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 it--perhaps 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 turned and gazed regretfully at the corner round which the
Somersets had disappeared.

'I don't know why he danced; but if I had known you were going to be so
silent, I would have explained the mistake myself.'

'I wish you had. But no; I have said I would; and I must.'

Paula's avoidance of tables d'hote did not extend to the present one.
It was quite with alacrity that she went down; and with her entry the
antecedent hotel beauty who had reigned for the last five days at that
meal, was unceremoniously deposed by the guests. Mr. Somerset the elder
came in, but nobody with him. His seat was on Paula's left hand, Mrs.
Goodman being on Paula's right, so that all the conversation was between
the Academician and the younger lady. When the latter had again retired
upstairs with her aunt, Mrs. Goodman expressed regret that young Mr.
Somerset was absent from the table. 'Why has he kept away?' she asked.

'I don't know--I didn't ask,' said Paula sadly. 'Perhaps he doesn't care
to meet us again.'

'That's because you didn't explain.'

'Well--why didn't the old man give me an opportunity?' exclaimed the
niece with suppressed excitement. 'He would scarcely say anything but
yes and no, and gave me no chance at all of introducing the subject. I
wanted to explain--I came all the way on purpose--I would have