beheld　it；　but　it　was　on　the　neck　of　Charlotte　De　Stancy。
  The　whole　lucid　explanation　broke　across　his　understanding　in
  a　second。　　His　dear　Paula　had　fetched　the　necklace　that
  Charlotte　should　not　appear　to　disadvantage　among　the　county
  people　by　reason　of　her　poverty。　　It　was　generously　donea
  disinterested　act　of　sisterly　kindness；　theirs　was　the
  friendship　of　Hermia　and　Helena。　　Before　he　had　got　further
  than　to　realize　this；　there　wheeled　round　amongst　the　dancers
  a　lady　whose　tournure　he　recognized　well。　　She　was　Paula；　and
  to　the　young　man's　vision　a　superlative　something
  distinguished　her　from　all　the　rest。　　This　was　not　dress　or
  ornament；　for　she　had　hardly　a　gem　upon　her；　her　attire　being
  a　model　of　effective　simplicity。　　Her　partner　was　Captain　De
  Stancy。
  The　discovery　of　this　latter　fact　slightly　obscured　his
  appreciation　of　what　he　had　discovered　just　before。　　It　was
  with　rather　a　lowering　brow　that　he　asked　himself　whether
  Paula's　predilection　d'artiste；　as　she　called　it；　for　the　De
  Stancy　line　might　not　lead　to　a　predilection　of　a　different
  sort　for　its　last　representative　which　would　be　not　at　all
  satisfactory。
  The　architect　remained　in　the　background　till　the　dance　drew
  to　a　conclusion；　and　then　he　went　forward。　　The　circumstance
  of　having　met　him　by　accident　once　already　that　day　seemed　to
  quench　any　surprise　in　Miss　Power's　bosom　at　seeing　him　now。
  There　was　nothing　in　her　parting　from　Captain　De　Stancy；　when
  he　led　her　to　a　seat；　calculated　to　make　Somerset　uneasy　after
  his　long　absence。　　Though；　for　that　matter；　this　proved
  nothing；　for；　like　all　wise　maidens；　Paula　never　ventured　on
  the　game　of　the　eyes　with　a　lover　in　public；　well　knowing　that
  every　moment　of　such　indulgence　overnight　might　mean　an　hour's
  sneer　at　her　expense　by　the　indulged　gentleman　next　day；　when
  weighing　womankind　by　the　aid　of　a　cold　morning　light　and　a
  bad　headache。
  While　Somerset　was　explaining　to　Paula　and　her　aunt　the　reason
  of　his　sudden　appearance；　their　attention　was　drawn　to　a　seat
  a　short　way　off　by　a　fluttering　of　ladies　round　the　spot。　　In
  a　moment　it　was　whispered　that　somebody　had　fallen　ill；　and　in
  another　that　the　sufferer　was　Miss　De　Stancy。　　Paula；　Mrs。
  Goodman；　and　Somerset　at　once　joined　the　group　of　friends　who
  were　assisting　her。　　Neither　of　them　imagined　for　an　instant
  that　the　unexpected　advent　of　Somerset　on　the　scene　had
  anything　to　do　with　the　poor　girl's　indisposition。
  She　was　assisted　out　of　the　room；　and　her　brother；　who　now
  came　up；　prepared　to　take　her　home；　Somerset　exchanging　a　few
  civil　words　with　him；　which　the　hurry　of　the　moment　prevented
  them　from　continuing；　though　on　taking　his　leave　with
  Charlotte；　who　was　now　better；　De　Stancy　informed　Somerset　in
  answer　to　a　cursory　inquiry；　that　he　hoped　to　be　back　again　at
  the　ball　in　half…an…hour。
  When　they　were　gone　Somerset；　feeling　that　now　another　dog
  might　have　his　day；　sounded　Paula　on　the　delightful　question
  of　a　dance。
  Paula　replied　in　the　negative。
  'How　is　that？'　asked　Somerset　with　reproachful　disappointment。
  'I　cannot　dance　again；'　she　said　in　a　somewhat　depressed　tone；
  'I　must　be　released　from　every　engagement　to　do　so；　on　account
  of　Charlotte's　illness。　　I　should　have　gone　home　with　her　if　I
  had　not　been　particularly　requested　to　stay　a　little　longer；
  since　it　is　as　yet　so　early；　and　Charlotte's　illness　is　not
  very　serious。'
  If　Charlotte's　illness　was　not　very　serious；　Somerset　thought；
  Paula　might　have　stretched　a　point；　but　not　wishing　to　hinder
  her　in　showing　respect　to　a　friend　so　well　liked　by　himself；
  he　did　not　ask　it。　　De　Stancy　had　promised　to　be　back　again　in
  half…an…hour；　and　Paula　had　heard　the　promise。　　But　at　the　end
  of　twenty　minutes；　still　seeming　indifferent　to　what　was　going
  on　around　her；　she　said　she　would　stay　no　longer；　and
  reminding　Somerset　that　they　were　soon　to　meet　and　talk　over
  the　rebuilding；　drove　off　with　her　aunt　to　Stancy　Castle。
  Somerset　stood　looking　after　the　retreating　carriage　till　it
  was　enveloped　in　shades　that　the　lamps　could　not　disperse。
  The　ball…room　was　now　virtually　empty　for　him；　and　feeling　no
  great　anxiety　to　return　thither　he　stood　on　the　steps　for　some
  minutes　longer；　looking　into　the　calm　mild　night；　and　at　the
  dark　houses　behind　whose　blinds　lay　the　burghers　with　their
  eyes　sealed　up　in　sleep。　　He　could　not　but　think　that　it　was
  rather　too　bad　of　Paula　to　spoil　his　evening　for　a　sentimental
  devotion　to　Charlotte　which　could　do　the　latter　no　appreciable
  good；　and　he　would　have　felt　seriously　hurt　at　her　move　if　it
  had　not　been　equally　severe　upon　Captain　De　Stancy；　who　was
  doubtless　hastening　back；　full　of　a　belief　that　she　would
  still　be　found　there。
  The　star　of　gas…jets　over　the　entrance　threw　its　light　upon
  the　walls　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　street；　where　there　were
  notice…boards　of　forthcoming　events。　　In　glancing　over　these
  for　the　fifth　time；　his　eye　was　attracted　by　the　first　words
  of　a　placard　in　blue　letters；　of　a　size　larger　than　the　rest；
  and　moving　onward　a　few　steps　he　read：
  STANCY　CASTLE。
  By　the　kind　permission　of　Miss　Power；
  A　PLAY
  Will　shortly　be　performed　at　the　above　CASTLE；
  IN　AID　OF　THE　FUNDS　OF　THE
  COUNTY　HOSPITAL；
  By　the　Officers　of　the
  ROYAL　HORSE　ARTILLERY；
  MARKTON　BARRACKS；
  ASSISTED　BY　SEVERAL
  LADIES　OF　THE　NEIGHBOURHOOD。
  The　cast　and　other　particulars　will　be　duly　announced　in
  small
  bills。　　Places　will　be　reserved　on　application　to　Mr。
  Clangham；
  High　Street；　Markton；　where　a　plan　of　the　room　may　be　seen。
  N。BThe　Castle　is　about　twenty　minutes'　drive　from　Markton
  Station；
  to　which　there　are　numerous　convenient　trains　from　all　parts
  of　the
  county。
  In　a　profound　study　Somerset　turned　and　re…entered　the　ball…
  room；　where　he　remained　gloomily　standing　here　and　there　for
  about　five　minutes；　at　the　end　of　which　he　observed　Captain　De
  Stancy；　who　had　returned　punctually　to　his　word；　crossing　the
  hall　in　his　direction。
  The　gallant　officer　darted　glances　of　lively　search　over　every
  group　of　dancers　and　sitters；　and　then　with　rather　a　blank
  look　in　his　face；　he　came　on　to　Somerset。　　Replying　to　the
  latter's　inquiry　for　his　sister　that　she　had　nearly　recovered；
  he　said；　'I　don't　see　my　father's　neighbours　anywhere。'
  'They　have　gone　home；'　replied　Somerset；　a　trifle　drily。
  'They　asked　me　to　make　their　apologies　to　you　for　leading　you
  to　expect　they　would　remain。　　Miss　Power　was　too　anxious　about
  Miss　De　Stancy　to　care　to　stay　longer。'
  The　eyes　of　De　Stancy　and　the　speaker　met　for　an　instant。
  That　curious　guarded　understanding；　or　inimical　confederacy；
  which　arises　at　moments　between　two　men　in　love　with　the　same
  woman；　was　present　here；　and　in　their　mutual　glances　each　said
  as　plainly　as　by　words　that　her　departure　had　ruined　his
  evening's　hope。
  They　were　now　about　as　much　in　one　mood　as　it　was　possible　for
  two　such　differing　natures　to　be。　　Neither　cared　further　for
  elaborating　giddy　curves　on　that　town…hall　floor。　　They　stood
  talking　languidly　about　this　and　that　local　topic；　till　De
  Stancy　turned　aside　for　a　short　time　to　speak　to　a　dapper
  little　lady　who　had　beckoned　to　him。　　In　a　few　minutes　he　came
  back　to　Somerset。
  'Mrs。　Camperton；　the　wife　of　Major　Camperton　of　my　battery；
  would　very　much　like　me　to　introduce　you　to　her。　　She　is　an
  old　friend　of　your　father's；　and　has　wanted　to　know　you　for　a
  long　time。'
  De　Stancy　and　Somerset　crossed　over　to　the　lady；　and　in　a　few
  minutes；　thanks　to　her　flow　of　spirits；　she　and　Somerset　were
  chatting　with　remarkable　freedom。
  'It　is　a　happy　coincidence；'　continued　Mrs。　Camperton；　'that　I
  should　have　met　you　here；　immediately　after　receiving　a　letter
  from　your　father：　　indeed　it　reached　me　only　this　morning。　　He
  has　been　so　kind！　　We　are　getting　up　some　theatricals；　as　you
  know；　I　suppose；　to　help　the　funds　of　the　County　Hospital；
  which　is　in　debt。'
  'I　have　just　seen　the　announcementnothing　more。'
  'Yes；　such　an　estimable　purpose；　and　as　we　wished　to　do　it
  thoroughly　well；　I　asked　Mr。　Somerset　to　design　us　the
  costumes；　and　he　has　now　sent　me　the　sketches。　　It　is　quite　a
  secret　at　present；　but　we　are　going　to　play　Shakespeare's
  romantic　drama；　'Love's　Labour's　Lost；'　and　we　hope　to　get
  Miss　Power　to　take　the　leading　part。　　You　see；　being　such　a
  handsome　girl；　and　so　wealthy；　and　rather　an　undiscovered
  novelty　in　the　county　as　yet；　she　would　draw　a　crowded　room；
  and　greatly　benefit　the　funds。'
  'Miss　Power　going　to　play　herself？I　am　rather　surprised；'
  said　Somerset。　　'Whose　idea　is　all　this？'
  'O；　Captain　De　Stancy'she's　the　originator　entirely。　　You
  see　he　is　so　interested　in　the　neighbourhood；　his　family
  having　been　connected　with　it　for　so　many　centuries；　that
  naturally　a　charitable　object　of　this　local　nature　appeals　to
  his　feelings。'
  'Naturally！'　her　listener　laconically　repeated。　　'And　have　you
  settled　who　is　to　play　the　junior　gentleman's　part；　leading
  lover；　hero；　or　whatever　he　is　called？'
  'Not