'Donotbeconcernedabouther，'saidSomersetgently。'She'snotaPaedobaptistatheart，althoughsheseemsso。'
Mr。WoodwellplacedhisfingeronSomerset'sarm，saying，'Ifshe'snotaPaedobaptist，orEpiscopalian；ifsheisnotvulnerabletothemediaevalinfluencesofhermansion，lands，andnewacquaintance，itisbecauseshe'sbeenvulnerabletowhatisworse:todoctrinesbesidewhichtheerrorsofPaaedobaptists，Episcopalians，RomanCatholics，arebutasair。'
'How?Youastonishme。'
'HaveyouheardinyourmetropolitanexperienceofacuriousbodyofNewLights，astheythinkthemselves?'Theministerwhisperedanametohislistener，asifhewerefearfulofbeingoverheard。
'Ono，'saidSomerset，shakinghishead，andsmilingattheminister'shorror。'She'snotthat；atleast，Ithinknot……She'sawoman；nothingmore。Don'tfearforher；allwillbewell。'
Thepooroldmansighed。'Iloveherasmyown。Iwillsaynomore。'
Somersetwasnowinhastetogobacktothelady，toeaseherapparentanxietyastotheresultofhismission，andalsobecausetimeseemedheavyinthelossofherdiscreetvoiceandsoft，buoyantlook。Everymomentofdelaybegantobeastwo。Buttheministerwastooearnestinhisconversetoseehiscompanion'shaste，anditwasnottillperceptionwasforceduponhimbytheactualretreatofSomersetthatherememberedtimetobealimitedcommodity。HethenexpressedhiswishtoseeSomersetathishousetoteaanyafternoonhecouldspare，andreceivingtheother'spromisetocallassoonashecould，allowedtheyoungermantosetoutforthesummer-house，whichhedidatasmartpace。Whenhereachedithelookedaround，andfoundshewasgone。
Somersetwasimmediatelystruckbyhisownlackofsocialdexterity。Whydidheactsoreadilyonthewhimsicalsuggestionofanotherperson，andfollowtheminister，whenhemighthavesaidthathewouldcallonMr。Woodwellto-morrow，and，makinghimselfknowntoMissPowerasthevisitingarchitectofwhomshehadheardfromMissDeStancy，havehadthepleasureofattendinghertothecastle?'That'swhatanyothermanwouldhavehadwitenoughtodo!'hesaid。
Therethenarosethequestionwhetherherdespatchinghimaftertheministerwassuchanadmirableactofgood-naturetoagoodmanasithadatfirstseemedtobe。Perhapsitwassimplyamanoeuvreforgettingridofhimself；andherememberedhisdoubtwhetheracertainlightinhereyeswhensheinquiredconcerninghissinceritywereinnocentearnestnessorthereverse。Asthepossibilityoflevitycrossedhisbrain，hisfacewarmed；itpainedhimtothinkthatawomansointerestingcouldcondescendtoatrickofevensomildacomplexionasthat。Hewantedtothinkherthesoulofallthatwastender，andnoble，andkind。Thepleasureofsettinghimselftowinaminister'sgoodwillwasalittletarnishednow。
VIII。
ThateveningSomersetwassopreoccupiedwiththesethingsthatheleftallhissketchingimplementsout-of-doorsinthecastlegrounds。Thenextmorninghehastenedthithertosecurethemfrombeingstolenorspoiled。MeanwhilehewashopingtohaveanopportunityofrectifyingPaula'smistakeabouthispersonality，which，havingservedaverygoodpurposeinintroducingthemtoamutualconversation，mightpossiblybemadejustasagreeableasathingtobeexplainedaway。
Hefetchedhisdrawinginstruments，rods，sketching-blocksandotherarticlesfromthefieldwheretheyhadlain，andwaspassingunderthewallswiththeminhishands，whenthereemergedfromtheouterarchwayanopenlandau，drawnbyapairofblackhorsesoffineactionandobviouslystrongpedigree，inwhichPaulawasseated，undertheshadeofawhiteparasolwithblackandwhiteribbonsflutteringonthesummit。Themorningsunsparkledontheequipage，itsnewnessbeingmadeallthemorenoticeablebytheraggedoldarchbehind。
ShebowedtoSomersetinawaywhichmighthavebeenmeanttoexpressthatshehaddiscoveredhermistake；buttherewasnoembarrassmentinhermanner，andthecarriageboreherawaywithouthermakinganysignforcheckingit。Hehadnotbeenwalkingtowardsthecastleentrance，andshecouldnotbesupposedtoknowthatitwashisintentiontoenterthatday。
Shehadlookedsuchabudofyouthandpromisethathisdisappointmentatherdepartureshoweditselfinhisfaceasheobservedher。However，hewentonhisway，enteredaturret，ascendedtotheleadsofthegreattower，andsteppedout。
FromthiselevatedpositionhecouldstillseethecarriageandthewhitesurfaceofPaula'sparasolintheglowingsun。
Whilehewatchedthelandaustopped，andinafewmomentsthehorseswereturned，thewheelsandthepanelsflashed，andthecarriagecamebowlingalongtowardsthecastleagain。
Somersetdescendedthestonestairs。BeforehehadquitegottothebottomhesawMissDeStancystandingintheouterhall。
'Whendidyoucome，Mr。Somerset?'shegailysaid，lookingupsurprised。'Howindustriousyouaretobeatworksoregularlyeveryday!Wedidn'tthinkyouwouldbehereto-
day:PaulahasgonetoavegetableshowatMarkton，andIamgoingtojoinhertheresoon。'
'O!gonetoavegetableshow。ButIthinkshehasalteredher——'
Atthismomentthenoiseofthecarriagewasheardintheward，andafterafewsecondsMissPowercamein——Somersetbeinginvisiblefromthedoorwhereshestood。
'OPaula，whathasbroughtyouback?'saidMissDeStancy。
'Ihaveforgottensomething。'
'Mr。Somersetishere。Willyounotspeaktohim?'
Somersetcameforward，andMissDeStancypresentedhimtoherfriend。Mr。Somersetacknowledgedthepleasurebyarespectfulinclinationofhisperson，andsaidsomewordsaboutthemeetingyesterday。
'Yes，'saidMissPower，withaserenedeliberatenessquitenoteworthyinagirlofherage；'Ihaveseenitallsince。I
wasmistakenaboutyou，wasInot?Mr。Somerset，Iamgladtowelcomeyouhere，bothasafriendofMissDeStancy'sfamily，andasthesonofyourfather——whichisindeedquiteasufficientintroductionanywhere。'
'YouhavetwopicturespaintedbyMr。Somerset'sfather，haveyounot?Ihavealreadytoldhimaboutthem，'saidMissDeStancy。'PerhapsMr。Somersetwouldliketoseethemiftheyareunpacked?'
AsSomersethadfromhisinfancysufferedfromaplethoraofthoseproductions，excellentastheywere，hedidnotreplyquitesoeagerlyasMissDeStancyseemedtoexpecttoherkindsuggestion，andPaularemarkedtohim，'Youwillstaytolunch?Doorderitatyourowntime，ifourhourshouldnotbeconvenient。'
Hervoicewasavoiceoflownote，inqualitythatofafluteatthegraveendofitsgamut。Ifshesang，shewasapurecontraltounmistakably。
'Iammakinguseofthepermissionyouhavebeengoodenoughtograntme——ofsketchingwhatisvaluablewithinthesewalls。'
'Yes，ofcourse，Iamwillingforanybodytocome。Peopleholdtheseplacesintrustforthenation，inonesense。Youliftyourhands，Charlotte；IseeIhavenotconvincedyouonthatpointyet。'
MissDeStancylaughed，andsaidsomethingtonopurpose。
SomehowMissPowerseemednotonlymorewomanthanMissDeStancy，butmorewomanthanSomersetwasman；andyetinyearsshewasinferiortoboth。Thoughbecominglygirlishandmodest，sheappearedtopossessagooddealofcomposure，whichwaswellexpressedbytheshadedlightofhereyes。
'YouhavethenmetMr。Somersetbefore?'saidCharlotte。
'Hewaskindenoughtodeliveranaddressinmydefenceyesterday。IsupposeIseemedquiteunabletodefendmyself。'
'Ono!'saidhe。WhenafewmorewordshadpassedsheturnedtoMissDeStancyandspokeofsomedomesticmatter，uponwhichSomersetwithdrew，Paulaaccompanyinghisexitwitharemarkthatshehopedtoseehimagainalittlelaterintheday。
Somersetretiredtothechambersofantiquelumber，keepinganeyeuponthewindowstoseeifshere-enteredthecarriageandresumedherjourneytoMarkton。Butwhenthehorseshadbeenstandingalongtimethecarriagewasdrivenroundtothestables。Thenshewasnotgoingtothevegetableshow。Thatwasrathercurious，seeingthatshehadonlycomebackforsomethingforgotten。
ThesequeriesandthoughtsoccupiedthemindofSomersetuntilthebellwasrungforluncheon。Owingtotheverydustyconditioninwhichhefoundhimselfafterhismorning'slaboursamongtheoldcarvingshewasratherlateingettingdownstairs，andseeingthattheresthadgoneinhewentstraighttothedining-hall。
Thepopulationofthecastlehadincreasedinhisabsence。
TherewereassembledPaulaandherfriendCharlotte；abeardedmansomeyearsolderthanhimself，withacoldgreyeye，whowascursorilyintroducedtohiminsittingdownasMr。Havill，anarchitectofMarkton；alsoanelderlyladyofdignifiedaspect，inablacksatindress，ofwhichsheapparentlyhadaveryhighopinion。Thislady，whoseemedtobeameredummyintheestablishment，was，ashenowlearnt，Mrs。Goodmanbyname，awidowofarecentlydeceasedgentleman，andaunttoPaula——theidenticalauntwhohadsmuggledPaulaintoachurchinherhelplessinfancy，andhadherchristenedwithoutherparents'knowledge。Havingbeenleftinnarrowcircumstancesbyherhusband，shewasatpresentlivingwithMissPoweraschaperonandadviseronpracticalmatters——inaword，asballasttothemanagement。BeyondherSomersetdiscernedhisnewacquaintanceMr。Woodwell，whoonsightofSomersetwasforhasteninguptohimandperformingalabouredshakingofhandsinearnestrecognition。
Paulahadjustcomeinfromthegarden，andwascarelesslylayingdownherlargeshadyhatasheentered。Herdress，afiguredmaterialinblackandwhite，wasshort，allowingherfeettoappear。Therewassomethinginherlook，andinthestyleofhercorsage，whichremindedhimofseveralofthebygonebeautiesinthegallery。Thethoughtforamomentcrossedhismindthatshemighthavebeenimitatingoneofthem。
'Fineoldscreen，sir!'saidMr。Havill，inalong-drawnvoiceacrossthetablewhentheywereseated，pointinginthedirectionofthetraceriedoakdivisionbetweenthedining-
hallandavestibuleattheend。'Asgoodapieceoffourteenth-centuryworkasyoushallseeinthispartofthecountry。'
'Youmeanfifteenthcentury，ofcourse?'saidSomerset。
Havillwassilent。'Youareoneoftheprofession，perhaps?'
askedthelatter，afterawhile。
'YoumeanthatIamanarchitect?'saidSomerset。'Yes。'
'Ah——oneofmyownhonouredvocation。'Havill'sfacehadbeennotunpleasantuntilthismoment，whenhesmiled；whereuponthereinstantlygleamedoverhimaphaseofmeanness，remaininguntilthesmilediedaway。
Havillcontinued，withslowwatchfulness:——
'Whatenormoussacrilegesarecommittedbythebuilderseveryday，Iobserve!IwasdrivingyesterdaytoToneboroughwhereIamerectingatown-hall，andpassingthroughavillageonmywayIsawtheworkmenpullingdownachancel-wallinwhichtheyfoundimbeddedauniquespecimenofPerpendicularwork——acapitalfromsomeoldarcade——themouldingswonderfullyundercut。Theyweresmashingitupasfilling-inforthenewwall。'
'Itmusthavebeenunique，'saidSomerset，inthetoo-readilycontroversialtoneoftheeducatedyoungmanwhohasyettolearndiplomacy。'IhaveneverseenmuchundercuttinginPerpendicularstone-work；noranybodyelse，Ithink。'
'Oyes——lotsofit!'saidMr。Havill，nettled。
Paulalookedfromonetotheother。'WhichamItotakeasguide?'sheasked。'ArePerpendicularcapitalsundercut，asyoucallit，Mr。Havill，orno?'
'Itdependsuponcircumstances，'saidMr。Havill。
ButSomersethadansweredatthesametime:'Thereisseldomorneveranymarkedundercuttinginmouldedworklaterthanthemiddleofthefourteenthcentury。'
HavilllookedkeenlyatSomersetforatime:thenheturnedtoPaula:'AsregardsthatfineSaxonvaultingyoudidmethehonourtoconsultmeabouttheotherday，Ishouldadvisetakingoutsomeoftheoldstonesandreinstatingnewonesexactlylikethem。'
'Butthenewoneswon'tbeSaxon，'saidPaula。'Andthenintimetocome，whenIhavepassedaway，andthosestoneshavebecomestainedliketherest，peoplewillbedeceived。I
shouldpreferanhonestpatchtoanysuchmake-believeofSaxonrelics。'
AssheconcludedshelethereyesrestonSomersetforamoment，asiftoaskhimtosidewithher。MuchashelikedtalkingtoPaula，hewouldhavepreferrednottoenterintothisdiscussionwithanotherprofessionalman，eventhoughthatmanwereaspuriousarticle；buthewasledontoenthusiasmbyasuddenpangofregretatfindingthatthemasterlyworkmanshipinthisfinecastlewaslikelytobetinkeredandspoiltbysuchamanasHavill。
'YouwilldeceivenobodyintobelievingthatanythingisSaxonhere，'hesaidwarmly。'ThereisnotasquareinchofSaxonwork，asitiscalled，inthewholecastle。'
Paula，indoubt，lookedtoMr。Havill。
'Oyes，sir；youarequitemistaken，'saidthatgentlemanslowly。'EverystoneofthoselowervaultswasrearedinSaxontimes。'
'Icanassureyou，'saidSomersetdeferentially，butfirmly，'thatthereisnotanarchorwallinthiscastleofadateanteriortotheyear1100；noonewhoseattentionhaseverbeengiventothestudyofarchitecturaldetailsofthatagecanbeofadifferentopinion。'
'Ihavestudiedarchitecture，andIamofadifferentopinion。
Ihavethebestreasonintheworldforthedifference，forI
havehistoryherselfonmyside。WhatwillyousaywhenI
tellyouthatitisarecordedfactthatthiswasusedasacastlebytheRomans，andthatitismentionedinDomesdayasabuildingoflongstanding?'
'Ishallsaythathasnothingtodowithit，'repliedtheyoungman。'Idon'tdenythattheremayhavebeenacastlehereinthetimeoftheRomans:whatIsayis，thatnoneofthearchitecturewenowseewasstandingatthatdate。'
Therewasasilenceofaminute，disturbedonlybyamurmureddialoguebetweenMrs。Goodmanandtheminister，duringwhichPaulawaslookingthoughtfullyonthetableasifframingaquestion。
'Canitbe，'shesaidtoSomerset，'thatsuchcertaintyhasbeenreachedinthestudyofarchitecturaldates?Now，wouldyoureallyriskanythingonyourbelief?WouldyouagreetobeshutupinthevaultsandfeduponbreadandwaterforaweekifIcouldproveyouwrong?'
'Willingly，'saidSomerset。'Thedateofthosetowersandarchesismatterofabsolutecertaintyfromthedetails。ThattheyshouldhavebeenbuiltbeforetheConquestisasunlikelyas，say，thattherustiestoldgunwithapercussionlockshouldbeolderthanthedateofWaterloo。'
'HowIwishIknewsomethingpreciseofanartwhichmakesonesoindependentofwrittenhistory!'
Mr。Havillhadlapsedintoamannerlysilencethatwasonlysullennessdisguised。PaulaturnedherconversationtoMissDeStancy，whohadsimplylookedfromonetotheotherduringthediscussion，thoughshemighthavebeensupposedtohaveaprescriptiverighttoafewremarksonthematter。A
commonplacetalkensued，tillHavill，whohadnotjoinedinit，privatelybeganatSomersetagainwithamixedmannerofcordiality，contempt，andmisgiving。
'Youhaveapractice，Isuppose，sir?'
'Iamnotinpracticejustyet。'
'Justbeginning?'
'Iamabouttobegin。'
'InLondon，ornearhere?'
'InLondonprobably。'
'H'm……IampractisinginMarkton。'
'Indeed。Haveyoubeenatitlong?'
'Notparticularly。Idesignedthechapelbuiltbythislady'slatefather；itwasmyfirstundertaking——Iowemystart，infact，toMr。Power。Everbuildachapel?'
'Never。Ihavesketchedagoodmanychurches。'
'Ah——therewediffer。Ididn'tdomuchsketchinginmyyouth，norhaveItimeforitnow。Sketchingandbuildingaretwodifferentthings，tomymind。Iwasnotbroughtuptotheprofession——gotintoitthroughsheerloveofit。Ibeganasalandscapegardener，thenIbecameabuilder，thenIwasaroadcontractor。Everyarchitectmightdoworsethanhavesomesuchexperience。Butnowadays'tisthemenwhocandrawprettypictureswhogetrecommended，notthepracticalmen。
YoungprigswinInstitutemedalsforaprettydesignortwowhich，ifanybodytriedtobuildthem，wouldfalldownlikeahouseofcards；thentheygettravellingstudentshipsandwhatnot，andthentheystartasarchitectsofsomenewschoolorother，andthinktheyarethemastersofusexperiencedones。'
WhileSomersetwasreflectinghowfarthisstatementwastrue，heheardthevoiceofPaulainquiring，'Whocanhebe?'
Hereyeswerebentonthewindow。Lookingout，Somersetsawinthemeadbeyondthedryditch，Dare，withhisphotographicapparatus。
'Heistheyounggentlemanwhocalledabouttakingviewsofthecastle，'saidCharlotte。
'Oyes——Iremember；itisquiteright。Hemetmeinthevillageandaskedmetosuggesthimsomeviews。Ithoughthimarespectableyoungfellow。'
'IthinkheisaCanadian，'saidSomerset。
'No，'saidPaula，'heisfromtheEast——atleastheimpliedsotome。'
'ThereisItalianbloodinhim，'saidCharlottebrightly。
'ForhespoketomewithanItalianaccent。ButIcan'tthinkwhetherheisaboyoraman。'
'Itistobeearnestlyhopedthatthegentlemandoesnotprevaricate，'saidtheminister，forthefirsttimeattractedbythesubject。'Iaccidentallymethiminthelane，andhesaidsomethingtomeabouthavinglivedinMalta。IthinkitwasMalta，orGibraltar——evenifhedidnotsaythathewasbornthere。'
'Hismannersarenocredittohisnationality，'observedMrs。
Goodman，alsospeakingpubliclyforthefirsttime。'Heaskedmethismorningtosendhimoutapailofwaterforhisprocess，andbeforeIhadturnedawayhebeganwhistling。I
don'tlikewhistlers。'
'Thenitappears，'saidSomerset，'thatheisabeingofnoage，nonationality，andnobehaviour。'
'Acompletenegative，'addedHavill，brighteningintoacivilsneer。'Thatis，hewouldbe，ifhewerenotamakerofnegativeswellknowninMarkton。'
'Notwellknown，Mr。Havill，'answeredMrs。Goodmanfirmly。
'ForIlivedinMarktonforthirtyyearsendingthreemonthsago，andhewasneverheardofinmytime。'
'Heissomethinglikeyou，Charlotte，'saidPaula，smilingplayfullyonhercompanion。
AllthemenlookedatCharlotte，onwhosefaceadelicatenervousblushthereuponmadeitsappearance。
''Ponmywordthereisalikeness，nowIthinkofit，'saidHavill。
PaulabentdowntoCharlotteandwhispered:'Forgivemyrudeness，dear。Heisnotaniceenoughpersontobelikeyou。Heisreallymorelikeoneorotheroftheoldpicturesaboutthehouse。Iforgetwhich，andreallyitdoesnotmatter。'
'People'sfeaturesfallnaturallyintogroupsandclasses，'
remarkedSomerset。'Toanobservantpersontheyoftenrepeatthemselves；thoughtoacarelesseyetheyseeminfiniteintheirdifferences。'
Theconversationflagged，andtheyidlyobservedthefigureofthecosmopoliteDareashewalkedroundhisinstrumentinthemeadandbusiedhimselfwithanarrangementofcurtainsandlenses，occasionallywithdrawingafewsteps，andlookingcontemplativelyatthetowersandwalls。
IX。
Somersetreturnedtothetopofthegreattowerwithavagueconsciousnessthathewasgoingtodosomethingupthere——
perhapssketchageneralplanofthestructure。ButhebegantodiscernthatthisStancy-CastleepisodeinhisstudiesofGothicarchitecturemightbelessusefulthanornamentaltohimasaprofessionalman，thoughitwastooagreeabletobeabandoned。Findingafterawhilethathisdrawingprogressedbutslowly，byreasonofinfinitejoyfulthoughtsmorealliedtohisnaturethantohisart，herelinquishedruleandcompass，andenteredoneofthetwoturretsopeningontheroof。Itwasnotthestaircasebywhichhehadascended，andheproceededtoexploreitslowerpart。Enteringfromtheblazeoflightwithout，andimaginingthestairstodescendasusual，hebecameawareafterafewstepsthattherewassuddenlynothingtotreadon，andfoundhimselfprecipitateddownwardstoadistanceofseveralfeet。
Arrivedatthebottom，hewasconsciousofthehappyfactthathehadnotseriouslyhurthimself，thoughhislegwastwistedawkwardly。Nextheperceivedthatthestonestepshadbeenremovedfromtheturret，sothathehaddroppedintoitasintoadrywell；that，owingtoitsbeingwalledupbelow，therewasnodoorofexitoneithersideofhim；thathewas，inshort，aprisoner。
Placinghimselfinamorecomfortablepositionhecalmlyconsideredthebestmeansofgettingout，orofmakinghisconditionknown。Foramomenthetriedtodraghimselfupbyhisarm，butitwasahopelessattempt，theheighttothefirststepbeingfartoogreat。
Henextlookedroundatalowerlevel。Notfarfromhisleftelbow，intheconcaveoftheouterwall，wasaslitfortheadmissionoflight，andheperceivedatoncethatthroughthisslitalonelayhischanceofcommunicatingwiththeouterworld。Atfirstitseemedasifitweretobedonebyshouting，butwhenhelearntwhatlittleeffectwasproducedbyhisvoiceinthemidstofsuchamassofmasonry，hisheartfailedhimforamoment。Yet，aseitherPaulaorMissDeStancywouldprobablyguesshisvisittothetopofthetower，therewasnocauseforterror，ifsomeforalarm。
Heputhishandkerchiefthroughthewindow-slit，sothatitflutteredoutside，and，fixingitinitsplacebyalargestonedrawnfromthelooseonesaroundhim，awaitedsuccourasbesthecould。Tobeginthiscourseofprocedurewaseasy，buttoabideinpatiencetillitshouldproducefruitwasanirksometask。Asnearlyashecouldguess——forhiswatchhadbeenstoppedbythefall——itwasnowaboutfouro'clock，anditwouldbescarcelypossibleforeveningtoapproachwithoutsomeeyeorothernoticingthewhitesignal。SoSomersetwaited，hiseyeslingeringonthelittleworldofobjectsaroundhim，tilltheyallbecamequitefamiliar。Spiders'-
websinplentywerethere，andoneinparticularjustbeforehimwasinfulluseasasnare，stretchingacrossthearchofthewindow，withradiatingthreadsasitsribs。Somersethadplentyoftime，andhecountedtheirnumber——fifteen。Heremainedsosilentthattheownerofthiselaboratestructuresoonforgotthedisturbancewhichhadresultedinthebreakingofhisdiagonalties，andcreptoutfromthecornertomendthem。Inwatchingtheprocess，Somersetnoticedthatonthestoneworkbehindthewebsundrynamesandinitialshadbeencutbyexplorersinyearsgoneby。Amongtheseantiqueinscriptionsheobservedtwobrightandcleanones，consistingofthewords'DeStancy'and'W。Dare，'crossingeachotheratrightangles。Fromthestateofthestonetheycouldnothavebeencutmorethanamonthbeforethisdate，and，musingonthecircumstance，Somersetpassedthetimeuntilthesunreachedtheslitinthatsideofthetower，where，beginningbythrowinginastreakoffireasnarrowasacorn-stalk，itenlargeditswidthtillthedustynookwasfloodedwithcheerfullight。Itdisclosedsomethinglyinginthecorner，whichonexaminationprovedtobeadrybone。Whetheritwashuman，orhadcomefromthecastlelarderinbygonetimes，hecouldnottell。Onebonewasnotawholeskeleton，butitmadehimthinkofGinevraofModena，theheroineoftheMistletoeBough，andothercribbedandconfinedwretches，whohadfallenintosuchtrapsandbeendiscoveredafteracycleofyears。
Thesun'srayshadtravelledsomewayroundtheinteriorwhenSomerset'swaitingearswereatlastattractedbyfootstepsabove，eachtreadbeingbroughtdownbythehollowturretwithgreatfidelity。Hehopedthatwiththesesoundswouldarisethatofasoftvoicehehadbeguntolikewell。Indeed，duringthesolitaryhourortwoofhiswaitingherehehadpicturedPaulastrayingaloneontheterraceofthecastle，lookingup，notinghissignal，andascendingtodeliverhimfromhispainfulpositionbyherownexertions。Itseemedthatatlengthhisdreamhadbeenverified。Thefootstepsapproachedtheopeningoftheturret；and，attractedbythecallwhichSomersetnowraised，begantodescendtowardshim。
Inamoment，notPaula'sface，butthatofadrearyfootmanofherhousehold，lookedintothehole。
Somersetmasteredhisdisappointment，andthemanspeedilyfetchedaladder，bywhichmeanstheprisoneroftwohoursascendedtotheroofinsafety。Duringtheprocessheventuredtoaskfortheladiesofthehouse，andlearntthattheyhadgoneoutforadrivetogether。
Beforeheleftthecastle，however，theyhadreturned，acircumstanceunexpectedlymadeknowntohimbyhisreceivingamessagefromMissPower，totheeffectthatshewouldbegladtoseehimathisconvenience。Wonderingwhatitcouldpossiblymean，hefollowedthemessengertoherroom——asmallmodernlibraryintheJacobeanwingofthehouse，adjoiningthatinwhichthetelegraphstood。Shewasalone，sittingbehindatablelitteredwithlettersandsketches，andlookingfreshfromherdrive。Perhapsitwasbecausehehadbeenshutupinthatdismaldungeonalltheafternoonthathefeltsomethinginherpresencewhichatthesametimecharmedandrefreshedhim。
Shesignifiedthathewastositdown；butfindingthathewasgoingtoplacehimselfonastraight-backedchairsomedistanceoffshesaid，'Willyousitnearertome?'andthen，asifratheroppressedbyherdignity，sheleftherownchairofbusinessandseatedherselfateaseonanottomanwhichwasamongthediversifiedfurnitureoftheapartment。
'Iwanttoconsultyouprofessionally，'shewenton。'Ihavebeenmuchimpressedbyyourgreatknowledgeofcastellatedarchitecture。Willyousitinthatleatherchairatthetable，asyoumayhavetotakenotes?'
Theyoungmanassented，expressedhisgratification，andwenttothechairshedesignated。
'But，Mr。Somerset，'shecontinued，fromtheottoman——thewidthofthetableonlydividingthem——'Ifirstshouldjustliketoknow，andItrustyouwillexcusemyinquiry，ifyouareanarchitectinpractice，oronlyasyetstudyingfortheprofession?'
'Iamjustgoingtopractise。IopenmyofficeonthefirstofJanuarynext，'heanswered。
'Youwouldnotmindhavingmeasaclient——yourfirstclient?'
Shelookedcuriouslyfromhersidewayfaceacrossthetableasshesaidthis。
'Canyouaskit!'saidSomersetwarmly。'Whatareyougoingtobuild?'
'Iamgoingtorestorethecastle。'
'What，allofit?'saidSomerset，astonishedattheaudacityofsuchanundertaking。
'Notthepartsthatareabsolutelyruinous:thewallsbatteredbytheParliamentartilleryhadbetterremainastheyare，Isuppose。Butwehavebegunwrong；itisIwhoshouldaskyou，notyoume……Ifear，'shewenton，inthatlownotewhichwassomewhatdifficulttocatchatadistance，'I
fearwhattheantiquarianswillsayifIamnotverycareful。
TheycomehereagreatdealinsummerandifIweretodotheworkwrongtheywouldputmynameinthepapersasadreadfulperson。ButImustlivehere，asIhavenootherhouse，excepttheoneinLondon，andhenceImustmaketheplacehabitable。IdohopeIcantrusttoyourjudgment?'
'Ihopeso，'hesaid，withdiffidence，for，farfromhavingmuchprofessionalconfidence，heoftenmistrustedhimself。'I
amaFellowoftheSocietyofAntiquaries，andaMemberoftheInstituteofBritishArchitects——notaFellowofthatbodyyet，thoughIsoonshallbe。'
'ThenIamsureyoumustbetrustworthy，'shesaid，withenthusiasm。'Well，whatamItodo?——Howdowebegin?'
Somersetbegantofeelmoreprofessional，whatwiththebusinesschairandthetable，andthewriting-paper，notwithstandingthatthesearticles，andtheroomtheywerein，werehersinsteadofhis；andanevennessofmannerwhichhehadmomentarilylostreturnedtohim。'Theveryfirststep，'hesaid，'istodecideupontheoutlay——whatisittocost?'
Hefalteredalittle，foritseemedtodisturbthesoftnessoftheirrelationshiptotalkthusofhardcash。Buthersympathywithhisfeelingwasapparentlynotgreat，andshesaid，'Theexpenditureshallbewhatyouadvise。'
'Whataheavenlyclient!'hethought。'Butyoumustjustgivesomeidea，'hesaidgently。'Forthefactis，anysumalmostmaybespentonsuchabuilding:fivethousand，tenthousand，twentythousand，fiftythousand，ahundredthousand。'
'Iwantitdonewell；sosupposewesayahundredthousand?
Myfather'ssolicitor——mysolicitornow——saysImaygotoahundredthousandwithoutextravagance，iftheexpenditureisscatteredovertwoorthreeyears。'
Somersetlookedroundforapen。Withquicknessofinsightsheknewwhathewanted，andsignifiedwhereonecouldbefound。Hewrotedowninlargefigures——
100，000。
Itwasmorethanhehadexpected；andforayoungmanjustbeginningpractice，theopportunityofplayingwithanotherperson'smoneytothatextentwouldaffordanexceptionallyhandsomeopening，notsomuchfromthecommissionitrepresented，asfromtheattentionthatwouldbebestowedbytheart-worldonsuchanundertaking。
Paulahadsunkintoareverie。'IwasintendingtointrusttheworktoMr。Havill，alocalarchitect，'shesaid。'ButI
gatheredfromhisconversationwithyouto-daythathisignoranceofstylesmightcompromisemeveryseriously。Inshort，thoughmyfatheremployedhiminoneortwolittlematters，itwouldnotberight——evenamorallyculpablething——
toplacesuchanhistoricallyvaluablebuildinginhishands。'
'HasMr。Havilleverbeenledtoexpectthecommission?'heasked。
'Hemayhaveguessedthathewouldhaveit。Ihavespokenofmyintentiontohimmorethanonce。'
SomersetthoughtoverhisconversationwithHavill。Well，hedidnotlikeHavillpersonally；andhehadstrongreasonsforsuspectingthatinthematterofarchitectureHavillwasaquack。Butwasitquitegeneroustostepinthus，andtakeawaywhatwouldbeagoldenopportunitytosuchamanofmakingbothendsmeetcomfortablyforsomeyearstocome，withoutgivinghimatleastonechance?Hereflectedalittlelonger，andthenspokeouthisfeeling。
'Iventuretoproposeaslightlymodifiedarrangement，'hesaid。'Insteadofcommittingthewholeundertakingtomyhandswithoutbetterproofofmyabilitytocarryitoutthanyouhaveatpresent，lettherebeacompetitionbetweenMr。
Havillandmyself——letourrivalplansfortherestorationandenlargementbesubmittedtoacommitteeoftheRoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects——andletthechoicerestwiththem，subjectofcoursetoyourapproval。'
'Itisindeedgenerousofyoutosuggestit。'Shelookedthoughtfullyathim；heappearedtostrikeherinanewlight。
'Youreallyrecommendit?'Thefairnesswhichhadpromptedhiswordsseemedtoinclineherstillmorethanbeforetoresignherselfentirelytohiminthematter。
'Ido，'saidSomersetdeliberately。
'Iwillthinkofit，sinceyouwishit。Andnow，whatgeneralideahaveyouoftheplantoadopt?Idonotpositivelyagreetoyoursuggestionasyet，soImayperhapsaskthequestion。'
Somerset，beingbythistimefamiliarwiththegeneralplanofthecastle，tookouthispencilandmadearoughsketch。
Whilehewasdoingitsherose，andcomingtothebackofhischair，bentoverhiminsilence。
'Ah，Ibegintoseeyourconception，'shemurmured；andthebreathofherwordsfannedhisear。Hefinishedthesketch，andheldituptoher，saying——
'IwouldsuggestthatyouwalkoverthebuildingwithMr。
Havillandmyself，anddetailyourideastousoneachportion。'
'Isitnecessary?'
'Clientsmostlydoit。'
'Iwill，then。Butitistoolateformethisevening。
Pleasemeetmeto-morrowatten。'
X。
Atteno'clocktheymetinthesameroom，Paulaappearinginastrawhathavingabent-upbrimlinedwithplaitedsilk，sothatitsurroundedherforeheadlikeanimbus；andSomersetarmedwithsketch-book，measuring-rod，andotherapparatusofhiscraft。
'AndMr。Havill?'saidtheyoungman。
'Ihavenotdecidedtoemployhim:ifIdoheshallgoroundwithmeindependentlyofyou，'sherepliedratherbrusquely。
Somersetwasbynomeanssorrytohearthis。HisdutytoHavillwasdone。
'Andnow，'shesaid，astheywalkedontogetherthroughthepassages，'ImusttellyouthatIamnotamediaevalistmyself；andperhapsthat'sapity。'
'Whatareyou?'
'IamGreek——that'swhyIdon'twishtoinfluenceyourdesign。'
Somerset，astheyproceeded，pointedoutwhereroofshadbeenandshouldbeagain，wheregableshadbeenpulleddown，andwherefloorshadvanished，showingherhowtoreconstructtheirdetailsfrommarksinthewalls，muchasacomparativeanatomistreconstructsanantediluvianfromfragmentarybonesandteeth。Sheappearedtobeinterested，listenedattentively，butsaidlittleinreply。Theywereultimatelyinalongnarrowpassage，indifferentlylighted，whenSomerset，treadingonaloosestone，feltatwingeofweaknessinoneknee，andknewinamomentthatitwastheresultofthetwistgivenbyhisyesterday'sfall。Hepaused，leaningagainstthewall。
'Whatisit?'saidPaula，withasuddentimidityinhervoice。
'Islippeddownyesterday，'hesaid。'Itwillberightinamoment。'
'I——canIhelpyou?'saidPaula。Butshedidnotcomenearhim；indeed，shewithdrewalittle。Shelookedupthepassage，anddownthepassage，andbecameconsciousthatitwaslongandgloomy，andthatnobodywasnear。Acuriouscoyuneasinessseemedtotakepossessionofher。Whethershethought，forthefirsttime，thatshehadmadeamistake——thattowanderaboutthecastlealonewithhimwascompromising，orwhetheritwasthemereshyinstinctofmaidenhood，nobodyknows；butshesaidsuddenly，'Iwillgetsomethingforyou，andreturninafewminutes。'
'Praydon't——ithasquitepassed!'hesaid，steppingoutagain。
ButPaulahadvanished。WhenshecamebackitwasintherearofCharlotteDeStancy。MissDeStancyhadatumblerinonehand，halffullofwine，whichsheofferedhim；Paularemaininginthebackground。
Hetooktheglass，and，tosatisfyhiscompanions，drankamouthfulortwo，thoughtherewasreallynothingwhateverthematterwithhimbeyondtheslightacheabovementioned。
Charlottewasgoingtoretire，butPaulasaid，quiteanxiously，'Youwillstaywithme，Charlotte，won'tyou?
SurelyyouareinterestedinwhatIamdoing?'
'Whatisit?'saidMissDeStancy。
'Planninghowtomendandenlargethecastle。TellMr。
SomersetwhatIwantdoneinthequadrangle——youknowquitewell——andIwillwalkon。'
Shewalkedon；butinsteadoftalkingonthesubjectasdirected，CharlotteandSomersetfollowedchattingonindifferentmatters。TheycametoaninnercourtandfoundPaulastandingthere。
ShemetMissDeStancywithasmile。'Didyouexplain?'sheasked。
'Ihavenotexplainedyet。'Paulaseatedherselfonastonebench，andCharlottewenton:'MissPowerthoughtofmakingaGreekcourtofthis。Butshewillnottellyousoherself，becauseitseemssuchdreadfulanachronism。
'IsaidIwouldnottellanyarchitectmyself，'interposedPaulacorrectingly。'IdidnotthenknowthathewouldbeMr。
Somerset。'
'Itisratherstartling，'saidSomerset。