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recognize them again？'
'The young one possibly。 The other not at all； for he
remained in the shade。'
Somerset endeavoured to discern in a description by the chief
constable the features of Mr。 Bowles： but it seemed to
approximate more closely to Dare in spite of himself。 'I'll
make a sketch of the only one who had no business there； and
show it to you；' he presently said。 'I should like this
cleared up。'
Mr。 Cunningham Haze said he was going to Toneborough that
afternoon； but would return in the evening before Somerset's
departure。 With this they parted。 A possible motive for
Dare's presence in the rooms had instantly presented itself to
Somerset's mind； for he had seen Dare enter Havill's office
more than once； as if he were at work there。
He accordingly sat on the next stile； and taking out his
pocket…book began a pencil sketch of Dare's head； to show to
Mr。 Haze in the evening； for if Dare had indeed found
admission with Havill； or as his agent； the design was lost。
But he could not make a drawing that was a satisfactory
likeness。 Then he luckily remembered that Dare； in the
intense warmth of admiration he had affected for Somerset on
the first day or two of their acquaintance； had begged for his
photograph； and in return for it had left one of himself on
the mantelpiece； taken as he said by his own process。
Somerset resolved to show this production to Mr。 Haze； as
being more to the purpose than a sketch； and instead of
finishing the latter； proceeded on his way。
He entered the old overgrown drive which wound indirectly
through the wood to Markton。 The road； having been laid out
for idling rather than for progress； bent sharply hither and
thither among the fissured trunks and layers of horny leaves
which lay there all the year round； interspersed with cushions
of vivid green moss that formed oases in the rust…red expanse。
Reaching a point where the road made one of its bends between
two large beeches； a man and woman revealed themselves at a
few yards' distance； walking slowly towards him。 In the short
and quaint lady he recognized Charlotte De Stancy； whom he
remembered not to have seen for several days。
She slightly blushed and said； 'O； this is pleasant； Mr。
Somerset！ Let me present my brother to you； Captain De Stancy
of the Royal Horse Artillery。'
Her brother came forward and shook hands heartily with
Somerset； and they all three rambled on together； talking of
the season； the place； the fishing； the shooting； and whatever
else came uppermost in their minds。
Captain De Stancy was a personage who would have been called
interesting by women well out of their teens。 He was ripe；
without having declined a digit towards fogeyism。 He was
sufficiently old and experienced to suggest a goodly
accumulation of touching amourettes in the chambers of his
memory； and not too old for the possibility of increasing the
store。 He was apparently about eight…and…thirty； less tall
than his father had been； but admirably made； and his every
movement exhibited a fine combination of strength and
flexibility of limb。 His face was somewhat thin and
thoughtful； its complexion being naturally pale； though
darkened by exposure to a warmer sun than ours。 His features
were somewhat striking； his moustache and hair raven black；
and his eyes； denied the attributes of military keenness by
reason of the largeness and darkness of their aspect； acquired
thereby a softness of expression that was in part womanly。
His mouth as far as it could be seen reproduced this
characteristic； which might have been called weakness； or
goodness； according to the mental attitude of the observer。
It was large but well formed； and showed an unimpaired line of
teeth within。 His dress at present was a heather…coloured
rural suit； cut close to his figure。
'You knew my cousin； Jack Ravensbury？' he said to Somerset； as
they went on。 'Poor Jack： he was a good fellow。'
'He was a very good fellow。'
'He would have been made a parson if he had livedit was his
great wish。 I； as his senior； and a man of the world as I
thought myself； used to chaff him about it when he was a boy；
and tell him not to be a milksop； but to enter the army。 But
I think Jack was rightthe parsons have the best of it； I see
now。'
'They would hardly admit that；' said Somerset； laughing。 'Nor
can I。'
'Nor I；' said the captain's sister。 'See how lovely you all
looked with your big guns and uniform when you entered
Markton； and then see how stupid the parsons look by
comparison； when they flock into Markton at a Visitation。'
'Ah； yes；' said De Stancy；
'〃Doubtless it is a brilliant masquerade；
But when of the first sight you've had your fill；
It pallsat least it does so upon me；
This paradise of pleasure and ennui。〃
When one is getting on for forty；
〃When we have made our love； and gamed our gaming；
Dressed； voted； shone； and maybe； something more；
With dandies dined； heard senators declaiming；
Seen beauties brought to market by the score；〃
and so on； there arises a strong desire for a quiet old…
fashioned country life； in which incessant movement is not a
necessary part of the programme。'
'But you are not forty； Will？' said Charlotte。
'My dear； I was thirty…nine last January。'
'Well； men about here are youths at that age。 It was India
used you up so； when you served in the line； was it not？ I
wish you had never gone there！'
'So do I；' said De Stancy drily。 'But I ought to grow a youth
again； like the rest； now I am in my native air。'
They came to a narrow brook； not wider than a man's stride；
and Miss De Stancy halted on the edge。
'Why； Lottie； you used to jump it easily enough；' said her
brother。 'But we won't make her do it now。' He took her in
his arms； and lifted her over； giving her a gratuitous ride
for some additional yards； and saying； 'You are not a pound
heavier； Lott； than you were at ten years old。 。 。 。 What do
you think of the country here； Mr。 Somerset？ Are you going to
stay long？'
'I think very well of it；' said Somerset。 'But I leave to…
morrow morning； which makes it necessary that I turn back in a
minute or two from walking with you。'
'That's a disappointment。 I had hoped you were going to
finish out the autumn with shooting。 There's some； very fair；
to be got here on reasonable terms； I've just heard。'
'But you need not hire any！' spoke up Charlotte。 'Paula would
let you shoot anything； I am sure。 She has not been here long
enough to preserve much game； and the poachers had it all in
Mr。 Wilkins' time。 But what there is you might kill with
pleasure to her。'
'No； thank you；' said De Stancy grimly。 'I prefer to remain a
stranger to Miss PowerMiss Steam…Power； she ought to be
calledand to all her possessions。'
Charlotte was subdued； and did not insist further； while
Somerset； before he could feel himself able to decide on the
mood in which the gallant captain's joke at Paula's expense
should be taken； wondered whether it were a married man or a
bachelor who uttered it。
He had not been able to keep the question of De