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that　my　words　make　you　worse　than　ever。　　Don't　pass　the　line　I
have　set　down　in　the　way　you　were　tempted　to　do　in　your　last；
and　not　too　many　Dearestsat　least　as　yet。　　This　is　not　a
time　for　effusion。　　You　have　my　very　warm　affection；　and
that's　enough　for　the　present。'

As　a　love…letter　this　missive　was　tantalizing　enough；　but
since　its　form　was　simply　a　continuation　of　what　she　had
practised　before　she　left；　it　produced　no　undue　misgiving　in
him。　　Far　more　was　he　impressed　by　her　omitting　to　answer　the
two　important　questions　he　had　put　to　her。　　First；　concerning
her　uncle's　attitude　towards　them；　and　his　conduct　in　giving
such　strange　information　to　the　reporter。　　Second；　on　his；
Somerset's；　paying　her　a　flying　visit　some　time　during　the
spring。　　Since　she　had　requested　it；　he　made　no　haste　in　his
reply。　　When　penned；　it　ran　in　the　words　subjoined；　which；　in
common　with　every　line　of　their　correspondence；　acquired　from
the　strangeness　of　subsequent　circumstances　an　interest　and　a
force　that　perhaps　they　did　not　intrinsically　possess。

'People　cannot'　（he　wrote）　'be　for　ever　in　good　spirits　on
this　gloomy　side　of　the　Channel；　even　though　you　seem　to　be　so
on　yours。　　However；　that　I　can　abstain　from　letting　you　know
whether　my　spirits　are　good　or　otherwise；　I　will　prove　in　our
future　correspondence。　　I　admire　you　more　and　more；　both　for
the　warm　feeling　towards　me　which　I　firmly　believe　you　have；
and　for　your　ability　to　maintain　side　by　side　with　it　so　much
dignity　and　resolution　with　regard　to　foolish　sentiment。
Sometimes　I　think　I　could　have　put　up　with　a　little　more
weakness　if　it　had　brought　with　it　a　little　more　tenderness；
but　I　dismiss　all　that　when　I　mentally　survey　your　other
qualities。　　I　have　thought　of　fifty　things　to　say　to　you　of
the　TOO　FAR　sort；　not　one　of　any　other；　so　that　your
prohibition　is　very　unfortunate；　for　by　it　I　am　doomed　to　say
things　that　do　not　rise　spontaneously　to　my　lips。　　You　say
that　our　shut…up　feelings　are　not　to　be　mentioned　yet。　　How
long　is　the　yet　to　last？

'But；　to　speak　more　solemnly；　matters　grow　very　serious　with
us；　Paulaat　least　with　me：　　and　there　are　times　when　this
restraint　is　really　unbearable。　　It　is　possible　to　put　up　with
reserve　when　the　reserved　being　is　by　one's　side；　for　the　eyes
may　reveal　what　the　lips　do　not。　　But　when　she　is　absent；　what
was　piquancy　becomes　harshness；　tender　railleries　become　cruel
sarcasm；　and　tacit　understandings　misunderstandings。　　However
that　may　be；　you　shall　never　be　able　to　reproach　me　for
touchiness。　　I　still　esteem　you　as　a　friend；　I　admire　you　and
love　you　as　a　woman。　　This　I　shall　always　do；　however
unconfiding　you　prove。'



II。

Without　knowing　it；　Somerset　was　drawing　near　to　a　crisis　in
this　soft　correspondence　which　would　speedily　put　his
assertions　to　the　test；　but　the　knowledge　came　upon　him　soon
enough　for　his　peace。

Her　next　letter；　dated　March　9th；　was　the　shortest　of　all　he
had　received；　and　beyond　the　portion　devoted　to　the　building…
works　it　contained　only　the　following　sentences：

'I　am　almost　angry　with　you；　George；　for　being　vexed　because　I
am　not　more　effusive。　　Why　should　the　verbal　I　LOVE　YOU　be
ever　uttered　between　two　beings　of　opposite　sex　who　have　eyes
to　see　signs？　　During　the　seven　or　eight　months　that　we　have
known　each　other；　you　have　discovered　my　regard　for　you；　and
what　more　can　you　desire？　　Would　a　reiterated　assertion　of
passion　really　do　any　good？　　Remember　it　is　a　natural　instinct
with　us　women　to　retain　the　power　of　obliging　a　man　to　hope；
fear；　pray；　and　beseech　as　long　as　we　think　fit；　before　we
confess　to　a　reciprocal　affection。

'I　am　now　going　to　own　to　a　weakness　about　which　I　had
intended　to　keep　silent。　　It　will　not　perhaps　add　to　your
respect　for　me。　　My　uncle；　whom　in　many　ways　I　like；　is
displeased　with　me　for　keeping　up　this　correspondence　so
regularly。　　I　am　quite　perverse　enough　to　venture　to　disregard
his　feelings；　but　considering　the　relationship；　and　his
kindness　in　other　respects；　I　should　prefer　not　to　do　so　at
present。　　Honestly　speaking；　I　want　the　courage　to　resist　him
in　some　things。　　He　said　to　me　the　other　day　that　he　was　very
much　surprised　that　I　did　not　depend　upon　his　judgment　for　my
future　happiness。　　Whether　that　meant　much　or　little；　I　have
resolved　to　communicate　with　you　only　by　telegrams　for　the
remainder　of　the　time　we　are　here。　　Please　reply　by　the　same
means　only。　　There；　now；　don't　flush　and　call　me　names！　　It　is
for　the　best；　and　we　want　no　nonsense；　you　and　I。　　Dear
George；　I　feel　more　than　I　say；　and　if　I　do　not　speak　more
plainly；　you　will　understand　what　is　behind　after　all　I　have
hinted。　　I　can　promise　you　that　you　will　not　like　me　less　upon
knowing　me　better。　　Hope　ever。　　I　would　give　up　a　good　deal
for　you。　　Good…bye！'

This　brought　Somerset　some　cheerfulness　and　a　good　deal　of
gloom。　　He　silently　reproached　her；　who　was　apparently　so
independent；　for　lacking　independence　in　such　a　vital　matter。
Perhaps　it　was　mere　sex；　perhaps　it　was　peculiar　to　a　few；
that　her　independence　and　courage；　like　Cleopatra's；　failed
her　occasionally　at　the　last　moment。

One　curious　impression　which　had　often　haunted　him　now
returned　with　redoubled　force。　　He　could　not　see　himself　as
the　husband　of　Paula　Power　in　any　likely　future。　　He　could　not
imagine　her　his　wife。　　People　were　apt　to　run　into　mistakes　in
their　presentiments；　but　though　he　could　picture　her　as
queening　it　over　him；　as　avowing　her　love　for　him
unreservedly；　even　as　compromising　herself　for　him；　he　could
not　see　her　in　a　state　of　domesticity　with　him。

Telegrams　being　commanded；　to　the　telegraph　he　repaired；　when；
after　two　days；　an　immediate　wish　to　communicate　with　her　led
him　to　dismiss　vague　conjecture　on　the　future　situation。　　His
first　telegram　took　the　following　form：

'I　give　up　the　letter　writing。　　I　will　part　with　anything　to
please　you　but　yourself。　　Your　comfort　with　your　relative　is
the　first　thing　to　be　considered：　　not　for　the　world　do　I　wish
you　to　make　divisions　within　doors。　　Yours。'

Tuesday；　Wednesday；　Thursday　passed；　and　on　Saturday　a
telegram　came　in　reply：

'I　can　fear；　grieve　at；　and　complain　of　nothing；　having　your
nice　promise　to　consider　my　comfort　always。'

This　was　very　pretty；　but　it　admitted　little。　　Such　short
messages　were　in　themselves　poor　substitutes　for　letters；　but
their　speed　and　easy　frequency　were　good　qualities　which　the
letters　did　not　possess。　　Three　days　later　he　replied：

'You　do　not　once　say　to　me　〃Come。〃　　Would　such　a　strange
accident　as　my　arrival　disturb　you　much？'

She　replied　rather　quickly：

'I　am　indisposed　to　answer　you　too　clearly。　　Keep　your　heart
strong：　　'tis　a　censorious　world。'

The　vagueness　there　shown　made　Somerset　peremptory；　and　he
could　not　help　replying　somewhat　more　impetuously　than　usual：…
…

'Why　do　you　give　me　so　much　cause　for　anxiety！　　Why　treat　me
to　so　much　mystification！　　Say　once；　distinctly；　that　what　I
have　asked　is　given。'

He　awaited　for　the　answer；　one　day；　two　days；　a　week；　but　none
came。　　It　was　now　the　end　of　March；　and　when　Somerset　walked
of　an　afternoon　by　the　river　and　pool　in　the　lower　part　of　the
grounds；　his　ear　newly　greeted　by　the　small　voices　of　frogs
and　toads　and　other　creatures　who　had　been　torpid　through　the
winter；　he　became　doubtful　and　uneasy　that　she　alone　should　be
silent　in　the　awakening　year。

He　waited　through　a　second　week；　and　there　was　still　no　reply。
It　was　possible　that　the　urgency　of　his　request　had　tempted
her　to　punish　him；　and　he　continued　his　walks；　to；　fro；　and
around；　with　as　close　an　ear　to　the　undertones　of　nature；　and
as　attentive　an　eye　to　the　charms　of　his　own　art；　as　the　grand
passion　would　allow。　　Now　came　the　days　of　battle　between
winter　and　spring。　　On　these　excursions；　though　spring　was　to
the　forward　during　the　daylight；　winter　would　reassert　itself
at　night；　and　not　unfrequently　at　other　moments。　　Tepid　airs
and　nipping　breezes　met　on　the　confines　of　sunshine　and　shade；
trembling　raindrops　that　were　still　akin　to　frost　crystals
dashed　themselves　from　the　bushes　as　he　pursued　his　way　from
town　to　castle；　the　birds　were　like　an　orchestra　waiting　for
the　signal　to　strike　up；　and　colour　began　to　enter　into　the
country　round。

But　he　gave　only　a　modicum　of　thought　to　these　proceedings。
He　rather　thought　such　things　as；　'She　can　afford　to　be　saucy；
and　to　find　a　source　of　blitheness　in　my　love；　considering　the
power　that　wealth　gives　her　to　pick　and　choose　almost　where
she　will。'　　He　was　bound　to　own；　however；　that　one　of　the
charms　of　her　conversation　was　the　complete　absence　of　the
note　of　the　heiress　from　its　accents。　　That；　other　things
equal；　her　interest　would　naturally　incline　to　a　person
bearing　the　name　of　De　Stancy；　was　evident　from　her　avowed
predilections。　　His　original　assumption；　that　she　was　a
personification　of　the　modern　spirit；　who　had　been　dropped；
like　a　seed　from　the　bill　of　a　bird；　into　a　chink　of
mediaevalism；　required　some　qualification。　　Romanticism；　which
will　exist　in　every　human　breast　as　long　as　human　nature
itself　exists；　had　asserted　itself　in　her。　　Veneration　for
things　old；　not　because　of　any　merit　in　them；　but　because　of
their　long　continuance；　had　developed　in　her；　and　her　modern
spirit　was　taking　to　itself　wings　and　flying　away。　　Whether
his　image　was　flying　with　the　other　was　a　question　which　moved
him　all　the　more　deeply　now　that　her　silence　gave　him　dread　of
an　affirmative　answer。

For　another　seven　days　he　stoically　left　in　suspension　all
forecasts　of　his　possibly　grim　fate　in　being　the　employed　and
not　the　beloved。　　The　week　passed：　　he　telegraphed：　　there　was
no　reply：　　he　had　sudden　fears　for　her　personal　safety　and
resolved　to　break　her　command　by　writing。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　'STANCY　CASTLE；　April
13。

'DEAR　PAULA；Are　you　ill　or　in　trouble？　　It　is　impossible　in
the　very　unquiet　state　you　have　put　me　into　by　your　silence
that　I　should　abstain　from　writing。　　Without　affectation；　you
sorely　distress　me；　and　I　think　you　would　hardly　have　done　it
could　you　know　what　a　degree　of　anxiety　you　cause。　　Why；
Paula；　do　you　not　write　or　send