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meet him at the top； she supposed。
Paula looked up amid the green light which filtered through
the leafage as far as her eyes could stretch。 But the top did
not appear； and she allowed De Stancy to get in front。 'It
did not seem such a long way as this； to look at；' she
presently said。
He explained that the trees had deceived her as to the real
height； by reason of her seeing the slope foreshortened when
she looked up from the castle。 'Allow me to help you；' he
added。
'No； thank you；' said Paula lightly； 'we must be near the
top。'
They went on again； but no Konigsstuhl。 When next De Stancy
turned he found that she was sitting down； immediately going
back he offered his arm。 She took it in silence； declaring
that it was no wonder her uncle did not come that wearisome
way； if he had ever been there before。
De Stancy did not explain that Mr。 Power had said to him at
parting； 'There's a chance for you； if you want one；' but at
once went on with the subject begun on the terrace。 'If my
behaviour is good； you will reaffirm the statement made at
Carlsruhe？'
'It is not fair to begin that now！' expostulated Paula； 'I can
only think of getting to the top。'
Her colour deepening by the exertion； he suggested that she
should sit down again on one of the mossy boulders by the
wayside。 Nothing loth she did； De Stancy standing by； and
with his cane scratching the moss from the stone。
'This is rather awkward；' said Paula； in her usual circumspect
way。 'My relatives and your sister will be sure to suspect me
of having arranged this scramble with you。'
'But I know better；' sighed De Stancy。 'I wish to Heaven you
had arranged it！'
She was not at the top； but she took advantage of the halt to
answer his previous question。 'There are many points on which
I must be satisfied before I can reaffirm anything。 Do you
not see that you are mistaken in clinging to this idea？that
you are laying up mortification and disappointment for
yourself？'
'A negative reply from you would be disappointment； early or
late。'
'And you prefer having it late to accepting it now？ If I were
a man； I should like to abandon a false scent as soon as
possible。'
'I suppose all that has but one meaning： that I am to go。'
'O no；' she magnanimously assured him； bounding up from her
seat； 'I adhere to my statement that you may stay； though it
is true something may possibly happen to make me alter my
mind。'
He again offered his arm； and from sheer necessity she leant
upon it as before。
'Grant me but a moment's patience；' he began。
'Captain De Stancy！ Is this fair？ I am physically obliged to
hold your arm； so that I MUST listen to what you say！'
'No； it is not fair； 'pon my soul it is not！' said De Stancy。
'I won't say another word。'
He did not； and they clambered on through the boughs； nothing
disturbing the solitude but the rustle of their own footsteps
and the singing of birds overhead。 They occasionally got a
peep at the sky； and whenever a twig hung out in a position to
strike Paula's face the gallant captain bent it aside with his
stick。 But she did not thank him。 Perhaps he was just as
well satisfied as if she had done so。
Paula； panting； broke the silence： 'Will you go on； and
discover if the top is near？'
He went on。 This time the top was near。 When he returned she
was sitting where he had left her among the leaves。 'It is
quite near now；' he told her tenderly； and she took his arm
again without a word。 Soon the path changed its nature from a
steep and rugged watercourse to a level green promenade。
'Thank you； Captain De Stancy；' she said； letting go his arm
as if relieved。
Before them rose the tower； and at the base they beheld two of
their friends； Mr。 Power being seen above； looking over the
parapet through his glass。
'You will go to the top now？' said De Stancy。
'No； I take no interest in it。 My interest has turned to
fatigue。 I only want to go home。'
He took her on to where the carriage stood at the foot of the
tower； and leaving her with his sister ascended the turret to
the top。 The landscape had quite changed from its afternoon
appearance； and had become rather marvellous than beautiful。
The air was charged with a lurid exhalation that blurred the
extensive view。 He could see the distant Rhine at its
junction with the Neckar； shining like a thread of blood
through the mist which was gradually wrapping up the declining
sun。 The scene had in it something that was more than
melancholy； and not much less than tragic； but for De Stancy
such evening effects possessed little meaning。 He was engaged
in an enterprise that taxed all his resources； and had no
sentiments to spare for air； earth； or skies。
'Remarkable scene；' said Power； mildly； at his elbow。
'Yes； I dare say it is；' said De Stancy。 'Time has been when
I should have held forth upon such a prospect； and wondered if
its livid colours shadowed out my own life； et caetera； et
caetera。 But； begad； I have almost forgotten there's such a
thing as Nature； and I care for nothing but a comfortable
life； and a certain woman who does not care for me！ 。 。 。 Now
shall we go down？'
VIII。
It was quite true that De Stancy at the present period of his
existence wished only to escape from the hurly…burly of active
life； and to win the affection of Paula Power。 There were；
however； occasions when a recollection of his old renunciatory
vows would obtrude itself upon him； and tinge his present with
wayward bitterness。 So much was this the case that a day or
two after they had arrived at Mainz he could not refrain from
making remarks almost prejudicial to his cause； saying to her；
'I am unfortunate in my situation。 There are； unhappily；
worldly reasons why I should pretend to love you； even if I do
not： they are so strong that； though really loving you；
perhaps they enter into my thoughts of you。'
'I don't want to know what such reasons are；' said Paula； with
promptness； for it required but little astuteness to discover
that he alluded to the alienated Wessex home and estates。
'You lack tone；' she gently added： 'that's why the situation
of affairs seems distasteful to you。'
'Yes； I suppose I am ill。 And yet I am well enough。'
These remarks passed under a tree in the public gardens during
an odd minute of waiting for Charlotte and Mrs。 Goodman； and
he said no more to her in private that day。 Few as her words
had been he liked them better than any he had lately received。
The conversation was not resumed till they were gliding
'between the banks that bear the vine；' on board one of the
Rhine steamboats； which； like the hotels in this early summer
time； were comparatively free from other English travellers；
so that everywhere Paula and her party were received with open
arms and cheerful countenances； as among the first swallows of
the season。
The saloon of the steamboat was quite empty； the few
passengers being outside； and this paucity of voyagers
afforded De Stancy a roomy opportunity。
Paula saw him approach her； and there appearing in his face
signs that he would begin again on the eternal subject； she