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which ought to be explained。
He felt an insurmountable objection to cross the water that
night； or till he had been able to see Charlotte again； and
learn more of her meaning。 He countermanded the order to put
his luggage on board； watched the steamer out of the harbour；
and went to bed。 He might as well have gone to battle； for
any rest that he got。 On rising the next morning he felt
rather blank； though none the less convinced that a matter
required investigation。 He left Budmouth by a morning train；
and about eleven o'clock found himself in Markton。
The momentum of a practical inquiry took him through that
ancient borough without leaving him much leisure for those
reveries which had yesterday lent an unutterable sadness to
every object there。 It was just before noon that he started
for the castle； intending to arrive at a time of the morning
when； as he knew from experience； he could speak to Charlotte
without difficulty。 The rising ground soon revealed the old
towers to him； and； jutting out behind them； the scaffoldings
for the new wing。
While halting here on the knoll in some doubt about his
movements he beheld a man coming along the road； and was soon
confronted by his former competitor； Havill。 The first
instinct of each was to pass with a nod； but a second instinct
for intercourse was sufficient to bring them to a halt。 After
a few superficial words had been spoken Somerset said； 'You
have succeeded me。'
'I have；' said Havill； 'but little to my advantage。 I have
just heard that my commission is to extend no further than
roofing in the wing that you began； and had I known that
before； I would have seen the castle fall flat as Jericho
before I would have accepted the superintendence。 But I know
who I have to thank for thatDe Stancy。'
Somerset still looked towards the distant battlements。 On the
scaffolding； among the white…jacketed workmen； he could
discern one figure in a dark suit。
'You have a clerk of the works； I see；' he observed。
'Nominally I have； but practically I haven't。'
'Then why do you keep him？'
'I can't help myself。 He is Mr。 Dare； and having been
recommended by a higher power than I； there he must stay in
spite of me。'
'Who recommended him？'
'The sameDe Stancy。'
'It is very odd；' murmured Somerset； 'but that young man is
the object of my visit。'
'You had better leave him alone；' said Havill drily。
Somerset asked why。
'Since I call no man master over that way I will inform you。'
Havill then related in splenetic tones； to which Somerset did
not care to listen till the story began to advance itself； how
he had passed the night with Dare at the inn； and the
incidents of that night； relating how he had seen some letters
on the young man's breast which long had puzzled him。 'They
were an E； a T； an N； and a C。 I thought over them long； till
it eventually occurred to me that the word when filled out was
〃De Stancy；〃 and that kinship explains the offensive and
defensive alliance between them。'
'But； good heavens； man！' said Somerset； more and more
disturbed。 'Does she know of it？'
'You may depend she does not yet； but she will soon enough。
Harkthere it is！' The notes of the castle clock were heard
striking noon。 'Then it is all over。'
'What？not their marriage！'
'Yes。 Didn't you know it was the wedding day？ They were to
be at the church at half…past eleven。 I should have waited to
see her go； but it was no sight to hinder business for； as she
was only going to drive over in her brougham with Miss De
Stancy。'
'My errand has failed！' said Somerset； turning on his heel。
'I'll walk back to the town with you。'
However he did not walk far with Havill； society was too much
at that moment。 As soon as opportunity offered he branched
from the road by a path； and avoiding the town went by railway
to Budmouth； whence he resumed； by the night steamer； his
journey to Normandy
XIII。
To return to Charlotte De Stancy。 When the train had borne
Somerset from her side； and she had regained her self…
possession； she became conscious of the true proportions of
the fact he had asserted。 And； further； if the telegram had
not been his； why should the photographic distortion be
trusted as a phase of his existence？ But after a while it
seemed so improbable to her that God's sun should bear false
witness； that instead of doubting both evidences she was
inclined to readmit the first。 Still； upon the whole； she
could not question for long the honesty of Somerset's denial
and if that message had indeed been sent by him； it must have
been done while he was in another such an unhappy state as
that exemplified by the portrait。 The supposition reconciled
all differences； and yet she could not but fight against it
with all the strength of a generous affection。
All the afternoon her poor little head was busy on this
perturbing question； till she inquired of herself whether
after all it might not be possible for photographs to
represent people as they had never been。 Before rejecting the
hypothesis she determined to have the word of a professor on
the point； which would be better than all her surmises。
Returning to Markton early； she told the coachman whom Paula
had sent； to drive her to the shop of Mr。 Ray； an obscure
photographic artist in that town； instead of straight home。
Ray's establishment consisted of two divisions； the
respectable and the shabby。 If； on entering the door； the
visitor turned to the left； he found himself in a magazine of
old clothes； old furniture； china； umbrellas； guns； fishing…
rods； dirty fiddles； and split flutes。 Entering the right…
hand room； which had originally been that of an independent
house； he was in an ordinary photographer's and print…
collector's depository； to which a certain artistic solidity
was imparted by a few oil paintings in the background。
Charlotte made for the latter department； and when she was
inside Mr。 Ray appeared in person from the lumber…shop
adjoining； which； despite its manginess； contributed by far
the greater share to his income。
Charlotte put her question simply enough。 The man did not
answer her directly； but soon found that she meant no harm to
him。 He told her that such misrepresentations were quite
possible； and that they embodied a form of humour which was
getting more and more into vogue among certain facetious
persons of society。
Charlotte was coming away when she asked； as on second
thoughts； if he had any specimens of such work to show her。
'None of my own preparation；' said Mr。 Ray； with unimpeachable
probity of tone。 'I consider them libellous myself。 Still； I
have one or two samples by me； which I keep merely as
curiosities。There's one；' he said； throwing out a portrait
card from a drawer。 'That represents the German Emperor in a
violent passion： this one shows the Prime Minister out of his
mind； this the Pope of Rome the worse for liquor。'
She inquired if he had any local specimens。
'Yes；' he said； 'but I prefer not to exhibit them unless you
really ask for a particular one that you mean to buy。'
'I don't want any。'
'O； I beg pardon； miss。 Well；