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intelligence of myself till a fortnight after I had left you。
Now； George； don't be unreasonable！ Let me remind you that；
as a certain apostle said； there are a thousand things lawful
which are not expedient。 I say this； not from pride in my own
conduct； but to offer you a very fair explanation of it。 Your
resolve not to be out of humour with me suggests that you have
been sorely tempted that way； else why should such a resolve
have been necessary？
'If you only knew what passes in my mind sometimes you would
perhaps not be so ready to blame。 Shall I tell you？ No。
For； if it is a great emotion； it may afford you a cruel
satisfaction at finding I suffer through separation； and if it
be a growing indifference to you； it will be inflicting
gratuitous unhappiness upon you to say so； if you care for me；
as I SOMETIMES think you may do A LITTLE。'
（'O； Paula！' said Somerset。）
'Please which way would you have it？ But it is better that
you should guess at what I feel than that you should
distinctly know it。 Notwithstanding this assertion you will；
I know； adhere to your first prepossession in favour of prompt
confessions。 In spite of that； I fear that upon trial such
promptness would not produce that happiness which your fancy
leads you to expect。 Your heart would weary in time； and when
once that happens； good…bye to the emotion you have told me
of。 Imagine such a case clearly； and you will perceive the
probability of what I say。 At the same time I admit that a
woman who is ONLY a creature of evasions and disguises is very
disagreeable。
'Do not write VERY frequently； and never write at all unless
you have some real information about the castle works to
communicate。 I will explain to you on another occasion why I
make this request。 You will possibly set it down as
additional evidence of my cold…heartedness。 If so you must。
Would you also mind writing the business letter on an
independent sheet； with a proper beginning and ending？
Whether you inclose another sheet is of course optional。
Sincerely yours； PAULA POWER。'
Somerset had a suspicion that her order to him not to neglect
the business letter was to escape any invidious remarks from
her uncle。 He wished she would be more explicit； so that he
might know exactly how matters stood with them； and whether
Abner Power had ever ventured to express disapproval of him as
her lover。
But not knowing； he waited anxiously for a new architectural
event on which he might legitimately send her another line。
This occurred about a week later； when the men engaged in
digging foundations discovered remains of old ones which
warranted a modification of the original plan。 He accordingly
sent off his professional advice on the point； requesting her
assent or otherwise to the amendment； winding up the inquiry
with 'Yours faithfully。' On another sheet he wrote：…
'Do you suffer from any unpleasantness in the manner of others
on account of me？ If so； inform me； Paula。 I cannot
otherwise interpret your request for the separate sheets。
While on this point I will tell you what I have learnt
relative to the authorship of that false paragraph about your
engagement。 It was communicated to the paper by your uncle。
Was the wish father to the thought； or could he have been
misled； as many were； by appearances at the theatricals？
'If I am not to write to you without a professional reason；
surely you can write to me without such an excuse？ When you
write tell me of yourself。 There is nothing I so much wish to
hear of。 Write a great deal about your daily doings； for my
mind's eye keeps those sweet operations more distinctly before
me than my bodily sight does my own。
'You say nothing of having been to look at the chapel…of…ease
I told you of； the plans of which I made when an architect's
pupil； working in metres instead of feet and inches； to my
immense perplexity； that the drawings might be understood by
the foreign workmen。 Go there and tell me what you think of
its design。 I can assure you that every curve thereof is my
own。
'How I wish you would invite me to run over and see you； if
only for a day or two； for my heart runs after you in a most
distracted manner。 Dearest； you entirely fill my life！ But I
forget； we have resolved not to go VERY FAR。 But the fact is
I am half afraid lest； with such reticence； you should not
remember how very much I am yours； and with what a dogged
constancy I shall always remember you。 Paula； sometimes I
have horrible misgivings that something will divide us；
especially if we do not make a more distinct show of our true
relationship。 True do I say？ I mean the relationship which I
think exists between us； but which you do not affirm too
clearly。Yours always。'
Away southward like the swallow went the tender lines。 He
wondered if she would notice his hint of being ready to pay
her a flying visit； if permitted to do so。 His fancy dwelt on
that further side of France； the very contours of whose shore
were now lines of beauty for him。 He prowled in the library；
and found interest in the mustiest facts relating to that
place； learning with aesthetic pleasure that the number of its
population was fifty thousand； that the mean temperature of
its atmosphere was 60 degrees Fahrenheit； and that the
peculiarities of a mistral were far from agreeable。
He waited overlong for her reply； but it ultimately came。
After the usual business preliminary； she said：
'As requested； I have visited the little church you designed。
It gave me great pleasure to stand before a building whose
outline and details had come from the brain of such a valued
friend and adviser。'
（'Valued friend and adviser；' repeated Somerset critically。）
'I like the style much； especially that of the windowsEarly
English are they not？ I am going to attend service there next
Sunday； BECAUSE YOU WERE THE ARCHITECT； AND FOR NO GODLY
REASON AT ALL。 Does that content you？ Fie for your
despondency！ Remember M。 Aurelius： 〃This is the chief thing：
Be not perturbed； for all things are of the nature of the
Universal。〃 Indeed I am a little surprised at your having
forebodings； after my assurance to you before I left。 I have
none。 My opinion is that； to be happy； it is best to think
that； as we are the product of events； events will continue to
produce that which is in harmony with us。 。 。 。 You are too
faint…hearted； and that's the truth of it。 I advise you not
to abandon yourself to idolatry too readily； you know what I
mean。 It fills me with remorse when I think how very far
below such a position my actual worth removes me。
'I should like to receive another letter from you as soon as
you have got over the misgiving you speak of； but don't write
too soon。 I wish I could write anything to raise your
spirits； but you may be so perverse that if； in order to do
this； I tell you of the races； routs； scenery； gaieties； and
gambling going on in this place and neighbourhood （into which
of course I cannot help being a little drawn）； you may declare
that my words make you worse than ever。 Don't pass the line I
have set down in the way you were tempted