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，'hecontinuedhisthoughtsapparentlyfarawayfromtherainandthewindandthepossibilityofshelter，'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。