The temptation was too much for the young man.

Under cover of the rustle of the tracings, he murmured, 'Paula, I could not get here before!' in a low voice inaudible to the other two.
She did not reply, only busying herself the more with the notes and sketches; and he said again, 'I stayed a couple of days at Genoa, and some days at San Remo, and Mentone.' 'But it is not the least concern of mine where you stayed, is it ?' she said, with a cold yet disquieted look.
'Do you speak seriously ?' Somerset brokenly whispered.
Paula concluded her examination of the drawings and turned from him with sorrowful disregard.

He tried no further, but, when she had signified her pleasure on the points submitted, packed up his papers, and rose with the bearing of a man altogether superior to such a class of misfortune as this.

Before going he turned to speak a few words of a general kind to Mr.Power and Charlotte.
'You will stay and dine with us ?' said the former, rather with the air of being unhappily able to do no less than ask the question.

'My charges here won't go down to the table-d'hote, I fear, but De Stancy and myself will be there.' Somerset excused himself, and in a few minutes withdrew.