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days。 All remarked that after Somerset's departure Paula was
frequently irritable； though at other times as serene as ever。
Yet even when in a blithe and saucy mood there was at bottom a
tinge of melancholy。 Something did not lie easy in her
undemonstrative heart； and all her friends excused the
inequalities of a humour whose source； though not positively
known； could be fairly well guessed。
De Stancy had long since discovered that his chance lay
chiefly in her recently acquired and fanciful predilection
d'artiste for hoary mediaeval families with ancestors in
alabaster and primogenitive renown。 Seeing this he dwelt on
those topics which brought out that aspect of himself more
clearly； talking feudalism and chivalry with a zest that he
had never hitherto shown。 Yet it was not altogether
factitious。 For； discovering how much this quondam Puritan
was interested in the attributes of long…chronicled houses； a
reflected interest in himself arose in his own soul； and he
began to wonder why he had not prized these things before。
Till now disgusted by the failure of his family to hold its
own in the turmoil between ancient and modern； he had grown to
undervalue its past prestige； and it was with corrective
ardour that he adopted while he ministered to her views。
Henceforward the wooing of De Stancy took the form of an
intermittent address； the incidents of their travel furnishing
pegs whereon to hang his subject； sometimes hindering it； but
seldom failing to produce in her a greater tolerance of his
presence。 His next opportunity was the day after Somerset's
departure from Heidelberg。 They stood on the great terrace of
the Schloss…Garten； looking across the intervening ravine to
the north…east front of the castle which rose before them in
all its customary warm tints and battered magnificence。
'This is a spot； if any； which should bring matters to a
crisis between you and me；' he asserted good…humouredly。 'But
you have been so silent to…day that I lose the spirit to take
advantage of my privilege。'
She inquired what privilege he spoke of； as if quite another
subject had been in her mind than De Stancy。
'The privilege of winning your heart if I can； which you gave
me at Carlsruhe。'
'O；' she said。 'Well； I've been thinking of that。 But I do
not feel myself absolutely bound by the statement I made in
that room； and I shall expect； if I withdraw it； not to be
called to account by you。'
De Stancy looked rather blank。
'If you recede from your promise you will doubtless have good
reason。 But I must solemnly beg you； after raising my hopes；
to keep as near as you can to your word； so as not to throw me
into utter despair。'
Paula dropped her glance into the Thier…Garten below them；
where gay promenaders were clambering up between the bushes
and flowers。 At length she said； with evident embarrassment；
but with much distinctness： 'I deserve much more blame for
what I have done than you can express to me。 I will confess
to you the whole truth。 All that I told you in the hotel at
Carlsruhe was said in a moment of pique at what had happened
just before you came in。 It was supposed I was much involved
with another man； and circumstances made the supposition
particularly objectionable。 To escape it I jumped at the
alternative of yourself。'
'That's bad for me！' he murmured。
'If after this avowal you bind me to my words I shall say no
more： I do not wish to recede from them without your full
permission。'
'What a caprice！ But I release you unconditionally；' he said。
'And I beg your pardon if I seemed to show too much assurance。
Please put it down to my gratified excitement。 I entirely
acquiesce in your wish。 I will go away to whatever place you
please； and not come near you but by your own permission； and
till you are quite satisfied that my presence and what it may
lead to is not undesirable。 I entirely give way before you；
and will endeavour to make my future devotedness； if ever we
meet again； a new ground for expecting your favour。'
Paula seemed struck by the generous and cheerful fairness of
his remarks； and said gently； 'Perhaps your departure is not
absolutely necessary for my happiness； and I do not wish from
what you call caprice'
'I retract that word。'
'Well； whatever it is； I don't wish you to do anything which
should cause you real pain； or trouble； or humiliation。'
'That's very good of you。'
'But I reserve to myself the right to accept or refuse your
addressesjust as if those rash words of mine had never been
spoken。'
'I must bear it all as best I can； I suppose；' said De Stancy；
with melancholy humorousness。
'And I shall treat you as your behaviour shall seem to
deserve；' she said playfully。
'Then I may stay？'
'Yes； I am willing to give you that pleasure； if it is one； in
return for the attentions you have shown； and the trouble you
have taken to make my journey pleasant。'
She walked on and discovered Mrs。 Goodman near； and presently
the whole party met together。 De Stancy did not find himself
again at her side till later in the afternoon； when they had
left the immediate precincts of the castle and decided on a
drive to the Konigsstuhl。
The carriage； containing only Mrs。 Goodman； was driven a short
way up the winding incline； Paula； her uncle； and Miss De
Stancy walking behind under the shadow of the trees。 Then
Mrs。 Goodman called to them and asked when they were going to
join her。
'We are going to walk up；' said Mr。 Power。
Paula seemed seized with a spirit of boisterousness quite
unlike her usual behaviour。 'My aunt may drive up； and you
may walk up； but I shall run up；' she said。 'See； here's a
way。' She tripped towards a path through the bushes which；
instead of winding like the regular track； made straight for
the summit。
Paula had not the remotest conception of the actual distance
to the top； imagining it to be but a couple of hundred yards
at the outside； whereas it was really nearer a mile； the
ascent being uniformly steep all the way。 When her uncle and
De Stancy had seen her vanish they stood still； the former
evidently reluctant to forsake the easy ascent for a difficult
one； though he said； 'We can't let her go alone that way； I
suppose。'
'No； of course not；' said De Stancy。
They then followed in the direction taken by Paula； Charlotte
entering the carriage。 When Power and De Stancy had ascended
about fifty yards the former looked back； and dropped off from
the pursuit； to return to the easy route； giving his companion
a parting hint concerning Paula。 Whereupon De Stancy went on
alone。 He soon saw Paula above him in the path； which
ascended skyward straight as Jacob's Ladder； but was so
overhung by the brushwood as to be quite shut out from the
sun。 When he reached her side she was moving easily upward；
apparently enjoying the seclusion which the place afforded。
'Is not my uncle with you？' she said； on turning and seeing
him。
'He went back；' said De Stancy。
She replied that it was of no consequence； that she should
meet him at the top； she supposed。
Paula looked up amid the green light which filtered throug