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。
