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fairest prospects man ever had！'
'O； I like that； captainwhen you owe all of it to me！'
'That's too cool； Will。'
'No； what I say is true。 However； let that go。 So now you
are here on a call； but how are you going to get here often
enough to win her before the other man comes back？ If you
don't see her every daytwice； three times a dayyou will
not capture her in the time。'
'I must think of that；' said De Stancy。
'There is only one way of being constantly here： you must
come to copy the pictures or furniture； something in the way
he did。'
'I'll think of it；' muttered De Stancy hastily； as he heard
the voices of the ladies； whom he hastened to join as they
were appearing at the other end of the room。 His countenance
was gloomy as he recrossed the hall； for Dare's words on the
shortness of his opportunities had impressed him。 Almost at
once he uttered a hope to Paula that he might have further
chance of studying； and if possible of copying； some of the
ancestral faces with which the building abounded。
Meanwhile Dare had come forward with his portfolio； which
proved to be full of photographs。 While Paula and Charlotte
were examining them he said to De Stancy； as a stranger：
'Excuse my interruption； sir； but if you should think of
copying any of the portraits； as you were stating just now to
the ladies； my patent photographic process is at your service；
and is； I believe； the only one which would be effectual in
the dim indoor lights。'
'It is just what I was thinking of；' said De Stancy； now so
far cooled down from his irritation as to be quite ready to
accept Dare's adroitly suggested scheme。
On application to Paula she immediately gave De Stancy
permission to photograph to any extent； and told Dare he might
bring his instruments as soon as Captain De Stancy required
them。
'Don't stare at her in such a brazen way！' whispered the
latter to the young man； when Paula had withdrawn a few steps。
'Say； 〃I shall highly value the privilege of assisting Captain
De Stancy in such a work。〃'
Dare obeyed； and before leaving De Stancy arranged to begin
performing on his venerated forefathers the next morning； the
youth so accidentally engaged agreeing to be there at the same
time to assist in the technical operations。
III。
As he had promised； De Stancy made use the next day of the
coveted permission that had been brought about by the
ingenious Dare。 Dare's timely suggestion of tendering
assistance had the practical result of relieving the other of
all necessity for occupying his time with the proceeding；
further than to bestow a perfunctory superintendence now and
then； to give a colour to his regular presence in the
fortress； the actual work of taking copies being carried on by
the younger man。
The weather was frequently wet during these operations； and
Paula； Miss De Stancy； and her brother； were often in the
house whole mornings together。 By constant urging and coaxing
the latter would induce his gentle sister； much against her
conscience； to leave him opportunities for speaking to Paula
alone。 It was mostly before some print or painting that these
conversations occurred； while De Stancy was ostensibly
occupied with its merits； or in giving directions to his
photographer how to proceed。 As soon as the dialogue began；
the latter would withdraw out of earshot； leaving Paula to
imagine him the most deferential young artist in the world。
'You will soon possess duplicates of the whole gallery；' she
said on one of these occasions； examining some curled sheets
which Dare had printed off from the negatives。
'No；' said the soldier。 'I shall not have patience to go on。
I get ill…humoured and indifferent； and then leave off。'
'Why ill…humoured？'
'I scarcely knowmore than that I acquire a general sense of
my own family's want of merit through seeing how meritorious
the people are around me。 I see them happy and thriving
without any necessity for me at all； and then I regard these
canvas grandfathers and grandmothers； and ask； 〃Why was a line
so antiquated and out of date prolonged till now？〃'
She chid him good…naturedly for such views。 'They will do you
an injury；' she declared。 'Do spare yourself； Captain De
Stancy！'
De Stancy shook his head as he turned the painting before him
a little further to the light。
'But； do you know；' said Paula； 'that notion of yours of being
a family out of date is delightful to some people。 I talk to
Charlotte about it often。 I am never weary of examining those
canopied effigies in the church； and almost wish they were
those of my relations。'
'I will try to see things in the same light for your sake；'
said De Stancy fervently。
'Not for my sake； for your own was what I meant； of course；'
she replied with a repressive air。
Captain De Stancy bowed。
'What are you going to do with your photographs when you have
them？' she asked； as if still anxious to obliterate the
previous sentimental lapse。
'I shall put them into a large album； and carry them with me
in my campaigns； and may I ask； now I have an opportunity；
that you would extend your permission to copy a little
further； and let me photograph one other painting that hangs
in the castle； to fittingly complete my set？'
'Which？'
'That half…length of a lady which hangs in the morning…room。
I remember seeing it in the Academy last year。'
Paula involuntarily closed herself up。 The picture was her
own portrait。 'It does not belong to your series；' she said
somewhat coldly。
De Stancy's secret thought was； I hope from my soul it will
belong some day！ He answered with mildness： 'There is a sort
of connectionyou are my sister's friend。'
Paula assented。
'And hence； might not your friend's brother photograph your
picture？'
Paula demurred。
A gentle sigh rose from the bosom of De Stancy。 'What is to
become of me？' he said； with a light distressed laugh。 'I am
always inconsiderate and inclined to ask too much。 Forgive
me！ What was in my mind when I asked I dare not say。'
'I quite understand your interest in your family picturesand
all of it；' she remarked more gently； willing not to hurt the
sensitive feelings of a man so full of romance。
'And in that ONE！' he said； looking devotedly at her。 'If I
had only been fortunate enough to include it with the rest； my
album would indeed have been a treasure to pore over by the
bivouac fire！'
'O； Captain De Stancy； this is provoking perseverance！' cried
Paula； laughing half crossly。 'I expected that after
expressing my decision so plainly the first time I should not
have been further urged upon the subject。' Saying which she
turned and moved decisively away。
It had not been a productive meeting； thus far。 'One word！'
said De Stancy； following and almost clasping her hand。 'I
have given offence； I know： but do let it all fall on my own
headdon't tell my sister of my misbehaviour！ She loves you
deeply； and it would wound her to the heart。'
'You deserve to be told upon；' said Paula as she withdrew；
with just enough playfulness to show that her anger was not
too serious。
Charlotte looked at Paula uneasily when t