第1章

’Ah，myheart！hereyesandsheHavetaughttheenewastrology。

Howe’erLove’snativehourswereset，Whateverstarrysynodmet，’Tisinthemercyofhereye，IfpoorLoveshallliveordie。’

CRASHAW:Love’sHoroscope。

PREFACE

Thisslightly—builtromancewastheoutcomeofawishtosettheemotionalhistoryoftwoinfinitesimallivesagainstthestupendousbackgroundofthestellaruniverse，andtoimparttoreadersthesentimentthatofthesecontrastingmagnitudesthesmallermightbethegreatertothemasmen。

But，onthepublicationofthebookpeopleseemedtobelessstruckwiththesehighaimsoftheauthorthanwiththeirownopinion，first，thatthenovelwasan’improper’oneinitsmorals，and，secondly，thatitwasintendedtobeasatireontheEstablishedChurchofthiscountry。Iwasmadetosufferinconsequencefromseveraleminentpens。

That，however，wasthirteenyearsago，and，inrespectofthefirstopinion，Iventuretothinkthatthosewhocaretoreadthestorynowwillbequiteastonishedatthescrupulousproprietyobservedthereinontherelationsofthesexes;forthoughtheremaybefrivolous，andevengrotesquetouchesonoccasion，thereishardlyasinglecaressinthebookoutsidelegalmatrimony，orwhatwasintendedsotobe。

Asforthesecondopinion，itissufficienttodrawattention，asI

didatthetime，tothefactthattheBishopiseveryinchagentleman，andthattheparishpriestwhofiguresinthenarrativeisoneofitsmostestimablecharacters。

However，thepagesmustspeakforthemselves。Somefewreaders，I

trust——totakeaseriousview——willberemindedbythisimperfectstory，inamannernotunprofitabletothegrowthofthesocialsympathies，ofthepathos，misery，long—suffering，anddivinetendernesswhichinreallifefrequentlyaccompanythepassionofsuchawomanasVivietteforaloverseveralyearsherjunior。

Thesceneoftheactionwassuggestedbytworealspotsinthepartofthecountryspecified，eachofwhichhasacolumnstandinguponit。Certainsurroundingpeculiaritieshavebeenimportedintothenarrativefrombothsites。

T。H。

July1895。

TWOONATOWER。

I

Onanearlywinterafternoon，clearbutnotcold，whenthevegetableworldwasaweirdmultitudeofskeletonsthroughwhoseribsthesunshonefreely，agleaminglandaucametoapauseonthecrestofahillinWessex。ThespotwaswheretheoldMelchesterRoad，whichthecarriagehadhithertofollowed，wasjoinedbyadrivethatledroundintoaparkatnogreatdistanceoff。

Thefootmanalighted，andwenttotheoccupantofthecarriage，aladyabouteight—ornine—and—twenty。Shewaslookingthroughtheopeningaffordedbyafield—gateattheundulatingstretchofcountrybeyond。Inpursuanceofsomeremarkfromhertheservantlookedinthesamedirection。

Thecentralfeatureofthemiddledistance，astheybeheldit，wasacircularisolatedhill，ofnogreatelevation，whichplaceditselfinstrongchromaticcontrastwithawideacreageofsurroundingarablebybeingcoveredwithfir—trees。Thetreeswereallofonesizeandage，sothattheirtipsassumedtheprecisecurveofthehilltheygrewupon。Thispine—cladprotuberancewasyetfurthermarkedoutfromthegenerallandscapebyhavingonitssummitatowerintheformofaclassicalcolumn，which，thoughpartlyimmersedintheplantation，roseabovethetree—topstoaconsiderableheight。Uponthisobjecttheeyesofladyandservantwerebent。

’Thenthereisnoroadleadingnearit？’sheasked。

’Nothingnearerthanwherewearenow，mylady。’

’Thendrivehome，’shesaidafteramoment。Andthecarriagerolledonitsway。

Afewdayslater，thesamelady，inthesamecarriage，passedthatspotagain。Hereyes，asbefore，turnedtothedistanttower。

’Nobbs，’shesaidtothecoachman，’couldyoufindyourwayhomethroughthatfield，soastogetneartheoutskirtsoftheplantationwherethecolumnis？’

Thecoachmanregardedthefield。’Well，mylady，’heobserved，’indryweatherwemightdriveintherebyinchingandpinching，andsogetacrossbyFive—and—TwentyAcres，allbeingwell。Butthegroundissoheavyaftertheserainsthatperhapsitwouldhardlybesafetotryitnow。’

’Perhapsnot，’sheassentedindifferently。’Rememberit，willyou，atadriertime？’

Andagainthecarriagespedalongtheroad，thelady’seyesrestingonthesegmentalhill，thebluetreesthatmuffledit，andthecolumnthatformeditsapex，tilltheywereoutofsight。

Alongtimeelapsedbeforethatladydroveoverthehillagain。ItwasFebruary;thesoilwasnowunquestionablydry，theweatherandscenebeinginotherrespectsmuchastheyhadbeenbefore。Thefamiliarshapeofthecolumnseemedtoremindherthatatlastanopportunityforacloseinspectionhadarrived。Givingherdirectionsshesawthegateopened，andafteralittlemanoeuvringthecarriageswayedslowlyintotheunevenfield。

Althoughthepillarstooduponthehereditaryestateofherhusbandtheladyhadnevervisitedit，owingtoitsinsulationbythiswell—

nighimpracticableground。Thedrivetothebaseofthehillwastediousandjerky，andonreachingitshealighted，directingthatthecarriageshouldbedrivenbackemptyovertheclods，towaitforheronthenearestedgeofthefield。Shethenascendedbeneaththetreesonfoot。

Thecolumnnowshoweditselfasamuchmoreimportanterectionthanithadappearedfromtheroad，orthepark，orthewindowsofWellandHouse，herresidencehardby，whenceshehadsurveyedithundredsoftimeswithouteverfeelingasufficientinterestinitsdetailstoinvestigatethem。Thecolumnhadbeenerectedinthelastcentury，asasubstantialmemorialofherhusband’sgreat—

grandfather，arespectableofficerwhohadfallenintheAmericanwar，andthereasonofherlackofinterestwaspartlyowingtoherrelationswiththishusband，ofwhichmoreanon。Itwaslittlebeyondthesheerdesireforsomethingtodo——thechronicdesireofhercuriouslylonelylife——thathadbroughtherherenow。Shewasinamoodtowelcomeanythingthatwouldinsomemeasuredisperseanalmostkillingennui。Shewouldhavewelcomedevenamisfortune。

Shehadheardthatfromthesummitofthepillarfourcountiescouldbeseen。Whateverpleasurableeffectwastobederivedfromlookingintofourcountiessheresolvedtoenjoyto—day。

Thefir—shroudedhill—topwas（accordingtosomeantiquaries）anoldRomancamp，——ifitwerenot（asothersinsisted）anoldBritishcastle，or（astherestswore）anoldSaxonfieldofWitenagemote，——

withremainsofanouterandaninnervallum，awindingpathleadingupbetweentheiroverlappingendsbyaneasyascent。Thespikeletsfromthetreesformedasoftcarpetovertheroute，andoccasionallyabrakeofbramblesbarredtheinterspacesofthetrunks。Soonshestoodimmediatelyatthefootofthecolumn。

IthadbeenbuiltintheTuscanorderofclassicarchitecture，andwasreallyatower，beinghollowwithstepsinside。Thegloomandsolitudewhichprevailedroundthebasewereremarkable。Thesoboftheenvironingtreeswashereexpressivelymanifest;andmovedbythelightbreezetheirthinstraightstemsrockedinseconds，likeinvertedpendulums;whilesomeboughsandtwigsrubbedthepillar’ssides，oroccasionallyclickedincatchingeachother。Belowtheleveloftheirsummitsthemasonrywaslichen—stainedandmildewed，forthesunneverpiercedthatmoaningcloudofblue—blackvegetation。Padsofmossgrewinthejointsofthestone—work，andhereandthereshade—lovinginsectshadengravedonthemortarpatternsofnohumanstyleormeaning;butcuriousandsuggestive。

Abovethetreesthecasewasdifferent:thepillarroseintotheskyabrightandcheerfulthing，unimpeded，clean，andflushedwiththesunlight。

Thespotwasseldomvisitedbyapedestrian，exceptperhapsintheshootingseason。Therarityofhumanintrusionwasevidencedbythemazesofrabbit—runs，thefeathersofshybirds，theexuviaeofreptiles;asalsobythewell—wornpathsofsquirrelsdownthesidesoftrunks，andthencehorizontallyaway。Thefactoftheplantationbeinganislandinthemidstofanarableplainsufficientlyaccountedforthislackofvisitors。Fewunaccustomedtosuchplacescanbeawareoftheinsulatingeffectofploughedground，whennonecessitycompelspeopletotraverseit。Thisrotundhilloftreesandbrambles，standinginthecentreofaploughedfieldofsomeninetyorahundredacres，wasprobablyvisitedlessfrequentlythanarockwouldhavebeenvisitedinalakeofequalextent。

Shewalkedroundthecolumntotheotherside，whereshefoundthedoorthroughwhichtheinteriorwasreached。Thepaint，ifithadeverhadany，wasallwashedfromthewood，anddownthedecayingsurfaceoftheboardsliquidrustfromthenailsandhingeshadruninredstains。Overthedoorwasastonetablet，bearing，apparently，lettersorwords;buttheinscription，whateveritwas，hadbeensmoothedoverwithaplasteroflichen。

Herestoodthisaspiringpieceofmasonry，erectedasthemostconspicuousandineffaceablereminderofamanthatcouldbethoughtof;andyetthewholeaspectofthememorialbetokenedforgetfulness。Probablynotadozenpeoplewithinthedistrictknewthenameofthepersoncommemorated，whileperhapsnotasoulrememberedwhetherthecolumnwereholloworsolid，whetherwithorwithoutatabletexplainingitsdateandpurpose。Sheherselfhadlivedwithinamileofitforthelastfiveyears，andhadnevercomenearittillnow。

Shehesitatedtoascendalone，butfindingthatthedoorwasnotfastenedshepusheditopenwithherfoot，andentered。Ascrapofwriting—paperlaywithin，andarrestedherattentionbyitsfreshness。Somehumanbeing，then，knewthespot，despitehersurmises。Butasthepaperhadnothingonitnocluewasafforded;

yetfeelingherselftheproprietorofthecolumnandofallarounditherself—assertivenesswassufficienttoleadheron。Thestaircasewaslightedbyslitsinthewall，andtherewasnodifficultyinreachingthetop，thestepsbeingquiteunworn。Thetrap—doorleadingontotheroofwasopen，andonlookingthroughitaninterestingspectaclemethereye。

Ayouthwassittingonastoolinthecentreoftheleadflatwhichformedthesummitofthecolumn，hiseyebeingappliedtotheendofalargetelescopethatstoodbeforehimonatripod。Thissortofpresencewasunexpected，andtheladystartedbackintotheshadeoftheopening。Theonlyeffectproduceduponhimbyherfootfallwasanimpatientwaveofthehand，whichhedidwithoutremovinghiseyefromtheinstrument，asiftoforbidhertointerrupthim。

Pausingwhereshestoodtheladyexaminedtheaspectoftheindividualwhothusmadehimselfsocompletelyathomeonabuildingwhichshedeemedherunquestionedproperty。Hewasayouthwhomightproperlyhavebeencharacterizedbyawordthejudiciouschroniclerwouldnotreadilyuseinsuchaconnexion，preferringtoreserveitforraisingimagesoftheoppositesex。Whetherbecausenodeepfelicityislikelytoarisefromthecondition，orfromanyotherreason，tosayinthesedaysthatayouthisbeautifulisnottoawardhimthatamountofcreditwhichtheexpressionwouldhavecarriedwithitifhehadlivedinthetimesoftheClassicalDictionary。Somuch，indeed，isthereversethecasethattheassertioncreatesanawkwardnessinsayinganythingmoreabouthim。

Thebeautifulyouthusuallyvergessoperilouslyontheincipientcoxcomb，whoisabouttobecometheLotharioorJuanamongtheneighbouringmaidens，that，forthedueunderstandingofourpresentyoungman，hissublimeinnocenceofanythoughtconcerninghisownmaterialaspect，orthatofothers，ismostferventlyasserted，andmustbeasferventlybelieved。

Suchashewas，theretheladsat。Thesunshonefullinhisface，andonhisheadheworeablackvelvetskull—cap，leavingtoviewbelowitacurlymarginofverylightshininghair，whichaccordedwellwiththeflushuponhischeek。

HehadsuchacomplexionasthatwithwhichRaffaelleenrichesthecountenanceoftheyouthfulsonofZacharias，——acomplexionwhich，thoughclear，isfarenoughremovedfromvirgindelicacy，andsuggestsplentyofsunandwindasitsaccompaniment。Hisfeaturesweresufficientlystraightinthecontourstocorrectthebeholder’sfirstimpressionthattheheadwastheheadofagirl。Besidehimstoodalittleoaktable，andinfrontwasthetelescope。

Hisvisitorhadampletimetomaketheseobservations;andshemayhavedonesoallthemorekeenlythroughbeingherselfofatotallyoppositetype。Herhairwasblackasmidnight，hereyeshadnolessdeepashade，andhercomplexionshowedtherichnessdemandedasasupporttothesedecidedfeatures。Asshecontinuedtolookattheprettyfellowbeforeher，apparentlysofarabstractedintosomespeculativeworldasscarcelytoknowarealone，awarmerwaveofherwarmtemperamentglowedvisiblythroughher，andaqualifiedobservermightfromthishavehazardedaguessthattherewasRomancebloodinherveins。

Buteventheinterestattachingtotheyouthcouldnotarrestherattentionforever，andashemadenofurthersignsofmovinghiseyefromtheinstrumentshebrokethesilencewith——

’Whatdoyousee？——somethinghappeningsomewhere？’

’Yes，quiteacatastrophe！’heautomaticallymurmured，withoutmovinground。

’What？’

’Acycloneinthesun。’

Theladypaused，asiftoconsidertheweightofthateventinthescaleofterrenelife。

’Willitmakeanydifferencetoushere？’sheasked。

Theyoungmanbythistimeseemedtobeawakenedtotheconsciousnessthatsomebodyunusualwastalkingtohim;heturned，andstarted。

’Ibegyourpardon，’hesaid。’Ithoughtitwasmyrelativecometolookafterme！Sheoftencomesaboutthistime。’

Hecontinuedtolookatherandforgetthesun，justsuchareciprocityofinfluenceasmighthavebeenexpectedbetweenadarkladyandaflaxen—hairedyouthmakingitselfapparentinthefacesofeach。

’Don’tletmeinterruptyourobservations，’saidshe。

’Ah，no，’saidhe，againapplyinghiseye;whereuponhisfacelosttheanimationwhichherpresencehadlentit，andbecameimmutableasthatofabust，thoughsuperaddingtotheserenityofreposethesensitivenessoflife。Theexpressionthatsettledonhimwasoneofawe。Notunaptlymightithavebeensaidthathewasworshippingthesun。Amongthevariousintensitiesofthatworshipwhichhaveprevailedsincethefirstintelligentbeingsawtheluminarydeclinewestward，astheyoungmannowbehelditdoing，hiswasnottheweakest。Hewasengagedinwhatmaybecalledaverychastenedorschooledformofthatfirstandmostnaturalofadorations。

’Butwouldyouliketoseeit？’herecommenced。’Itisaneventthatiswitnessedonlyaboutonceintwoorthreeyears，thoughitmayoccuroftenenough。’

Sheassented，andlookedthroughtheshadedeyepiece，andsawawhirlingmass，inthecentreofwhichtheblazingglobeseemedtobelaidbaretoitscore。Itwasapeepintoamaelstromoffire，takingplacewherenobodyhadeverbeenoreverwouldbe。

’ItisthestrangestthingIeverbeheld，’shesaid。Thenhelookedagain;tillwonderingwhohercompanioncouldbesheasked，’Areyouoftenhere？’

’Everynightwhenitisnotcloudy，andoftenintheday。’

’Ah，night，ofcourse。Theheavensmustbebeautifulfromthispoint。’

’Theyarerathermorethanthat。’

’Indeed！Haveyouentirelytakenpossessionofthiscolumn？’

’Entirely。’

’Butitismycolumn，’shesaid，withsmilingasperity。

’ThenareyouLadyConstantine，wifeoftheabsentSirBlountConstantine？’

’IamLadyConstantine。’

’Ah，thenIagreethatitisyourladyship’s。Butwillyouallowmetorentitofyouforatime，LadyConstantine？’

’Youhavetakenit，whetherIallowitornot。However，intheinterestsofscienceitisadvisablethatyoucontinueyourtenancy。

Nobodyknowsyouarehere，Isuppose？’

’Hardlyanybody。’

Hethentookherdownafewstepsintotheinterior，andshowedhersomeingeniouscontrivancesforstowingarticlesaway。

’Nobodyevercomesnearthecolumn，——or，asit’scalledhere，Rings—

HillSpeer，’hecontinued;’andwhenIfirstcameupitnobodyhadbeenhereforthirtyorfortyyears。Thestaircasewaschokedwithdaws’nestsandfeathers，butIclearedthemout。’

’Iunderstoodthecolumnwasalwayskeptlocked？’

’Yes，ithasbeenso。Whenitwasbuilt，in1782，thekeywasgiventomygreat—grandfather，tokeepbyhimincasevisitorsshouldhappentowantit。HelivedjustdowntherewhereIlivenow。’

Hedenotedbyanodalittledelllyingimmediatelybeyondtheploughedlandwhichenvironedthem。

’Hekeptitinhisbureau，andasthebureaudescendedtomygrandfather，mymother，andmyself，thekeydescendedwithit。

Afterthefirstthirtyorfortyyears，nobodyeveraskedforit。

OnedayIsawit，lyingrustyinitsniche，and，findingthatitbelongedtothiscolumn，Itookitandcameup。Istayedheretillitwasdark，andthestarscameout，andthatnightIresolvedtobeanastronomer。Icamebackherefromschoolseveralmonthsago，andImeantobeanastronomerstill。’

Heloweredhisvoice，andadded:

’IaimatnothinglessthanthedignityandofficeofAstronomerRoyal，ifIlive。PerhapsIshallnotlive。’

’Idon’tseewhyyoushouldsupposethat，’saidshe。’Howlongareyougoingtomakethisyourobservatory？’

’Aboutayearlonger——tillIhaveobtainedapracticalfamiliaritywiththeheavens。Ah，ifIonlyhadagoodequatorial！’

’Whatisthat？’

’Aproperinstrumentformypursuit。Buttimeisshort，andscienceisinfinite，——howinfiniteonlythosewhostudyastronomyfullyrealize，——andperhapsIshallbewornoutbeforeImakemymark。’

Sheseemedtobegreatlystruckbytheoddmixtureinhimofscientificearnestnessandmelancholymistrustofallthingshuman。

Perhapsitwasowingtothenatureofhisstudies。

’Youareoftenonthistoweraloneatnight？’shesaid。

’Yes;atthistimeoftheyearparticularly，andwhilethereisnomoon。Iobservefromsevenoreighttillabouttwointhemorning，withaviewtomygreatworkonvariablestars。Butwithsuchatelescopeasthis——well，Imustputupwithit！’

’CanyouseeSaturn’sringandJupiter’smoons？’

Hesaiddrilythathecouldmanagetodothat，notwithoutsomecontemptforthestateofherknowledge。

’Ihaveneverseenanyplanetorstarthroughatelescope。’

’Ifyouwillcomethefirstclearnight，LadyConstantine，Iwillshowyouanynumber。Imean，atyourexpresswish;nototherwise。’

’Ishouldliketocome，andpossiblymayatsometime。Thesestarsthatvarysomuch——sometimeseveningstars，sometimesmorningstars，sometimesintheeast，andsometimesinthewest——havealwaysinterestedme。’

’Ah——nowthereisareasonforyournotcoming。YourignoranceoftherealitiesofastronomyissosatisfactorythatIwillnotdisturbitexceptatyourseriousrequest。’

’ButIwishtobeenlightened。’

’Letmecautionyouagainstit。’

’Isenlightenmentonthesubject，then，soterrible？’

’Yes，indeed。’

Shelaughinglydeclaredthatnothingcouldhavesopiquedhercuriosityashisstatement，andturnedtodescend。Hehelpedherdownthestairsandthroughthebriers。Hewouldhavegonefurtherandcrossedtheopencorn—landwithher，butshepreferredtogoalone。Hethenretracedhiswaytothetopofthecolumn，but，insteadoflookinglongeratthesun，watchedherdiminishingtowardsthedistantfence，behindwhichwaitedthecarriage。Wheninthemidstofthefield，adarkspotonanareaofbrown，therecrossedherpathamovingfigure，whomitwasasdifficulttodistinguishfromtheearthhetrodasthecaterpillarfromitsleaf，byreasonoftheexcellentmatchbetweenhisclothesandtheclods。

Hewasoneofadying—outgenerationwhoretainedtheprinciple，nearlyunlearntnow，thataman’shabilimentsshouldbeinharmonywithhisenvironment。LadyConstantineandthisfigurehaltedbesideeachotherforsomeminutes;thentheywentontheirseveralways。

ThebrownpersonwasalabouringmanknowntotheworldofWellandasHaymoss（theencrustedformofthewordAmos，toadoptthephraseofphilologists）。ThereasonofthehalthadbeensomeinquiriesaddressedtohimbyLadyConstantine。

’Whoisthat——AmosFry，Ithink？’shehadasked。

’Yesmylady，’saidHaymoss;’ahomelybarleydriller，bornundertheeavesofyourladyship’soutbuildings，inamannerofspeaking，—

—thoughyourladyshipwasneitherbornnor’temptedatthattime。’

’Wholivesintheoldhousebehindtheplantation？’

’OldGammerMartin，mylady，andhergrandson。’

’Hehasneitherfathernormother，then？’

’Notasingleone，mylady。’

’Wherewasheeducated？’

’AtWarborne，——aplacewheretheydrawupyounggam’sters’brainslikerhubarbunderaninepennypan，mylady，excusingmycommonway。

Theyhitsomuchlarningintoenthat’acouldtalklikethedayofPentecost;whichisawonderfulthingforasimpleboy，andhismotheronlytheplainestcipheringwomanintheworld。WarborneGrammarSchool——that’swhere’twas’awentto。Hisfather，thereverentPa’sonSt。Cleeve，madeaterriblebrucklehitin’smarrying，inthesightofthehigh。Hewerethecuratehere，mylady，foralengtho’time。’

’Oh，curate，’saidLadyConstantine。’ItwasbeforeIknewthevillage。’

’Ay，longandmerryago！AndhemarriedFarmerMartin’sdaughter——

GilesMartin，alimberishman，whousedtogoratherbaduponhislags，ifyoucanmind。Iknowedthemanwellenough;whoshouldknowenbetter！Themaidwasapoorwindlingthing，and，thoughaplaywardpieceo’fleshwhenhemarriedher，’asockedandsighed，andwentoutlikeasnoff！Yes，mylady。Well，whenPa’sonSt。

Cleevemarriedthishomespunwomanthetoppermostfolkwouldn’tspeaktohiswife。Thenhedroppedacussortwo，andsaidhe’dnolongergethislivingbycuringtheirtwopennysoulso’suchd———

nonsenseasthat（excusingmycommonway），andhetooktofarmingstraightway，andthen’adroppeddowndeadinanor’—westthunderstorm;itbeingsaid——hee—hee！——thatMasterGodwasintantrumswi’enforleavinghisservice，——hee—hee！IgivethestoryasIheardit，mylady，butbedazedifIbelieveinsuchtrumperyaboutfolksinthesky，noranythingelsethat’ssaidon’em，goodorbad。Well，Swithin，theboy，wassenttothegrammarschool，asIsayfor;butwhatwithhavingtwostationsoflifeinhisbloodhe’sgoodfornothing，mylady。Hemopesabout——sometimeshere，andsometimesthere;nobodytroublesabouten。’

LadyConstantinethankedherinformant，andproceededonward。Toher，asawoman，themostcuriousfeatureintheafternoon’sincidentwasthatthislad，ofstrikingbeauty，scientificattainments，andcultivatedbearing，shouldbelinked，onthematernalside，withalocalagriculturalfamilythroughhisfather’smatrimonialeccentricity。Amoreattractivefeatureinthecasewasthatthesameyouth，socapableofbeingruinedbyflattery，blandishment，pleasure，evengrossprosperity，shouldbeatpresentlivingoninaprimitiveEdenofunconsciousness，withaimstowardswhoseaccomplishmentaCalibanshapewouldhavebeenaseffectiveashisown。

II

SwithinSt。Cleevelingeredonathispost，untilthemoresanguinebirdsoftheplantation，alreadyrecoveringfromtheirmidwinteranxieties，pipedashorteveninghymntothevanishingsun。

Thelandscapewasgentlyconcave;withtheexceptionoftowerandhilltherewerenopointsonwhichlateraysmightlinger;andhencethedish—shapedninetyacresoftilledlandassumedauniformhueofshadequitesuddenly。Theoneortwostarsthatappearedwerequicklycloudedover，anditwassoonobviousthattherewouldbenosweepingtheheavensthatnight。Aftertyingapieceoftarpaulin，whichhadonceseenserviceonhismaternalgrandfather’sfarm，overalltheapparatusaroundhim，hewentdownthestairsinthedark，andlockedthedoor。

WiththekeyinhispockethedescendedthroughtheunderwoodonthesideoftheslopeoppositetothattroddenbyLadyConstantine，andcrossedthefieldinalinemathematicallystraight，andinamannerthatleftnotraces，bykeepinginthesamefurrowallthewayontiptoe。Inafewminuteshereachedalittledell，whichoccurredquiteunexpectedlyontheothersideofthefield—fence，anddescendedtoavenerablethatchedhouse，whoseenormousroof，brokenupbydormersasbigashaycocks，couldbeseeneveninthetwilight。Overthewhitewalls，builtofchalkinthelump，outlinesofcreepersformeddarkpatterns，asifdrawnincharcoal。

Insidethehousehismaternalgrandmotherwassittingbyawoodfire。Beforeitstoodapipkin，inwhichsomethingwasevidentlykeptwarm。Aneight—leggedoaktableinthemiddleoftheroomwaslaidforameal。Thiswomanofeighty，inalargemobcap，underwhichsheworealittlecaptokeeptheotherclean，retainedfacultiesbutlittleblunted。Shewasgazingintotheflames，withherhandsuponherknees，quietlyre—enactinginherbraincertainofthelongchainofepisodes，pathetic，tragical，andhumorous，whichhadconstitutedtheparishhistoryforthelastsixtyyears。

OnSwithin’sentryshelookedupathiminasidewaydirection。

’Youshouldnothavewaitedforme，granny，’hesaid。

’’Tisofnoaccount，mychild。I’vehadanapwhilesittinghere。

Yes，I’vehadanap，andwentstraightupintomyoldcountryagain，asusual。TheplacewasasnaturalaswhenIleftit，——e’enjustthreescoreyearsago！Allthefolksandmyoldauntwerethere，aswhenIwasachild，——yetIsupposeifIwerereallytosetoutandgothere，hardlyasoulwouldbeleftalivetosaytome，doghowart！ButtellHannahtostirherstumpsandservesupper——thoughI’dfaindoitmyself，thepooroldsoulisgettingsounhandy！’

Hannahrevealedherselftobemuchnimblerandseveralyearsyoungerthangranny，thoughofthisthelatterseemedtobeoblivious。WhenthemealwasnearlyoverMrs。Martinproducedthecontentsofthemysteriousvesselbythefire，sayingthatshehadcausedittobebroughtinfromthebackkitchen，becauseHannahwashardlytobetrustedwithsuchthings，shewasbecomingsochildish。

’Whatisit，then？’saidSwithin。’Oh，oneofyourspecialpuddings。’Atsightofit，however，headdedreproachfully，’Now，granny！’

Insteadofbeinground，itwasinshapeanirregularboulderthathadbeenexposedtotheweatherforcenturies——alittlescrapparedoffhere，andalittlepiecebrokenawaythere;thegeneralaimbeing，nevertheless，toavoiddestroyingthesymmetryofthepuddingwhiletakingasmuchaspossibleofitssubstance。

’Thefactis，’addedSwithin，’thepuddingishalfgone！’

’I’veonlyslicedoffthemerestparingonceortwice，totasteifitwaswelldone！’pleadedgrannyMartin，withwoundedfeelings。’I

saidtoHannahwhenshetookitup，"Putitheretokeepitwarm，asthere’sabetterfirethaninthebackkitchen。"’

’Well，Iamnotgoingtoeatanyofit！’saidSwithindecisively，asherosefromthetable，pushedawayhischair，andwentup—stairs;

the’otherstationoflifethatwasinhisblood，’andwhichhadbeenbroughtoutbythegrammarschool，probablystimulatinghim。

’Ah，theworldisanungratefulplace！’TwasapityIdidn’ttakemypoornameoffthisearthlycalendarandcreepundergroundsixtylongyearsago，insteadofleavingmyowncountytocomehere！’