not say so。 That bald…headed gentleman is forty…
five。 He does not think of younger men。'
'Have YOU a dance to spare for me？'
Her face grew stealthily redder in the candle…light。 'O！I
have no engagement at allI have refused。 I hardly feel at
liberty to dance； it would be as well to leave that to my
visitors。'
'Why？'
'My father； though he allowed me to be taught； never liked the
idea of my dancing。'
'Did he make you promise anything on the point？'
'He said he was not in favour of such amusementsno more。'
'I think you are not bound by that； on an informal occasion
like the present。'
She was silent。
'You will just once？' said he。
Another silence。 'If you like；' she venturesomely answered at
last。
Somerset closed the hand which was hanging by his side； and
somehow hers was in it。 The dance was nearly formed； and he
led her forward。 Several persons looked at them
significantly； but he did not notice it then； and plunged into
the maze。
Never had Mr。 Somerset passed through such an experience
before。 Had he not felt her actual weight and warmth； he
might have fancied the whole episode a figment of the
imagination。 It seemed as if those musicians had thrown a
double sweetness into their notes on seeing the mistress of
the castle in the dance； that a perfumed southern atmosphere
had begun to pervade the marquee； and that human beings were
shaking themselves free of all inconvenient gravitation。
Somerset's feelings burst from his lips。 'This is the
happiest moment I have ever known；' he said。 'Do you know
why？'
'I think I saw a flash of lightning through the opening of the
tent；' said Paula； with roguish abruptness。
He did not press for an answer。 Within a few minutes a long
growl of thunder was heard。 It was as if Jove could not
refrain from testifying his jealousy of Somerset for taking
this covetable woman so presumptuously in his arms。
The dance was over； and he had retired with Paula to the back
of the tent； when another faint flash of lightning was visible
through an opening。 She lifted the canvas； and looked out；
Somerset looking out behind her。 Another dance was begun； and
being on this account left out of notice； Somerset did not
hasten to leave Paula's side。
'I think they begin to feel the heat；' she said。
'A little ventilation would do no harm。' He flung back the
tent door where he stood； and the light shone out upon the
grass。
'I must go to the drawing…room soon；' she added。 'They will
begi