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years before I was born； and not long after his father's
death。 It was purchased by a man named Wilkins； a rich man
who became blind soon after he had bought it； and never lived
here； so it was left uncared for。'
She went out upon the terrace； and without exactly knowing
why； Somerset followed。
'Your friend'
'Has only come here quite recently。 She is away from home to…
day。 。 。 。 It was very sad；' murmured the young girl
thoughtfully。 'No sooner had Mr。 Power bought it of the
representatives of Mr。 Wilkinsalmost immediately indeed
than he died from a chill caught after a warm bath。 On
account of that she did not take possession for several
months； and even now she has only had a few rooms prepared as
a temporary residence till she can think what to do。 Poor
thing； it is sad to be left alone！'
Somerset heedfully remarked that he thought he recognized that
name Power； as one he had seen lately； somewhere or other。
'Perhaps you have been hearing of her father。 Do you know
what he was？'
Somerset did not。
She looked across the distant country； where undulations of
dark…green foliage formed a prospect extending for miles。 And
as she watched； and Somerset's eyes； led by hers； watched
also； a white streak of steam； thin as a cotton thread； could
be discerned ploughing that green expanse。 'Her father made
THAT；' Miss De Stancy said； directing her finger towards the
object。
'That what？'
'That railway。 He was Mr。 John Power； the great railway
contractor。 And it was through making the railway that he
discovered this castlethe railway was diverted a little on
its account。'
'A clash between ancient and modern。'
'Yes； but he took an interest in the locality long before he
purchased the estate。 And he built the people a chapel on a
bit of freehold he bought for them。 He was a great
Nonconformist； a staunch Baptist up to the day of his deatha
much stauncher one；' she said significantly； 'than his
daughter is。'
'Ah； I begin to spot her！'
'You have heard about the baptism？'
'I know something of it。'
'Her conduct has given mortal offence to the scattered people
of the denomination that her father was at such pains to unite
into a body。'
Somerset could guess the remainder； and in thinking over the
circumstances did not state what he had seen。 She added； as
if disappointed at his want of curiosity
'She would not submit to the rite when it came to the point。
The water looked so cold and dark and fearful； she said； that
she could not do it to save her life。'
'Surely she should have known her mind before she had gone so
far？' Somerset's words had a condemnatory form； but perhaps
his actual feeling was that if Miss Power had known her own
mind； she would have not interested him half so much。
'Paula's own mind had nothing to do with it！' said Miss De
Stancy； warming up to staunch partizanship in a moment。 'It
was all undertaken by her from a mistaken sense of duty。 It
was her father's dying wish that she should make public
profession of herwhat do you call itof the denomination
she belonged to； as soon as she felt herself fit to do it： so
when he was dead she tried and tried； and didn't get any more
fit； and at last she screwed herself up to the pitch； and
thought she must undergo the ceremony out of pure reverence
for his memory。 It was very short…sighted of her father to
put her in such a position： because she is now very sad； as
she feels she can never try again after such a sermon as was
delivered against her。'
Somerset presumed that Miss Power need not have heard this
Knox or Bossuet of hers if she had chosen to go away？
'She did not hear it in the face of the congregation； but from
the vestry。 She told me some of it when she reached home。
Would you believe it； the man who preached so bitterly is a
tenant of hers？ I said； 〃Surely you will turn him out of his
house？〃But she answered； in her calm； deep； nice way； that
she supposed he had a perfect right to preach against her；
that she could not in justice molest him at all。 I wouldn't
let him stay if the house were mine。 But she has often before
allowed him to scold her from the pulpit in a smaller way
once it was about an expensive dress she had wornnot
mentioning her by name； you know； but all the people are quite
aware that it is meant for her； because only one person of her
wealth or position belongs to the Baptist body in this
county。'
Somerset was looking at the homely affectionate face of the
little speaker。 'You are her good friend； I am sure；' he
remarked。
She looked into the distant air with tacit admission of the
impeachment。 'So would you be if you knew her；' she said； and
a blush slowly rose to her cheek； as if the person spoken of
had been a lover rather than a friend。
'But you are not a Baptist any more than I？' continued
Somerset。
'O no。 And I never knew one till I knew Paula。 I think they
are very nice； though I sometimes wish Paula was not one； but
the religion of reasonable persons。'
They walked on； and came opposite to where the telegraph
emerged from the trees； leapt over the parapet； and up through
the loophole into the interior。
'That looks strange in such a building；' said her companion。
'Miss Power had it put up to know the latest news from town。
It costs six pounds a mile。 She can work it herself；
beautifully： and so can I； but not so well。 It was a great
delight to learn。 Miss Power was so interested at first that
she was sending messages from morning till night。 And did you
hear the new clock？'
'Is it a new one？Yes； I heard it。'
'The old one was quite worn out； so Paula has put it in the
cellar； and had this new one made； though it still strikes on
the old bell。 It tells the seconds； but the old one； which my
very great grandfather erected in the eighteenth century； only
told the hours。 Paula says that time； being so much more
valuable now； must of course be cut up into smaller pieces。'
'She does not appear to be much impressed by the spirit of
this ancient pile。'
Miss De Stancy shook her head too slightly to express absolute
negation。
'Do you wish to come through this door？' she asked。 'There is
a singular chimney…piece in the kitchen； which is considered a
unique example of its kind； though I myself don't know enough
about it to have an opinion on the subject。'
When they had looked at the corbelled chimney…piece they
returned to the hall； where his eye was caught anew by a large
map that he had conned for some time when alone； without being
able to divine the locality represented。 It was called
'General Plan of the Town；' and showed streets and open spaces
corresponding with nothing he had seen in the county。
'Is that town here？' he asked。
'It is not anywhere but in Paula's brain； she has laid it out
from her own design。 The site is supposed to be near our
railway station； just across there； where the land belongs to
her。 She is going to grant cheap building leases； and develop
the manufacture of pottery。'
'Potteryhow very practical she must be！'
'O no！ no！' replied Miss De Stancy； in tones showing how
supremely ignorant he must