下载辰思小说免费APP
SomersetbegantomuseontheprobabilityorotherwiseofthebackslidingBaptistandthisyoungladyresultinginoneandthesameperson；andalmostwithoutknowingithefoundhimselfdeeplyhopingforsuchaunity。Theobjectofhisinspectionwasidlyleaning，andthissomewhatdisguisedherfigure。Itmighthavebeentallorshort，curvilinearorangular。Shecarriedalightsunshadewhichshefitfullytwirleduntil，thrustingitbackoverhershoulder，herheadwasrevealedsufficientlytoshowthatsheworenohatorbonnet。Thistokenofherbeinganinmateofthecastle，andnotavisitor，ratherdampedhisexpectations:buthepersistedinbelievingherlooktowardsthechapelmusthaveameaninginit，tillshesuddenlystooderect，andrevealedherselfasshortinstature——almostdumpy——atthesametimegivinghimadistinctviewofherprofile。Shewasnotatallliketheheroineofthechapel。
HesawthedintednoseoftheDeStancysoutlinedwithHolbeinshadowlessnessagainsttheblue-greenofthedistantwood。ItwasnottheDeStancyfacewithallitsoriginalspecialities:itwas，sotospeak，adefectivereprintofthatface:forthenosetriedhardtoturnupanddealutterconfusiontothefamilyshape。
Asfortherestofthecountenance，Somersetwasobligedtoownthatitwasnotbeautiful:Naturehaddonetheremanythingsthatsheoughtnottohavedone，andleftundonemuchthatsheshouldhaveexecuted。Itwouldhavebeendecidedlyplainbutforapreciousqualitywhichnoperfectionofchisellingcangivewhenthetemperamentdeniesit，andwhichnofacialirregularitycantakeaway——atenderaffectionatenesswhichmightalmostbecalledyearning；suchasisoftenseeninthewomenofCorreggiowhentheyarepaintedinprofile。ButtheplainfeaturesofMissDeStancy——
whosheundoubtedlywas——wereratherseverelyhandledbySomerset\'sjudgmentowingtohisimpressionofthepreviousnight。Abeautyofasortwouldhavebeenlentbytheflexuouscontoursofthemobilepartsbutforthatunfortunateconditionthepoorgirlwasburdenedwith，ofhavingtohandonatraditionalfeaturewithwhichshedidnotfindherselfotherwiseinharmony。
Sheglancedathimforamoment，andshowedbyanimperceptiblemovementthathehadmadehispresencefelt。
NottoembarrassherSomersethastenedtowithdraw，atthesametimethatshepassedroundtotheotherpartoftheterrace，followedbythecat，inwhomSomersetcouldimagineacertaindenominationalcastofcountenance，notwithstandinghercompany。Butaswhitecatsaremuchalikeeachotheratadistance，itwasreasonabletosupposethiscreaturewasnotthesameoneasthatpossessedbythebeauty。
IV。
Hedescendedthestonestairstoalowerstoryofthecastle，inwhichwasacrypt-likehallcoveredbyvaultingofexceptionalandmassiveingenuity:
\'Builteretheartwasknown，BypointedaisleandshaftedstalkThearcadesofanalleyedwalkToemulateinstone。\'
Ithappenedthatthecentralpillarwhereonthevaultsrested，reputedtoexhibitsomeofthemosthideousgrotesquesinEnglanduponitscapital，waswithinalockeddoor。Somersetwastemptedtoaskaservantforpermissiontoopenit，tillheheardthattheinnerroomwastemporarilyusedforplate，thekeybeingkeptbyMissDeStancy，atwhichhesaidnomore。Butafterwardstheactivehousemaidredescendedthestonesteps；sheenteredthecryptwithabunchofkeysinonehand，andintheotheracandle，followedbytheyoungladywhomSomersethadseenontheterrace。
\'Ishallbeverygladtounlockanythingyoumaywanttosee。
Sofewpeopletakeanyrealinterestinwhatisherethatwedonotleaveitopen。\'
Somersetexpressedhisthanks。
MissDeStancy，alittletohissurprise，hadatouchofrusticityinhermanner，andthatforcedabsenceofreservewhichseclusionfromsocietylendstoyoungwomenmorefrequentlythannot。Sheseemedgladtohavesomethingtodo；
thearrivalofSomersetwasplainlyaneventsufficienttosetsomelittlemarkuponherday。DeceptionhadbeenwrittenonthefacesofthosefrowningwallsintheirimplyingtheinsignificanceofSomerset，whenhefoundthemtenantedonlybythislittlewomanwhoselifewasnarrowerthanhisown。
\'Wehavenotbeenherelong，\'continuedMissDeStancy，\'andthat\'swhyeverythingisinsuchadilapidatedandconfusedcondition。\'
Somersetenteredthedarkstore-closet，thinkinglessoftheancientpillarrevealedbythelightofthecandlethanwhatasingularremarkthelatterwastocomefromamemberofthefamilywhichappearedtohavebeentherefivecenturies。Heheldthecandleabovehishead，andwalkedround，andpresentlyMissDeStancycameback。
\'Thereisanothervaultbelow，\'shesaid，withtheseverefaceofayoungwomanwhospeaksonlybecauseitisabsolutelynecessary。\'Perhapsyouarenotawareofit?Itwasthedungeon:ifyouwishtogodowntheretoo，theservantwillshowyoutheway。Itisnotatallornamental:rough，unhewnarchesandclumsypiers。\'
Somersetthankedher，andwouldperhapstakeadvantageofherkindofferwhenhehadexaminedthespotwherehewas，ifitwerenotcausinginconvenience。
\'No；IamsurePaulawillbegladtoknowthatanybodythinksitinterestingtogodownthere——whichismorethanshedoesherself。\'
Someobviousinquiriesweresuggestedbythis，butSomersetsaid，\'Ihaveseenthepictures，andhavebeenmuchstruckbythem；partly，\'headded，withsomehesitation，\'becauseoneortwoofthemremindedmeofaschoolfellow——IthinkhisnamewasJohnRavensbury?\'
\'Yes，\'shesaid，almosteagerly。\'Hewasmycousin!\'
\'Sothatwearenotquitestrangers?\'
\'Butheisdeadnow……Hewasunfortunate:hewasmostlyspokenofas"thatunluckyboy。"……Youknow，Isuppose，Mr。Somerset，whythepaintingsareinsuchadecayingstate!——
itisowingtothepeculiartreatmentofthecastleduringMr。Wilkins\'stime。Hewasblind；soonecanimaginehedidnotappreciatesuchthingsastherearehere。\'
\'Thecastlehasbeenshutup，youmean?\'
\'Oyes，formanyyears。Butitwillnotbesoagain。Wearegoingtohavethepicturescleaned，andtheframesmended，andtheoldpiecesoffurnitureputintheirproperplaces。Itwillbeverynicethen。Didyouseethoseintheeastcloset?\'
\'Ihaveonlyseenthoseinthegallery。\'
\'Iwilljustshowyouthewaytotheothers，ifyouwouldliketoseethem?\'
Theyascendedtotheroomdesignatedtheeastcloset。Thepaintingshere，mostlyofsmallersize，wereinabettercondition，owingtothefactthattheywerehungonaninnerwall，andhadhencebeenkeptfreefromdamp。Somersetinquiredthenamesandhistoriesofoneortwo。
\'Ireallydon\'tquiteknow，\'MissDeStancyrepliedaftersomethought。\'ButPaulaknows，Iamsure。Idon\'tstudythemmuch——Idon\'tseetheuseofit。\'Sheswunghersunshade，sothatitfellopen，andturnedituptillitfellshut。\'I
haveneverbeenabletogivemuchattentiontoancestors，\'sheadded，withhereyesontheparasol。
\'TheseAREyourancestors?\'heasked，forherpositionandtonewerematterswhichperplexedhim。InspiteofthefamilylikenessandotherdetailshecouldscarcelybelievethisfrankandcommunicativecountrymaidentobethemodernrepresentativeoftheDeStancys。
\'Oyes，theycertainlyare，\'shesaid，laughing。\'PeoplesayIamlikethem:Idon\'tknowifIam——well，yes，IknowIam:
Icanseethat，ofcourse，anyday。Buttheyhavegonefrommyfamily，andperhapsitisjustaswellthattheyshouldhavegone……Theyareuseless，\'sheadded，withsereneconclusiveness。
\'Ah!theyhavegone，havethey?\'
\'Yes，castleandfurniturewenttogether:itwaslongago——
longbeforeIwasborn。Itdoesn\'tseemtomeasiftheplaceeverbelongedtoarelativeofmine。\'
Somersetcorrectedhissmilingmannertooneofsolicitude。
\'Butyoulivehere，MissDeStancy?\'
\'Yes——agreatdealnow；thoughsometimesIgohometosleep。\'
\'Thisishometoyou，andnothome?\'
\'IliveherewithPaula——myfriend:Ihavenotbeenherelong，neitherhasshe。Forthefirstsixmonthsafterherfather\'sdeathshedidnotcomehereatall。\'
Theywalkedon，gazingatthewalls，tilltheyoungmansaid:
\'IfearImaybemakingsomemistake:butIamsureyouwillpardonmyinquisitivenessthisonce。WHOisPaula?\'
\'Ah，youdon\'tknow!Ofcourseyoudon\'t——localchangesdon\'tgettalkedoffaraway。Sheistheownerofthiscastleandestate。Myfathersolditwhenhewasquiteayoungman，yearsbeforeIwasborn，andnotlongafterhisfather\'sdeath。ItwaspurchasedbyamannamedWilkins，arichmanwhobecameblindsoonafterhehadboughtit，andneverlivedhere；soitwasleftuncaredfor。\'
Shewentoutupontheterrace；andwithoutexactlyknowingwhy，Somersetfollowed。
\'Yourfriend——\'
\'Hasonlycomeherequiterecently。Sheisawayfromhometo-
day……Itwasverysad，\'murmuredtheyounggirlthoughtfully。\'NosoonerhadMr。PowerboughtitoftherepresentativesofMr。Wilkins——almostimmediatelyindeed——
thanhediedfromachillcaughtafterawarmbath。Onaccountofthatshedidnottakepossessionforseveralmonths；andevennowshehasonlyhadafewroomspreparedasatemporaryresidencetillshecanthinkwhattodo。Poorthing，itissadtobeleftalone!\'
SomersetheedfullyremarkedthathethoughtherecognizedthatnamePower，asonehehadseenlately，somewhereorother。
\'Perhapsyouhavebeenhearingofherfather。Doyouknowwhathewas?\'
Somersetdidnot。
Shelookedacrossthedistantcountry，whereundulationsofdark-greenfoliageformedaprospectextendingformiles。Andasshewatched，andSomerset\'seyes，ledbyhers，watchedalso，awhitestreakofsteam，thinasacottonthread，couldbediscernedploughingthatgreenexpanse。\'HerfathermadeTHAT，\'MissDeStancysaid，directingherfingertowardstheobject。
\'Thatwhat?\'
\'Thatrailway。HewasMr。JohnPower，thegreatrailwaycontractor。Anditwasthroughmakingtherailwaythathediscoveredthiscastle——therailwaywasdivertedalittleonitsaccount。\'
\'Aclashbetweenancientandmodern。\'
\'Yes，buthetookaninterestinthelocalitylongbeforehepurchasedtheestate。Andhebuiltthepeopleachapelonabitoffreeholdheboughtforthem。HewasagreatNonconformist，astaunchBaptistuptothedayofhisdeath——amuchstauncherone，\'shesaidsignificantly，\'thanhisdaughteris。\'
\'Ah，Ibegintospother!\'
\'Youhaveheardaboutthebaptism?\'
\'Iknowsomethingofit。\'
\'Herconducthasgivenmortaloffencetothescatteredpeopleofthedenominationthatherfatherwasatsuchpainstouniteintoabody。\'
Somersetcouldguesstheremainder，andinthinkingoverthecircumstancesdidnotstatewhathehadseen。Sheadded，asifdisappointedathiswantofcuriosity——
\'Shewouldnotsubmittotheritewhenitcametothepoint。
Thewaterlookedsocoldanddarkandfearful，shesaid，thatshecouldnotdoittosaveherlife。\'
\'Surelysheshouldhaveknownhermindbeforeshehadgonesofar?\'Somerset\'swordshadacondemnatoryform，butperhapshisactualfeelingwasthatifMissPowerhadknownherownmind，shewouldhavenotinterestedhimhalfsomuch。
\'Paula\'sownmindhadnothingtodowithit!\'saidMissDeStancy，warminguptostaunchpartizanshipinamoment。\'Itwasallundertakenbyherfromamistakensenseofduty。Itwasherfather\'sdyingwishthatsheshouldmakepublicprofessionofher——whatdoyoucallit——ofthedenominationshebelongedto，assoonasshefeltherselffittodoit:sowhenhewasdeadshetriedandtried，anddidn\'tgetanymorefit；andatlastshescrewedherselfuptothepitch，andthoughtshemustundergotheceremonyoutofpurereverenceforhismemory。
Itwasveryshort-sightedofherfathertoputherinsuchaposition:becausesheisnowverysad，asshefeelsshecannevertryagainaftersuchasermonaswasdeliveredagainsther。\'
SomersetpresumedthatMissPowerneednothaveheardthisKnoxorBossuetofhersifshehadchosentogoaway?
\'Shedidnothearitinthefaceofthecongregation；butfromthevestry。Shetoldmesomeofitwhenshereachedhome。
Wouldyoubelieveit，themanwhopreachedsobitterlyisatenantofhers?Isaid，"Surelyyouwillturnhimoutofhishouse?"——Butsheanswered，inhercalm，deep，niceway，thatshesupposedhehadaperfectrighttopreachagainsther，thatshecouldnotinjusticemolesthimatall。Iwouldn\'tlethimstayifthehouseweremine。Butshehasoftenbeforeallowedhimtoscoldherfromthepulpitinasmallerway——
onceitwasaboutanexpensivedressshehadworn——notmentioningherbyname，youknow；butallthepeoplearequiteawarethatitismeantforher，becauseonlyonepersonofherwealthorpositionbelongstotheBaptistbodyinthiscounty。\'
Somersetwaslookingatthehomelyaffectionatefaceofthelittlespeaker。\'Youarehergoodfriend，Iamsure，\'heremarked。
Shelookedintothedistantairwithtacitadmissionoftheimpeachment。\'Sowouldyoubeifyouknewher，\'shesaid；andablushslowlyrosetohercheek，asifthepersonspokenofhadbeenaloverratherthanafriend。
\'ButyouarenotaBaptistanymorethanI?\'continuedSomerset。
\'Ono。AndIneverknewonetillIknewPaula。Ithinktheyareverynice；thoughIsometimeswishPaulawasnotone，butthereligionofreasonablepersons。\'
Theywalkedon，andcameoppositetowherethetelegraphemergedfromthetrees，leaptovertheparapet，andupthroughtheloopholeintotheinterior。
\'Thatlooksstrangeinsuchabuilding，\'saidhercompanion。
\'MissPowerhaditputuptoknowthelatestnewsfromtown。
Itcostssixpoundsamile。Shecanworkitherself，beautifully:andsocanI，butnotsowell。Itwasagreatdelighttolearn。MissPowerwassointerestedatfirstthatshewassendingmessagesfrommorningtillnight。Anddidyouhearthenewclock?\'
\'Isitanewone?——Yes，Iheardit。\'
\'Theoldonewasquitewornout；soPaulahasputitinthecellar，andhadthisnewonemade，thoughitstillstrikesontheoldbell。Ittellstheseconds，buttheoldone，whichmyverygreatgrandfathererectedintheeighteenthcentury，onlytoldthehours。Paulasaysthattime，beingsomuchmorevaluablenow，mustofcoursebecutupintosmallerpieces。\'
\'Shedoesnotappeartobemuchimpressedbythespiritofthisancientpile。\'
MissDeStancyshookherheadtooslightlytoexpressabsolutenegation。
\'Doyouwishtocomethroughthisdoor?\'sheasked。\'Thereisasingularchimney-pieceinthekitchen，whichisconsideredauniqueexampleofitskind，thoughImyselfdon\'tknowenoughaboutittohaveanopiniononthesubject。\'
Whentheyhadlookedatthecorbelledchimney-piecetheyreturnedtothehall，wherehiseyewascaughtanewbyalargemapthathehadconnedforsometimewhenalone，withoutbeingabletodivinethelocalityrepresented。Itwascalled\'GeneralPlanoftheTown，\'andshowedstreetsandopenspacescorrespondingwithnothinghehadseeninthecounty。
\'Isthattownhere?\'heasked。
\'ItisnotanywherebutinPaula\'sbrain；shehaslaiditoutfromherowndesign。Thesiteissupposedtobenearourrailwaystation，justacrossthere，wherethelandbelongstoher。Sheisgoingtograntcheapbuildingleases，anddevelopthemanufactureofpottery。\'
\'Pottery——howverypracticalshemustbe!\'
\'Ono!no!\'repliedMissDeStancy，intonesshowinghowsupremelyignoranthemustbeofMissPower\'snatureifhecharacterizedherinthoseterms。\'ItisGREEKpotteryshemeans——Hellenicpotteryshetellsmetocallit，onlyI
forget。Thereisbeautifulclayattheplace，herfathertoldher:hefounditinmakingtherailwaytunnel。ShehasvisitedtheBritishMuseum，continentalmuseums，andGreece，andSpain:andhopestoimitatetheoldfictileworkintime，especiallytheGreekofthebestperiod，fourhundredyearsafterChrist，orbeforeChrist——IforgetwhichitwasPaulasaid……Ono，sheisnotpracticalinthesenseyoumean，atall。\'
\'Amixedyounglady，rather。\'
MissDeStancyappearedunabletosettlewhetherthisnewdefinitionofherdearfriendshouldbeacceptedaskindly，ordisallowedasdecidedlysarcastic。\'Youwouldlikeherifyouknewher，\'sheinsisted，inhalftonesofpique；afterwhichshewalkedonafewsteps。
\'Ithinkveryhighlyofher，\'saidSomerset。
\'AndI!AndyetatonetimeIcouldneverhavebelievedthatIshouldhavebeenherfriend。Oneisprejudicedatfirstagainstpeoplewhoarereportedtohavesuchdifferencesinfeeling，associations，andhabit，assheseemedtohavefrommine。Butithasnotstoodintheleastinthewayofourlikingeachother。Ibelievethedifferencemakesusthemoreunited。\'
\'Itsaysagreatdealfortheliberalityofboth，\'answeredSomersetwarmly。\'Heavensendusmoreofthesamesortofpeople!Theyarenottoonumerousatpresent。\'
AsthisremarkcalledfornoreplyfromMissDeStancy，shetookadvantageofanopportunitytoleavehimalone，firstrepeatingherpermissiontohimtowanderwherehewould。Hewalkedaboutforsometime，sketch-bookinhand，butwasconsciousthathisinterestdidnotliemuchinthearchitecture。Inpassingalongthecorridorofanupperfloorheobservedanopendoor，throughwhichwasvisiblearoomcontainingoneofthefinestRenaissancecabinetshehadeverseen。Itwasimpossible，oncloseexamination，todojusticetoitinahastysketch；itwouldbenecessarytomeasureeverylineifhewouldbringawayanythingofutilitytohimasadesigner。Decidingtoreservethisgemforanotheropportunityhecasthiseyesroundtheroomandblushedalittle。WithoutknowingithehadintrudedintotheabsentMissPaula\'sownparticularsetofchambers，includingaboudoirandsleepingapartment。Onthetablesofthesitting-
roomweremostofthepopularpapersandperiodicalsthatheknew，notonlyEnglish，butfromParis，Italy，andAmerica。
Satiricalprints，thoughtheydidnotundulypreponderate，werenotwanting。BesidesthesetherewerebooksfromaLondoncirculatinglibrary，paper-coveredlightliteratureinFrenchandchoiceItalian，andthelatestmonthlyreviews；
whilebetweenthetwowindowsstoodthetelegraphapparatuswhosewirehadbeenthemeansofbringinghimhither。
Thesethings，ensconcedamidsomuchoftheoldandhoary，wereasifastrayhourfromthenineteenthcenturyhadwanderedlikeabutterflyintothethirteenth，andlostitselfthere。
Thedoorbetweenthisante-chamberandthesleeping-roomstoodopen。Withoutventuringtocrossthethreshold，forhefeltthathewouldbeabusinghospitalitytogosofar，Somersetlookedinforamoment。Itwasaprettyplace，andseemedtohavebeenhastilyfittedup。Inacorner，overhungbyablueandwhitecanopyofsilk，wasalittlecot，hardlylargeenoughtoimpressthecharacterofbedroomupontheoldplace。
Uponacounterpanelayaparasolandasilkneckerchief。Ontheothersideoftheroomwasatallmirrorofstartlingnewness，drapedlikethebedstead，inblueandwhite。ThrownatrandomuponthefloorwasapairofsatinslippersthatwouldhavefittedCinderella。Adressing-gownlayacrossasettee；andopposite，uponasmalleasy-chairinthesameblueandwhitelivery，wereaBible，theBaptistMagazine，WardlawonInfantBaptism，Walford\'sCountyFamilies，andtheCourtJournal。Onandoverthemantelpiecewerenicknacksofvariousdescriptions，andphotographicportraitsoftheartistic，scientific，andliterarycelebritiesoftheday。
Adressing-roomlaybeyond；but，becomingconsciousthathisstudyofancientarchitecturewouldhardlybearstretchingfurtherinthatdirection，Mr。Somersetretreatedtotheoutside，obliviouslypassingbythegemofRenaissancethathadledhimin。
\'Sheaffectsblue，\'hewasthinking。\'Thensheisfair。\'
Onlookingup，sometimelater，atthenewclockthattoldtheseconds，hefoundthatthehoursathisdisposalforworkhadflownwithouthishavingtransferredasinglefeatureofthebuildingorfurnituretohissketch-book。Beforeleavinghesentinforpermissiontocomeagain，andthenwalkedacrossthefieldstotheinnatSleeping-Green，reflectinglessuponMissDeStancy(solittleforceofpresencehadshepossessed)
thanuponthemodernflowerinamediaevalflower-potwhomMissDeStancy\'sinformationhadbroughtbeforehim，andupontheincongruitiesthatweredailyshapingthemselvesintheworldunderthegreatmodernfluctuationsofclassesandcreeds。
Somersetwasstillfullofthesubjectwhenhearrivedattheendofhiswalk，andhefanciedthatsomeloungersatthebaroftheinnwerediscussingtheheroineofthechapel-scenejustatthemomentofhisentry。Onthisaccount，whenthelandlordcametoclearawaythedinner，Somersetwasledtoinquireofhim，bywayofopeningaconversation，ifthereweremanyBaptistsintheneighbourhood。
Thelandlord(whowasaseriousmanonthesurface，thoughheoccasionallysmiledbeneath)repliedthattherewereagreatmany——farmorethantheaverageincountryparishes。\'Evenhere，inmyhouse，now，\'headded，\'whenvolksgetadropofdrinkinto\'em，andtheirfeelingsrisetoazong，somemanwillstrikeupahymnbypreference。ButIfindnofaultwiththat；forthough\'tishardlyhumannaturetobesocalculatinginyercups，afellermayaswellsingtogainsomethingassingtowaste。\'
\'Howdoyouaccountfortherebeingsomany?\'
\'Well，youzee，sir，somesaysonething，andsomeanother；I
thinktheydoesittosavetheexpenseofaChristianburialfortherchildren。Nowthere\'sapoorfamilyoutinLongLane——thehusbandusedtosmiteforJimmyMoretheblacksmithtill\'ahurthisarm——they\'dhavenolessthanelevenchildrenifthey\'dnotbeenluckyt\'otherway，andburiedfivewhentheywerethreeorfourmonthsold。Noweveryoneofthemchildrenwasgiventothesextoninalittleboxthatanyjourneymancouldnailtogetherinaquarterofanhour，andheburied\'ematnightforashillingahead；whereas\'twouldhavecostacoupleofpoundseachifthey\'dbeenchristenedatchurch……Ofcoursethere\'sthenewladyatthecastle，she\'sachapelmember，andthatmaymakealittledifference；
butshe\'snotbeenherelongenoughtoshowwhether\'twillbeworthwhiletojoin\'emfortheprofito\'torwhether\'twillnot。Nodoubtifitturnsoutthatshe\'sofasorttorelievevolksintrouble，morewilljoinhersetthanbelongstoitalready。"Anyportinastorm，"ofcourse，asthesayingis。\'
\'Asforyourself，youareaChurchmanatpresent，Ipresume?\'
\'Yes；notbutIwasaMethodistonce——ay，foralengthoftime。\'Twasowingtomytakingahousenextdoortoachapel；
sothatwhatwithhearingtheorganbizzlikeabeethroughthewall，andwhatwithfindingitsavedumbrellasonwetZundays，Iwentovertothatfaithfortwoyears——thoughI
believeIdroppedmoneybyit——Iwouldn\'tbethemantosaysoifIhadn\'t。Howsomever，whenImovedintothishouseI
turnedbackagaintomyoldreligion。Faith，Idon\'tzeemuchdifference:beyouone，orbeyout\'other，you\'vegottogetyourliving。\'
\'TheDeStancys，ofcourse，havenotmuchinfluenceherenow，forthat，oranyotherthing?\'
\'Ono，no；notanyatall。Theybeverylowuponground，andalwayswillbenow，Isuppose。Itwasthoughtedworthyofbeingrecordedinhistory——you\'vereadit，sir，nodoubt?\'
\'Notaword。\'
\'O，then，youshall。I\'vegotthehistoryzomewhere。\'Twasgaymannersthatdidit。TheonlybitoflucktheyhavehadoflateyearsisMissPower\'stakingtolittleMissDeStancy，andmakingherhercompany-keeper。Ihope\'twillcontinue。\'
ThatthetwodaughtersoftheseantipodeanfamiliesshouldbesuchintimatefriendswasasituationwhichpleasedSomersetasmuchasitdidthelandlord。Itwasanengaginginstanceofthathumanprogressonwhichhehadexpendedmanycharmingdreamsintheyearswhenpoetry，theology，andthereorganizationofsocietyhadseemedmattersofmoreimportancetohimthanaprofessionwhichshouldhelphimtoabighouseandincome，afairDeiopeia，andalovelyprogeny。
Whenhewasalonehepouredoutaglassofwine，andsilentlydrankthehealthsofthetwogenerous-mindedyoungwomenwho，inthislonelydistrict，hadfoundsweetcommunionanecessityoflife，andbypureandinstinctivegoodsensehadbrokendownabarrierwhichmenthricetheirageandreputewouldprobablyhavefeltitimperativetomaintain。Butperhapsthiswaspremature:theomnipotentMissPower\'scharacter——
practicalorideal，politicorimpulsive——heasyetknewnothingof；andgivingoverreasoningfrominsufficientdatahelapsedintomereconjecture。
V。
ThenextmorningSomersetwasagainatthecastle。HepassedsomeintervalonthewallsbeforeencounteringMissDeStancy，whomatlastheobservedgoingtowardsapony-carriagethatwaitednearthedoor。
Asmilegainedstrengthuponherfaceathisapproach，andshewasthefirsttospeak。\'IamsorryMissPowerhasnotreturned，\'shesaid，andaccountedforthatlady\'sabsencebyherdistressattheeventoftwoeveningsearlier。
\'ButIhavedrivenovertomyfather\'s——SirWilliamDeStancy\'s——housethismorning，\'shewenton。\'Andonmentioningyournametohim，Ifoundheknewitquitewell。
Youwill，willyounot，forgivemyignoranceinhavingnobetterknowledgeoftheelderMr。Somerset\'sworksthanadimsenseofhisfameasapainter?ButIwasgoingtosaythatmyfatherwouldmuchliketoincludeyouinhispersonalacquaintance，andwishesmetoaskifyouwillgivehimthepleasureoflunchingwithhimto-day。MycousinJohn，whomyouonceknew，wasagreatfavouriteofhis，andusedtospeakofyousometimes。Itwillbesokindifyoucancome。Myfatherisanoldman，outofsociety，andhewouldbegladtohearthenewsoftown。\'
Somersetsaidhewasgladtofindhimselfamongfriendswherehehadonlyexpectedstrangers；andpromisedtocomethatday，ifshewouldtellhimtheway。
Thatshecouldeasilydo。Theshortwaywasacrossthatgladehesawthere——thenoverthestileintothewood，followingthepathtillitcameoutupontheturnpike-road。Hewouldthenbealmostclosetothehouse。Thedistancewasabouttwomilesandahalf。Butifhethoughtittoofarforawalk，shewoulddriveontothetown，whereshehadbeengoingwhenhecame，andinsteadofreturningstraighttoherfather\'swouldcomebackandpickhimup。
Itwasnotatallnecessary，hethought。Hewasawalker，andcouldfindthepath。
AtthismomentaservantcametotellMissDeStancythatthetelegraphwascallingher。
\'Ah——itisluckythatIwasnotgoneagain!\'sheexclaimed。
\'JohnseldomreadsitrightifIamaway。\'
Itnowseemedquiteintheordinarycoursethat，asafriendofherfather\'s，heshouldaccompanyhertotheinstrument。
Souptheywenttogether，andimmediatelyonreachingitsheappliedhereartotheinstrument，andbegantogatherthemessage。Somersetfanciedhimselflikeapersonoverlookinganother\'sletter，andmovedaside。
\'Itisnosecret，\'shesaid，smiling。\'"PaulatoCharlotte，"
itbegins。\'
\'That\'sverypretty。\'
\'O——anditisabout——you，\'murmuredMissDeStancy。
\'Me?\'Thearchitectblushedalittle。
Shemadenoanswer，andthemachinewentonwithitsstory。
Therewassomethingcuriousinwatchingthisutteranceabouthimself，underhisverynose，inlanguageunintelligibletohim。Heconjecturedwhetheritwereinquiry，praise，orblame，withasensethatitmightreasonablybethelatter，astheresultofhissurreptitiouslookintothatbluebedroom，possiblyobservedandreportedbysomeservantofthehouse。
\'"DirectthateveryfacilitybegiventoMr。Somersettovisitanypartofthecastlehemaywishtosee。OnmyreturnI
shallbegladtowelcomehimastheacquaintanceofyourrelatives。Ihavetwoofhisfather\'spictures。"\'
\'Dearme，theplotthickens，\'hesaid，asMissDeStancyannouncedthewords。\'Howcouldsheknowaboutme?\'
\'IsentamessagetoherthismorningwhenIsawyoucrossingtheparkonyourwayhere——tellingherthatMr。Somerset，sonoftheAcademician，wasmakingsketchesofthecastle，andthatmyfatherknewsomethingofyou。That\'sheranswer。\'
\'Wherearethepicturesbymyfatherthatshehaspurchased?\'
\'O，nothere——atleast，notunpacked。\'
MissdeStancythenlefthimtoproceedonherjourneytoMarkton(sothenearestlittletownwascalled)，informinghimthatshewouldbeatherfather\'shousetoreceivehimattwoo\'clock。Justaboutoneheclosedhissketch-book，andsetoutinthedirectionshehadindicated。Attheentrancetothewoodamanwasatworkpullingdownarottengatethatboreonitsbatteredlocktheinitials\'W。DeS。\'anderectinganewonewhoseironmongeryexhibitedtheletters\'P。P。\'
Thewarmthofthesummernoondidnotinconvenientlypenetratethedensemassesoffoliagewhichnowbegantooverhangthepath，exceptinspotswherearuthlesstimber-fellinghadtakenplaceinpreviousyearsforthepurposeofsale。Itwasthatparticularhalf-hourofthedayinwhichthebirdsoftheforestpreferwalkingtoflying；andtherebeingnowind，thehoppingofthesmallestsongsteroverthedeadleavesreachedhisearfrombehindtheundergrowth。
Thetrackhadoriginallybeenawell-keptwindingdrive，butadeepcarpetofmossandleavesoverlaiditnow，thoughthegeneraloutlinestillremainedtoshowthatitscurveshadbeensetoutwithasmuchcareasthoseofalawnwalk，andthegradientmadeeasyforcarriageswherethenaturalslopesweregreat。Felledtrunksoccasionallylayacrossit，andalongsidewerethehollowandfungousbolesoftreessawndowninlongpastyears。
Afterawalkofthree-quartersofanhourhecametoanothergate，wheretheletters\'P。P。\'againsupplantedthehistorical\'W。DeS。\'Climbingoverthis，hefoundhimselfonahighwaywhichpresentlydippeddowntowardsthetownofMarkton，aplacehehadneveryetseen。Itappearedinthedistanceasaquietlittleboroughofafewthousandinhabitants；and，withoutthetownboundaryonthesidehewasapproaching，stoodhalf-a-dozengenteelandmodernhouses，ofthedetachedkindusuallyfoundinsuchsuburbs。Oninquiry，SirWilliamDeStancy\'sresidencewasindicatedasoneofthese。
Itwasalmostnew，ofstreakedbrick，havingacentraldoor，andasmallbaywindowoneachsidetolightthetwofrontparlours。Alittlelawnspreaditsgreensurfaceinfront，dividedfromtheroadbyironrailings，thelowlineofshrubsimmediatelywithinthembeingcoatedwithpalliddustfromthehighway。Ontheneatpiersoftheneatentrancegatewerechiselledthewords\'MyrtleVilla。\'Genuineroadsiderespectabilitysatsmilingoneverybrickoftheeligibledwelling。
PerhapsthatwhichimpressedSomersetmorethanthemushroommodernismofSirWilliamDeStancy\'shousewastheairofhealthfulcheerfulnesswhichpervadedit。Hewasshowninbyaneatmaidservantinblackgownandwhiteapron，acanarysingingawelcomefromacageintheshadowofthewindow，thevoicesofcrowingcockscomingoverthechimneysfromsomewherebehind，andthesunandairriddlingthehouseeverywhere。
Adwellingofthosewell-knownandpopulardimensionswhichallowtheproceedingsinthekitchentobedistinctlyheardintheparlours，itwassoplannedthatarakingviewmightbeobtainedthroughitfromthefrontdoortotheendofthebackgarden。Thedrawing-roomfurniturewascomfortable，inthewalnut-and-green-repstyleofsomeyearsago。Somersethadexpectedtofindhisfriendslivinginanoldhousewithremnantsoftheirownantiquefurniture，andhehardlyknewwhetherheoughttomeetthemwithasmileoragazeofcondolence。Hisdoubtwasterminated，however，bythecheerfulandtrippingentryofMissDeStancy，whohadreturnedfromherdrivetoMarkton；andinafewmoremomentsSirWilliamcameinfromthegarden。
Hewasanoldmanoftallandsparebuild，withaconsiderablestoop，hisglassesdanglingagainsthiswaistcoat-buttons，andthefrontcornersofhiscoat-tailshanginglowerthanthehinderparts，sothattheyswayedrightandleftashewalked。
Henervouslyapologizedtohisvisitorforhavingkepthimwaiting。
\'Iamsogladtoseeyou，\'hesaid，withamildbenevolenceoftone，asheretainedSomerset\'shandforamomentortwo；
\'partlyforyourfather\'ssake，whomImetmorethanonceinmyyoungerdays，beforehebecamesowell-known；andalsobecauseIlearnthatyouwereafriendofmypoornephewJohnRavensbury。\'Helookedoverhisshouldertoseeifhisdaughterwerewithinhearing，and，withtheimpulseofthesolitarytomakeaconfidence，continuedinalowtone:\'She，poorgirl，wastohavemarriedJohn:hisdeathwasasadblowtoherandtoallofus——Praytakeaseat，Mr。Somerset。\'
ThereversesoffortunewhichhadbroughtSirWilliamDeStancytothiscomfortablecottageawakenedinSomersetawarmeremotionthancuriosity，andhesatdownwithaheartasresponsivetoeachspeechutteredasifithadseriouslyconcernedhimself，whilehishostgavesomewordsofinformationtohisdaughteronthetriflingeventsthathadmarkedthemorningjustpassed；suchasthatthecowhadgotoutofthepaddockintoMissPower\'sfield，thatthesmithwhohadpromisedtocomeandlookatthekitchenrangehadnotarrived，thattwowasps\'nestshadbeendiscoveredinthegardenbank，andthatNickJones\'sbabyhadfallendownstairs。
SirWilliamhadlargecavernousarchestohiseye-sockets，remindingthebeholderofthevaultsinthecastleheoncehadowned。Hishandswerelongandalmostfleshless，eachknuckleshowinglikeabamboo-jointfrombeneathhiscoat-sleeves，whichweresmallattheelbowandlargeatthewrist。Allthecolourhadgonefromhisbeardandlocks，exceptinthecaseofafewisolatedhairsoftheformer，whichretaineddashesoftheiroriginalshadeatsuddenpointsintheirlength，revealingthatallhadoncebeenravenblack。
Buttostudyamantohisfaceforlongisaspeciesofill-
naturewhichrequiresacoldertemperament，oratleastanolderheart，thanthearchitect\'swasatthattime。Incuriousunobservanceisthetrueattitudeofcordiality，andSomersetblamedhimselfforhavingfallenintoanactofinspectionevenbriefly。Hewouldwaitforhishost\'sconversation，whichwoulddoubtlessbeoftheessenceofhistoricalromance。
\'ThefavourableBank-returnshavemadethemoney-marketmucheasierto-day，asIlearn?\'saidSirWilliam。
\'O，havethey?\'saidSomerset。\'Yes，Isupposetheyhave。\'
\'AndsomethingismeantbythisunusualquietnessinForeignstockssincethelateremarkablefluctuations，\'insistedtheoldman。\'Isthecurrentofspeculationquitearrested，orisitbutatemporarylull?\'
Somersetsaidhewasafraidhecouldnotgiveanopinion，andenteredverylamelyintothesubject；butSirWilliamseemedtofindsufficientinterestinhisownthoughtstodoawaywiththenecessityofacquiringfreshimpressionsfromotherpeople\'sreplies；foroftenafterputtingaquestionhelookedonthefloor，asifthesubjectwereatanend。Lunchwasnowready，andwhentheywereinthedining-roomMissDeStancy，tointroduceatopicofmoregeneralinterest，askedSomersetifhehadnoticedthemyrtleonthelawn?
Somersethadnoticedit，andthoughthehadneverseensuchafull-blownoneintheopenairbefore。Hiseyeswere，however，restingatthemomentontheonlyobjectsatalloutofthecommonthatthedining-roomcontained。Onewasasingularglasscaseoverthefireplace，withinwhichweresomelargemediaevaldoor-keys，blackwithrustandage；andtheothersweretwofull-lengthoilportraitsinthecostumeoftheendofthelastcentury——sooutofallproportiontothesizeoftheroomtheyoccupiedthattheyalmostreachedtothefloor。
\'Thoseoriginallybelongedtothecastleyonder，\'saidMissDeStancy，orCharlotte，asherfathercalledher，noticingSomerset\'sglanceatthekeys。\'Theyusedtounlocktheprincipalentrance-doors，whichwereknockedtopiecesinthecivilwars。Newdoorswereplacedafterwards，buttheoldkeyswerenevergivenup，andhavebeenpreservedbyuseversince。\'
\'Theyarequiteuseless——merelumber——particularlytome，\'
saidSirWilliam。
\'AndthosehugepaintingswereapresentfromPaula，\'shecontinued。\'Theyareportraitsofmygreat-grandfatherandmother。Paulawouldgivealltheoldfamilypicturesbacktomeifwehadroomforthem；buttheywouldfillthehousetotheceilings。\'
SirWilliamwasimpatientofthesubject。\'Whatistheutilityofsuchaccumulations?\'heasked。\'Theiroriginalsarebutclaynow——mereforgottendust，notworthyamoment\'sinquiryorreflectionatthisdistanceoftime。Nothingcanretainthespirit，andwhyshouldwepreservetheshadowoftheform?——Londonhasbeenveryfullthisyear，sir，Ihavebeentold?\'
\'Ithas，\'saidSomerset，andheaskediftheyhadbeenupthatseason。ItwasplainthatthematterwithwhichSirWilliamDeStancyleastcaredtooccupyhimselfbeforevisitorswasthehistoryofhisownfamily，inwhichhewasfollowedwithmoresimplicitybyhisdaughterCharlotte。
\'No，\'saidthebaronet。\'Onemightbeledtothinkthereisafatalitywhichpreventsit。Wemakearrangementstogototownalmosteveryyear，tomeetsomeoldfriendwhocombinestherareconditionsofbeinginLondonwithbeingmindfulofme；buthehasalwaysdiedorgoneelsewherebeforetheeventhastakenplace……Butwithadispositiontobehappy，itisneitherthisplacenortheotherthatcanrenderusthereverse。Inshorteachman\'shappinessdependsuponhimself，andhisabilityfordoingwithlittle。\'HeturnedmoreparticularlytoSomerset，andaddedwithanimpressivesmile:
\'Ihopeyoucultivatetheartofdoingwithlittle?\'
Somersetsaidthathecertainlydidcultivatethatart，partlybecausehewasobligedto。
\'Ah——youdon\'tmeantotheextentthatImean。Theworldhasnotyetlearnedtherichesoffrugality，says，Ithink，Cicero，somewhere；andnobodycantestifytothetruthofthatremarkbetterthanI。Ifamanknowshowtospendlessthanhisincome，howeversmallthatmaybe，why——hehasthephilosopher\'sstone。\'AndSirWilliamlookedinSomerset\'sfacewithfrugalitywrittenineveryporeofhisown，asmuchastosay，\'Andhereyouseeonewhohasbeenalivinginstanceofthoseprinciplesfromhisyouthup。\'
Somersetsoonfoundthatwhateverturntheconversationtook，SirWilliaminvariablyrevertedtothistopicoffrugality。
