A Laodicean

the castle, in which was a crypt-like hall covered

e the art

aisle and s

s of an al

ate in

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

want to see. So few people take any real intere

xpressed h

ently 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

De Stancy, 'and that's why everything is in

than what a singular remark the latter was to come from a member of the family which appeared to have been the

is absolutely necessary. 'Perhaps you are not aware of it? It was the dungeon: if you wish to go down there

age of her kind offer when he had examined the spot

hat anybody thinks it interesting to go dow

res, and have been much struck by them; partly,' he added, with some hesitation, 'becaus

almost eagerly. '

are not quit

Mr. Somerset, why the paintings are in such a decaying state!-it is owing to the peculiar treatment of the castle

as been shut

tures cleaned, and the frames mended, and the old pieces of furniture put in thei

seen those in

way to the others, if yo

size, were in a better condition, owing to the fact that they were hung on an inner wall, an

dy them much-I don't see the use of it.' She swung her sunshade, so that it fell open, and turned it up till it

xed him. In spite of the family likeness and other details he could scarcely believe this

yes, I know I am: I can see that, of course, any day. But they have gone from my family, and perhaps it

have gone,

g ago-long before I was born. It doesn't seem to me

his smiling manner

e here, Miss

w; though sometimes

e to you, an

re long, neither has she. For the first six months af

id: 'I fear I may be making some mistake: but I am sure yo

y 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 b

ce; and without exactly kno

r fr

the representatives of Mr. Wilkins-almost immediately indeed-than he died from a chill caught after a warm bath. On account of that she did not take possession for

ght he recognized that name Power, as on

hearing of her father.

set d

s she watched, and Somerset's eyes, led by hers, watched also, a white streak of steam, thin as a cotton thread, could be d

t wh

ctor. And it was through making the railway that he discovered

ween ancient

people a chapel on a bit of freehold he bought for them. He was a great Nonconformist, a staunch Bap

egin to

eard about

somethin

cattered people of the denomination that her f

er the circumstances did not state what he had seen. S

point. The water looked so cold and dark and fearful

words had a condemnatory form, but perhaps his actual feeling was that if Mis

of her-what do you call it-of the denomination she belonged to, as soon as she felt herself fit to do it: so when he was dead she tried and tried, and didn't get any more fit; and at last she screwed herself up to the pitch, and thought she must

d not have heard this Knox or Bossuet

wered, in her calm, deep, nice way, that she supposed he had a perfect right to preach against her, that she could not in justice molest him at all. I wouldn't let him stay if the house were mine. But she has often before allowed him to scold her from the pulpi

onate face of the little speaker. 'You are

'So would you be if you knew her,' she said; and a blush slowly rose to h

ptist any more than I

nk they are very nice; though I sometimes wish Paula

egraph emerged from the trees, leapt over the para

in such a building,'

herself, beautifully: and so can I, but not so well. It was a great delight to learn. Miss Power was so i

w one?-Yes,

the old bell. It tells the seconds, but the old one, which my very great grandfather erected in the eighteenth century,

much impressed by the spi

head too slightly to ex

ney-piece in the kitchen, which is considered a unique example of its kind, t

e map that he had conned for some time when alone, without being able to divine the locality represented. It was calle

own here?'

e is supposed to be near our railway station, just across there, where the land belongs to

very practica

it, only I forget. There is beautiful clay at the place, her father told her: he found it in making the railway tunnel. She has visited the British Museum, continental museums, and Greece, and Spain: and hopes to imit

young lad

ould be accepted as kindly, or disallowed as decidedly sarcastic. 'You would like her if y

highly of her,

inst people who are reported to have such differences in feeling, associations, and habit, as she seemed to have from mine

wered Somerset warmly. 'Heaven send us more of the sam

seen. It was impossible, on close examination, to do justice to it in a hasty sketch; it would be necessary to measure every line if he would bring away anything of utility to him as a designer. Deciding to reserve this gem for another opportunity he cast his eyes round the room and blushed a little. Without knowing it he had intruded into the absent Miss Paula's own particular set of chambers, including a boudoir and sleeping apartment. On the tables of the sitting

re as if a stray hour from the nineteenth century had wandere

rge enough to impress the character of bedroom upon the old place. Upon a counterpane lay a parasol and a silk neckerchief. On the other side of the room was a tall mirror of startling newness, draped like the bedstead, in blue and white. Thrown at random upon the floor was a pair of satin slippers that would have fitted Cinderella. A dressing-gown lay acr

ecture would hardly bear stretching further in that direction, Mr. Somerset retreate

' he was thinking.

k. Before leaving he sent in for permission to come again, and then walked across the fields to the inn at Sleeping-Green, reflecting less upon Miss De Stancy (so little force of presence had she possessed) than upon the mode

n were discussing the heroine of the chapel-scene just at the moment of his entry. On this account, when the landlord came to clear a

rishes. 'Even here, in my house, now,' he added, 'when volks get a drop of drink into 'em, and their feelings rise to a zong, some man will strike up a hymn by prefere

ount for there

they were three or four months old. Now every one of them children was given to the sexton in a little box that any journeyman could nail together in a quarter of an hour, and he buried 'em at night for a shilling a head; whereas 'twould have cost a couple of pounds each if they'd been christened at church.... Of course there's the new lady at the castle, she'

u are a Churchman at

wall, and what with finding it saved umbrellas on wet Zundays, I went over to that faith for two years-though I believe I dropped money by it-I wouldn't be the man to say so if I hadn

ve not much influence here now

nd always will be now, I suppose. It was thoughted worthy

a w

it. The only bit of luck they have had of late years is Miss Power's taking to l

e importance to him than a profession which should help him to a big house and income, a fair Deiopeia, and a lovely progeny. When he was alone he poured out a glass of wine, and silently drank the healths of the two generous-minded young women who, in this lonely district, had found sweet communion a necessity of life, and by pure and instincti