To his vexation Dare had not plotted three dimensions during the previous two days.

This was not the first time that Dare, either from incompetence or indolence, had shown his inutility as a house-surveyor and draughtsman.
'Mr.Dare,' said Somerset, 'I fear you don't suit me well enough to make it necessary that you should stay after this week.' Dare removed the cigarette from his lips and bowed.

'If I don't suit, the sooner I go the better; why wait the week ?' he said.
'Well, that's as you like.' Somerset drew the inkstand towards him, wrote out a cheque for Dare's services, and handed it across the table.
'I'll not trouble you to-morrow,' said Dare, seeing that the payment included the week in advance.
'Very well,' replied Somerset.

'Please lock the door when you leave.' Shaking hands with Dare and wishing him well, he left the room and descended to the lawn below.
There he contrived to get near Miss Power again, and inquired of her for Miss De Stancy.
'O! did you not know ?' said Paula; 'her father is unwell, and she preferred staying with him this afternoon.' 'I hoped he might have been here.' 'O no; he never comes out of his house to any party of this sort; it excites him, and he must not be excited.' 'Poor Sir William!' muttered Somerset.
'No,' said Paula, 'he is grand and historical.' 'That is hardly an orthodox notion for a Puritan,' said Somerset mischievously.
'I am not a Puritan,' insisted Paula.
The day turned to dusk, and the guests began going in relays to the dining-hall.

When Somerset had taken in two or three ladies to whom he had been presented, and attended to their wants, which occupied him three-quarters of an hour, he returned again to the large tent, with a view to finding Paula and taking his leave.