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best　he　could。　　To　begin　this　course　of　procedure　was　easy；
but　to　abide　in　patience　till　it　should　produce　fruit　was　an
irksome　task。　　As　nearly　as　he　could　guessfor　his　watch　had
been　stopped　by　the　fallit　was　now　about　four　o'clock；　and
it　would　be　scarcely　possible　for　evening　to　approach　without
some　eye　or　other　noticing　the　white　signal。　　So　Somerset
waited；　his　eyes　lingering　on　the　little　world　of　objects
around　him；　till　they　all　became　quite　familiar。　　Spiders'…
webs　in　plenty　were　there；　and　one　in　particular　just　before
him　was　in　full　use　as　a　snare；　stretching　across　the　arch　of
the　window；　with　radiating　threads　as　its　ribs。　　Somerset　had
plenty　of　time；　and　he　counted　their　numberfifteen。　　He
remained　so　silent　that　the　owner　of　this　elaborate　structure
soon　forgot　the　disturbance　which　had　resulted　in　the　breaking
of　his　diagonal　ties；　and　crept　out　from　the　corner　to　mend
them。　　In　watching　the　process；　Somerset　noticed　that　on　the
stonework　behind　the　web　sundry　names　and　initials　had　been
cut　by　explorers　in　years　gone　by。　　Among　these　antique
inscriptions　he　observed　two　bright　and　clean　ones；　consisting
of　the　words　'De　Stancy'　and　'W。　Dare；'　crossing　each　other　at
right　angles。　　From　the　state　of　the　stone　they　could　not　have
been　cut　more　than　a　month　before　this　date；　and；　musing　on
the　circumstance；　Somerset　passed　the　time　until　the　sun
reached　the　slit　in　that　side　of　the　tower；　where；　beginning
by　throwing　in　a　streak　of　fire　as　narrow　as　a　corn…stalk；　it
enlarged　its　width　till　the　dusty　nook　was　flooded　with
cheerful　light。　　It　disclosed　something　lying　in　the　corner；
which　on　examination　proved　to　be　a　dry　bone。　　Whether　it　was
human；　or　had　come　from　the　castle　larder　in　bygone　times；　he
could　not　tell。　　One　bone　was　not　a　whole　skeleton；　but　it
made　him　think　of　Ginevra　of　Modena；　the　heroine　of　the
Mistletoe　Bough；　and　other　cribbed　and　confined　wretches；　who
had　fallen　into　such　traps　and　been　discovered　after　a　cycle
of　years。

The　sun's　rays　had　travelled　some　way　round　the　interior　when
Somerset's　waiting　ears　were　at　last　attracted　by　footsteps
above；　each　tread　being　brought　down　by　the　hollow　turret　with
great　fidelity。　　He　hoped　that　with　these　sounds　would　arise
that　of　a　soft　voice　he　had　begun　to　like　well。　　Indeed；
during　the　solitary　hour　or　two　of　his　waiting　here　he　had
pictured　Paula　straying　alone　on　the　terrace　of　the　castle；
looking　up；　noting　his　signal；　and　ascending　to　deliver　him
from　his　painful　position　by　her　own　exertions。　　It　seemed
that　at　length　his　dream　had　been　verified。　　The　footsteps
approached　the　opening　of　the　turret；　and；　attracted　by　the
call　which　Somerset　now　raised；　began　to　descend　towards　him。
In　a　moment；　not　Paula's　face；　but　that　of　a　dreary　footman　of
her　household；　looked　into　the　hole。

Somerset　mastered　his　disappointment；　and　the　man　speedily
fetched　a　ladder；　by　which　means　the　prisoner　of　two　hours
ascended　to　the　roof　in　safety。　　During　the　process　he
ventured　to　ask　for　the　ladies　of　the　house；　and　learnt　that
they　had　gone　out　for　a　drive　together。

Before　he　left　the　castle；　however；　they　had　returned；　a
circumstance　unexpectedly　made　known　to　him　by　his　receiving　a
message　from　Miss　Power；　to　the　effect　that　she　would　be　glad
to　see　him　at　his　convenience。　　Wondering　what　it　could
possibly　mean；　he　followed　the　messenger　to　her　rooma　small
modern　library　in　the　Jacobean　wing　of　the　house；　adjoining
that　in　which　the　telegraph　stood。　　She　was　alone；　sitting
behind　a　table　littered　with　letters　and　sketches；　and　looking
fresh　from　her　drive。　　Perhaps　it　was　because　he　had　been　shut
up　in　that　dismal　dungeon　all　the　afternoon　that　he　felt
something　in　her　presence　which　at　the　same　time　charmed　and
refreshed　him。

She　signified　that　he　was　to　sit　down；　but　finding　that　he　was
going　to　place　himself　on　a　straight…backed　chair　some
distance　off　she　said；　'Will　you　sit　nearer　to　me？'　and　then；
as　if　rather　oppressed　by　her　dignity；　she　left　her　own　chair
of　business　and　seated　herself　at　ease　on　an　ottoman　which　was
among　the　diversified　furniture　of　the　apartment。

'I　want　to　consult　you　professionally；'　she　went　on。　　'I　have
been　much　impressed　by　your　great　knowledge　of　castellated
architecture。　　Will　you　sit　in　that　leather　chair　at　the
table；　as　you　may　have　to　take　notes？'

The　young　man　assented；　expressed　his　gratification；　and　went
to　the　chair　she　designated。

'But；　Mr。　Somerset；'　she　continued；　from　the　ottomanthe
width　of　the　table　only　dividing　them'I　first　should　just
like　to　know；　and　I　trust　you　will　excuse　my　inquiry；　if　you
are　an　architect　in　practice；　or　only　as　yet　studying　for　the
profession？'

'I　am　just　going　to　practise。　　I　open　my　office　on　the　first
of　January　next；'　he　answered。

'You　would　not　mind　having　me　as　a　clientyour　first　client？'
She　looked　curiously　from　her　sideway　face　across　the　table　as
she　said　this。

'Can　you　ask　it！'　said　Somerset　warmly。　　'What　are　you　going
to　build？'

'I　am　going　to　restore　the　castle。'

'What；　all　of　it？'　said　Somerset；　astonished　at　the　audacity
of　such　an　undertaking。

'Not　the　parts　that　are　absolutely　ruinous：　　the　walls
battered　by　the　Parliament　artillery　had　better　remain　as　they
are；　I　suppose。　　But　we　have　begun　wrong；　it　is　I　who　should
ask　you；　not　you　me　。　。　。　。　　I　fear；'　she　went　on；　in　that　low
note　which　was　somewhat　difficult　to　catch　at　a　distance；　'I
fear　what　the　antiquarians　will　say　if　I　am　not　very　careful。
They　come　here　a　great　deal　in　summer　and　if　I　were　to　do　the
work　wrong　they　would　put　my　name　in　the　papers　as　a　dreadful
person。　　But　I　must　live　here；　as　I　have　no　other　house；
except　the　one　in　London；　and　hence　I　must　make　the　place
habitable。　　I　do　hope　I　can　trust　to　your　judgment？'

'I　hope　so；'　he　said；　with　diffidence；　for；　far　from　having
much　professional　confidence；　he　often　mistrusted　himself。　　'I
am　a　Fellow　of　the　Society　of　Antiquaries；　and　a　Member　of　the
Institute　of　British　Architectsnot　a　Fellow　of　that　body
yet；　though　I　soon　shall　be。'

'Then　I　am　sure　you　must　be　trustworthy；'　she　said；　with
enthusiasm。　　'Well；　what　am　I　to　do？How　do　we　begin？'

Somerset　began　to　feel　more　professional；　what　with　the
business　chair　and　the　table；　and　the　writing…paper；
notwithstanding　that　these　articles；　and　the　room　they　were
in；　were　hers　instead　of　his；　and　an　evenness　of　manner　which
he　had　momentarily　lost　returned　to　him。　　'The　very　first
step；'　he　said；　'is　to　decide　upon　the　outlaywhat　is　it　to
cost？'

He　faltered　a　little；　for　it　seemed　to　disturb　the　softness　of
their　relationship　to　talk　thus　of　hard　cash。　　But　her
sympathy　with　his　feeling　was　apparently　not　great；　and　she
said；　'The　expenditure　shall　be　what　you　advise。'

'What　a　heavenly　client！'　he　thought。　　'But　you　must　just　give
some　idea；'　he　said　gently。　　'For　the　fact　is；　any　sum　almost
may　be　spent　on　such　a　building：　　five　thousand；　ten　thousand；
twenty　thousand；　fifty　thousand；　a　hundred　thousand。'

'I　want　it　done　well；　so　suppose　we　say　a　hundred　thousand？
My　father's　solicitormy　solicitor　nowsays　I　may　go　to　a
hundred　thousand　without　extravagance；　if　the　expenditure　is
scattered　over　two　or　three　years。'

Somerset　looked　round　for　a　pen。　　With　quickness　of　insight
she　knew　what　he　wanted；　and　signified　where　one　could　be
found。　　He　wrote　down　in　large　figures

　　　　　100；000。

It　was　more　than　he　had　expected；　and　for　a　young　man　just
beginning　practice；　the　opportunity　of　playing　with　another
person's　money　to　that　extent　would　afford　an　exceptionally
handsome　opening；　not　so　much　from　the　commission　it
represented；　as　from　the　attention　that　would　be　bestowed　by
the　art…world　on　such　an　undertaking。

Paula　had　sunk　into　a　reverie。　　'I　was　intending　to　intrust
the　work　to　Mr。　Havill；　a　local　architect；'　she　said。　　'But　I
gathered　from　his　conversation　with　you　to…day　that　his
ignorance　of　styles　might　compromise　me　very　seriously。　In
short；　though　my　father　employed　him　in　one　or　two　little
matters；　it　would　not　be　righteven　a　morally　culpable　thing…
…to　place　such　an　historically　valuable　building　in　his
hands。'

'Has　Mr。　Havill　ever　been　led　to　expect　the　commission？'　he
asked。

'He　may　have　guessed　that　he　would　have　it。　　I　have　spoken　of
my　intention　to　him　more　than　once。'

Somerset　thought　over　his　conversation　with　Havill。　　Well；　he
did　not　like　Havill　personally；　and　he　had　strong　reasons　for
suspecting　that　in　the　matter　of　architecture　Havill　was　a
quack。　　But　was　it　quite　generous　to　step　in　thus；　and　take
away　what　would　be　a　golden　opportunity　to　such　a　man　of
making　both　ends　meet　comfortably　for　some　years　to　come；
without　giving　him　at　least　one　chance？　　He　reflected　a　little
longer；　and　then　spoke　out　his　feeling。

'I　venture　to　propose　a　slightly　modified　arrangement；'　he
said。　　'Instead　of　committing　the　whole　undertaking　to　my
hands　without　better　proof　of　my　ability　to　carry　it　out　than
you　have　at　present；　let　there　be　a　competition　between　Mr。
Havill　and　myselflet　our　rival　plans　for　the　restoration　and
enlargement　be　submitted　to　a　committee　of　the　Royal　Institute
of　British　Architectsand　let　the　choice　rest　with　them；
subject　of　course　to　your　approval。'

'It　is　indeed　generous　of　you　to　suggest　it。'　　She　looked
thoughtfully　at　him；　he　appeared　to　strike　her　in　a　new　light。
'You　really　recommend　it？'　　The　fairness　which　had　prompted
his　words　seemed　to　incline　her　still　more　than　before　to
resign　herself　entirely　to　him　in　the　matter。

'I　do；'　said　Somerset　deliberately。

'I　will　think　of　it；　since　you　wish　it。　　And　now；　what　general
idea　have　you　of　the　plan　to　adopt？　　I　do　not　positively　agree
to　your　suggestion　as　yet；　so　I　may　perhaps　ask　the　question。'

Somerset；　being　by　this　time　familiar　with　the　general　plan　of
the　castle；　took　out　his　pencil　and　made　a　rough　sketch。
While　he　was　doing　it　she　rose；　and　coming　to　the　back　of　his
chair；　bent　over　him　in　silence。

'Ah；　I　begin　to　see　your　conception；'　she　murmured；　and　the
breath　of　her　words　fanned　his　ear。　　He　finished　the　sketch；
and　held　it　up　to　her；　saying

'I　would　suggest　that　y