第14章

Thereplywasunexpected。Thereporterinformedhisquestionerthatinreturningfromthetheatricals，atwhichhewaspresent，hesharedaflywithagentlemanwhoassuredhimthatsuchanalliancewascertain，soobviouslydiditrecommenditselftoallconcerned，asameansofstrengtheningbothfamilies。Thegentleman\'sknowledgeofthePowerswassoprecisethatthereporterdidnothesitatetoaccepthisassertion。Hewasamanwhohadseenagreatdealoftheworld，andhisfacewasnoticeablefortheseamsandscarsonit。

SomersetrecognizedPaula\'suncleintheportrait。

Hostilities，then，werebeginning。Theparagraphhadbeenmeantasthefirstslap。Takingherabroadwasthesecond。

BOOKTHEFOURTH。SOMERSET，DAREANDDESTANCY。

I。

TherewasnopartofPaula\'sjourneyinwhichSomersetdidnotthinkofher。HeimaginedherinthehotelatHavre，inherbriefrestatParis；herdrivepastthePlacedelaBastilletotheBoulevartMazastotakethetrainforLyons；hertediousprogressthroughthedarkofawinternighttillshecrossedtheisothermallinewhichtoldofthebeginningofasouthernatmosphere，andonwardstotheancientbluesea。

Thus，betweenthehoursdevotedtoarchitecture，hepassedthenextthreedays。Onemorninghesethimself，bythehelpofJohn，topractiseonthetelegraphinstrument，expectingamessage。Butthoughhewatchedthemachineateveryopportunity，orkeptsomeotherpersononthealertinitsneighbourhood，nomessagearrivedtogratifyhimtillafterthelapseofnearlyafortnight。Thenshespokefromhernewhabitationninehundredmilesaway，inthesemeagrewords:——

\'Aresettledattheaddressgiven。Cannowattendtoanyinquiryaboutthebuilding。\'

Thepointedimplicationthatshecouldattendtoinquiriesaboutnothingelse，breathedoftheveritablePaulasodistinctlythathecouldforgiveitssauciness。Hisreplywassoondespatched:——

\'Willwriteparticularsofourprogress。Alwaysthesame。\'

Thelastthreewordsformedthesentimentalappendagewhichshehadassuredhimshecouldtolerate，andwhichhehopedshemightdesire。

Hespenttheremainderofthedayinmakingalittlesketchtoshowwhathadbeendoneinthecastlesinceherdeparture。

Thishedespatchedwithaletterofexplanationendinginaparagraphofadifferenttenor:——

\'IhavedemonstratedourprogressaswellasIcould；butanothersubjecthasbeeninmymind，evenwhilstwritingtheformer。Askyourselfifyouusemewellinkeepingmeafortnightbeforeyousomuchassaythatyouhavearrived?

TheonethingthatreconciledmetoyourdeparturewasthethoughtthatIshouldhearearlyfromyou:myideaofbeingabletosubmittoyourabsencewasbasedentirelyuponthat。

\'ButIhaveresolvednottobeoutofhumour，andtobelievethatyourschemeofreserveisnotunreasonable；neitherdoI

quarrelwithyourinjunctiontokeepsilencetoallrelatives。

IdonotknowanythingIcansaytoshowyoumoreplainlymyacquiescenceinyourwish"nottogotoofar"(inshort，tokeepyourselfdear——bydearImeannotcheap——youhavebeendearintheothersensealongtime，asyouknow)，thanbynoturgingyoutogoasingledegreefurtherinwarmththanyouplease。\'

Whenthiswaspostedheagainturnedhisattentiontoherwallsandtowers，whichindeedwereadumbconsolationinmanywaysforthelackofherself。Therewasnonookinthecastletowhichhehadnotaccessorcouldnoteasilyobtainaccessbyapplyingforthekeys，andthispropinquityofthingsbelongingtoherservedtokeepherimagebeforehimevenmoreconstantlythanhismemorieswouldhavedone。

Threedaysandahalfafterthedespatchofhissubduedeffusionthetelegraphcalledtotellhimthegoodnewsthat\'Yourletteranddrawingarejustreceived。Thanksforthelatter。Willreplytotheformerbypostthisafternoon。\'

Itwaswithcheerfulpatiencethatheattendedtohisthreedraughtsmeninthestudio，orwalkedabouttheenvironsofthefortressduringthefiftyhoursspentbyherpresumablytendermissiveontheroad。Alightfleeceofsnowfellduringthesecondnightofwaiting，invertingthepositionoflong-

establishedlightsandshades，andloweringtoadingygreytheapproximatelywhitewallsofotherweathers；hecouldtracethepostman\'sfootmarksasheenteredoverthebridge，knowingthembythedotofhiswalking-stick:onenteringtheexpectedletterwaswaitinguponhistable。Helookedatitsdirectionwithgladcuriosity；itwasthefirstletterhehadeverreceivedfromher。

\'HOTEL——，NICE，Feb。14。

\'MYDEARMR。SOMERSET\'(the\'George，\'then，towhichshehadsokindlytreatedhiminherlastconversation，wasnottobecontinuedinblackandwhite)，——

\'Yourletterexplainingtheprogressofthework，aidedbythesketchenclosed，gavemeasclearanideaoftheadvancemadesincemydepartureasIcouldhavegainedbybeingpresent。I

feeleveryconfidenceinyou，andamquitesuretherestorationisingoodhands。Inthisopinionbothmyauntandmyunclecoincide。Pleaseactentirelyonyourownjudgmentineverything，andassoonasyougiveacertificatetothebuildersforthefirstinstalmentoftheirmoneyitwillbepromptlysentbymysolicitors。

\'YoubidmeaskmyselfifIhaveusedyouwellinnotsendingintelligenceofmyselftillafortnightafterIhadleftyou。

Now，George，don\'tbeunreasonable!Letmeremindyouthat，asacertainapostlesaid，thereareathousandthingslawfulwhicharenotexpedient。Isaythis，notfromprideinmyownconduct，buttoofferyouaveryfairexplanationofit。Yourresolvenottobeoutofhumourwithmesuggeststhatyouhavebeensorelytemptedthatway，elsewhyshouldsucharesolvehavebeennecessary?

\'Ifyouonlyknewwhatpassesinmymindsometimesyouwouldperhapsnotbesoreadytoblame。ShallItellyou?No。

For，ifitisagreatemotion，itmayaffordyouacruelsatisfactionatfindingIsufferthroughseparation；andifitbeagrowingindifferencetoyou，itwillbeinflictinggratuitousunhappinessuponyoutosayso，ifyoucareforme；

asISOMETIMESthinkyoumaydoALITTLE。\'

(\'O，Paula!\'saidSomerset。)

\'Pleasewhichwaywouldyouhaveit?ButitisbetterthatyoushouldguessatwhatIfeelthanthatyoushoulddistinctlyknowit。Notwithstandingthisassertionyouwill，Iknow，adheretoyourfirstprepossessioninfavourofpromptconfessions。Inspiteofthat，Ifearthatupontrialsuchpromptnesswouldnotproducethathappinesswhichyourfancyleadsyoutoexpect。Yourheartwouldwearyintime，andwhenoncethathappens，good-byetotheemotionyouhavetoldmeof。Imaginesuchacaseclearly，andyouwillperceivetheprobabilityofwhatIsay。AtthesametimeIadmitthatawomanwhoisONLYacreatureofevasionsanddisguisesisverydisagreeable。

\'DonotwriteVERYfrequently，andneverwriteatallunlessyouhavesomerealinformationaboutthecastleworkstocommunicate。IwillexplaintoyouonanotheroccasionwhyI

makethisrequest。Youwillpossiblysetitdownasadditionalevidenceofmycold-heartedness。Ifsoyoumust。

Wouldyoualsomindwritingthebusinessletteronanindependentsheet，withaproperbeginningandending?

Whetheryouincloseanothersheetisofcourseoptional——

Sincerelyyours，PAULAPOWER。\'

Somersethadasuspicionthatherordertohimnottoneglectthebusinessletterwastoescapeanyinvidiousremarksfromheruncle。Hewishedshewouldbemoreexplicit，sothathemightknowexactlyhowmattersstoodwiththem，andwhetherAbnerPowerhadeverventuredtoexpressdisapprovalofhimasherlover。

Butnotknowing，hewaitedanxiouslyforanewarchitecturaleventonwhichhemightlegitimatelysendheranotherline。

Thisoccurredaboutaweeklater，whenthemenengagedindiggingfoundationsdiscoveredremainsofoldoneswhichwarrantedamodificationoftheoriginalplan。Heaccordinglysentoffhisprofessionaladviceonthepoint，requestingherassentorotherwisetotheamendment，windinguptheinquirywith\'Yoursfaithfully。\'Onanothersheethewrote:-

\'Doyousufferfromanyunpleasantnessinthemannerofothersonaccountofme?Ifso，informme，Paula。Icannototherwiseinterpretyourrequestfortheseparatesheets。

WhileonthispointIwilltellyouwhatIhavelearntrelativetotheauthorshipofthatfalseparagraphaboutyourengagement。Itwascommunicatedtothepaperbyyouruncle。

Wasthewishfathertothethought，orcouldhehavebeenmisled，asmanywere，byappearancesatthetheatricals?

\'IfIamnottowritetoyouwithoutaprofessionalreason，surelyyoucanwritetomewithoutsuchanexcuse?Whenyouwritetellmeofyourself。ThereisnothingIsomuchwishtohearof。Writeagreatdealaboutyourdailydoings，formymind\'seyekeepsthosesweetoperationsmoredistinctlybeforemethanmybodilysightdoesmyown。

\'Yousaynothingofhavingbeentolookatthechapel-of-easeItoldyouof，theplansofwhichImadewhenanarchitect\'spupil，workinginmetresinsteadoffeetandinches，tomyimmenseperplexity，thatthedrawingsmightbeunderstoodbytheforeignworkmen。Gothereandtellmewhatyouthinkofitsdesign。Icanassureyouthateverycurvethereofismyown。

\'HowIwishyouwouldinvitemetorunoverandseeyou，ifonlyforadayortwo，formyheartrunsafteryouinamostdistractedmanner。Dearest，youentirelyfillmylife!ButI

forget；wehaveresolvednottogoVERYFAR。ButthefactisIamhalfafraidlest，withsuchreticence，youshouldnotrememberhowverymuchIamyours，andwithwhatadoggedconstancyIshallalwaysrememberyou。Paula，sometimesI

havehorriblemisgivingsthatsomethingwilldivideus，especiallyifwedonotmakeamoredistinctshowofourtruerelationship。TruedoIsay?ImeantherelationshipwhichI

thinkexistsbetweenus，butwhichyoudonotaffirmtooclearly——Yoursalways。\'

Awaysouthwardliketheswallowwentthetenderlines。Hewonderedifshewouldnoticehishintofbeingreadytopayheraflyingvisit，ifpermittedtodoso。HisfancydweltonthatfurthersideofFrance，theverycontoursofwhoseshorewerenowlinesofbeautyforhim。Heprowledinthelibrary，andfoundinterestinthemustiestfactsrelatingtothatplace，learningwithaestheticpleasurethatthenumberofitspopulationwasfiftythousand，thatthemeantemperatureofitsatmospherewas60degreesFahrenheit，andthatthepeculiaritiesofamistralwerefarfromagreeable。

Hewaitedoverlongforherreply；butitultimatelycame。

Aftertheusualbusinesspreliminary，shesaid:——

\'Asrequested，Ihavevisitedthelittlechurchyoudesigned。

Itgavemegreatpleasuretostandbeforeabuildingwhoseoutlineanddetailshadcomefromthebrainofsuchavaluedfriendandadviser。\'

(\'Valuedfriendandadviser，\'repeatedSomersetcritically。)

\'Ilikethestylemuch，especiallythatofthewindows——EarlyEnglisharetheynot?IamgoingtoattendservicetherenextSunday，BECAUSEYOUWERETHEARCHITECT，ANDFORNOGODLY

REASONATALL。Doesthatcontentyou?Fieforyourdespondency!RememberM。Aurelius:"Thisisthechiefthing:

Benotperturbed；forallthingsareofthenatureoftheUniversal。"IndeedIamalittlesurprisedatyourhavingforebodings，aftermyassurancetoyoubeforeIleft。Ihavenone。Myopinionisthat，tobehappy，itisbesttothinkthat，aswearetheproductofevents，eventswillcontinuetoproducethatwhichisinharmonywithus……Youaretoofaint-hearted，andthat\'sthetruthofit。Iadviseyounottoabandonyourselftoidolatrytooreadily；youknowwhatI

mean。ItfillsmewithremorsewhenIthinkhowveryfarbelowsuchapositionmyactualworthremovesme。

\'Ishouldliketoreceiveanotherletterfromyouassoonasyouhavegotoverthemisgivingyouspeakof，butdon\'twritetoosoon。IwishIcouldwriteanythingtoraiseyourspirits，butyoumaybesoperversethatif，inordertodothis，Itellyouoftheraces，routs，scenery，gaieties，andgamblinggoingoninthisplaceandneighbourhood(intowhichofcourseIcannothelpbeingalittledrawn)，youmaydeclarethatmywordsmakeyouworsethanever。Don\'tpassthelineI

havesetdowninthewayyouweretemptedtodoinyourlast；

andnottoomanyDearests——atleastasyet。Thisisnotatimeforeffusion。Youhavemyverywarmaffection，andthat\'senoughforthepresent。\'

Asalove-letterthismissivewastantalizingenough，butsinceitsformwassimplyacontinuationofwhatshehadpractisedbeforesheleft，itproducednounduemisgivinginhim。Farmorewasheimpressedbyheromittingtoanswerthetwoimportantquestionshehadputtoher。First，concerningheruncle\'sattitudetowardsthem，andhisconductingivingsuchstrangeinformationtothereporter。Second，onhis，Somerset\'s，payingheraflyingvisitsometimeduringthespring。Sinceshehadrequestedit，hemadenohasteinhisreply。Whenpenned，itraninthewordssubjoined，which，incommonwitheverylineoftheircorrespondence，acquiredfromthestrangenessofsubsequentcircumstancesaninterestandaforcethatperhapstheydidnotintrinsicallypossess。

\'Peoplecannot\'(hewrote)\'beforeveringoodspiritsonthisgloomysideoftheChannel，eventhoughyouseemtobesoonyours。However，thatIcanabstainfromlettingyouknowwhethermyspiritsaregoodorotherwise，Iwillproveinourfuturecorrespondence。Iadmireyoumoreandmore，bothforthewarmfeelingtowardsmewhichIfirmlybelieveyouhave，andforyourabilitytomaintainsidebysidewithitsomuchdignityandresolutionwithregardtofoolishsentiment。

SometimesIthinkIcouldhaveputupwithalittlemoreweaknessifithadbroughtwithitalittlemoretenderness，butIdismissallthatwhenImentallysurveyyourotherqualities。IhavethoughtoffiftythingstosaytoyouoftheTOOFARsort，notoneofanyother；sothatyourprohibitionisveryunfortunate，forbyitIamdoomedtosaythingsthatdonotrisespontaneouslytomylips。Yousaythatourshut-upfeelingsarenottobementionedyet。Howlongistheyettolast?

\'But，tospeakmoresolemnly，mattersgrowveryseriouswithus，Paula——atleastwithme:andtherearetimeswhenthisrestraintisreallyunbearable。Itispossibletoputupwithreservewhenthereservedbeingisbyone\'sside，fortheeyesmayrevealwhatthelipsdonot。Butwhensheisabsent，whatwaspiquancybecomesharshness，tenderrailleriesbecomecruelsarcasm，andtacitunderstandingsmisunderstandings。Howeverthatmaybe，youshallneverbeabletoreproachmefortouchiness。Istillesteemyouasafriend；Iadmireyouandloveyouasawoman。ThisIshallalwaysdo，howeverunconfidingyouprove。\'

II。

Withoutknowingit，Somersetwasdrawingneartoacrisisinthissoftcorrespondencewhichwouldspeedilyputhisassertionstothetest；buttheknowledgecameuponhimsoonenoughforhispeace。

Hernextletter，datedMarch9th，wastheshortestofallhehadreceived，andbeyondtheportiondevotedtothebuilding-

worksitcontainedonlythefollowingsentences:——

\'Iamalmostangrywithyou，George，forbeingvexedbecauseI

amnotmoreeffusive。WhyshouldtheverbalILOVEYOUbeeverutteredbetweentwobeingsofoppositesexwhohaveeyestoseesigns?Duringthesevenoreightmonthsthatwehaveknowneachother，youhavediscoveredmyregardforyou，andwhatmorecanyoudesire?Wouldareiteratedassertionofpassionreallydoanygood?Rememberitisanaturalinstinctwithuswomentoretainthepowerofobligingamantohope，fear，pray，andbeseechaslongaswethinkfit，beforeweconfesstoareciprocalaffection。

\'IamnowgoingtoowntoaweaknessaboutwhichIhadintendedtokeepsilent。Itwillnotperhapsaddtoyourrespectforme。Myuncle，whominmanywaysIlike，isdispleasedwithmeforkeepingupthiscorrespondencesoregularly。Iamquiteperverseenoughtoventuretodisregardhisfeelings；butconsideringtherelationship，andhiskindnessinotherrespects，Ishouldprefernottodosoatpresent。Honestlyspeaking，Iwantthecouragetoresisthiminsomethings。HesaidtometheotherdaythathewasverymuchsurprisedthatIdidnotdependuponhisjudgmentformyfuturehappiness。Whetherthatmeantmuchorlittle，Ihaveresolvedtocommunicatewithyouonlybytelegramsfortheremainderofthetimewearehere。Pleasereplybythesamemeansonly。There，now，don\'tflushandcallmenames!Itisforthebest，andwewantnononsense，youandI。DearGeorge，IfeelmorethanIsay，andifIdonotspeakmoreplainly，youwillunderstandwhatisbehindafterallIhavehinted。Icanpromiseyouthatyouwillnotlikemelessuponknowingmebetter。Hopeever。Iwouldgiveupagooddealforyou。Good-bye!\'

ThisbroughtSomersetsomecheerfulnessandagooddealofgloom。Hesilentlyreproachedher，whowasapparentlysoindependent，forlackingindependenceinsuchavitalmatter。

Perhapsitwasmeresex，perhapsitwaspeculiartoafew，thatherindependenceandcourage，likeCleopatra\'s，failedheroccasionallyatthelastmoment。

Onecuriousimpressionwhichhadoftenhauntedhimnowreturnedwithredoubledforce。HecouldnotseehimselfasthehusbandofPaulaPowerinanylikelyfuture。Hecouldnotimagineherhiswife。Peoplewereapttorunintomistakesintheirpresentiments；butthoughhecouldpictureherasqueeningitoverhim，asavowingherloveforhimunreservedly，evenascompromisingherselfforhim，hecouldnotseeherinastateofdomesticitywithhim。

Telegramsbeingcommanded，tothetelegraphherepaired，when，aftertwodays，animmediatewishtocommunicatewithherledhimtodismissvagueconjectureonthefuturesituation。Hisfirsttelegramtookthefollowingform:——

\'Igiveuptheletterwriting。Iwillpartwithanythingtopleaseyoubutyourself。Yourcomfortwithyourrelativeisthefirstthingtobeconsidered:notfortheworlddoIwishyoutomakedivisionswithindoors。Yours。\'

Tuesday，Wednesday，Thursdaypassed，andonSaturdayatelegramcameinreply:——

\'Icanfear，grieveat，andcomplainofnothing，havingyournicepromisetoconsidermycomfortalways。\'

Thiswasverypretty；butitadmittedlittle。Suchshortmessageswereinthemselvespoorsubstitutesforletters，buttheirspeedandeasyfrequencyweregoodqualitieswhichthelettersdidnotpossess。Threedayslaterhereplied:——

\'Youdonotoncesaytome"Come。"Wouldsuchastrangeaccidentasmyarrivaldisturbyoumuch?\'

Sherepliedratherquickly:——

\'Iamindisposedtoansweryoutooclearly。Keepyourheartstrong:\'tisacensoriousworld。\'

ThevaguenessthereshownmadeSomersetperemptory，andhecouldnothelpreplyingsomewhatmoreimpetuouslythanusual:——

\'Whydoyougivemesomuchcauseforanxiety!Whytreatmetosomuchmystification!Sayonce，distinctly，thatwhatI

haveaskedisgiven。\'

Heawaitedfortheanswer，oneday，twodays，aweek；butnonecame。ItwasnowtheendofMarch，andwhenSomersetwalkedofanafternoonbytheriverandpoolinthelowerpartofthegrounds，hisearnewlygreetedbythesmallvoicesoffrogsandtoadsandothercreatureswhohadbeentorpidthroughthewinter，hebecamedoubtfulanduneasythatshealoneshouldbesilentintheawakeningyear。

Hewaitedthroughasecondweek，andtherewasstillnoreply。

Itwaspossiblethattheurgencyofhisrequesthadtemptedhertopunishhim，andhecontinuedhiswalks，to，fro，andaround，withascloseaneartotheundertonesofnature，andasattentiveaneyetothecharmsofhisownart，asthegrandpassionwouldallow。Nowcamethedaysofbattlebetweenwinterandspring。Ontheseexcursions，thoughspringwastotheforwardduringthedaylight，winterwouldreassertitselfatnight，andnotunfrequentlyatothermoments。Tepidairsandnippingbreezesmetontheconfinesofsunshineandshade；

tremblingraindropsthatwerestillakintofrostcrystalsdashedthemselvesfromthebushesashepursuedhiswayfromtowntocastle；thebirdswerelikeanorchestrawaitingforthesignaltostrikeup，andcolourbegantoenterintothecountryround。

Buthegaveonlyamodicumofthoughttotheseproceedings。

Heratherthoughtsuchthingsas，\'Shecanaffordtobesaucy，andtofindasourceofblithenessinmylove，consideringthepowerthatwealthgiveshertopickandchoosealmostwhereshewill。\'Hewasboundtoown，however，thatoneofthecharmsofherconversationwasthecompleteabsenceofthenoteoftheheiressfromitsaccents。That，otherthingsequal，herinterestwouldnaturallyinclinetoapersonbearingthenameofDeStancy，wasevidentfromheravowedpredilections。Hisoriginalassumption，thatshewasapersonificationofthemodernspirit，whohadbeendropped，likeaseedfromthebillofabird，intoachinkofmediaevalism，requiredsomequalification。Romanticism，whichwillexistineveryhumanbreastaslongashumannatureitselfexists，hadasserteditselfinher。Venerationforthingsold，notbecauseofanymeritinthem，butbecauseoftheirlongcontinuance，haddevelopedinher；andhermodernspiritwastakingtoitselfwingsandflyingaway。Whetherhisimagewasflyingwiththeotherwasaquestionwhichmovedhimallthemoredeeplynowthathersilencegavehimdreadofanaffirmativeanswer。

Foranothersevendayshestoicallyleftinsuspensionallforecastsofhispossiblygrimfateinbeingtheemployedandnotthebeloved。Theweekpassed:hetelegraphed:therewasnoreply:hehadsuddenfearsforherpersonalsafetyandresolvedtobreakhercommandbywriting。

\'STANCYCASTLE，April13。

\'DEARPAULA，——Areyouillorintrouble?ItisimpossibleintheveryunquietstateyouhaveputmeintobyyoursilencethatIshouldabstainfromwriting。Withoutaffectation，yousorelydistressme，andIthinkyouwouldhardlyhavedoneitcouldyouknowwhatadegreeofanxietyyoucause。Why，Paula，doyounotwriteorsendtome?WhathaveIdonethatyoushouldtreatmelikethis?Dowrite，ifitisonlytoreproachme。Iamcompelledtopassthegreaterpartofthedayinthiscastle，whichremindsmeconstantlyofyou，andyeteternallylacksyourpresence。Iamunfortunateindeedthatyouhavenotbeenabletofindhalf-an-hourduringthelastmonthtotellmeatleastthatyouarealive。

\'Youhavealwaysbeenambiguous，itistrue；butIthoughtI

sawencouragementinyoureyes；encouragementcertainlywasinyoureyes，andwhowouldnothavebeendeludedbythemandhavebelievedthemsincere?Yetwhattendernesscantherebeinaheartthatcancausemepainsowilfully!

\'Theremay，ofcourse，besomedeliberateschemingonthepartofyourrelationstointerceptourletters；butIcannotthinkit。Iknowthatthehousekeeperhasreceivedaletterfromyourauntthisveryweek，inwhichsheincidentallymentionsthatallarewell，andinthesameplaceasbefore。HowthencanIexcuseyou?

\'Thenwrite，Paula，oratleasttelegraph，asyouproposed。

OtherwiseIamresolvedtotakeyoursilenceasasignaltotreatyourfairwordsaswind，andtowritetoyounomore。\'

III。

Hedespatchedtheletter，andhalf-an-hourafterwardsfeltsurethatitwouldmortallyoffendher。Buthehadnowreachedastateoftemporaryindifference，andcouldcontemplatethelossofsuchatantalizingpropertywithreasonablecalm。

IntheinterimofwaitingforareplyhewasonedaywalkingtoMarkton，when，passingMyrtleVilla，hesawSirWilliamDeStancyamblingabouthisgarden-pathandexaminingthecrocusesthatpalisadeditsedge。SirWilliamsawhimandaskedhimtocomein。Somersetwasinthemoodforanydiversionfromhisownaffairs，andtheyseatedthemselvesbythedrawing-roomfire。

\'Iammuchalonenow，\'saidSirWilliam，\'andiftheweatherwerenotverymild，sothatIcangetoutintothegardeneveryday，Ishouldfeelitagreatdeal。\'

\'Youalludetoyourdaughter\'sabsence?\'

\'Andmyson\'s。Strangetosay，IdonotmisshersomuchasI

misshim。Sheofferstoreturnatanymoment；butIdonotwishtodepriveheroftheadvantagesofalittleforeigntravelwithherfriend。Always，Mr。Somerset，giveyoursparetimetoforeigncountries，especiallythosewhichcontrastwithyourownintopography，language，andart。That\'smyadvicetoallyoungpeopleofyourage。Don\'twasteyourmoneyonexpensiveamusementsathome。Practisethestrictesteconomyathome，tohaveamarginforgoingabroad。\'

Economy，whichSirWilliamhadneverpractised，buttowhich，afterexhaustingallotherpractices，henowraisedanaltar，astheAtheniansdidtotheunknownGod，wasatopiclikelytoprolongitselfonthebaronet\'slips，andSomersetcontrivedtointerrupthimbyasking——

\'CaptainDeStancy，too，hasgone?Hastheartillery，then，leftthebarracks?\'

\'No，\'saidSirWilliam。\'ButmysonhasmadeuseofhisleaveinrunningovertoseehissisteratNice。\'

ThecurrentofquietmeditationinSomersetchangedtoabusywhirlatthisreply。ThatPaulashouldbecomeindifferenttohisexistencefromasenseofsuperiority，physical，spiritual，orsocial，wasasufficientlyironicalthing；butthatsheshouldhaverelinquishedhimbecauseofthepresenceofarivallentcommonplacedrearinesstohercruelty。

SirWilliam，notingnothing，continuedinthetoneofcleverchildishnesswhichcharacterizedhim:\'Itisverysingularhowthepresentsituationhasbeenleduptobyme。Policy，andpolicyalone，hasbeentheruleofmyconductformanyyearspast；andwhenIsaythatIhavesavedmyfamilybyit，IbelievetimewillshowthatIamwithinthetruth。Ihopeyoudon\'tletyourpassionsoutrunyourpolicy，assomanyyoungmenareapttodo。Betterbepoorandpolitic，thanrichandheadstrong:that\'stheopinionofanoldman。

However，IwasgoingtosaythatitwaspurelyfrompolicythatIallowedafriendshiptodevelopbetweenmydaughterandMissPower，andnoweventsareprovingthewisdomofmycourse。Strawsshowhowthewindblows，andtherearelittlesignsthatmysonCaptainDeStancywillreturntoStancyCastlebythefortunatestepofmarryingitsowner。Isaynothingtoeitherofthem，andtheysaynothingtome；butmywisdomliesindoingnothingtohindersuchaconsummation，despiteinheritedprejudices。\'

Somersethadquitetimeenoughtoreinhimselfinduringtheoldgentleman\'slocution，andthevoiceinwhichheansweredwassocoldandrecklessthatitdidnotseemhisown:\'ButhowwilltheylivehappilytogetherwhensheisaDissenter，andaRadical，andaNew-light，andaNeo-Greek，andapersonofredblood；whileCaptainDeStancyisthereverseofthemall!\'

\'Ianticipatenodifficultyonthatscore，\'saidthebaronet。

\'Myson\'sstarliesinthatdirection，and，liketheMagi，heisfollowingitwithouttriflingwithhisopportunity。Youhaveskillinarchitecture，thereforeyoufollowit。Mysonhasskillingallantry，andnowheisabouttoexerciseitprofitably。\'

\'MaynobodywishhimmoreharminthatexercisethanIdo!\'

saidSomersetfervently。

AstagnantmoodinessofseveralhourswhichfollowedhisvisittoMyrtleVillaresultedinaresolvetojourneyovertoPaulatheverynextday。HenowfeltperfectlyconvincedthattheinvitingofCaptainDeStancytovisitthematNicewasasecondstageintheschemeofPaula\'suncle，theprematureannouncementofhermarriagehavingbeenthefirst。Theroundnessandneatnessofthewholeplancouldnotfailtorecommendittothemindwhichdelightedinputtinginvolvedthingsstraight，andsuchamindAbnerPower\'sseemedtobe。

Infact，thefelicity，inapoliticsense，ofpairingthecaptainwiththeheiressfurnishednolittleexcuseformanoeuvringtobringitabout，solongasthatmanoeuvringfellshortofunfairness，whichMr。Power\'scouldscarcelybesaidtodo。

Thenextdaywasspentinfurnishingthebuilderswithsuchinstructionsastheymightrequireforacomingweekortendays，andindroppingashortnotetoPaula；endingasfollows:——

\'Iamcomingtoseeyou。Possiblyyouwillrefusemeaninterview。Nevermind，Iamcoming——Yours，G。

SOMERSET。\'

Themorningafterthathewasupandaway。BetweenhimandPaulastretchedninehundredmilesbythelineofjourneythathefounditnecessarytoadopt，namely，thewayofLondon，inordertoinformhisfatherofhismovementsandtomakeoneortwobusinesscalls。Theafternoonwaspassedinattendingtothesematters，thenightinspeedingonward，andbythetimethatnineo\'clocksoundednextmorningthroughthesunlessandleadenairoftheEnglishChannelcoasts，hehadreducedthenumberofmilesonhislistbytwohundred，andcutofftheseafromtheimpedimentsbetweenhimandPaula。

OnawakeningfromafitfulsleepinthegreydawnofthemorningfollowinghelookedoutuponLyons，quietenoughnow，thecitizensunarousedtothedailyroundofbread-winning，andenvelopedinahazeoffog。

Sixhundredandfiftymilesofhisjourneyhadbeengotover；

therestillintervenedtwohundredandfiftybetweenhimandtheendofsuspense。Whenhethoughtofthathewasdisinclinedtopause；andpressedonbythesametrain，whichsethimdownatMarseillesatmid-day。

Hereheconsidered。BygoingontoNicethatafternoonhewouldarriveattoolateanhourtocalluponherthesameevening:itwouldthereforebeadvisabletosleepinMarseillesandproceedthenextmorningtohisjourney\'send，soastomeetherinabrighterconditionthanhecouldboastofto-day。Thisheaccordinglydid，andleavingMarseillesthenextmorningabouteight，foundhimselfatNiceearlyintheafternoon。

NowthathewasactuallyatthecentreofhisgravitationheseemedevenfurtherawayfromafeasiblemeetingwithherthaninEngland。Whileafaroff，hispresenceatNicehadappearedtobetheonethingneedfulforthesolutionofhistrouble，buttheveryhousefrontsseemednowtoaskhimwhatrighthehadthere。Unluckily，inwritingfromEngland，hehadnotallowedhertimetoreplybeforehisdeparture，sothathedidnotknowwhatdifficultiesmightlieinthewayofherseeinghimprivately。Beforedecidingwhattodo，hewalkeddowntheAvenuedelaGaretothepromenadebetweentheshoreandtheJardinPublic，andsatdowntothink。

Thehotelwhichshehadgivenhimasheraddresslookedrightoutuponhimandtheseabeyond，andherestedtherewiththepleasinghopethathereyesmightglancefromawindowanddiscoverhisform。Everythinginthescenewassunnyandgay。

Behindhiminthegardensabandwasplaying；beforehimwasthesea，theGreatsea，thehistoricalandoriginalMediterranean；theseaofinnumerablecharactersinhistoryandlegendthatarrangedthemselvesbeforehiminalongfriezeofmemoriessodiverseastoincludebothAEneasandSt。Paul。

Northerneyesarenotpreparedonasuddenfortheimpactofsuchimagesofwarmthandcolourasmeetthemsouthward，orforthevigorouslightthatfallsfromtheskyofthisfavouredshore。Inanyothercircumstancesthetransparencyandserenityoftheair，theperfumeofthesea，theradianthouses，thepalmsandflowers，wouldhaveacteduponSomersetasanenchantment，andwrappedhiminareverie；butatpresentheonlysawandfeltthesethingsasthroughathickglasswhichkeptouthalftheiratmosphere。

Atlasthemadeuphismind。Hewouldtakeuphisquartersatherhotel，andcatchechoesofherandherpeople，tolearnsomehowiftheirattitudetowardshimasaloverwereactuallyhostile，beforeformallyencounteringthem。Underthiscrystallinelight，fullofgaieties，sentiment，languor，seductiveness，andready-maderomance，thememoryofasolitaryunimportantmaninthelugubriousNorthmighthavefadedfromhermind。Hewasonlyherhireddesigner。Hewasanartist；buthehadbeenengagedbyher，andwasnotavolunteer；andshedidnotasyetknowthathemeanttoacceptnoreturnforhislaboursbutthepleasureofpresentingthemtoherasalove-offering。

Sooffhewentatoncetowardstheimposingbuildingwhitherhislettershadprecededhim。Owingtoapressofvisitorstherewasamoment\'sdelaybeforehecouldbeattendedtoatthebureau，andheturnedtothelargestaircasethatconfrontedhim，momentarilyhopingthatherfiguremightdescend。Herskirtsmustindeedhavebrushedthecarpetingofthosestepsscoresoftimes。Heengagedhisroom，orderedhisluggagetobesentfor，andfinallyinquiredforthepartyhesought。

\'TheyleftNiceyesterday，monsieur，\'repliedmadame。

Wasshequitesure，Somersetaskedher?

Yes，shewasquitesure。Twoofthehotelcarriageshaddriventhemtothestation。

Didsheknowwheretheyhadgoneto?

ThisandotherinquiriesresultedintheinformationthattheyhadgonetothehotelatMonteCarlo；thathowlongtheyweregoingtostaythere，andwhethertheywerecomingbackagain，wasnotknown。HisfinalquestionwhetherMissPowerhadreceivedaletterfromEnglandwhichmusthavearrivedthedaypreviouswasansweredintheaffirmative。

Somerset\'sfirstandsuddenresolvewastofollowonafterthemtothehotelnamed；buthefinallydecidedtomakehisimmediatevisittoMonteCarloonlyacautiousreconnoitre，returningtoNicetosleep。

Accordingly，afteranearlydinner，heagainsetforththroughthebroadAvenuedelaGare，andanhouronthecoastrailwaybroughthimtothebeautifulandsinisterlittlespottowhichthePowerandDeStancypartyhadstrayedincommonwiththerestofthefrivolousthrong。

Heassumedthattheirvisitthitherwouldbechieflyoneofcuriosity，andthereforenotprolonged。Thisprovedtobethecaseinevengreatermeasurethanhehadanticipated。Oninquiryatthehotelhelearntthattheyhadstayedonlyonenight，leavingashorttimebeforehisarrival，thoughitwasbelievedthatsomeofthepartywerestillinthetown。

InastateofindecisionSomersetstrolledintothegardensoftheCasino，andlookedoutuponthesea。Thereitstilllay，calmyetlively；ofanunmixedblue，yetvariegated；hushed，butarticulateeventomelodiousness。Everythingaboutandaroundthiscoastappearedindeedjaunty，tuneful，andatease，reciprocatingwithheartinesstheraysofthesplendidsun；everything，excepthimself。Thepalmsandflowersontheterracesbeforehimwereundisturbedbyasinglecoldbreath。

Themarbleworkofparapetsandstepswasunsplinteredbyfrosts。Thewholewaslikeaconservatorywiththeskyforitsdome。

ForwantofotheroccupationhewentroundtowardsthepublicentrancetotheCasino，andascendedthegreatstaircaseintothepillaredhall。Itwaspossible，afterall，thatuponleavingthehotelandsendingontheirluggagetheyhadtakenanotherturnthroughtherooms，tofollowbyalatertrain。

Withmorethancuriosityhescannedfirstthereading-rooms，onlyhowevertoseenotafacethatheknew。Hethencrossedthevestibuletothegaming-tables。

IV。

Herehewasconfrontedbyaheatedphantasmagoriaofsplendourandahighpressureofsuspensethatseemedtomaketheairquiver。Alowwhisperofconversationprevailed，whichmightprobablyhavebeennotwronglydefinedasthelowestnoteofsocialharmony。

Thepeoplegatheredatthisnegativepoleofindustryhadcomefromallcivilizedcountries；theirtongueswerefamiliarwithmanyformsofutterance，thatofeachracialgrouportypebeingunintelligibleinitssubtlervariations，ifnotentirely，totherest。Butthelanguageofmeumandtuumtheycollectivelycomprehendedwithouttranslation。Inahalf-

charmedspell-boundstatetheyhadcongregatedinknots，standing，orsittinginhollowcirclesroundthenotoriousovaltablesmarkedwithfiguresandlines。TheeyesofallthesesetsofpeoplewerewatchingtheRoulette。Somersetwentfromtabletotable，lookingamongtheloungersratherthanamongtheregularplayers，forfaces，oratleastforoneface，whichdidnotmeethisgaze。

Thesuggestivecharmwhichthecenturies-oldimpersonalityGaming，ratherthangamesandgamesters，hadforSomerset，ledhimtoloiteronevenwhenhishopeofmeetinganyofthePowerandDeStancypartyhadvanished。Asanon-participantinitsprofitsandlosses，feversandfrenzies，ithadthatstageeffectuponhisimaginationwhichisusuallyexercisedoverthosewhobeholdChancepresentedtothemwithspectacularpiquancywithoutadvancingfarenoughinitsacquaintancetosufferfromitsghastlyreprisalsandimpishtricks。Hebeheldahundreddiametricallyopposedwishesissuingfromthemurkyintelligencesaroundatable，andspreadingdownacrosseachotheruponthefigureddiagramintheirmidst，eachtoitsownnumber。Itwasanetworkofhopes；whichattheannouncement，\'Sept，Rouge，Impair，etManque，\'disappearedlikemagicgossamer，tobereplacedinamomentbynew。Thatallthepeoplethere，includinghimself，couldbeinterestedinwhattotheeyeofperfectreasonwasasomewhatmonotonousthing——thepropertyofnumberstorecuratcertainlongerorshorterintervalsinamachinecontainingthem——inotherwords，theblindgropingafterfractionsofaresultthewholeofwhichwaswellknown——wasonetestimonyamongmanyofthepowerlessnessoflogicwhenconfrontedwithimagination。

Atthisjunctureourloungerdiscernedatoneofthetablesaboutthelastpersonintheworldhecouldhavewishedtoencounterthere。ItwasDare，whomhehadsupposedtobeathousandmilesoff，hangingaboutthepurlieusofMarkton。

Darewasseatedbesideatableinanattitudeofapplicationwhichseemedtoimplythathehadcomeearlyandengagedinthispursuitinasystematicmanner。SomersethadneverwitnessedDareandDeStancytogether，neitherhadheheardofanyengagementofDarebythetravellingpartyasartist，courier，orotherwise；andyetitcrossedhismindthatDaremighthavehadsomethingtodowiththem，oratleasthaveseenthem。ThispossibilitywasenoughtoovermasterSomerset\'sreluctancetospeaktotheyoungman，andhedidsoassoonasanopportunityoccurred。

Dare\'sfacewasasrigidanddryasifithadbeenencrustedwithplaster，andhewaslikeoneturnedintoacomputingmachinewhichnolongerhadthepoweroffeeling。HerecognizedSomersetasindifferentlyasifhehadmethiminthewardofStancyCastle，andreplyingtohisremarksbyawordortwo，concentratedonthegameanew。

\'Areyouherealone?\'saidSomersetpresently。

\'Quitealone。\'Therewasasilence，tillDareadded，\'ButI

haveseensomefriendsofyours。\'Heagainbecameabsorbedintheeventsofthetable。Somersetretreatedafewsteps，andponderedthequestionwhetherDarecouldknowwheretheyhadgone。HedislikedtobebeholdentoDareforinformation，buthewouldgiveagreatdealtoknow。WhilepausinghewatchedDare\'splay。Hestakedonlyfive-francpieces，butitwasdonewithanassiduityworthyoflargercoin。Ateveryhalf-

minuteorsoheplacedhismoneyonacertainspot，andasregularlyhadthemortificationofseeingitsweptawaybythecroupier\'srake。Afterawhilehevariedhisprocedure。Heriskedhismoney，whichfromthelookofhisfaceseemedrathertohavedwindledthanincreased，lessrecklesslyagainstlongoddsthanbefore。Leavingoffbackingnumbersenplein，helaidhisventureacheval；thentriedituponthedozens；thenupontwonumbers；thenuponasquare；and，apparentlygettingnearerandnearerdefeat，atlastuponthesimplechancesofevenorodd，overorunder，redorblack。

Yetwithafewfluctuationsinhisfavourfortuneboresteadilyagainsthim，tillhecouldbreastherblowsnolonger。HerosefromthetableandcametowardsSomerset，andtheybothmovedontogetherintotheentrance-hall。

Darewasatthatmomentthevictimofanoverpoweringmaniaformoremoney。HispresenceintheSouthofEuropehaditsorigin，asmaybeguessed，inCaptainDeStancy\'sjourneyinthesamedirection，whomhehadfollowed，andtroubledwithpersistentrequestformorefunds，carefullykeepingoutofsightofPaulaandtherest。HisdreamofinvolvingPaulaintheDeStancypedigreeknewnoabatement。ButSomersethadlighteduponhimataninstantwhenthatidea，thoughnotdisplaced，wasoverwhelmedbyarageforplay。InhopeofbeingabletocontinueitbySomerset\'saidhewaspreparedtodoalmostanythingtopleasethearchitect。

\'Youaskedme，\'saidDare，strokinghisimpassivebrow，\'ifI

hadseenanythingofthePowers。Ihaveseenthem；andifI

canbeofanyusetoyouingivinginformationaboutthemI

shallonlybetooglad。\'

\'Whatinformationcanyougive?\'

\'Icantellyouwheretheyaregoneto。\'

\'Where?\'

\'TotheGrandHotel，Genoa。Theywentontherethisafternoon。\'

\'Whomdoyourefertobythey?\'

\'Mrs。Goodman，Mr。Power，MissPower，MissDeStancy，andtheworthycaptain。Heleavesthemtomorrow:hecomesbackhereforadayonhiswaytoEngland。\'

Somersetwassilent。Darecontinued:\'NowIhavedoneyouafavour，willyoudomeoneinreturn?\'

Somersetlookedtowardsthegaming-rooms，andsaiddubiously，\'Well?\'

\'Lendmetwohundredfrancs。\'

\'Yes，\'saidSomerset；\'butononecondition:thatIdon\'tgivethemtoyoutillyouareinsidethehotelyouarestayingat。\'

\'Thatcan\'tbe；it\'satNice。\'

\'WellIamgoingbacktoNice，andI\'lllendyouthemoneytheinstantwegetthere。\'

\'ButIwantithere，now，instantly!\'criedDare；andforthefirsttimetherewasawiryunreasonablenessinhisvoicethatfortifiedhiscompanionmorefirmlythaneverinhisdeterminationtolendtheyoungmannomoneywhilstheremainedinsidethatbuilding。