第12章

Shedeclaredthatthiswasanunexpectedpleasure。Hadhearrangedtocomeonthetenthasshewished?Howstrangethattheyshouldmeetthus!——andyetnotstrange——theworldwassosmall。

Somersetsaidthathewascomingontheverydayshementioned——thattheappointmentgavehiminfinitegratification，whichwasquitewithinthetruth。

\'Comeintothisshopwithme，\'saidPaula，withgood-humouredauthoritativeness。

Theyenteredtheshopandtalkedonwhileshemadeasmallpurchase。ButnotaworddidPaulasayofhersuddenerrandtotown。

\'Iamhavinganexcitingmorning，\'shesaid。\'Iamgoingfromheretocatchtheone-o\'clocktraintoMarkton。\'

\'Itisimportantthatyougettherethisafternoon，I

suppose?\'

\'Yes。Youknowwhy?\'

\'Notatall。\'

\'TheHuntBall。Itwasfixedforthesixth，andthisisthesixth。Ithoughttheymighthaveaskedyou。\'

\'No，\'saidSomerset，atriflegloomily。\'No，Iamnotasked。

Butitisagreattaskforyou——alongjourneyandaballallinoneday。\'

\'Yes:Charlottesaidthat。ButIdon\'tmindit。\'

\'Youaregladyouaregoing。Areyouglad?\'hesaidsoftly。

Herairconfessedmorethanherwords。\'IamnotsoverygladthatIamgoingtotheHuntBall，\'sherepliedconfidentially。

\'Thanksforthat，\'saidhe。

Sheliftedhereyestohisforamoment。Hermannerhadsuddenlybecomesonearlythecounterpartofthatinthetea-

housethattosuspectanydeteriorationofaffectioninherwasnolongergenerous。Itwasonlyasifathinlayerofrecenteventshadoverlaidhermemoriesofhim，untilhispresencesweptthemaway。

Somersetlookedup，andfindingtheshopmantobestillsomewayoff，headded，\'WhenwillyouassuremeofsomethinginreturnforwhatIassuredyouthateveningintherain?\'

\'Notbeforeyouhavebuiltthecastle。Myauntdoesnotknowaboutityet，noranybody。\'

\'Ioughttotellher。\'

\'No，notyet。Idon\'twishit。\'

\'Theneverythingstandsasusual?\'

Shelightlynodded。

\'Thatis，Imayloveyou:butyoustillwillnotsayyouloveme。\'

Shenoddedagain，anddirectinghisattentiontotheadvancingshopman，said，\'Pleasenotawordmore。\'

Soonafterthis，theyleftthejeweller\'s，andparted，PauladrivingstraightofftothestationandSomersetgoingonhiswayuncertainlyhappy。Hisre-impressionafterafewminuteswasthataspecialjourneytotowntofetchthatmagnificentnecklacewhichshehadnotoncementionedtohim，butwhichwasplainlytobethemediumofsomeproudpurposewithherthisevening，washardlyinharmonywithherassertionsofindifferencetotheattractionsoftheHuntBall。

Hegotintoacabanddrovetohisclub，wherehelunched，andmopinglyspentagreatpartoftheafternooninmakingcalculationsforthefoundationsofthecastleworks。Laterintheafternoonhereturnedtohischambers，wishingthathecouldannihilatethethreedaysremainingbeforethetenth，particularlythiscomingevening。Onhistablewasaletterinastrangewriting，andindifferentlyturningitoverhefoundfromthesuperscriptionthatithadbeenaddressedtohimdaysbeforeattheLord-Quantock-ArmsHotel，Markton，whereithadlaineversince，thelandlordprobablyexpectinghimtoreturn。Openingthemissive，hefoundtohissurprisethatitwas，afterall，aninvitationtotheHuntBall。

\'Toolate!\'saidSomerset。\'TothinkIshouldbeservedthistrickasecondtime!\'

Afteramoment\'spause，however，helookedtoseethetimeofday。Itwasfiveminutespastfive——justaboutthehourwhenPaulawouldbedrivingfromMarktonStationtoStancyCastletorestandprepareherselfforhereveningtriumph。Therewasatrainatsixo\'clock，timedtoreachMarktonbetweenelevenandtwelve，whichbygreatexertionhemightsaveevennow，ifitwereworthwhiletoundertakesuchascrambleforthepleasureofdroppingintotheballatalatehour。A

moment\'svisionofPaulamovingtoswifttunesonthearmofapersonorpersonsunknownwasenoughtoimparttheimpetusrequired。Hejumpedup，flunghisdressclothesintoaportmanteau，sentdowntocallacab，andinafewminuteswasrattlingofftotherailwaywhichhadbornePaulaawayfromLondonjustfivehoursearlier。

Onceinthetrain，hebegantoconsiderwhereandhowhecouldmostconvenientlydressforthedance。Thetrainwouldcertainlybehalf-an-hourlate；half-an-hourwouldbespentingettingtothetown-hall，andthatwastheutmostdelaytolerableifhewouldsecurethehandofPaulaforonespin，orbemorethanameredummybehindtheearlierarrivals。Helookedforanemptycompartmentatthenextstoppage，andfindingtheonenexthisownunoccupied，heentereditandchangedhisraimentforthatinhisportmanteauduringtheensuingrunoftwentymiles。

ThuspreparedheawaitedtheMarktonplatform，whichwasreachedastheclockstrucktwelve。Somersetcalledaflyanddroveatoncetothetown-hall。

Theboroughnativeshadascendedtotheirupperfloors，andwereputtingouttheircandlesonebyoneashepassedalongthestreets；butthelivelystrainsthatproceededfromthecentraledificerevealeddistinctlyenoughwhatwasgoingonamongthetemporaryvisitorsfromtheneighbouringmanors。

Thedoorswereopenedforhim，andenteringthevestibulelinedwithflags，flowers，evergreens，andescutcheons，hestoodlookingintothefurnaceofgaietybeyond。

Itwassometimebeforehecouldgatherhisimpressionsofthescene，soperplexingwerethelights，themotions，thetoilets，thefull-dressuniformsofofficersandtheharmoniesofsound。Yetlight，sound，andmovementwerenotsomuchtheessenceofthatgiddysceneasanintenseaimatobliviousnessinthebeingscomposingit。Fortwoorthreehoursatleastthosewhirlingyoungpeoplemeantnottoknowthattheyweremortal。Theroomwasbeatinglikeaheart，andthepulsewasregulatedbythetremblingstringsofthemostpopularquadrillebandinWessex。Butatlasthiseyesgrewsettledenoughtolookcriticallyaround。

Theroomwascrowded——toocrowded。Everyvarietyoffairone，beautiesprimary，secondary，andtertiary，appearedamongthepersonagescomposingthethrong。Thereweresunsandmoons；

alsopaleplanetsoflittleaccount。Broadlyspeaking，thesedaughtersofthecountyfellintotwoclasses:onethepink-

facedunsophisticatedgirlsfromneighbouringrectoriesandsmallcountry-houses，whoknewnottownexceptforanoccasionalfortnight，andwhospenttheirtimefromEastertoLammasDaymuchastheyspentitduringtheremainingninemonthsoftheyear:theotherclasswerethechildrenofthewealthylandownerswhomigratedeachseasontothetown-house；

thesewerepaleandcollected，showedlessenjoymentintheircountenances，andworeingeneralanapproximationtothelanguidmannersofthecapital。

Aquadrillewasinprogress，andSomersetscannedeachset。

Hismindhadrunsolonguponthenecklace，thathisglanceinvoluntarilysoughtoutthatgleamingobjectratherthanthepersonalityofitswearer。Atthetopoftheroomtherehebeheldit；butitwasontheneckofCharlotteDeStancy。

Thewholelucidexplanationbrokeacrosshisunderstandinginasecond。HisdearPaulahadfetchedthenecklacethatCharlotteshouldnotappeartodisadvantageamongthecountypeoplebyreasonofherpoverty。Itwasgenerouslydone——adisinterestedactofsisterlykindness；theirswasthefriendshipofHermiaandHelena。Beforehehadgotfurtherthantorealizethis，therewheeledroundamongstthedancersaladywhosetournureherecognizedwell。ShewasPaula；andtotheyoungman\'svisionasuperlativesomethingdistinguishedherfromalltherest。Thiswasnotdressorornament，forshehadhardlyagemuponher，herattirebeingamodelofeffectivesimplicity。HerpartnerwasCaptainDeStancy。

Thediscoveryofthislatterfactslightlyobscuredhisappreciationofwhathehaddiscoveredjustbefore。ItwaswithratheraloweringbrowthatheaskedhimselfwhetherPaula\'spredilectiond\'artiste，asshecalledit，fortheDeStancylinemightnotleadtoapredilectionofadifferentsortforitslastrepresentativewhichwouldbenotatallsatisfactory。

Thearchitectremainedinthebackgroundtillthedancedrewtoaconclusion，andthenhewentforward。ThecircumstanceofhavingmethimbyaccidentoncealreadythatdayseemedtoquenchanysurpriseinMissPower\'sbosomatseeinghimnow。

TherewasnothinginherpartingfromCaptainDeStancy，whenheledhertoaseat，calculatedtomakeSomersetuneasyafterhislongabsence。Though，forthatmatter，thisprovednothing；for，likeallwisemaidens，Paulaneverventuredonthegameoftheeyeswithaloverinpublic；wellknowingthateverymomentofsuchindulgenceovernightmightmeananhour\'ssneeratherexpensebytheindulgedgentlemannextday，whenweighingwomankindbytheaidofacoldmorninglightandabadheadache。

WhileSomersetwasexplainingtoPaulaandherauntthereasonofhissuddenappearance，theirattentionwasdrawntoaseatashortwayoffbyaflutteringofladiesroundthespot。Inamomentitwaswhisperedthatsomebodyhadfallenill，andinanotherthatthesuffererwasMissDeStancy。Paula，Mrs。

Goodman，andSomersetatoncejoinedthegroupoffriendswhowereassistingher。NeitherofthemimaginedforaninstantthattheunexpectedadventofSomersetonthescenehadanythingtodowiththepoorgirl\'sindisposition。

Shewasassistedoutoftheroom，andherbrother，whonowcameup，preparedtotakeherhome，Somersetexchangingafewcivilwordswithhim，whichthehurryofthemomentpreventedthemfromcontinuing；thoughontakinghisleavewithCharlotte，whowasnowbetter，DeStancyinformedSomersetinanswertoacursoryinquiry，thathehopedtobebackagainattheballinhalf-an-hour。

WhentheyweregoneSomerset，feelingthatnowanotherdogmighthavehisday，soundedPaulaonthedelightfulquestionofadance。

Paularepliedinthenegative。

\'Howisthat?\'askedSomersetwithreproachfuldisappointment。

\'Icannotdanceagain，\'shesaidinasomewhatdepressedtone；

\'Imustbereleasedfromeveryengagementtodoso，onaccountofCharlotte\'sillness。IshouldhavegonehomewithherifI

hadnotbeenparticularlyrequestedtostayalittlelonger，sinceitisasyetsoearly，andCharlotte\'sillnessisnotveryserious。\'

IfCharlotte\'sillnesswasnotveryserious，Somersetthought，Paulamighthavestretchedapoint；butnotwishingtohinderherinshowingrespecttoafriendsowelllikedbyhimself，hedidnotaskit。DeStancyhadpromisedtobebackagaininhalf-an-hour，andPaulahadheardthepromise。Butattheendoftwentyminutes，stillseemingindifferenttowhatwasgoingonaroundher，shesaidshewouldstaynolonger，andremindingSomersetthattheyweresoontomeetandtalkovertherebuilding，droveoffwithheraunttoStancyCastle。

Somersetstoodlookingaftertheretreatingcarriagetillitwasenvelopedinshadesthatthelampscouldnotdisperse。

Theball-roomwasnowvirtuallyemptyforhim，andfeelingnogreatanxietytoreturnthitherhestoodonthestepsforsomeminuteslonger，lookingintothecalmmildnight，andatthedarkhousesbehindwhoseblindslaytheburgherswiththeireyessealedupinsleep。HecouldnotbutthinkthatitwasrathertoobadofPaulatospoilhiseveningforasentimentaldevotiontoCharlottewhichcoulddothelatternoappreciablegood；andhewouldhavefeltseriouslyhurtathermoveifithadnotbeenequallysevereuponCaptainDeStancy，whowasdoubtlesshasteningback，fullofabeliefthatshewouldstillbefoundthere。

Thestarofgas-jetsovertheentrancethrewitslightuponthewallsontheoppositesideofthestreet，wheretherewerenotice-boardsofforthcomingevents。Inglancingovertheseforthefifthtime，hiseyewasattractedbythefirstwordsofaplacardinblueletters，ofasizelargerthantherest，andmovingonwardafewstepsheread:——

STANCYCASTLE。

BythekindpermissionofMissPower，APLAY

WillshortlybeperformedattheaboveCASTLE，INAIDOFTHEFUNDSOFTHE

COUNTYHOSPITAL，BytheOfficersoftheROYALHORSEARTILLERY，MARKTONBARRACKS，ASSISTEDBYSEVERAL

LADIESOFTHENEIGHBOURHOOD。

Thecastandotherparticularswillbedulyannouncedinsmallbills。PlaceswillbereservedonapplicationtoMr。

Clangham，HighStreet，Markton，whereaplanoftheroommaybeseen。

N。B——TheCastleisabouttwentyminutes\'drivefromMarktonStation，towhichtherearenumerousconvenienttrainsfromallpartsofthecounty。

InaprofoundstudySomersetturnedandre-enteredtheball-

room，whereheremainedgloomilystandinghereandthereforaboutfiveminutes，attheendofwhichheobservedCaptainDeStancy，whohadreturnedpunctuallytohisword，crossingthehallinhisdirection。

Thegallantofficerdartedglancesoflivelysearchovereverygroupofdancersandsitters；andthenwithratherablanklookinhisface，hecameontoSomerset。Replyingtothelatter\'sinquiryforhissisterthatshehadnearlyrecovered，hesaid，\'Idon\'tseemyfather\'sneighboursanywhere。\'

\'Theyhavegonehome，\'repliedSomerset，atrifledrily。

\'Theyaskedmetomaketheirapologiestoyouforleadingyoutoexpecttheywouldremain。MissPowerwastooanxiousaboutMissDeStancytocaretostaylonger。\'

TheeyesofDeStancyandthespeakermetforaninstant。

Thatcuriousguardedunderstanding，orinimicalconfederacy，whicharisesatmomentsbetweentwomeninlovewiththesamewoman，waspresenthere；andintheirmutualglanceseachsaidasplainlyasbywordsthatherdeparturehadruinedhisevening\'shope。

Theywerenowaboutasmuchinonemoodasitwaspossiblefortwosuchdifferingnaturestobe。Neithercaredfurtherforelaboratinggiddycurvesonthattown-hallfloor。Theystoodtalkinglanguidlyaboutthisandthatlocaltopic，tillDeStancyturnedasideforashorttimetospeaktoadapperlittleladywhohadbeckonedtohim。InafewminuteshecamebacktoSomerset。

\'Mrs。Camperton，thewifeofMajorCampertonofmybattery，wouldverymuchlikemetointroduceyoutoher。Sheisanoldfriendofyourfather\'s，andhaswantedtoknowyouforalongtime。\'

DeStancyandSomersetcrossedovertothelady，andinafewminutes，thankstoherflowofspirits，sheandSomersetwerechattingwithremarkablefreedom。

\'Itisahappycoincidence，\'continuedMrs。Camperton，\'thatI

shouldhavemetyouhere，immediatelyafterreceivingaletterfromyourfather:indeeditreachedmeonlythismorning。Hehasbeensokind!Wearegettingupsometheatricals，asyouknow，Isuppose，tohelpthefundsoftheCountyHospital，whichisindebt。\'

\'Ihavejustseentheannouncement——nothingmore。\'

\'Yes，suchanestimablepurpose；andaswewishedtodoitthoroughlywell，IaskedMr。Somersettodesignusthecostumes，andhehasnowsentmethesketches。Itisquiteasecretatpresent，butwearegoingtoplayShakespeare\'sromanticdrama，\'Love\'sLabour\'sLost，\'andwehopetogetMissPowertotaketheleadingpart。Yousee，beingsuchahandsomegirl，andsowealthy，andratheranundiscoverednoveltyinthecountyasyet，shewoulddrawacrowdedroom，andgreatlybenefitthefunds。\'

\'MissPowergoingtoplayherself?——Iamrathersurprised，\'

saidSomerset。\'Whoseideaisallthis?\'

\'O，CaptainDeStancy\'s——he\'stheoriginatorentirely。Youseeheissointerestedintheneighbourhood，hisfamilyhavingbeenconnectedwithitforsomanycenturies，thatnaturallyacharitableobjectofthislocalnatureappealstohisfeelings。\'

\'Naturally!\'herlistenerlaconicallyrepeated。\'Andhaveyousettledwhoistoplaythejuniorgentleman\'spart，leadinglover，hero，orwhateverheiscalled?\'

\'Notabsolutely；thoughIthinkCaptainDeStancywillnotrefuseit；andheisaverygoodfigure。AtpresentitliesbetweenhimandMr。Mild，oneofouryounglieutenants。Myhusband，ofcourse，takestheheavyline；andIamtobethesecondlady，thoughIamrathertoooldforthepartreally。

IfwecanonlysecureMissPowerforheroinethecastwillbeexcellent。\'

\'Excellent!\'saidSomerset，withaspectralsmile。

VII。

WhenheawokethenextmorningattheLord-Quantock-ArmsHotelSomersetfeltquitemorbidonrecallingtheintelligencehehadreceivedfromMrs。Camperton。Butasthedayforseriouspracticalconsultationaboutthecastleworks，towhichPaulahadplayfullyalluded，wasnowcloseathand，hedeterminedtobanishsentimentalreflectionsonthefrailtiesthatwerebesieginghernature，byactivepreparationforhisprofessionalundertaking。Tobeherhigh-priestinart，toelaborateastructurewhosecunningworkmanshipwouldbemeetinghereyeeverydaytilltheendofhernaturallife，andsayingtoher，\'Heinventedit，\'withalltheeloquenceofaninanimatethinglongregarded——thiswasnomeansatisfaction，comewhatelsewould。

Hereturnedtotownthenextdaytosetmattersthereinsuchtrimthatnoinconvenienceshouldresultfromhisprolongedabsenceatthecastle；forhavingnoothercommissionhedetermined(withaneyerathertoheart-intereststhantoincreasinghisprofessionalpractice)tomake，asbefore，thecastleitselfhisoffice，studio，andchiefabiding-placetilltheworkswerefairlyinprogress。

OnthetenthhereappearedatMarkton。Passingthroughthetown，ontheroadtoStancyCastle，hiseyeswereagainarrestedbythenotice-boardwhichhadconveyedsuchstartlinginformationtohimonthenightoftheball。Thesmallbillsnowappearedthereon；butwhenheanxiouslylookedthemovertolearnhowthepartsweretobeallotted，hefoundthatintelligencestillwithheld。Yettheytoldenough；thelistoflady-playerswasgiven，andMissPower\'snamewasone。

Thatayoungladywho，sixmonthsago，wouldscarcelyjoinforconscientiousreasonsinasimpledanceonherownlawn，shouldnowbewillingtoexhibitherselfonapublicstage，simulatinglove-passageswithastranger，arguedarateofdevelopmentwhichunderanycircumstanceswouldhavesurprisedhim，butwhich，withtheparticularaddition，asleadingcolleague，ofCaptainDeStancy，inflamedhimalmosttoanger。

Whatclandestinearrangementshadbeengoingoninhisabsencetoproducesuchafull-blownintentionitwerefutiletoguess。Paula\'scoursewasaraceratherthanamarch，andeachsuccessiveheatwasstartlinginitseclipseofthatwhichwentbefore。

Somersetwas，however，introspectiveenoughtoknowthathismoralswouldhavetakennosuchvirtuousalarmhadhebeenthechiefmaleplayerinsteadofCaptainDeStancy。

Hepassedunderthecastle-archandentered。ThereseemedalittleturninthetideofaffairswhenitwasannouncedtohimthatMissPowerexpectedhim，andwasalone。

Thewell-knownante-chambersthroughwhichhewalked，filledwithtwilight，draughts，andthinechoesthatseemedtoreverberatefromtwohundredyearsago，didnotdelayhiseyeastheyhaddonewhenhehadbeenignorantthathisdestinylaybeyond；andhefollowedonthroughallthisancientnesstowherethemodernPaulasattoreceivehim。

Heforgoteverythinginthepleasureofbeingaloneinaroomwithher。Shemethiseyewiththatinherownwhichcheeredhim。Itwasalightexpressingthatsomethingwasunderstoodbetweenthem。Shesaidquietlyintwoorthreewordsthatshehadexpectedhimintheforenoon。

SomersetexplainedthathehadcomeonlythatmorningfromLondon。

Afteralittlemoretalk，inwhichshesaidthatherauntwouldjointheminafewminutes，andMissDeStancywasstillindisposedatherfather\'shouse，sherangforteaandsatdownbesidealittletable。

\'Shallweproceedtobusinessatonce?\'sheaskedhim。

\'Isupposeso。\'

\'Firstthen，whenwilltheworkingdrawingsbeready，whichI

thinkyousaidmustbemadeoutbeforetheworkcouldbegin?\'

WhileSomersetinformedheronthisandothermatters，Mrs。

Goodmanenteredandjoinedinthediscussion，afterwhichtheyfounditwouldbenecessarytoadjourntotheroomwheretheplanswerehanging。OntheirwalkthitherPaulaaskedifhestayedlateattheball。

\'Ileftsoonafteryou。\'

\'Thatwasveryearly，seeinghowlateyouarrived。\'

\'Yes……Ididnotdance。\'

\'Whatdidyoudothen?\'

\'Imoped，andwalkedtothedoor；andsawanannouncement。\'

\'Iknow——theplaythatistobeperformed。\'

\'InwhichyouaretobethePrincess。\'

\'That\'snotsettled，——Ihavenotagreedyet。IshallnotplaythePrincessofFranceunlessMr。MildplaystheKingofNavarre。\'

Thissoundedratherwell。ThePrincesswastheladybelovedbytheKing；andMr。Mild，theyounglieutenantofartillery，wasadiffident，inexperienced，ratherplain-lookingfellow，whosesoleinterestintheatricalslayintheconsiderationofhiscostumeandthesoundofhisownvoiceintheearsoftheaudience。Withsuchanunobjectionablepersontoenactthepartoflover，theprominentcharacterofleadingyoungladyorheroine，whichPaulawastopersonate，wasreallythemostsatisfactoryinthewholelistforher。Foralthoughshewastobewooedhard，therewasjustasmuchlove-makingamongtheremainingpersonages；while，asSomersethadunderstoodtheplay，therecouldoccurnoflingingsofherpersonuponherlover\'sneck，oragonizeddownfallsuponthestage，inherwholeperformance，astherewereinthepartschosenbyMrs。

Camperton，themajor\'swife，andsomeoftheotherladies。

\'Whydoyouplayatall!\'hemurmured。

\'Whataquestion!HowcouldIrefuseforsuchanexcellentpurpose?Theysaythatmytakingapartwillbeworthahundredpoundstothecharity。Myfatheralwayssupportedthehospital，whichisquiteundenominational；andhesaidIwastodothesame。\'

\'Doyouthinkthepeculiarmeansyouhaveadoptedforsupportingitenteredintohisview?\'inquiredSomerset，regardingherwithcriticaldryness。\'FormypartIdon\'t。\'

\'Itisaninterestingway，\'shereturnedpersuasively，thoughapparentlyinastateofmentalequipoiseonthepointraisedbyhisquestion。\'AndIshallnotplaythePrincess，asI

said，toanyotherthanthatquietyoungman。NowIassureyouofthis，sodon\'tbeangryandabsurd!Besides，theKingdoesn\'tmarrymeattheendoftheplay，asinShakespeare\'sothercomedies。AndifMissDeStancycontinuesseriouslyunwellIshallnotplayatall。\'

Theyoungmanpressedherhand，butshegentlyslippeditaway。

\'Arewenotengaged，Paula!\'heasked。Sheevasivelyshookherhead。

\'Come——yesweare!Shallwetellyouraunt?\'hecontinued。

UnluckilyatthatmomentMrs。Goodman，whohadfollowedthemtothestudioataslowerpace，appearedroundthedoorway。

\'No，——tothelast，\'repliedPaulahastily。Thenherauntentered，andtheconversationwasnolongerpersonal。

Somersettookhisdepartureinaserenermoodthoughnotcompletelyassured。

VIII。

Hisserenitycontinuedduringtwoorthreefollowingdays，when，continuingatthecastle，hegotpleasantglimpsesofPaulanowandthen。Herstrongdesirethathisloveforhershouldbekeptsecret，perplexedhim；buthisaffectionwasgenerous，andheacquiescedinthatdesire。

Meanwhilenewsoftheforthcomingdramaticperformanceradiatedineverydirection。Andinthenextnumberofthecountypaperitwasannounced，toSomerset\'scomparativesatisfaction，thatthecastwasdefinitelysettled，Mr。MildhavingagreedtobetheKingandMissPowertheFrenchPrincess。CaptainDeStancy，withbecomingmodestyforonewhowastheleadingspirit，figuredquitelowdown，inthesecondarycharacterofSirNathaniel。

Somersetrememberedthat，byahappychance，thecostumehehaddesignedforSirNathanielwasnotatallpicturesque；

moreoverSirNathanielscarcelycamenearthePrincessthroughthewholeplay。

Everydayafterthistherewascomingandgoingtoandfromthecastleofrailwayvansladenwithcanvascolumns，pasteboardtrees，limphouse-fronts，woollenlawns，andlathbalustrades。Therewerealsofrequentarrivalsofyoungladiesfromneighbouringcountryhouses，andwarriorsfromtheXandYbatteriesofartillery，distinguishablebytheirregulationshaving。

ButitwasuponCaptainDeStancyandMrs。Campertonthattheweightofpreparationfell。Somerset，throughbeingmuchoccupiedinthedrawing-office，wasseldompresentduringtheconsultationsandrehearsals:untiloneday，teabeingservedinthedrawing-roomattheusualhour，hedroppedinwiththeresttoreceiveacupfromPaula\'stable。Thechatterwastremendous，andSomersetwasatonceconsultedaboutsomenecessarycarpentrywhichwastobespeciallymadeatMarkton。

Afterthathewaslookedonasoneoftheband，whichresultedinalargeadditiontothenumberofhisacquaintanceinthispartofEngland。

Buthisownfeelingwasthatofbeinganoutsiderstill。Thisvagaryhadbeenoriginated，theplaychosen，thepartsallotted，allinhisabsence，andcallinghiminatthelastmomentmight，ifflirtationwerepossibleinPaula，bebutasoptopacifyhim。Whatwouldhehavegiventoimpersonateherloverinthepiece!ButneitherPaulanoranyoneelsehadaskedhim。

Theeventfuleveningcame。SomersethadbeenengagedduringthedaywiththedifferentpeoplebywhomtheworksweretobecarriedoutandintheeveningwenttohisroomsattheLord-

Quantock-Arms，Markton，wherehedined。Hedidnotreturntothecastletillthehourfixedfortheperformance，andhavingbeenreceivedbyMrs。Goodman，enteredthelargeapartment，nowtransfiguredintoatheatre，likeanyotherspectator。

Rumoursoftheprojectedrepresentationhadspreadfarandwide。Sixtimesthenumberofticketsissuedmighthavebeenreadilysold。Friendsandacquaintancesoftheactorscamefromcuriositytoseehowtheywouldacquitthemselves；whileotherclassesofpeoplecamebecausetheywereeagertoseewell-knownnotabilitiesinunwontedsituations。Whenladies，hithertoonlybeheldinfrigid，impenetrablepositionsbehindtheircoachmeninMarktonHighStreet，wereabouttorevealtheirhiddentraits，homeattitudes，intimatesmiles，nods，andperhapskisses，tothepubliceye，itwasathrowingopenoffascinatingsocialsecretsnottobemissedformoney。

Theperformanceopenedwithnofurtherdelaythanwasoccasionedbythecustomaryrefusalofthecurtainatthesetimestorisemorethantwofeetsixinches；butthishitchwasremedied，andtheplaybegan。ItwaswithnoenviableemotionthatSomerset，whowaswatchingintently，saw，notMr。

Mild，butCaptainDeStancy，enterastheKingofNavarre。

SomersetasafriendofthefamilyhadhadaseatreservedforhimnexttothatofMrs。Goodman，andturningtoherhesaidwithsomeexcitement，\'IunderstoodthatMr。Mildhadagreedtotakethatpart?\'

\'Yes，\'shesaidinawhisper，\'sohehad；buthebrokedown。

LuckilyCaptainDeStancywasfamiliarwiththepart，throughhavingcoachedtheotherssopersistently，andheundertookitoff-hand。BeingaboutthesamefigureasLieutenantMildthesamedressfitshim，withalittlealterationbythetailor。\'

Itdidfithimindeed；andofthemalecostumesitwasthatonwhichSomersethadbestowedmostpainswhendesigningthem。

ItshrewdlyburstuponhismindthattheremighthavebeencollusionbetweenMildandDeStancy，theformeragreeingtotakethecaptain\'splaceandactasblindtillthelastmoment。Agreaterquestionwas，couldPaulahavebeenawareofthis，andwouldsheperformasthePrincessofFrancenowDeStancywastobeherlover?

\'DoesMissPowerknowofthischange?\'heinquired。

\'Shedidnottillquiteashorttimeago。\'

Hecontrolledhisimpatiencetillthebeginningofthesecondact。ThePrincessentered；itwasPaula。Butwhethertheslightembarrassmentwithwhichshepronouncedheropeningwords，\'GoodLordBoyet，mybeauty，thoughbutmean，Needsnotthepaintedflourishofyourpraise，\'

wasduetothenewnessofhersituation，ortoherknowledgethatDeStancyhadusurpedMild\'spartofherlover，hecouldnotguess。DeStancyappeared，andSomersetfeltgrimashelistenedtothegallantcaptain\'ssalutationofthePrincess，andherresponse。

DeS。FairPrincess，welcometothecourtofNavarre。

Paula。Fair，Igiveyoubackagain:andwelcome，Ihavenotyet。

Somersetlistenedtothisandtoallthatwhichfollowedofthesamesort，withthereflectionthat，afterall，thePrincessneverthroughoutthepiececompromisedherdignitybyshowingherlovefortheKing；andthatthelatterneveraddressedherinwordsinwhichpassiongotthebetterofcourtesy。Moreover，asPaulahadherselfobserved，theydidnotmarryattheendofthepiece，asinShakespeare\'sothercomedies。Somewhatcalminthisassurance，hewaitedonwhiletheothercouplesrespectivelyindulgedintheirlove-making，andbanter，includingMrs。CampertonasthesprightlyRosaline。Buthewasdoomedtobesurprisedoutofhishumourwhentheendoftheactcameon。Inabridgingtheplayfortheconvenienceofrepresentation，thefavoursorgiftsfromthegentlementotheladieswerepersonallypresented:andnowSomersetsawDeStancyadvancewiththenecklacefetchedbyPaulafromLondon，andclaspitonherneck。

Thisseemedtothrowalesspleasantlightonherhastyjourney。Tofetchavaluableornamenttolendittoapoorerfriendwasestimable；buttofetchitthatthefriend\'sbrothershouldhavesomethingmagnificenttouseasalover\'sofferingtoherselfinpublic，thatworeadifferentcomplexion。AndifthearticlewererecognizedbythespectatorsasthesamethatCharlottehadwornattheball，thepresentationbyDeStancyofwhatmustseemtobeanheirloomofhishousewouldbereadassymbolizingaunionofthefamilies。

DeStancy\'smodeofpresentingthenecklace，thoughunauthorizedbyShakespeare，hadthefullapprovalofthecompany，andsetthemingoodhumourtoreceiveMajorCampertonasArmadothebraggart。Nothingcalculatedtostimulatejealousyoccurredagaintillthefifthact；andthentherearosefullcauseforit。

ThescenewastheoutsideofthePrincess\'spavilion。DeStancy，astheKingofNavarre，stoodwithhisgroupofattendantsawaitingthePrincess，whopresentlyenteredfromherdoor。Thetwobegantoconverseastheplayappointed，DeStancyturningtoherwiththisreply——

\'Rebukemenotforthatwhichyouprovoke；

Thevirtueofyoureyemustbreakmyoath。\'

Sofarallwaswell；andPaulaopenedherlipsforthesetrejoinder。ButbeforeshehadspokenDeStancycontinued——

\'IfIprofanewithmyunworthyhand(Takingherhand)

Thisholyshrine，thegentlefineisthis——

Mylips，twoblushingpilgrims，readystandTosmooththatroughtouchwithatenderkiss。\'

Somersetstared。SurelyinthiscomedytheKingneveraddressedthePrincessinsuchwarmwords；andyettheywereShakespeare\'s，fortheywerequitefamiliartohim。Adimsuspicioncrossedhismind。Mrs。GoodmanhadbroughtacopyofShakespearewithher，whichshekeptinherlapandneverlookedat:borrowingit，Somersetturnedto\'RomeoandJuliet，\'andtherehesawthewordswhichDeStancyhadintroducedasgag，tointensifythemildlove-makingoftheotherplay。MeanwhileDeStancycontinued——

\'Othen，dearSaint，letlipsdowhathandsdo；

Theypray，grantthou，lestfaithturntodespair。

Thenmovenot，whilemyprayer\'seffectItake。

Thusfrommylips，byyours，mysinispurg\'d!\'

CoulditbethatDeStancywasgoingtodowhatcamenextinthestagedirection——kissher?Beforetherewastimeforconjectureonthatpointthesoundofaverysweetandlong-

drawnosculationspreadthroughtheroom，followedbyloudapplausefromthepeopleinthecheapseats。DeStancywithdrewfrombendingoverPaula，andshewasveryredintheface。Nothingseemedclearerthanthathehadactuallydonethedeed。Theapplausecontinuing，Somersetturnedhishead。

Fivehundredfaceshadregardedtheact，withoutaconsciousnessthatitwasaninterpolation；andfourhundredandfiftymouthsinthosefacesweresmiling。Aboutonehalfofthemweretendersmiles；thesecamefromthewomen。Theotherhalfwereatbesthumorous，andmainlysatirical；thesecamefromthemen。Itwasaprofanationwithoutparallel，andhisfaceblazedlikeacoal。

Theplaywasnownearlyatanend，andSomersetsaton，feelingwhathecouldnotexpress。Morethaneverwasheassuredthattherehadbeencollusionbetweenthetwoartilleryofficerstobringaboutthisend。Thatheshouldhavebeentheunhappymantodesignthosepicturesquedressesinwhichhisrivalsoaudaciouslyplayedthelovertohis，Somerset\'s，mistress，wasanaddedpointtothesatire。HecouldhardlygosofarastoassumethatPaulawasaconsentingpartytothisstartlinginterlude；butherotherwiseunaccountablewishthathisownloveshouldbeclandestinelyshownlentimmenseforcetoadoubtofhersincerity。Theghastlythoughtthatshehadmerelybeenkeepinghimon，likeapetspaniel，toamuseherleisuremomentstillsheshouldhavefoundappropriateopportunityforanopenengagementwithsomeoneelse，trustingtohissenseofchivalrytokeepsecrettheirlittleepisode，filledhimwithagrimheat。

IX。

Atthebackoftheroomtheapplausehadbeenloudatthemomentofthekiss，realorcounterfeit。Thecausewaspartlyowingtoanexceptionalcircumstancewhichhadoccurredinthatquarterearlyintheplay。

Thepeoplehadallseatedthemselves，andthefirstacthadbegun，whenthetapestrythatscreenedthedoorwasliftedgentlyandafigureappearedintheopening。Thegeneralattentionwasatthismomentabsorbedbythenewlydisclosedstage，andscarcelyasoulnoticedthestranger。Hadanyoneoftheaudienceturnedhishead，therewouldhavebeensufficientinthecountenancetodetainhisgaze，notwithstandingthecounter-attractionforward。

Hewasobviouslyamanwhohadcomefromafar。TherewasnotasquareinchabouthimthathadanythingtodowithmodernEnglishlife。Hisvisage，whichwasofthecolouroflightporphyry，hadlittleofitsoriginalsurfaceleft；itwasafacewhichhadbeentheplaythingofstrangefiresorpestilences，thathadmouldedtowhatevershapetheychosehisoriginallysuppleskin，andleftitpitted，puckered，andseamedlikeadriedwater-course。Butthoughdirecatastrophesorthetreacherousairsofremoteclimateshaddonetheirworstuponhisexterior，theyseemedtohaveaffectedhimbutlittlewithin，tojudgefromacertainrobustnesswhichshoweditselfinhismannerofstanding。

Theface-markshadameaning，foranyonewhocouldreadthem，beyondthemeresuggestionoftheirorigin:theysignifiedthatthismanhadeitherbeenthevictimofsometerriblenecessityasregardedtheoccupationtowhichhehaddevotedhimself，orthathewasamanofdoggedobstinacy，fromsheersangfroidholdinghisgroundamidmalignforceswhenotherswouldhavefledaffrightedaway。

Asnobodynoticedhim，hedroppedthedoorhangingsafterawhile，walkedsilentlyalongthemattedalley，andsatdowninoneofthebackchairs。Hismannerofentrywasenoughtoshowthatthestrengthofcharacterwhichheseemedtopossesshadphlegmforitsbaseandnotardour。Onemighthavesaidthatperhapstheshockshehadpassedthroughhadtakenallhisoriginalwarmthoutofhim。Hisbeaverhat，whichhehadretainedonhisheadtillthismoment，henowplacedundertheseat，wherehesatabsolutelymotionlesstilltheendofthefirstact，asifhewereindulginginamonologuewhichdidnotquitereachhislips。

WhenPaulaenteredatthebeginningofthesecondactheshowedasmuchexcitementaswasexpressedbyaslightmovementoftheeyes。Whenshespokeheturnedtohisnextneighbour，andaskedhimincoldlevelwordswhichhadoncebeenEnglish，butwhichseemedtohavelosttheaccentofnationality:\'Isthattheyoungwomanwhoisthepossessorofthiscastle——Powerbyname?\'

HisneighbourhappenedtobethelandlordatSleeping-Green，andheinformedthestrangerthatshewaswhathesupposed。

\'AndwhoisthatgentlemanwhoselineofbusinessseemstobetomakelovetoPower?\'

\'He\'sCaptainDeStancy，SirWilliamDeStancy\'sson，whousedtoownthisproperty。\'

\'Baronetorknight?\'

\'Baronet——averyold-establishedfamilyabouthere。\'

Thestrangernodded，andtheplaywenton，nofurtherwordbeingspokentillthefourthactwasreached，whenthestrangeragainsaid，withouttakinghisnarrowblackeyesfromthestage:\'There\'ssomethinginthatlove-makingbetweenStancyandPowerthat\'snotallsham!\'

\'Well，\'saidthelandlord，\'Ihavehearddifferentstoriesaboutthat，andwouldn\'tbethemantozaywhatIcouldn\'tswearto。ThestoryisthatCaptainDeStancy，whoisaspoorasagallicrow，isinfullcrya\'terher，andthathison\'ychanceliesinhisbeingheirtoatitleandthewoldname。

Butshehasnotshownagenuinehankerforanybodyyet。\'

\'Ifshefindsthemoney，andthisStancyfindsthenameandblood，\'twouldbeaveryneatmatchbetween\'em，——hey?\'

\'That\'stheargument。\'

Nothingmorewassaidagainforalongtime，butthestranger\'seyesshowedmoreinterestinthepassesbetweenPaulaandDeStancythantheyhadshownbefore。Atlengththecrisiscame，asdescribedinthelastchapter，DeStancysalutingherwiththatsemblanceofakisswhichgavesuchumbragetoSomerset。Thestranger\'sthinlipslengthenedacoupleofincheswithsatisfaction；heputhishandintohispocket，drewouttwohalf-crownswhichhehandedtothelandlord，saying，\'Justapplaudthat，willyou，andgetyourcomradestodothesame。\'

Thelandlord，thoughalittlesurprised，tookthemoney，andbegantoclaphishandsasdesired。Theexamplewascontagious，andspreadallovertheroom；fortheaudience，gentleandsimple，thoughtheymightnothavefollowedtheblankverseinallitsbearings，couldatleastappreciateakiss。ItwastheunusualacclamationraisedbythismeanswhichhadledSomersettoturnhishead。

Whentheplayhadendedthestrangerwasthefirsttorise，andgoingdownstairsattheheadofthecrowdhepassedoutofdoors，andwaslosttoview。Somequestionswereaskedbythelandlordastothestranger\'sindividuality；butfewhadseenhim；fewerhadnoticedhim，singularashewas；andnoneknewhisname。

Whilethesethingshadbeengoingoninthequarterallottedtothecommonalty，Somersetinfronthadwaitedthefallofthecurtainwiththosesickandsorryfeelingswhichshouldbecombatedbytheaidofphilosophyandagoodconscience，butwhichreallyareonlysubduedbytimeandtheabradingrushofaffairs。Hewas，however，stoicalenough，whenitwasallover，toacceptMrs。Goodman\'sinvitationtoaccompanyhertothedrawing-room，fullyexpectingtofindtherealargecompany，includingCaptainDeStancy。

Butnoneoftheactingladiesandgentlemenhademergedfromtheirdressing-roomsasyet。Feelingthathedidnotcaretomeetanyofthemthatnight，hebadefarewelltoMrs。Goodmanafterafewminutesofconversation，andlefther。Whilehewaspassingalongthecorridor，atthesideofthegallerywhichhadbeenusedasthetheatre，Paulacrosseditfromthelatterapartmenttowardsanoppositedoor。ShewasstillinthedressofthePrincess，andthediamondandpearlnecklacestillhungoverherbosomasplacedtherebyCaptainDeStancy。

HereyecaughtSomerset\'s，andshestopped。Probablytherewassomethinginhisfacewhichtoldhismind，forsheinvitedhimbyasmileintotheroomshewasentering。

\'Icongratulateyouonyourperformance，\'hesaidmechanically，whenshepushedtothedoor。

\'Doyoureallythinkitwaswelldone?\'Shedrewnearhimwithasociableair。

\'Itwasstartlinglydone——thepartfrom"RomeoandJuliet"

pre-eminentlyso。\'

\'DoyouthinkIknewhewasgoingtointroduceit，ordoyouthinkIdidn\'tknow?\'shesaid，withthatgentlesaucinesswhichshowsitselfinthelovedone\'smannerwhenshehashadatriumphanteveningwithoutthelover\'sassistance。

\'Ithinkyoumayhaveknown。\'

\'No，\'sheaverred，decisivelyshakingherhead。\'Ittookmeasmuchbysurpriseasitprobablydidyou。ButwhyshouldI

havetold!\'

WithoutansweringthatquestionSomersetwenton。\'Thenwhathedidattheendofhisgagwasofcourseasurprisealso。\'

\'Hedidn\'treallydowhatheseemedtodo，\'sheserenelyanswered。