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with just enough playfulness to show that her anger was not
too serious。
Charlotte looked at Paula uneasily when the latter joined her
in the drawing…room。 She wanted to say； 'What is the matter？'
but guessing that her brother had something to do with it；
forbore to speak at first。 She could not contain her anxiety
long。 'Were you talking with my brother？' she said。
'Yes；' returned Paula； with reservation。 However； she soon
added； 'He not only wants to photograph his ancestors； but MY
portrait too。 They are a dreadfully encroaching sex； and
perhaps being in the army makes them worse！'
'I'll give him a hint； and tell him to be careful。'
'Don't say I have definitely complained of him； it is not
worth while to do that； the matter is too trifling for
repetition。 Upon the whole； Charlotte； I would rather you
said nothing at all。'
De Stancy's hobby of photographing his ancestors seemed to
become a perfect mania with him。 Almost every morning
discovered him in the larger apartments of the castle； taking
down and rehanging the dilapidated pictures； with the
assistance of the indispensable Dare； his fingers stained
black with dust； and his face expressing a busy attention to
the work in hand； though always reserving a look askance for
the presence of Paula。
Though there was something of subterfuge； there was no deep
and double subterfuge in all this。 De Stancy took no
particular interest in his ancestral portraits； but he was
enamoured of Paula to weakness。 Perhaps the composition of
his love would hardly bear looking into； but it was recklessly
frank and not quite mercenary。 His photographic scheme was
nothing worse than a lover's not too scrupulous contrivance。
After the refusal of his request to copy her picture he fumed
and fretted at the prospect of Somerset's return before any
impression had been made on her heart by himself； he swore at
Dare； and asked him hotly why he had dragged him into such a
hopeless dilemma as this。
'Hopeless？ Somerset must still be kept away； so that it is
not hopeless。 I will consider how to prolong his stay。'
Thereupon Dare considered。
The time was cominghad indeed comewhen it was necessary
for Paula to make up her mind about her architect； if she
meant to begin building in the spring。 The two sets of plans；
Somerset's and Havill's； were hanging on the walls of the room
that had been used by Somerset as his studio； and were
accessible by anybody。 Dare took occasion to go and study
both sets； with a view to finding a flaw in Somerset's which
might have been passed over unnoticed by the committee of
architects； owing to their absence from the actual site。 But
not a blunder could he find。
He next went to Havill； and here he was met by an amazing
state of affairs。 Havill's creditors； at last suspecting
something mythical in Havill's assurance that the grand
commission was his； had lost all patience； his house was
turned upside…down； and a poster gleamed on the front wall；
stating that the excellent modern household furniture was to
be sold by auction on Friday next。 Troubles had apparently
come in battalions； for Dare was informed by a bystander that
Havill's wife was seriously ill also。
Without staying for a moment to enter his friend's house； back
went Mr。 Dare to the castle； and told Captain De Stancy of the
architect's desperate circumstances； begging him to convey the
news in some way to Miss Power。 De Stancy promised to make
representations in the proper quarter without perceiving that
he was doing the best possible deed for himself thereby。
He told Paula of Havill's misfortunes in the presence of his
sister； who turned pale。 She discerned how this misfortune
would bear upon the undecided competition。
'Poor man；' murmured Paula。 'He was my father's architect；
and somehow expected； though I did not promise it； the work of
rebuilding the castle。'
Then De Stancy saw Dare's aim in sending him to Miss Power
with the news； and； seeing it； concurred： Somerset was his
rival； and all was fair。 'And is he not to have the work of
the castle after expecting it？' he asked。
Paula was lost in reflection。 'The other architect's design
and Mr。 Havill's are exactly equal in merit； and we cannot
decide how to give it to either；' explained Charlotte。
'That is our difficulty；' Paula murmured。 'A bankrupt； and
his wife illdear me！ I wonder what's the cause。'
'He has borrowed on the expectation of having to execute the
castle works； and now he is unable to meet his liabilities。'
'It is very sad；' said Paula。
'Let me suggest a remedy for this dead…lock；' said De Stancy。
'Do；' said Paula。
'Do the work of building in two halves or sections。 Give
Havill the first half； since he is in need； when that is
finished the second half can be given to your London
architect。 If； as I understand； the plans are identical；
except in ornamental details； there will be no difficulty
about it at all。'
Paula sighedjust a little one； and yet the suggestion seemed
to satisfy her by its reasonableness。 She turned sad；
wayward； but was impressed by De Stancy's manner and words。
She appeared indeed to have a smouldering desire to please
him。 In the afternoon she said to Charlotte； 'I mean to do as
your brother says。'
A note was despatched to Havill that very day； and in an hour
the crestfallen architect presented himself at the castle。
Paula instantly gave him audience； commiserated him； and
commissioned him to carry out a first section of the
buildings； comprising work to the extent of about twenty
thousand pounds expenditure； and then； with a prematureness
quite amazing among architects' clients； she handed him over a
cheque for five hundred pounds on account。
When he had gone； Paula's bearing showed some sign of being
disquieted at what she had done； but she covered her mood
under a cloak of saucy serenity。 Perhaps a tender remembrance
of a certain thunderstorm in the foregoing August when she
stood with Somerset in the arbour； and did not own that she
loved him； was pressing on her memory and bewildering her。
She had not seen quite clearly； in adopting De Stancy's
suggestion； that Somerset would now have no professional
reason for being at the castle for the next twelve months。
But the captain had； and when Havill entered the castle he
rejoiced with great joy。 Dare； too； rejoiced in his cold way；
and went on with his photography； saying； 'The game
progresses； captain。'
'Game？ Call it Divine Comedy； rather！' said the soldier
exultingly。
'He is practically banished for a year or more。 What can't
you do in a year； captain！'
Havill； in the meantime； having respectfully withdrawn from
the presence of Paula； passed by Dare and De Stancy in the
gallery as he had done in entering。 He spoke a few words to
Dare； who congratulated him。 While they were talking somebody
was heard in the hall； inquiring hastily for Mr。 Havill。
'What shall I tell him？' demanded the porter。
'His wife is dead；' said the messenger。
Havill overheard the words； and hastened away。
'An unlucky man！' said Dare。
'That； happily for us； will not affect his installat