第9章

\'Thenhereitis。TheplanIhavearrangedforyouisofthenatureofamarriage。\'

\'Youareverykind!\'saidDeStancy，agape。

\'Thelady\'snameisMissPaulaPower，who，asyoumayhaveheardsinceyourarrival，isinabsolutepossessionofherfather\'spropertyandestates，includingStancyCastle。AssoonasIheardofherIsawwhatamarvellousmatchitwouldbeforyou，andyourfamily；itwouldmakeamanofyou，inshort，andIhavesetmyminduponyourputtingnoobjectioninthewayofitsaccomplishment。\'

\'But，Willy，itseemstomethat，ofustwo，itisyouwhoexercisepaternalauthority?\'

\'True，itisforyourgood。Letmedoit。\'

\'Well，onemustbeindulgentunderthecircumstances，I

suppose……But，\'addedDeStancysimply，\'Willy，I——don\'twanttomarry，youknow。Ihavelatelythoughtthatsomedaywemaybeabletolivetogether，youandI:goofftoAmericaorNewZealand，wherewearenotknown，andthereleadaquiet，pastorallife，defyingsocialrulesandtroublesomeobservances。\'

\'Ican\'thearofit，captain，\'repliedDarereprovingly。\'I

amwhateventshavemademe，andhavingfixedmymindupongettingyousettledinlifebythismarriage，Ihaveputthingsintrainforitatanimmensetroubletomyself。Ifyouhadthoughtoverito\'nightsasmuchasIhave，youwouldnotsaynay。\'

\'ButIoughttohavemarriedyourmotherifanybody。AndasI

havenotmarriedher，theleastIcandoinrespecttoheristomarrynootherwoman。\'

\'Youhavesomesortofdutytome，haveyounot，CaptainDeStancy?\'

\'Yes，Willy，IadmitthatIhave，\'theelderrepliedreflectively。\'AndIdon\'tthinkIhavefailedinitthusfar?\'

\'Thiswillbethecrowningproof。Paternalaffection，familypride，thenobleinstinctstoreinstateyourselfinthecastleofyourancestors，alldemandthestep。Andwhenyouhaveseenthelady!Shehasthefigureandmotionsofasylph，thefaceofanangel，theeyeofloveitself。Whatasightsheiscrossingthelawnonasunnyafternoon，orglidingairilyalongthecorridorsoftheoldplacetheDeStancysknewsowell!Herlipsarethesoftest，reddest，mostdistractingthingsyoueversaw。Herhairisassoftassilk，andoftherarest，tenderestbrown。\'

Thecaptainmoveduneasily。\'Don\'ttakethetroubletosaymore，Willy，\'heobserved。\'YouknowhowIam。Mycursedsusceptibilitytothesemattershasalreadywastedyearsofmylife，andIdon\'twanttomakemyselfafoolabouthertoo。\'

\'Youmustseeher。\'

\'No，don\'tletmeseeher，\'DeStancyexpostulated。\'Ifsheisonlyhalfsogood-lookingasyousay，shewilldragmeatherheelslikeablindSamson。Youareamereyouthasyet，butImaytellyouthatthemisfortuneofneverhavingbeenmyownmasterwhereabeautifulfacewasconcernedobligesmetobecautiousifIwouldpreservemypeaceofmind。\'

\'Well，tomymind，CaptainDeStancy，yourobjectionsseemtrivial。Arethoseall?\'

\'TheyareallIcaretomentionjustnowtoyou。\'

\'Captain!cantherebesecretsbetweenus?\'

DeStancypausedandlookedattheladasifhisheartwishedtoconfesswhathisjudgmentfearedtotell。\'Thereshouldnotbe——onthispoint，\'hemurmured。

\'Thentellme——whydoyousomuchobjecttoher?\'

\'Ioncevowedavow。\'

\'Avow!\'saidDare，ratherdisconcerted。

\'Avowofinfinitesolemnity。Imusttellyoufromthebeginning；perhapsyouareoldenoughtohearitnow，thoughyouhavebeentooyoungbefore。Yourmother\'slifeendedinmuchsorrow，anditwasoccasionedentirelybyme。InmyregretforthewrongdoneherIsworetoherthatthoughshehadnotbeenmywife，nootherwomanshouldstandinthatrelationshiptome；andthistoherwasasortofcomfort。

Whenshewasdeadmyknowledgeofmyownplaguyimpressionableness，whichseemedtobeineradicable——asitseemsstill——ledmetothinkwhatsafeguardsIcouldsetovermyselfwithaviewtokeepingmypromisetolivealifeofcelibacy；andamongotherthingsIdeterminedtoforswearthesociety，andifpossiblethesight，ofwomenyoungandattractive，asfarasIhadthepowertodo。\'

\'Itisnotsoeasytoavoidthesightofabeautifulwomanifshecrossesyourpath，Ishouldthink?\'

\'Itisnoteasy；butitispossible。\'

\'How?\'

\'Bydirectingyourattentionanotherway。\'

\'Butdoyoumeantosay，captain，thatyoucanbeinaroomwithaprettywomanwhospeakstoyou，andnotlookather?\'

\'Ido:thoughmerelookinghaslesstodowithitthanmentalattentiveness——allowingyourthoughtstoflowoutinherdirection——tocomprehendherimage。\'

\'Butitwouldbeconsideredveryimpolitenottolookatthewomanorcomprehendherimage?\'

\'Itwould，andis。Iamconsideredthemostimpoliteofficerintheservice。Ihavebeennicknamedthemanwiththeavertedeyes——themanwiththedetestablehabit——themanwhogreetsyouwithhisshoulder，andsoon。Ninety-and-ninefairwomenatthepresentmomenthatemelikepoisonanddeathforhavingpersistentlyrefusedtoplumbthedepthsoftheirofferedeyes。\'

\'Howcanyoudoit，whoarebynaturecourteous?\'

\'Icannotalways——Ibreakdownsometimes。But，uponthewhole，recollectionholdsmetoit:dreadofalapse。

Nothingissopotentasfearwellmaintained。\'

DeStancynarratedthesedetailsinagravemeditativetonewithhiseyesonthewall，asifhewerescarcelyconsciousofalistener。

\'Buthaven\'tyourecklessmoments，captain?——whenyouhavetakenalittlemorewinethanusual，forinstance?\'

\'Idon\'ttakewine。\'

\'O，youareateetotaller?\'

\'Notapledgedone——butIdon\'ttouchalcoholunlessIgetwet，oranythingofthatsort。\'

\'Don\'tyousometimesforgetthisvowofyourstomymother?\'

\'No，Iwearareminder。\'

\'Whatisthatlike?\'

DeStancyhelduphislefthand，onthethirdfingerofwhichappearedanironring。

Daresurveyedit，saying，\'Yes，Ihaveseenthatbefore，thoughIneverknewwhyyouworeit。Well，Iwearareminderalso，butofadifferentsort。\'

Hethrewopenhisshirt-front，andrevealedtattooedonhisbreastthelettersDESTANCY；thesamemarkswhichHavillhadseeninthebedroombythelightofthemoon。

Thecaptainratherwincedatthesight。\'Well，well，\'hesaidhastily，\'that\'senough……Now，atanyrate，youunderstandmyobjectiontoknowMissPower。\'

\'But，captain，\'saidtheladcoaxingly，ashefastenedhisshirt；\'youforgetmeandthegoodyoumaydomebymarrying?

Surelythat\'sasufficientreasonforachangeofsentiment。

Thisinexperiencedsweetcreatureownsthecastleandestatewhichbearsyourname，eventothefurnitureandpictures。

Sheisthepossessorofatleastfortythousandayear——howmuchmoreIcannotsay——while，buriedhereinOuterWessex，shelivesattherateoftwelvehundredinhersimplicity。\'

\'Itisverygoodofyoutosetthisbeforeme。ButIprefertogoonasIamgoing。\'

\'Well，Iwon\'tboreyouanymorewithherto-day。Amonkinregimentals!——\'tisstrange。\'Darearoseandwasabouttoopenthedoor，when，lookingthroughthewindow，CaptainDeStancysaid，\'Stop。\'Hehadperceivedhisfather，SirWilliamDeStancy，walkingamongthetombstoneswithout。

\'Yes，indeed，\'saidDare，turningthekeyinthedoor。\'Itwouldlookstrangeifheweretofindushere。\'

Astheoldmanseemedindisposedtoleavethechurchyardjustyettheysatdownagain。

\'Whatacapitalcard-tablethisgreenclothwouldmake，\'saidDare，astheywaited。\'Youplay，captain，Isuppose?\'

\'Veryseldom。\'

\'Thesamewithme。ButasIenjoyahandofcardswithafriend，Idon\'tgounprovided。\'Sayingwhich，Daredrewapackfromthetailofhiscoat。\'Shallwewhileawaythisleisurewiththewitchingthings?\'

\'Really，I\'drathernot。\'

\'But，\'coaxedtheyoungman，\'Iaminthehumourforit；sodon\'tbeunkind!\'

\'But，Willy，whydoyoucareforthesethings?Cardsareharmlessenoughintheirway；butIdon\'tliketoseeyoucarryingtheminyourpocket。Itisn\'tgoodforyou。\'

\'ItwasbythemerestchanceIhadthem。Nowcome，justonehand，sinceweareprisoners。IwanttoshowyouhownicelyI

canplay。Iwon\'tcorruptyou!\'

\'Ofcoursenot，\'saidDeStancy，asifashamedofwhathisobjectionimplied。\'Youarenotcorruptenoughyourselftodothat，Ishouldhope。\'

Thecardsweredealtandtheybegantoplay——CaptainDeStancyabstractedly，andwithhiseyesmostlystrayingoutofthewindowuponthelargeyew，whoseboughsastheymovedweredistortedbytheoldgreenwindow-panes。

\'Itisbetterthandoingnothing，\'saidDarecheerfully，asthegamewenton。\'Ihopeyoudon\'tdislikeit?\'

\'Notifitpleasesyou，\'saidDeStancylistlessly。

\'Andtheconsecrationofthisplacedoesnotextendfurtherthantheaislewall。\'

\'Doesn\'tit?\'saidDeStancy，ashemechanicallyplayedouthiscards。\'WhatbecameofthatboxofbooksIsentyouwithmylastcheque?\'

\'Well，asIhadn\'ttimetoreadthem，andasIknewyouwouldnotlikethemtobewasted，Isoldthemtoablokewhoperusesthemfrommorningtillnight。Ah，nowyouhavelostafiveraltogether——howqueer!We\'lldoublethestakes。So，asIwassaying，justatthetimethebookscameIgotaninklingofthisimportantbusiness，andliteraturewenttothewall。\'

\'Importantbusiness——what?\'

\'Thecaptureofthislady，tobesure。\'

DeStancysighedimpatiently。\'Iwishyouwerelesscalculating，andhadmoreoftheimpulsenaturaltoyouryears!\'

\'Game——byJove!Youhavelostagain，captain。Thatmakes——

letmesee——ninepoundsfifteentosquareus。\'

\'Ioweyouthat?\'saidDeStancy，startled。\'ItismorethanIhaveincash。Imustwriteanothercheque。\'

\'Nevermind。Makeitpayabletoyourself，andourconnectionwillbequiteunsuspected。\'

CaptainDeStancydidasrequested，androsefromhisseat。

SirWilliam，thoughfurtheroff，wasstillinthechurchyard。

\'Howcanyouhesitateforamomentaboutthisgirl?\'saidDare，pointingtothebentfigureoftheoldman。\'Thinkofthesatisfactionitwouldbetohimtoseehissonwithinthefamilywallsagain。Itshouldbeareligionwithyoutocompasssuchalegitimateendasthis。\'

\'Well，well，I\'llthinkofit，\'saidthecaptain，withanimpatientlaugh。\'YouarequiteaMephistopheles，Will——Isayittomysorrow!\'

\'WouldthatIwereinyourplace。\'

\'Wouldthatyouwere!FifteenyearsagoImighthavecalledthechanceamagnificentone。\'

\'Butyouareayoungmanstill，andyoulookyoungerthanyouare。Nobodyknowsourrelationship，andIamnotsuchafoolastodivulgeit。Ofcourse，ifthroughmeyoureclaimthissplendidpossession，Ishouldleaveittoyourfeelingswhatyouwoulddoforme。\'

SirWilliamhadbythistimeclearedoutofthechurchyard，andthepairemergedfromthevestryanddeparted。ProceedingtowardsMarktonbythesamebypath，theypresentlycametoaneminencecoveredwithbushesofblackthorn，andtuftsofyellowingfern。FromthispointagoodviewofthewoodsandgladesaboutStancyCastlecouldbeobtained。Darestoodstillonthetopandstretchedouthisfinger；thecaptain\'seyefollowedthedirection，andhesawabovethemany-huedfoliageinthemiddledistancethetoweringkeepofPaula\'scastle。

\'That\'sthegoalofyourambition，captain——ambitiondoI

say?——mostrighteousanddutifulendeavour!Howthehoaryshapecatchesthesunlight——itistheraisond\'etreofthelandscape，anditspossessioniscovetedbyathousandhearts。

Surelyitisanhereditarydesireofyours?Youmustmakeapointofreturningtoit，andappearinginthemapofthefutureasinthatofthepast。Idelightinthisworkofencouragingyou，andpushingyouforwardtowardsyourown。

Youarereallyveryclever，youknow，but——Isayitwithrespect——howcomesitthatyouwantsomuchwakingup?\'

\'BecauseIknowthedayisnotsobrightasitseems，myboy。

However，youmakealittlemistake。IfIcareforanythingonearth，Idocareforthatoldfortressofmyforefathers。I

respectsolittleamongthelivingthatallmyreverenceisformyowndead。Butmanoeuvring，evenformyown，asyoucallit，isnotinmyline。Itisdistasteful——itispositivelyhatefultome。\'

\'Well，well，letitstandthusforthepresent。Butwillyourefusemeonelittlerequest——merelytoseeher?I\'llcontriveitsothatshemaynotseeyou。Don\'trefuseme，itistheonethingIask，andIshallthinkithardifyoudenyme。\'

\'OWill!\'saidthecaptainwearily。\'Whywillyoupleadso?

No——eventhoughyourmindisparticularlysetuponit，I

cannotseeher，orbestowathoughtuponher，muchasIshouldliketogratifyyou。\'

VI。

WhentheyhadpartedDarewalkedalongtowardsMarktonwithresolveonhismouthandanunscrupulouslightinhisprominentblackeye。Couldanypersonwhohadheardthepreviousconversationhaveseenhimnow，hewouldhavefoundlittledifficultyindiviningthat，notwithstandingDeStancy\'sobduracy，thereinstationofCaptainDeStancyinthecastle，andthepossiblelegitimationandenrichmentofhimself，wasstillthedreamofhisbrain。Evenshouldanylegalsettlementoroffspringintervenetoniptheextremedevelopmentofhisprojects，therewasabundantopportunityforhisglorification。Twoconditionswereimperative。DeStancymustseePaulabeforeSomerset\'sreturn。AnditwasnecessarytohavehelpfromHavill，evenifitinvolvedlettinghimknowall。

WhetherHavillalreadyknewallwasanicequestionforMr。

Dare\'sluminousmind。Havillhadhadopportunitiesofreadinghissecret，particularlyonthenighttheyoccupiedthesameroom。Ifso，byrevealingittoPaula，Havillmightutterlyblasthisprojectforthemarriage。Havill，then，wasatallriskstoberetainedasanally。

YetDarewouldhavepreferredastrongercheckuponhisconfederatethanwasaffordedbyhisownknowledgeofthatanonymousletterandthecompetitiontrick。Forwerethecompetitionlosttohim，HavillwouldhavenofurtherinterestinconciliatingMissPower；wouldassoonasnotletherknowthesecretofDeStancy\'srelationtohim。

Fortuneasusualhelpedhiminhisdilemma。EnteringHavill\'soffice，Darefoundhimsittingthere；butthedrawingshadalldisappearedfromtheboards。Thearchitectheldanopenletterinhishand。

\'Well，whatnews?\'saidDare。

\'MissPowerhasreturnedtothecastle，SomersetisdetainedinLondon，andthecompetitionisdecided，\'saidHavill，withaglanceofquietdubiousness。

\'Andyouhavewonit?\'

\'No。Wearebracketed——it\'satie。Thejudgessaythereisnochoicebetweenthedesigns——thattheyaresingularlyequalandsingularlygood。Thatshewoulddowelltoadopteither。

SignedSo-and-So，FellowsoftheRoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects。Theresultisthatshewillemploywhichshepersonallylikesbest。ItisasifIhadspunasovereignintheairandithadalightedonitsedge。Theleastfalsemovementwillmakeittails；theleastwisemovementheads。\'

\'Singularlyequal。Well，weowethattoournocturnalvisit，whichmustnotbeknown。\'

\'OLord，no!\'saidHavillapprehensively。

Darefeltsecureofhimatthosewords。Havillhadmuchatstake；theslightestrumourofhistrickinbringingaboutthecompetition，wouldbefataltoHavill\'sreputation。

\'ThepermanentabsenceofSomersetthenisdesirablearchitecturallyonyouraccount，matrimoniallyonmine。\'

\'Matrimonially?Bytheway——whowasthatcaptainyoupointedouttomewhentheartilleryenteredthetown?\'

\'CaptainDeStancy——sonofSirWilliamDeStancy。He\'sthehusband。O，youneedn\'tlookincredulous:itispracticable；

butwewon\'targuethat。InthefirstplaceIwanthimtoseeher，andtoseeherinthemostlove-kindling，passion-

begettingcircumstancesthatcanbethoughtof。Andhemustseehersurreptitiously，forherefusestomeether。\'

\'Lethimseehergoingtochurchorchapel?\'

Dareshookhishead。

\'Drivingout?\'

\'Common-place!\'

\'Walkinginthegardens?\'

\'Ditto。\'

\'Athertoilet?\'

\'Ah——ifitwerepossible!\'

\'Whichithardlyis。Well，youhadbetterthinkitoverandmakeinquiriesaboutherhabits，andastowhensheisinafavourableaspectforobservation，asthealmanacssay。\'

ShortlyafterwardsDaretookhisleave。Intheeveninghemadeithisbusinesstositsmokingontheboleofatreewhichcommandedaviewoftheupperwardofthecastle，andalsooftheoldpostern-gate，nowenlargedandusedasatradesmen\'sentrance。Itwashalf-pastsixo\'clock；thedressing-bellrang，andDaresawalight-footedyoungwomanhastenatthesoundacrossthewardfromtheservants\'

quarter。AlightappearedinachamberwhichheknewtobePaula\'sdressing-room；andthereitremainedhalf-an-hour，ashadowpassingandrepassingontheblindinthestyleofhead-dresswornbythegirlhehadpreviouslyseen。Thedinner-bellsoundedandthelightwentout。

Asyetitwasscarcelydarkoutofdoors，andinafewminutesDarehadthesatisfactionofseeingthesamewomancrossthewardandemergeupontheslopewithout。Thistimeshewasbonneted，andcarriedalittlebasketinherhand。Anearerviewshowedhertobe，ashehadexpected，MillyBirch，Paula\'smaid，whohadfriendslivinginMarkton，whomshewasinthehabitofvisitingalmosteveryeveningduringthethreehoursofleisurewhichintervenedbetweenPaula\'sretirementfromthedressing-roomandreturnthitheratteno\'clock。

Whentheyoungwomanhaddescendedtheroadandpassedintothelargedrive，Dareroseandfollowedher。

\'O，itisyou，MissBirch，\'saidDare，onovertakingher。\'I

amgladtohavethepleasureofwalkingbyyourside。\'

\'Yes，sir。Oit\'sMr。Dare。Wedon\'tseeyouatthecastlenow，sir。\'

\'No。Anddoyougetawalklikethiseveryeveningwhentheothersareattheirbusiest?\'

\'Almosteveryevening；that\'stheonereturntothepoorlady\'smaidforlosingherleisurewhentheothersgetit——intheabsenceofthefamilyfromhome。\'

\'IsMissPowerahardmistress?\'

\'No。\'

\'Ratherfancifulthanhard，Ipresume?\'

\'Justso，sir。\'

\'Andshelikestoappeartoadvantage，nodoubt。\'

\'Isupposeso，\'saidMilly，laughing。\'Wealldo。\'

\'Whendoessheappeartothebestadvantage?Whenriding，ordriving，orreadingherbook?\'

\'Notaltogetherthen，ifyoumeantheverybest。\'

\'Perhapsitiswhenshesitslookingintheglassatherself，andyouletdownherhair。\'

\'Notparticularly，tomymind。\'

\'Whendoesshetoyourmind?Whendressedforadinner-partyorball?\'

\'She\'smiddling，then。Butthereisonetimewhenshelooksnicerandclevererthanatany。Itiswhensheisinthegymnasium。\'

\'O——gymnasium?\'

\'Becausewhensheisthereshewearssuchaprettyboy\'scostume，andissocharminginhermovements，thatyouthinksheisalovelyyoungyouthandnotagirlatall。\'

\'Whendoesshegotothisgymnasium?\'

\'Notsomuchassheusedto。Onlyonwetmorningsnow，whenshecan\'tgetoutforwalksordrives。Butsheusedtodoiteveryday。\'

\'Ishouldliketoseeherthere。\'

\'Why，sir?\'

\'Iamapoorartist，andcan\'taffordmodels。ToseeherattitudeswouldbeofgreatassistancetomeintheartIlovesowell。\'

Millyshookherhead。\'She\'sverystrictaboutthedoorbeinglocked。IfIweretoleaveitopenshewoulddismissme，asI

shoulddeserve。\'

\'Butconsider，dearMissBirch，theadvantagetoapoorartistthesightofherwouldbe:ifyoucouldholdthedoorajaritwouldbeworthfivepoundstome，andagooddealtoyou。\'

\'No，\'saidtheincorruptibleMilly，shakingherhead。

\'Besides，Idon\'talwaysgotherewithher。Ono，I

couldn\'t!\'

MillyremainedsofirmatthispointthatDaresaidnomore。

Whenhehadleftherhereturnedtothecastlegrounds，andthoughtherewasnotmuchlighthehadnodifficultyindiscoveringthegymnasium，theoutsideofwhichhehadobservedbefore，withoutthinkingtoinquireitspurpose。

Liketheerectionsinotherpartsoftheshrubberiesitwasconstructedofwood，theintersticesbetweentheframingbeingfilledupwithshortbilletsoffirnaileddiagonally。Dare，evenwhenwithoutasettledplaninhishead，couldarrangeforprobabilities；andwrenchingoutoneofthebilletshelookedinside。Itseemedtobeasimpleoblongapartment，fittedupwithropes，withalittledressing-closetatoneend，andlightedbyaskylightorlanternintheroof。Darereplacedthewoodandwentonhisway。

HavillwassmokingonhisdoorstepwhenDarepassedupthestreet。Hehelduphishand。

\'Sinceyouhavebeengone，\'saidthearchitect，\'I\'vehituponsomethingthatmayhelpyouinexhibitingyourladytoyourgentleman。InthesummerIhadorderstodesignagymnasiumforher，whichIdid；andtheysaysheisverycleverontheropesandbars。Now——\'

\'I\'vediscoveredit。Ishallcontriveforhimtoseeherthereonthefirstwetmorning，whichiswhenshepractises。

Whatmadeherthinkofit?\'

\'Asyoumayhaveheard，sheholdsadvancedviewsonsocialandothermatters；andinthoseonthehighereducationofwomensheisverystrong，talkingagooddealaboutthephysicaltrainingoftheGreeks，whomsheadores，ordid。Everyphilosopherandmanofsciencewhoventilateshistheoriesinthemonthlyreviewshasadevoutlistenerinher；andthissubjectofthephysicaldevelopmentofhersexhashaditsturnwithotherthingsinhermind。Soshehadtheplacebuiltonherveryfirstarrival，accordingtothelatestlightsonathletics，andinimitationofthoseatthenewcollegesforwomen。\'

\'Howdeucedcleverofthegirl!Shemeanstolivetobeahundred!\'

VII。

Thewetdayarrivedwithallthepromptnessthatmighthavebeenexpectedofitinthislandofrainsandmists。Thealderbushesbehindthegymnasiumdrippedmonotonouslyleafuponleaf，addedtothisbeingthepurloftheshallowstreamalittlewayoff，producingasenseofsatietyinwaterysounds。Thoughtherewasdrizzleintheopenmeads，therainhereinthethicketwascomparativelyslight，andtwomenwithfishingtacklewhostoodbeneathoneofthelargerbushesfounditsboughsasufficientshelter。

\'Wemayaswellwalkhomeagainasstudynaturehere，Willy，\'

saidthetallerandelderofthetwain。\'Ifeareditwouldcontinuewhenwestarted。Themagnificentsportyouspeakofmustrestforto-day。\'

Theotherlookedathiswatch，butmadenoparticularreply。

\'Come，letusmoveon。Idon\'tlikeintrudingintootherpeople\'sgroundslikethis，\'DeStancycontinued。

\'Wearenotintruding。Anybodywalksoutsidethisfence。\'Heindicatedanironrailingnewlytarred，dividingthewilderunderwoodamidwhichtheystoodfromtheinnerandwell-keptpartsoftheshrubbery，andagainstwhichthebackofthegymnasiumwasbuilt。

Lightfootstepsuponagravelwalkcouldbeheardontheothersideofthefence，andatrioofcloakedandumbrella-screenedfigureswereforamomentdiscernible。Theyvanishedbehindthegymnasium；andagainnothingresoundedbuttherivermurmursandtheclock-likedrippingsoftheleafage。

\'Hush!\'saidDare。

\'Nopranks，myboy，\'saidDeStancysuspiciously。\'Youshouldbeabovethem。\'

\'Andyoushouldtrusttomygoodsense，captain，\'Dareremonstrated。\'Ihavenotindulgedinapranksincethesixthyearofmypilgrimage。Ihavefoundthemtoodamagingtomyinterests。Well，itisnottoodryhere，anddampinjuresyourhealth，yousay。Haveapullforsafety\'ssake。\'HepresentedaflasktoDeStancy。

Theartilleryofficerlookeddownathisnethergarments。

\'Idon\'tbreakmyrulewithoutgoodreason，\'heobserved。

\'Iamafraidthatreasonexistsatpresent。\'

\'Iamafraiditdoes。Whathaveyougot?\'

\'Onlyalittlewine。\'

\'Whatwine?\'

\'Dotryit。Icallit"theblushfulHippocrene，"thatthepoetdescribesas"TastingofFloraandthecountrygreen；

Dance，andProvencalsong，andsun-burntmirth。"\'

DeStancytooktheflask，anddrankalittle。

\'Itwarms，doesitnot?\'saidDare。

\'Toomuch，\'saidDeStancywithmisgiving。\'Ihavebeentakenunawares。Why，itisthreepartsbrandy，tomytaste，youscamp!\'

Dareputawaythewine。\'Nowyouaretoseesomething，\'hesaid。

\'Something——whatisit?\'CaptainDeStancyregardedhimwithapuzzledlook。

\'Itisquiteacuriosity，andreallyworthseeing。Nowjustlookinhere。\'

Thespeakeradvancedtothebackofthebuilding，andwithdrewthewoodbilletfromthewall。

\'Will，Ibelieveyouareuptosometrick，\'saidDeStancy，not，however，suspectingtheactualtruthintheseunsuggestivecircumstances，andwithacomfortableresignation，producedbythepotentliquor，whichwouldhavebeencomicaltoanoutsider，butwhich，toonewhohadknownthehistoryandrelationshipofthetwospeakers，wouldhavewornasaddersignificance。\'IamtoobigafoolaboutyoutokeepyoudownasIought；that\'sthefaultofme，worseluck。\'

Hepressedtheyouth\'shandwithasmile，wentforward，andlookedthroughtheholeintotheinteriorofthegymnasium。

Darewithdrewtosomelittledistance，andwatchedCaptainDeStancy\'sface，whichpresentlybegantoassumeanexpressionofinterest。

Whatwasthecaptainseeing?Asortofopticalpoem。

Paula，inapinkflannelcostume，wasbending，wheelingandundulatingintheairlikeagold-fishinitsglobe，sometimesascendingbyherarmsnearlytothelantern，thenloweringherselftillsheswunglevelwiththefloor。HerauntMrs。

Goodman，andCharlotteDeStancy，weresittingoncamp-stoolsatoneend，watchinghergyrations，Paulaoccasionallyaddressingthemwithsuchanexpressionas——\'Now，Aunt，lookatme——andyou，Charlotte——isnotthatshockingtoyourweaknerves，\'whensomeadroitfeatwouldberepeated，which，however，seemedtogivemuchmorepleasuretoPaulaherselfinperformingitthantoMrs。Goodmaninlookingon，thelattersometimessaying，\'O，itisterrific——donotrunsuchariskagain!\'

ItwouldhavedemandedthepoeticpassionofsomejoyousElizabethanlyristlikeLodge，Nash，orConstable，tofitlyphrasePaula\'spresentationofherselfatthismomentofabsoluteabandonmenttoeverymuscularwhimthatcouldtakepossessionofsuchasuppleform。Thewhitemanillaropesclungabouttheperformerlikesnakesasshetookherexercise，andthecolourinherfacedeepenedasshewenton。

CaptainDeStancyfeltthat，muchashehadseeninearlylifeofbeautyinwoman，hehadneverseenbeautyofsucharealandlivingsortasthis。Arecollectionofhisvow，togetherwithasensethattogazeonthefestivalofthisBonaDeawas，thoughsoinnocentandprettyasight，hardlyfairorgentlemanly，wouldhavecompelledhimtowithdrawhiseyes，hadnotthesportivefascinationofherappearancegluedthemthereinspiteofall。AndasiftocompletethepictureofGracepersonifiedandaddtheonethingwantingtothecharmwhichboundhim，theclouds，tillthattimethickinthesky，brokeawayfromtheupperheaven，andallowedthenoondaysuntopourdownthroughthelanternuponher，irradiatingherwithawarmlightthatwasincarnadinedbyherpinkdoubletandhose，andreflectedinuponherface。Sheonlyrequiredacloudtorestoninsteadofthegreensilknetwhichactuallysupportedherrecliningfigureforthemoment，tobequiteOlympian；saveindeedthatinplaceofhaughtyeffronterytheresatonhercountenanceonlythehealthfulsprightlinessofanEnglishgirl。

DarehadwithdrawntoapointatwhichanotherpathcrossedthepathoccupiedbyDeStancy。Lookinginasidedirection，hesawHavillidlingslowlyuptohimoverthesilentgrass。

Havill\'sknowledgeoftheappointmenthadbroughthimouttoseewhatwouldcomeofit。WhenhenearedDare，butwasstillpartiallyhiddenbytheboughsfromthethirdoftheparty，theformersimplypointedtoDeStancyuponwhichHavillstoodandpeepedathim。\'Isshewithinthere?\'heinquired。

Darenodded，andwhispered，\'Youneednothaveasked，ifyouhadexaminedhisface。\'

\'That\'strue。\'

\'Afermentationisbeginninginhim，\'saidDare，halfpitifully；\'apurelychemicalprocess；andwhenitiscompletehewillprobablybeclear，andfiery，andsparkling，andquiteanothermanthanthegood，weak，easyfellowthathewas。\'

TopreciselydescribeCaptainDeStancy\'sadmirationwasimpossible。Asunseemedtoriseinhisface。Bywatchinghimtheycouldalmostseetheaspectofherwithinthewall，soaccuratelywereherchangingphasesreflectedinhim。Heseemedtoforgetthathewasnotalone。

\'Andisthis，\'hemurmured，inthemannerofoneonlyhalfapprehendinghimself，\'andisthistheendofmyvow?\'

Paulawassayingatthismoment，\'Arielsleepsinthisposture，doeshenot，Auntie?\'Suitingtheactiontothewordsheflungoutherarmsbehindherheadasshelayinthegreensilkhammock，idlyclosedherpinkeyelids，andswungherselftoandfro。

BOOKTHETHIRD。DESTANCY。

I。

CaptainDeStancywasachangedman。Ahithertowell-

repressedenergywasgivinghimmotiontowardslong-shunnedconsequences。Hisfeatureswere，indeed，thesameasbefore；

though，hadaphysiognomistchosentostudythemwiththeclosenessofanastronomerscanningtheuniverse，hewoulddoubtlesshavediscernedabundantnovelty。

InrecentyearsDeStancyhadbeenaneasy，melancholy，unaspiringofficer，enervatedanddepressedbyaparentalaffectionquitebeyondhiscontrolforthegracelessladDare——

theobtrusivemementoofashadowyperiodinDeStancy\'syouth，whothreatenedtobethecurseofhisoldage。

Throughoutalongspacehehadperseveredinhissystemofrigidlyincarceratingwithinhimselfallinstinctstowardstheoppositesex，witharesolutionthatwouldnothavedisgracedamuchstrongerman。Bythishabit，maintainedwithfairsuccess，achamberofhisnaturehadbeenpreservedintactduringmanylateryears，liketheonesolitarysealed-upcelloccasionallyretainedbybeesinalobeofdrainedhoney-comb。

Andthus，thoughhehadirretrievablyexhaustedtherelishofsociety，ofambition，ofaction，andofhisprofession，thelove-forcethathehadkeptimmuredalivewasstillareproduciblething。

ThesightofPaulainhergracefulperformance，whichthejudiciousDarehadsocarefullyplanned，leduptoandheightenedbysubtleaccessories，operatedonDeStancy\'ssurprisedsoulwithapromptnessalmostmagical。

Ontheeveningoftheself-sameday，havingdinedasusual，heretiredtohisrooms，wherehefoundahamperofwineawaitinghim。Ithadbeenanonymouslysent，andtheaccountwaspaid。

Hesmiledgrimly，butnolongerwithheaviness。InthisheinstantlyrecognizedthehandiworkofDare，who，havingatlastbrokendownthebarrierwhichDeStancyhaderectedroundhisheartforsomanyyears，actedlikeaskilledstrategist，andtookswiftmeasurestofollowuptheadvantagesotardilygained。

CaptainDeStancyknewhimselfconquered:heknewheshouldyieldtoPaula——hadindeedyielded；buttherewasnow，inhissolitude，anhourortwoofreaction。Hedidnotdrinkfromthebottlessent。Hewentearlytobed，andlaytossingthereontillfarintothenight，thinkingoverthecollapse。