A Laodicean

t-up brim lined with plaited silk, so that it surrounded her forehead like a nimbus;

ill?' said t

do he shall go round with me independent

sorry to hear this. His

rough the passages, 'I must tell you that I am not

are

hy I don't wish to i

h as a comparative anatomist reconstructs an antediluvian from fragmentary bones and teeth. She appeared to be interested, listened attentively, but said little in reply. They were ultimately in a long narrow passage, indi

aula, with a sudden

day,' he said. 'It wil

omy, and that nobody was near. A curious coy uneasiness seemed to take possession of her. Whether she thought, for the first time, that she had made a mistake-that to wander about the cast

uite passed!' he sai

rlotte De Stancy. Miss De Stancy had a tumbler in one hand, half ful

tever the matter with him beyond the slight ache above mentioned. Charlotte was going to retire, but Paula said

?' said Mis

Tell Mr. Somerset what I want done in the quad

d, Charlotte and Somerset followed chatting on indifferent matt

with a smile. 'Did yo

rlotte went on: 'Miss Power thought of making a Greek court of this. But s

lf,' interposed Paula correctingly. 'I did

startling,'

'A peristyle you called it-you saw it in a book, don't you remember?-and then you wer

leaves from a young sycamore-tree that had

t tower wherein Somerset had met with his misadventure. The tower stood boldly up in

arlotte. 'Is it the fluff o

d. 'I fixed it there with a stone to attr

hief with interest. 'Why did you wa

e turret; but I go

iend, 'that must be the place where the man

o death?'

arlotte De Stancy walked away to a point from which s

to attract?' asked P

t you mig

blushing faintly, he

dy. I thought of y

ng down and becoming a skeleton,' she said-Somerset overheard the words, though Paula was unaware

a very beautiful action. Presently Paula returned to him and said,

n feet and inches. As Paula's architect (supposing Havill not to be admitted as a competitor), he must of necessity be in constant communication with her for a space of two or three years to come; and particularly during the next few months. She, doubtless, cherished far too ambitious views of her career to feel any personal interest in this enforced relationship with him; but he would be at liberty to feel what he chose: and

leeping-Green to a larger one at Markton. He required more rooms in which to carry out Paula's instructions than the former place afforded, and

t spot of white which looked like a pigeon fluttering from the loophole was his handkerchief, still hanging in the place wher

he leisurely climbed up to find it, ascending by the second staircase, crossing the roof, and going to the top of the treacherous turret. The ladder by which h

seeing him, for it was dark on the lawn. It was either Miss De Stancy or Paula; one of them had gone there alone for his handkerchief and had remained awhile, pondering o

passed under the inhabited wing, whence one or two lights now blinked, he heard a piano, and a voice singing 'The Mistletoe