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rash surmises； but her oscillation from her family creed of
Calvinistic truth towards the traditions of the De Stancys has
been so decided； though so gradual； thatwell； I may be
wrong。'
'That what？' said the young man sharply。
'I sometimes think she will take to her as husband the present
representative of that impoverished lineCaptain De Stancy
which she may easily do； if she chooses； as his behaviour to…
day showed。'
'He was probably there on account of his sister；' said
Somerset； trying to escape the mental picture of farewell
gallantries bestowed on Paula。
'It was hinted at in the papers the other day。'
'And it was flatly contradicted。'
'Yes。 Well； we shall see in the Lord's good time； I can do no
more for her。 And now； Mr。 Somerset； pray take a cup of tea。'
The revelations of the minister depressed Somerset a little；
and he did not stay long。 As he went to the door Woodwell
said； 'There is a worthy manthe deacon of our chapel； Mr。
Havillwho would like to be friendly with you。 Poor man；
since the death of his wife he seems to have something on his
mindsome trouble which my words will not reach。 If ever you
are passing his door； please give him a look in。 He fears
that calling on you might be an intrusion。'
Somerset did not clearly promise； and went his way。 The
minister's allusion to the announcement of the marriage
reminded Somerset that she had expressed a wish to know how
the paragraph came to be inserted。 The wish had been
carelessly spoken； but he went to the newspaper office to make
inquiries on the point。
The reply was unexpected。 The reporter informed his
questioner that in returning from the theatricals； at which he
was present； he shared a fly with a gentleman who assured him
that such an alliance was certain； so obviously did it
recommend itself to all concerned； as a means of strengthening
both families。 The gentleman's knowledge of the Powers was so
precise that the reporter did not hesitate to accept his
assertion。 He was a man who had seen a great deal of the
world； and his face was noticeable for the seams and scars on
it。
Somerset recognized Paula's uncle in the portrait。
Hostilities； then； were beginning。 The paragraph had been
meant as the first slap。 Taking her abroad was the second。
BOOK THE FOURTH。 SOMERSET； DARE AND DE STANCY。
I。
There was no part of Paula's journey in which Somerset did not
think of her。 He imagined her in the hotel at Havre； in her
brief rest at Paris； her drive past the Place de la Bastille
to the Boulevart Mazas to take the train for Lyons； her
tedious progress through the dark of a winter night till she
crossed the isothermal line which told of the beginning of a
southern atmosphere； and onwards to the ancient blue sea。
Thus； between the hours devoted to architecture； he passed the
next three days。 One morning he set himself； by the help of
John； to practise on the telegraph instrument； expecting a
message。 But though he watched the machine at every
opportunity； or kept some other person on the alert in its
neighbourhood； no message arrived to gratify him till after
the lapse of nearly a fortnight。 Then she spoke from her new
habitation nine hundred miles away； in these meagre words：
'Are settled at the address given。 Can now attend to any
inquiry about the building。'
The pointed implication that she could attend to inquiries
about nothing else； breathed of the veritable Paula so
distinctly that he could forgive its sauciness。 His reply was
soon despatched：
'Will write particulars of our progress。 Always the same。'
The last three words formed the sentimental appendage which
she had assured him she could tolerate； and which he hoped she
might desire。
He spent the remainder of the day in making a little sketch to
show what had been done in the castle since her departure。
This he despatched with a letter of explanation ending in a
paragraph of a different tenor：
'I have demonstrated our progress as well as I could； but
another subject has been in my mind； even whilst writing the
former。 Ask yourself if you use me well in keeping me a
fortnight before you so much as say that you have arrived？
The one thing that reconciled me to your departure was the
thought that I should hear early from you： my idea of being
able to submit to your absence was based entirely upon that。
'But I have resolved not to be out of humour； and to believe
that your scheme of reserve is not unreasonable； neither do I
quarrel with your injunction to keep silence to all relatives。
I do not know anything I can say to show you more plainly my
acquiescence in your wish 〃not to go too far〃 （in short； to
keep yourself dearby dear I mean not cheapyou have been
dear in the other sense a long time； as you know）； than by not
urging you to go a single degree further in warmth than you
please。'
When this was posted he again turned his attention to her
walls and towers； which indeed were a dumb consolation in many
ways for the lack of herself。 There was no nook in the castle
to which he had not access or could not easily obtain access
by applying for the keys； and this propinquity of things
belonging to her served to keep her image before him even more
constantly than his memories would have done。
Three days and a half after the despatch of his subdued
effusion the telegraph called to tell him the good news that
'Your letter and drawing are just received。 Thanks for the
latter。 Will reply to the former by post this afternoon。'
It was with cheerful patience that he attended to his three
draughtsmen in the studio； or walked about the environs of the
fortress during the fifty hours spent by her presumably tender
missive on the road。 A light fleece of snow fell during the
second night of waiting； inverting the position of long…
established lights and shades； and lowering to a dingy grey
the approximately white walls of other weathers； he could
trace the postman's footmarks as he entered over the bridge；
knowing them by the dot of his walking…stick： on entering the
expected letter was waiting upon his table。 He looked at its
direction with glad curiosity； it was the first letter he had
ever received from her。
'HOTEL …； NICE；
Feb。 14。
'MY DEAR MR。 SOMERSET' （the 'George；' then； to which she had
so kindly treated him in her last conversation； was not to be
continued in black and white）；
'Your letter explaining the progress of the work； aided by the
sketch enclosed； gave me as clear an idea of the advance made
since my departure as I could have gained by being present。 I
feel every confidence in you； and am quite sure the
restoration is in good hands。 In this opinion both my aunt
and my uncle coincide。 Please act entirely on your own
judgment in everything； and as soon as you give a certificate
to the builders for the first instalment of their money it
will be promptly sent by my solicitors。
'You bid me ask myself if I have used you well in not sending
intelligence of myself till a fortnight after I had left you。
Now； George； don't be unreasonable！ Let me remind y