第17章

Thezestforthiswasnowwell-nighover。Butonawakinginthemorningandlookingupthevalleytowardsthecastle，andatthedarkgreenheightoftheKonigsstuhlalongside，hefeltthattobecomevanquishedbyapassion，driventosuffer，fast，andprayinthedullpainsandvapoursofdespisedlove，wasacontingencynottobewelcomedtooreadily。Thereuponhesethimselftolearnthesadscienceofrenunciation，whicheverybodyhastolearninhisdegree——eitherrebellingthroughoutthelesson，or，likeSomerset，takingtoitkindlybyforceofjudgment。Amoreobstinatepupilmighthavealtogetherescapedthelessoninthepresentcasebydiscoveringitsillegality。

Resolvingtopersevereintheheretoforesatisfactorypathsofartwhilelifeandfacultieswereleft，thougheveryinstinctmustproclaimthattherewouldbenolongeranycollateralattractioninthatpursuit，hewentalongunderthetreesoftheAnlageandreachedthecastlevaults，inwhosecoolshadeshespenttheafternoon，workingouthisintentionswithfairresult。Whenhehadstrolledbacktohishotelintheeveningthetimewasapproachingforthetable-d\'hote。Havingseatedhimselfratherearly，hespentthefewminutesofwaitinginlookingoverhispocket-book，andputtingafewfinishingtouchestotheafternoonperformancewhilsttheobjectswerefreshinhismemory。Thusoccupiedhewasbutdimlyconsciousofthecustomaryrustleofdressesandpullingupofchairsbythecrowdofotherdinersastheygatheredaroundhim。

Servingbegan，andheputawayhisbookandpreparedforthemeal。Hehadhardlydonethiswhenhebecameconsciousthatthepersononhislefthandwasnotthetypicalcosmopolitewithboundlesshotelknowledgeandirrelevantexperiencesthathewasaccustomedtofindnexthim，butafaceherecognizedasthatofayoungmanwhomhehadmetandtalkedtoatStancyCastlegarden-party，whosenamehehadnowforgotten。Thisyoungfellowwasconversingwithsomebodyonhislefthand——nootherpersonagethanPaulaherself。NexttoPaulahebeheldDeStancy，andDeStancy\'ssisterbeyondhim。Itwasoneofthosegratuitousencounterswhichonlyhappentodiscardedloverswhohaveshowncommendablestoicismunderdisappointment，asifonpurposetoreopenandaggravatetheirwounds。

Itseemedasiftheinterveningtravellerhadmettheotherpartybyaccidentthereandthen。InaminuteheturnedandrecognizedSomerset，andbydegreestheyoungmen\'scursoryremarkstoeachotherdevelopedintoaprettyregularconversation，interruptedonlywhenheturnedtospeaktoPaulaonhislefthand。

\'Yourarchitecturaladvisertravelsinyourparty:howveryconvenient，\'saidtheyoungtouristtoher。\'Farpleasanterthanhavingamedicalattendantinone\'strain!\'

Somerset，whohadnodistractionsontheothersideofhim，couldheareverywordofthis。HeglancedatPaula。Shehadnotknownofhispresenceintheroomtillnow。Theireyesmetforasecond，andshebowedsedately。Somersetreturnedherbow，andhereyeswerequicklywithdrawnwithscarcelyvisibleconfusion。

\'Mr。Somersetisnottravellingwithus，\'shesaid。\'Wehavemetbyaccident。Mr。Somersetcametomeonbusinessalittlewhileago。\'

\'Imustcongratulateyouonhavingputthecastleintogoodhands，\'continuedtheenthusiasticyoungman。

\'IbelieveMr。Somersetisquitecompetent，\'saidPaulastiffly。

ToincludeSomersetintheconversationtheyoungmanturnedtohimandadded:\'Youcarryonyourworkatthecastleconamore，nodoubt?\'

\'ThereisworkIshouldlikebetter，\'saidSomerset。

\'Indeed?\'

Thefrigidityofhismannerseemedtosetherateasebydispersingallfearofascene；andalternatedialoguesofthissortwiththegentlemanintheirmidstweremoreorlesscontinuedbybothPaulaandSomersettilltheyrosefromtable。

Inthebustleofmovingoutthetwolatterforonemomentstoodsidebyside。

\'MissPower，\'saidSomerset，inalowvoicethatwasobscuredbytherustle，\'youhavenothingmoretosaytome?\'

\'Ithinkthereisnothingmore?\'saidPaula，liftinghereyeswithlongingreticence。

\'ThenItakeleaveofyou；andtendermybestwishesthatyoumayhaveapleasanttimebeforeyou!……IsetoutforEnglandto-night。\'

\'Withaspecialphotographer，nodoubt?\'

ItwasthefirsttimethatshehadaddressedSomersetwithameaningdistinctlybitter；andherremark，whichhadreferencetotheforgedphotograph，fellofcoursewithoutitsintendedeffect。

\'No，MissPower，\'saidSomersetgravely。\'Butwithadeepersenseofwoman\'sthoughtlesstriflingthantimewillevereradicate。\'

\'Isnotthatamistake?\'sheaskedinavoicethatdistinctlytrembled。

\'Amistake?How?\'

\'Imean，doyounotforgetmanythings?\'(throwingonhimatroubledglance)。\'Awomanmayfeelherselfjustifiedinherconduct，althoughitadmitsofnoexplanation。\'

\'Idon\'tcontestthepointforamoment……Goodbye。\'

\'Good-bye。\'

Theypartedamidthefloweringshrubsandcagedbirdsinthehall，andhesawhernomore。DeStancycameup，andspokeafewcommonplacewords，hissisterhavinggoneout，eitherwithoutperceivingSomerset，orwithintentiontoavoidhim。

Thatnight，ashehadsaid，hewasonhiswaytoEngland。

VII。

TheDeStancysandPowersremainedinHeidelbergforsomedays。AllremarkedthatafterSomerset\'sdeparturePaulawasfrequentlyirritable，thoughatothertimesassereneasever。

Yetevenwheninablitheandsaucymoodtherewasatbottomatingeofmelancholy。Somethingdidnotlieeasyinherundemonstrativeheart，andallherfriendsexcusedtheinequalitiesofahumourwhosesource，thoughnotpositivelyknown，couldbefairlywellguessed。

DeStancyhadlongsincediscoveredthathischancelaychieflyinherrecentlyacquiredandfancifulpredilectiond\'artisteforhoarymediaevalfamilieswithancestorsinalabasterandprimogenitiverenown。Seeingthishedweltonthosetopicswhichbroughtoutthataspectofhimselfmoreclearly，talkingfeudalismandchivalrywithazestthathehadneverhithertoshown。Yetitwasnotaltogetherfactitious。For，discoveringhowmuchthisquondamPuritanwasinterestedintheattributesoflong-chronicledhouses，areflectedinterestinhimselfaroseinhisownsoul，andhebegantowonderwhyhehadnotprizedthesethingsbefore。

Tillnowdisgustedbythefailureofhisfamilytoholditsownintheturmoilbetweenancientandmodern，hehadgrowntoundervalueitspastprestige；anditwaswithcorrectiveardourthatheadoptedwhileheministeredtoherviews。

HenceforwardthewooingofDeStancytooktheformofanintermittentaddress，theincidentsoftheirtravelfurnishingpegswhereontohanghissubject；sometimeshinderingit，butseldomfailingtoproduceinheragreatertoleranceofhispresence。HisnextopportunitywasthedayafterSomerset\'sdeparturefromHeidelberg。TheystoodonthegreatterraceoftheSchloss-Garten，lookingacrosstheinterveningravinetothenorth-eastfrontofthecastlewhichrosebeforetheminallitscustomarywarmtintsandbatteredmagnificence。

\'Thisisaspot，ifany，whichshouldbringmatterstoacrisisbetweenyouandme，\'heassertedgood-humouredly。\'Butyouhavebeensosilentto-daythatIlosethespirittotakeadvantageofmyprivilege。\'

Sheinquiredwhatprivilegehespokeof，asifquiteanothersubjecthadbeeninhermindthanDeStancy。

\'TheprivilegeofwinningyourheartifIcan，whichyougavemeatCarlsruhe。\'

\'O，\'shesaid。\'Well，I\'vebeenthinkingofthat。ButIdonotfeelmyselfabsolutelyboundbythestatementImadeinthatroom；andIshallexpect，ifIwithdrawit，nottobecalledtoaccountbyyou。\'

DeStancylookedratherblank。

\'Ifyourecedefromyourpromiseyouwilldoubtlesshavegoodreason。ButImustsolemnlybegyou，afterraisingmyhopes，tokeepasnearasyoucantoyourword，soasnottothrowmeintoutterdespair。\'

PauladroppedherglanceintotheThier-Gartenbelowthem，wheregaypromenaderswereclamberingupbetweenthebushesandflowers。Atlengthshesaid，withevidentembarrassment，butwithmuchdistinctness:\'IdeservemuchmoreblameforwhatIhavedonethanyoucanexpresstome。Iwillconfesstoyouthewholetruth。AllthatItoldyouinthehotelatCarlsruhewassaidinamomentofpiqueatwhathadhappenedjustbeforeyoucamein。ItwassupposedIwasmuchinvolvedwithanotherman，andcircumstancesmadethesuppositionparticularlyobjectionable。ToescapeitIjumpedatthealternativeofyourself。\'

\'That\'sbadforme!\'hemurmured。

\'IfafterthisavowalyoubindmetomywordsIshallsaynomore:Idonotwishtorecedefromthemwithoutyourfullpermission。\'

\'Whatacaprice!ButIreleaseyouunconditionally，\'hesaid。

\'AndIbegyourpardonifIseemedtoshowtoomuchassurance。

Pleaseputitdowntomygratifiedexcitement。Ientirelyacquiesceinyourwish。Iwillgoawaytowhateverplaceyouplease，andnotcomenearyoubutbyyourownpermission，andtillyouarequitesatisfiedthatmypresenceandwhatitmayleadtoisnotundesirable。Ientirelygivewaybeforeyou，andwillendeavourtomakemyfuturedevotedness，ifeverwemeetagain，anewgroundforexpectingyourfavour。\'

Paulaseemedstruckbythegenerousandcheerfulfairnessofhisremarks，andsaidgently，\'Perhapsyourdepartureisnotabsolutelynecessaryformyhappiness；andIdonotwishfromwhatyoucallcaprice——\'

\'Iretractthatword。\'

\'Well，whateveritis，Idon\'twishyoutodoanythingwhichshouldcauseyourealpain，ortrouble，orhumiliation。\'

\'That\'sverygoodofyou。\'

\'ButIreservetomyselftherighttoacceptorrefuseyouraddresses——justasifthoserashwordsofminehadneverbeenspoken。\'

\'ImustbearitallasbestIcan，Isuppose，\'saidDeStancy，withmelancholyhumorousness。

\'AndIshalltreatyouasyourbehaviourshallseemtodeserve，\'shesaidplayfully。

\'ThenImaystay?\'

\'Yes；Iamwillingtogiveyouthatpleasure，ifitisone，inreturnfortheattentionsyouhaveshown，andthetroubleyouhavetakentomakemyjourneypleasant。\'

ShewalkedonanddiscoveredMrs。Goodmannear，andpresentlythewholepartymettogether。DeStancydidnotfindhimselfagainathersidetilllaterintheafternoon，whentheyhadlefttheimmediateprecinctsofthecastleanddecidedonadrivetotheKonigsstuhl。

Thecarriage，containingonlyMrs。Goodman，wasdrivenashortwayupthewindingincline，Paula，heruncle，andMissDeStancywalkingbehindundertheshadowofthetrees。ThenMrs。Goodmancalledtothemandaskedwhentheyweregoingtojoinher。

\'Wearegoingtowalkup，\'saidMr。Power。

Paulaseemedseizedwithaspiritofboisterousnessquiteunlikeherusualbehaviour。\'Myauntmaydriveup，andyoumaywalkup；butIshallrunup，\'shesaid。\'See，here\'saway。\'Shetrippedtowardsapaththroughthebusheswhich，insteadofwindingliketheregulartrack，madestraightforthesummit。

Paulahadnottheremotestconceptionoftheactualdistancetothetop，imaginingittobebutacoupleofhundredyardsattheoutside，whereasitwasreallyneareramile，theascentbeinguniformlysteepalltheway。WhenheruncleandDeStancyhadseenhervanishtheystoodstill，theformerevidentlyreluctanttoforsaketheeasyascentforadifficultone，thoughhesaid，\'Wecan\'tlethergoalonethatway，I

suppose。\'

\'No，ofcoursenot，\'saidDeStancy。

TheythenfollowedinthedirectiontakenbyPaula，Charlotteenteringthecarriage。WhenPowerandDeStancyhadascendedaboutfiftyyardstheformerlookedback，anddroppedofffromthepursuit，toreturntotheeasyroute，givinghiscompanionapartinghintconcerningPaula。WhereuponDeStancywentonalone。HesoonsawPaulaabovehiminthepath，whichascendedskywardstraightasJacob\'sLadder，butwassooverhungbythebrushwoodastobequiteshutoutfromthesun。Whenhereachedhersideshewasmovingeasilyupward，apparentlyenjoyingtheseclusionwhichtheplaceafforded。

\'Isnotmyunclewithyou?\'shesaid，onturningandseeinghim。

\'Hewentback，\'saidDeStancy。

Sherepliedthatitwasofnoconsequence；thatsheshouldmeethimatthetop，shesupposed。

Paulalookedupamidthegreenlightwhichfilteredthroughtheleafageasfarashereyescouldstretch。Butthetopdidnotappear，andsheallowedDeStancytogetinfront。\'Itdidnotseemsuchalongwayasthis，tolookat，\'shepresentlysaid。

Heexplainedthatthetreeshaddeceivedherastotherealheight，byreasonofherseeingtheslopeforeshortenedwhenshelookedupfromthecastle。\'Allowmetohelpyou，\'headded。

\'No，thankyou，\'saidPaulalightly；\'wemustbenearthetop。\'

Theywentonagain；butnoKonigsstuhl。WhennextDeStancyturnedhefoundthatshewassittingdown；immediatelygoingbackheofferedhisarm。Shetookitinsilence，declaringthatitwasnowonderheruncledidnotcomethatwearisomeway，ifhehadeverbeentherebefore。

DeStancydidnotexplainthatMr。Powerhadsaidtohimatparting，\'There\'sachanceforyou，ifyouwantone，\'butatoncewentonwiththesubjectbegunontheterrace。\'Ifmybehaviourisgood，youwillreaffirmthestatementmadeatCarlsruhe?\'

\'Itisnotfairtobeginthatnow!\'expostulatedPaula；\'Icanonlythinkofgettingtothetop。\'

Hercolourdeepeningbytheexertion，hesuggestedthatsheshouldsitdownagainononeofthemossybouldersbythewayside。Nothinglothshedid，DeStancystandingby，andwithhiscanescratchingthemossfromthestone。

\'Thisisratherawkward，\'saidPaula，inherusualcircumspectway。\'Myrelativesandyoursisterwillbesuretosuspectmeofhavingarrangedthisscramblewithyou。\'

\'ButIknowbetter，\'sighedDeStancy。\'IwishtoHeavenyouhadarrangedit!\'

Shewasnotatthetop，butshetookadvantageofthehalttoanswerhispreviousquestion。\'TherearemanypointsonwhichImustbesatisfiedbeforeIcanreaffirmanything。Doyounotseethatyouaremistakeninclingingtothisidea?——thatyouarelayingupmortificationanddisappointmentforyourself?\'

\'Anegativereplyfromyouwouldbedisappointment，earlyorlate。\'

\'Andyoupreferhavingitlatetoacceptingitnow?IfIwereaman，Ishouldliketoabandonafalsescentassoonaspossible。\'

\'Isupposeallthathasbutonemeaning:thatIamtogo。\'

\'Ono，\'shemagnanimouslyassuredhim，boundingupfromherseat；\'Iadheretomystatementthatyoumaystay；thoughitistruesomethingmaypossiblyhappentomakemealtermymind。\'

Heagainofferedhisarm，andfromsheernecessitysheleantuponitasbefore。

\'Grantmebutamoment\'spatience，\'hebegan。

\'CaptainDeStancy!Isthisfair?Iamphysicallyobligedtoholdyourarm，sothatIMUSTlistentowhatyousay!\'

\'No，itisnotfair；\'ponmysoulitisnot!\'saidDeStancy。

\'Iwon\'tsayanotherword。\'

Hedidnot；andtheyclamberedonthroughtheboughs，nothingdisturbingthesolitudebuttherustleoftheirownfootstepsandthesingingofbirdsoverhead。Theyoccasionallygotapeepatthesky；andwheneveratwighungoutinapositiontostrikePaula\'sfacethegallantcaptainbentitasidewithhisstick。Butshedidnotthankhim。Perhapshewasjustaswellsatisfiedasifshehaddoneso。

Paula，panting，brokethesilence:\'Willyougoon，anddiscoverifthetopisnear?\'

Hewenton。Thistimethetopwasnear。Whenhereturnedshewassittingwherehehadleftheramongtheleaves。\'Itisquitenearnow，\'hetoldhertenderly，andshetookhisarmagainwithoutaword。Soonthepathchangeditsnaturefromasteepandruggedwatercoursetoalevelgreenpromenade。

\'Thankyou，CaptainDeStancy，\'shesaid，lettinggohisarmasifrelieved。

Beforethemrosethetower，andatthebasetheybeheldtwooftheirfriends，Mr。Powerbeingseenabove，lookingovertheparapetthroughhisglass。

\'Youwillgotothetopnow?\'saidDeStancy。

\'No，Itakenointerestinit。Myinteresthasturnedtofatigue。Ionlywanttogohome。\'

Hetookherontowherethecarriagestoodatthefootofthetower，andleavingherwithhissisterascendedtheturrettothetop。Thelandscapehadquitechangedfromitsafternoonappearance，andhadbecomerathermarvellousthanbeautiful。

Theairwaschargedwithaluridexhalationthatblurredtheextensiveview。HecouldseethedistantRhineatitsjunctionwiththeNeckar，shininglikeathreadofbloodthroughthemistwhichwasgraduallywrappingupthedecliningsun。Thescenehadinitsomethingthatwasmorethanmelancholy，andnotmuchlessthantragic；butforDeStancysucheveningeffectspossessedlittlemeaning。Hewasengagedinanenterprisethattaxedallhisresources，andhadnosentimentstospareforair，earth，orskies。

\'Remarkablescene，\'saidPower，mildly，athiselbow。

\'Yes；Idaresayitis，\'saidDeStancy。\'TimehasbeenwhenIshouldhaveheldforthuponsuchaprospect，andwonderedifitslividcoloursshadowedoutmyownlife，etcaetera，etcaetera。But，begad，Ihavealmostforgottenthere\'ssuchathingasNature，andIcarefornothingbutacomfortablelife，andacertainwomanwhodoesnotcareforme!……Nowshallwegodown?\'

VIII。

ItwasquitetruethatDeStancyatthepresentperiodofhisexistencewishedonlytoescapefromthehurly-burlyofactivelife，andtowintheaffectionofPaulaPower。Therewere，however，occasionswhenarecollectionofhisoldrenunciatoryvowswouldobtrudeitselfuponhim，andtingehispresentwithwaywardbitterness。SomuchwasthisthecasethatadayortwoaftertheyhadarrivedatMainzhecouldnotrefrainfrommakingremarksalmostprejudicialtohiscause，sayingtoher，\'Iamunfortunateinmysituation。Thereare，unhappily，worldlyreasonswhyIshouldpretendtoloveyou，evenifIdonot:theyaresostrongthat，thoughreallylovingyou，perhapstheyenterintomythoughtsofyou。\'

\'Idon\'twanttoknowwhatsuchreasonsare，\'saidPaula，withpromptness，foritrequiredbutlittleastutenesstodiscoverthathealludedtothealienatedWessexhomeandestates。

\'Youlacktone，\'shegentlyadded:\'that\'swhythesituationofaffairsseemsdistastefultoyou。\'

\'Yes，IsupposeIamill。AndyetIamwellenough。\'

TheseremarkspassedunderatreeinthepublicgardensduringanoddminuteofwaitingforCharlotteandMrs。Goodman；andhesaidnomoretoherinprivatethatday。Fewasherwordshadbeenhelikedthembetterthananyhehadlatelyreceived。

Theconversationwasnotresumedtilltheyweregliding\'betweenthebanksthatbearthevine，\'onboardoneoftheRhinesteamboats，which，likethehotelsinthisearlysummertime，werecomparativelyfreefromotherEnglishtravellers；

sothateverywherePaulaandherpartywerereceivedwithopenarmsandcheerfulcountenances，asamongthefirstswallowsoftheseason。

Thesaloonofthesteamboatwasquiteempty，thefewpassengersbeingoutside；andthispaucityofvoyagersaffordedDeStancyaroomyopportunity。

Paulasawhimapproachher，andthereappearinginhisfacesignsthathewouldbeginagainontheeternalsubject，sheseemedtobestruckwithasenseoftheludicrous。

DeStancyreddened。\'Somethingseemstoamuseyou，\'hesaid。

\'Itisover，\'shereplied，becomingserious。

\'Wasitaboutme，andthisunhappyfeverinme?\'

\'IfIspeakthetruthImustsayitwas。\'

\'Youthought，"Here\'sthatabsurdmanagain，goingtobeginhisdailysupplication。"\'

\'Not"absurd，"\'shesaid，withemphasis；\'becauseIdon\'tthinkitisabsurd。\'

ShecontinuedlookingthroughthewindowsattheLurleiHeightsunderwhichtheywerenowpassing，andheremainedwithhiseyesonher。

\'MayIstayherewithyou?\'hesaidatlast。\'Ihavenothadawordwithyoualoneforfour-and-twentyhours。\'

\'Youmustbecheerful，then。\'

\'Youhavesaidsuchasthatbefore。Iwishyouwouldsay"loving"insteadof"cheerful。"\'

\'Yes，Iknow，Iknow，\'sheresponded，withimpatientperplexity。\'Butwhymustyouthinkofme——meonly?Istherenootherwomanintheworldwhohasthepowertomakeyouhappy?Iamsuretheremustbe。\'

\'Perhapsthereis；butIhaveneverseenher。\'

\'Thenlookforher；andbelievemewhenIsaythatyouwillcertainlyfindher。\'

Heshookhishead。

\'CaptainDeStancy，Ihavelongfeltforyou，\'shecontinued，withafrankglanceintohisface。\'Youhavedeprivedyourselftoolongofotherwomen\'scompany。Whynotgoawayforalittletime?andwhenyouhavefoundsomebodyelselikelytomakeyouhappy，youcanmeetmeagain。Iwillseeyouatyourfather\'shouse，andwewillenjoyallthepleasureofeasyfriendship。\'

\'Verycorrect；andverycold，Obestofwomen!\'

\'Youaretoofullofexclamationsandtransports，Ithink!\'

Theystoodinsilence，Paulaapparentlymuchinterestedinthemanoeuvringofaraftwhichwaspassingby。\'DearMissPower，\'heresumed，\'beforeIgoandjoinyouruncleabove，letmejustask，DoIstandanychanceatallyet?Isitpossibleyoucanneverbemorepliantthanyouhavebeen?\'

\'Youputmeoutofallpatience!\'

\'Butwhydidyouraisemyhopes?Youshouldatleastpitymeafterdoingthat。\'

\'Yes；it\'sthatagain!IunfortunatelyraisedyourhopesbecauseIwasafool——wasnotmyselfthatmoment。Nowquestionmenomore。AsitisIthinkyoupresumetoomuchuponmybecomingyoursastheconsequenceofmyhavingdismissedanother。\'

\'Notonbecomingmine，butonlisteningtome。\'

\'YourargumentwouldbereasonableenoughhadIledyoutobelieveIwouldlistentoyou——andultimatelyacceptyou；butthatIhavenotdone。Iseenowthatawomanwhogivesamananansweroneshadelessperemptorythanaharshnegativemaybecarriedbeyondherintentions，andoutofherownpowerbeforesheknowsit。\'

\'Chidemeifyouwill；Idon\'tcare!\'

Shelookedsteadfastlyathimwithalittlemischiefinhereyes。\'YouDOcare，\'shesaid。

\'Thenwhydon\'tyoulistentome?Iwouldnotpersevereforamomentlongerifitwereagainstthewishesofyourfamily。

Yourunclesaysitwouldgivehimpleasuretoseeyouacceptme。\'

\'Doeshesaywhy?\'sheaskedthoughtfully。

\'Yes；hetakes，ofcourse，apracticalviewofthematter；hethinksitcommendsitselfsotoreasonandcommonsensethattheownerofStancyCastleshouldbecomeamemberoftheDeStancyfamily。\'

\'Yes，that\'sthehorridplagueofit，\'shesaid，withanonchalancewhichseemedtocontradictherwords。\'Itissodreadfullyreasonablethatweshouldmarry。Iwishitwasn\'t!\'

\'Well，youareyoungerthanI，andperhapsthat\'sanaturalwish。Buttomeitseemsafelicitouscombinationnotoftenmetwith。Iconfessthatyourinterestinourfamilybeforeyouknewmelentastabilitytomyhopesthatotherwisetheywouldnothavehad。\'

\'MyinterestintheDeStancyshasnotbeenapersonalinterestexceptinthecaseofyoursister，\'shereturned。

\'Ithasbeenanhistoricalinterestonly；andisnotatallincreasedbyyourexistence。\'

\'Andperhapsitisnotdiminished?\'

\'No，Iamnotawarethatitisdiminished，\'shemurmured，assheobservedtheglidingshore。

\'Well，youwillallowmetosaythis，sinceIsayitwithoutreferencetoyourpersonalityortomine——thatthePowerandDeStancyfamiliesarethecomplementstoeachother；andthat，abstractedly，theycallearnestlytooneanother:"Howneatandfitathingforustojoinhands!"\'

Paula，whowasnotprudishwhenadirectappealwasmadetohercommonsense，answeredwithreadycandour:\'Yes，fromthepointofviewofdomesticpolitics，thatundoubtedlyisthecase。ButIhopeIamnotsocalculatingastoriskhappinessinordertoroundoffasocialidea。\'

\'Ihopenot；orthatIameither。Stillthesocialideaexists，andmyincreasedyearsmakeitsexcellencemoreobvioustomethantoyou。\'

Theiceoncebrokenonthisaspectofthequestion，thesubjectseemedfurthertoengrossher，andshespokeonasifdaringlyinclinedtoventurewhereshehadneveranticipatedgoing，derivingpleasurefromtheverystrangenessofhertemerity:\'YoumeanthatinthefitnessofthingsIoughttobecomeaDeStancytostrengthenmysocialposition?\'

\'AndthatIoughttostrengthenminebyalliancewiththeheiressofanamesodeartoengineeringscienceasPower。\'

\'Well，wearetalkingwithunexpectedfrankness。\'

\'Butyouarenotseriouslydispleasedwithmeforsayingwhat，afterall，onecan\'thelpfeelingandthinking?\'

\'No。Onlybesogoodastoleaveoffgoingfurtherforthepresent。Indeed，ofthetwo，Iwouldratherhavetheothersortofaddress。Imean，\'shehastilyadded，\'thatwhatyouurgeastheresultofarealaffection，howeverunsuitable，I

havesomeremotesatisfactioninlisteningto——nottheleastfromanyreciprocalloveonmyside，butfromawoman\'sgratificationatbeingtheobjectofanybody\'sdevotion；forthatfeelingtowardsherisalwaysregardedasameritinawoman\'seye，andtakenasakindnessbyher，evenwhenitisattheexpenseofherconvenience。\'

Shehadsaid，voluntarilyorinvoluntarily，betterthingsthanheexpected，andperhapstoomuchinherownopinion，forshehardlygavehimanopportunityofreplying。

TheypassedSt。GoarandBoppard，andwhensteeringroundthesharpbendoftheriverjustbeyondthelatterplaceDeStancymetheragain，exclaiming，\'Youleftmeverysuddenly。\'

\'Youmustmakeallowances，please，\'shesaid；\'Ihavealwaysstoodinneedofthem。\'

\'Thenyoushallalwayshavethem。\'

\'Idon\'tdoubtit，\'shesaidquickly；butPaulawasnottobecaughtagain，andkeptclosetothesideofherauntwhiletheyglidedpastBraubackandOberlahnstein。ApproachingCoblenzherauntsaid，\'Paula，letmesuggestthatyoubenotsomuchalonewithCaptainDeStancy。\'

\'Andwhy?\'saidPaulaquietly。

\'You\'llhaveplentyofoffersifyouwantthem，withouttakingtrouble，\'saidthedirectMrs。Goodman。\'Yourexistenceishardlyknowntotheworldyet，andCaptainDeStancyistoonearmiddle-ageforagirllikeyou。\'Pauladidnotreplytoeitheroftheseremarks，beingseeminglysointerestedinEhrenbreitstein\'sheightsasnottohearthem。

IX。

ItwasmidnightatCoblenz，andthetravellershadretiredtorestintheirrespectiveapartments，overlookingtheriver。

Findingthattherewasamoonshining，Paulaleantoutofherwindow。ThetallrockofEhrenbreitsteinontheoppositeshorewasfloodedwithlight，andabelatedsteamerwasdrawinguptothelanding-stage，whereitpresentlydepositeditspassengers。

\'Weshouldhavecomebythelastboat，soastohavebeentouchedintoromancebytheraysofthismoon，likethosehappypeople，\'saidavoice。

Shelookedtowardsthespotwhencethevoiceproceeded，whichwasawindowquitenearathand。DeStancywassmokingoutsideit，andshebecameawarethatthewordswereaddressedtoher。

\'Youleftmeveryabruptly，\'hecontinued。

Paula\'sinstinctofcautionimpelledhertospeak。

\'Thewindowsareallopen，\'shemurmured。\'Pleasebecareful。\'

\'TherearenoEnglishinthishotelexceptourselves。Ithankyouforwhatyousaidto-day。\'

\'Pleasebecareful，\'sherepeated。

\'MydearMissP——\'

\'Don\'tmentionnames，anddon\'tcontinuethesubject!\'

\'Lifeanddeathperhapsdependuponmyrenewingitsoon!\'

Sheshutthewindowdecisively，possiblywonderingifDeStancyhaddrunkaglassortwoofSteinbergmorethanwasgoodforhim，andsawnomoreofmoonlitEhrenbreitsteinthatnight，andheardnomoreofDeStancy。Butitwassometimebeforeheclosedhiswindow，andprevioustodoingsosawadarkformatanadjoiningoneontheotherside。

ItwasMr。Power，alsotakingtheair。\'Well，whatluckto-

day?\'saidPower。

\'Adecidedadvance，\'saidDeStancy。

Noneofthespeakersknewthatalittlepersonintheroomaboveheardallthisout-of-windowtalk。Charlotte，thoughnotlookingout，hadlefthercasementopen；andwhatreachedherearssetherwonderingastotheresult。

ItisnotnecessarytodetailinfullDeStancy\'simperceptibleadvanceswithPauladuringthatnorthwardjourney——soslowlyperformedthatitseemedasifshemustperceivetherewasaspecialreasonfordelayingherreturntoEngland。AtCologneonedayheconvenientlyovertookherwhenshewasascendingthehotelstaircase。Seeinghim，shewenttothewindowoftheentresollanding，whichcommandedaviewoftheRhine，meaningthatheshouldpassbytohisroom。

\'Ihavebeenveryuneasy，\'beganthecaptain，drawinguptoherside；\'andIamobligedtotroubleyousoonerthanImeanttodo。\'

Paulaturnedhereyesuponhimwithsomecuriosityastowhatwascomingofthisrespectfuldemeanour。\'Indeed!\'shesaid，Hetheninformedherthathehadbeenoverhaulinghimselfsincetheylasttalked，andhadsomereasontoblamehimselfforbluntnessandgeneralwantofeuphemism；which，althoughhehadmeantnothingbyit，musthavebeenverydisagreeabletoher。Buthehadalwaysaimedatsincerity，particularlyashehadtodealwithaladywhodespisedhypocrisyandwasaboveflattery。However，hefearedhemighthavecarriedhisdisregardforconventionalitytoofar。Butfromthattimehewouldpromisethatsheshouldfindanalterationbywhichhehopedhemightreturnthefriendshipatleastofayoungladyhehonouredmorethananyotherintheworld。

Thisretrogrademovementwasevidentlyunexpectedbythehonouredyoungladyherself。Afterbeingsolongaccustomedtorebukehimforhispersistencetherewasnoveltyinfindinghimdotheworkforher。Theguessmightevenhavebeenhazardedthattherewasalsodisappointment。

StilllookingacrosstheriveratthebridgeofboatswhichstretchedtotheoppositesuburbofDeutz:\'Youneednotblameyourself，\'shesaid，withthemildestconceivablemanner，\'Icanmakeallowances。AllIwishisthatyoushouldremainundernomisapprehension。\'

\'Icomprehend，\'hesaidthoughtfully。\'Butsince，byaperversefate，Ihavebeenthrownintoyourcompany，youcouldhardlyexpectmetofeelandactotherwise。\'

\'Perhapsnot。\'

\'SinceIhavesomuchreasontobedissatisfiedwithmyself，\'

headded，\'Icannotrefrainfromcriticizingelsewheretoaslightextent，andthinkingIhavetodowithanungenerousperson。\'

\'Whyungenerous?\'

\'Inthisway；thatsinceyoucannotloveme，youseenoreasonatallfortryingtodosointhefactthatIsodeeplyloveyou；henceIsaythatyouarerathertobedistinguishedbyyourwisdomthanbyyourhumanity。\'

\'Itcomestothis，thatifyourwordsareallseriouslymeantitismuchtoberegrettedweevermet，\'shemurmured。\'Nowwillyougoontowhereyouweregoing，andleavemehere?\'

Withoutaremonstrancehewenton，sayingwithdejectedwhimsicalityashesmiledbackuponher，\'Youshowawisdomwhichforsoyoungaladyisperfectlysurprising。\'

ItwasresolvedtoprolongthejourneybyacircuitthroughHollandandBelgium；butnothingchangedintheattitudesofPaulaandCaptainDeStancytilloneafternoonduringtheirstayattheHague，whentheyhadgoneforadrivedowntoScheveningenbythelongstraightavenueofchestnutsandlimes，underwhoseboughstuftsofwildparsleywavedtheirflowers，exceptwherethebuitenplaatsenofretiredmerchantsblazedforthwithnewpaintofeveryhue。Onmountingthedunewhichkeptouttheseabehindthevillageabriskbreezegreetedtheirfaces，andafinesandblewupintotheireyes。

DeStancyscreenedPaulawithhisumbrellaastheystoodwiththeirbackstothewind，lookingdownontheredroofsofthevillagewithintheseawall，andpullingatthelonggrasswhichbysomemeansfoundnourishmentinthepowderysoilofthedune。

Whentheyhaddiscussedthescenehecontinued，\'Italwaysseemstomethatthisplacereflectstheaveragemoodofhumanlife。Imean，ifwestrikethebalancebetweenourbestmoodsandourworstweshallfindouraverageconditiontostandataboutthesamepitchinemotionalcolourasthesesandydunesandthisgreyscenedoinlandscape。\'

Paulacontendedthatheoughtnottomeasureeverybodybyhimself。

\'Ihavenootherstandard，\'saidDeStancy；\'andifmyowniswrong，itisyouwhohavemadeitso。HaveyouthoughtanymoreofwhatIsaidatCologne?\'

\'Idon\'tquiterememberwhatyoudidsayatCologne?\'

\'Mydearestlife!\'Paula\'seyesroundingsomewhat，hecorrectedtheexclamation。\'MydearMissPower，Iwill，withoutreserve，tellittoyoualloveragain。\'

\'Prayspareyourselftheeffort，\'shesaiddrily。\'Whathasthatonefatalstepbetrayedmeinto!……DoyouseriouslymeantosaythatIamthecauseofyourlifebeingcolouredlikethissceneofgrassandsand?Ifso，Ihavecommittedaverygreatfault!\'

\'Itcanbenullifiedbyaword。\'

\'Suchaword!\'

\'Itisaveryshortone。\'

\'There\'sastillshorteronemoretothepurpose。Frankly，I

believeyoususpectmetohavesomelatentandunownedinclinationforyou——thatyouthinkspeakingistheonlypointuponwhichIambackward……Therenow，itisraining；

whatshallwedo?Ithoughtthiswindmeantrain。\'

\'Do?Standonhere，aswearestandingnow。\'

\'Yoursisterandmyauntaregoneunderthewall。Ithinkwewillwalktowardsthem。\'

\'Youhadmademehope，\'hecontinued(histhoughtsapparentlyfarawayfromtherainandthewindandthepossibilityofshelter)，\'thatyoumightchangeyourmind，andgivetoyouroriginalpromisealiberalmeaninginrenewingit。InbriefI

meanthis，thatyouwouldallowittomergeintoanengagement。Don\'tthinkitpresumptuous，\'hewenton，asheheldtheumbrellaoverher；\'IamsureanymanwouldspeakasIdo。Adistinctpermissiontobewithyouonprobation——thatwaswhatyougavemeatCarlsruhe:andflingingcasuistryononeside，whatdoesthatmean?\'

\'ThatIamartisticallyinterestedinyourfamilyhistory。\'

Andshewentoutfromtheumbrellatotheshelterofthehotelwhereshefoundherauntandfriend。

DeStancycouldnotbutfeelthathispersistencehadmadesomeimpression。Itwashardlypossiblethatawomanofindependentnaturewouldhavetoleratedhisdanglingathersidesolong，ifhispresencewerewhollydistastefultoher。

ThateveningwhendrivingbacktotheHaguebyadeviousroutethroughthedenseavenuesoftheBoschheconversedwithheragain；alsothenextdaywhenstandingbytheVijverlookingattheswans；andineachcasesheseemedtohaveatleastgotoverherobjectiontobeingseentalkingtohim，apartfromtheremainderofthetravellingparty。

ScenesverysimilartothoseatScheveningenandontheRhinewereenactedatlaterstagesoftheirdesultoryjourney。Mr。

PowerhadproposedtocrossfromRotterdam；butastiffnorth-

westerlybreezeprevailingPaulaherselfbecamereluctanttohastenbacktoStancyCastle。TurningabruptlytheymadeforBrussels。

Itwashere，whilewalkinghomewardfromtheParkonemorning，thatheruncleforthefirsttimealludedtothesituationofaffairsbetweenherselfandheradmirer。ThecaptainhadgoneuptheRueRoyalewithhissisterandMrs。Goodman，eithertoshowthemthehouseinwhichtheballtookplaceontheeveofQuatreBrasorsomeothersiteofinterest，andthetwoPowerswerethuslefttothemselves。ToreachtheirhoteltheypassedintoalittlestreetslopingsteeplydownfromtheRueRoyaletothePlaceSte。Gudule，where，atthemomentofnearingthecathedral，aweddingpartyemergedfromtheporchandcrossedinfrontofuncleandniece。

\'Ihope，\'saidtheformer，inhispassionlessway，\'weshallseeaperformanceofthissortbetweenyouandCaptainDeStancy，notsoverylongafterourreturntoEngland。\'

\'Why?\'askedPaula，followingthebridewithhereyes。

\'Itisdiplomatically，asImaysay，suchahighlycorrectthing——suchanexpedientthing——suchanobviousthingtoalleyes。\'

\'Notaltogethertomine，uncle，\'shereturned。

\'\'Twouldbeathousandpitiestoletslipsuchaneatofferofadjustingdifficultiesasaccidentmakesyouinthis。Youcouldmarrymoretin，that\'strue；butyoudon\'twantit，Paula。Youwantaname，andhistoricwhat-do-they-call-it。

Nowbycomingtotermswiththecaptainyou\'llbeLadyDeStancyinafewyears:andatitlewhichisuselesstohim，andafortuneandcastlewhichareinsomedegreeuselesstoyou，willmakeasplendidwholeusefultoyouboth。\'

\'I\'vethoughtitover——quite，\'sheanswered。\'AndIquiteseewhattheadvantagesare。ButhowifIdon\'tcareoneatomforartisticcompletenessandasplendidwhole；anddocareverymuchtodowhatmyfancyinclinesmetodo?\'

\'ThenIshouldsaythat，takingacomprehensiveviewofhumannatureofallcolours，yourfancyisaboutthesilliestfancyexistingonthisearthlyball。\'

Paulalaughedindifferently，andherunclefeltthat，persistentaswashisnature，hewasthewrongmantoinfluenceherbyargument。Paula\'sblindnesstotheadvantagesofthematch，ifshewereblind，wasthatofawomanwhowouldn\'tsee，andthebestargumentwassilence。

Thiswasinsomemeasureprovedthenextmorning。WhenPaulamadeherappearanceMrs。Goodmansaid，holdingupanenvelope:

\'Here\'saletterfromMr。Somerset。\'

\'Dearme，\'saidsheblandly，thoughaquicklittleflushascendedhercheek。\'Ihadnearlyforgottenhim!\'

Theletteronbeingreadcontainedarequestasbriefasitwasunexpected。Havingpreparedallthedrawingsnecessaryfortherebuilding，Somersetbeggedleavetoresignthesuperintendenceoftheworkintootherhands。

\'Hislettercapsyourremarksveryaptly，\'saidMrs。Goodman，withsecrettriumph。\'Youarenearlyforgettinghim，andheisquiteforgettingyou。\'

\'Yes，\'saidPaula，affectingcarelessness。\'Well，Imustgetsomebodyelse，Isuppose。\'

X。

TheynextdeviatedtoAmiens，intendingtostaythereonlyonenight；buttheirschemeswerederangedbythesuddenillnessofCharlotte。Shehadbeenlookingunwellforafortnightpast，though，withherusualself-abnegation，shehadmadelightofherailment。Evennowshedeclaredshecouldgoon；

butthiswassaidover-night，andinthemorningitwasabundantlyevidentthattomoveherwashighlyunadvisable。

Stillshewasnotinseriousdanger，andhavingcalledinaphysician，whopronouncedrestindispensable，theypreparedtoremainintheoldPicardcapitaltwoorthreeadditionaldays。

Mr。PowerthoughthewouldtakeadvantageofthehalttorunuptoParis，leavingDeStancyinchargeoftheladies。

InmorewaysthanintheillnessofCharlottethisdaywastheharbingerofacrisis。

Itwasasummereveningwithoutacloud。Charlottehadfallenasleepinherbed，andPaula，whohadbeensittingbyher，lookedoutintothePlaceSt。Denis，whichthehotelcommanded。Thelawnofthesquarewasallablazewithredandyellowclumpsofflowers，theacaciatreeswerebrightlygreen，thesunwassoftandlow。TemptedbytheprospectPaulawentandputonherhat；andarousingheraunt，whowasnoddinginthenextroom，torequesthertokeepanearonCharlotte\'sbedroom，PauladescendedintotheRuedeNoyonalone，andenteredthegreenenclosure。

Whileshewalkedround，twoorthreelittlechildreninchargeofanursetrundledalargevariegatedballalongthegrass，anditrolledtoPaula\'sfeet。Shesmiledatthem，andendeavouredtoreturnitbyaslightkick。Theballroseintheair，andpassingoverthebackofaseatwhichstoodunderoneofthetrees，alightedinthelapofagentlemanhithertoscreenedbyitsboughs。ThebackandshouldersprovedtobethoseofDeStancy。Heturnedhishead，jumpedup，andwasathersideinaninstant，anettledflushhavingmeanwhilecrossedPaula\'sface。

\'IthoughtyouhadgonetotheHotoiePromenade，\'shesaidhastily。\'Iamgoingtothecathedral；\'(obviouslyutteredlestitshouldseemthatshehadseenhimfromthehotelwindows，andenteredthesquareforhiscompany)。

\'Ofcourse:thereisnothingelsetogotohere——evenforRoundheads。\'

\'IfyoumeanMEbythat，youareverymuchmistaken，\'saidshetestily。

\'TheRoundheadswereyourancestors，andtheyknockeddownmyancestors\'castle，andbrokethestainedglassandstatuaryofthecathedral，\'saidDeStancyslily；\'andnowyougonotonlytoacathedral，buttoaserviceoftheunreformedChurchinit。\'

\'Inaforeigncountryitisdifferentfromhome，\'saidPaulainextenuation；\'andyouofallmenshouldnotreproachmefortergiversation——whenithasbeenbroughtaboutby——bymysympathieswith——\'

\'WiththetroublesoftheDeStancys。\'

\'Well，youknowwhatImean，\'sheanswered，withconsiderableanxietynottobemisunderstood；\'mylikingfortheoldcastle，andwhatitcontains，andwhatitsuggests。IdeclareIwillnotexplaintoyoufurther——whyshouldI?Iamnotanswerabletoyou!\'

Paula\'sshowofpetulancewasperhapsnotwhollybecauseshehadappearedtoseekhim，butalsofrombeingremindedbyhiscriticismthatMr。Woodwell\'sprophecyonherweaklysuccumbingtosurroundingswasslowlyworkingoutitsfulfilment。

Shemovedforwardtowardsthegateatthefurtherendofthesquare，beyondwhichthecathedrallayataveryshortdistance。Pauladidnotturnherhead，andDeStancystrolledslowlyafterherdowntheRueduCollege。Thedayhappenedtobeoneofthechurchfestivals，andpeoplewereasecondtimeflockingintotheloftymonumentofCatholicismatitsmeridian。Paulavanishedintotheporchwiththerest；and，almostcatchingthewicketasitflewbackfromherhand，hetooenteredthehigh-shoulderededifice——anedificedoomedtolabourunderthemelancholymisfortuneofseemingonlyhalfasvastasitreallyis，andastrulyaswhimsicallydescribedbyHeineasamonumentbuiltwiththestrengthofTitans，anddecoratedwiththepatienceofdwarfs。

DeStancywalkedupthenave，soclosebesideherastotouchherdress；butshewouldnotrecognizehispresence；thedarknessthateveninghadthrownovertheinterior，whichwasscarcelybrokenbythefewcandlesdottedabout，beingasufficientexcuseifsherequiredone。

\'MissPower，\'DeStancysaidatlast，\'Iamcomingtotheservicewithyou。\'

Shereceivedtheintelligencewithoutsurprise，andheknewshehadbeenconsciousofhimalltheway。

Paulawentnofurtherthanthemiddleofthenave，wheretherewashardlyasoul，andtookachairbesideasolitaryrushlightwhichlookedamidthevaguegloomoftheinaccessiblearchitecturelikealighthouseatthefootoftallcliffs。