第7章

\'Won\'tyousayanythingmoreexplicit?\'

\'Iwouldrathernot。\'

Somersetemittedhalfasigh:hewishedshehadbeenmoredemonstrative，yetfeltthatthispassivewayofassentingwasasmuchashecouldhopefor。Hadtherebeenanythingcoldinherpassivityhemighthavefeltrepressed；butherstillnesssuggestedthestillnessofmotionimperceptiblefromitsintensity。

\'Wemustgoin，\'saidshe。\'Therainisalmostover，andthereisnolongeranyexcuseforthis。\'

Somersetbenthislipstowardhers。\'No，\'saidthefairPuritandecisively。

\'Whynot?\'heasked。

\'Nobodyeverhas。\'

\'But!——\'expostulatedSomerset。

\'Toeverythingthereisaseason，andtheseasonforthisisnotjustnow，\'sheanswered，walkingaway。

Theycrossedthewetandglisteninglawn，steppedunderthetentandparted。Shevanished，hedidnotknowwhither；and，standingwithhisgazefixedonthedancers，theyoungmanwaited，till，beinginnomoodtojointhem，hewentslowlythroughtheartificialpassagelinedwithflowers，andenteredthedrawingroom。Mrs。Goodmanwasthere，biddinggood-nighttotheearlygoers，andPaulawasjustbehindher，apparentlyinherusualmood。Hispartingwithherwasquiteformal，butthathedidnotmind，forhercolourrosedecidedlyhigherasheapproached，andthelightinhereyeswasliketherayofadiamond。

WhenhereachedthedoorhefoundthathisbroughamfromtheQuantockArms，whichhadbeenwaitingmorethananhour，couldnotbeheardof。Thatvagrancyofspiritwhichloveinduceswouldnotpermithimtowait；and，leavingwordthatthemanwastofollowhimwhenhereturned，hewentpasttheglareofcarriage-lampsrankedintheward，andundertheouterarch。

Thenightwasnowclearandbeautiful，andhestrolledalonghiswayfullofmysteriouselationtillthevehicleovertookhim，andhegotin。

UptothispointSomerset\'sprogressinhissuithadbeen，thoughincomplete，souninterrupted，thathealmostfearedthegoodchanceheenjoyed。Howshoulditbeinamortalofhiscalibretocommandsuccesswithsuchasweetwomanforlong?

Hemight，indeed，turnouttobeoneofthesingularexceptionswhicharesaidtoproverules；butwhenfortunemeanstomenmostgood，observesthebard，shelooksuponthemwithathreateningeye。Somersetwouldevenhavebeencontentthatalittledisapprovalofhiscourseshouldhaveoccurredinsomequarter，soastomakehiswooingmorelikeordinarylife。ButPaulawasnotclearlywon，andthatwasdrawbacksufficient。InthesepleasingagoniesandpainfuldelightshepassedthejourneytoMarkton。

BOOKTHESECOND。DAREANDHAVILL。

I。

YoungDaresatthoughtfullyatthewindowofthestudioinwhichSomersethadlefthim，tillthegayscenebeneathbecameembrownedbythetwilight，andthebrilliantredstripesofthemarquees，thebrightsunshades，themany-tintedcostumesoftheladies，wereindistinguishablefromtheblacksandgreysofthemasculinecontingentmovingamongthem。Hehadoccasionallyglancedawayfromtheoutwardprospecttostudyasmalloldvolumethatlaybeforehimonthedrawing-board。

Nearscrutinyrevealedthebooktobearthetitle\'Moivre\'sDoctrineofChances。\'

TheeveninghadbeensostillthatDarehadheardconversationsfrombelowwithaclearnessunsuspectedbythespeakersthemselves；andamongthedialogueswhichthusreachedhisearswasthatbetweenSomersetandHavillontheirprofessionalrivalry。Whentheyparted，andSomersethadmingledwiththethrong，Havillwenttoaseatatadistance。

Afterwardsherose，andwalkedaway；butonthebenchhehadquittedthereremainedasmallobjectresemblingabookorleathercase。

Dareputawaythedrawing-boardandplotting-scaleswhichhehadkeptbeforehimduringtheeveningasareasonforhispresenceatthatpostofespial，lockedupthedoor，andwentdownstairs。NotwithstandinghisdismissalbySomerset，hewassosereneincountenanceandeasyingaitastomakeitafairconjecturethatprofessionalservitude，howeverprofitable，wasnonecessitywithhim。ThegloomnowrendereditpracticableforanyunbiddenguesttojoinPaula\'sassemblagewithoutcriticism，andDarewalkedboldlyoutuponthelawn。

Thecrowdonthegrasswasrapidlydiminishing；thetennis-

playershadrelinquishedsport；manypeoplehadgoneintodinnerorsupper；andmanyothers，attractedbythecheerfulradianceofthecandles，weregatheringinthelargetentthathadbeenlightedupfordancing。

Darewenttothegarden-chaironwhichHavillhadbeenseated，andfoundthearticleleftbehindtobeapocket-book。

Whetherbecauseitwasunclaspedandfellopeninhishand，orotherwise，hedidnothesitatetoexaminethecontents。Amongamassofarchitect\'scustomarymemorandaoccurredadraftoftheletterabusingPaulaasaniconoclastorVandalbyblood，whichhadappearedinthenewspaper:thedraftwassointerlinedandalteredastobearevidenceofbeingtheoriginalconceptionofthatungentlemanlyattack。

Theladreadtheletter，smiled，andstrolledaboutthegrounds，onlymetbyanoccasionalpairofindividualsofoppositesexindeepconversation，thestateofwhoseemotionsledthemtoprefertheeveningshadetothepublicityandglareofthetentsandrooms。Atlastheobservedthewhitewaistcoatofthemanhesought。

\'Mr。Havill，thearchitect，Ibelieve?\'saidDare。\'Theauthorofmostofthenoteworthybuildingsinthisneighbourhood?\'

Havillassentedblandly。

\'Ihavelongwishedforthepleasureofyouracquaintance，andnowanaccidenthelpsmetomakeit。Thispocket-book，I

think，isyours?\'

Havillclappedhishandtohispocket，examinedthebookDareheldouttohim，andtookitwiththanks。\'IseeIamspeakingtotheartist，archaeologist，Gothicphotographer——

Mr。Dare。\'

\'ProfessorDare。\'

\'Professor?Pardonme，Ishouldnothaveguessedit——soyoungasyouare。\'

\'Well，itismerelyornamental；andintruth，IdropthetitleinEngland，particularlyunderpresentcircumstances。\'

\'Ah——theyarepeculiar，perhaps?Ah，Iremember。Ihaveheardthatyouareassistingagentlemaninpreparingadesigninoppositiontomine——adesign——\'

\'"Thatheisnotcompetenttopreparehimself，"youwereperhapsgoingtoadd?\'

\'Notpreciselythat。\'

\'Youcouldhardlybeblamedforsuchwords。However，youaremistaken。Ididassisthimtogainalittlefurtherinsightintotheworkingofarchitecturalplans；butourviewsonartareantagonistic，andIassisthimnomore。Mr。Havill，itmustbeveryprovokingtoawell-establishedprofessionalmantohavearivalsprungathiminagrandundertakingwhichhehadarighttoexpectashisown。\'

Professionalsympathyisoftenacceptedfromthosewhosecondolenceonanydomesticmatterwouldbeconsideredintrusive。HavillwalkedupanddownbesideDareforafewmomentsinsilence，andatlastshowedthatthewordshadtold，bysaying:\'Everyonemayhavehisopinion。HadIbeenastrangertothePowerfamily，thecasewouldhavebeendifferent；buthavingbeenspeciallyelectedbythelady\'sfatherasacompetentadviserinsuchmatters，andthentobedegradedtothepositionofamerecompetitor，itwoundsmetothequick——\'

\'Bothinpurseandinperson，liketheill-usedhostessoftheGarter。\'

\'AladytowhomIhavebeenastaunchfriend，\'continuedHavill，notheedingtheinterruption。

AtthatmomentsoundsseemedtocomefromDarewhichborearemarkableresemblancetothewords，\'Ho，ho，Havill!\'Itwashardlycredible，andyet，couldhebemistaken?Havillturned。Dare\'seyewastwistedcomicallyupward。

\'Whatdoesthatmean?\'saidHavillcoldly，andwithsomeamazement。

\'Ho，ho，Havill!"Staunchfriend"isgood——especiallyafter"aniconoclastandVandalbyblood"——"monstrosityintheformofaGreektemple，"andsoon，eh!\'

\'Sir，youhavetheadvantageofme。Perhapsyoualludetothatanonymousletter?\'

\'O-ho，Havill!\'repeatedtheboy-man，turninghiseyesyetfurthertowardsthezenith。\'Toanoutsidersuchconductwouldbenatural；buttoafriendwhofindsyourpocket-book，andlooksintoitbeforereturningit，andkindlyremovesaleafbearingthedraftofaletterwhichmightinjureyouifdiscoveredthere，andcarefullyconcealsitinhisownpocket——

why，suchconductisunkind!\'Darehelduptheabstractedleaf。

Havilltrembled。\'Icanexplain，\'hebegan。

\'Itisnotnecessary:wearefriends，\'saidDareassuringly。

Havilllookedasifhewouldliketosnatchtheleafaway，butalteringhismind，hesaidgrimly:\'Well，Itakeyouatyourword:wearefriends。ThatletterwasconcoctedbeforeI

knewofthecompetition:itwasduringmyfirstdisgust，whenIbelievedmyselfentirelysupplanted。\'

\'Iamnotintheleastsurprised。ButifsheknewYOUtobethewriter!\'

\'Ishouldberuinedasfarasthiscompetitionisconcerned，\'

saidHavillcarelessly。\'HadIknownIwastobeinvitedtocompete，Ishouldnothavewrittenit，ofcourse。Tobesupplantedishard；andtherebyhangsatale。\'

\'Anothertale?Youastonishme。\'

\'Thenyouhavenotheardthescandal，thougheverybodyistalkingaboutit。\'

\'Ascandalimpliesindecorum。\'

\'Well，\'tisindecorous。Herinfatuatedpartialityforhimispatenttotheeyesofachild；amanshehasonlyknownafewweeks，andonewhoobtainedadmissiontoherhouseinthemostirregularmanner!Hadsheawatchfulfriendbesideher，insteadofthatmoonstruckMrs。Goodman，shewouldbecautionedagainstbestowingherfavoursonthefirstadventurerwhoappearsatherdoor。Itisapity，agreatpity!\'

\'O，thereislove-makinginthewind?\'saidDareslowly。

\'Thataltersthecaseforme。Butitisnotproved?\'

\'Itcaneasilybeproved。\'

\'Iwishitwere，ordisproved。\'

\'Youhaveonlytocomethiswaytoclearupalldoubts。\'

Havilltooktheladtowardsthetent，fromwhichthestrainsofawaltznowproceeded，andonwhosesidesflittingshadowstoldoftheprogressofthedance。Thecompanionslookedin。

Therosysilkliningofthemarquee，andthenumerouscoronasofwaxlights，formedacanopytoaradiantscenewhich，fortwoatleastofthosewhocomposedit，wasanintoxicatingone。PaulaandSomersetweredancingtogether。

\'Thatprovesnothing，\'saidDare。

\'Lookattheirraptfaces，andsayifitdoesnot，\'sneeredHavill。

Dareobjectedtoajudgmentbasedonlooksalone。

\'Verywell——timewillshow，\'saidthearchitect，droppingthetent-curtain……\'GoodGod!agirlworthfiftythousandandmoreayeartothrowherselfawayuponafellowlikethat——

sheoughttobewhipped。\'

\'TimemustNOTshow!\'saidDare。

\'Youspeakwithemphasis。\'

\'Ihavereason。Iwouldgivesomethingtobesureonthispoint，onewayortheother。Letuswaittillthedanceisover，andobservethemmorecarefully。Horensagenisthalbgelogen!Hearsayishalflies。\'

Sheet-lightningsincreasedinthenorthernsky，followedbythunderliketheindistinctnoiseofabattle。HavillandDareretiredtothetrees。WhenthedanceendedSomersetandhispartneremergedfromthetent，andslowlymovedtowardsthetea-house。DiviningtheirgoalDareseizedHavill\'sarm；

andthetwoworthiesenteredthebuildingunseen，byfirstpassingroundbehindit。Theyseatedthemselvesinthebackpartoftheinterior，wheredarknessprevailed。

Asbeforerelated，PaulaandSomersetcameandstoodwithinthedoor。Whentherainincreasedtheydrewthemselvesfurtherinward，theirformsbeingdistinctlyoutlinedtothegazeofthoselurkingbehindbythelightfromthetentbeyond。Butthehissofthefallingrainandthelownessoftheirtonespreventedtheirwordsfrombeingheard。

\'Iwishmyselfoutofthis!\'breathedHavilltoDare，ashebuttonedhiscoatoverhiswhitewaistcoat。\'Itoldyouitwastrue，butyouwouldn\'tbelieve。Iwouldn\'tsheshouldcatchmehereeavesdroppingfortheworld!\'

\'Courage，ManFriday，\'saidhiscoolercomrade。

Paulaandherloverbackedyetfurther，tillthehemofherskirttouchedHavill\'sfeet。TheirattitudesweresufficienttoprovetheirrelationstothemostobstinateDidymuswhoshouldhavewitnessedthem。Tenderemotionsseemedtopervadethesummer-houselikeanaroma。Thecalmecstasyoftheconditionofatleastoneofthemwasnotwithoutacoerciveeffectuponthetwoinvidiousspectators，sothattheymustneedhaveremainedpassivehadtheycometheretodisturborannoy。TheserenityofPaulawasevenmoreimpressivethanthehushedardourofSomerset:shedidnotsatisfycuriosityasSomersetsatisfiedit；shepiquedit。PoorSomersethadreachedaperfectlyintelligibledepth——onewhichhadasingleblissfulwayoutofit，andninecalamitousones；butPaularemainedanenigmaallthroughthescene。

Therainceased，andthepairmovedaway。Theenchantmentworkedbytheirpresencevanished，thedetailsofthemeetingsettleddowninthewatchers\'minds，andtheirtongueswereloosened。Dare，turningtoHavill，said，\'Thankyou；youhavedonemeatimelyturnto-day。\'

\'What!hadyouhopesthatway?\'askedHavillsatirically。

\'I!Thewomanthatinterestsmyhearthasyettobeborn，\'

saidDare，withasteelycoldnessstrangeinsuchajuvenile，andyetalmostconvincing。\'ButthoughIhavenotpersonalhopes，Ihaveanobjectiontothiscourtship。NowIthinkwemayaswellfraternize，thesituationbeingwhatitis?\'

\'Whatisthesituation?"

\'Heisinyourwayasherarchitect；heisinmywayasherlover:wedon\'twanttohurthim，butwewishhimcleanoutoftheneighbourhood。\'

\'I\'llgoasfarasthat，\'saidHavill。

\'Ihavecomehereatsometroubletomyself，merelytoobserve:IfindIoughttostaytoact。\'

\'Ifyouweremyself，amarriedmanwithpeopledependentonhim，whohashadaprofessionalcertaintyturnedtoamiserablyremotecontingencybytheseevents，youmightsayyououghttoact；butwhatconceivabledifferenceitcanmaketoyouwhoitistheyoungladytakestoherheartandhome，I

failtounderstand。\'

\'Well，I\'lltellyou——thismuchatleast。Iwanttokeeptheplacevacantforanotherman。\'

\'Theplace?\'

\'TheplaceofhusbandtoMissPower，andproprietorofthatcastleanddomain。\'

\'That\'saschemewithavengeance。Whoistheman?\'

\'Itismysecretatpresent。\'

\'Certainly。\'Havilldrewadeepbreath，anddroppedintoatoneofdepression。\'Well，schemeasyouwill，therewillbesmalladvantagetome，\'hemurmured。\'Thecastlecommissionisasgoodasgone，andabillfortwohundredpoundsfallsduenextweek。\'

\'Cheerup，heart!Myposition，ifyouonlyknewit，hastentimesthedifficultiesofyours，sincethisdisagreeablediscovery。Letusconsiderifwecanassisteachother。Thecompetitiondrawingsaretobesentin——when?\'

\'Insomethingoversixweeks——afortnightbeforeshereturnsfromtheScillyIsles，forwhichplacesheleaveshereinafewdays。\'

\'O，shegoesaway——that\'sbetter。Ourloverwillbeworkinghereathisdrawings，andshenotpresent。\'

\'Exactly。Perhapssheisalittleashamedoftheintimacy。\'

\'Andifyourdesignisconsideredbestbythecommittee，hewillhavenofurtherreasonforstaying，assumingthattheyarenotdefinitelyengagedtomarrybythattime?\'

\'Isupposeso，\'murmuredHavilldiscontentedly。\'Theconditions，assenttome，statethatthedesignsaretobeadjudicatedonbythreemembersoftheInstitutecalledinforthepurpose；sothatshemayreturn，andhaveseemedtoshownofavour。\'

\'Thenitamountstothis:yourdesignMUSTbebest。Itmustcombinetheexcellencesofyourinventionwiththeexcellencesofhis。Meanwhileacoolnessshouldbemadetoarisebetweenherandhim:andastherewouldbenoartisticreasonforhispresencehereaftertheverdictispronounced，hewouldperforcehiebacktotown。Doyousee?\'

\'Iseetheingenuityoftheplan，butIalsoseetwoinsurmountableobstaclestoit。Thefirstis，Icannotaddtheexcellencesofhisdesigntominewithoutknowingwhatthoseexcellencesare，whichhewillofcoursekeepasecret。

Second，itwillnotbeeasytopromoteacoolnessbetweensuchhotonesasthey。\'

\'Youmakeamistake。Itisonlyhewhoissoardent。Sheisonlylukewarm。Ifwehadanyspirit，abargainwouldbestruckbetweenus:youwouldappropriatehisdesign；Ishouldcausethecoolness。\'

\'HowcouldIappropriatehisdesign?\'

\'Bycopyingit，Isuppose。\'

\'Copyingit?\'

\'Bygoingintohisstudioandlookingitover。\'

HavillturnedtoDare，andstared。\'ByGeorge，youdon\'tstickattrifles，youngman。Youdon\'tsupposeIwouldgointoaman\'sroomsandstealhisinventionslikethat?\'

\'Iscarcelysupposeyouwould，\'saidDareindifferently，asherose。

\'AndifIwereto，\'saidHavillcuriously，\'howisthecoolnesstobecaused?\'

\'Bythesecondman。\'

\'Whoistoproducehim?\'

\'HerMajesty\'sGovernment。\'

Havilllookedmeditativelyathiscompanion，andshookhishead。\'Intheseidlesuppositionswehavebeenassumingconductwhichwouldbequiteagainstmyprinciplesasanhonestman。\'

II。

AfewdaysafterthepartyatStancyCastle，DarewaswalkingdowntheHighStreetofMarkton，acigarettebetweenhislipsandasilver-toppedcaneinhishand。Hiseyefelluponabrassplateonanoppositedoor，bearingthenameofMr。

Havill，Architect。Hecrossedover，andrangtheofficebell。

TheclerkwhoadmittedhimstatedthatMr。Havillwasinhisprivateroom，andwouldbedisengagedinashorttime。WhileDarewaitedtheclerkaffixedtothedoorapieceofpaperbearingthewords\'Backat2，\'andwentawaytohisdinner，leavingDareintheroomalone。

Darelookedatthedifferentdrawingsontheboardsabouttheroom。Theyallrepresentedonesubject，which，thoughunfinishedasyet，andbearingnoinscription，wasrecognizedbythevisitorasthedesignfortheenlargementandrestorationofStancyCastle。WhenhehadglanceditoverDaresatdown。

Thedoorsbetweentheofficeandprivateroomweredouble；buttheonetowardstheofficebeingonlyajarDarecouldhearaconversationinprogresswithin。Itpresentlyrosetoanaltercation，thetenorofwhichwasobvious。Somebodyhadcomeformoney。

\'ReallyIcanstanditnolonger，Mr。Havill——reallyIwillnot!\'saidthecreditorexcitedly。\'Nowthisbilloverdueagain——whatcanyouexpect?Why，Imighthavenegotiatedit；

andwherewouldyouhavebeenthen?Insteadofthat，Ihavelockeditupoutofconsiderationforyou；andwhatdoIgetformyconsiderateness?Ishallletthelawtakeitscourse!\'

\'You\'lldomeinexpressibleharm，andgetnothingwhatever，\'

saidHavill。\'Ifyouwouldrenewforanotherthreemonthstherewouldbenodifficultyinthematter。\'

\'Youhavesaidsobefore:Iwilldonosuchthing。\'

Therewasasilence；whereuponDarearosewithouthesitation，andwalkedboldlyintotheprivateoffice。Havillwasstandingatoneend，asgloomyasathundercloud，andattheotherwastheunfortunatecreditorwithhishaton。ThoughDare\'sentrysurprisedthem，bothpartiesseemedrelieved。

\'Ihavecalledinpassingtocongratulateyou，Mr。Havill，\'

saidDaregaily。\'Suchacommissionashasbeenentrustedtoyouwillmakeyoufamous!\'

\'Howdoyoudo?——Iwishitwouldmakemerich，\'saidHavilldrily。

\'Itwillbealiftinthatdirection，fromwhatIknowoftheprofession。Whatisshegoingtospend?\'

\'Ahundredthousand。\'

\'Yourcommissionasarchitect，fivethousand。Notbad，formakingafewsketches。Considerwhatothergreatcommissionssuchaworkwillleadto。\'

\'Whatgreatworkisthis?\'askedthecreditor。

\'StancyCastle，\'saidDare，sinceHavillseemedtooagapetoanswer。\'Youhavenotheardofit，then?Thosearethedrawings，Ipresume，inthenextroom?\'

Havillrepliedintheaffirmative，beginningtoperceivethemanoeuvre。\'Perhapsyouwouldliketoseethem?\'hesaidtothecreditor。

Thelatterofferednoobjection，andallthreewentintothedrawing-office。

\'Itwillcertainlybeamagnificentstructure，\'saidthecreditor，afterregardingtheelevationsthroughhisspectacles。\'StancyCastle:Ihadnoideaofit!andwhendoyoubegintobuild，Mr。Havill?\'heinquiredinmollifiedtones。

\'Inthreemonths，Ithink?\'saidDare，lookingtoHavill。

Havillassented。

\'Fivethousandpoundscommission，\'murmuredthecreditor。

\'Paiddown，Isuppose?\'

Havillnodded。

\'Andtheworkswillnotlingerforlackofmoneytocarrythemout，Iimagine，\'saidDare。\'Twohundredthousandwillprobablybespentbeforetheworkisfinished。\'

\'Thereisnotmuchdoubtofit，\'saidHavill。

\'Yousaidnothingtomeaboutthis?\'whisperedthecreditortoHavill，takinghimaside，withalookofregret。

\'Youwouldnotlisten!\'

\'Italtersthecasegreatly。\'ThecreditorretiredwithHavilltothedoor，andafterasubduedcolloquyinthepassagehewentaway，Havillreturningtotheoffice。

\'Whatthedevildoyoumeanbyhoaxinghimlikethis，whenthejobisnomoreminethanInigoJones\'s?\'

\'Don\'tbetoocurious，\'saidDare，laughing。\'Ratherthankmeforgettingridofhim。\'

\'Butitisallavision!\'saidHavill，ruefullyregardingthepencilledtowersofStancyCastle。\'Ifthecompetitionwerereallythecommissionthatyouhaverepresentedittobetheremightbesomethingtolaughat。\'

\'Itmustbemadeacommission，somehow，\'returnedDarecarelessly。\'Iamcometolendyoualittleassistance。I

muststayintheneighbourhood，andIhavenothingelsetodo。\'

Acarriageslowlypassedthewindow，andHavillrecognizedthePowerliveries。\'Hullo——she\'scominghere!\'hesaidunderhisbreath，asthecarriagestoppedbythekerb。\'Whatdoesshewant，Iwonder?Dare，doessheknowyou?\'

\'Iwouldjustassoonbeoutoftheway。\'

\'Thengointothegarden。\'

DarewentoutthroughthebackofficeasPaulawasshowninatthefront。Sheworeagreytravellingcostume，andseemedtobeinsomehaste。

\'Iamonmywaytotherailway-station，\'shesaidtoHavill。

\'Ishallbeabsentfromhomeforseveralweeks，andsinceyourequestedit，Ihavecalledtoinquirehowyouaregettingonwiththedesign。\'

\'Pleaselookitover，\'saidHavill，placingaseatforher。

\'No，\'saidPaula。\'Ithinkitwouldbeunfair。IhavenotlookedatMr——theotherarchitect\'splanssincehehasbeguntodesignseriously，andIwillnotlookatyours。Areyougettingonquitewell，anddoyouwanttoknowanythingmore?

Ifso，gotothecastle，andgetanybodytoassistyou。Whywouldyounotmakeuseoftheroomatyourdisposalinthecastle，astheotherarchitecthasdone?\'

Inaskingthequestionherfacewastowardsthewindow，andsuddenlyhercheeksbecamearosyred。Sheinstantlylookedanotherway。

\'Havingmyownofficesonear，itwasnotnecessary，thankyou，\'repliedHavill，as，notinghercountenance，heallowedhisglancetostrayintothestreet。Somersetwaswalkingpastontheoppositeside。

\'Thetimeis——thetimefixedforsendinginthedrawingsisthefirstofNovember，Ibelieve，\'shesaidconfusedly；\'andthedecisionwillbecometobythreegentlemenwhoareprominentmembersoftheInstituteofArchitects。\'

Havillthenaccompaniedhertothecarriage，andshedroveaway。

HavillwenttothebackwindowtotellDarethatheneednotstayinthegarden；butthegardenwasempty。Thearchitectremainedaloneinhisofficeforsometime；attheendofaquarterofanhour，whenthescreamofarailwaywhistlehadechoeddownthestillstreet，hebeheldSomersetrepassingthewindowinadirectionfromtherailway，withsomewhatofasadgait。InanotherminuteDareentered，hummingthelatestairofOffenbach。

\'\'Tisamerepieceofduplicity!\'saidHavill。

\'Whatis?\'

\'Herpretendingindifferenceastowhichofuscomesoutsuccessfulinthecompetition，whenshecolourscarminethemomentSomersetpassesby。\'HedescribedPaula\'svisit，andtheincident。

\'ItmaynotmeanCupid\'sEntireXXXafterall，\'saidDarejudicially。\'Themeresuspicionthatacertainmanlovesherwouldmakeagirlblushathisunexpectedappearance。Well，she\'sgonefromhimforatime；thebetterforyou。\'

\'Hehasbeenprivilegedtoseeheroffatanyrate。\'

\'Notprivileged。\'

\'Howdoyouknowthat?\'

\'Iwentoutofyourgardenbythebackgate，andfollowedhercarriagetotherailway。Hesimplywenttothefirstbridgeoutsidethestation，andwaited。Whenshewasinthetrain，itmovedforward；hewasallexpectation，anddrewouthishandkerchiefreadytowave，whileshelookedoutofthewindowtowardsthebridge。Thetrainbackedbeforeitreachedthebridge，toattachtheboxcontainingherhorses，andthecarriage-truck。Thenitstartedforgood，andwhenitreachedthebridgeshelookedoutagain，hewavinghishandkerchieftoher。\'

\'Andshewavinghersback?\'

\'No，shedidn\'t。\'

\'Ah!\'

\'Shelookedathim——nothingmore。Iwouldn\'tgivemuchforhischance。\'AfterawhileDareaddedmusingly:\'Youareamathematician:didyoueverinvestigatethedoctrineofexpectations?\'

\'Never。\'

Daredrewfromhispockethis\'BookofChances，\'avolumeaswellthumbedastheminister\'sBible。\'Thisisatreatiseonthesubject，\'hesaid。\'Iwillteachittoyousomeday。\'

ThesameeveningHavillaskedDaretodinewithhim。Hewasjustatthistimelivingengarcon，hiswifeandchildrenbeingawayonavisit。Afterdinnertheysatontilltheirfaceswereratherflushed。Thetalkturned，asbefore，onthecastle-competition。

\'Toknowhisdesignistowin，\'saidDare。\'AndtowinistosendhimbacktoLondonwherehecamefrom。\'

HavillinquiredifDarehadseenanysketchofthedesignwhilewithSomerset?

\'Notaline。Iwasconcernedonlywiththeoldbuilding。\'

\'Nottoknowitistolose，undoubtedly，\'murmuredHavill。

\'Supposewegoforawalkthatway，insteadofconsultinghere?\'

Theywentdownthetown，andalongthehighway。Whentheyreachedtheentrancetotheparkamandrivingabasket-

carriagecameoutfromthegateandpassedthembyinthegloom。

\'Thatwashe，\'saidDare。\'Hesometimesdrivesoverfromthehotel，andsometimeswalks。Hehasbeenworkinglatethisevening。\'

Strollingonunderthetreestheymetthreemasculinefigures，laughingandtalkingloudly。

\'Thosearethethreefirst-classLondondraughtsmen，Bowles，Knowles，andCockton，whomhehasengagedtoassisthim，regardlessofexpense，\'continuedDare。

\'OLord!\'groanedHavill。\'There\'snochanceforme。\'

Thecastlenowarosebeforethem，endowedbytheraylessshadewithamoremassivemajestythaneithersunlightormoonlightcouldimpart；andHavillsighedagainashethoughtofwhathewaslosingbySomerset\'srivalry。\'Well，whatwastheuseofcominghere?\'heasked。

\'Ithoughtitmightsuggestsomething——somewayofseeingthedesign。Theservantswouldletusintohisroom，Idaresay。\'

\'Idon\'tcaretoask。Letuswalkthroughthewards，andthenhomeward。\'

Theysaunteredonsmoking，Dareleadingthewaythroughthegate-houseintoacorridorwhichwasnotinclosed，alamphangingatthefurtherend。

\'Wearegettingintotheinhabitedpart，Ithink，\'saidHavill。

Dare，however，hadgoneon，andknowingthetortuouspassagesfromhisfewdays\'experienceinmeasuringthemwithSomerset，hecametothebutler\'spantry。Dareknocked，andnobodyansweringheentered，tookdownakeywhichhungbehindthedoor，andrejoinedHavill。\'Itisallright，\'hesaid。\'Thecat\'saway；andthemiceareatplayinconsequence。\'

Proceedingupastonestaircaseheunlockedthedoorofaroominthedark，struckalightinside，andreturningtothedoorcalledinawhispertoHavill，whohadremainedbehind。\'ThisisMr。Somerset\'sstudio，\'hesaid。

\'Howdidyougetpermission?\'inquiredHavill，notknowingthatDarehadseennoone。

\'Anyhow，\'saidDarecarelessly。\'Wecanexaminetheplansatleisure；foriftheplacidMrs。Goodman，whoistheonlyoneathome，seesthelight，shewillonlythinkitisSomersetstillatwork。\'

Dareuncoveredthedrawings，andyoungSomerset\'sbrain-workforthelastsixweekslayundertheireyes。ToDare，whowastoocursorytotroublehimselfbyenteringintosuchdetails，ithadverylittlemeaning；butthedesignshoneintoHavill\'sheadlikealightintoadarkplace。Itwasoriginal；anditwasfascinating。ItsoriginalitylaypartlyinthecircumstancethatSomersethadnotattemptedtoadaptanoldbuildingtothewantsofthenewcivilization。Hehadplacedhisnewerectionbesideitasaslightlyattachedstructure，harmonizingwiththeold；heighteningandbeautifying，ratherthansubduingit。Hisworkformedapalace，witharuinouscastleannexedasacuriosity。ToHavilltheconceptionhadmorecharmthanitcouldhavetothemostappreciativeoutsider；forwhenamediocreandjealousmindthathasbeencudgellingitselfoveraproblemcapableofmanysolutions，lightsonthesolutionofarival，allpossibilitiesinthatkindseemtomergeintheonebeheld。

Darewasstruckbythearrestedexpressionofthearchitect\'sface。\'Isitrathergood?\'heasked。

\'Yes，rather，\'saidHavill，subduinghimself。

\'Morethanrather?\'