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breathing seemed to mingle with the regular sound of
Charlotte's that reached her through the doorway： she turned
quickly； and saw her uncle standing behind her。
'OI thought you were in Paris！' said Paula。
'I have just come from thereI could not stay。 Something has
occurred to my mind about this affair。' His strangely marked
visage； now more noticeable from being worn with fatigue； had
a spectral effect by the night…light。
'What affair？'
'This marriage。 。 。 。 Paula； De Stancy is a good fellow
enough； but you must not accept him just yet。'
Paula did not answer。
'Do you hear？ You must not accept him；' repeated her uncle；
'till I have been to England and examined into matters。 I
start in an hour's timeby the ten…minutes…past…two train。'
'This is something very new！'
'Yes'tis new；' he murmured； relapsing into his Dutch manner。
'You must not accept him till something is made clear to me
something about a queer relationship。 I have come from Paris
to say so。'
'Uncle； I don't understand this。 I am my own mistress in all
matters； and though I don't mind telling you I have by no
means resolved to accept him； the question of her marriage is
especially a woman's own affair。'
Her uncle stood irresolute for a moment； as if his convictions
were more than his proofs。 'I say no more at present；' he
murmured。 'Can I do anything for you about a new architect？'
'Appoint Havill。'
'Very well。 Good night。' And then he left her。 In a short
time she heard him go down and out of the house to cross to
England by the morning steamboat。
With a little shrug； as if she resented his interference in so
delicate a point； she settled herself down anew to her book。
One； two； three hours passed； when Charlotte awoke； but soon
slumbered sweetly again。 Milly had stayed up for some time
lest her mistress should require anything； but the girl being
sleepy Paula sent her to bed。
It was a lovely night of early summer； and drawing aside the
window curtains she looked out upon the flowers and trees of
the Place； now quite visible； for it was nearly three o'clock；
and the morning light was growing strong。 She turned her face
upwards。 Except in the case of one bedroom all the windows on
that side of the hotel were in darkness。 The room being
rather close she left the casement ajar； and opening the door
walked out upon the staircase landing。 A number of caged
canaries were kept here； and she observed in the dim light of
the landing lamp how snugly their heads were all tucked in。
On returning to the sitting…room again she could hear that
Charlotte was still slumbering； and this encouraging
circumstance disposed her to go to bed herself。 Before；
however； she had made a move a gentle tap came to the door。
Paula opened it。 There； in the faint light by the sleeping
canaries； stood Charlotte's brother。
'How is she now？' he whispered。
'Sleeping soundly；' said Paula。
'That's a blessing。 I have not been to bed。 I came in late；
and have now come down to know if I had not better take your
place？'
'Nobody is required； I think。 But you can judge for
yourself。'
Up to this point they had conversed in the doorway of the
sitting…room； which De Stancy now entered； crossing it to
Charlotte's apartment。 He came out from the latter at a
pensive pace。
'She is doing well；' he said gently。 'You have been very good
to her。 Was the chair I saw by her bed the one you have been
sitting in all night？'
'I sometimes sat there； sometimes here。'
'I wish I could have sat beside you； and held your handI
speak frankly。'
'To excess。'
'And why not？ I do not wish to hide from you any corner of my
breast； futile as candour may be。 Just Heaven！ for what
reason is it ordered that courtship； in which soldiers are
usually so successful； should be a failure with me？'
'Your lack of foresight chiefly in indulging feelings that
were not encouraged。 That； and my uncle's indiscreet
permission to you to travel with us； have precipitated our
relations in a way that I could neither foresee nor avoid；
though of late I have had apprehensions that it might come to
this。 You vex and disturb me by such words of regret。'
'Not more than you vex and disturb me。 But you cannot hate
the man who loves you so devotedly？'
'I have said before I don't hate you。 I repeat that I am
interested in your family and its associations because of its
complete contrast with my own。' She might have added； 'And I
am additionally interested just now because my uncle has
forbidden me to be。'
'But you don't care enough for me personally to save my
happiness。'
Paula hesitated； from the moment De Stancy confronted her she
had felt that this nocturnal conversation was to be a grave
business。 The cathedral clock struck three。 'I have thought
once or twice；' she said with a naivete unusual in her； 'that
if I could be sure of giving peace and joy to your mind by
becoming your wife； I ought to endeavour to do so and make the
best of itmerely as a charity。 But I believe that feeling
is a mistake： your discontent is constitutional； and would go
on just the same whether I accepted you or no。 My refusal of
you is purely an imaginary grievance。'
'Not if I think otherwise。'
'O no；' she murmured； with a sense that the place was very
lonely and silent。 'If you think it otherwise； I suppose it
is otherwise。'
'My darling； my Paula！' he said； seizing her hand。 'Do
promise me something。 You must indeed！'
'Captain De Stancy！' she said； trembling and turning away。
'Captain De Stancy！' She tried to withdraw her fingers； then
faced him； exclaiming in a firm voice a third time； 'Captain
De Stancy！ let go my hand； for I tell you I will not marry
you！'
'Good God！' he cried； dropping her hand。 'What have I driven
you to say in your anger！ Retract itO； retract it！'
'Don't urge me further； as you value my good opinion！'
'To lose you now； is to lose you for ever。 Come； please
answer！'
'I won't be compelled！' she interrupted with vehemence。 'I am
resolved not to be yoursnot to give you an answer to…night！
Never； never will I be reasoned out of my intention； and I say
I won't answer you to…night！ I should never have let you be
so much with me but for pity of you； and now it is come to
this！'
She had sunk into a chair； and now leaned upon her hand； and
buried her face in her handkerchief。 He had never caused her
any such agitation as this before。
'You stab me with your words；' continued De Stancy。 'The
experience I have had with you is without parallel； Paula。 It
seems like a distracting dream。'
'I won't be hurried by anybody！'
'That may mean anything；' he said； with a perplexed；
passionate air。 'Well； mine is a fallen family； and we must
abide caprices。 Would to Heaven it were extinguished！'
'What was extinguished？' she murmured。
'The De Stancys。 Here am I； a homeless wanderer； living on my
pay； in the next room lies she； my sister； a poor little
fragile feverish invalid with no social positionand hardly a
friend。 We two represent the De Stancy line； and I wish we
were behind the iron door of our old vault at Sleep