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as is often seen in the women of Correggio when they are
painted in profile。 But the plain features of Miss De Stancy…
…who she undoubtedly waswere rather severely handled by
Somerset's judgment owing to his impression of the previous
night。 A beauty of a sort would have been lent by the
flexuous contours of the mobile parts but for that unfortunate
condition the poor girl was burdened with； of having to hand
on a traditional feature with which she did not find herself
otherwise in harmony。
She glanced at him for a moment； and showed by an
imperceptible movement that he had made his presence felt。
Not to embarrass her Somerset hastened to withdraw； at the
same time that she passed round to the other part of the
terrace； followed by the cat； in whom Somerset could imagine a
certain denominational cast of countenance； notwithstanding
her company。 But as white cats are much alike each other at a
distance； it was reasonable to suppose this creature was not
the same one as that possessed by the beauty。
IV。
He descended the stone stairs to a lower story of the castle；
in which was a crypt…like hall covered by vaulting of
exceptional and massive ingenuity：
'Built ere the art was known；
By pointed aisle and shafted stalk
The arcades of an alleyed walk
To emulate in stone。'
It happened that the central pillar whereon the vaults rested；
reputed to exhibit some of the most hideous grotesques in
England upon its capital； was within a locked door。 Somerset
was tempted to ask a servant for permission to open it； till
he heard that the inner room was temporarily used for plate；
the key being kept by Miss De Stancy； at which he said no
more。 But afterwards the active housemaid redescended the
stone steps； she entered the crypt with a bunch of keys in one
hand； and in the other a candle； followed by the young lady
whom Somerset had seen on the terrace。
'I shall be very glad to unlock anything you may want to see。
So few people take any real interest in what is here that we
do not leave it open。'
Somerset expressed his thanks。
Miss De Stancy； a little to his surprise； had a touch of
rusticity in her manner； and that forced absence of reserve
which seclusion from society lends to young women more
frequently than not。 She seemed glad to have something to do；
the arrival of Somerset was plainly an event sufficient to set
some little mark upon her day。 Deception had been written on
the faces of those frowning walls in their implying the
insignificance of Somerset； when he found them tenanted only
by this little woman whose life was narrower than his own。
'We have not been here long；' continued Miss De Stancy； 'and
that's why everything is in such a dilapidated and confused
condition。'
Somerset entered the dark store…closet； thinking less of the
ancient pillar revealed by the light of the candle than what a
singular remark the latter was to come from a member of the
family which appeared to have been there five centuries。 He
held the candle above his head； and walked round； and
presently Miss De Stancy came back。
'There is another vault below；' she said； with the severe face
of a young woman who speaks only because it is absolutely
necessary。 'Perhaps you are not aware of it？ It was the
dungeon： if you wish to go down there too； the servant will
show you the way。 It is not at all ornamental： rough； unhewn
arches and clumsy piers。'
Somerset thanked her； and would perhaps take advantage of her
kind offer when he had examined the spot where he was； if it
were not causing inconvenience。
'No； I am sure Paula will be glad to know that anybody thinks
it interesting to go down therewhich is more than she does
herself。'
Some obvious inquiries were suggested by this； but Somerset
said； 'I have seen the pictures； and have been much struck by
them； partly；' he added； with some hesitation； 'because one or
two of them reminded me of a schoolfellowI think his name
was John Ravensbury？'
'Yes；' she said； almost eagerly。 'He was my cousin！'
'So that we are not quite strangers？'
'But he is dead now。 。 。 。 He was unfortunate： he was mostly
spoken of as 〃that unlucky boy。〃 。 。 。 You know； I suppose；
Mr。 Somerset； why the paintings are in such a decaying state！…
…it is owing to the peculiar treatment of the castle during
Mr。 Wilkins's time。 He was blind； so one can imagine he did
not appreciate such things as there are here。'
'The castle has been shut up； you mean？'
'O yes； for many years。 But it will not be so again。 We are
going to have the pictures cleaned； and the frames mended； and
the old pieces of furniture put in their proper places。 It
will be very nice then。 Did you see those in the east
closet？'
'I have only seen those in the gallery。'
'I will just show you the way to the others； if you would like
to see them？'
They ascended to the room designated the east closet。 The
paintings here； mostly of smaller size； were in a better
condition； owing to the fact that they were hung on an inner
wall； and had hence been kept free from damp。 Somerset
inquired the names and histories of one or two。
'I really don't quite know；' Miss De Stancy replied after some
thought。 'But Paula knows； I am sure。 I don't study them
muchI don't see the use of it。' She swung her sunshade； so
that it fell open； and turned it up till it fell shut。 'I
have never been able to give much attention to ancestors；' she
added； with her eyes on the parasol。
'These ARE your ancestors？' he asked； for her position and
tone were matters which perplexed him。 In spite of the family
likeness and other details he could scarcely believe this
frank and communicative country maiden to be the modern
representative of the De Stancys。
'O yes； they certainly are；' she said； laughing。 'People say
I am like them： I don't know if I amwell； yes； I know I am：
I can see that； of course； any day。 But they have gone from
my family； and perhaps it is just as well that they should
have gone。 。 。 。 They are useless；' she added； with serene
conclusiveness。
'Ah！ they have gone； have they？'
'Yes； castle and furniture went together： it was long ago
long before I was born。 It doesn't seem to me as if the place
ever belonged to a relative of mine。'
Somerset corrected his smiling manner to one of solicitude。
'But you live here； Miss De Stancy？'
'Yesa great deal now； though sometimes I go home to sleep。'
'This is home to you； and not home？'
'I live here with Paulamy friend： I have not been here
long； neither has she。 For the first six months after her
father's death she did not come here at all。'
They walked on； gazing at the walls； till the young man said：
'I fear I may be making some mistake： but I am sure you will
pardon my inquisitiveness this once。 WHO is Paula？'
'Ah； you don't know！ Of course you don'tlocal changes don't
get talked of far away。 She is the owner of this castle and
estate。 My father sold it when he was quite a young man；
years before I was born； and not long after his father's
death。 It was purchased by a man named Wilkins； a rich man
who became