'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。