下载辰思小说免费APP
Histeetotalismhad，withthelapseofyears，unconsciouslybecometheoutwardandvisiblesigntohimselfofhissecretvows；andareturntoitsopposite，howevermildlydone，signifiedwithceremoniousdistinctnesstheformalacceptanceofdelectationslongforsworn。
ButtheexceedingfreshnessofhisfeelingforPaula，whichbyreasonofitslongarrestwasthatofamanfarunderthirty，andwasawondertohimselfeveryinstant，wouldnotlongbrookweighinginbalances。Hewishedsuddenlytocommithimself；toremovethequestionofretreatoutoftheregionofdebate。Theclockstrucktwo:andthewishbecamedetermination。Hearose，andwrappinghimselfinhisdressing-gownwenttothenextroom，wherehetookfromashelfinthepantryseverallargebottles，whichhecarriedtothewindow，tilltheystoodonthesillagoodlyrow。Therehadbeensufficientlightintheroomforhimtodothiswithoutacandle。Nowhesoftlyopenedthesash，andtheradianceofagibbousmoonridingintheoppositeskyfloodedtheapartment。Itfellonthelabelsofthecaptain\'sbottles，revealingtheircontentstobesimpleaeratedwatersfordrinking。
DeStancylookedoutandlistened。Thegunsthatstooddrawnupwithintheyardglistenedinthemoonlightreachingthemfromoverthebarrack-wall:therewasanoccasionalstampofhorsesinthestables；alsoameasuredtreadofsentinels——oneormoreatthegates，oneatthehospital，onebetweenthewings，twoatthemagazine，andothersfurtheroff。Recurringtohisintentionhedrewthecorksofthemineralwaters，andinvertingeachbottleonebyoneoverthewindow-sill，hearditscontentsdribbleinasmallstreamontothegravelbelow。
HethenopenedthehamperwhichDarehadsent。Uncorkingoneofthebottleshemurmured，\'ToPaula!\'anddrankaglassoftherubyliquor。
\'Amanagainaftereighteenyears，\'hesaid，shuttingthesashandreturningtohisbedroom。
ThefirstovertresultofhiskindledinterestinMissPowerwashissayingtohissisterthedayafterthesurreptitioussightofPaula:\'Iamsorry，Charlotte，forawordortwoI
saidtheotherday。\'
\'Well?\'
\'IwasratherdisrespectfultoyourfriendMissPower。\'
\'Idon\'tthinkso——wereyou?\'
\'Yes。Whenwewerewalkinginthewood，Imadeastupidjokeabouther……Whatdoessheknowaboutme——doyoueverspeakofmetoher?\'
\'Onlyingeneralterms。\'
\'Whatgeneralterms?\'
\'Youknowwellenough，William；ofyouridiosyncrasiesandsoon——thatyouareabitofawoman-hater，oratleastaconfirmedbachelor，andhavebutlittlerespectforyourownfamily。\'
\'Iwishyouhadnottoldherthat，\'saidDeStancywithdissatisfaction。
\'ButIthoughtyoualwayslikedwomentoknowyourprinciples!\'saidCharlotte，ininjuredtones；\'andwouldparticularlylikehertoknowthem，livingsonear。\'
\'Yes，yes，\'repliedherbrotherhastily。\'Well，Ioughttoseeher，justtoshowherthatIamnotquiteabrute。\'
\'Thatwouldbeverynice!\'sheanswered，puttingherhandstogetherinagreeableastonishment。\'ItisjustwhatIhavewished，thoughIdidnotdreamofsuggestingitafterwhatI
haveheardyousay。Iamgoingtostaywithheragainto-
morrow，andIwillletherknowaboutthis。\'
\'Don\'ttellheranythingplainly，forheaven\'ssake。Ireallywanttoseetheinteriorofthecastle；Ihaveneverentereditswallssincemybabyhood。\'Heraisedhiseyesashespoketowherethewallsinquestionshowedtheirashlarfacesoverthetrees。
\'Youmighthavegoneoveritatanytime。\'
\'Oyes。ItisonlyrecentlythatIhavethoughtmuchoftheplace:IfeelnowthatIshouldliketoexaminetheoldbuildingthoroughly，sinceitwasforsomanygenerationsassociatedwithourfortunes，especiallyasmostoftheoldfurnitureisstillthere。Mysedulousavoidancehithertoofallrelatingtoourfamilyvicissitudeshasbeen，Iown，stupidconductforanintelligentbeing；butimpossiblegrapesarealwayssour，andIhaveunconsciouslyadoptedRadicalnotionstoobliteratedisappointedhereditaryinstincts。Butthesehaveatrickofre-establishingthemselvesasonegetsolder，andthecastleandwhatitcontainshaveakeeninterestformenow。\'
\'ItcontainsPaula。\'
DeStancy\'spulse，whichhadbeenbeatinglanguidlyformanyyears，beatdoubleatthesoundofthatname。
\'Imeantfurnitureandpicturesforthemoment，\'hesaid；\'butIdon\'tmindextendingthemeaningtoher，ifyouwishit。\'
\'Sheistherarestthingthere。\'
\'Soyouhavesaidbefore。\'
\'Thecastleandourfamilyhistoryhaveasmuchromanticinterestforherastheyhaveforyou，\'Charlottewenton。
\'Shedelightsinvisitingourtombsandeffigiesandpondersoverthemforhours。\'
\'Indeed!\'saidDeStancy，allowinghissurprisetohidethesatisfactionwhichaccompaniedit。\'Thatshouldmakeusfriendly……Doessheseemanypeople?\'
\'Notmanyasyet。Andshecannothavemanystayingthereduringthealterations。\'
\'Ah!yes——thealterations。Didn\'tyousaythatshehashadaLondonarchitectstoppingthereonthataccount?Whatwashe——
oldoryoung?\'
\'Heisayoungman:hehasbeentoourhouse。Don\'tyourememberyoumethimthere?\'
\'Whatwashisname?\'
\'Mr。Somerset。\'
\'O，thatman!Yes，yes，Iremember……Hullo，Lottie!\'
\'What?\'
\'Yourfaceisasredasapeony。NowIknowasecret!\'
Charlottevainlyendeavouredtohideherconfusion。\'Verywell——notaword!Iwon\'tsaymore，\'continuedDeStancygood-humouredly，\'exceptthatheseemstobeaverynicefellow。\'
DeStancyhadturnedthedialogueontothislittlewell-
preservedsecretofhissister\'swithsufficientoutwardlightness；butithadbeendoneininstinctiveconcealmentofthedisquietingstartwithwhichhehadrecognizedthatSomerset，Dare\'senemy，whomhehadinterceptedinplacingDare\'sportraitintothehandsofthechiefconstable，wasamanbelovedbyhissisterCharlotte。Thisnovelcircumstancemightleadtoacuriouscomplication。Buthewastohearmore。
\'Hemaybeverynice，\'repliedCharlotte，withaneffort，afterthissilence。\'Butheisnothingtome，morethanaverygoodfriend。\'
\'There\'snoengagement，orthoughtofonebetweenyou?\'
\'Certainlythere\'snot!\'saidCharlotte，withbraveemphasis。
\'ItismorelikelytobebetweenPaulaandhimthanmeandhim。\'
DeStancy\'sbaremilitaryearsandcloselycroppedpollflushedhot。\'MissPowerandhim?\'
\'Idon\'tmeantosaythereis，becausePauladeniesit；butI
meanthathelovesPaula。ThatIdoknow。\'
DeStancywasdumb。ThisitemofnewswhichDarehadkeptfromhim，notknowinghowfarDeStancy\'ssenseofhonourmightextend，wasdecidedlygrave。Indeed，hewassogreatlyimpressedwiththefact，thathecouldnothelpsayingasmuchaloud:\'Thisisveryserious!\'
\'Why!\'shemurmuredtremblingly，forthefirstleakingoutofhertenderandswornsecrethaddisabledherquite。
\'BecauseIlovePaulatoo。\'
\'Whatdoyousay，William，you?——awomanyouhaveneverseen?\'
\'Ihaveseenher——byaccident。Andnow，mydearlittlesis，youwillbemycloseally，won\'tyou?asIwillbeyours，asbrotherandsistershouldbe。\'HeplacedhisarmcoaxinglyroundCharlotte\'sshoulder。
\'O，William，howcanI?\'atlastshestammered。
\'Why，howcan\'tyou，Ishouldsay?Wearebothinthesameship。IlovePaula，youloveMr。Somerset；itbehovesbothofustoseethatthisflirtationoftheirsendsinnothing。\'
\'Idon\'tlikeyoutoputitlikethat——thatIlovehim——itfrightensme，\'murmuredthegirl，visiblyagitated。\'Idon\'twanttodividehimfromPaula；Icouldn\'t，Iwouldn\'tdoanythingtoseparatethem。Believeme，Will，Icouldnot!I
amsorryyoulovetherealso，thoughIshouldbegladifithappenedinthenaturalorderofeventsthatsheshouldcomeroundtoyou。ButIcannotdoanythingtopartthemandmakeMr。Somersetsuffer。ItwouldbeTOOwrongandblamable。\'
\'Now，yousillyCharlotte，that\'sjusthowyouwomenflyoffatatangent。Imeannothingdishonourableintheleast。
HaveIeverpromptedyoutodoanythingdishonourable?FairfightingallieswasallIthoughtof。\'
MissDeStancybreathedmorefreely。\'Yes，wewillbethat，ofcourse；wearealwaysthat，William。ButIhopeIcanbeyourally，andbequiteneutral；Iwouldsomuchrather。\'
\'Well，Isupposeitwillnotbeabreachofyourpreciousneutralityifyougetmeinvitedtoseethecastle?\'
\'Ono!\'shesaidbrightly；\'Idon\'tminddoingsuchathingasthat。Whynotcomewithmetomorrow?IwillsayIamgoingtobringyou。Therewillbenotroubleatall。\'
DeStancyreadilyagreed。Theeffectuponhimoftheinformationnowacquiredwastointensifyhisardourtenfold，thestimulusbeingduetoaperceptionthatSomerset，withalittlemoreknowledge，wouldholdacardwhichcouldbeplayedwithdisastrouseffectagainsthimself——hisrelationshiptoDare。ItsdisclosuretoaladyofsuchPuritanantecedentsasPaula\'s，wouldprobablymeanherimmediateseverancefromhimselfasanuncleanthing。
\'IsMissPoweraseverepietist，orprecisian；orissheacompromisinglady?\'heaskedabruptly。
\'Sheissevereanduncompromising——ifyoumeaninherjudgmentsonmorals，\'saidCharlotte，notquitehearing。Theremarkwaspeculiarlyapposite，andDeStancywassilent。
Hespentsomefollowinghoursinaclosestudyofthecastlehistory，whichtillnowhadunutterablyboredhim。Moreparticularlydidhedwelloverdocumentsandnoteswhichreferredtothepedigreeofhisownfamily。Hewroteoutthenamesofall——andtheyweremany——whohadbeenbornwithinthosedomineeringwallssincetheirfirsterection；ofthoseamongthemwhohadbeenbroughtthitherbymarriagewiththeowner，andofstrangerknightsandgentlemenwhohadenteredthecastlebymarriagewithitsmistress。Herefreshedhismemoryonthestrangelovesandhatesthathadariseninthecourseofthefamilyhistory；onmemorableattacks，andthedatesofthesame，themostmemorableamongthembeingtheoccasiononwhichthepartyrepresentedbyPaulabattereddownthecastlewallsthatshewasnowabouttomend，and，ashehoped，returnintheiroriginalintactshapetothefamilydispossessed，bymarriagewithhimself，itslivingrepresentative。
InSirWilliam\'svillaweresmallengravingsaftermanyoftheportraitsinthecastlegalleries，someofthemhanginginthedining-roominplainoakandmapleframes，andotherspreservedinportfolios。DeStancyspentmuchofhistimeoverthese，andingettinguptheromancesoftheiroriginals\'
livesfrommemoirsandotherrecords，allwhichstorieswereasgreatnoveltiestohimastheycouldpossiblybetoanystranger。MostinterestingtohimwasthelifeofanEdwardDeStancy，whohadlivedjustbeforetheCivilWars，andtowhomCaptainDeStancyboreaverytraceablelikeness。Thisancestorhadamoleonhischeek，blackanddistinctasaflyincream；andasinthecaseofthefirstLordAmherst\'swart，andBennetEarlofArlington\'snose-scar，thepainterhadfaithfullyreproducedthedefectoncanvas。Itsohappenedthatthecaptainhadamole，thoughnotexactlyonthesamespotofhisface；andthismadetheresemblancestillgreater。
Hetookinfinitetroublewithhisdressthatday，showinganamountofanxietyonthematterwhichforhimwasquiteabnormal。Atlast，whenfullyequipped，hesetoutwithhissistertomakethecallproposed。Charlottewasratherunhappyatsightofherbrother\'searnestattempttomakeanimpressiononPaula；butshecouldsaynothingagainstit，andtheyproceededontheirway。
ItwasthedarkestofNovemberweather，whenthedaysaresoshortthatmorningseemstojoinwitheveningwithouttheinterventionofnoon。Theskywaslinedwithlowcloud，withinwhosedensesubstancetempestswereslowlyfermentingforthecomingdays。Evennowawindyturbulencetroubledthehalf-nakedboughs，andalonelyleafwouldoccasionallyspindownwardstorejoinonthegrassthescathedmultitudeofitscomradeswhichhadprecededitinitsfall。Theriverbythepavilion，inthesummersoclearandpurling，nowslidonwardsbrownandthickandsilent，andenlargedtodoublesize。
II。
MeanwhilePaulawasalone。Ofanyoneelseitwouldhavebeensaidthatshemustbefindingtheafternoonratherdrearyinthequainthallsnotofherforefathers:butofMissPoweritwasunsafetopredicatesosurely。Shewalkedfromroomtoroominablackvelvetdresswhichgavedecisiontoheroutlinewithoutdeprivingitofsoftness。Sheoccasionallyclaspedherhandsbehindherheadandlookedoutofawindow；
butshemoreparticularlybentherfootstepsupanddowntheLongGallery，whereshehadcausedalargefireoflogstobekindled，inherendeavourtoextendcheerfulnesssomewhatbeyondtheprecinctsofthesitting-rooms。
ThefireglanceduponPaula，andPaulaglanceddownatthefire，andatthegnarledbeechfuel，andatthewood-licewhichranoutfrombeneaththebarktotheextremityofthelogsastheheatapproachedthem。Thelow-downruddylightspreadoverthedarkfloorlikethesettingsunoveramoor，flutteringonthegrotesquecountenancesofthebrightandirons，andtouchingallthefurnitureontheunderside。
Shenowandthencrossedtooneofthedeepembrasuresofthewindows，todeciphersomesentencefromalettersheheldinherhand。Thedaylightwouldhavebeenmorethansufficientforanybystandertodiscernthatthecapitalsinthatletterwereofthepeculiarsemi-gothictypeaffectedatthetimebySomersetandotheryoungarchitectsofhisschoolintheirepistolarycorrespondence。Shewasverypossiblythinkingofhim，evenwhennotreadinghisletter，fortheexpressionofsoftnesswithwhichsheperusedthepagewasmoreorlesswithherwhensheappearedtoexamineotherthings。
Shewalkedaboutforalittletimelonger，thenputawaytheletter，lookedattheclock，andthencereturnedtothewindows，straininghereyesoverthelandscapewithout，asshemurmured，\'IwishCharlottewasnotsolongcoming!\'
AsCharlottecontinuedtokeepaway，Paulabecamelessreasonableinherdesires，andproceededtowishthatSomersetwouldarrive；thenthatanybodywouldcome；then，walkingtowardstheportraitsonthewall，sheflippantlyaskedoneofthosecavalierstoobligeherfancyforcompanybysteppingdownfromhisframe。Thetemerityoftherequestledhertoprudentlywithdrawitalmostassoonasconceived:oldpaintingshadbeensaidtoplayqueertricksinextremecases，andtheshadowsthisafternoonwerefunerealenoughforanythingintheshapeofrevengeonanintruderwhoembodiedtheantagonisticmodernspirittosuchanextentasshe。
However，Paulastillstoodbeforethepicturewhichhadattractedher；andthis，byacoincidencecommonenoughinfact，thoughscarcelycreditedinchronicles，happenedtobethatoneoftheseventeenth-centuryportraitsofwhichDeStancyhadstudiedtheengravedcopyatMyrtleVillathesamemorning。
Whilstsheremainedbeforethepicture，wonderingherfavouritewonder，howwouldshefeelifthisanditsaccompanyingcanvaseswerepicturesofherownancestors，shewassurprisedbyalightfootstepuponthecarpetwhichcoveredpartoftheroom，andturningquicklyshebeheldthesmilinglittlefigureofCharlotteDeStancy。
\'Whathasmadeyousolate?\'saidPaula。\'Youarecometostay，ofcourse?\'
Charlottesaidshehadcometostay。\'ButIhavebroughtsomebodywithme!\'
\'Ah——whom?\'
\'Mybrotherhappenedtobeathome，andIhavebroughthim。\'
MissDeStancy\'sbrotherhadbeensocontinuouslyabsentfromhomeinIndia，orelsewhere，solittlespokenof，and，whenspokenof，sotrulythoughunconsciouslyrepresentedasonewhoseinterestslaywhollyoutsidethisantiquatedneighbourhood，thattoPaulahehadbeenamerenebulositywhomshehadneverdistinctlyoutlined。Tohavehimthuscohereintosubstanceatamoment\'snoticelenthimthenoveltyofanewcreation。
\'Isheinthedrawing-room?\'saidPaulainalowvoice。
\'No，heishere。Hewouldfollowme。Ihopeyouwillforgivehim。\'
AndthenPaulasawemergeintotheredbeamsofthedancingfire，frombehindahalf-drawnhangingwhichscreenedthedoor，themilitarygentlemanwhoseacquaintancethereaderhasalreadymade。
\'Youknowthehouse，doubtless，CaptainDeStancy?\'saidPaula，somewhatshyly，whenhehadbeenpresentedtoher。
\'IhaveneverseentheinsidesinceIwasthreeweeksold，\'
repliedtheartilleryofficergracefully；\'andhencemyrecollectionsofitarenotremarkablydistinct。AyearortwobeforeIwasborntheentailwascutoffbymyfatherandgrandfather；sothatIsawthevenerableplaceonlytoloseit；atleast，Ibelievethat\'sthetruthofthecase。Butmyknowledgeofthetransactionisnotprofound，anditisadelicatepointonwhichtoquestionone\'sfather。\'
Paulaassented，andlookedattheinterestingandnoblefigureofthemanwhoseparentshadseeminglyrightedthemselvesattheexpenseofwronginghim。
\'Thepicturesandfurnitureweresoldaboutthesametime，I
think?\'saidCharlotte。
\'Yes，\'murmuredDeStancy。\'Theywentinamadbargainofmyfatherwithhisvisitor，astheysatovertheirwine。Myfathersatdownashostonthatoccasion，andaroseasguest。\'
Heseemedtospeakwithsuchacourteousabsenceofregretforthealienation，thatPaula，whowasalwaysfearingthattherecollectionwouldriseasapainfulshadowbetweenherselfandtheDeStancys，feltreassuredbyhismagnanimity。
DeStancylookedwithinterestroundthegallery；seeingwhichPaulasaidshewouldhavelightsbroughtinamoment。
\'No，pleasenot，\'saidDeStancy。\'Theroomandourselvesareofsomuchmoreinterestingacolourbythislight!\'
Astheymovedhitherandthither，thevariousexpressionsofDeStancy\'sfacemadethemselvespicturesquelyvisibleintheunsteadyshineoftheblaze。Inashorttimehehaddrawnneartothepaintingoftheancestorwhomhesogreatlyresembled。Whenherquickeyenotedthespeckontheface，indicativeofinheritedtraitsstronglypronounced，anewandromanticfeelingthattheDeStancyshadstretchedoutatentaclefromtheirgenealogicaltreetoseizeherbythehandanddrawherintotheirmasstookpossessionofPaula。Ashasbeensaid，theDeStancyswereafamilyonwhomthehall-
markofmembershipwasdeeplystamped，andbythepresentlighttherepresentativeundertheportraitandtherepresentativeintheportraitseemedbeingsnotfarremoved。
Paulawascontinuallystartingfromareverieandspeakingirrelevantly，asifsuchreflectionsasthoseseizedholdofherinspiteofhernaturalunconcern。
WhencandleswerebroughtinCaptainDeStancyardentlycontrivedtomakethepicturesthethemeofconversation。
Fromthenearesttheywenttothenext，whereuponPaulaashostesstookuponeofthecandlesticksandhelditalofttolightupthepainting。Thecandlestickbeingtallandheavy，DeStancyrelievedherofit，andtakinganothercandleintheotherhand，heimperceptiblyslidintothepositionofexhibitorratherthanspectator。Thushewalkedinadvanceholdingthetwocandlesonhigh，hisshadowformingagiganticfigureontheneighbouringwall，whileherecitedtheparticularsoffamilyhistorypertainingtoeachportrait，thathehadlearntupwithsucheagerpersistenceduringthepreviousfour-and-twenty-hours。\'Ihaveoftenwonderedwhatcouldhavebeenthehistoryofthislady，butnobodyhaseverbeenabletotellme，\'Paulaobserved，pointingtoaVandyckwhichrepresentedabeautifulwomanwearingcurlsacrossherforehead，asquare-cutbodice，andaheavypearlnecklaceuponthesmoothexpanseofherneck。
\'Idon\'tthinkanybodyknows，\'Charlottesaid。
\'Oyes，\'repliedherbrotherpromptly，seeingwithenthusiasmthatitwasyetanotheropportunityformakingcapitalofhisacquiredknowledge，withwhichhefelthimselfasinconvenientlycrammedasacandidateforagovernmentexamination。\'Thatladyhasbeenlargelycelebratedunderafancyname，thoughsheiscomparativelylittleknownbyherown。HerparentswerethechiefornamentsofthealmostirreproachablecourtofCharlestheFirst，andwerenotmoredistinguishedbytheirpolitenessandhonourthanbytheaffectionsandvirtueswhichconstitutethegreatcharmofprivatelife。\'
Thestockverbiageofthefamilymemoirwassomewhatapparentinthiseffusion；butitmuchimpressedhislisteners；andhewentontopointoutthatfromthelady\'snecklacewassuspendedaheart-shapedportrait——thatofthemanwhobrokehisheartbyherpersistentrefusaltoencouragehissuit。DeStancythenledthemalittlefurther，wherehungaportraitofthelover，oneofhisownfamily，whoappearedinfullpanoplyofplatemail，thepommelofhisswordstandingupunderhiselbow。Thegallantcaptainthenrelatedhowthispersonageofhislinewooedtheladyfruitlessly；how，afterhermarriagewithanother，sheandherhusbandvisitedtheparentsofthedisappointedlover，thethenoccupiersofthecastle；how，inafitofdesperationatthesightofher，heretiredtohisroom，wherehecomposedsomepassionateverses，whichhewrotewithhisblood，andafterdirectingthemtoherranhimselfthroughthebodywithhissword。Toolatethelady\'sheartwastouchedbyhisdevotion；shewaseverafteramelancholywoman，andworehisportraitdespiteherhusband\'sprohibition。\'This，\'continuedDeStancy，leadingthemthroughthedoorwayintothehallwherethecoatsofmailwerearrangedalongthewall，andstoppingoppositeasuitwhichboresomeresemblancetothatoftheportrait，\'thisishisarmour，asyouwillperceivebycomparingitwiththepicture，andthisistheswordwithwhichhedidtherashdeed。\'
\'Whatunreasonabledevotion!\'saidPaulapractically。\'Itwastooromanticofhim。Shewasnotworthyofsuchasacrifice。\'
\'Healsoisonewhomtheysayyouresemblealittleinfeature，Ithink，\'saidCharlotte。
\'Dothey?\'repliedDeStancy。\'Iwonderifit\'strue。\'Hesetdownthecandles，andaskingthegirlstowithdrawforamoment，wasinsidetheupperpartofthesuitofarmourinincrediblyquicktime。Goingthenandplacinghimselfinfrontofalow-hangingpaintingneartheoriginal，soastobeenclosedbytheframewhilecoveringthefigure，arrangingtheswordasintheoneabove，andsettingthelightthatitmightfallintherightdirection，herecalledthem；whenheputthequestion，\'Istheresemblancestrong?\'
Helookedsomuchlikeamanofbygonetimesthatneitherofthemreplied，butremainedcuriouslygazingathim。Hismodernandcomparativelysallowcomplexion，asseenthroughtheopenvisor，lentanetherealidealitytohisappearancewhichthetime-stainedcountenanceoftheoriginalwarriortotallylacked。
AtlastPaulaspoke，sostillythatsheseemedastatueenunciating:\'Aretheversesknownthathewrotewithhisblood?\'
\'Oyes，theyhavebeencarefullypreserved。\'CaptainDeStancy，withtruewooer\'sinstinct，hadcommittedsomeofthemtomemorythatmorningfromtheprintedcopytobefoundineverywell-orderedlibrary。\'IfearIdon\'trememberthemall，\'hesaid，\'buttheybegininthisway:——
"Fromonethatdyethinhisdiscontent，DearFaire，receivethisgreetingtotheesent；
Andstillasoftasitisreadbythee，Thenwithsomedeepsadsighremembermee!
O\'twasmyfortune\'serrortovowdutie，Toonethatbearsdefianceinherbeautie!
Sweetepoyson，pretiouswooe，infectiousjewell——
SuchisaLadiethatisfaireandcruell。
HowwellcouldIwithayre，camelion-like，Livehappie，andstillgazeingonthycheeke，Inwhich，forsakenman，methinkIseeHowgoodlielovedoththreatencarestomee。
Whydostthoufrownethusonakneelingesoule，Whosefaultsinlovethoumay\'staswellcontroule?——
Inlove——butO，thatword；thatwordIfeareIshatefulstillbothtothyhartandeare!……
Ladie，inbreefe，myfatedothnowintendTheperiodofmydaiestohaveanend:
Wastenotonmethypittie，pretiousFaire:
Restyouinmuchcontent；I，indespaire!"\'
Asolemnsilencefollowedthecloseoftherecital，whichDeStancyimprovedbyturningthepointoftheswordtohisbreast，restingthepommeluponthefloor，andsaying:——
\'Afterwritingthatwemaypicturehimturningthissameswordinthissameway，andfallingonitthus。\'Heinclinedhisbodyforwardashespoke。
\'Don\'t，CaptainDeStancy，pleasedon\'t!\'criedPaulainvoluntarily。
\'No，don\'tshowusanyfurther，William!\'saidhissister。
\'Itistootragic。\'
DeStancyputawaythesword，himselfratherexcited——not，however，byhisownrecital，butbythedirectgazeofPaulaathim。
ThisProteanqualityofDeStancy\'s，bymeansofwhichhecouldassumetheshapeandsituationofalmostanyancestoratwill，hadimpressedher，andheperceiveditwithathroboffervour。Butithaddonenomorethanimpressher；forthoughindeliveringthelineshehadsofixedhislookuponherastosuggest，toanymaidenpractisedinthegameoftheeyes，apresentsignificanceinthewords，theideaofanysucharriere-penseehadbynomeanscommendeditselftohersoul。
AtthistimeamessengerfromMarktonbarracksarrivedatthecastleandwishedtospeaktoCaptainDeStancyinthehall。
Beggingthetwoladiestoexcusehimforamoment，hewentout。
WhileDeStancywastalkinginthetwilighttothemessengeratoneendoftheapartment，someotherarrivalwasshowninbythesidedoor，andinmakinghiswayaftertheconferenceacrossthehalltotheroomhehadpreviouslyquitted，DeStancyencounteredthenew-comer。TherewasjustenoughlighttorevealthecountenancetobeDare\'s；heboreaportfoliounderhisarm，andhadbeguntowearamoustache，incasethechiefconstableshouldmeethimanywhereinhisrambles，andbestruckbyhisresemblancetothemaninthestudio。
\'Whatthedevilareyoudoinghere?\'saidCaptainDeStancy，intoneshehadneverusedbeforetotheyoungman。
Darestartedbackinsurprise，andnaturallyso。DeStancy，havingadoptedanewsystemofliving，andrelinquishedthemeagredietandenervatingwatersofhispastyears，wasrapidlyrecoveringtone。Hisvoicewasfirmer，hischeekswerelesspallid；andaboveallhewasauthoritativetowardshispresentcompanion，whoseingenuityinvampingupabeingforhisambitiousexperimentsseemedabouttoberewarded，likeFrankenstein\'s，byhisdiscomfitureatthehandsofhisowncreature。
\'Whatthedevilareyoudoinghere，Isay?\'repeatedDeStancy。
\'Youcantalktomelikethat，aftermyworkingsohardtogetyouoninlife，andmakearisingmanofyou!\'expostulatedDare，asonewhofelthimselfnolongertheleaderinthisenterprise。
\'But，\'saidthecaptainlessharshly，\'ifyouletthemdiscoveranyrelationsbetweenushere，youwillruinthefairestprospectsmaneverhad!\'
\'O，Ilikethat，captain——whenyouoweallofittome!\'
\'That\'stoocool，Will。\'
\'No；whatIsayistrue。However，letthatgo。Sonowyouarehereonacall；buthowareyougoingtogethereoftenenoughtowinherbeforetheothermancomesback?Ifyoudon\'tseehereveryday——twice，threetimesaday——youwillnotcaptureherinthetime。\'
\'Imustthinkofthat，\'saidDeStancy。
\'Thereisonlyonewayofbeingconstantlyhere:youmustcometocopythepicturesorfurniture，somethinginthewayhedid。\'
\'I\'llthinkofit，\'mutteredDeStancyhastily，asheheardthevoicesoftheladies，whomhehastenedtojoinastheywereappearingattheotherendoftheroom。Hiscountenancewasgloomyasherecrossedthehall，forDare\'swordsontheshortnessofhisopportunitieshadimpressedhim。AlmostatonceheutteredahopetoPaulathathemighthavefurtherchanceofstudying，andifpossibleofcopying，someoftheancestralfaceswithwhichthebuildingabounded。
MeanwhileDarehadcomeforwardwithhisportfolio，whichprovedtobefullofphotographs。WhilePaulaandCharlottewereexaminingthemhesaidtoDeStancy，asastranger:
\'Excusemyinterruption，sir，butifyoushouldthinkofcopyinganyoftheportraits，asyouwerestatingjustnowtotheladies，mypatentphotographicprocessisatyourservice，andis，Ibelieve，theonlyonewhichwouldbeeffectualinthedimindoorlights。\'
\'ItisjustwhatIwasthinkingof，\'saidDeStancy，nowsofarcooleddownfromhisirritationastobequitereadytoacceptDare\'sadroitlysuggestedscheme。
OnapplicationtoPaulasheimmediatelygaveDeStancypermissiontophotographtoanyextent，andtoldDarehemightbringhisinstrumentsassoonasCaptainDeStancyrequiredthem。
\'Don\'tstareatherinsuchabrazenway!\'whisperedthelattertotheyoungman，whenPaulahadwithdrawnafewsteps。
\'Say，"IshallhighlyvaluetheprivilegeofassistingCaptainDeStancyinsuchawork。"\'
Dareobeyed，andbeforeleavingDeStancyarrangedtobeginperformingonhisveneratedforefathersthenextmorning，theyouthsoaccidentallyengagedagreeingtobethereatthesametimetoassistinthetechnicaloperations。
III。
Ashehadpromised，DeStancymadeusethenextdayofthecovetedpermissionthathadbeenbroughtaboutbytheingeniousDare。Dare\'stimelysuggestionoftenderingassistancehadthepracticalresultofrelievingtheotherofallnecessityforoccupyinghistimewiththeproceeding，furtherthantobestowaperfunctorysuperintendencenowandthen，togiveacolourtohisregularpresenceinthefortress，theactualworkoftakingcopiesbeingcarriedonbytheyoungerman。
Theweatherwasfrequentlywetduringtheseoperations，andPaula，MissDeStancy，andherbrother，wereofteninthehousewholemorningstogether。Byconstanturgingandcoaxingthelatterwouldinducehisgentlesister，muchagainstherconscience，toleavehimopportunitiesforspeakingtoPaulaalone。Itwasmostlybeforesomeprintorpaintingthattheseconversationsoccurred，whileDeStancywasostensiblyoccupiedwithitsmerits，oringivingdirectionstohisphotographerhowtoproceed。Assoonasthedialoguebegan，thelatterwouldwithdrawoutofearshot，leavingPaulatoimaginehimthemostdeferentialyoungartistintheworld。
\'Youwillsoonpossessduplicatesofthewholegallery，\'shesaidononeoftheseoccasions，examiningsomecurledsheetswhichDarehadprintedofffromthenegatives。
\'No，\'saidthesoldier。\'Ishallnothavepatiencetogoon。
Igetill-humouredandindifferent，andthenleaveoff。\'
\'Whyill-humoured?\'
\'Iscarcelyknow——morethanthatIacquireageneralsenseofmyownfamily\'swantofmeritthroughseeinghowmeritoriousthepeoplearearoundme。Iseethemhappyandthrivingwithoutanynecessityformeatall；andthenIregardthesecanvasgrandfathersandgrandmothers，andask，"Whywasalinesoantiquatedandoutofdateprolongedtillnow?"\'
Shechidhimgood-naturedlyforsuchviews。\'Theywilldoyouaninjury，\'shedeclared。\'Dospareyourself，CaptainDeStancy!\'
DeStancyshookhisheadasheturnedthepaintingbeforehimalittlefurthertothelight。
\'But，doyouknow，\'saidPaula，\'thatnotionofyoursofbeingafamilyoutofdateisdelightfultosomepeople。ItalktoCharlotteaboutitoften。Iamneverwearyofexaminingthosecanopiedeffigiesinthechurch，andalmostwishtheywerethoseofmyrelations。\'
\'Iwilltrytoseethingsinthesamelightforyoursake，\'
saidDeStancyfervently。
\'Notformysake；foryourownwaswhatImeant，ofcourse，\'
sherepliedwitharepressiveair。
CaptainDeStancybowed。
\'Whatareyougoingtodowithyourphotographswhenyouhavethem?\'sheasked，asifstillanxioustoobliteratetheprevioussentimentallapse。
\'Ishallputthemintoalargealbum，andcarrythemwithmeinmycampaigns；andmayIask，nowIhaveanopportunity，thatyouwouldextendyourpermissiontocopyalittlefurther，andletmephotographoneotherpaintingthathangsinthecastle，tofittinglycompletemyset?\'
\'Which?\'
\'Thathalf-lengthofaladywhichhangsinthemorning-room。
IrememberseeingitintheAcademylastyear。\'
Paulainvoluntarilyclosedherselfup。Thepicturewasherownportrait。\'Itdoesnotbelongtoyourseries，\'shesaidsomewhatcoldly。
DeStancy\'ssecretthoughtwas，Ihopefrommysoulitwillbelongsomeday!Heansweredwithmildness:\'Thereisasortofconnection——youaremysister\'sfriend。\'
Paulaassented。
\'Andhence，mightnotyourfriend\'sbrotherphotographyourpicture?\'
Paulademurred。
AgentlesighrosefromthebosomofDeStancy。\'Whatistobecomeofme?\'hesaid，withalightdistressedlaugh。\'Iamalwaysinconsiderateandinclinedtoasktoomuch。Forgiveme!WhatwasinmymindwhenIaskedIdarenotsay。\'
\'Iquiteunderstandyourinterestinyourfamilypictures——andallofit，\'sheremarkedmoregently，willingnottohurtthesensitivefeelingsofamansofullofromance。
