elaying the intelligence till the strongest emotion would be
purposeless.

On approaching the castle the first object that caught her eye was
Dare, standing beside Havill on the scaffolding of the new wing. He
was looking down upon the drive and court, as if in anticipation of the
event. His contiguity flurried her, and instead of going straight to
Paula she sought out Mrs. Goodman.

'You are come early; that's right!' said the latter. 'You might as well
have slept here last night. We have only Mr. Wardlaw, the London lawyer
you have heard of, in the house. Your brother's solicitor was here
yesterday; but he returned to Markton for the night. We miss Mr. Power
so much--it is so unfortunate that he should have been obliged to go
abroad, and leave us unprotected women with so much responsibility.'

'Yes, I know,' said Charlotte quickly, having a shy distaste for the
details of what troubled her so much in the gross.

'Paula has inquired for you.'

'What is she doing?'

'She is in her room: she has not begun to dress yet. Will you go to
her?'

Charlotte assented. 'I have to tell her something,' she said, 'which
will make no difference, but which I should like her to know this
morning--at once. I have discovered that we have been entirely mistaken
about Mr. Somerset.' She nerved herself to relate succinctly what had
come to her knowledge the day before.

Mrs. Goodman was much impressed. She had never clearly heard before what
circumstances had attended the resignation of Paula's architect. 'We had
better not tell her till the wedding is over,' she presently said; 'it
would only disturb her, and do no good.'

'But will it be right?' asked Miss De Stancy.

'Yes, it will be right if we tell her afterwards. O yes--it must
be right,' she repeated in a tone which showed that her opinion was
unstable enough to require a little fortification by the voice. 'She
loves your brother; she must, since she is going to marry him; and it
can make little difference whether we rehabilitate the character of a
friend now, or some few hours hence. The author of those wicked tricks
on Mr. Somerset ought not to go a moment unpunished.'

'That's what I think; and what right have we to hold our tongues even
for a few hours?'

Charlotte found that by telling Mrs. Goodman she had simply made two
irresolute people out of one, and as Paula was now inquiring for her,
she went upstairs without having come to any decision.

XIV.

Pau