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came。 It was now the end of March； and when Somerset walked
of an afternoon by the river and pool in the lower part of the
grounds； his ear newly greeted by the small voices of frogs
and toads and other creatures who had been torpid through the
winter； he became doubtful and uneasy that she alone should be
silent in the awakening year。
He waited through a second week； and there was still no reply。
It was possible that the urgency of his request had tempted
her to punish him； and he continued his walks； to； fro； and
around； with as close an ear to the undertones of nature； and
as attentive an eye to the charms of his own art； as the grand
passion would allow。 Now came the days of battle between
winter and spring。 On these excursions； though spring was to
the forward during the daylight； winter would reassert itself
at night； and not unfrequently at other moments。 Tepid airs
and nipping breezes met on the confines of sunshine and shade；
trembling raindrops that were still akin to frost crystals
dashed themselves from the bushes as he pursued his way from
town to castle； the birds were like an orchestra waiting for
the signal to strike up； and colour began to enter into the
country round。
But he gave only a modicum of thought to these proceedings。
He rather thought such things as； 'She can afford to be saucy；
and to find a source of blitheness in my love； considering the
power that wealth gives her to pick and choose almost where
she will。' He was bound to own； however； that one of the
charms of her conversation was the complete absence of the
note of the heiress from its accents。 That； other things
equal； her interest would naturally incline to a person
bearing the name of De Stancy； was evident from her avowed
predilections。 His original assumption； that she was a
personification of the modern spirit； who had been dropped；
like a seed from the bill of a bird； into a chink of
mediaevalism； required some qualification。 Romanticism； which
will exist in every human breast as long as human nature
itself exists； had asserted itself in her。 Veneration for
things old； not because of any merit in them； but because of
their long continuance； had developed in her； and her modern
spirit was taking to itself wings and flying away。 Whether
his image was flying with the other was a question which moved
him all the more deeply now that her silence gave him dread of
an affirmative answer。
For another seven days he stoically left in suspension all
forecasts of his possibly grim fate in being the employed and
not the beloved。 The week passed： he telegraphed： there was
no reply： he had sudden fears for her personal safety and
resolved to break her command by writing。
'STANCY CASTLE； April
13。
'DEAR PAULA；Are you ill or in trouble？ It is impossible in
the very unquiet state you have put me into by your silence
that I should abstain from writing。 Without affectation； you
sorely distress me； and I think you would hardly have done it
could you know what a degree of anxiety you cause。 Why；
Paula； do you not write or send to me？ What have I done that
you should treat me like this？ Do write； if it is only to
reproach me。 I am compelled to pass the greater part of the
day in this castle； which reminds me constantly of you； and
yet eternally lacks your presence。 I am unfortunate indeed
that you have not been able to find half…an…hour during the
last month to tell me at least that you are alive。
'You have always been ambiguous； it is true； but I thought I
saw encouragement in your eyes； encouragement certainly was in
your eyes； and who would not have been deluded by them and
have believed them sincere？ Yet what tenderness can there be
in a heart that can cause me pain so wilfully！
'There may； of course； be some deliberate scheming on the part
of your relations to intercept our letters； but I cannot think
it。 I know that the housekeeper has received a letter from
your aunt this very week； in which she incidentally mentions
that all are well； and in the same place as before。 How then
can I excuse you？
'Then write； Paula； or at least telegraph； as you proposed。
Otherwise I am resolved to take your silence as a signal to
treat your fair words as wind； and to write to you no more。'
III。
He despatched the letter； and half…an…hour afterwards felt
sure that it would mortally offend her。 But he had now
reached a state of temporary indifference； and could
contemplate the loss of such a tantalizing property with
reasonable calm。
In the interim of waiting for a reply he was one day walking
to Markton； when； passing Myrtle Villa； he saw Sir William De
Stancy ambling about his garden…path and examining the
crocuses that palisaded its edge。 Sir William saw him and
asked him to come in。 Somerset was in the mood for any
diversion from his own affairs； and they seated themselves by
the drawing…room fire。
'I am much alone now；' said Sir William； 'and if the weather
were not very mild； so that I can get out into the garden
every day； I should feel it a great deal。'
'You allude to your daughter's absence？'
'And my son's。 Strange to say； I do not miss her so much as I
miss him。 She offers to return at any moment； but I do not
wish to deprive her of the advantages of a little foreign
travel with her friend。 Always； Mr。 Somerset； give your spare
time to foreign countries； especially those which contrast
with your own in topography； language； and art。 That's my
advice to all young people of your age。 Don't waste your
money on expensive amusements at home。 Practise the strictest
economy at home； to have a margin for going abroad。'
Economy； which Sir William had never practised； but to which；
after exhausting all other practices； he now raised an altar；
as the Athenians did to the unknown God； was a topic likely to
prolong itself on the baronet's lips； and Somerset contrived
to interrupt him by asking
'Captain De Stancy； too； has gone？ Has the artillery； then；
left the barracks？'
'No；' said Sir William。 'But my son has made use of his leave
in running over to see his sister at Nice。'
The current of quiet meditation in Somerset changed to a busy
whirl at this reply。 That Paula should become indifferent to
his existence from a sense of superiority； physical；
spiritual； or social； was a sufficiently ironical thing； but
that she should have relinquished him because of the presence
of a rival lent commonplace dreariness to her cruelty。
Sir William； noting nothing； continued in the tone of clever
childishness which characterized him： 'It is very singular
how the present situation has been led up to by me。 Policy；
and policy alone； has been the rule of my conduct for many
years past； and when I say that I have saved my family by it；
I believe time will show that I am within the truth。 I hope
you don't let your passions outrun your policy； as so many
young men are apt to do。 Better be poor and politic； than
rich and headstrong： that's the opinion of an old man。
However； I was going to say that it was purely from policy
that I allowed a friendship to