'Why did you want to attract attention ?' said Paula.
'O, I fell into the turret; but I got out very easily.' 'O Paula,' said Charlotte, turning to her friend, 'that must be the place where the man fell in, years ago, and was starved to death!' 'Starved to death ?' said Paula.
'They say so.

O Mr.Somerset, what an escape!' And Charlotte De Stancy walked away to a point from which she could get a better view of the treacherous turret.
'Whom did you think to attract ?' asked Paula, after a pause.
'I thought you might see it.' 'Me personally ?' And, blushing faintly, her eyes rested upon him.
'I hoped for anybody.

I thought of you,' said Somerset.
She did not continue.

In a moment she arose and went across to Miss De Stancy.

'Don't YOU go falling down and becoming a skeleton,' she said--Somerset overheard the words, though Paula was unaware of it--after which she clasped her fingers behind Charlotte's neck, and smiled tenderly in her face.
It seemed to be quite unconsciously done, and Somerset thought it a very beautiful action.