'You have. Archimedes, Newcomen, Watt, Telford, Stephenson, those are your father's direct ancestors. Have you forgotten them? Have you forgotten your father, and the railways he made over half Europe, and his great energy and skill, and all connected with him as if he had never lived?'
She did not answer for some time. 'No, I have not forgotten it,' she said, still looking into the pew. 'But, I have a predilection d'artiste for ancestors of the other sort, like the De Stancys.'
Her hand was resting on the low pew next the high one of the De Stancys. Somerset looked at the hand, or rather at the glove which covered it, then at her averted cheek, then beyond it into the pew, then at her hand again, until by an indescribable consciousness that he was not going too far he laid his own upon it.
'No, no,' said Paula quickly, withdrawing her hand. But there was nothing resentful or haughty in her tone--nothing, in short, which makes a man in such circumstances feel that he has done a particularly foolish action.
The flower on her bosom rose and fell somewhat more than usual as she added, 'I am going away now--I will leave you here.' Without waiting for a reply she adroitly swept back her skirts to free her feet and went out of the church blushing.
Somerset took her hint and did not follow; and when he knew that she had rejoined her friends, and heard the carriage roll away, he made towards the opposite door. Pausing to glance once more at the alabaster effigies before leaving them to their silence and neglect, he beheld Dare bending over them, to all appearance intently occupied.
He must have been in the church some time--certainly during the tender episode between Somerset and Paula, and could not have failed to perceive it. Somerset blushed: it was unpleasant that Dare should have seen the interior of his heart so plainly. He went across and said, 'I think I left you to finish the drawing of the north wing, Mr. Dare?'
'Three hours ago, sir,' said Dare. 'Having finished that, I came to look at the church--fine building--fine monuments--two interesting people looking at them.'
'What?'
'I stand corrected. Pensa molto, parla poco, as the Italians have it.'
'Well, now, Mr. Dare, suppose you get back to the castle?'
'Which history dubs Castle Stancy.... Certainly.'
'How do you get on with the measuring?'
Dare sighed whimsically. 'Badly in the morning, when I have been tempted to indulge overnight, and worse in the afternoon, when I have been tempted in the morning!'