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hundred pounds to the charity。 My father always supported the
hospital； which is quite undenominational； and he said I was
to do the same。'
'Do you think the peculiar means you have adopted for
supporting it entered into his view？' inquired Somerset；
regarding her with critical dryness。 'For my part I don't。'
'It is an interesting way；' she returned persuasively； though
apparently in a state of mental equipoise on the point raised
by his question。 'And I shall not play the Princess； as I
said； to any other than that quiet young man。 Now I assure
you of this； so don't be angry and absurd！ Besides； the King
doesn't marry me at the end of the play； as in Shakespeare's
other comedies。 And if Miss De Stancy continues seriously
unwell I shall not play at all。'
The young man pressed her hand； but she gently slipped it
away。
'Are we not engaged； Paula！' he asked。 She evasively shook
her head。
'Comeyes we are！ Shall we tell your aunt？' he continued。
Unluckily at that moment Mrs。 Goodman； who had followed them
to the studio at a slower pace； appeared round the doorway。
'No；to the last；' replied Paula hastily。 Then her aunt
entered； and the conversation was no longer personal。
Somerset took his departure in a serener mood though not
completely assured。
VIII。
His serenity continued during two or three following days；
when； continuing at the castle； he got pleasant glimpses of
Paula now and then。 Her strong desire that his love for her
should be kept secret； perplexed him； but his affection was
generous； and he acquiesced in that desire。
Meanwhile news of the forthcoming dramatic performance
radiated in every direction。 And in the next number of the
county paper it was announced； to Somerset's comparative
satisfaction； that the cast was definitely settled； Mr。 Mild
having agreed to be the King and Miss Power the French
Princess。 Captain De Stancy； with becoming modesty for one
who was the leading spirit； figured quite low down； in the
secondary character of Sir Nathaniel。
Somerset remembered that； by a happy chance； the costume he
had designed for Sir Nathaniel was not at all picturesque；
moreover Sir Nathaniel scarcely came near the Princess through
the whole play。
Every day after this there was coming and going to and from
the castle of railway vans laden with canvas columns；
pasteboard trees； limp house…fronts； woollen lawns； and lath
balustrades。 There were also frequent arrivals of young
ladies from neighbouring country houses； and warriors from the
X and Y batteries of artillery； distinguishable by their
regulation shaving。
But it was upon Captain De Stancy and Mrs。 Camperton that the
weight of preparation fell。 Somerset； through being much
occupied in the drawing…office； was seldom present during the
consultations and rehearsals： until one day； tea being served
in the drawing…room at the usual hour； he dropped in with the
rest to receive a cup from Paula's table。 The chatter was
tremendous； and Somerset was at once consulted about some
necessary carpentry which was to be specially made at Markton。
After that he was looked on as one of the band； which resulted
in a large addition to the number of his acquaintance in this
part of England。
But his own feeling was that of being an outsider still。 This
vagary had been originated； the play chosen； the parts
allotted； all in his absence； and calling him in at the last
moment might； if flirtation were possible in Paula； be but a
sop to pacify him。 What would he have given to impersonate
her lover in the piece！ But neither Paula nor any one else
had asked him。
The eventful evening came。 Somerset had been engaged during
the day with the different people by whom the works were to be
carried out and in the evening went to his rooms at the Lord…
Quantock…Arms； Markton； where he dined。 He did not return to
the castle till the hour fixed for the performance； and having
been received by Mrs。 Goodman； entered the large apartment；
now transfigured into a theatre； like any other spectator。
Rumours of the projected representation had spread far and
wide。 Six times the number of tickets issued might have been
readily sold。 Friends and acquaintances of the actors came
from curiosity to see how they would acquit themselves； while
other classes of people came because they were eager to see
well…known notabilities in unwonted situations。 When ladies；
hitherto only beheld in frigid； impenetrable positions behind
their coachmen in Markton High Street； were about to reveal
their hidden traits； home attitudes； intimate smiles； nods；
and perhaps kisses； to the public eye； it was a throwing open
of fascinating social secrets not to be missed for money。
The performance opened with no further delay than was
occasioned by the customary refusal of the curtain at these
times to rise more than two feet six inches； but this hitch
was remedied； and the play began。 It was with no enviable
emotion that Somerset； who was watching intently； saw； not Mr。
Mild； but Captain De Stancy； enter as the King of Navarre。
Somerset as a friend of the family had had a seat reserved for
him next to that of Mrs。 Goodman； and turning to her he said
with some excitement； 'I understood that Mr。 Mild had agreed
to take that part？'
'Yes；' she said in a whisper； 'so he had； but he broke down。
Luckily Captain De Stancy was familiar with the part； through
having coached the others so persistently； and he undertook it
off…hand。 Being about the same figure as Lieutenant Mild the
same dress fits him； with a little alteration by the tailor。'
It did fit him indeed； and of the male costumes it was that on
which Somerset had bestowed most pains when designing them。
It shrewdly burst upon his mind that there might have been
collusion between Mild and De Stancy； the former agreeing to
take the captain's place and act as blind till the last
moment。 A greater question was； could Paula have been aware
of this； and would she perform as the Princess of France now
De Stancy was to be her lover？
'Does Miss Power know of this change？' he inquired。
'She did not till quite a short time ago。'
He controlled his impatience till the beginning of the second
act。 The Princess entered； it was Paula。 But whether the
slight embarrassment with which she pronounced her opening
words；
'Good Lord Boyet； my beauty； though but mean；
Needs not the painted flourish of your praise；'
was due to the newness of her situation； or to her knowledge
that De Stancy had usurped Mild's part of her lover； he could
not guess。 De Stancy appeared； and Somerset felt grim as he
listened to the gallant captain's salutation of the Princess；
and her response。
De S。 Fair Princess； welcome to the court of Navarre。
Paula。 Fair； I give you back again： and welcome； I have
not yet。
Somerset listened to this and to all that which followed of
the same sort； with the reflection that； after all； the
Princess never throughout the piece compromised her dignity by
showing her love for the King； and that the latter never
addressed her in words in which passion got the better of
courtesy。