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paradoxical maxims； generally include a portion of truth。
Five days had elapsed since he last spoke to Paula。
Reaching the castle he entered his own quarters as usual； and
after setting the draughtsmen to work walked up and down
pondering how he might best see her without making the
paragraph the ground of his request for an interview； for if
it were a fabrication； such a reason would wound her pride in
her own honour towards him； and if it were partly true； he
would certainly do better in leaving her alone than in
reproaching her。 It would simply amount to a proof that Paula
was an arrant coquette。
In his meditation he stood still； closely scanning one of the
jamb…stones of a doorless entrance； as if to discover where
the old hinge…hook had entered the stonework。 He heard a
footstep behind him； and looking round saw Paula standing by。
She held a newspaper in her hand。 The spot was one quite
hemmed in from observation； a fact of which she seemed to be
quite aware。
'I have something to tell you；' she said； 'something
important。 But you are so occupied with that old stone that I
am obliged to wait。'
'It is not true surely！' he said； looking at the paper。
'No； look here；' she said； holding up the sheet。 It was not
what he had supposed； but a new onethe local rival to that
which had contained the announcement； and was still damp from
the press。 She pointed； and he read
'We are authorized to state that there is no foundation
whatever for the assertion of our contemporary that a marriage
is likely to be arranged between Captain De Stancy and Miss
Power of Stancy Castle。'
Somerset pressed her hand。 'It disturbed me；' he said；
'though I did not believe it。'
'It astonished me； as much as it disturbed you； and I sent
this contradiction at once。'
'How could it have got there？'
She shook her head。
'You have not the least knowledge？'
'Not the least。 I wish I had。'
'It was not from any friends of De Stancy's？ or himself？'
'It was not。 His sister has ascertained beyond doubt that he
knew nothing of it。 Well； now； don't say any more to me about
the matter。'
'I'll find out how it got into the paper。'
'Not nowany future time will do。 I have something else to
tell you。'
'I hope the news is as good as the last；' he said； looking
into her face with anxiety； for though that face was blooming；
it seemed full of a doubt as to how her next information would
be taken。
'O yes； it is good； because everybody says so。 We are going
to take a delightful journey。 My new…created uncle； as he
seems； and I； and my aunt； and perhaps Charlotte； if she is
well enough； are going to Nice； and other places about there。'
'To Nice！' said Somerset； rather blankly。 'And I must stay
here？'
'Why； of course you must； considering what you have
undertaken！' she said； looking with saucy composure into his
eyes。 'My uncle's reason for proposing the journey just now
is； that he thinks the alterations will make residence here
dusty and disagreeable during the spring。 The opportunity of
going with him is too good a one for us to lose； as I have
never been there。'
'I wish I was going to be one of the party！ 。 。 。 What do YOU
wish about it？'
She shook her head impenetrably。 'A woman may wish some
things she does not care to tell！'
'Are you really glad you are going； dearest？as I MUST call
you just once；' said the young man； gazing earnestly into her
face； which struck him as looking far too rosy and radiant to
be consistent with ever so little regret at leaving him
behind。
'I take great interest in foreign trips； especially to the
shores of the Mediterranean： and everybody makes a point of
getting away when the house is turned out of the window。'
'But you do feel a little sadness； such as I should feel if
our positions were reversed？'
'I think you ought not to have asked that so incredulously；'
she murmured。 'We can be near each other in spirit； when our
bodies are far apart； can we not？' Her tone grew softer and
she drew a little closer to his side with a slightly nestling
motion； as she went on； 'May I be sure that you will not think
unkindly of me when I am absent from your sight； and not
begrudge me any little pleasure because you are not there to
share it with me？'
'May you！ Can you ask it？ 。 。 。 As for me； I shall have no
pleasure to be begrudged or otherwise。 The only pleasure I
have is； as you well know； in you。 When you are with me； I am
happy： when you are away； I take no pleasure in anything。'
'I don't deserve it。 I have no right to disturb you so；' she
said； very gently。 'But I have given you some pleasure； have
I not？ A little more pleasure than pain； perhaps？'
'You have； and yet 。 。 。 。 But I don't accuse you； dearest。
Yes； you have given me pleasure。 One truly pleasant time was
when we stood together in the summer…house on the evening of
the garden…party； and you said you liked me to love you。'
'Yes； it was a pleasant time；' she returned thoughtfully。
'How the rain came down； and formed a gauze between us and the
dancers； did it not； and how afraid we wereat least I was
lest anybody should discover us there； and how quickly I ran
in after the rain was over！'
'Yes'； said Somerset； 'I remember it。 But no harm came of it
to you 。 。 。 。 And perhaps no good will come of it to me。'
'Do not be premature in your conclusions； sir；' she said
archly。 'If you really do feel for me only half what you say；
we shallyou will make good come of itin some way or
other。'
'Dear Paulanow I believe you； and can bear anything。'
'Then we will say no more； because； as you recollect； we
agreed not to go too far。 No expostulations； for we are going
to be practical young people； besides； I won't listen if you
utter them。 I simply echo your words； and say I； too； believe
you。 Now I must go。 Have faith in me； and don't magnify
trifles light as air。'
'I THINK I understand you。 And if I do； it will make a great
difference in my conduct。 You will have no cause to
complain。'
'Then you must not understand me so much as to make much
difference； for your conduct as my architect is perfect。 But
I must not linger longer； though I wished you to know this
news from my very own lips。'
'Bless you for it！ When do you leave？'
'The day after to…morrow。'
'So early？ Does your uncle guess anything？ Do you wish him
to be told just yet？'
'Yes； to the first； no； to the second。'
'I may write to you？'
'On business； yes。 It will be necessary。'
'How can you speak so at a time of parting？'
'Now； Georgeyou see I say George； and not Mr。 Somerset； and
you may draw your own inferencedon't be so morbid in your
reproaches！ I have informed you that you may write； or still
better； telegraph； since the wire is so handyon business。
Well； of course； it is for you to judge whether you will add
postscripts of another sort。 There； you make me say more than
a woman ought； because you are so obtuse and literal。 Good
afternoongood…bye！ This will be my address。'
She handed him a slip of paper； and flitted away。
Though he saw her again after this； it was during the bustle
of