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'Men allow themselves to be made ridiculous by their own
feelings in an inconceivable way。'
'True； I am a fool； but forgive me；' he rejoined； observing
her gaze； which wandered critically from roof to clerestory；
and then to the pillars； without once lighting on him。 'Don't
mind saying Yes。You look at this thing and that thing； but
you never look at me； though I stand here and see nothing but
you。'
'There； the clock is strikingand the cock crows。 Please go
across to the transept and tell them to come out this way。'
De Stancy went。 When he had gone a few steps he turned his
head。 She had at last ceased to study the architecture； and
was looking at him。 Perhaps his words had struck her； for it
seemed at that moment as if he read in her bright eyes a
genuine interest in him and his fortunes。
II。
Next day they went on to Baden。 De Stancy was beginning to
cultivate the passion of love even more as an escape from the
gloomy relations of his life than as matrimonial strategy。
Paula's juxtaposition had the attribute of making him forget
everything in his own history。 She was a magic alterative；
and the most foolish boyish shape into which he could throw
his feelings for her was in this respect to be aimed at as the
act of highest wisdom。
He supplemented the natural warmth of feeling that she had
wrought in him by every artificial means in his power； to make
the distraction the more complete。 He had not known anything
like this self…obscuration for a dozen years； and when he
conjectured that she might really learn to love him he felt
exalted in his own eyes and purified from the dross of his
former life。 Such uneasiness of conscience as arose when he
suddenly remembered Dare； and the possibility that Somerset
was getting ousted unfairly； had its weight in depressing him；
but he was inclined to accept his fortune without much
question。
The journey to Baden； though short； was not without incidents
on which he could work out this curious hobby of cultivating
to superlative power an already positive passion。 Handing her
in and out of the carriage； accidentally getting brushed by
her clothes； of all such as this he made available fuel。
Paula； though she might have guessed the general nature of
what was going on； seemed unconscious of the refinements he
was trying to throw into it； and sometimes； when in stepping
into or from a railway carriage she unavoidably put her hand
upon his arm； the obvious insignificance she attached to the
action struck him with misgiving。
One of the first things they did at Baden was to stroll into
the Trink…halle； where Paula sipped the water。 She was about
to put down the glass； when De Stancy quickly took it from her
hands as though to make use of it himself。
'O； if that is what you mean；' she said mischievously； 'you
should have noticed the exact spot。 It was there。' She put
her finger on a particular portion of its edge。
'You ought not to act like that； unless you mean something；
Miss Power；' he replied gravely。
'Tell me more plainly。'
'I mean； you should not do things which excite in me the hope
that you care something for me； unless you really do。'
'I put my finger on the edge and said it was there。'
'Meaning； 〃It was there my lips touched； let yours do the
same。〃'
'The latter part I wholly deny；' she answered； with disregard；
after which she went away； and kept between Charlotte and her
aunt for the rest of the afternoon。
Since the receipt of the telegram Paula had been frequently
silent； she frequently stayed in alone； and sometimes she
became quite gloomyan altogether unprecedented phase for
her。 This was the case on the morning after the incident in
the Trink…halle。 Not to intrude on her； Charlotte walked
about the landings of the sunny white hotel in which they had
taken up their quarters； went down into the court； and petted
the tortoises that were creeping about there among the flowers
and plants； till at last； on going to her friend； she caught
her reading some old letters of Somerset's。
Paula made no secret of them； and Miss De Stancy could see
that more than half were written on blue paper； with diagrams
amid the writing： they were； in fact； simply those sheets of
his letters which related to the rebuilding。 Nevertheless；
Charlotte fancied she had caught Paula in a sentimental mood；
and doubtless could Somerset have walked in at this moment
instead of Charlotte it might have fared well with him； so
insidiously do tender memories reassert themselves in the face
of outward mishaps。
They took a drive down the Lichtenthal road and then into the
forest； De Stancy and Abner Power riding on horseback
alongside。 The sun streamed yellow behind their backs as they
wound up the long inclines； lighting the red trunks； and even
the blue…black foliage itself。 The summer had already made
impression upon that mass of uniform colour by tipping every
twig with a tiny sprout of virescent yellow； while the minute
sounds which issued from the forest revealed that the
apparently still place was becoming a perfect reservoir of
insect life。
Abner Power was quite sentimental that day。 'In such places
as these；' he said； as he rode alongside Mrs。 Goodman；
'nature's powers in the multiplication of one type strike me
as much as the grandeur of the mass。'
Mrs。 Goodman agreed with him； and Paula said； 'The foliage
forms the roof of an interminable green crypt； the pillars
being the trunks； and the vault the interlacing boughs。'
'It is a fine place in a thunderstorm；' said De Stancy。 'I am
not an enthusiast； but to see the lightning spring hither and
thither； like lazy…tongs； bristling； and striking； and
vanishing； is rather impressive。'
'It must be indeed；' said Paula。
'And in the winter winds these pines sigh like ten thousand
spirits in trouble。'
'Indeed they must；' said Paula。
'At the same time I know a little fir…plantation about a mile
square not far from Markton；' said De Stancy； 'which is
precisely like this in miniature；stems； colours； slopes；
winds； and all。 If we were to go there any time with a highly
magnifying pair of spectacles it would look as fine as this
and save a deal of travelling。'
'I know the place； and I agree with you；' said Paula。
'You agree with me on all subjects but one；' he presently
observed； in a voice not intended to reach the others。
Paula looked at him； but was silent。
Onward and upward they went； the same pattern and colour of
tree repeating themselves endlessly； till in a couple of hours
they reached the castle hill which was to be the end of their
journey； and beheld stretched beneath them the valley of the
Murg。 They alighted and entered the fortress。
'What did you mean by that look of kindness you bestowed upon
me just now； when I said you agreed with me on all subjects
but one？' asked De Stancy half humorously； as he held open a
little door for her； the others having gone ahead。
'I meant； I suppose； that I was much obliged to you for not
requiring agreement on that one subject；' she said； passing
on。
'Not more than that？' said De Stancy； as he followed her。
'But whenever