It was just before noon that he started for the castle, intending to arrive at a time of the morning when, as he knew from experience, he could speak to Charlotte without difficulty.

The rising ground soon revealed the old towers to him, and, jutting out behind them, the scaffoldings for the new wing.
While halting here on the knoll in some doubt about his movements he beheld a man coming along the road, and was soon confronted by his former competitor, Havill.

The first instinct of each was to pass with a nod, but a second instinct for intercourse was sufficient to bring them to a halt.

After a few superficial words had been spoken Somerset said, 'You have succeeded me.' 'I have,' said Havill; 'but little to my advantage.

I have just heard that my commission is to extend no further than roofing in the wing that you began, and had I known that before, I would have seen the castle fall flat as Jericho before I would have accepted the superintendence.
But I know who I have to thank for that--De Stancy.' Somerset still looked towards the distant battlements.