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friend。 We two represent the De Stancy line； and I wish we
were behind the iron door of our old vault at Sleeping…Green。
It can be seen by looking at us and our circumstances that we
cry for the earth and oblivion！'
'Captain De Stancy； it is not like that； I assure you；'
sympathized Paula with damp eyelashes。 'I love Charlotte too
dearly for you to talk like that； indeed。 I don't want to
marry you exactly： and yet I cannot bring myself to say I
permanently reject you； because I remember you are Charlotte's
brother； and do not wish to be the cause of any morbid
feelings in you which would ruin your future prospects。'
'My dear life； what is it you doubt in me？ Your earnestness
not to do me harm makes it all the harder for me to think of
never being more than a friend。'
'Well； I have not positively refused！' she exclaimed； in mixed
tones of pity and distress。 'Let me think it over a little
while。 It is not generous to urge so strongly before I can
collect my thoughts； and at this midnight time！'
'Darling； forgive it！There； I'll say no more。'
He then offered to sit up in her place for the remainder of
the night； but Paula declined； assuring him that she meant to
stay only another half…hour； after which nobody would be
necessary。
He had already crossed the landing to ascend to his room； when
she stepped after him； and asked if he had received his
telegram。
'No；' said De Stancy。 'Nor have I heard of one。'
Paula explained that it was put in his room； that he might see
it the moment he came in。
'It matters very little；' he replied； 'since I shall see it
now。 Good…night； dearest： good…night！' he added tenderly。
She gravely shook her head。 'It is not for you to express
yourself like that；' she answered。 'Good…night； Captain De
Stancy。'
He went up the stairs to the second floor； and Paula returned
to the sitting…room。 Having left a light burning De Stancy
proceeded to look for the telegram； and found it on the
carpet； where it had been swept from the table。 When he had
opened the sheet a sudden solemnity overspread his face。 He
sat down； rested his elbow on the table； and his forehead on
his hands。
Captain De Stancy did not remain thus long。 Rising he went
softly downstairs。 The grey morning had by this time crept
into the hotel； rendering a light no longer necessary。 The
old clock on the landing was within a few minutes of four； and
the birds were hopping up and down their cages； and whetting
their bills。 He tapped at the sitting…room； and she came
instantly。
'But I told you it was not necessary' she began。
'Yes； but the telegram；' he said hurriedly。 'I wanted to let
you know first thatit is very serious。 Paulamy father is
dead！ He died suddenly yesterday； and I must go at once。 。 。
。 About Charlotteand how to let her know'
'She must not be told yet；' said Paula。 。 。 。 'Sir William
dead！'
'You think we had better not tell her just yet？' said De
Stancy anxiously。 'That's what I want to consult you about；
if youdon't mind my intruding。'
'Certainly I don't；' she said。
They continued the discussion for some time； and it was
decided that Charlotte should not be informed of what had
happened till the doctor had been consulted； Paula promising
to account for her brother's departure。
De Stancy then prepared to leave for England by the first
morning train； and roused the night…porter； which functionary；
having packed off Abner Power； was discovered asleep on the
sofa of the landlord's parlour。 At half…past five Paula； who
in the interim had been pensively sitting with her hand to her
chin； quite forgetting that she had meant to go to bed； heard
wheels without； and looked from the window。 A fly had been
brought round； and one of the hotel servants was in the act of
putting up a portmanteau with De Stancy's initials upon it。 A
minute afterwards the captain came to her door。
'I thought you had not gone to bed； after all。'
'I was anxious to see you off；' said she； 'since neither of
the others is awake； and you wished me not to rouse them。'
'Quite right； you are very good；' and lowering his voice：
'Paula； it is a sad and solemn time with me。 Will you grant
me one wordnot on our last sad subject； but on the previous
onebefore I part with you to go and bury my father？'
'Certainly；' she said； in gentle accents。
'Then have you thought over my position？ Will you at last
have pity upon my loneliness by becoming my wife？'
Paula sighed deeply； and said； 'Yes。'
'Your hand upon it。'
She gave him her hand： he held it a few moments； then raised
it to his lips； and was gone。
When Mrs。 Goodman rose she was informed of Sir William's
death； and of his son's departure。
'Then the captain is now Sir William De Stancy！' she
exclaimed。 'Really； Paula； since you would be Lady De Stancy
by marrying him； I almost think'
'Hush； aunt！'
'Well； what are you writing there？'
'Only entering in my diary that I accepted him this morning
for pity's sake； in spite of Uncle Abner。 They'll say it was
for the title； but knowing it was not I don't care。'
XI。
On the evening of the fourth day after the parting between
Paula and De Stancy at Amiens； when it was quite dark in the
Markton highway； except in so far as the shades were broken by
the faint lights from the adjacent town； a young man knocked
softly at the door of Myrtle Villa； and asked if Captain De
Stancy had arrived from abroad。 He was answered in the
affirmative； and in a few moments the captain himself came
from an adjoining room。
Seeing that his visitor was Dare； from whom； as will be
remembered； he had parted at Carlsruhe in no very satisfied
mood； De Stancy did not ask him into the house； but putting on
his hat went out with the youth into the public road。 Here
they conversed as they walked up and down； Dare beginning by
alluding to the death of Sir William； the suddenness of which
he feared would delay Captain De Stancy's overtures for the
hand of Miss Power。
'No；' said De Stancy moodily。 'On the contrary； it has
precipitated matters。'
'She has accepted you； captain？'
'We are engaged to be married。'
'Well done。 I congratulate you。' The speaker was about to
proceed to further triumphant notes on the intelligence； when
casting his eye upon the upper windows of the neighbouring
villa； he appeared to reflect on what was within them； and
checking himself； 'When is the funeral to be？'
'To…morrow；' De Stancy replied。 'It would be advisable for
you not to come near me during the day。'
'I will not。 I will be a mere spectator。 The old vault of
our ancestors will be opened； I presume； captain？'
'It is opened。'
'I must see itand ruminate on what we once were： it is a
thing I like doing。 The ghosts of our deadAh； what was
that？'
'I heard nothing。'
'I thought I heard a footstep behind us。'
They stood still； but the road appeared to be quite deserted；
and likely to continue so for the remainder of that evening。
They walked on again； speaking in somewhat lower tones than
before。
'Will the late Sir William's death delay the wedding much？'
asked the younger man curiously。