and　he　has　merely　succeeded　in　finding　them。　　But　he　has　made
  my　duty　rather　a　difficult　one。　　Still；　it　was　my　duty；　for　I
  very　greatly　wronged　him。　　Perhaps；　however；　I　have　done
  enough　for　honour's　sake。　　I　would　have　humiliated　myself　by
  an　apology　if　I　had　found　him　in　any　other　situation；　but；　of
  course；　one　can't　he　expected　to　take　MUCH　trouble　when　he　is
  seen　going　on　like　that！'
  The　coolness　with　which　she　began　her　remarks　had　developed
  into　something　like　warmth　as　she　concluded。
  'He　is　only　dancing　with　a　lady　he　probably　knows　very　well。'
  'He　doesn't　know　her！　　The　idea　of　his　dancing　with　a　woman　of
  that　description！　　We　will　go　away　tomorrow。　　This　place　has
  been　greatly　over…praised。'
  'The　place　is　well　enough；　as　far　as　I　can　see。'
  'He　is　carrying　out　his　programme　to　the　letter。　　He　plunges
  into　excitement　in　the　most　reckless　manner；　and　I　tremble　for
  the　consequences！　　I　can　do　no　more：　　I　have　humiliated　myself
  into　following　him；　believing　that　in　giving　too　ready
  credence　to　appearances　I　had　been　narrow　and　inhuman；　and　had
  caused　him　much　misery。　　But　he　does　not　mind；　and　he　has　no
  misery；　he　seems　just　as　well　as　ever。　　How　much　this　finding
  him　has　cost　me！　　After　all；　I　did　not　deceive　him。　　He　must
  have　acquired　a　natural　aversion　for　me。　　I　have　allowed
  myself　to　be　interested　in　a　man　of　very　common　qualities；　and
  am　now　bitterly　alive　to　the　shame　of　having　sought　him　out。
  I　heartily　detest　him！　　I　will　go　backaunt；　you　are　rightI
  had　no　business　to　come。　。　。　。　　His　light　conduct　has　rendered
  him　uninteresting　to　me！'
  III。
  When　she　rose　the　next　morning　the　bell　was　clanging　for　the
  second　breakfast；　and　people　were　pouring　in　from　the　beach　in
  every　variety　of　attire。　　Paula；　whom　a　restless　night　had
  left　with　a　headache；　which；　however；　she　said　nothing　about；
  was　reluctant　to　emerge　from　the　seclusion　of　her　chamber；
  till　her　aunt；　discovering　what　was　the　matter　with　her；
  suggested　that　a　few　minutes　in　the　open　air　would　refresh
  her；　and　they　went　downstairs　into　the　hotel　gardens。
  The　clatter　of　the　big　breakfast　within　was　audible　from　this
  spot；　and　the　noise　seemed　suddenly　to　inspirit　Paula；　who
  proposed　to　enter。　　Her　aunt　assented。　　In　the　verandah　under
  which　they　passed　was　a　rustic　hat…stand　in　the　form　of　a
  tree；　upon　which　hats　and　other　body…gear　hung　like　bunches　of
  fruit。　　Paula's　eye　fell　upon　a　felt　hat　to　which　a　small
  block…book　was　attached　by　a　string。　　She　knew　that　hat　and
  block…book　well；　and　turning　to　Mrs。　Goodman　said；　'After　all；
  I　don't　want　the　breakfast　they　are　having：　　let　us　order　one
  of　our　own　as　usual。　　And　we'll　have　it　here。'
  She　led　on　to　where　some　little　tables　were　placed　under　the
  tall　shrubs；　followed　by　her　aunt；　who　was　in　turn　followed　by
  the　proprietress　of　the　hotel；　that　lady　having　discovered
  from　the　French　maid　that　there　was　good　reason　for　paying
  these　ladies　ample　personal　attention。
  'Is　the　gentleman　to　whom　that　sketch…book　belongs　staying
  here？'　Paula　carelessly　inquired；　as　she　indicated　the　object
  on　the　hat…stand。
  'Ah；　no！'　deplored　the　proprietress。　　'The　Hotel　was　full　when
  Mr。　Somerset　came。　　He　stays　at　a　cottage　beyond　the　Rue
  Anicet　Bourgeois：　　he　only　has　his　meals　here。'
  Paula　had　taken　her　seat　under　the　fuchsia…trees　in　such　a
  manner　that　she　could　observe　all　the　exits　from　the　salle　a
  manger；　but　for　the　present　none　of　the　breakfasters　emerged；
  the　only　moving　objects　on　the　scene　being　the　waitresses　who
  ran　hither　and　thither　across　the　court；　the　cook's　assistants
  with　baskets　of　long　bread；　and　the　laundresses　with　baskets
  of　sun…bleached　linen。　　Further　back　towards　the　inn…yard；
  stablemen　were　putting　in　the　horses　for　starting　the　flys　and
  coaches　to　Les　Ifs；　the　nearest　railway…station。
  'Suppose　the　Somersets　should　be　going　off　by　one　of　these
  conveyances；'　said　Mrs。　Goodman　as　she　sipped　her　tea。
  'Well；　aunt；　then　they　must；'　replied　the　younger　lady　with
  composure。
  Nevertheless　she　looked　with　some　misgiving　at　the　nearest
  stableman　as　he　led　out　four　white　horses；　harnessed　them；　and
  leisurely　brought　a　brush　with　which　he　began　blacking　their
  yellow　hoofs。　　All　the　vehicles　were　ready　at　the　door　by　the
  time　breakfast　was　over；　and　the　inmates　soon　turned　out；　some
  to　mount　the　omnibuses　and　carriages；　some　to　ramble　on　the
  adjacent　beach；　some　to　climb　the　verdant　slopes；　and　some　to
  make　for　the　cliffs　that　shut　in　the　vale。　　The　fuchsia…trees
  which　sheltered　Paula's　breakfast…table　from　the　blaze　of　the
  sun；　also　screened　it　from　the　eyes　of　the　outpouring　company；
  and　she　sat　on　with　her　aunt　in　perfect　comfort；　till　among
  the　last　of　the　stream　came　Somerset　and　his　father。　　Paula
  reddened　at　being　so　near　the　former　at　last。　　It　was　with
  sensible　relief　that　she　observed　them　turn　towards　the　cliffs
  and　not　to　the　carriages；　and　thus　signify　that　they　were　not
  going　off　that　day。
  Neither　of　the　two　saw　the　ladies；　and　when　the　latter　had
  finished　their　tea　and　coffee　they　followed　to　the　shore；
  where　they　sat　for　nearly　an　hour；　reading　and　watching　the
  bathers。　At　length　footsteps　crunched　among　the　pebbles　in
  their　vicinity；　and　looking　out　from　her　sunshade　Paula　saw
  the　two　Somersets　close　at　hand。
  The　elder　recognized　her；　and　the　younger；　observing　his
  father's　action　of　courtesy；　turned　his　head。　　It　was　a
  revelation　to　Paula；　for　she　was　shocked　to　see　that　he
  appeared　worn　and　ill。　　The　expression　of　his　face　changed　at
  sight　of　her；　increasing　its　shade　of　paleness；　but　he
  immediately　withdrew　his　eyes　and　passed　by。
  Somerset　was　as　much　surprised　at　encountering　her　thus　as　she
  had　been　distressed　to　see　him。　　As　soon　as　they　were　out　of
  hearing；　he　asked　his　father　quietly；　'What　strange　thing　is
  this；　that　Lady　De　Stancy　should　be　here　and　her　husband　not
  with　her？　　Did　she　bow　to　me；　or　to　you？'
  'Lady　De　Stancythat　young　lady？'　asked　the　puzzled　painter。
  He　proceeded　to　explain　all　he　knew；　that　she　was　a　young　lady
  he　had　met　on　his　journey　at　two　or　three　different　times；
  moreover；　that　if　she　were　his　son's　clientthe　woman　who　was
  to　have　become　Lady　De　Stancyshe　was　Miss　Power　still；　for
  he　had　seen　in　some　newspaper　two　days　before　leaving　England
  that　the　wedding　had　been　postponed　on　account　of　her　illness。
  Somerset　was　so　greatly　moved　that　he　could　hardly　speak
  connectedly　to　his　father　as　they　paced　on　together。　　'But　she
  is　not　ill；　as　far　as　I　can　see；'　he　said。　　'The　wedding
  postponed？You　are　sure　the　word　was　postponed？Was　it
  broken　off？'
  'No；　it　was　postponed。　　I　meant　to　have　told　you　before；
  knowing　you　would　be　interested　as　the　castle　architect；　but
  it　slipped　my　memory　in　the　bustle　of　arriving。'
  'I　am　not　the　castle　architect。'
  'The　devil　you　are　notwhat　are　you　then？'
  'Well；　I　am　not　that。'
  Somerset　the　elder；　though　not　of　penetrating　nature；　began　to
  see　that　here　lay　an　emotional　complication　of　some　sort；　and
  reserved　further　inquiry　till　a　more　convenient　occasion。
  They　had　reached　the　end　of　the　level　beach　where　the　cliff
  began　to　rise；　and　as　this　impediment　naturally　stopped　their
  walk　they　retraced　their　steps。　　On　again　nearing　the　spot
  where　Paula　and　her　aunt　were　sitting；　the　painter　would　have
  deviated　to　the　hotel；　but　as　his　son　persisted　in　going
  straight　on；　in　due　course　they　were　opposite　the　ladies
  again。　　By　this　time　Miss　Power；　who　had　appeared　anxious
  during　their　absence；　regained　her　self…control。　　Going
  towards　her　old　lover　she　said；　with　a　smile；　'I　have　been
  looking　for　you！'
  'Why　have　you　been　doing　that？'　said　Somerset；　in　a　voice
  which　he　failed　to　keep　as　steady　as　he　could　wish。
  'BecauseI　want　some　architect　to　continue　the　restoration。
  Do　you　withdraw　your　resignation？'
  Somerset　appeared　unable　to　decide　for　a　few　instants。　　'Yes；'
  he　then　answered。
  For　the　moment　they　had　ignored　the　presence　of　the　painter
  and　Mrs。　Goodman；　but　Somerset　now　made　them　known　to　one
  another；　and　there　was　friendly　intercourse　all　round。
  'When　will　you　be　able　to　resume　operations　at　the　castle？'
  she　asked；　as　soon　as　she　could　again　speak　directly　to
  Somerset。
  'As　soon　as　I　can　get　back。　　Of　course　I　only　resume　it　at
  your　special　request。'
  'Of　course。'　　To　one　who　had　known　all　the　circumstances　it
  would　have　seemed　a　thousand　pities　that；　after　again　getting
  face　to　face　with　him；　she　did　not　explain；　without　delay；　the
  whole　mischief　that　had　separated　them。　　But　she　did　not　do
  itperhaps　from　the　inherent　awkwardness　of　such　a　topic　at
  this　idle　time。　　She　confined　herself　simply　to　the　above…
  mentioned　business…like　request；　and　when　the　party　had　walked
  a　few　steps　together　they　separated；　with　mutual　promises　to
  meet　again。
  'I　hope　you　have　explained　your　mistake　to　him；　and　how　it
  arose；　and　everything？'　said　her　aunt　when　they　were　alone。
  'No；　I　did　not。'
  'What；　not　explain　after　all？'　said　her　amazed　relative。
  'I　decided　to　put　it　off。'
  'Then　I　think　you　decided　very　wrongly。　　Poor　young　man；　he
  looked　so　ill！'
  'Did　you；　too；　think　he　looked　ill？　　But　he　danced　last　night。
  Why　did　he　dance？'　　She　turn