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lest it should seem that she had seen him from the hotel
windows； and entered the square for his company）。
'Of course： there is nothing else to go to hereeven for
Roundheads。'
'If you mean ME by that； you are very much mistaken；' said she
testily。
'The Roundheads were your ancestors； and they knocked down my
ancestors' castle； and broke the stained glass and statuary of
the cathedral；' said De Stancy slily； 'and now you go not only
to a cathedral； but to a service of the unreformed Church in
it。'
'In a foreign country it is different from home；' said Paula
in extenuation； 'and you of all men should not reproach me for
tergiversationwhen it has been brought about byby my
sympathies with'
'With the troubles of the De Stancys。'
'Well； you know what I mean；' she answered； with considerable
anxiety not to be misunderstood； 'my liking for the old
castle； and what it contains； and what it suggests。 I declare
I will not explain to you furtherwhy should I？ I am not
answerable to you！'
Paula's show of petulance was perhaps not wholly because she
had appeared to seek him； but also from being reminded by his
criticism that Mr。 Woodwell's prophecy on her weakly
succumbing to surroundings was slowly working out its
fulfilment。
She moved forward towards the gate at the further end of the
square； beyond which the cathedral lay at a very short
distance。 Paula did not turn her head； and De Stancy strolled
slowly after her down the Rue du College。 The day happened to
be one of the church festivals； and people were a second time
flocking into the lofty monument of Catholicism at its
meridian。 Paula vanished into the porch with the rest； and；
almost catching the wicket as it flew back from her hand； he
too entered the high…shouldered edificean edifice doomed to
labour under the melancholy misfortune of seeming only half as
vast as it really is； and as truly as whimsically described by
Heine as a monument built with the strength of Titans； and
decorated with the patience of dwarfs。
De Stancy walked up the nave； so close beside her as to touch
her dress； but she would not recognize his presence； the
darkness that evening had thrown over the interior； which was
scarcely broken by the few candles dotted about； being a
sufficient excuse if she required one。
'Miss Power；' De Stancy said at last； 'I am coming to the
service with you。'
She received the intelligence without surprise； and he knew
she had been conscious of him all the way。
Paula went no further than the middle of the nave； where there
was hardly a soul； and took a chair beside a solitary
rushlight which looked amid the vague gloom of the
inaccessible architecture like a lighthouse at the foot of
tall cliffs。
He put his hand on the next chair； saying； 'Do you object？'
'Not at all；' she replied； and he sat down。
'Suppose we go into the choir；' said De Stancy presently。
'Nobody sits out here in the shadows。'
'This is sufficiently near； and we have a candle；' Paula
murmured。
Before another minute had passed the candle flame began to
drown in its own grease； slowly dwindled； and went out。
'I suppose that means I am to go into the choir in spite of
myself。 Heaven is on your side；' said Paula。 And rising they
left their now totally dark corner； and joined the noiseless
shadowy figures who in twos and threes kept passing up the
nave。
Within the choir there was a blaze of light； partly from the
altar； and more particularly from the image of the saint whom
they had assembled to honour； which stood； surrounded by
candles and a thicket of flowering plants； some way in advance
of the foot…pace。 A secondary radiance from the same source
was reflected upward into their faces by the polished marble
pavement； except when interrupted by the shady forms of the
officiating priests。
When it was over and the people were moving off； De Stancy and
his companion went towards the saint； now besieged by numbers
of women anxious to claim the respective flower…pots they had
lent for the decoration。 As each struggled for her own；
seized and marched off with it； Paula remarked'This rather
spoils the solemn effect of what has gone before。'
'I perceive you are a harsh Puritan。'
'No； Captain De Stancy！ Why will you speak so？ I am far too
much otherwise。 I have grown to be so much of your way of
thinking； that I accuse myself； and am accused by others； of
being worldly； and half…and…half； and other dreadful things
though it isn't that at all。'
They were now walking down the nave； preceded by the sombre
figures with the pot flowers； who were just visible in the
rays that reached them through the distant choir screen at
their back； while above the grey night sky and stars looked in
upon them through the high clerestory windows。
'Do be a little MORE of my way of thinking！' rejoined De
Stancy passionately。
'Don't； don't speak；' she said rapidly。 'There are Milly and
Champreau！'
Milly was one of the maids； and Champreau the courier and
valet who had been engaged by Abner Power。 They had been
sitting behind the other pair throughout the service； and
indeed knew rather more of the relations between Paula and De
Stancy than Paula knew herself。
Hastening on the two latter went out； and walked together
silently up the short street。 The Place St。 Denis was now lit
up； lights shone from the hotel windows； and the world without
the cathedral had so far advanced in nocturnal change that it
seemed as if they had been gone from it for hours。 Within the
hotel they found the change even greater than without。 Mrs。
Goodman met them half…way on the stairs。
'Poor Charlotte is worse；' she said。 'Quite feverish； and
almost delirious。'
Paula reproached herself with 'Why did I go away！'
The common interest of De Stancy and Paula in the sufferer at
once reproduced an ease between them as nothing else could
have done。 The physician was again called in； who prescribed
certain draughts； and recommended that some one should sit up
with her that night。 If Paula allowed demonstrations of love
to escape her towards anybody it was towards Charlotte； and
her instinct was at once to watch by the invalid's couch
herself； at least for some hours； it being deemed unnecessary
to call in a regular nurse unless she should sicken further。
'But I will sit with her；' said De Stancy。 'Surely you had
better go to bed？' Paula would not be persuaded； and
thereupon De Stancy； saying he was going into the town for a
short time before retiring； left the room。
The last omnibus returned from the last train； and the inmates
of the hotel retired to rest。 Meanwhile a telegram had
arrived for Captain De Stancy； but as he had not yet returned
it was put in his bedroom； with directions to the night…porter
to remind him of its arrival。
Paula sat on with the sleeping Charlotte。 Presently she
retired into the adjacent sitting…room with a book； and flung
herself on a couch； leaving the door open between her and her
charge； in case the latter should awake。 While she sat a new
breathing seemed to mingle with the regular sound of
Charlotte's that reached her through the doorw