read this through silently, and now in reading it a
second time aloud to Somerset her voice faltered, and she wept outright.
'I had been expecting her to live with us always,' she said through her
tears, 'and to think she should have decided to do this!'

'It is a pity certainly,' said Somerset gently. 'She was genuine, if
anybody ever was; and simple as she was true.'

'I am the more sorry,' Paula presently resumed, 'because of a little
plan I had been thinking of with regard to her. You know that the
pictures and curiosities of the castle are not included in the things I
cannot touch, or impeach, or whatever it is. They are our own to do
what we like with. My father felt in devising the estate that, however
interesting to the De Stancys those objects might be, they did not
concern us--were indeed rather in the way, having been come by so
strangely, through Mr. Wilkins, though too valuable to be treated
lightly. Now I was going to suggest that we would not sell them--indeed
I could not bear to do such a thing with what had belonged to
Charlotte's forefathers--but to hand them over to her as a gift, either
to keep for herself, or to pass on to her brother, as she should choose.
Now I fear there is no hope of it: and yet I shall never like to see
them in the house.'

'It can be done still, I should think. She can accept them for her
brother when he settles, without absolutely taking them into her own
possession.'

'It would be a kind of generosity which hardly amounts to more than
justice (although they were purchased) from a recusant usurper to a dear
friend--not that I am a usurper exactly; well, from a representative of
the new aristocracy of internationality to a representative of the old
aristocracy of exclusiveness.'

'What do you call yourself, Paula, since you are not of your father's
creed?'

'I suppose I am what poor Mr. Woodwell said--by the way, we must call
and see him--something or other that's in Revelation, neither cold nor
hot. But of course that's a sub-species--I may be a lukewarm anything.
What I really am, as far as I know, is one of that body to whom
lukewarmth is not an accident but a provisional necessity, till they see
a little more clearly.' She had crossed over to his side, and pulling
his head towards her whispered a name in his ear.

'Why, Mr. Woodwell said you were that too! You carry your beliefs very
comfortably. I shall be glad when enthusiasm is come again.'

'I am going to re