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。
