Heputhishandonthenextchair，saying，'Doyouobject?'
　　'Notatall，'shereplied；andhesatdown。
　　'Supposewegointothechoir，'saidDeStancypresently。
　　'Nobodysitsouthereintheshadows。'
　　'Thisissufficientlynear，andwehaveacandle，'Paulamurmured。
　　Beforeanotherminutehadpassedthecandleflamebegantodrowninitsowngrease，slowlydwindled，andwentout。
　　'IsupposethatmeansIamtogointothechoirinspiteofmyself。Heavenisonyourside，'saidPaula。Andrisingtheylefttheirnowtotallydarkcorner，andjoinedthenoiselessshadowyfigureswhointwosandthreeskeptpassingupthenave。
　　Withinthechoirtherewasablazeoflight，partlyfromthealtar，andmoreparticularlyfromtheimageofthesaintwhomtheyhadassembledtohonour，whichstood，surroundedbycandlesandathicketoffloweringplants，somewayinadvanceofthefoot-pace。Asecondaryradiancefromthesamesourcewasreflectedupwardintotheirfacesbythepolishedmarblepavement，exceptwheninterruptedbytheshadyformsoftheofficiatingpriests。
　　Whenitwasoverandthepeopleweremovingoff，DeStancyandhiscompanionwenttowardsthesaint，nowbesiegedbynumbersofwomenanxioustoclaimtherespectiveflower-potstheyhadlentforthedecoration。Aseachstruggledforherown，seizedandmarchedoffwithit，Paularemarked——'Thisratherspoilsthesolemneffectofwhathasgonebefore。'
　　'IperceiveyouareaharshPuritan。'
　　'No，CaptainDeStancy!Whywillyouspeakso?Iamfartoomuchotherwise。Ihavegrowntobesomuchofyourwayofthinking，thatIaccusemyself，andamaccusedbyothers，ofbeingworldly，andhalf-and-half，andotherdreadfulthings——
　　thoughitisn'tthatatall。'
　　Theywerenowwalkingdownthenave，precededbythesombrefigureswiththepotflowers，whowerejustvisibleintheraysthatreachedthemthroughthedistantchoirscreenattheirback；whileabovethegreynightskyandstarslookedinuponthemthroughthehighclerestorywindows。
　　'DobealittleMOREofmywayofthinking!'rejoinedDeStancypassionately。
　　'Don't，don'tspeak，'shesaidrapidly。'ThereareMillyandChampreau!'
　　Millywasoneofthemaids，andChampreauthecourierandvaletwhohadbeenengagedbyAbnerPower。Theyhadbeensittingbehindtheotherpairthroughouttheservice，andindeedknewrathermoreoftherelationsbetweenPaulaandDeStancythanPaulaknewherself。
　　Hasteningonthetwolatterwentout，andwalkedtogethersilentlyuptheshortstreet。ThePlaceSt。Deniswasnowlitup，lightsshonefromthehotelwindows，andtheworldwithoutthecathedralhadsofaradvancedinnocturnalchangethatitseemedasiftheyhadbeengonefromitforhours。Withinthehoteltheyfoundthechangeevengreaterthanwithout。Mrs。
　　Goodmanmetthemhalf-wayonthestairs。
　　'PoorCharlotteisworse，'shesaid。'Quitefeverish，andalmostdelirious。'
　　Paulareproachedherselfwith'WhydidIgoaway!'
　　ThecommoninterestofDeStancyandPaulainthesuffereratoncereproducedaneasebetweenthemasnothingelsecouldhavedone。Thephysicianwasagaincalledin，whoprescribedcertaindraughts，andrecommendedthatsomeoneshouldsitupwithherthatnight。IfPaulaalloweddemonstrationsoflovetoescapehertowardsanybodyitwastowardsCharlotte，andherinstinctwasatoncetowatchbytheinvalid'scouchherself，atleastforsomehours，itbeingdeemedunnecessarytocallinaregularnurseunlesssheshouldsickenfurther。
　　'ButIwillsitwithher，'saidDeStancy。'Surelyyouhadbettergotobed?'Paulawouldnotbepersuaded；andthereuponDeStancy，sayinghewasgoingintothetownforashorttimebeforeretiring，lefttheroom。
　　Thelastomnibusreturnedfromthelasttrain，andtheinmatesofthehotelretiredtorest。MeanwhileatelegramhadarrivedforCaptainDeStancy；butashehadnotyetreturneditwasputinhisbedroom，withdirectionstothenight-portertoremindhimofitsarrival。
　　PaulasatonwiththesleepingCharlotte。Presentlysheretiredintotheadjacentsitting-roomwithabook，andflungherselfonacouch，leavingthedooropenbetweenherandhercharge，incasethelattershouldawake。WhileshesatanewbreathingseemedtominglewiththeregularsoundofCharlotte'sthatreachedherthroughthedoorway:sheturnedquickly，andsawherunclestandingbehindher。
　　'O——IthoughtyouwereinParis!'saidPaula。
　　'Ihavejustcomefromthere——Icouldnotstay。Somethinghasoccurredtomymindaboutthisaffair。'Hisstrangelymarkedvisage，nowmorenoticeablefrombeingwornwithfatigue，hadaspectraleffectbythenight-light。
　　'Whataffair?'
　　'Thismarriage……Paula，DeStancyisagoodfellowenough，butyoumustnotaccepthimjustyet。'
　　Pauladidnotanswer。
　　'Doyouhear?Youmustnotaccepthim，'repeatedheruncle，'tillIhavebeentoEnglandandexaminedintomatters。I
　　startinanhour'stime——bytheten-minutes-past-twotrain。'
　　'Thisissomethingverynew!'
　　'Yes——'tisnew，'hemurmured，relapsingintohisDutchmanner。
　　'Youmustnotaccepthimtillsomethingismadecleartome——
　　somethingaboutaqueerrelationship。IhavecomefromParistosayso。'
　　'Uncle，Idon'tunderstandthis。Iammyownmistressinallmatters，andthoughIdon'tmindtellingyouIhavebynomeansresolvedtoaccepthim，thequestionofhermarriageisespeciallyawoman'sownaffair。'
　　Herunclestoodirresoluteforamoment，asifhisconvictionsweremorethanhisproofs。'Isaynomoreatpresent，'hemurmured。'CanIdoanythingforyouaboutanewarchitect?'
　　'AppointHavill。'
　　'Verywell。Goodnight。'Andthenhelefther。InashorttimesheheardhimgodownandoutofthehousetocrosstoEnglandbythemorningsteamboat。
　　Withalittleshrug，asifsheresentedhisinterferenceinsodelicateapoint，shesettledherselfdownanewtoherbook。
　　One，two，threehourspassed，whenCharlotteawoke，butsoonslumberedsweetlyagain。Millyhadstayedupforsometimelesthermistressshouldrequireanything；butthegirlbeingsleepyPaulasenthertobed。
　　Itwasalovelynightofearlysummer，anddrawingasidethewindowcurtainsshelookedoutupontheflowersandtreesofthePlace，nowquitevisible，foritwasnearlythreeo'clock，andthemorninglightwasgrowingstrong。Sheturnedherfaceupwards。Exceptinthecaseofonebedroomallthewindowsonthatsideofthehotelwereindarkness。Theroombeingratherclosesheleftthecasementajar，andopeningthedoorwalkedoutuponthestaircaselanding。Anumberofcagedcanarieswerekepthere，andsheobservedinthedimlightofthelandinglamphowsnuglytheirheadswerealltuckedin。
　　Onreturningtothesitting-roomagainshecouldhearthatCharlottewasstillslumbering，andthisencouragingcircumstancedisposedhertogotobedherself。Before，however，shehadmadeamoveagentletapcametothedoor。
　　Paulaopenedit。There，inthefaintlightbythesleepingcanaries，stoodCharlotte'sbrother。
　　'Howisshenow?'hewhispered。
　　'Sleepingsoundly，'saidPaula。
　　'That'sablessing。Ihavenotbeentobed。Icameinlate，andhavenowcomedowntoknowifIhadnotbettertakeyourplace?'
　　'Nobodyisrequired，Ithink。Butyoucanjudgeforyourself。'
　　Uptothispointtheyhadconversedinthedoorwayofthesitting-room，whichDeStancynowentered，crossingittoCharlotte'sapartment。Hecameoutfromthelatteratapensivepace。
　　'Sheisdoingwell，'hesaidgently。'Youhavebeenverygoodtoher。WasthechairIsawbyherbedtheoneyouhavebeensittinginallnight?'
　　'Isometimessatthere；sometimeshere。'
　　'IwishIcouldhavesatbesideyou，andheldyourhand——I
　　speakfrankly。'
　　'Toexcess。'
　　'Andwhynot?Idonotwishtohidefromyouanycornerofmybreast，futileascandourmaybe。JustHeaven!forwhatreasonisitorderedthatcourtship，inwhichsoldiersareusuallysosuccessful，shouldbeafailurewithme?'
　　'Yourlackofforesightchieflyinindulgingfeelingsthatwerenotencouraged。That，andmyuncle'sindiscreetpermissiontoyoutotravelwithus，haveprecipitatedourrelationsinawaythatIcouldneitherforeseenoravoid，thoughoflateIhavehadapprehensionsthatitmightcometothis。Youvexanddisturbmebysuchwordsofregret。'
　　'Notmorethanyouvexanddisturbme。Butyoucannothatethemanwholovesyousodevotedly?'
　　'IhavesaidbeforeIdon'thateyou。IrepeatthatIaminterestedinyourfamilyanditsassociationsbecauseofitscompletecontrastwithmyown。'Shemighthaveadded，'AndI
　　amadditionallyinterestedjustnowbecausemyunclehasforbiddenmetobe。'
　　'Butyoudon'tcareenoughformepersonallytosavemyhappiness。'
　　Paulahesitated；fromthemomentDeStancyconfrontedhershehadfeltthatthisnocturnalconversationwastobeagravebusiness。Thecathedralclockstruckthree。'Ihavethoughtonceortwice，'shesaidwithanaiveteunusualinher，'thatifIcouldbesureofgivingpeaceandjoytoyourmindbybecomingyourwife，Ioughttoendeavourtodosoandmakethebestofit——merelyasacharity。ButIbelievethatfeelingisamistake:yourdiscontentisconstitutional，andwouldgoonjustthesamewhetherIacceptedyouorno。Myrefusalofyouispurelyanimaginarygrievance。'
　　'NotifIthinkotherwise。'
　　'Ono，'shemurmured，withasensethattheplacewasverylonelyandsilent。'Ifyouthinkitotherwise，Isupposeitisotherwise。'
　　'Mydarling；myPaula!'hesaid，seizingherhand。'Dopromisemesomething。Youmustindeed!'
　　'CaptainDeStancy!'shesaid，tremblingandturningaway。
　　'CaptainDeStancy!'Shetriedtowithdrawherfingers，thenfacedhim，exclaiminginafirmvoiceathirdtime，'CaptainDeStancy!letgomyhand；forItellyouIwillnotmarryyou!'
　　'GoodGod!'hecried，droppingherhand。'WhathaveIdrivenyoutosayinyouranger!Retractit——O，retractit!'
　　'Don'turgemefurther，asyouvaluemygoodopinion!'
　　'Toloseyounow，istoloseyouforever。Come，pleaseanswer!'
　　'Iwon'tbecompelled!'sheinterruptedwithvehemence。'Iamresolvednottobeyours——nottogiveyouananswerto-night!
　　Never，neverwillIbereasonedoutofmyintention；andIsayIwon'tansweryouto-night!Ishouldneverhaveletyoubesomuchwithmebutforpityofyou；andnowitiscometothis!'
　　Shehadsunkintoachair，andnowleaneduponherhand，andburiedherfaceinherhandkerchief。Hehadnevercausedheranysuchagitationasthisbefore。
　　'Youstabmewithyourwords，'continuedDeStancy。'TheexperienceIhavehadwithyouiswithoutparallel，Paula。Itseemslikeadistractingdream。'
　　'Iwon'tbehurriedbyanybody!'
　　'Thatmaymeananything，'hesaid，withaperplexed，passionateair。'Well，mineisafallenfamily，andwemustabidecaprices。WouldtoHeavenitwereextinguished!'
　　'Whatwasextinguished?'shemurmured。
　　'TheDeStancys。HereamI，ahomelesswanderer，livingonmypay；inthenextroomliesshe，mysister，apoorlittlefragilefeverishinvalidwithnosocialposition——andhardlyafriend。WetworepresenttheDeStancyline；andIwishwewerebehindtheirondoorofouroldvaultatSleeping-Green。
　　Itcanbeseenbylookingatusandourcircumstancesthatwecryfortheearthandoblivion!'
　　'CaptainDeStancy，itisnotlikethat，Iassureyou，'
　　sympathizedPaulawithdampeyelashes。'IloveCharlottetoodearlyforyoutotalklikethat，indeed。Idon'twanttomarryyouexactly:andyetIcannotbringmyselftosayI
　　permanentlyrejectyou，becauseIrememberyouareCharlotte'sbrother，anddonotwishtobethecauseofanymorbidfeelingsinyouwhichwouldruinyourfutureprospects。'
　　'Mydearlife，whatisityoudoubtinme?Yourearnestnessnottodomeharmmakesitalltheharderformetothinkofneverbeingmorethanafriend。'
　　'Well，Ihavenotpositivelyrefused!'sheexclaimed，inmixedtonesofpityanddistress。'Letmethinkitoveralittlewhile。ItisnotgeneroustourgesostronglybeforeIcancollectmythoughts，andatthismidnighttime!'
　　'Darling，forgiveit!——There，I'llsaynomore。'
　　Hethenofferedtositupinherplacefortheremainderofthenight；butPauladeclined，assuringhimthatshemeanttostayonlyanotherhalf-hour，afterwhichnobodywouldbenecessary。
　　Hehadalreadycrossedthelandingtoascendtohisroom，whenshesteppedafterhim，andaskedifhehadreceivedhistelegram。
　　'No，'saidDeStancy。'NorhaveIheardofone。'
　　Paulaexplainedthatitwasputinhisroom，thathemightseeitthemomenthecamein。
　　'Itmattersverylittle，'hereplied，'sinceIshallseeitnow。Good-night，dearest:good-night!'headdedtenderly。
　　Shegravelyshookherhead。'Itisnotforyoutoexpressyourselflikethat，'sheanswered。'Good-night，CaptainDeStancy。'
　　Hewentupthestairstothesecondfloor，andPaulareturnedtothesitting-room。HavingleftalightburningDeStancyproceededtolookforthetelegram，andfounditonthecarpet，whereithadbeensweptfromthetable。Whenhehadopenedthesheetasuddensolemnityoverspreadhisface。Hesatdown，restedhiselbowonthetable，andhisforeheadonhishands。
　　CaptainDeStancydidnotremainthuslong。Risinghewentsoftlydownstairs。Thegreymorninghadbythistimecreptintothehotel，renderingalightnolongernecessary。Theoldclockonthelandingwaswithinafewminutesoffour，andthebirdswerehoppingupanddowntheircages，andwhettingtheirbills。Hetappedatthesitting-room，andshecameinstantly。
　　'ButItoldyouitwasnotnecessary——'shebegan。
　　'Yes，butthetelegram，'hesaidhurriedly。'Iwantedtoletyouknowfirstthat——itisveryserious。Paula——myfatherisdead!Hediedsuddenlyyesterday，andImustgoatonce……AboutCharlotte——andhowtoletherknow——'
　　'Shemustnotbetoldyet，'saidPaula……'SirWilliamdead!'
　　'Youthinkwehadbetternottellherjustyet?'saidDeStancyanxiously。'That'swhatIwanttoconsultyouabout，ifyou——don'tmindmyintruding。'
　　'CertainlyIdon't，'shesaid。
　　Theycontinuedthediscussionforsometime；anditwasdecidedthatCharlotteshouldnotbeinformedofwhathadhappenedtillthedoctorhadbeenconsulted，Paulapromisingtoaccountforherbrother'sdeparture。
　　DeStancythenpreparedtoleaveforEnglandbythefirstmorningtrain，androusedthenight-porter，whichfunctionary，havingpackedoffAbnerPower，wasdiscoveredasleeponthesofaofthelandlord'sparlour。Athalf-pastfivePaula，whointheinterimhadbeenpensivelysittingwithherhandtoherchin，quiteforgettingthatshehadmeanttogotobed，heardwheelswithout，andlookedfromthewindow。Aflyhadbeenbroughtround，andoneofthehotelservantswasintheactofputtingupaportmanteauwithDeStancy'sinitialsuponit。A
　　minuteafterwardsthecaptaincametoherdoor。
　　'Ithoughtyouhadnotgonetobed，afterall。'
　　'Iwasanxioustoseeyouoff，'saidshe，'sinceneitheroftheothersisawake；andyouwishedmenottorousethem。'
　　'Quiteright，youareverygood；'andloweringhisvoice:
　　'Paula，itisasadandsolemntimewithme。Willyougrantmeoneword——notonourlastsadsubject，butonthepreviousone——beforeIpartwithyoutogoandburymyfather?'
　　'Certainly，'shesaid，ingentleaccents。
　　'Thenhaveyouthoughtovermyposition?Willyouatlasthavepityuponmylonelinessbybecomingmywife?'
　　Paulasigheddeeply；andsaid，'Yes。'
　　'Yourhanduponit。'
　　Shegavehimherhand:hehelditafewmoments，thenraisedittohislips，andwasgone。
　　WhenMrs。GoodmanroseshewasinformedofSirWilliam'sdeath，andofhisson'sdeparture。
　　'ThenthecaptainisnowSirWilliamDeStancy!'sheexclaimed。'Really，Paula，sinceyouwouldbeLadyDeStancybymarryinghim，Ialmostthink——'
　　'Hush，aunt!'
　　'Well；whatareyouwritingthere?'
　　'OnlyenteringinmydiarythatIacceptedhimthismorningforpity'ssake，inspiteofUncleAbner。They'llsayitwasforthetitle，butknowingitwasnotIdon'tcare。'
　　XI。
　　OntheeveningofthefourthdayafterthepartingbetweenPaulaandDeStancyatAmiens，whenitwasquitedarkintheMarktonhighway，exceptinsofarastheshadeswerebrokenbythefaintlightsfromtheadjacenttown，ayoungmanknockedsoftlyatthedoorofMyrtleVilla，andaskedifCaptainDeStancyhadarrivedfromabroad。Hewasansweredintheaffirmative，andinafewmomentsthecaptainhimselfcamefromanadjoiningroom。
　　SeeingthathisvisitorwasDare，fromwhom，aswillberemembered，hehadpartedatCarlsruheinnoverysatisfiedmood，DeStancydidnotaskhimintothehouse，butputtingonhishatwentoutwiththeyouthintothepublicroad。Heretheyconversedastheywalkedupanddown，DarebeginningbyalludingtothedeathofSirWilliam，thesuddennessofwhichhefearedwoulddelayCaptainDeStancy'soverturesforthehandofMissPower。
　　'No，'saidDeStancymoodily。'Onthecontrary，ithasprecipitatedmatters。'
　　'Shehasacceptedyou，captain?'
　　'Weareengagedtobemarried。'
　　'Welldone。Icongratulateyou。'Thespeakerwasabouttoproceedtofurthertriumphantnotesontheintelligence，whencastinghiseyeupontheupperwindowsoftheneighbouringvilla，heappearedtoreflectonwhatwaswithinthem，andcheckinghimself，'Whenisthefuneraltobe?'
　　'To-morrow，'DeStancyreplied。'Itwouldbeadvisableforyounottocomenearmeduringtheday。'
　　'Iwillnot。Iwillbeamerespectator。Theoldvaultofourancestorswillbeopened，Ipresume，captain?'
　　'Itisopened。'
　　'Imustseeit——andruminateonwhatweoncewere:itisathingIlikedoing。Theghostsofourdead——Ah，whatwasthat?'
　　'Iheardnothing。'
　　'IthoughtIheardafootstepbehindus。'
　　Theystoodstill；buttheroadappearedtobequitedeserted，andlikelytocontinuesofortheremainderofthatevening。
　　Theywalkedonagain，speakinginsomewhatlowertonesthanbefore。
　　'WillthelateSirWilliam'sdeathdelaytheweddingmuch?'
　　askedtheyoungermancuriously。
　　DeStancylanguidlyansweredthathedidnotseewhyitshoulddoso。Somelittletimewouldofcourseintervene，but，sincetherewereseveralreasonsfordespatch，heshouldurgeMissPowerandherrelativestoconsenttoavirtuallyprivateweddingwhichmighttakeplaceataveryearlydate；andhethoughttherewouldbeageneralconsentonthatpoint。
　　'Thereareindeedreasonsfordespatch。Yourtitle，SirWilliam，isanewsafeguardoverherheart，certainly；butthereismanyaslip，andyoumustnotlosehernow。'
　　'Idon'tmeantoloseher!'saidDeStancy。'Sheistoogoodtobelost。Andyet——sinceshegaveherpromiseIhavefeltmorethanoncethatIwouldnotengageinsuchastruggleagain。Itwasnotathingofmybeginning，thoughIwaseasilyenoughinflamedtofollow。ButIwillnotlosehernow——ForGod'ssake，keepthatsecretyouhavesofoolishlyprickedonyourbreast。Itfillsmewithremorsetothinkwhatshewithherscrupulousnotionswillfeel，shouldsheeverknowofyouandyourhistory，andyourrelationtome!'
　　Daremadenoreplytillafterasilence，whenhesaid，'Ofcoursemum'sthewordtilltheweddingisover。'
　　'Andafterwards——promisethatforhersake?'
　　'Andprobablyafterwards。'
　　SirWilliamDeStancydrewadejectedbreathatthetoneoftheanswer。Theyconversedbutalittlewhilelonger，thecaptainhintingtoDarethatitwastimeforthemtopart；
　　not，however，beforehehadutteredahopethattheyoungmanwouldturnoveranewleafandengageinsomeregularpursuit。
　　PromisingtocalluponhimathislodgingsDeStancywentindoors，andDarebrisklyretracedhisstepstoMarkton。
　　Whenhisfootfallhaddiedaway，andthedoorofthehouseoppositehadbeenclosed，anothermanappeareduponthescene。
　　HecamegentlyoutofthehedgeoppositeMyrtleVilla，whichhepausedtoregardforamoment。Butinsteadofgoingtownward，heturnedhisbackuponthedistantsprinkleoflights，anddidnotcheckhiswalktillhereachedthelodgeofStancyCastle。
　　Herehepulledthewoodenacornbesidethearch，andwhentheporterappearedhislightrevealedthepedestrian'scountenancetobescathed，asbylightning。
　　'Ibegyourpardon，Mr。Power，'saidtheporterwithsuddendeferenceasheopenedthewicket。'Butwewasn'texpectinganybodyto-night，asthereisnobodyathome，andtheservantsonboardwages；andthat'swhyIwassolonga-coming。'
　　'Nomatter，nomatter，'saidAbnerPower。'Ihavereturnedonsuddenbusiness，andhavenotcometostaylongerthanto-
　　night。Yourmistressisnotwithme。ImeanttosleepinMarkton，buthavechangedmymind。'
　　Mr。Powerhadbroughtnoluggagewithhimbeyondasmallhand-
　　bag，andassoonasaroomcouldbegotreadyheretiredtobed。
　　Thenextmorninghepassedinidlywalkingaboutthegroundsandobservingtheprogresswhichhadbeenmadeintheworks——
　　nowtemporarilysuspended。Butthatinspectionwaslesshisobjectinremainingtherethanmeditation，wasabundantlyevident。WhenthebellbegantotollfromtheneighbouringchurchtoannouncetheburialofSirWilliamDeStancy，hepassedthroughthecastle，andwentonfootinthedirectionindicatedbythesound。Reachingthemarginofthechurchyardhelookedoverthewall，hispresencebeingmaskedbybushesandagroupofidlersfromMarktonwhostoodinfront。Soonafuneralprocessionofsimple——almostmeagreandthreadbare——
　　characterarrived，butPowerdidnotjointhepeoplewhofollowedthedeceasedintothechurch。DeStancywasthechiefmournerandonlyrelationpresent，theotherfollowersofthebroken-downoldmanbeinganancientlawyer，acoupleoffaithfulservants，andabowedvillagerwhohadbeenpagetothelateSirWilliam'sfather——thesinglelivingpersonleftintheparishwhorememberedtheDeStancysaspeopleofwealthandinfluence，andwhofirmlybelievedthatfamilywouldcomeintoitsrightserelong，andousttheuncircumcizedPhilistineswhohadtakenpossessionoftheoldlands。
　　Thefuneralwasover，andtherustycarriageshadgone，togetherwithmanyofthespectators；butPowerlingeredinthechurchyardasifhewerelookingforsomeone。Atlengthheenteredthechurch，passingbythecavernouspitfallwithdescendingstepswhichstoodopenoutsidethewalloftheDeStancyaisle。Arrivedwithinhescannedthefewidlersofantiquariantasteswhohadremainedaftertheservicetoinspectthemonuments；andbesidearecumbenteffigy——theeffigyinalabasterwhosefeaturesPaulahadwipedwithherhandkerchiefwhentherewithSomerset——hebeheldthemanithadbeenhisbusinesstofind。AbnerPowerwentupandtouchedthisperson，whowasDare，ontheshoulder。
　　'Mr。Power——soitis!'saidtheyouth。'IhavenotseenyousincewemetinCarlsruhe。'
　　'Youshallseeallthemoreofmenowtomakeupforit。
　　Shallwewalkroundthechurch?'
　　'Withallmyheart，'saidDare。
　　Theywalkedround；andAbnerPowerbeganinasardonicrecitative:'Iamatraveller，andittakesagooddealtoastonishme。SoIneitherswoonednorscreamedwhenIlearntafewhoursagowhatIhadsuspectedforaweek，thatyouareofthehouseandlineageofJacob。'Heflunganodtowardsthecanopiedtombsashespoke——'Inotherwords，thatyouareofthesamebreedastheDeStancys。'
　　Darecursorilyglancedround。Nobodywasnearenoughtoheartheirwords，thenearestpersonsbeingtwoworkmenjustoutside，whowerebringingtheirtoolsupfromthevaultpreparativelytoclosingit。
　　HavingobservedthisDarereplied，'I，too，amatraveller；
　　andneitherdoIswoonnorscreamatwhatyousay。ButI
　　assureyouthatifyoubusyyourselfaboutme，youmaytrulybesaidtobusyyourselfaboutnothing。'
　　'Well，that'samatterofopinion。Now，there'snoscarletleftinmyfacetoblushformen'sfollies；butasanallianceisafootbetweenmynieceandthepresentSirWilliam，thismustbelookedinto。'
　　Darereflectivelysaid'O，'asheobservedthroughthewindowoneoftheworkmenbringupacandlefromthevaultandextinguishitwithhisfingers。
　　'Themarriageisdesirable，andyourrelationshipinitselfisofnoconsequence，'continuedtheelder，'butjustlookatthis。Youhaveforcedonthemarriagebyunscrupulousmeans，yourobjectbeingonlytooclearlytoliveoutoftheproceedsofthatmarriage。'
　　'Mr。Power，youmockme，becauseIlabourunderthemisfortuneofhavinganillegitimatefathertoprovidefor。Ireallydeservecommiseration。'
　　'Youmightdeserveitifthatwereall。Butitlooksbadformyniece'shappinessasLadyDeStancy，thatsheandherhusbandaretobeperpetuallyhauntedbyayoungchevalierd'industrie，whocanforgeatelegramonoccasion，andlibelaninnocentmanbyaningeniousdeviceinphotography。Itlookssobad，inshort，that，advantageousasatitleandoldfamilynamewouldbetoherandherchildren，Iwon'tletmybrother'sdaughterruntheriskofhavingthemattheexpenseofbeinginthegripofamanlikeyou。Thereareothersuitorsintheworld，andothertitles:andsheisabeautifulwoman，whocanwellaffordtobefastidious。I
　　shallletherknowatonceofthesethings，andbreakoffthebusiness——unlessyoudoONETHING。'
　　Aworkmanbroughtupanothercandlefromthevault，andpreparedtoletdowntheslab。'Well，Mr。Power，andwhatisthatonething?'
　　'GotoPeruasmyagentinabusinessIhavejustundertakenthere。'
　　'Andsettlethere?'
　　'Ofcourse。Iamsoongoingovermyself，andwillbringyouanythingyourequire。'
　　'Howlongwillyougivemetoconsider?'saidDare。
　　Powerlookedathiswatch。'One，two，three，fourhours，'hesaid。'IleaveMarktonbytheseveno'clocktrainthisevening。'
　　'AndifImeetyourproposalwithanegative?'
　　'Ishallgoatoncetomynieceandtellherthewholecircumstances——tellherthat，bymarryingSirWilliam，shealliesherselfwithanunhappygentlemaninthepowerofacriminalsonwhomakeshislifeaburdentohimbyperpetualdemandsuponhispurse；whowillincreasethosedemandswithhisaccessiontowealth，threatentodegradeherbyexposingherhusband'santecedentsifsheopposeshisextortions，andwhowillmakehermiserablebylettingherknowthatheroldloverwasshamefullyvictimizedbyayouthsheisboundtoscreenoutofrespecttoherhusband'sfeelings。Nowamandoesnotcaretolethisownfleshandbloodincurthedangerofsuchanguishasthat，andIshalldowhatIsaytopreventit。KnowingwhatalukewarmsentimenthersisforSirWilliamatbest，Ishallnothavemuchdifficulty。'
　　'Well，Idon'tfeelinclinedtogotoPeru。'
　　'NeitherdoIwanttobreakoffthematch，thoughIamreadytodoit。Butyoucareaboutyourpersonalfreedom，andyoumightbemadetowearthebroadarrowforyourtricksonSomerset。'
　　'Mr。Power，Iseeyouareahardman。'
　　'Iamahardman。Youwillfindmeone。Well，willyougotoPeru?OrIdon'tmindAustraliaorCaliforniaasalternatives。Aslongasyouchoosetoremainineitherofthosewealth-producingplaces，solongwillCunninghamHazegouninformed。'
　　'Mr。Power，Iamovercome。Willyouallowmetositdown?
　　Supposewegointothevestry。Itismorecomfortable。'
　　Theyenteredthevestry，andseatedthemselvesintwochairs，oneateachendofthetable。
　　'Inthemeantime，'continuedDare，'tolendalittleromancetosternrealities，I'lltellyouasingulardreamIhadjustbeforeyoureturnedtoEngland。'Powerlookedcontemptuous，butDarewenton:'Idreamtthatonceuponatimethereweretwobrothers，bornofaNonconformistfamily，oneofwhombecamearailway-contractor，andtheotheramechanicalengineer。'
　　'Amechanicalengineer——good，'saidPower，beginningtoattend。
　　'Whenthefirstwentabroadinhisprofession，andbecameengagedoncontinentalrailways，thesecond，ayoungerman，lookingroundforastart，alsobetookhimselftothecontinent。Butthoughingeniousandscientific，hehadnotthebusinesscapacityoftheelder，whoserebukesledtoasharpquarrelbetweenthem；andtheypartedinbitterestrangement——nevertomeetagainasitturnedout，owingtothedoggedobstinacyandself-willoftheyoungerman。He，afterthis，seemedtolosehismoralballastaltogether，andaftersomeeccentricdoingshewasreducedtoastateofpoverty，andtooklodgingsinacourtinabackstreetofatownwewillcallGeneva，considerablyindoubtastowhatstepsheshouldtaketokeepbodyandsoultogether。'
　　AbnerPowerwasshootinganarrowrayofeyesightatDarefromthecornerofhisnearlyclosedlids。'Yourdreamissointeresting，'hesaid，withahardsmile，'thatIcouldlistentoitallday。'
　　'Excellent!'saidDare，andwenton:'Nowitsohappenedthatthehouseoppositetotheonetakenbythemechanicianwaspeculiar。Itwasatallnarrowbuilding，whollyunornamented，thewallscoveredwithalayerofwhiteplastercrackedandsoiledbytime。Iseemtoseethathousenow!Sixstonestepsleduptothedoor，witharustyironrailingoneachside，andunderthesestepswereotherswhichwentdowntoacellar——inmydreamofcourse。'
　　'Ofcourse——inyourdream，'saidPower，noddingcomprehensively。
　　'Sittinglonelyandapatheticwithoutalight，athisownchamber-windowatnighttime，ourmechanicianfrequentlyobserveddarkfiguresdescendingthesestepsandultimatelydiscoveredthatthehousewasthemeeting-placeofafraternityofpoliticalphilosophers，whoseobjectwastheexterminationoftyrantsanddespots，andtheoverthrowofestablishedreligions。Thediscoverywasstartlingenough，butourherowasnoteasilystartled。Hekepttheirsecretandlivedonasbefore。Atlastthemechanicianandhisaffairsbecameknowntothesociety，astheaffairsofthesocietyhadbecomeknowntothemechanician，and，insteadofshootinghimasonewhoknewtoomuchfortheirsafety，theywerestruckwithhisfacultyforsilence，andthoughttheymightbeabletomakeuseofhim。'
　　'Tobesure，'saidAbnerPower。
　　'Next，likefriendBunyan，Isawinmydreamthatdenunciationwasthebreathoflifetothissociety。Atanearlierdateinitshistory，objectionablepersonsinpowerhadbeenfromtimetotimemurdered，andcuriouslyenoughnumbered；thatis，uponthebodyofeachwassetamarkorseal，announcingthathewasoneofaseries。Butatthistimethequestionbeforethesocietyrelatedtothesubstitutionforthedagger，whichwasvetoedasobsolete，ofsomeexplosivemachinethatwouldbebothmoreeffectualandlessdifficulttomanage；andinshort，alargerewardwasofferedtoourneedyEnglishmanifhewouldputtheirideasofsuchamachineintoshape。'
　　AbnerPowernoddedagain，hiscomplexionbeingpeculiar——whichmightpartlyhavebeenaccountedforbythereflectionofwindow-lightfromthegreen-baizetable-cloth。
　　'Heagreed，thoughnopoliticianwhateverhimself，toexercisehiswitsontheiraccount，andbroughthismachinetosuchapitchofperfection，thatitwastheidenticaloneusedinthememorableattempt——'Darewhisperedtheremainderofthesentenceintonessolowthatnotamouseinthecornercouldhaveheard。'Well，theinventorofthatexplosivehasnaturallybeenwantedeversincebyalltheheadsofpoliceinEurope。Butthemostcurious——orperhapsthemostnaturalpartofmystoryis，thatourhero，afterthecatastrophe，grewdisgustedwithhimselfandhiscomrades，acquired，inafitofrevulsion，quiteaconservativetasteinpolitics，whichwasstrengthenedgreatlybythenewsheindirectlyreceivedofthegreatwealthandrespectabilityofhisbrother，whohadhadnocommunionwithhimforyears，andsupposedhimdead。Heabjuredhisemployersandresolvedtoabandonthem；butbeforecomingtoEnglandhedecidedtodestroyalltraceofhiscombustibleinventionsbydroppingthemintotheneighbouringlakeatnightfromaboat。Youfeeltheroomclose，Mr。Power?'
　　'No，IsufferfromattacksofperspirationwheneverIsitinaconsecratededifice——that'sall。Praygoon。'
　　'Incarryingoutthisproject，anexplosionoccurred，justashewasthrowingthestockoverboard——itblewupintohisface，woundinghimseverely，andnearlydeprivinghimofsight。Theboatwasupset，butheswamashoreinthedarkness，andremainedhiddentillherecovered，thoughthescarsproducedbytheburnshadbeensetonhimforever。Thisaccident，whichwassuchamisfortunetohimasaman，wasanadvantagetohimasaconspirators'engineerretiringfrompractice，andaffordedhimadisguisebothfromhisownbrotherhoodandfromthepolice，whichhehasconsideredimpenetrable，butwhichisgettingseenthroughbyoneortwokeeneyesastimegoeson。
　　InsteadofcomingtoEnglandjustthen，hewenttoPeru，connectedhimselfwiththeguanotrade，Ibelieve，andafterhisbrother'sdeathrevisitedEngland，hisoldlifeobliteratedasfaraspracticablebyhisnewprinciples。Heisknownonlyasagreattravellertohissurvivingrelatives，thoughheseldomsayswherehehastravelled。Unluckilyforhimself，heisWANTEDbycertainEuropeangovernmentsasbadlyasever。'
　　Dareraisedhiseyesasheconcludedhisnarration。Ashasbeenremarked，hewassittingatoneendofthevestry-table，Powerattheother，thegreenclothstretchingbetweenthem。
　　OntheedgeofthetableadjoiningMr。Powerashiningnozzleofmetalwasquietlyresting，likeadog'snose。Itwasdirectedpoint-blankattheyoungman。
　　Darestarted。'Ah——arevolver?'hesaid。
　　Mr。Powernoddedplacidly，hishandstillgraspingthepistolbehindtheedgeofthetable。'AsatravellerIalwayscarryoneof'em，'hereturned；'andforthelastfiveminutesI
　　havebeencloselyconsideringwhetheryournumerousbrainsareworthblowingoutorno。Thevaultyonderhassuggesteditselfasconvenientandsnugforoneofthesamefamily；butthementalproblemthatstaysmyhandis，howamItodespatchandburyyoutherewithouttheworkmenseeing?'
　　''Tisastrangeproblem，certainly，'repliedDare，'andoneonwhichIfearIcouldnotgivedisinterestedadvice。Moreover，whileyou，asatraveller，alwayscarryaweaponofdefence，asatravellersodoI。Andforthelastthree-quartersofanhourIhavebeenthinkingconcerningyou，anintensifiedformofwhatyouhavebeenthinkingofme，butwithoutanyconcernastoyourinterment。Seehereforaproofofit。'Andasecondsteelnoserestedontheedgeofthetableoppositetothefirst，steadiedbyDare'srighthand。
　　Theyremainedforsometimemotionless，thetickofthetowerclockdistinctlyaudible。
　　Mr。Powerspokefirst。
　　'Well，'twouldbeapitytomakeamesshereundersuchdubiouscircumstances。Mr。Dare，Iperceivethatameanvagabondcanbeassharpasapoliticalregenerator。Icryquits，ifyoucaretodothesame?'