下载辰思小说免费APP
\'AGreekcolonnadeallround，yousaid，Paula，\'continuedherlessreticentcompanion。\'Aperistyleyoucalledit——yousawitinabook，don\'tyouremember?——andthenyouweregoingtohaveafountaininthemiddle，andstatueslikethoseintheBritishMuseum。\'
\'Ididsayso，\'remarkedPaula，pullingtheleavesfromayoungsycamore-treethathadsprungupbetweenthejointsofthepaving。
FromthespotwheretheysattheycouldseeovertheroofstheupperpartofthegreattowerwhereinSomersethadmetwithhismisadventure。Thetowerstoodboldlyupinthesun，andfromoneoftheslitsinthecornersomethingwhitewavedinthebreeze。
\'Whatcanthatbe?\'saidCharlotte。\'Isitthefluffofowls，orahandkerchief?\'
\'Itismyhandkerchief，\'Somersetanswered。\'Ifixedittherewithastonetoattractattention，andforgottotakeitaway。\'
Allthreelookedupatthehandkerchiefwithinterest。\'Whydidyouwanttoattractattention?\'saidPaula。
\'O，Ifellintotheturret；butIgotoutveryeasily。\'
\'OPaula，\'saidCharlotte，turningtoherfriend，\'thatmustbetheplacewherethemanfellin，yearsago，andwasstarvedtodeath!\'
\'Starvedtodeath?\'saidPaula。
\'Theysayso。OMr。Somerset，whatanescape!\'AndCharlotteDeStancywalkedawaytoapointfromwhichshecouldgetabetterviewofthetreacherousturret。
\'Whomdidyouthinktoattract?\'askedPaula，afterapause。
\'Ithoughtyoumightseeit。\'
\'Mepersonally?\'And，blushingfaintly，hereyesresteduponhim。
\'Ihopedforanybody。Ithoughtofyou，\'saidSomerset。
Shedidnotcontinue。InamomentshearoseandwentacrosstoMissDeStancy。\'Don\'tYOUgofallingdownandbecomingaskeleton，\'shesaid——Somersetoverheardthewords，thoughPaulawasunawareofit——afterwhichsheclaspedherfingersbehindCharlotte\'sneck，andsmiledtenderlyinherface。
Itseemedtobequiteunconsciouslydone，andSomersetthoughtitaverybeautifulaction。PresentlyPaulareturnedtohimandsaid，\'Mr。Somerset，Ithinkwehavehadenougharchitectureforto-day。\'
Thetwowomenthenwishedhimgood-morningandwentaway。
Somerset，feelingthathehadnoweveryreasonforprowlingaboutthecastle，remainednearthespot，endeavouringtoevolvesomeplanofprocedurefortheprojectentertainedbythebeautifulownerofthoseweather-scathedwalls。Butforalongtimethementalperspectiveofhisnewpositionsoexcitedtheemotionalsideofhisnaturethathecouldnotconcentrateitonfeetandinches。AsPaula\'sarchitect(supposingHavillnottobeadmittedasacompetitor)，hemustofnecessitybeinconstantcommunicationwithherforaspaceoftwoorthreeyearstocome；andparticularlyduringthenextfewmonths。She，doubtless，cherishedfartooambitiousviewsofhercareertofeelanypersonalinterestinthisenforcedrelationshipwithhim；buthewouldbeatlibertytofeelwhathechose:andtobethevictimofanunrequitedpassion，whileaffordedsuchsplendidopportunitiesofcommunionwiththeonebeloved，deprivedthatpassionofitsmostdeplorablefeatures。Accessibilityisagreatpointinmattersoflove，andperhapsofthetwothereislessmiseryinlovingwithoutreturnagoddesswhoistobeseenandspokentoeveryday，thaninhavinganaffectiontenderlyreciprocatedbyonealwayshopelesslyremoved。
WiththisviewofhavingtospendaconsiderabletimeintheneighbourhoodSomersetshiftedhisquartersthatafternoonfromthelittleinnatSleeping-GreentoalargeroneatMarkton。HerequiredmoreroomsinwhichtocarryoutPaula\'sinstructionsthantheformerplaceafforded，andamorecentralposition。HavingreachedanddinedatMarktonhefoundtheeveningtedious，andagainstrolledoutinthedirectionofthecastle。
Whenhereacheditthelightwasdeclining，andasolemnstillnessoverspreadthepile。Thegreattowerwasinfullview。Thatspotofwhitewhichlookedlikeapigeonflutteringfromtheloopholewashishandkerchief，stillhangingintheplacewherehehadleftit。Hiseyesyetlingeredonthewallswhenhenoticed，withsurprise，thatthehandkerchiefsuddenlyvanished。
Believingthatthebreezes，thoughweakbelow，mighthavebeenstrongenoughatthatheighttoblowitintotheturret，andinnohurrytogetoffthepremises，heleisurelyclimbeduptofindit，ascendingbythesecondstaircase，crossingtheroof，andgoingtothetopofthetreacherousturret。Theladderbywhichhehadescapedstillstoodwithinit，andbesidetheladderhebeheldthedimoutlineofawoman，inameditativeattitude，holdinghishandkerchiefinherhand。
Somersetsoftlywithdrew。Whenhehadreachedthegroundhelookedup。Agirlishformwasstandingatthetopofthetowerlookingovertheparapetuponhim——possiblynotseeinghim，foritwasdarkonthelawn。ItwaseitherMissDeStancyorPaula；oneofthemhadgonetherealoneforhishandkerchiefandhadremainedawhile，ponderingonhisescape。
Butwhich?\'IfIwerenotafaint-heartIshouldrunallriskandwavemyhatorkissmyhandtoher，whoeversheis，\'hethought。Buthedidnotdoeither。
Sohelingeredaboutsilentlyintheshades，andthenthoughtofstrollingtohisroomsatMarkton。Justatleaving，ashepassedundertheinhabitedwing，whenceoneortwolightsnowblinked，heheardapiano，andavoicesinging\'TheMistletoeBough。\'Thesonghadprobablybeensuggestedtotheromanticfancyofthesingerbyhervisittothesceneofhiscaptivity。
XI。
Theidentityoftheladywhomhehadseenonthetowerandafterwardsheardsingingwasestablishedthenextday。
\'Ihavebeenthinking，\'saidMissPower，onmeetinghim，\'thatyoumayrequireastudioonthepremises。Ifso，theroomI
showedyouyesterdayisatyourservice。IfIemployMr。
HavilltocompetewithyouIwillofferhimasimilarone。\'
Somersetdidnotdecline；andsheadded，\'Inthesameroomyouwillfindthehandkerchiefthatwasleftonthetower。\'
\'Ah，Isawthatitwasgone。Somebodybroughtitdown?\'
\'Idid，\'sheshylyremarked，lookingupforasecondunderhershadyhat-brim。
\'Iammuchobligedtoyou。\'
\'Ono。Iwentuplastnighttoseewheretheaccidenthappened，andthereIfoundit。Whenyoucameupwereyouinsearchofit，ordidyouwantme?\'
\'Thenshesawme，\'hethought。\'Iwentforthehandkerchiefonly；Iwasnotawarethatyouwerethere，\'heansweredsimply。Andheinvoluntarilysighed。
Itwasverysoft，butshemighthaveheardhim，fortherewasinterestinhervoiceasshecontinued，\'Didyouseemebeforeyouwentback?\'
\'Ididnotknowitwasyou；Isawthatsomeladywasthere，andIwouldnotdisturbher。Iwonderedalltheeveningifitwereyou。\'
Paulahastenedtoexplain:\'Weunderstoodthatyouwouldstaytodinner，andasyoudidnotcomeinwewonderedwhereyouwere。Thatmademethinkofyouraccident，andafterdinnerI
wentuptotheplacewhereithappened。\'
Somersetalmostwishedshehadnotexplainedsolucidly。
Andnowfollowedthepiquantdaystowhichhispositionasherarchitect，or，atworst，asoneofhertwoarchitects，naturallyled。Hisanticipationswereforoncesurpassedbythereality。PerhapsSomerset\'sinherentunfitnessforaprofessionallifeunderordinarycircumstanceswasonlyprovedbyhisgreatzestforitnow。Hadhebeeninregularpractice，withnumerousotherclients，insteadofhavingmerelymadeastartwiththisone，hewouldhavetotallyneglectedtheirbusinessinhisexclusiveattentiontoPaula\'s。
TheideaofacompetitionbetweenSomersetandHavillhadbeenhighlyapprovedbyPaula\'ssolicitor，butshewouldnotassenttoitasyet，seemingquitevexedthatSomersetshouldnothavetakenthegoodthegodsprovidedwithoutquestioningherjusticetoHavill。Theroomshehadofferedhimwaspreparedasastudio。Drawing-boardsandWhatman\'spaperweresentfor，andinafewdaysSomersetbeganseriouslabour。Hisfirstrequirementwasaclerkortwo，todothedrudgeryofmeasuringandfiguring；butforthepresenthepreferredtosketchalone。Sometimes，inmeasuringtheoutworksofthecastle，heranagainstHavillstrollingaboutwithnoapparentobject，whobestowedonhimanenviousnod，andpassedby。
\'Ihopeyouwillnotmakeyoursketches，\'shesaid，lookinginuponhimoneday，\'andthengoawaytoyourstudioinLondonandthinkofyourotherbuildingsandforgetmine。Iaminhastetobegin，andwishyounottoneglectme。\'
\'Ihavenootherbuildingtothinkof，\'saidSomerset，risingandplacingachairforher。\'Ihadnotbegunpractice，asyoumayknow。Ihavenothingelseinhandbutyourcastle。\'
\'IsupposeIoughtnottosayIamgladofit；butitisanadvantagetohaveanarchitectalltoone\'sself。ThearchitectwhomIatfirstthoughtoftoldmebeforeIknewyouthatifIplacedthecastleinhishandshewouldundertakenoothercommissiontillitscompletion。\'
\'Iagreetothesame，\'saidSomerset。
\'Idon\'twishtobindyou。ButIhinderyounow——dopraygoonwithoutreferencetome。Whenwilltherebesomedrawingformetosee?\'
\'Iwilltakecarethatitshallbesoon。\'
Hehadametallictapeinhishand，andwentoutoftheroomtotakesomedimensioninthecorridor。Theassistantforwhomhehadadvertisedhadnotarrived，andheattemptedtofixtheendofthetapebystickinghispenknifethroughtheringintothewall。Paulalookedonatadistance。
\'Iwillholdit，\'shesaid。
Shewenttotherequiredcornerandheldtheendinitsplace。
Shehadtakenitthewrongway，andSomersetwentoverandplaceditproperlyinherfingers，carefullyavoidingtotouchthem。Sheobedientlyraisedherhandtothecorneragain，andstoodtillhehadfinished，whensheasked，\'Isthatall?\'
\'Thatisall，\'saidSomerset。\'Thankyou。\'Withoutfurtherspeechshelookedathissketch-book，whilehemarkeddownthelinesjustacquired。
\'Yousaidtheotherday，\'sheobserved，\'thatearlyGothicworkmightbeknownbytheunder-cutting，orsomethingtothateffect。IhavelookedinRickmanandtheOxfordGlossary，butIcannotquiteunderstandwhatyoumeant。\'
Itwasonlytooprobabletoherlover，fromthewayinwhichsheturnedtohim，thatsheHADlookedinRickmanandtheGlossary，andwasthinkingofnothingintheworldbutofthesubjectofherinquiry。
\'Icanshowyou，byactualexample，ifyouwillcometothechapel?\'hereturnedhesitatingly。
\'Don\'tgoonpurposetoshowme——whenyouarethereonyourownaccountIwillcomein。\'
\'Ishallbethereinhalf-an-hour。\'
\'Verywell，\'saidPaula。Shelookedoutofawindow，and，seeingMissDeStancyontheterrace，lefthim。
Somersetstoodthinkingofwhathehadsaid。Hehadnooccasionwhatevertogointothechapelofthecastlethatday。Hehadbeentemptedbyherwordstosayhewouldbethere，and\'half-an-hour\'hadcometohislipsalmostwithouthisknowledge。Thiscommunityofinterest——ifitwerenotanythingmoretender——wasgrowingserious。Whathadpassedbetweenthemamountedtoanappointment；theyweregoingtomeetinthemostsolitarychamberofthewholesolitarypile。
CoulditbethatPaulahadwellconsideredthisinreplyingwithherfriendly\'Verywell?\'Probablynot。
Somersetproceededtothechapelandwaited。Withtheprogressofthesecondstowardsthehalf-hourhebegantodiscoverthatadangerousadmirationforthisgirlhadrisenwithinhim。Yetsoimaginativewashispassionthathehardlyknewasinglefeatureofhercountenancewellenoughtorememberitinherabsence。ThemeditativejudgmentofthingsandmenwhichhadbeenhishabituptothemomentofseeingherintheBaptistchapelseemedtohavelefthim——nothingremainedbutadistractingwishtobealwaysnearher，anditwasquitewithdismaythatherecognizedwhatimmenseimportancehewasattachingtothequestionwhethershewouldkeepthetriflingengagementornot。
ThechapelofStancyCastlewasasilentplace，heapedupincornerswithalumberofoldpanels，framework，andbrokencolouredglass。Herenoclockcouldbeheardbeatingoutthehoursoftheday——herenovoiceofpriestordeaconhadforgenerationsutteredthedailyservicedenotinghowtheyearrollson。ThestagnationofthespotwassufficienttodrawSomerset\'smindforamomentfromthesubjectwhichabsorbedit，andhethought，\'So，too，willtimetriumphoverallthisfervourwithinme。\'
Liftinghiseyesfromtheflooronwhichhisfoothadbeentappingnervously，hesawPaulastandingattheotherend。ItwasnotsopleasantwhenhealsosawthatMrs。Goodmanaccompaniedher。Thelatterlady，however，obliginglyremainedwhereshewasresting，whilePaulacameforward，and，asusual，pausedwithoutspeaking。
\'Itisinthislittlearcadethattheexampleoccurs，\'saidSomerset。
\'Oyes，\'sheanswered，turningtolookatit。
\'Earlypiers，capitals，andmouldings，generallyalternatedwithdeephollows，soastoformstrongshadows。Nowlookundertheabacusofthiscapital；youwillfindthestonehollowedoutwonderfully；andalsointhisarch-mould。Itisoftendifficulttounderstandhowitcouldbedonewithoutcrackingoffthestone。Thedifferencebetweenthisandlateworkcanbefeltbythehandevenbetterthanitcanbeseen。\'
Hesuitedtheactiontothewordandplacedhishandinthehollow。
Shelistenedattentively，thenstretchedupherownhandtotestthecuttingashehaddone；shewasnotquitetallenough；shewouldstepuponthispieceofwood。Havingdonesoshetriedagain，andsucceededinputtingherfingeronthespot。No；shecouldnotunderstanditthroughhergloveevennow。Shepulledoffherglove，and，herhandrestinginthestonechannel，hereyesbecameabstractedintheeffortofrealization，theideasderivedthroughherhandpassingintoherface。
\'No，Iamnotsurenow，\'shesaid。
Somersetplacedhisownhandinthecavity。Nowtheirtwohandswereclosetogetheragain。Theyhadbeenclosetogetherhalf-an-hourearlier，andhehadsedulouslyavoidedtouchinghers。Hedarednotletsuchanaccidenthappennow。Andyet——
surelyshesawthesituation!Wastheinscrutableseriousnesswithwhichsheappliedherselftohislessonamockery?Therewassuchabottomlessdepthinhereyesthatitwasimpossibletoguesstruly。Letitbethatdestinyalonehadruledthattheirhandsshouldbetogetherasecondtime。
Allruminationwascutshortbyanimpulse。Heseizedherforefingerbetweenhisownfingerandthumb，anddrewitalongthehollow，saying，\'ThatisthecurveImean。\'
Somerset\'shandwashotandtrembling；Paula\'s，onthecontrary，wascoolandsoftasaninfant\'s。
\'Nowthearch-mould，\'continuedhe。\'There——thedepthofthatcavityistremendous，anditisnotgeometrical，asinlaterwork。\'Hedrewherunresistingfingersfromthecapitaltothearch，andlaidtheminthelittletrenchasbefore。
Sheallowedthemtorestquietlytheretillherelinquishedthem。\'Thankyou，\'shethensaid，withdrawingherhand，brushingthedustfromherfinger-tips，andputtingonherglove。
Herimperceptionofhisfeelingwastheverysublimityofmaideninnocenceifitwerereal；ifnot，well，thecoquetrywasnogreatsin。
\'Mr。Somerset，willyouallowmetohavetheGreekcourtI
mentioned?\'sheaskedtentatively，afteralongbreakintheirdiscourse，asshescannedthegreenstonesalongthebaseofthearcade，withaconjecturalcountenanceastohisreply。
\'Willyourownfeelingforthegeniusoftheplaceallowyou?\'
\'Iamnotamediaevalist:Iamaneclectic。\'
\'Youdon\'tdislikeyourownhouseonthataccount。\'
\'Ididatfirst——Idon\'tsomuchnow……Ishouldloveit，andadoreeverystone，andthinkfeudalismtheonlytrueromanceoflife，if——\'
\'What?\'
\'IfIwereaDeStancy，andthecastlethelonghomeofmyforefathers。\'
Somersetwasalittlesurprisedattheavowal:theminister\'swordsontheeffectsofhernewenvironmentrecurredtohismind。\'MissDeStancydoesn\'tthinkso，\'hesaid。\'Shecaresnothingaboutthosethings。\'
Paulanowturnedtohim:hithertoherremarkshadbeensparinglyspoken，hereyesbeingdirectedelsewhere:\'Yes，thatisverystrange，isitnot?\'shesaid。\'Butitisowingtothejoyousfreshnessofhernaturewhichprecludesherfromdwellingonthepast——indeed，thepastisnomoretoherthanitistoasparroworrobin。Sheisscarcelyaninstanceofthewearingoutofoldfamilies，forayoungermentalconstitutionthanhersIneverknew。\'
\'Unlessthatverysimplicityrepresentsthesecondchildhoodofherline，ratherthanherownexclusivecharacter。\'
Paulashookherhead。\'InspiteoftheGreekcourt，sheismoreGreekthanI。\'
\'Yourepresentscienceratherthanart，perhaps。\'
\'How?\'sheasked，glancingupunderherhat。
\'Imean，\'repliedSomerset，\'thatyourepresentthemarchofmind——thesteamship，andtherailway，andthethoughtsthatshakemankind。\'
Sheweighedhiswords，andsaid:\'Ah，yes:youalludetomyfather。Myfatherwasagreatman；butIammoreandmoreforgettinghisgreatness:thatkindofgreatnessiswhatawomancannevertrulyenterinto。Iamlessandlesshisdaughtereverydaythatgoesby。\'
ShewalkedawayafewstepstorejointheexcellentMrs。
Goodman，who，asSomersetstillperceived，waswaitingforPaulaatthediscreetestofdistancesintheshadowsatthefartherendofthebuilding。SurelyPaula\'svoicehadfaltered，andshehadturnedtohideatear?
Shecamebackagain。\'DidyouknowthatmyfathermadehalftherailwaysinEurope，includingthatoneoverthere?\'shesaid，wavingherlittleglovedhandinthedirectionwhencelowrumbleswereoccasionallyheardduringtheday。
\'Yes。\'
\'Howdidyouknow?\'
\'MissDeStancytoldmealittle；andIthenfoundhisnameanddoingswerequitefamiliartome。\'
Curiouslyenough，withhiswordstherecamethroughthebrokenwindowsthemurmurofatraininthedistance，soundingclearerandmoreclear。Itwasnothingtolistento，yettheybothlistened；tilltheincreasingnoisesuddenlybrokeoffintodeadsilence。
\'Ithasgoneintothetunnel，\'saidPaula。\'Haveyouseenthetunnelmyfathermade?thecurvesaresaidtobeatriumphofscience。ThereisnothingelselikeitinthispartofEngland。\'
\'Thereisnot:Ihaveheardso。ButIhavenotseenit。\'
\'Doyouthinkitathingmoretobeproudofthatone\'sfathershouldhavemadeagreattunnelandrailwaylikethat，thanthatone\'sremoteancestorshouldhavebuiltagreatcastlelikethis?\'
WhatcouldSomersetsay?Itwouldhaverequiredacasuisttodecidewhetherhisanswershoulddependuponhisconviction，oruponthefamilytiesofsuchaquestioner。\'Fromamodernpointofview，railwaysare，nodoubt，thingsmoretobeproudofthancastles，\'hesaid；\'thoughperhapsImyself，frommereassociation，shoulddecideinfavouroftheancestorwhobuiltthecastle。\'TheseriousanxietytobetruthfulthatSomersetthrewintohisobservation，wasmorethanthecircumstancerequired。\'Todesigngreatengineeringworks，\'headdedmusingly，andwithouttheleasteyetothedisparagementofherparent，\'requiresnodoubtaleadingmind。Buttoexecutethem，ashedid，requires，ofcourse，onlyafollowingmind。\'
Hisreplyhadnotaltogetherpleasedher；andtherewasadistinctreproachconveyedbyherslightmovementtowardsMrs。
Goodman。Hesawit，andwasgrievedthatheshouldhavespokenso。\'Iamgoingtowalkoverandinspectthatfamoustunnelofyourfather\'s，\'headdedgently。\'Itwillbeapleasantstudyforthisafternoon。\'
Shewentaway。\'Iamnomanoftheworld，\'hethought。\'I
oughttohavepraisedthatfatherofhersstraightoff。I
shallnotwinherrespect；muchlessherlove!\'
XII。
Somersetdidnotforgetwhathehadplanned，andwhenlunchwasoverhewalkedawaythroughthetrees。Thetunnelwasmoredifficultofdiscoverythanhehadanticipated，anditwasonlyafterconsiderablewindingamonggreenlanes，whosedeeprutswerelikecanyonsofColoradoinminiature，thathereachedtheslopeinthedistantuplandwherethetunnelbegan。Aroadstretchedoveritscrest，andthencealongonesideoftherailway-cutting。
HethereunexpectedlysawstandingMissPower\'scarriage；andondrawingnearerhefoundittocontainPaulaherself，MissDeStancy，andMrs。Goodman。
\'Howsingular!\'exclaimedMissDeStancygaily。
\'Itismostnatural，\'saidPaulainstantly。\'Inthemorningtwopeoplediscussafeatureinthelandscape，andintheafternooneachhasadesiretoseeitfromwhattheotherhassaidofit。Thereforetheyaccidentallymeet。\'
NowPaulahaddistinctlyheardSomersetdeclarethathewasgoingtowalkthere；howthencouldshesaythissocoolly?
Itwaswithapangathisheartthathereturnedtohisoldthoughtofherbeingpossiblyafinishedcoquetteanddissembler。Whatevershemightbe，shewasnotacreaturestarchedverystifflybyPuritanism。
Somersetlookeddownonthemouthofthetunnel。Thepopularcommonplacethatscience，steam，andtravelmustalwaysbeunromanticandhideous，wasnotprovenatthisspot。Oneitherslopeofthedeepcutting，greenwithlonggrass，grewdroopingyoungtreesofash，beech，andotherflexiblevarieties，theirfoliagealmostconcealingtheactualrailwaywhichranalongthebottom，itsthinsteelrailsgleaminglikesilverthreadsinthedepths。Theverticalfrontofthetunnel，facedwithbrickthathadoncebeenred，wasnowweather-stained，lichened，andmossedoverinharmoniousrusty-browns，pearlygreys，andneutralgreens，attheverybaseappearingalittleblue-blackspotlikeamouse-hole——thetunnel\'smouth。
Thecarriagewasdrawnupquiteclosetothewoodrailing，andPaulawaslookingdownatthesametimewithhim；buthemadenoremarktoher。
Mrs。Goodmanbrokethesilencebysaying，\'Ifitwerenotarailwayweshouldcallitalovelydell。\'
Somersetagreedwithher，addingthatitwassocharmingthathefeltinclinedtogodown。
\'Ifyoudo，perhapsMissPowerwillorderyouupagain，asatrespasser，\'saidCharlotteDeStancy。\'Youareoneofthelargestshareholdersintherailway，areyounot，Paula?\'
MissPowerdidnotreply。
\'IsupposeastheroadispartlyyoursyoumightwalkallthewaytoLondonalongtherails，ifyouwished，mightyounot，dear?\'Charlottecontinued。
Paulasmiled，andsaid，\'No，ofcoursenot。\'
Somerset，feelinghimselfsuperfluous，raisedhishattohiscompanionsasifhemeantnottoseethemagainforawhile，andbegantodescendbysomestepscutintheearth；MissDeStancyaskedMrs。Goodmantoaccompanyhertoabarrowoverthetopofthetunnel；andtheyleftthecarriage，Paularemainingalone。
DownSomersetplungedthroughthelonggrass，bushes，latesummerflowers，moths，andcaterpillars，vexedwithhimselfthathehadcomethere，sincePaulawassoinscrutable，andhummingthenotesofsomesonghedidnotknow。Thetunnelthathadseemedsosmallfromthesurfacewasavastarchwaywhenhereacheditsmouth，whichemitted，asacontrasttothesultryheatontheslopesofthecutting，acoolbreeze，thathadtravelledamileundergroundfromtheotherend。Farawayinthedarknessofthissilentsubterraneancorridorhecouldseethatotherendasamerespeckoflight。
Whenhehadconscientiouslyadmiredtheconstructionofthemassivearchivault，andthemajestyofitsnudeungarnishedwalls，helookeduptheslopeatthecarriage；itwassosmalltotheeyethatitmighthavebeenmadeforaperformancebycanaries；Paula\'sfacebeingstillsmaller，assheleanedbackinherseat，idlylookingdownathim。Thereseemedsomethingroguishinherattitudeofcriticism，andtobenolongerthesubjectofhercontemplationheenteredthetunneloutofhersight。
Inthemiddleofthespeckoflightbeforehimappearedaspeckofblack；andthenashrillwhistle，dulledbymillionsoftonsofearth，reachedhisearsfromthence。Itwaswhathehadbeenonhisguardagainstallthetime，——apassingtrain；andinsteadoftakingthetroubletocomeoutofthetunnelhesteppedintoarecess，tillthetrainhadrattledpastandvanishedonwardroundacurve。
Somersetstillremainedwherehehadplacedhimself，mentallybalancingscienceagainstart，thegrandeurofthisfinepieceofconstructionagainstthatofthecastle，andthinkingwhetherPaula\'sfatherhadnot，afterall，thebestofit，whenallatoncehesawPaula\'sformconfrontinghimattheentranceofthetunnel。Heinstantlywentforwardintothelight；tohissurpriseshewasaspaleasalily。
\'O，Mr。Somerset!\'sheexclaimed。\'Yououghtnottofrightenmeso——indeedyououghtnot!Thetraincameoutalmostassoonasyouhadgonein，andasyoudidnotreturn——anaccidentwaspossible!\'
Somersetatonceperceivedthathehadbeentoblameinnotthinkingofthis。
\'Pleasedoforgivemythoughtlessnessinnotreflectinghowitwouldstrikeyou!\'hepleaded。\'I——IseeIhavealarmedyou。\'
Heralarmwas，indeed，muchgreaterthanhehadatfirstthought:shetrembledsomuchthatshewasobligedtositdown，atwhichhewentuptoherfullofsolicitousness。
\'Yououghtnottohavedoneit!\'shesaid。\'Inaturallythought——anypersonwould——\'
Somerset，perhapswisely，saidnothingatthisoutburst；thecauseofhervexationwas，plainlyenough，hisperceptionofherdiscomposure。Hestoodlookinginanotherdirection，tillinafewmomentsshehadrisentoherfeetagain，quitecalm。
\'Itwouldhavebeendreadful，\'shesaidwithfaintgaiety，asthecolourreturnedtoherface；\'ifIhadlostmyarchitect，andbeenobligedtoengageMr。Havillwithoutanalternative。\'
\'Iwasreallyinnodanger；butofcourseIoughttohaveconsidered，\'hesaid。
\'Iforgiveyou，\'shereturnedgood-naturedly。\'IknewtherewasnoGREATdangertoapersonexercisingordinarydiscretion；butartistsandthinkerslikeyouareindiscreetforamomentsometimes。Iamnowgoingupagain。Whatdoyouthinkofthetunnel?\'
Theywerecrossingtherailwaytoascendbytheoppositepath，Somersetkeepinghiseyeontheinteriorofthetunnelforsafety，whensuddenlytherearoseanoiseandshriekfromthecontrarydirectionbehindthetrees。Bothknewinamomentwhatitmeant，andeachseizedtheotherastheyrushedoffthepermanentway。Theideasofbothhadbeensocentredonthetunnelasthesourceofdanger，thattheprobabilityofatrainfromtheoppositequarterhadbeenforgotten。Itrushedpastthem，causingPaula\'sdress，hair，andribbonstoflutterviolently，andblowingupthefallenleavesinashowerovertheirshoulders。
Neitherspoke，andtheywentupseveralsteps，holdingeachotherbythehand，till，becomingconsciousofthefact，shewithdrewhers；whereuponSomersetstoppedandlookedearnestlyather；buthereyeswereavertedtowardsthetunnelwall。
\'Whatanescape!\'hesaid。
\'Wewerenotsoverynear，Ithink，werewe?\'sheaskedquickly。\'Ifwewere，Ithinkyouwere——verygoodtotakemyhand。\'
Theyreachedthetopatlast，andthenewlevelandopenairseemedtogiveheranewmind。\'Idon\'tseethecarriageanywhere，\'shesaid，inthecommontonesofcivilization。
Hethoughtithadgoneoverthecrestofthehill；hewouldaccompanyhertilltheyreachedit。
\'No——please——Iwouldrathernot——Icanfinditverywell。\'
Beforehecouldsaymoreshehadinclinedherheadandsmiledandwasonherwayalone。
Thetunnel-cuttingappearedadrearygulfenoughnowtotheyoungman，ashestoodleaningovertherailsaboveit，beatingtheherbagewithhisstick。Forsomeminuteshecouldnotcriticizeorweighherconduct；thewarmthofherpresencestillencircledhim。Herecalledherfaceasithadlookedoutathimfromunderthewhitesilkpuffingofherblackhat，andthespeakingpowerofhereyesatthemomentofdanger。
Thebreadthofthatclear-complexionedforehead——almostconcealedbythemassesofbrownhairbundleduparoundit——
signifiedthatifherdispositionwereobliqueandinsincereenoughfortrifling，coquetting，orinanywaymakingafoolofhim，shehadtheintellecttodoitcruellywell。
Butitwasungeneroustoruminatesosuspiciously。Agirlnotanactressbyprofessioncouldhardlyturnpaleartificiallyasshehaddone，thoughperhapsmerefrightmeantnothing，andwouldhaveariseninherjustasreadilyhadhebeenoneofthelabourersonherestate。
Thereflectionthatsuchfeelingasshehadexhibitedcouldhavenotendermeaningreturneduponhimwithmasterfulforcewhenhethoughtofherwealthandthesocialpositionintowhichshehaddrifted。Somerset，beingofasolitaryandstudiousnature，wasnotquitecompetenttoestimatepreciselythedisqualifyingeffect，ifany，ofhernonconformity，hernewnessofblood，andotherthings，amongtheoldcountyfamiliesestablishedroundher；butthetoughestprejudices，hethought，werenotlikelytobelonginvulnerabletosuchcheerfulbeautyandbrightnessofintellectasPaula\'s。Whensheemerged，asshewasplainlyabouttodo，fromtheseclusioninwhichshehadbeenlivingsinceherfather\'sdeath，shewouldinevitablywinherwayamongherneighbours。
Shewouldbecomethelocaltopic。Fortune-hunterswouldlearnofherexistenceanddrawnearinshoals。Whatchancewouldtherethenbeforhim?
Thepointsinhisfavourwereindeedfew，buttheywerejustenoughtokeepatantalizinghopealive。Modestlyleavingoutofcounthispersonalandintellectualqualifications，hethoughtofhisfamily。Itwasanoldstockenough，thoughnotarichone。Hisgreat-unclehadbeenthewell-knownVice-
admiralSirArmstrongSomerset，whoservedhiscountrywellintheBaltic，theIndies，China，andtheCaribbeanSea。Hisgrandfatherhadbeenanotablemetaphysician。Hisfather，theRoyalAcademician，waspopular。Butperhapsthiswasnotthesortofreasoninglikelytooccupythemindofayoungwoman；
thepersonalaspectofthesituationwasinsuchcircumstancesoffarmoreimport。Hehadcomeasawanderingstranger——thatpossiblylentsomeinteresttohiminhereyes。Hewasinstalledinanofficewhichwouldnecessitatefreecommunionwithherforsometimetocome；thatwasanotheradvantage，andwouldbeastillgreateroneifsheshowed，asPaulaseemeddisposedtodo，suchartisticsympathywithhisworkastofollowupwithinterestthedetailsofitsprogress。
Thecarriagedidnotreappear，andhewentontowardsMarkton，disinclinedtoreturnagainthatdaytothestudiowhichhadbeenpreparedforhimatthecastle。Heheardfeetbrushingthegrassbehindhim，and，lookinground，sawtheBaptistminister。
\'Ihavejustcomefromthevillage，\'saidMr。Woodwell，wholookedwornandweary，hisbootsbeingcoveredwithdust；\'andIhavelearntthatwhichconfirmsmyfearsforher。\'
\'ForMissPower?\'
\'Mostassuredly。\'
\'Whatdangeristhere?\'saidSomerset。
\'Thetemptationsofherpositionhavebecometoomuchforher!
Sheisgoingoutofmourningnextweek，andwillgivealargedinner-partyontheoccasion；forthoughtheinvitationsarepartlyinthenameofherrelativeMrs。Goodman，theymustcomefromher。Theguestsaretoincludepeopleofoldcavalierfamilieswhowouldhavetreatedhergrandfather，sir，andevenherfather，withscornfortheirreligionandconnections；alsotheparsonandcurate——yes，actuallypeoplewhobelieveintheApostolicSuccession；andwhat\'smore，they\'recoming。Myopinionis，thatithasallarisenfromherfriendshipwithMissDeStancy。\'
\'Well，\'criedSomersetwarmly，\'thisonlyshowsliberalityoffeelingonbothsides!Isupposeshehasinvitedyouaswell?\'
\'Shehasnotinvitedme!……Mr。Somerset，notwithstandingyourerroneousopinionsonimportantmatters，Ispeaktoyouasafriend，andItellyouthatshehasneverinhersecretheartforgiventhatsermonofmine，inwhichIlikenedhertothechurchatLaodicea。Iadmitthewordswereharsh，butI
wasdoingmyduty，andifthecasearoseto-morrowIwoulddoitagain。Herdispleasureisadeepgrieftome；butIserveOnegreaterthanshe……You，ofcourse，areinvitedtothisdinner?\'
\'Ihaveheardnothingofit，\'murmuredtheyoungman。
Theirpathsdiverged；andwhenSomersetreachedthehotelhewasinformedthatsomebodywaswaitingtoseehim。
\'Manorwoman?\'heasked。
Thelandlady，whoalwayslikedtoreplyinpersontoSomerset\'sinquiries，apparentlythinkinghim，byvirtueofhisdrawingimplementsandliberalityofpayment，apossiblelordofBurleigh，cameforwardandsaiditwascertainlynotawoman，butwhethermanorboyshecouldnotsay。\'HisnameisMr。Dare，\'sheadded。
\'O——thatyouth，\'hesaid。
Somersetwentupstairs，alongthepassage，downtwosteps，roundtheangle，andsoontotheroomsreservedforhiminthisramblingedificeofstage-coachmemories，wherehefoundDarewaiting。Darecameforward，pullingoutthecuttingofanadvertisement。
\'Mr。Somerset，thisisyours，Ibelieve，fromtheArchitecturalWorld?\'
Somersetsaidthathehadinsertedit。
\'IthinkIshouldsuityourpurposeasassistantverywell。\'
\'Areyouanarchitect\'sdraughtsman?\'
\'Notspecially。Ihavesomeknowledgeofthesame，andwanttoincreaseit。\'
\'Ithoughtyouwereaphotographer。\'
\'Alsoofphotography，\'saidDarewithabow。\'ThoughbutanamateurinthatartIcanchallengecomparisonwithRegentStreetorBroadway。\'
Somersetlookeduponhistable。Twolettersonly，addressedininitials，werelyingthereasanswerstohisadvertisement。
HeaskedDaretowait，andlookedthemover。Neitherwassatisfactory。OnthisaccountheovercamehisslightfeelingagainstMr。Dare，andputaquestiontotestthatgentleman\'scapacities。\'Howwouldyoumeasurethefrontofabuilding，includingwindows，doors，mouldings，andeveryotherfeature，foragroundplan，soastocombinethegreatestaccuracywiththegreatestdespatch?\'
\'Inrunningdimensions，\'saidDare。
Asthiswastheparticularkindofworkhewanteddone，Somersetthoughttheanswerpromising。ComingtotermswithDare，herequestedthewould-bestudentofarchitecturetowaitatthecastlethenextday，anddismissedhim。
Aquarterofanhourlater，whenDarewastakingawalkinthecountry，hedrewfromhispocketeightotherlettersaddressedtoSomersetininitials，which，tojudgebytheirstyleandstationery，werefrommenfarsuperiortothosetwowhosecommunicationsaloneSomersethadseen。Darelookedthemoverforafewsecondsashestrolledon，thentorethemintominutefragments，and，buryingthemundertheleavesintheditch，wentonhiswayagain。
XIII。
Thoughexhibitingindifference，SomersethadfeltapangofdisappointmentwhenheheardthenewsofPaula\'sapproachingdinner-party。Itseemedalittleunkindofhertopasshimover，seeinghowmuchtheywerethrowntogetherjustnow。
Thatdinnermeantmorethanitsounded。Notwithstandingtheroominessofhercastle，shewasatpresentlivingsomewhatincommodiously，owingpartlytothestagnationcausedbyherrecentbereavement，andpartlytothenecessityforoverhaulingtheDeStancylumberpiledinthosevastandgloomychambersbeforetheycouldbemadetolerabletonineteenth-centuryfastidiousness。
TogivedinnersonanylargescalebeforeSomersethadatleastsetafewoftheseroomsinorderforher，showed，tohisthinking，anoverpoweringdesireforsociety。
Duringtheweekhesawlessofherthanusual，hertimebeingtoallappearancemuchtakenupwithdrivingouttomakecallsonherneighboursandreceivingreturnvisits。Allthisheobservedfromthewindowsofhisstudiooverlookingthecastleward，inwhichroomhenowspentagreatdealofhistime，bendingoverdrawing-boardsandinstructingDare，whoworkedaswellascouldbeexpectedofayouthofsuchvariedattainments。
NearercametheWednesdayoftheparty，andnohintofthateventreachedSomerset，butsuchashadbeencommunicatedbytheBaptistminister。Atlast，ontheveryafternoon，aninvitationwashandedintohisstudio——notakindnoteinPaula\'shandwriting，butaformalprintedcardinthejointnamesofMrs。GoodmanandMissPower。Itreachedhimjustfourhoursbeforethedinner-time。Hewasplainlytobeusedasastop-gapatthelastmomentbecausesomebodycouldnotcome。
HavingpreviouslyarrangedtopassaquieteveninginhisroomsattheLordQuantockArms，inreadingupchroniclesofthecastlefromthecountyhistory，withtheviewofgatheringsomeideasastothedistributionofroomsthereinbeforethedemolitionofaportionofthestructure，hedecidedoff-handthatPaula\'sdinnerwasnotofsufficientimportancetohimasaprofessionalmanandstudentofarttojustifyawasteoftheeveningbygoing。HeaccordinglydeclinedMrs。Goodman\'sandMissPower\'sinvitation；andatfiveo\'clockleftthecastleandwalkedacrossthefieldstothelittletown。
Hedinedearly，and，clearingawayheavinesswithacupofcoffee，appliedhimselftothatvolumeofthecountyhistorywhichcontainedtherecordofStancyCastle。
Herehereadthat\'whenthispicturesqueandancientstructurewasfounded，orbywhom，isextremelyuncertain。Butthatacastlestoodonthesiteinveryearlytimesappearsfrommanyoldbooksofcharters。Initsprimeitwassuchamasterpieceoffortificationastobethewonderoftheworld，anditwasthought，beforetheinventionofgunpowder，thatitnevercouldbetakenbyanyforcelessthandivine。\'
Hereadontothetimeswhenitfirstpassedintothehandsof\'DeStancy，Chivaler，\'andreceivedthefamilyname，andsoonfromDeStancytoDeStancytillhewaslostinthereflectionwhetherPaulawouldorwouldnothavethoughtmorehighlyofhimifhehadacceptedtheinvitationtodinner。Applyinghimselfagaintothetome，helearnedthatintheyear1504
Stephenthecarpenterwas\'paidelevenpencefornecessaryerepayrs，\'andWilliamthemastermasoneightshillings\'forwhytlymingofthekitchen，andthelymetodoitwith，\'
including\'anewropeforthefyerbell；\'alsothesundrychargesfor\'vijcrockes，xiijlytyllpans，apareofpothookes，afyerpane，alanterne，achafyngedyshe，andxijcandyllstychs。\'
Bangwenteightstrokesoftheclock:itwasthedinner-hour。
\'There，nowIcan\'tgo，anyhow!\'hesaidbitterly，jumpingup，andpicturingherreceivinghercompany。Howwouldshelook；
whatwouldshewear?Profoundlyindifferenttotheearlyhistoryofthenoblefabric，hefeltaviolentreactiontowardsmodernism，eclecticism，newaristocracies，everything，inshort，thatPaularepresented。HeevengavehimselfuptoconsidertheGreekcourtthatshehadwishedfor，andpassedtheremainderoftheeveninginmakingaperspectiveviewofthesame。
Thenextmorningheawokeearly，and，resolvingtobeatworkbetimes，startedpromptly。Itwasafinecalmhourofday；
thegrassslopesweresilverywithexcessofdew，andthebluemistshunginthedepthsofeachtreeforwantofwindtoblowthemout。Somersetenteredthedriveonfoot，andwhennearthecastleheobservedinthegravelthewheel-marksofthecarriagesthathadconveyedthegueststhitherthenightbefore。Thereseemedtohavebeenalargenumber，fortheroadwherenewlyrepairedwasquitecutup。BeforegoingindoorshewastemptedtowalkroundtothewinginwhichPaulaslept。
Rookswerecawing，sparrowswerechatteringthere；buttheblindofherwindowwasascloselydrawnasifitweremidnight。Probablyshewassoundasleep，dreamingofthecomplimentswhichhadbeenpaidherbyherguests，andofthefuturetriumphantpleasuresthatwouldfollowintheirtrain。
Reachingtheouterstonestairsleadingtothegreathallhefoundthemshadowedbyanawningbrilliantlystripedwithredandblue，withinwhichrowsoffloweringplantsinpotsborderedthepathway。Shecouldnothavemademorepreparationhadthegatheringbeenaball。Hepassedalongthegalleryinwhichhisstudiowassituated，enteredtheroom，andseizedadrawing-boardtoputintocorrectdrawingthesketchfortheGreekcourtthathehadstruckoutthenightbefore，therebyabandoninghisartprinciplestopleasethewhimofagirl。Darehadnotyetarrived，andafteratimeSomersetthrewdownhispencilandleantback。
Hiseyefelluponsomethingthatmoved。Itwaswhite，andlayinthefoldingchairontheoppositesideoftheroom。Onnearapproachhefoundittobeafragmentofswan\'s-downfannedintomotionbyhisownmovements，andpartiallysqueezedintothechinkofthechairasthoughbysomepersonsittingonit。
Nonebutawomanwouldhavewornorbroughtthatswan\'s-downintohisstudio，anditmadehimreflectonthepossibleone。
Nothinginterruptedhisconjecturestillteno\'clock，whenDarecame。ThenoneoftheservantstappedatthedoortoknowifMr。Somersethadarrived。SomersetaskedifMissPowerwishedtoseehim，andwasinformedthatshehadonlywishedtoknowifhehadcome。Somersetsentareturnmessagethathehadadesignontheboardwhichheshouldsoonbegladtosubmittoher，andthemessengerdeparted。
\'Finedoingsherelastnight，sir，\'saidDare，ashedustedhisT-square。
