exclaimedtheniecewithsuppressedexcitement。'Hewouldscarcelysayanythingbutyesandno，andgavemenochanceatallofintroducingthesubject。Iwantedtoexplain——Icameallthewayonpurpose——IwouldhavebeggedGeorge'spardononmytwokneesiftherehadbeenanywayofbeginning；buttherewasnot，andIcouldnotdoit!'
　　Thoughshesleptbadlythatnight，Paulapromptlyappearedinthepublicroomtobreakfast，andthatnotfrommotivesofvanity；for，whilenotunconsciousofheraccessiontotheunstablethroneofqueen-beautyintheestablishment，sheseemedtoopreoccupiedtocareforthehonourjustthen，andwouldreadilyhavechangedplaceswithherunhappypredecessor，wholingeredoninthebackgroundlikeacandleaftersunrise。
　　Mrs。GoodmanwasdeterminedtotrustnolongertoPaulaforputtinganendtowhatmadehersorestlessandself-
　　reproachful。SeeingoldMr。Somersetentertoalittleside-
　　tablebehindforlackofroomatthecrowdedcentretables，againwithouthisson，sheturnedherheadandaskedpoint-
　　blankwheretheyoungmanwas。
　　Mr。Somerset'sfacebecameashadegraverthanbefore。'Mysonisunwell，'hereplied；'sounwellthathehasbeenadvisedtostayindoorsandtakeperfectrest。'
　　'Idohopeitisnothingserious。'
　　'Ihopesotoo。Thefactis，hehasoverdonehimselfalittle。Hewasnotwellwhenhecamehere；andtomakehimselfworsehemustneedsgodancingattheCasinowiththisladyandthat——amongotherswithayoungAmericanladywhoisherewithherfamily，andwhomhemetinLondonlastyear。I
　　advisedhimagainstit，butheseemeddesperatelydeterminedtoshakeofflethargybyanyrashmeans，andwouldn'tlistentome。Luckilyheisnotinthehotel，butinaquietcottageahundredyardsupthehill。'
　　Paula，whohadheardall，didnotshoworsaywhatshefeltatthenews:butafterbreakfast，onmeetingthelandladyinapassagealone，sheaskedwithsomeanxietyiftherewereareallyskilfulmedicalmaninEtretat；andonbeingtoldthattherewas，andhisname，shewentbacktolookforMr。
　　Somerset；buthehadgone。
　　TheyheardnothingmoreofyoungSomersetallthatmorning，buttowardsevening，whilePaulasatatherwindow，lookingovertheheadsoffuchsiasuponthepromenadebeyond，shesawthepainterwalkby。SheimmediatelywenttoherauntandbeggedhertogooutandaskMr。Somersetifhissonhadimproved。
　　'IwillsendMillyorClementine，'saidMrs。Goodman。
　　'Iwishyouwouldseehimyourself。'
　　'Hehasgoneon。Ishallneverfindhim。'
　　'Hehasonlygoneroundtothefront，'persistedPaula。'Dowalkthatway，auntie，andaskhim。'
　　Thuspressed，Mrs。Goodmanacquiesced，andbroughtbackintelligencetoMissPower，whohadwatchedthemthroughthewindow，thathissondidnotpositivelyimprove，butthathisAmericanfriendswereverykindtohim。
　　Havingmadeuseofheraunt，Paulaseemedparticularlyanxioustogetridofheragain，andwhenthatladysatdowntowriteletters，Paulawenttoherownroom，hastilydressedherselfwithoutassistance，askedprivatelythewaytothecottage，andwentoffthitherwardunobserved。
　　Attheupperendofthelaneshesawalittlehouseansweringtothedescription，whosefrontgarden，window-sills，palings，anddoorstepwereliterallyablazewithnasturtiumsinbloom。
　　Sheenteredthisinhabitednosegay，quietlyaskedfortheinvalid，andifhewerewellenoughtoseeMissPower。Thewomanofthehousesoonreturned，andshewasconductedupacrookedstaircasetoSomerset'smodestapartments。Itappearedthatsomeroomsinthisdwellinghadbeenfurnishedbythelandladyoftheinn，whohiredthemofthetenantduringthesummerseasontouseasanannexetothehotel。
　　Admittedtotheouterroomshebeheldherarchitectlookingasunarchitecturalaspossible；lyingonasmallcouchwhichwasdrawnuptotheopencasement，whencehehadabackviewofthewindowflowers，andenjoyedagreentransparencythroughtheundersidesofthesamenasturtiumleavesthatpresentedtheirfacestothepasserswithout。
　　WhenthelatchhadagainclickedintothecatchofthecloseddoorPaulawentuptotheinvalid，uponwhosepaleandinterestingfaceaflushhadarisensimultaneouslywiththeannouncementofhername。Hewouldhavesprunguptoreceiveher，butshepressedhimdown，andthrowingallreserveononesideforthefirsttimeintheirintercourse，shecrouchedbesidethesofa，whisperingwithroguishsolicitude，herfacenottoofarfromhisown:'Howfoolishyouare，George，togetilljustnowwhenIhavebeenwantingsomuchtoseeyouagain!——Iamsosorrytoseeyoulikethis——whatIsaidtoyouwhenwemetontheshorewasnotwhatIhadcometosay!'
　　Somersettookherbythehand。'Thenwhatdidyoucometosay，Paula?'heasked。
　　'Iwantedtotellyouthatthemerewantonwanderingofacapriciousmindwasnotthecauseofmyestrangementfromyou。
　　Therehasbeenagreatdeceptionpractised——theexactnatureofitIcannottellyouplainlyjustatpresent；itistoopainful——butitisallover，andIcanassureyouofmysorrowathavingbehavedasIdid，andofmysincerefriendshipnowasever。'
　　'ThereisnothingIshallvaluesomuchasthat。ItwillmakemyworkatthecastleverypleasanttofeelthatIcanconsultyouaboutitwithoutfearofintrudingonyouagainstyourwishes。'
　　'Yes，perhapsitwill。But——youdonotcomprehendme。'
　　'Youhavebeenanenigmaalways。'
　　'Andyouhavebeenprovoking；butneversoprovokingasnow。
　　Iwouldn'tfortheworldtellyouthewholeofmyfanciesasI
　　camehitherthisevening:butIshouldthinkyournaturalintuitionwouldsuggestwhattheywere。'
　　'Itdoes，Paula。Buttherearemotivesofdelicacywhichpreventmyactingonwhatissuggestedtome。'
　　'Delicacyisagift，andyoushouldthankGodforit；butinsomecasesitisnotsopreciousaswewouldpersuadeourselves。'
　　'Notwhenthewomanisrich，andthemanispoor?'
　　'O，GeorgeSomerset——becold，orangry，oranything，butdon'tbelikethis!Itisneverworthawoman'swhiletoshowregretforherinjustice；forallshegetsbyitisanaccusationofwantofdelicacy。'
　　'IndeedIdon'taccuseyouofthat——Iwarmly，tenderlythankyouforyourkindnessincomingheretoseeme。'
　　'Well，perhapsyoudo。ButIamnowinIcannottellwhatmood——Iwillnottellwhatmood，foritwouldbeconfessingmorethanIought。ThisfindingyououtisapieceofweaknessthatIshallnotrepeat；andIhaveonlyonethingmoretosay。Ihaveservedyoubadly，George，Iknowthat；
　　butitisnevertoolatetomend；andIhavecomebacktoyou。
　　However，Ishallneverrunafteryouagain，trustmeforthat，foritisnotthewoman'spart。Still，beforeIgo，thattheremaybenomistakeastomymeaning，andmiseryentailedonusforwantofaword，I'lladdthis:thatifyouwanttomarryme，asyouoncedid，youmustsayso；forIamheretobeasked。'
　　ItwouldbesuperfluoustotranscribeSomerset'sreply，andtheremainderofthescenebetweenthepair。Letitsufficethathalf-an-hourafterwards，whenthesunhadalmostgonedown，Paulawalkedbrisklyintothehotel，troubledherselfnothingaboutdinner，butwentupstairstotheirsitting-room，whereherauntpresentlyfoundheruponthecouchlookingupattheceilingthroughherfingers。Theytalkedondifferentsubjectsforsometimetilltheoldladysaid'Mr。Somerset'scottageistheonecoveredwithflowersupthelane，Ihear。'
　　'Yes，'saidPaula。
　　'Howdoyouknow?'
　　'I'vebeenthere……Wearegoingtobemarried，aunt。'
　　'Indeed!'repliedMrs。Goodman。'Well，Ithoughtthismightbetheendofit:youweredeterminedonthepoint；andIamnotmuchsurprisedatyournews。Yourfatherwasverywiseafterallinentailingeverythingsostrictlyuponyouroffspring；forifhehadnotIshouldhavebeendrivenwildwiththeresponsibility!'
　　'Andnowthatthemurderisout，'continuedPaula，passingoverthatviewofthecase，'Idon'tmindtellingyouthatsomehoworotherIhavegottolikeGeorgeSomersetasdesperatelyasawomancancareforanyman。IthoughtI
　　shouldhavediedwhenIsawhimdancing，andfearedIhadlosthim!Heseemedtentimesnicerthaneverthen!Sosillywewomenare，thatIwouldn'tmarryadukeinpreferencetohim。
　　There，that'smyhonestfeeling，andyoumustmakewhatyoucanofit；myconscienceisclear，thankHeaven!'
　　'Haveyoufixedtheday?'
　　'No，'continuedtheyounglady，stillwatchingthesleepingfliesontheceiling。'Itisleftunsettledbetweenus，whileIcomeandaskyouiftherewouldbeanyharm——ifitcouldconvenientlybebeforewereturntoEngland?'
　　'Paula，thisistooprecipitate!'
　　'Onthecontrary，aunt。Inmatrimony，asinsomeotherthings，youshouldbeslowtodecide，butquicktoexecute。
　　Nothingonearthwouldmakememarryanotherman；Iknoweveryfibreofhischaracter；andheknowsagoodmanyfibresofmine；soasthereisnothingmoretobelearnt，whyshouldn'twemarryatonce?OnonepointIamfirm:IwillneverreturntothatcastleasMissPower。AnamelessdreadcomesovermewhenIthinkofit——afearthatsomeuncannyinfluenceofthedeadDeStancyswoulddrivemeagainfromhim。O，ifitweretodothat，'shemurmured，buryingherfaceinherhands，'IreallythinkitwouldbemorethanIcouldbear!'
　　'Verywell，'saidMrs。Goodman；'wewillseewhatcanbedone。
　　IwillwritetoMr。Wardlaw。'
　　IV。
　　OnawindyafternooninNovember，whenmorethantwomonthshadclosedovertheincidentspreviouslyrecorded，anumberoffarmersweresittinginaroomoftheLord-Quantock-ArmsInn，Markton，thatwasusedfortheweeklyordinary。Itwasalong，lowapartment，formedbytheunionoftwoorthreesmallerrooms，withabow-windowlookinguponthestreet，andatthepresentmomentwaspervadedbyabluefogfromtobacco-
　　pipes，andatemperaturelikethatofakiln。Thebodyoffarmerswhostillsatontherewasgreaterthanusual，owingtothecoldairwithout，thetableshavingbeenclearedofdinnerforsometimeandtheirsurfacestampedwithliquidcirclesbythefeetofthenumerousglasses。
　　Besidesthefarmerstherewerepresentseveralprofessionalmenofthetown，whofounditdesirabletodinehereonmarket-daysfortheopportunityitaffordedthemofincreasingtheirpracticeamongtheagriculturists，manyofwhomweremenoflargebalances，evenluxuriouslivers，whodrovetomarketinelegantphaetonsdrawnbyhorsesofsupremeblood，bone，andaction，inastyleneveranticipatedbytheirfatherswhenjoggingthitherinlightcarts，orafootwithabutterbasketoneacharm。
　　Thebuzzofgroggyconversationwassuddenlyimpingedonbythenotesofapealofbellsfromthetowerhardby。Almostatthesameinstantthedooroftheroomopened，andthereenteredthelandlordofthelittleinnatSleeping-Green。
　　Drawinghissupplyofcordialsfromthissuperiorhouse，towhichhewassubject，hecamehereatstatedtimeslikeaprebendarytothecathedralofhisdiocesan，afterwardsretailingtohisownhumbleraudiencethesentimentswhichhehadlearntofthis。Butcuriositybeingawakenedbythechurchbellstheusualpositionwasforthemomentreversed，andoneofthefarmers，salutinghimbyname，askedhimthereasonoftheirstrikingupatthattimeofday。
　　'Mymis'essoutyonder，'repliedtherurallandlord，noddingsideways，'iscominghomewithherfancy-man。Theyhavebeena-gayingtogetherthisturkofawhileinforeignparts——Here，maid!——whatwiththewind，andstandingabout，myblood'saslowaswater——bringusathimblefulofthatthatisn'tginandnotfarfromit。'
　　'Itistrue，then，thatshe'sbecomeMrs。Somerset?'
　　indifferentlyaskedafarmerinbroadcloth，tenantofanestateinquiteanotherdirectionthanhers，ashecontemplatedthegrainofthetableimmediatelysurroundingthefootofhisglass。
　　'True——ofcourseitis，'saidHavill，whowasalsopresent，inthetoneofonewho，thoughsittinginthisrubicundcompany，wasnotofit。'Icouldhavetoldyouthetruthofitanydaytheselastfiveweeks。'
　　AmongthosewhohadlentanearwasDairymanJinks，anoldgnarledcharacterwhoworeawhitefustiancoatandyellowleggings；theonlymanintheroomwhoneverdressedupindarkclothesformarketing。Henowasked，'Marriedabroad，wasthey?Andhowlongwillaweddingabroadstandgoodforinthiscountry?'
　　'Aslongasaweddingathome。'
　　'Willit?Faith；Ididn'tknow:howshouldI?Ithoughtitmightbesomenewplano'folksforleasingwomennowtheybesoplentiful，soastogetrido''emwhenthemenbetiredo'
　　'em，andhevspentalltheirmoney。'
　　'Hewon'tbeabletospendhermoney，'saidthelandlordofSleeping-Green。''Tisherveryownperson's——settleduponthehairsofherheadforever。'
　　'Onation!ThenifIwerethemanIshouldn'tcareforsuchaone-eyedbenefitasthat，'saidDairymanJinks，turningawaytolistentothetalkonhisotherhand。
　　'Isthattrue?'askedthegentleman-farmerinbroadcloth。
　　'Itissufficientlynearthetruth，'saidHavill。'Thereisnothingatallunusualinthearrangement；itwasonlysettledsotopreventanyschemermakingabeggarofher。IfSomersetandshehaveanychildren，whichprobablytheywill，itwillbetheirs；andwhatcanamanwantmore?Besides，thereisalargeportionofpropertylefttoherpersonaluse——quiteasmuchastheycanwant。Oddlyenough，thecuriositiesandpicturesofthecastlewhichbelongedtotheDeStancysarenotrestrictedfromsale；theyareherstodowhatshelikeswith。OldPowerdidn'tcareforarticlesthatremindedhimsomuchofhispredecessors。'
　　'Hey?'saidDairymanJinks，turningbackagain，havingdecidedthattheconversationonhisrighthandwas，afterall，themoreinteresting。'Well——whycan't'emhireatravellingchaptotouchupthepictersintoherowngaffersandgammers?
　　Thenthey'dbeworthsommattoher。'
　　'Ah，heretheyare?Ithoughtso，'saidHavill，whohadbeenstandingupatthewindowforthelastfewmoments。'Theringersweretoldtobeginassoonasthetrainsignalled。'
　　Ashespokeacarriagedrewuptothehotel-door，followedbyanotherwiththemaidandluggage。Theinmatescrowdedtothebow-window，exceptDairymanJinks，whohadbecomeabsorbedinhisownreflections。
　　'Whatbetheystoppingherefor?'askedoneofthepreviousspeakers。
　　'Theyaregoingtostayhereto-night，'saidHavill。'Theyhavecomequiteunexpectedly，andthecastleisinsuchastateofturmoilthatthereisnotasinglecarpetdown，orroomforthemtouse。Weshallgettwoorthreeinorderbynextweek。'
　　'Twolittlepeoplelikethemwillbelostinthechammersofthatwanderingplace!'satirizedDairymanJinks。'Theywillbeboundtohavearandyeveryfortnighttokeepthemothoutofthefurniture!'
　　BythistimeSomersetwashandingoutthewifeofhisbosom，andDairymanJinkswenton:'That'snomoreMissPowerthatwas，thanmyniece'sdaughterKeziaisMissPower——inshortitisadifferentwomanaltogether!'
　　'Thereisnomistakeaboutthewoman，'saidthelandlord；'itisherfurclothesthatmakeherlooksolikeacaterpillaronend。Well，sheisnotabadbargain!AsforCaptainDeStancy，he'llfrethisgizzardgreen。'
　　'He'sthemansheoughttoha'married，'declaredthefarmerinbroadcloth。'AstheworldgoessheoughttohavebeenLadyDeStancy。Shegaveupherchapel-going，andyoumighthavethoughtshewouldhavegivenupherfirstyoungman:butshestucktohim，thoughbyallaccountshewouldsoonhavebeeninterestedinanotherparty。'
　　''Tiswoman'snaturetobefalseexcepttoaman，andman'snaturetobetrueexcepttoawoman，'saidthelandlordofSleeping-Green。'However，all'swellthatendswell，andI
　　havesomethingelsetothinkofthannew-marriedcouples；'
　　sayingwhichthespeakermovedoff，andtheothersreturnedtotheirseats，theyoungpairwhohadbeentheirthemevanishingthroughthehotelintosomeprivateparadisetorestanddine。
　　Bythistimetheirarrivalhadbecomeknown，andacrowdsoongatheredoutside，acquiringaudacitywithcontinuancethere。
　　Raisingahurrah，thegroupwouldnotleavetillSomersethadshowedhimselfonthebalconyabove；andthendeclinedtogoawaytillPaulaalsohadappeared；when，remarkingthatherhusbandseemedaquietyoungmanenough，andwouldmakeaverygoodboroughmemberwhentheirpresentonemisbehavedhimself，theassemblagegood-humouredlydispersed。
　　Amongthosewhoseearshadbeenreachedbythehurrahsoftheseidlerswasamaninsilenceandsolitude，faroutofthetown。HewasleaningoveragatethatdividedtwomeadsinawaterylevelbetweenStancyCastleandMarkton。Heturnedhisheadforafewseconds，thencontinuedhiscontemplativegazetowardsthetowersofthecastle，visibleoverthetreesasfaraswaspossibleintheleadengloomoftheNovembereve。
　　ThemilitaryformofthesolitaryloungerwasrecognizableasthatofSirWilliamDeStancy，notwithstandingthefailinglightandhisattitudeofsorestinghiselbowsonthegatethathishandsenclosedthegreaterpartofhisface。
　　Thescenewasinexpressiblycheerless。Nootherhumancreaturewasapparent，andtheonlysoundsaudibleabovethewindwerethoseofthetricklingstreamswhichdistributedthewateroverthemeadow。
　　Aheronhadbeenstandinginoneoftheserivuletsabouttwentyyardsfromtheofficer，andtheyviedwitheachotherinstillnesstillthebirdsuddenlyroseandflewofftotheplantationinwhichitwashiscustomtopassthenightwithothersofhistribe。DeStancysawtheheronrise，andseemedtoimaginethecreature'sdeparturewithoutasuppertobeowingtotheincreasingdarkness；butinanotherminutehebecameconsciousthattheheronhadbeendisturbedbysoundstoodistanttoreachhisownearsatthetime。Theywerenearernow，andtherecamealongunderthehedgeayoungmanknowntoDeStancyexceedinglywell。
　　'Ah，'hesaidlistlessly，'youhaveventuredback。'
　　'Yes，captain。Whydoyouwalkouthere?'
　　'Thebellsbeganringingbecausesheandhewereexpected，andmythoughtsnaturallydraggedmethisway。ThankHeaventhebatteryleavesMarktoninafewdays，andthenthepreciousplacewillknowmenomore!'
　　'Ihaveheardofit。'Turningtowherethedimlinesofthecastlerosehecontinued:'Well，thereitstands。'
　　'AndIamnotinit。'
　　'Theyarenotinityeteither。'
　　'Theysoonwillbe。'
　　'Well——whattuneisthatyouwerehumming，captain?'
　　'ALLISLOSTNOW，'repliedthecaptaingrimly。
　　'Ono；youhavegotme，andIamatreasuretoanyman。I
　　haveanothermatchinmyeyeforyou，andshallgetyouwellsettledyet，ifyoukeepyourselfrespectable。SothankGod，andtakecourage!'
　　'Ah，Will——youareaflippantyoungfool——wiseinyourownconceit；Isayittomysorrow!'Twasyourdishonestyspoiltall。Thatladywouldhavebeenmywifebyfairdealing——timewasallIrequired。Butbaseattacksonaman'scharacterneverdeservetowin，andifIhadoncebeencertainthatyouhadmadethem，mycoursewouldhavebeenverydifferent，bothtowardsyouandothers。ButwhyshouldItalktoyouaboutthis?IfIcaredanatomwhatbecomesofyouIwouldtakeyouinhandseverelyenough；notcaring，Ileaveyoualone，togotothedevilyourownway。'
　　'Thankyoukindly，captain。Well，sinceyouhavespokenplainly，Iwilldothesame。WeDeStancysareaworn-outoldparty——that'sthelongandtheshortofit。Werepresentconditionsoflifethathavehadtheirday——especiallyme。
　　Ouroneremainingchancewasanalliancewithnewaristocrats；
　　andwehavefailed。Wearepastanddonefor。Ourlinehashadfivehundredyearsofglory，andweoughttobecontent。
　　Enfinlesrenardssetrouventchezlepelletier。'
　　'Speakforyourself，youngConsequence，andleavethedestiniesofoldfamiliestorespectablephilosophers。Thisfiascoisthedirectresultofevilconduct，andofnothingelseatall。Ihavemanagedbadly；Icountenancedyoutoofar。WhenIsawyourimpishtendenciesIshouldhaveforswornthealliance。'
　　'Don'tstingme，captain。WhatIhavetoldyouistrue。Asformyconduct，catwillafterkind，youknow。Youshouldhaveheldyourtongueontheweddingmorning，andhaveletmetakemychance。'
　　'IsthatallIgetforsavingyoufromjail?Gad——Ialoneamthesufferer，andfeelIamalonethefool!……Come，offwithyou——Ineverwanttoseeyouanymore。'
　　'Partwewill，then——tillwemeetagain。Itwillbealightnighthereabouts，Ithink，thisevening。'
　　'Averydarkoneforme。'
　　'Nevertheless，Ithinkitwillbealightnight。Aurevoir!'
　　Darewenthisway，andafterawhileDeStancywenthis。Bothweresoonlostintheshades。
　　V。
　　Thecastleto-nightwasasgloomyasthemeads。AsHavillhadexplained，thehabitableroomswerejustnowundergoingascour，andthemainblockofbuildingswasemptyevenofthefewservantswhohadbeenretained，theyhavingforcomfort'ssaketakenuptheirquartersinthedetachedroomsadjoiningtheentrancearchway。Hencenotasinglelightshonefromthelonelywindows，atwhichivyleavestappedlikewoodpeckers，movedbyguststhatwerenumerousandcontraryratherthanviolent。Withinthewallsallwassilence，chaos，andobscurity，tilltowardseleveno'clock，whenthethickimmovablecloudthathaddulledthedaytimebrokeintoascuddingfleece，throughwhichthemoonfordedherwayasanebulousspotofwaterywhite，sendinglightenough，thoughofaraylesskind，intothecastlechamberstoshowtheconfusionthatreignedthere。
　　Atthistimeaneyemighthavenoticedafigureflittinginandaboutthosedraughtyapartments，andmakingnomorenoiseinsodoingthanapuffofwind。Itsmotionhitherandthitherwasrapid，butmethodical，itsbearingabsorbed，yetcautious。Thoughitranmoreorlessthroughalltheprincipalrooms，thechiefsceneofitsoperationswastheLongGalleryoverlookingthePleasance，whichwascoveredbyanornamentalwood-and-plasterroof，andcontainedawholethrongoffamilyportraits，besidesheavyoldcabinetsandthelike。Theportraitswhichwereofvalueasworksofartweresmallerthanthese，andhunginadjoiningrooms。
　　Themanifestoccupationofthefigurewasthatofremovingthesesmallandvaluablepicturesfromotherchamberstothegalleryinwhichtherestwerehung，andpilingtheminaheapinthemidst。IncludedinthegroupwereninebySirPeterLely，fivebyVandyck，fourbyCorneliusJansen，onebySalvatorRosaremarkableasbeingamongthefewEnglishportraitseverpaintedbythatmaster，manybyKneller，andtwobyRomney。Apparentlybyaccident，thelightbeinginsufficienttodistinguishthemfromportraits，thefigurealsobroughtaRaffaelleVirgin-and-Child，amagnificentTintoretto，aTitian，andaGiorgione。
　　Onthesewaslaidalargecollectionofenamelledminiatureportraitsofthesameillustriousline；afterwardstapestriesandcushionsembroideredwiththeinitials'DeS。'；andnextthecradlepresentedbyCharlestheFirsttothecontemporaryDeStancymother，tillatlengththerearoseinthemiddleofthefloorahugeheapcontainingmostofwhathadbeenpersonalandpeculiartomembersoftheDeStancyfamilyasdistinctfromgeneralfurniture。
　　Thenthefigurewentfromdoortodoor，andthrewopeneachthatwasunfastened。Itnextproceededtoaroomonthegroundfloor，atpresentfittedupasacarpenter'sshop，andknee-deepinshavings。Anarmfulofthesewasaddedtothepileofobjectsinthegallery；awindowateachendofthegallerywasopened，causingabriskdraughtalongthewalls；
　　andthentheactivityofthefigureceased，anditwasseennomore。
　　FiveminutesafterwardsalightshoneuponthelawnfromthewindowsoftheLongGallery，whichglowedwithmorebrilliancythanithadknowninthemeridianofitsCarolinesplendours。
　　Thereupontheframedgentlemaninthelacecollarseemedtoopenhiseyesmorewidely；hewiththeflowinglocksandturn-
　　upmustachiostoparthislips；heinthearmour，whowassomuchlikeCaptainDeStancy，toshaketheplatesofhismailwithsuppressedlaughter；theladywiththethree-stringedpearlnecklace，andvastexpanseofneck，tonodwithsatisfactionandtriumphantlysignifytoheradjoininghusbandthatthiswasameetandgloriousend。
　　Theflameincreased，andblownuponbythewindroaredroundthepictures，thetapestries，andthecradle，uptotheplasterceilingandthroughitintotheforestofoaktimbersabove。
　　Thebestsitting-roomattheLord-Quantock-ArmsinMarktonwasascosythiseveningasaroomcanbethatlackstheminuterfurnitureonwhichcosinesssolargelydepends。BythefiresatPaulaandSomerset，theformerwithashawlroundhershoulderstokeepoffthedraughtwhich，despitethecurtains，forceditswayinonthisgustynightthroughthewindowsopeninguponthebalcony。Paulaheldaletterinherhand，thecontentsofwhichformedthesubjectoftheirconversation。Happyasshewasinhergeneralsituation，therewasforthenonceatearinhereye。
　　'MYEVERDEARPAULArantheletter，——Yourlastletterhasjustreachedme，andIhavefollowedyouraccountofyourtravelsandintentionswithmoreinterestthanIcantell。
　　You，whoknowme，neednoassuranceofthis。Atthepresentmoment，however，Iaminthewhirlofachangethathasresultedfromaresolutiontakensometimeago，butconcealedfromalmosteverybodytillnow。Why?Well，Iwillown——fromcowardice——fearlestIshouldbereasonedoutofmyplan。I
　　amgoingtostealfromtheworld，Paula，fromthesocialworld，forwhosegaietiesandambitionsIneverhadmuchliking，andwhosecirclesIhavenottheabilitytograce。Myhome，andresting-placetillthegreatrestcomes，iswiththeProtestantSisterhoodat。Whatevershortcomingsmaybefoundinsuchacommunity，IbelievethatIshallbehappiertherethaninanyotherplace。
　　'Whateveryoumaythinkofmyjudgmentintakingthisstep，I
　　canassureyouthatIhavenotdoneitwithoutconsideration。
　　Myreasonsaregood，andmydeterminationisunalterable。
　　But，myownverybestfriend，andmorethansister，don'tthinkthatImeantoleavemyloveandfriendshipforyoubehindme。No，Paula，youwillALWAYSbewithme，andI
　　believethatifanincreaseinwhatIalreadyfeelforyoubepossible，itwillbefurtheredbytheretirementandmeditationIshallenjoyinmysecludedhome。Myheartisveryfull，dear——toofulltowritemore。Godblessyou，andyourhusband。Youmustcomeandseemethere；IhavenotsomanyfriendsthatIcanaffordtoloseyouwhohavebeensokind。Iwritethiswiththefellow-pentoyours，thatyougavemewhenwewenttoBudmouthtogether。Good-bye!——Everyourownsister，CHARLOTTE。'
　　Paulahadfirstreadthisthroughsilently，andnowinreadingitasecondtimealoudtoSomersethervoicefaltered，andsheweptoutright。'Ihadbeenexpectinghertolivewithusalways，'shesaidthroughhertears，'andtothinksheshouldhavedecidedtodothis!'
　　'Itisapitycertainly，'saidSomersetgently。'Shewasgenuine，ifanybodyeverwas；andsimpleasshewastrue。'
　　'Iamthemoresorry，'Paulapresentlyresumed，'becauseofalittleplanIhadbeenthinkingofwithregardtoher。YouknowthatthepicturesandcuriositiesofthecastlearenotincludedinthethingsIcannottouch，orimpeach，orwhateveritis。Theyareourowntodowhatwelikewith。Myfatherfeltindevisingtheestatethat，howeverinterestingtotheDeStancysthoseobjectsmightbe，theydidnotconcernus——
　　wereindeedratherintheway，havingbeencomebysostrangely，throughMr。Wilkins，thoughtoovaluabletobetreatedlightly。NowIwasgoingtosuggestthatwewouldnotsellthem——indeedIcouldnotbeartodosuchathingwithwhathadbelongedtoCharlotte'sforefathers——buttohandthemovertoherasagift，eithertokeepforherself，ortopassontoherbrother，assheshouldchoose。NowIfearthereisnohopeofit:andyetIshallneverliketoseetheminthehouse。'
　　'Itcanbedonestill，Ishouldthink。Shecanacceptthemforherbrotherwhenhesettles，withoutabsolutelytakingthemintoherownpossession。'
　　'Itwouldbeakindofgenerositywhichhardlyamountstomorethanjusticealthoughtheywerepurchasedfromarecusantusurpertoadearfriend——notthatIamausurperexactly；
　　well，fromarepresentativeofthenewaristocracyofinternationalitytoarepresentativeoftheoldaristocracyofexclusiveness。'
　　'Whatdoyoucallyourself，Paula，sinceyouarenotofyourfather'screed?'
　　'IsupposeIamwhatpoorMr。Woodwellsaid——bytheway，wemustcallandseehim——somethingorotherthat'sinRevelation，neithercoldnorhot。Butofcoursethat'sasub-
　　species——Imaybealukewarmanything。WhatIreallyam，asfarasIknow，isoneofthatbodytowhomlukewarmthisnotanaccidentbutaprovisionalnecessity，tilltheyseealittlemoreclearly。'Shehadcrossedovertohisside，andpullinghisheadtowardsherwhisperedanameinhisear。
　　'Why，Mr。Woodwellsaidyouwerethattoo!Youcarryyourbeliefsverycomfortably。Ishallbegladwhenenthusiasmiscomeagain。'
　　'IamgoingtoreviseandcorrectmybeliefsoneofthesedayswhenIhavethoughtalittlefurther。'Shesuddenlybreathedasighandadded，'Howtransitoryourbestemotionsare!IntalkingofmyselfIamheartlesslyforgettingCharlotte，andbecominghappyagain。Iwon'tbehappyto-nightforhersake!'
　　Afewminutesafterthistheirattentionwasattractedbyanoiseoffootstepsrunningalongthestreet；thenaheavytrampofhorses，andlumberingofwheels。Otherfeetwereheardscamperingatintervals，andsoonsomebodyascendedthestaircaseandapproachedtheirdoor。Theheadwaiterappeared。
　　'Ma'am，StancyCastleisallafire!'saidthewaiterbreathlessly。
　　Somersetjumpedup，drewasidethecurtains，andsteppedintothebow-window。Rightbeforehimroseablaze。Thewindowlookeduponthestreetandalongtheturnpikeroadtotheveryhillonwhichthecastlestood，thekeepbeingvisibleinthedaytimeabovethetrees。Hererosethelight，whichappearedlittlefurtheroffthanastone'sthrowinsteadofnearlythreemiles。Everycurlofthesmokeandeverywaveoftheflamewasdistinct，andSomersetfanciedhecouldhearthecrackling。
　　Paulahadrisenfromherseatandjoinedhiminthewindow，wheresheheardsomepeopleinthestreetsayingthattheservantswereallsafe；afterwhichshegavehermindmorefullytothematerialaspectsofthecatastrophe。
　　Thewholetownwasnowrushingofftothesceneoftheconflagration，which，shiningstraightalongthestreet，showedtheburgesses'runningfiguresdistinctlyupontheilluminedroad。PaulawasquitereadytoactuponSomerset'ssuggestionthattheytooshouldhastentothespot，andaflywasgotreadyinafewminutes。WithlapseoftimePaulaevincedmoreanxietyastothefateofhercastle，andwhentheyhaddrivenasnearasitwasprudenttodo，theydismounted，andwentonfootintothethrongofpeoplewhichwasrapidlygatheringfromthetownandsurroundingvillages。
　　AmongthefacestheyrecognizedMr。Woodwell，Havillthearchitect，therectoroftheparish，thecurate，andmanyothersknowntothembysight。These，assoonastheysawtheyoungcouple，cameforwardwithwordsofcondolence，imaginingthemtohavebeenburntoutofbed，andviedwitheachotherinofferingthemalodging。Somersetexplainedwheretheywerestayingandthattheyrequirednoaccommodation，Paulainterruptingwith'Omypoorhorses，whathasbecomeofthem?'
　　'Thefireisnotnearthestables，'saidMr。Woodwell。'Itbrokeoutinthebodyofthebuilding。Thehorses，however，aredrivenintothefield。'
　　'Icanassureyou，youneednotbealarmed，madam，'saidHavill。'Thechiefconstableishere，andthetwotownengines，andIamdoingallIcan。Thecastleengineunfortunatelyisoutofrepair。'
　　SomersetandPaulathenwentontoanotherpointofviewnearthegymnasium，wheretheycouldnotbeseenbythecrowd。
　　Three-quartersofamileoff，ontheirlefthand，thepowerfulirradiationfelluponthebrickchapelinwhichSomersethadfirstseenthewomanwhonowstoodbesidehimashiswife。Itwastheonlyobjectvisibleinthatdirection，thedullhillsandtreesbehindfailingtocatchthelight。ShesignificantlypointeditouttoSomerset，whoknewhermeaning，andtheyturnedagaintothemoreseriousmatter。
　　Ithadlongbeenapparentthatinthefaceofsuchawindallthepigmyappliancesthatthepopulacecouldbringtoactuponsuchamassofcombustionwouldbeunavailing。Asmuchascouldburnthatnightwasburnt，whilesomeofthatwhichwouldnotburncrumbledandfellasaformlessheap，whencenewflamestoweredup，andinclinedtothenorth-eastsofarastosingethetreesofthepark。ThethickerwallsofNormandateremainedunmoved，partlybecauseoftheirthickness，andpartlybecauseinthemstonevaultstooktheplaceofwoodfloors。
　　Thetowerclockkeptmanfullygoingtillithadstruckone，itsfacesmilingoutfromthesmokeasifnothingwerethematter，afterwhichhoursomethingfelldowninside，anditwentnomore。
　　CunninghamHaze，withhisbodyofmen，wasdevotedinhisattention，andcameuptosayawordtoourtwospectatorsfromtimetotime。Towardsfouro'clocktheflamesdiminished，andfeelingthoroughlyweary，SomersetandPaularemainednolonger，returningtoMarktonastheyhadcome。
　　Ontheirjourneytheyponderedanddiscussedwhatcourseitwouldbebesttopursueinthecircumstances，graduallydecidingnottoattemptrebuildingthecastleunlesstheywereabsolutelycompelled。True，themainwallswerestillstandingasfirmlyasever；buttherewasafeelingcommontobothofthemthatitwouldbewelltomakeanopportunityofamisfortune，andleavingtheedificeinruinsstarttheirmarriedlifeinamansionofindependentconstructionhardbytheoldone，unencumberedwiththeghostsofanunfortunateline。
　　'Wewillbuildanewhousefromtheground，eclecticinstyle。
　　Wewillremovetheashes，charredwood，andsoonfromtheruin，andplantmoreivy。Thewinterrainswillsoonwashtheunsightlysmokefromthewalls，andStancyCastlewillbebeautifulinitsdecay。You，Paula，willbeyourselfagain，andrecover，ifyouhavenotalready，fromthewarpgiventoyourmindaccordingtoWoodwellbythemediaevalismofthatplace。'
　　'Andbeaperfectrepresentativeof"themodernspirit"?'sheinquired；'representingneitherthesensesandunderstanding，northeheartandimagination；butwhatafinishedwritercalls"theimaginativereason"?'
　　'Yes；forsinceitisratherinyourlineyoumayaswellkeepstraighton。'
　　'Verywell，I'llkeepstraighton；andwe'llbuildanewhousebesidetheruin，andshowthemodernspiritforevermore……But，George，Iwish——'AndPaularepressedasigh。
　　'Well?'
　　'Iwishmycastlewasn'tburnt；andIwishyouwereaDeStancy!'