SomersetbegantomuseontheprobabilityorotherwiseofthebackslidingBaptistandthisyoungladyresultinginoneandthesameperson；andalmostwithoutknowingithefoundhimselfdeeplyhopingforsuchaunity。Theobjectofhisinspectionwasidlyleaning，andthissomewhatdisguisedherfigure。Itmighthavebeentallorshort，curvilinearorangular。Shecarriedalightsunshadewhichshefitfullytwirleduntil，thrustingitbackoverhershoulder，herheadwasrevealedsufficientlytoshowthatsheworenohatorbonnet。Thistokenofherbeinganinmateofthecastle，andnotavisitor，ratherdampedhisexpectations:buthepersistedinbelievingherlooktowardsthechapelmusthaveameaninginit，tillshesuddenlystooderect，andrevealedherselfasshortinstature——almostdumpy——atthesametimegivinghimadistinctviewofherprofile。Shewasnotatallliketheheroineofthechapel。

HesawthedintednoseoftheDeStancysoutlinedwithHolbeinshadowlessnessagainsttheblue-greenofthedistantwood。ItwasnottheDeStancyfacewithallitsoriginalspecialities:itwas，sotospeak，adefectivereprintofthatface:forthenosetriedhardtoturnupanddealutterconfusiontothefamilyshape。

Asfortherestofthecountenance，Somersetwasobligedtoownthatitwasnotbeautiful:Naturehaddonetheremanythingsthatsheoughtnottohavedone，andleftundonemuchthatsheshouldhaveexecuted。Itwouldhavebeendecidedlyplainbutforapreciousqualitywhichnoperfectionofchisellingcangivewhenthetemperamentdeniesit，andwhichnofacialirregularitycantakeaway——atenderaffectionatenesswhichmightalmostbecalledyearning；suchasisoftenseeninthewomenofCorreggiowhentheyarepaintedinprofile。ButtheplainfeaturesofMissDeStancy——

whosheundoubtedlywas——wereratherseverelyhandledbySomerset'sjudgmentowingtohisimpressionofthepreviousnight。Abeautyofasortwouldhavebeenlentbytheflexuouscontoursofthemobilepartsbutforthatunfortunateconditionthepoorgirlwasburdenedwith，ofhavingtohandonatraditionalfeaturewithwhichshedidnotfindherselfotherwiseinharmony。

Sheglancedathimforamoment，andshowedbyanimperceptiblemovementthathehadmadehispresencefelt。

NottoembarrassherSomersethastenedtowithdraw，atthesametimethatshepassedroundtotheotherpartoftheterrace，followedbythecat，inwhomSomersetcouldimagineacertaindenominationalcastofcountenance，notwithstandinghercompany。Butaswhitecatsaremuchalikeeachotheratadistance，itwasreasonabletosupposethiscreaturewasnotthesameoneasthatpossessedbythebeauty。

IV。

Hedescendedthestonestairstoalowerstoryofthecastle，inwhichwasacrypt-likehallcoveredbyvaultingofexceptionalandmassiveingenuity:

'Builteretheartwasknown，BypointedaisleandshaftedstalkThearcadesofanalleyedwalkToemulateinstone。'

Ithappenedthatthecentralpillarwhereonthevaultsrested，reputedtoexhibitsomeofthemosthideousgrotesquesinEnglanduponitscapital，waswithinalockeddoor。Somersetwastemptedtoaskaservantforpermissiontoopenit，tillheheardthattheinnerroomwastemporarilyusedforplate，thekeybeingkeptbyMissDeStancy，atwhichhesaidnomore。Butafterwardstheactivehousemaidredescendedthestonesteps；sheenteredthecryptwithabunchofkeysinonehand，andintheotheracandle，followedbytheyoungladywhomSomersethadseenontheterrace。

'Ishallbeverygladtounlockanythingyoumaywanttosee。

Sofewpeopletakeanyrealinterestinwhatisherethatwedonotleaveitopen。'

Somersetexpressedhisthanks。

MissDeStancy，alittletohissurprise，hadatouchofrusticityinhermanner，andthatforcedabsenceofreservewhichseclusionfromsocietylendstoyoungwomenmorefrequentlythannot。Sheseemedgladtohavesomethingtodo；

thearrivalofSomersetwasplainlyaneventsufficienttosetsomelittlemarkuponherday。DeceptionhadbeenwrittenonthefacesofthosefrowningwallsintheirimplyingtheinsignificanceofSomerset，whenhefoundthemtenantedonlybythislittlewomanwhoselifewasnarrowerthanhisown。

'Wehavenotbeenherelong，'continuedMissDeStancy，'andthat'swhyeverythingisinsuchadilapidatedandconfusedcondition。'

Somersetenteredthedarkstore-closet，thinkinglessoftheancientpillarrevealedbythelightofthecandlethanwhatasingularremarkthelatterwastocomefromamemberofthefamilywhichappearedtohavebeentherefivecenturies。Heheldthecandleabovehishead，andwalkedround，andpresentlyMissDeStancycameback。

'Thereisanothervaultbelow，'shesaid，withtheseverefaceofayoungwomanwhospeaksonlybecauseitisabsolutelynecessary。'Perhapsyouarenotawareofit?Itwasthedungeon:ifyouwishtogodowntheretoo，theservantwillshowyoutheway。Itisnotatallornamental:rough，unhewnarchesandclumsypiers。'

Somersetthankedher，andwouldperhapstakeadvantageofherkindofferwhenhehadexaminedthespotwherehewas，ifitwerenotcausinginconvenience。

'No；IamsurePaulawillbegladtoknowthatanybodythinksitinterestingtogodownthere——whichismorethanshedoesherself。'

Someobviousinquiriesweresuggestedbythis，butSomersetsaid，'Ihaveseenthepictures，andhavebeenmuchstruckbythem；partly，'headded，withsomehesitation，'becauseoneortwoofthemremindedmeofaschoolfellow——IthinkhisnamewasJohnRavensbury?'

'Yes，'shesaid，almosteagerly。'Hewasmycousin!'

'Sothatwearenotquitestrangers?'

'Butheisdeadnow……Hewasunfortunate:hewasmostlyspokenofas"thatunluckyboy。"……Youknow，Isuppose，Mr。Somerset，whythepaintingsareinsuchadecayingstate!——

itisowingtothepeculiartreatmentofthecastleduringMr。Wilkins'stime。Hewasblind；soonecanimaginehedidnotappreciatesuchthingsastherearehere。'

'Thecastlehasbeenshutup，youmean?'

'Oyes，formanyyears。Butitwillnotbesoagain。Wearegoingtohavethepicturescleaned，andtheframesmended，andtheoldpiecesoffurnitureputintheirproperplaces。Itwillbeverynicethen。Didyouseethoseintheeastcloset?'

'Ihaveonlyseenthoseinthegallery。'

'Iwilljustshowyouthewaytotheothers，ifyouwouldliketoseethem?'

Theyascendedtotheroomdesignatedtheeastcloset。Thepaintingshere，mostlyofsmallersize，wereinabettercondition，owingtothefactthattheywerehungonaninnerwall，andhadhencebeenkeptfreefromdamp。Somersetinquiredthenamesandhistoriesofoneortwo。

'Ireallydon'tquiteknow，'MissDeStancyrepliedaftersomethought。'ButPaulaknows，Iamsure。Idon'tstudythemmuch——Idon'tseetheuseofit。'Sheswunghersunshade，sothatitfellopen，andturnedituptillitfellshut。'I

haveneverbeenabletogivemuchattentiontoancestors，'sheadded，withhereyesontheparasol。

'TheseAREyourancestors?'heasked，forherpositionandtonewerematterswhichperplexedhim。InspiteofthefamilylikenessandotherdetailshecouldscarcelybelievethisfrankandcommunicativecountrymaidentobethemodernrepresentativeoftheDeStancys。

'Oyes，theycertainlyare，'shesaid，laughing。'PeoplesayIamlikethem:Idon'tknowifIam——well，yes，IknowIam:

Icanseethat，ofcourse，anyday。Buttheyhavegonefrommyfamily，andperhapsitisjustaswellthattheyshouldhavegone……Theyareuseless，'sheadded，withsereneconclusiveness。

'Ah!theyhavegone，havethey?'

'Yes，castleandfurniturewenttogether:itwaslongago——

longbeforeIwasborn。Itdoesn'tseemtomeasiftheplaceeverbelongedtoarelativeofmine。'

Somersetcorrectedhissmilingmannertooneofsolicitude。

'Butyoulivehere，MissDeStancy?'

'Yes——agreatdealnow；thoughsometimesIgohometosleep。'

'Thisishometoyou，andnothome?'

'IliveherewithPaula——myfriend:Ihavenotbeenherelong，neitherhasshe。Forthefirstsixmonthsafterherfather'sdeathshedidnotcomehereatall。'

Theywalkedon，gazingatthewalls，tilltheyoungmansaid:

'IfearImaybemakingsomemistake:butIamsureyouwillpardonmyinquisitivenessthisonce。WHOisPaula?'

'Ah，youdon'tknow!Ofcourseyoudon't——localchangesdon'tgettalkedoffaraway。Sheistheownerofthiscastleandestate。Myfathersolditwhenhewasquiteayoungman，yearsbeforeIwasborn，andnotlongafterhisfather'sdeath。ItwaspurchasedbyamannamedWilkins，arichmanwhobecameblindsoonafterhehadboughtit，andneverlivedhere；soitwasleftuncaredfor。'

Shewentoutupontheterrace；andwithoutexactlyknowingwhy，Somersetfollowed。

'Yourfriend——'

'Hasonlycomeherequiterecently。Sheisawayfromhometo-

day……Itwasverysad，'murmuredtheyounggirlthoughtfully。'NosoonerhadMr。PowerboughtitoftherepresentativesofMr。Wilkins——almostimmediatelyindeed——

thanhediedfromachillcaughtafterawarmbath。Onaccountofthatshedidnottakepossessionforseveralmonths；andevennowshehasonlyhadafewroomspreparedasatemporaryresidencetillshecanthinkwhattodo。Poorthing，itissadtobeleftalone!'

SomersetheedfullyremarkedthathethoughtherecognizedthatnamePower，asonehehadseenlately，somewhereorother。

'Perhapsyouhavebeenhearingofherfather。Doyouknowwhathewas?'

Somersetdidnot。

Shelookedacrossthedistantcountry，whereundulationsofdark-greenfoliageformedaprospectextendingformiles。Andasshewatched，andSomerset'seyes，ledbyhers，watchedalso，awhitestreakofsteam，thinasacottonthread，couldbediscernedploughingthatgreenexpanse。'HerfathermadeTHAT，'MissDeStancysaid，directingherfingertowardstheobject。

'Thatwhat?'

'Thatrailway。HewasMr。JohnPower，thegreatrailwaycontractor。Anditwasthroughmakingtherailwaythathediscoveredthiscastle——therailwaywasdivertedalittleonitsaccount。'

'Aclashbetweenancientandmodern。'

'Yes，buthetookaninterestinthelocalitylongbeforehepurchasedtheestate。Andhebuiltthepeopleachapelonabitoffreeholdheboughtforthem。HewasagreatNonconformist，astaunchBaptistuptothedayofhisdeath——amuchstauncherone，'shesaidsignificantly，'thanhisdaughteris。'

'Ah，Ibegintospother!'

'Youhaveheardaboutthebaptism?'

'Iknowsomethingofit。'

'Herconducthasgivenmortaloffencetothescatteredpeopleofthedenominationthatherfatherwasatsuchpainstouniteintoabody。'

Somersetcouldguesstheremainder，andinthinkingoverthecircumstancesdidnotstatewhathehadseen。Sheadded，asifdisappointedathiswantofcuriosity——

'Shewouldnotsubmittotheritewhenitcametothepoint。

Thewaterlookedsocoldanddarkandfearful，shesaid，thatshecouldnotdoittosaveherlife。'

'Surelysheshouldhaveknownhermindbeforeshehadgonesofar?'Somerset'swordshadacondemnatoryform，butperhapshisactualfeelingwasthatifMissPowerhadknownherownmind，shewouldhavenotinterestedhimhalfsomuch。

'Paula'sownmindhadnothingtodowithit!'saidMissDeStancy，warminguptostaunchpartizanshipinamoment。'Itwasallundertakenbyherfromamistakensenseofduty。Itwasherfather'sdyingwishthatsheshouldmakepublicprofessionofher——whatdoyoucallit——ofthedenominationshebelongedto，assoonasshefeltherselffittodoit:sowhenhewasdeadshetriedandtried，anddidn'tgetanymorefit；andatlastshescrewedherselfuptothepitch，andthoughtshemustundergotheceremonyoutofpurereverenceforhismemory。

Itwasveryshort-sightedofherfathertoputherinsuchaposition:becausesheisnowverysad，asshefeelsshecannevertryagainaftersuchasermonaswasdeliveredagainsther。'

SomersetpresumedthatMissPowerneednothaveheardthisKnoxorBossuetofhersifshehadchosentogoaway?

'Shedidnothearitinthefaceofthecongregation；butfromthevestry。Shetoldmesomeofitwhenshereachedhome。

Wouldyoubelieveit，themanwhopreachedsobitterlyisatenantofhers?Isaid，"Surelyyouwillturnhimoutofhishouse?"——Butsheanswered，inhercalm，deep，niceway，thatshesupposedhehadaperfectrighttopreachagainsther，thatshecouldnotinjusticemolesthimatall。Iwouldn'tlethimstayifthehouseweremine。Butshehasoftenbeforeallowedhimtoscoldherfromthepulpitinasmallerway——

onceitwasaboutanexpensivedressshehadworn——notmentioningherbyname，youknow；butallthepeoplearequiteawarethatitismeantforher，becauseonlyonepersonofherwealthorpositionbelongstotheBaptistbodyinthiscounty。'

Somersetwaslookingatthehomelyaffectionatefaceofthelittlespeaker。'Youarehergoodfriend，Iamsure，'heremarked。

Shelookedintothedistantairwithtacitadmissionoftheimpeachment。'Sowouldyoubeifyouknewher，'shesaid；andablushslowlyrosetohercheek，asifthepersonspokenofhadbeenaloverratherthanafriend。

'ButyouarenotaBaptistanymorethanI?'continuedSomerset。

'Ono。AndIneverknewonetillIknewPaula。Ithinktheyareverynice；thoughIsometimeswishPaulawasnotone，butthereligionofreasonablepersons。'

Theywalkedon，andcameoppositetowherethetelegraphemergedfromthetrees，leaptovertheparapet，andupthroughtheloopholeintotheinterior。

'Thatlooksstrangeinsuchabuilding，'saidhercompanion。

'MissPowerhaditputuptoknowthelatestnewsfromtown。

Itcostssixpoundsamile。Shecanworkitherself，beautifully:andsocanI，butnotsowell。Itwasagreatdelighttolearn。MissPowerwassointerestedatfirstthatshewassendingmessagesfrommorningtillnight。Anddidyouhearthenewclock?'

'Isitanewone?——Yes，Iheardit。'

'Theoldonewasquitewornout；soPaulahasputitinthecellar，andhadthisnewonemade，thoughitstillstrikesontheoldbell。Ittellstheseconds，buttheoldone，whichmyverygreatgrandfathererectedintheeighteenthcentury，onlytoldthehours。Paulasaysthattime，beingsomuchmorevaluablenow，mustofcoursebecutupintosmallerpieces。'

'Shedoesnotappeartobemuchimpressedbythespiritofthisancientpile。'

MissDeStancyshookherheadtooslightlytoexpressabsolutenegation。

'Doyouwishtocomethroughthisdoor?'sheasked。'Thereisasingularchimney-pieceinthekitchen，whichisconsideredauniqueexampleofitskind，thoughImyselfdon'tknowenoughaboutittohaveanopiniononthesubject。'

Whentheyhadlookedatthecorbelledchimney-piecetheyreturnedtothehall，wherehiseyewascaughtanewbyalargemapthathehadconnedforsometimewhenalone，withoutbeingabletodivinethelocalityrepresented。Itwascalled'GeneralPlanoftheTown，'andshowedstreetsandopenspacescorrespondingwithnothinghehadseeninthecounty。

'Isthattownhere?'heasked。

'ItisnotanywherebutinPaula'sbrain；shehaslaiditoutfromherowndesign。Thesiteissupposedtobenearourrailwaystation，justacrossthere，wherethelandbelongstoher。Sheisgoingtograntcheapbuildingleases，anddevelopthemanufactureofpottery。'

'Pottery——howverypracticalshemustbe!'

'Ono!no!'repliedMissDeStancy，intonesshowinghowsupremelyignoranthemustbeofMissPower'snatureifhecharacterizedherinthoseterms。'ItisGREEKpotteryshemeans——Hellenicpotteryshetellsmetocallit，onlyI

forget。Thereisbeautifulclayattheplace，herfathertoldher:hefounditinmakingtherailwaytunnel。ShehasvisitedtheBritishMuseum，continentalmuseums，andGreece，andSpain:andhopestoimitatetheoldfictileworkintime，especiallytheGreekofthebestperiod，fourhundredyearsafterChrist，orbeforeChrist——IforgetwhichitwasPaulasaid……Ono，sheisnotpracticalinthesenseyoumean，atall。'

'Amixedyounglady，rather。'

MissDeStancyappearedunabletosettlewhetherthisnewdefinitionofherdearfriendshouldbeacceptedaskindly，ordisallowedasdecidedlysarcastic。'Youwouldlikeherifyouknewher，'sheinsisted，inhalftonesofpique；afterwhichshewalkedonafewsteps。

'Ithinkveryhighlyofher，'saidSomerset。

'AndI!AndyetatonetimeIcouldneverhavebelievedthatIshouldhavebeenherfriend。Oneisprejudicedatfirstagainstpeoplewhoarereportedtohavesuchdifferencesinfeeling，associations，andhabit，assheseemedtohavefrommine。Butithasnotstoodintheleastinthewayofourlikingeachother。Ibelievethedifferencemakesusthemoreunited。'

'Itsaysagreatdealfortheliberalityofboth，'answeredSomersetwarmly。'Heavensendusmoreofthesamesortofpeople!Theyarenottoonumerousatpresent。'

AsthisremarkcalledfornoreplyfromMissDeStancy，shetookadvantageofanopportunitytoleavehimalone，firstrepeatingherpermissiontohimtowanderwherehewould。Hewalkedaboutforsometime，sketch-bookinhand，butwasconsciousthathisinterestdidnotliemuchinthearchitecture。Inpassingalongthecorridorofanupperfloorheobservedanopendoor，throughwhichwasvisiblearoomcontainingoneofthefinestRenaissancecabinetshehadeverseen。Itwasimpossible，oncloseexamination，todojusticetoitinahastysketch；itwouldbenecessarytomeasureeverylineifhewouldbringawayanythingofutilitytohimasadesigner。Decidingtoreservethisgemforanotheropportunityhecasthiseyesroundtheroomandblushedalittle。WithoutknowingithehadintrudedintotheabsentMissPaula'sownparticularsetofchambers，includingaboudoirandsleepingapartment。Onthetablesofthesitting-

roomweremostofthepopularpapersandperiodicalsthatheknew，notonlyEnglish，butfromParis，Italy，andAmerica。

Satiricalprints，thoughtheydidnotundulypreponderate，werenotwanting。BesidesthesetherewerebooksfromaLondoncirculatinglibrary，paper-coveredlightliteratureinFrenchandchoiceItalian，andthelatestmonthlyreviews；

whilebetweenthetwowindowsstoodthetelegraphapparatuswhosewirehadbeenthemeansofbringinghimhither。

Thesethings，ensconcedamidsomuchoftheoldandhoary，wereasifastrayhourfromthenineteenthcenturyhadwanderedlikeabutterflyintothethirteenth，andlostitselfthere。

Thedoorbetweenthisante-chamberandthesleeping-roomstoodopen。Withoutventuringtocrossthethreshold，forhefeltthathewouldbeabusinghospitalitytogosofar，Somersetlookedinforamoment。Itwasaprettyplace，andseemedtohavebeenhastilyfittedup。Inacorner，overhungbyablueandwhitecanopyofsilk，wasalittlecot，hardlylargeenoughtoimpressthecharacterofbedroomupontheoldplace。

Uponacounterpanelayaparasolandasilkneckerchief。Ontheothersideoftheroomwasatallmirrorofstartlingnewness，drapedlikethebedstead，inblueandwhite。ThrownatrandomuponthefloorwasapairofsatinslippersthatwouldhavefittedCinderella。Adressing-gownlayacrossasettee；andopposite，uponasmalleasy-chairinthesameblueandwhitelivery，wereaBible，theBaptistMagazine，WardlawonInfantBaptism，Walford'sCountyFamilies，andtheCourtJournal。Onandoverthemantelpiecewerenicknacksofvariousdescriptions，andphotographicportraitsoftheartistic，scientific，andliterarycelebritiesoftheday。

Adressing-roomlaybeyond；but，becomingconsciousthathisstudyofancientarchitecturewouldhardlybearstretchingfurtherinthatdirection，Mr。Somersetretreatedtotheoutside，obliviouslypassingbythegemofRenaissancethathadledhimin。

'Sheaffectsblue，'hewasthinking。'Thensheisfair。'

Onlookingup，sometimelater，atthenewclockthattoldtheseconds，hefoundthatthehoursathisdisposalforworkhadflownwithouthishavingtransferredasinglefeatureofthebuildingorfurnituretohissketch-book。Beforeleavinghesentinforpermissiontocomeagain，andthenwalkedacrossthefieldstotheinnatSleeping-Green，reflectinglessuponMissDeStancy(solittleforceofpresencehadshepossessed)

thanuponthemodernflowerinamediaevalflower-potwhomMissDeStancy'sinformationhadbroughtbeforehim，andupontheincongruitiesthatweredailyshapingthemselvesintheworldunderthegreatmodernfluctuationsofclassesandcreeds。

Somersetwasstillfullofthesubjectwhenhearrivedattheendofhiswalk，andhefanciedthatsomeloungersatthebaroftheinnwerediscussingtheheroineofthechapel-scenejustatthemomentofhisentry。Onthisaccount，whenthelandlordcametoclearawaythedinner，Somersetwasledtoinquireofhim，bywayofopeningaconversation，ifthereweremanyBaptistsintheneighbourhood。

Thelandlord(whowasaseriousmanonthesurface，thoughheoccasionallysmiledbeneath)repliedthattherewereagreatmany——farmorethantheaverageincountryparishes。'Evenhere，inmyhouse，now，'headded，'whenvolksgetadropofdrinkinto'em，andtheirfeelingsrisetoazong，somemanwillstrikeupahymnbypreference。ButIfindnofaultwiththat；forthough'tishardlyhumannaturetobesocalculatinginyercups，afellermayaswellsingtogainsomethingassingtowaste。'

'Howdoyouaccountfortherebeingsomany?'

'Well，youzee，sir，somesaysonething，andsomeanother；I

thinktheydoesittosavetheexpenseofaChristianburialfortherchildren。Nowthere'sapoorfamilyoutinLongLane——thehusbandusedtosmiteforJimmyMoretheblacksmithtill'ahurthisarm——they'dhavenolessthanelevenchildrenifthey'dnotbeenluckyt'otherway，andburiedfivewhentheywerethreeorfourmonthsold。Noweveryoneofthemchildrenwasgiventothesextoninalittleboxthatanyjourneymancouldnailtogetherinaquarterofanhour，andheburied'ematnightforashillingahead；whereas'twouldhavecostacoupleofpoundseachifthey'dbeenchristenedatchurch……Ofcoursethere'sthenewladyatthecastle，she'sachapelmember，andthatmaymakealittledifference；

butshe'snotbeenherelongenoughtoshowwhether'twillbeworthwhiletojoin'emfortheprofito'torwhether'twillnot。Nodoubtifitturnsoutthatshe'sofasorttorelievevolksintrouble，morewilljoinhersetthanbelongstoitalready。"Anyportinastorm，"ofcourse，asthesayingis。'

'Asforyourself，youareaChurchmanatpresent，Ipresume?'

'Yes；notbutIwasaMethodistonce——ay，foralengthoftime。'Twasowingtomytakingahousenextdoortoachapel；

sothatwhatwithhearingtheorganbizzlikeabeethroughthewall，andwhatwithfindingitsavedumbrellasonwetZundays，Iwentovertothatfaithfortwoyears——thoughI

believeIdroppedmoneybyit——Iwouldn'tbethemantosaysoifIhadn't。Howsomever，whenImovedintothishouseI

turnedbackagaintomyoldreligion。Faith，Idon'tzeemuchdifference:beyouone，orbeyout'other，you'vegottogetyourliving。'

'TheDeStancys，ofcourse，havenotmuchinfluenceherenow，forthat，oranyotherthing?'

'Ono，no；notanyatall。Theybeverylowuponground，andalwayswillbenow，Isuppose。Itwasthoughtedworthyofbeingrecordedinhistory——you'vereadit，sir，nodoubt?'

'Notaword。'

'O，then，youshall。I'vegotthehistoryzomewhere。'Twasgaymannersthatdidit。TheonlybitoflucktheyhavehadoflateyearsisMissPower'stakingtolittleMissDeStancy，andmakingherhercompany-keeper。Ihope'twillcontinue。'

ThatthetwodaughtersoftheseantipodeanfamiliesshouldbesuchintimatefriendswasasituationwhichpleasedSomersetasmuchasitdidthelandlord。Itwasanengaginginstanceofthathumanprogressonwhichhehadexpendedmanycharmingdreamsintheyearswhenpoetry，theology，andthereorganizationofsocietyhadseemedmattersofmoreimportancetohimthanaprofessionwhichshouldhelphimtoabighouseandincome，afairDeiopeia，andalovelyprogeny。

Whenhewasalonehepouredoutaglassofwine，andsilentlydrankthehealthsofthetwogenerous-mindedyoungwomenwho，inthislonelydistrict，hadfoundsweetcommunionanecessityoflife，andbypureandinstinctivegoodsensehadbrokendownabarrierwhichmenthricetheirageandreputewouldprobablyhavefeltitimperativetomaintain。Butperhapsthiswaspremature:theomnipotentMissPower'scharacter——

practicalorideal，politicorimpulsive——heasyetknewnothingof；andgivingoverreasoningfrominsufficientdatahelapsedintomereconjecture。

V。

ThenextmorningSomersetwasagainatthecastle。HepassedsomeintervalonthewallsbeforeencounteringMissDeStancy，whomatlastheobservedgoingtowardsapony-carriagethatwaitednearthedoor。

Asmilegainedstrengthuponherfaceathisapproach，andshewasthefirsttospeak。'IamsorryMissPowerhasnotreturned，'shesaid，andaccountedforthatlady'sabsencebyherdistressattheeventoftwoeveningsearlier。

'ButIhavedrivenovertomyfather's——SirWilliamDeStancy's——housethismorning，'shewenton。'Andonmentioningyournametohim，Ifoundheknewitquitewell。

Youwill，willyounot，forgivemyignoranceinhavingnobetterknowledgeoftheelderMr。Somerset'sworksthanadimsenseofhisfameasapainter?ButIwasgoingtosaythatmyfatherwouldmuchliketoincludeyouinhispersonalacquaintance，andwishesmetoaskifyouwillgivehimthepleasureoflunchingwithhimto-day。MycousinJohn，whomyouonceknew，wasagreatfavouriteofhis，andusedtospeakofyousometimes。Itwillbesokindifyoucancome。Myfatherisanoldman，outofsociety，andhewouldbegladtohearthenewsoftown。'

Somersetsaidhewasgladtofindhimselfamongfriendswherehehadonlyexpectedstrangers；andpromisedtocomethatday，ifshewouldtellhimtheway。

Thatshecouldeasilydo。Theshortwaywasacrossthatgladehesawthere——thenoverthestileintothewood，followingthepathtillitcameoutupontheturnpike-road。Hewouldthenbealmostclosetothehouse。Thedistancewasabouttwomilesandahalf。Butifhethoughtittoofarforawalk，shewoulddriveontothetown，whereshehadbeengoingwhenhecame，andinsteadofreturningstraighttoherfather'swouldcomebackandpickhimup。

Itwasnotatallnecessary，hethought。Hewasawalker，andcouldfindthepath。

AtthismomentaservantcametotellMissDeStancythatthetelegraphwascallingher。

'Ah——itisluckythatIwasnotgoneagain!'sheexclaimed。

'JohnseldomreadsitrightifIamaway。'

Itnowseemedquiteintheordinarycoursethat，asafriendofherfather's，heshouldaccompanyhertotheinstrument。

Souptheywenttogether，andimmediatelyonreachingitsheappliedhereartotheinstrument，andbegantogatherthemessage。Somersetfanciedhimselflikeapersonoverlookinganother'sletter，andmovedaside。

'Itisnosecret，'shesaid，smiling。'"PaulatoCharlotte，"

itbegins。'

'That'sverypretty。'

'O——anditisabout——you，'murmuredMissDeStancy。

'Me?'Thearchitectblushedalittle。

Shemadenoanswer，andthemachinewentonwithitsstory。

Therewassomethingcuriousinwatchingthisutteranceabouthimself，underhisverynose，inlanguageunintelligibletohim。Heconjecturedwhetheritwereinquiry，praise，orblame，withasensethatitmightreasonablybethelatter，astheresultofhissurreptitiouslookintothatbluebedroom，possiblyobservedandreportedbysomeservantofthehouse。

'"DirectthateveryfacilitybegiventoMr。Somersettovisitanypartofthecastlehemaywishtosee。OnmyreturnI

shallbegladtowelcomehimastheacquaintanceofyourrelatives。Ihavetwoofhisfather'spictures。"'

'Dearme，theplotthickens，'hesaid，asMissDeStancyannouncedthewords。'Howcouldsheknowaboutme?'

'IsentamessagetoherthismorningwhenIsawyoucrossingtheparkonyourwayhere——tellingherthatMr。Somerset，sonoftheAcademician，wasmakingsketchesofthecastle，andthatmyfatherknewsomethingofyou。That'sheranswer。'

'Wherearethepicturesbymyfatherthatshehaspurchased?'

'O，nothere——atleast，notunpacked。'

MissdeStancythenlefthimtoproceedonherjourneytoMarkton(sothenearestlittletownwascalled)，informinghimthatshewouldbeatherfather'shousetoreceivehimattwoo'clock。Justaboutoneheclosedhissketch-book，andsetoutinthedirectionshehadindicated。Attheentrancetothewoodamanwasatworkpullingdownarottengatethatboreonitsbatteredlocktheinitials'W。DeS。'anderectinganewonewhoseironmongeryexhibitedtheletters'P。P。'

Thewarmthofthesummernoondidnotinconvenientlypenetratethedensemassesoffoliagewhichnowbegantooverhangthepath，exceptinspotswherearuthlesstimber-fellinghadtakenplaceinpreviousyearsforthepurposeofsale。Itwasthatparticularhalf-hourofthedayinwhichthebirdsoftheforestpreferwalkingtoflying；andtherebeingnowind，thehoppingofthesmallestsongsteroverthedeadleavesreachedhisearfrombehindtheundergrowth。

Thetrackhadoriginallybeenawell-keptwindingdrive，butadeepcarpetofmossandleavesoverlaiditnow，thoughthegeneraloutlinestillremainedtoshowthatitscurveshadbeensetoutwithasmuchcareasthoseofalawnwalk，andthegradientmadeeasyforcarriageswherethenaturalslopesweregreat。Felledtrunksoccasionallylayacrossit，andalongsidewerethehollowandfungousbolesoftreessawndowninlongpastyears。

Afterawalkofthree-quartersofanhourhecametoanothergate，wheretheletters'P。P。'againsupplantedthehistorical'W。DeS。'Climbingoverthis，hefoundhimselfonahighwaywhichpresentlydippeddowntowardsthetownofMarkton，aplacehehadneveryetseen。Itappearedinthedistanceasaquietlittleboroughofafewthousandinhabitants；and，withoutthetownboundaryonthesidehewasapproaching，stoodhalf-a-dozengenteelandmodernhouses，ofthedetachedkindusuallyfoundinsuchsuburbs。Oninquiry，SirWilliamDeStancy'sresidencewasindicatedasoneofthese。

Itwasalmostnew，ofstreakedbrick，havingacentraldoor，andasmallbaywindowoneachsidetolightthetwofrontparlours。Alittlelawnspreaditsgreensurfaceinfront，dividedfromtheroadbyironrailings，thelowlineofshrubsimmediatelywithinthembeingcoatedwithpalliddustfromthehighway。Ontheneatpiersoftheneatentrancegatewerechiselledthewords'MyrtleVilla。'Genuineroadsiderespectabilitysatsmilingoneverybrickoftheeligibledwelling。

PerhapsthatwhichimpressedSomersetmorethanthemushroommodernismofSirWilliamDeStancy'shousewastheairofhealthfulcheerfulnesswhichpervadedit。Hewasshowninbyaneatmaidservantinblackgownandwhiteapron，acanarysingingawelcomefromacageintheshadowofthewindow，thevoicesofcrowingcockscomingoverthechimneysfromsomewherebehind，andthesunandairriddlingthehouseeverywhere。

Adwellingofthosewell-knownandpopulardimensionswhichallowtheproceedingsinthekitchentobedistinctlyheardintheparlours，itwassoplannedthatarakingviewmightbeobtainedthroughitfromthefrontdoortotheendofthebackgarden。Thedrawing-roomfurniturewascomfortable，inthewalnut-and-green-repstyleofsomeyearsago。Somersethadexpectedtofindhisfriendslivinginanoldhousewithremnantsoftheirownantiquefurniture，andhehardlyknewwhetherheoughttomeetthemwithasmileoragazeofcondolence。Hisdoubtwasterminated，however，bythecheerfulandtrippingentryofMissDeStancy，whohadreturnedfromherdrivetoMarkton；andinafewmoremomentsSirWilliamcameinfromthegarden。

Hewasanoldmanoftallandsparebuild，withaconsiderablestoop，hisglassesdanglingagainsthiswaistcoat-buttons，andthefrontcornersofhiscoat-tailshanginglowerthanthehinderparts，sothattheyswayedrightandleftashewalked。

Henervouslyapologizedtohisvisitorforhavingkepthimwaiting。

'Iamsogladtoseeyou，'hesaid，withamildbenevolenceoftone，asheretainedSomerset'shandforamomentortwo；

'partlyforyourfather'ssake，whomImetmorethanonceinmyyoungerdays，beforehebecamesowell-known；andalsobecauseIlearnthatyouwereafriendofmypoornephewJohnRavensbury。'Helookedoverhisshouldertoseeifhisdaughterwerewithinhearing，and，withtheimpulseofthesolitarytomakeaconfidence，continuedinalowtone:'She，poorgirl，wastohavemarriedJohn:hisdeathwasasadblowtoherandtoallofus——Praytakeaseat，Mr。Somerset。'

ThereversesoffortunewhichhadbroughtSirWilliamDeStancytothiscomfortablecottageawakenedinSomersetawarmeremotionthancuriosity，andhesatdownwithaheartasresponsivetoeachspeechutteredasifithadseriouslyconcernedhimself，whilehishostgavesomewordsofinformationtohisdaughteronthetriflingeventsthathadmarkedthemorningjustpassed；suchasthatthecowhadgotoutofthepaddockintoMissPower'sfield，thatthesmithwhohadpromisedtocomeandlookatthekitchenrangehadnotarrived，thattwowasps'nestshadbeendiscoveredinthegardenbank，andthatNickJones'sbabyhadfallendownstairs。

SirWilliamhadlargecavernousarchestohiseye-sockets，remindingthebeholderofthevaultsinthecastleheoncehadowned。Hishandswerelongandalmostfleshless，eachknuckleshowinglikeabamboo-jointfrombeneathhiscoat-sleeves，whichweresmallattheelbowandlargeatthewrist。Allthecolourhadgonefromhisbeardandlocks，exceptinthecaseofafewisolatedhairsoftheformer，whichretaineddashesoftheiroriginalshadeatsuddenpointsintheirlength，revealingthatallhadoncebeenravenblack。

Buttostudyamantohisfaceforlongisaspeciesofill-

naturewhichrequiresacoldertemperament，oratleastanolderheart，thanthearchitect'swasatthattime。Incuriousunobservanceisthetrueattitudeofcordiality，andSomersetblamedhimselfforhavingfallenintoanactofinspectionevenbriefly。Hewouldwaitforhishost'sconversation，whichwoulddoubtlessbeoftheessenceofhistoricalromance。

'ThefavourableBank-returnshavemadethemoney-marketmucheasierto-day，asIlearn?'saidSirWilliam。

'O，havethey?'saidSomerset。'Yes，Isupposetheyhave。'

'AndsomethingismeantbythisunusualquietnessinForeignstockssincethelateremarkablefluctuations，'insistedtheoldman。'Isthecurrentofspeculationquitearrested，orisitbutatemporarylull?'

Somersetsaidhewasafraidhecouldnotgiveanopinion，andenteredverylamelyintothesubject；butSirWilliamseemedtofindsufficientinterestinhisownthoughtstodoawaywiththenecessityofacquiringfreshimpressionsfromotherpeople'sreplies；foroftenafterputtingaquestionhelookedonthefloor，asifthesubjectwereatanend。Lunchwasnowready，andwhentheywereinthedining-roomMissDeStancy，tointroduceatopicofmoregeneralinterest，askedSomersetifhehadnoticedthemyrtleonthelawn?

Somersethadnoticedit，andthoughthehadneverseensuchafull-blownoneintheopenairbefore。Hiseyeswere，however，restingatthemomentontheonlyobjectsatalloutofthecommonthatthedining-roomcontained。Onewasasingularglasscaseoverthefireplace，withinwhichweresomelargemediaevaldoor-keys，blackwithrustandage；andtheothersweretwofull-lengthoilportraitsinthecostumeoftheendofthelastcentury——sooutofallproportiontothesizeoftheroomtheyoccupiedthattheyalmostreachedtothefloor。

'Thoseoriginallybelongedtothecastleyonder，'saidMissDeStancy，orCharlotte，asherfathercalledher，noticingSomerset'sglanceatthekeys。'Theyusedtounlocktheprincipalentrance-doors，whichwereknockedtopiecesinthecivilwars。Newdoorswereplacedafterwards，buttheoldkeyswerenevergivenup，andhavebeenpreservedbyuseversince。'

'Theyarequiteuseless——merelumber——particularlytome，'

saidSirWilliam。

'AndthosehugepaintingswereapresentfromPaula，'shecontinued。'Theyareportraitsofmygreat-grandfatherandmother。Paulawouldgivealltheoldfamilypicturesbacktomeifwehadroomforthem；buttheywouldfillthehousetotheceilings。'

SirWilliamwasimpatientofthesubject。'Whatistheutilityofsuchaccumulations?'heasked。'Theiroriginalsarebutclaynow——mereforgottendust，notworthyamoment'sinquiryorreflectionatthisdistanceoftime。Nothingcanretainthespirit，andwhyshouldwepreservetheshadowoftheform?——Londonhasbeenveryfullthisyear，sir，Ihavebeentold?'

'Ithas，'saidSomerset，andheaskediftheyhadbeenupthatseason。ItwasplainthatthematterwithwhichSirWilliamDeStancyleastcaredtooccupyhimselfbeforevisitorswasthehistoryofhisownfamily，inwhichhewasfollowedwithmoresimplicitybyhisdaughterCharlotte。

'No，'saidthebaronet。'Onemightbeledtothinkthereisafatalitywhichpreventsit。Wemakearrangementstogototownalmosteveryyear，tomeetsomeoldfriendwhocombinestherareconditionsofbeinginLondonwithbeingmindfulofme；buthehasalwaysdiedorgoneelsewherebeforetheeventhastakenplace……Butwithadispositiontobehappy，itisneitherthisplacenortheotherthatcanrenderusthereverse。Inshorteachman'shappinessdependsuponhimself，andhisabilityfordoingwithlittle。'HeturnedmoreparticularlytoSomerset，andaddedwithanimpressivesmile:

'Ihopeyoucultivatetheartofdoingwithlittle?'

Somersetsaidthathecertainlydidcultivatethatart，partlybecausehewasobligedto。

'Ah——youdon'tmeantotheextentthatImean。Theworldhasnotyetlearnedtherichesoffrugality，says，Ithink，Cicero，somewhere；andnobodycantestifytothetruthofthatremarkbetterthanI。Ifamanknowshowtospendlessthanhisincome，howeversmallthatmaybe，why——hehasthephilosopher'sstone。'AndSirWilliamlookedinSomerset'sfacewithfrugalitywrittenineveryporeofhisown，asmuchastosay，'Andhereyouseeonewhohasbeenalivinginstanceofthoseprinciplesfromhisyouthup。'

Somersetsoonfoundthatwhateverturntheconversationtook，SirWilliaminvariablyrevertedtothistopicoffrugality。

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