第4章

Shebecamemuchabsorbedintheseverywomanlyreflections;andatlastLadyConstantinesighed，perhapssheherselfdidnotexactlyknowwhy。Thenaverysoftexpressionlightedonherlipsandeyes，andshelookedatonejumptenyearsmoreyouthfulthanbefore——

quiteagirlinaspect，youngerthanhe。Onthetablelayhisimplements;amongthemapairofscissors，which，tojudgefromtheshredsaround，hadbeenusedincuttingcurvesinthickpaperforsomecalculatingprocess。

Whatwhim，agitation，orattractionpromptedtheimpulse，nobodyknows;butshetookthescissors，and，bendingoverthesleepingyouth，cutoffoneofthecurls，orrathercrooks，——fortheyhardlyreachedacurl，——intowhicheachlockofhishairchosetotwistitselfinthelastinchofitslength。Thehairfellupontherug。

Shepickeditupquickly，returnedthescissorstothetable，and，asifherdignityhadsuddenlybecomeashamedofherfantasies，hastenedthroughthedoor，anddescendedthestaircase。

VI

WhenhisnaphadnaturallyexhausteditselfSwithinawoke。Heawokewithoutanysurprise，forhenotunfrequentlygavetosleepintheday—timewhathehadstolenfromitinthenightwatches。Thefirstobjectthatmethiseyeswastheparcelonthetable，and，seeinghisnameinscribedthereon，hemadenoscrupletoopenit。

Thesunflasheduponalensofsurprisingmagnitude，polishedtosuchasmoothnessthattheeyecouldscarcelymeetitsreflections。

HerewasacrystalinwhosedepthsweretobeseenmorewondersthanhadbeenrevealedbythecrystalsofalltheCagliostros。

Swithin，hotwithjoyousness，tookthistreasuretohistelescopemanufactoryatthehomestead;thenhestartedofffortheGreatHouse。

Ongainingitsprecinctshefeltshyofcalling，neverhavingreceivedanyhintorpermissiontodoso;whileLadyConstantine’smysteriousmannerofleavingtheparcelseemedtodemandalikemysteriousnessinhisapproachestoher。Alltheafternoonhelingeredaboutuncertainly，inthehopeofinterceptingheronherreturnfromadrive，occasionallywalkingwithanindifferentloungeacrossgladescommandedbythewindows，thatifshewerein—doorsshemightknowhewasnear。Butshedidnotshowherselfduringthedaylight。Stillimpressedbyherplayfulsecrecyhecarriedonthesameideaafterdark，byreturningtothehouseandpassingthroughthegardendoorontothelawnfront，wherehesatontheparapetthatbreastedtheterrace。

Nowshefrequentlycameouthereforamelancholysaunterafterdinner，andto—nightwassuchanoccasion。Swithinwentforward，andmetheratnearlythespotwherehehaddroppedthelenssomenightsearlier。

’Ihavecometoseeyou，LadyConstantine。Howdidtheglassgetonmytable？’

Shelaughedaslightlyasagirl;thathehadcometoherinthiswaywasplainlynooffencethusfar。

’Perhapsitwasdroppedfromthecloudsbyabird，’shesaid。

’Whyshouldyoubesogoodtome？’hecried。

’Onegoodturndeservesanother，’answeredshe。

’DearLadyConstantine！Whateverdiscoveriesresultfromthisshallbeascribedtoyouasmuchastome。WhereshouldIhavebeenwithoutyourgift？’

’Youwouldpossiblyhaveaccomplishedyourpurposejustthesame，andhavebeensomuchthenoblerforyourstruggleagainstill—luck。

Ihopethatnowyouwillbeabletoproceedwithyourlargetelescopeasifnothinghadhappened。’

’Oyes，Iwill，certainly。IamafraidIshowedtoomuchfeeling，thereverseofstoical，whentheaccidentoccurred。Thatwasnotverynobleofme。’

’Thereisnothingunnaturalinsuchfeelingatyourage。Whenyouareolderyouwillsmileatsuchmoods，andatthemishapsthatgaverisetothem。’

’Ah，Iperceiveyouthinkmeweakintheextreme，’hesaid，withjustashadeofpique。’Butyouwillneverrealizethatanincidentwhichfilledbutadegreeinthecircleofyourthoughtscoveredthewholecircumferenceofmine。Nopersoncanseeexactlywhatandwhereanother’shorizonis。’

Theysoonparted，andshere—enteredthehouse，whereshesatreflectingforsometime，tillsheseemedtofearthatshehadwoundedhisfeelings。Sheawokeinthenight，andthoughtandthoughtonthesamething，tillshehadworkedherselfintoafeverishfretaboutit。Whenitwasmorningshelookedacrossatthetower，andsittingdown，impulsivelywrotethefollowingnote:——

’DEARMR。ST。CLEEVE，——IcannotallowyoutoremainundertheimpressionthatIdespisedyourscientificendeavoursinspeakingasIdidlastnight。Ithinkyouweretoosensitivetomyremark。Butperhapsyouwereagitatedwiththelaboursoftheday，andIfearthatwatchingsolateatnightmustmakeyouveryweary。IfIcanhelpyouagain，pleaseletmeknow。Ineverrealizedthegrandeurofastronomytillyoushowedmehowtodoso。Alsoletmeknowaboutthenewtelescope。Comeandseemeatanytime。AfteryourgreatkindnessinbeingmymessengerIcanneverdoenoughforyou。

Iwishyouhadamotherorsister，andpityyourloneliness！Iamlonelytoo。——Yourstruly，VIVIETTE

CONSTANTINE。’

Shewassoanxiousthatheshouldgetthisletterthesamedaythatsheranacrosstothecolumnwithitduringthemorning，preferringtobeherownemissaryinsocuriousacase。Thedoor，asshehadexpected，waslocked;and，slippingtheletterunderit，shewenthomeagain。DuringlunchherardourinthecauseofSwithin’shurtfeelingscooleddown，tillsheexclaimedtoherself，asshesatatherlonelytable，’Whatcouldhavepossessedmetowriteinthatway！’

Afterlunchshewentfastertothetowerthanshehadgoneintheearlymorning，andpeepedeagerlyintothechinkunderthedoor。

Shecoulddiscernnoletter，and，ontryingthelatch，foundthatthedoorwouldopen。Theletterwasgone，Swithinhavingobviouslyarrivedintheinterval。

Sheblushedablushwhichseemedtosay，’Iamgettingfoolishlyinterestedinthisyoungman。’Shehad，inshort，inherownopinion，somewhatoversteppedtheboundsofdignity。Herinstinctsdidnotsquarewellwiththeformalitiesofherexistence，andshewalkedhomedespondently。

Hadaconcert，bazaar，lecture，orDorcasmeetingrequiredthepatronageandsupportofLadyConstantineatthisjuncture，thecircumstancewouldprobablyhavebeensufficienttodiverthermindfromSwithinSt。Cleeveandastronomyforsomelittletime。Butasnoneoftheseincidentswerewithintherangeofexpectation——

WellandHouseandparishlyingfarfromlargetownsandwatering—

places——thevoidinherouterlifecontinued，andwithitthevoidinherlifewithin。

Theyouthhadnotansweredherletter;neitherhadhecalleduponherinresponsetotheinvitationshehadregretted，withtherestoftheepistle，asbeingsomewhattoowarmlyinformalforblackandwhite。Tospeaktenderlytohimwasonething，towriteanother——

thatwasherfeelingimmediatelyaftertheevent;buthiscounter—

moveofsilenceandavoidance，thoughprobablytheresultofpureunconsciousnessonhispart，completelydispersedsuchself—

considerationsnow。HereyesneverfellupontheRings—Hillcolumnwithoutasolicitouswonderarisingastowhathewasdoing。Atruewoman，shewouldassumetheremotestpossibilitytobethemostlikelycontingency，ifthepossibilityhadtherecommendationofbeingtragical;andshenowfearedthatsomethingwaswrongwithSwithinSt。Cleeve。Yettherewasnottheleastdoubtthathehadbecomesoimmersedinthebusinessofthenewtelescopeastoforgeteverythingelse。

OnSunday，betweentheservices，shewalkedtoLittleWelland，chieflyforthesakeofgivingaruntoahouse—dog，alargeSt。

Bernard，ofwhomshewasfond。Thedistancewasbutshort;andshereturnedalonganarrowlane，dividedfromtheriverbyahedge，throughwhoseleaflesstwigstheripplesflashedsilverlightsintohereyes。HereshediscoveredSwithin，leaningoveragate，hiseyesbentuponthestream。

Thedogfirstattractedhisattention;thenheheardher，andturnedround。Shehadneverseenhimlookingsodespondent。

’Youhavenevercalled，thoughIinvitedyou，’saidLadyConstantine。

’Mygreattelescopewon’twork！’herepliedlugubriously。

’Iamsorryforthat。Soithasmadeyouquiteforgetme？’

’Ah，yes;youwrotemeaverykindletter，whichIoughttohaveanswered。Well，Ididforget，LadyConstantine。Mynewtelescopewon’twork，andIdon’tknowwhattodoaboutitatall！’

’CanIassistyouanyfurther？’

’No，Ifearnot。Besides，youhaveassistedmealready。’

’Whatwouldreallyhelpyououtofallyourdifficulties？Somethingwould，surely？’

Heshookhishead。

’Theremustbesomesolutiontothem？’

’Oyes，’hereplied，withahypotheticalgazeintothestream;’SOME

solutionofcourse——anequatorial，forinstance。’

’What’sthat？’

’Briefly，animpossibility。Itisasplendidinstrument，withanobjectlensof，say，eightornineinchesaperture，mountedwithitsaxisparalleltotheearth’saxis，andfittedupwithgraduatedcirclesfordenotingrightascensionsanddeclinations;besideshavingspecialeye—pieces，afinder，andallsortsofappliances——

clock—worktomakethetelescopefollowthemotioninrightascension——Icannottellyouhalftheconveniences。Ah，anequatorialisathingindeed！’

’Anequatorialistheoneinstrumentrequiredtomakeyouquitehappy？’

’Well，yes。’

’I’llseewhatIcando。’

’But，LadyConstantine，’criedtheamazedastronomer，’anequatorialsuchasIdescribecostsasmuchastwograndpianos！’

Shewasratherstaggeredatthisnews;butsheralliedgallantly，andsaid，’Nevermind。I’llmakeinquiries。’

’Butitcouldnotbeputonthetowerwithoutpeopleseeingit！Itwouldhavetobefixedtothemasonry。Andtheremustbeadomeofsomekindtokeepofftherain。Atarpaulinmightdo。’

LadyConstantinereflected。’Itwouldbeagreatbusiness，Isee，’

shesaid。’Thoughasfarasthefixingandroofinggo，Iwouldofcourseconsenttoyourdoingwhatyoulikedwiththeoldcolumn。Myworkmencouldfixit，couldtheynot？’

’Oyes。ButwhatwouldSirBlountsay，ifhecamehomeandsawthegoingson？’

LadyConstantineturnedasidetohideasuddendisplacementofbloodfromhercheek。’Ah——myhusband！’shewhispered……’Iamjustnowgoingtochurch，’sheaddedinarepressedandhurriedtone。’I

willthinkofthismatter。’

InchurchitwaswithLadyConstantineaswiththeLordAngeloofViennainasimilarsituation——Heavenhadheremptywordsonly，andherinventionheardnothertongue。ShesoonrecoveredfromthemomentaryconsternationintowhichshehadfallenatSwithin’sabruptquery。Thepossibilityofthatyoungastronomerbecomingarenownedscientistbyheraidwasathoughtwhichgavehersecretpleasure。Thecourseofrenderinghiminstantmaterialhelpbegantohaveagreatfascinationforher;itwasanewandunexpectedchannelforhercribbedandconfinedemotions。Withexperiencessomuchwiderthanhis，LadyConstantinesawthatthechanceswereperhapsamilliontooneagainstSwithinSt。CleeveeverbeingAstronomerRoyal，orAstronomerExtraordinaryofanysort;yettheremainingchanceinhisfavourwasoneofthosepossibilitieswhich，toawomanofboundingintellectandventuresomefancy，arepleasantertodwellonthanlikelyissuesthathavenosavourofhighspeculationinthem。Theequatorialquestionwasagreatone;

andshehadcaughtsuchalargesparkfromhisenthusiasmthatshecouldthinkofnothingsopiquantashowtoobtaintheimportantinstrument。

WhenTabithaLarkarrivedattheGreatHousenextday，insteadoffindingLadyConstantineinbed，asformerly，shediscoveredherinthelibrary，poringoverwhatastronomicalworksshehadbeenabletounearthfromtheworm—eatenshelves。Asthesepublicationswere，forascienceofsuchrapiddevelopment，somewhatvenerable，therewasnotmuchhelpofapracticalkindtobegainedfromthem。

Nevertheless，theequatorialretainedaholduponherfancy，tillshebecameaseagertoseeoneontheRings—HillcolumnasSwithinhimself。

TheupshotofitwasthatLadyConstantinesentamessengerthateveningtoWellandBottom，wherethehomesteadofSwithin’sgrandmotherwassituated，requestingtheyoungman’spresenceatthehouseattwelveo’clocknextday。

Hehurriedlyreturnedanobedientreply，andthepromisewasenoughtolendgreatfreshnesstohermannernextmorning，insteadoftheleadenairwhichwastoofrequentwithherbeforethesunreachedthemeridian，andsometimesafter。Swithinhad，infact，arisenasanattractivelittleinterventionbetweenherselfanddespair。

VII

Afogdefacedallthetreesoftheparkthatmorning，thewhiteatmosphereadheredtothegroundlikeafungoidgrowthfromit，andmadetheturfedundulationslookslimyandraw。ButLadyConstantinesettleddowninherchairtoawaitthecomingofthelatecurate’ssonwithaserenitywhichthevastblanksoutsidecouldneitherbafflenordestroy。

Attwominutestotwelvethedoor—bellrang，andalookoverspreadthelady’sfacethatwasneithermaternal，sisterly，noramorous;

butpartookinanindescribablemannerofallthreekinds。Thedoorwasflungopenandtheyoungmanwasusheredin，thefogstillclingingtohishair，inwhichshecoulddiscernalittlenotchwhereshehadnippedoffthecurl。

Aspeechlessnessthatsociallywasadefectinhimwastoherviewapiquantattributejustnow。Helookedsomewhatalarmed。

’LadyConstantine，haveIdoneanything，thatyouhavesent——？’hebeganbreathlessly，ashegazedinherface，withpartedlips。

’Ono，ofcoursenot！Ihavedecidedtodosomething，——nothingmore，’shesmilinglysaid，holdingoutherhand，whichherathergingerlytouched。’Don’tlooksoconcerned。Whomakesequatorials？’

Thisremarkwaslikethedrawingofaweir—hatchandshewasspeedilyinundatedwithallshewishedtoknowconcerningastronomicalopticians。Whenhehadimpartedtheparticularshewaited，manifestlyburningtoknowwhithertheseinquiriestended。

’Iamnotgoingtobuyyouone，’shesaidgently。

Helookedasifhewouldfaint。

’Certainlynot。Idonotwishit。I——couldnothaveacceptedit，’

falteredtheyoungman。

’ButIamgoingtobuyoneforMYSELF。Ilackahobby，andIshallchooseastronomy。Ishallfixmyequatorialonthecolumn。’

Swithinbrightenedup。

’AndIshallletyouhavetheuseofitwheneveryouchoose。Inbrief，SwithinSt。CleeveshallbeLadyConstantine’sAstronomerRoyal;andshe——andshe——’

’ShallbehisQueen。’Thewordscamenotmuchtheworseforbeingutteredonlyinthetoneofoneanxioustocompleteatardysentence。

’Well，that’swhatIhavedecidedtodo，’resumedLadyConstantine。

’Iwillwritetotheseopticiansatonce。’

Thereseemedtobenomoreforhimtodothantothankherfortheprivilege，wheneveritshouldbeavailable，whichhepromptlydid，andthenmadeasiftogo。ButLadyConstantinedetainedhimwith，’Haveyoueverseenmylibrary？’

’No;never。’

’Youdon’tsayyouwouldliketoseeit。’

’ButIshould。’

’Itisthethirddoorontheright。Youcanfindyourwayin，andyoucanstaythereaslongasyoulike。’

Swithinthenleftthemorning—roomfortheapartmentdesignated，andamusedhimselfinthat’soulofthehouse，’asCicerodefinedit，tillheheardthelunchbellsoundingfromtheturret，whenhecamedownfromthelibrarysteps，andthoughtittimetogohome。Butatthatmomentaservantenteredtoinquirewhetherhewouldorwouldnotprefertohavehislunchbroughtintohimthere;uponhisreplyingintheaffirmativealargetrayarrivedonthestomachofafootman，andSwithinwasgreatlysurprisedtoseeawholepheasantplacedathisdisposal。

Havingbreakfastedateightthatmorning，andhavingbeenmuchintheopenairafterwards，theAdonis—astronomer’sappetiteassumedgrandproportions。HowmuchofthatpheasanthemightconsistentlyeatwithouthurtinghisdearpatronessLadyConstantine’sfeelings，whenhecouldreadilyeatitall，wasaprobleminwhichthereasonablenessofalargerandlargerquantityargueditselfinverselyasasmallerandsmallerquantityremained。When，atlength，hehadfinallydecidedonaterminalpointinthebodyofthebird，thedoorwasgentlyopened。

’Oh，youhavenotfinished？’cametohimoverhisshoulder，inaconsideratevoice。

’Oyes，thankyou，LadyConstantine，’hesaid，jumpingup。

’Whydidyouprefertolunchinthisawkward，dustyplace？’

’Ithought——itwouldbebetter，’saidSwithinsimply。

’Thereisfruitintheotherroom，ifyouliketocome。Butperhapsyouwouldrathernot？’

’Oyes，Ishouldmuchliketo，’saidSwithin，walkingoverhisnapkin，andfollowingherassheledthewaytotheadjoiningapartment。

Here，whilesheaskedhimwhathehadbeenreading，hemodestlyventuredonanapple，inwhoseflavourherecognizedthefamiliartasteofoldfriendsrobbedfromherhusband’sorchardsinhischildhood，longbeforeLadyConstantine’sadventonthescene。Shesupposedhehadconfinedhissearchtohisownsublimesubject，astronomy？

Swithinsuddenlybecameoldertotheeye，ashisthoughtsrevertedtothetopicthusreintroduced。’Yes，’heinformedher。’Iseldomreadanyothersubject。Inthesedaysthesecretofproductivestudyistoavoidwell。’

’Didyoufindanygoodtreatises？’

’None。ThetheoriesinyourbooksarealmostasobsoleteasthePtolemaicSystem。Onlyfancy，thatmagnificentCyclopaedia，leather—bound，andstamped，andgilt，andwidemargined，andbearingtheblazonofyourhouseinmagnificentcolours，saysthatthetwinklingofthestarsisprobablycausedbyheavenlybodiespassinginfrontofthemintheirrevolutions。’

’Andisitnotso？ThatwaswhatIlearnedwhenIwasagirl。’

ThemodernEudoxusnowroseabovetheembarrassinghorizonofLadyConstantine’sgreathouse，magnificentfurniture，andawe—inspiringfootman。Hebecamequitenatural，allhisself—consciousnessfled，andhiseyespokeintohersnolessthanhislipstoherears，ashesaid，’Howsuchatheorycanhavelingeredontothisdaybeatsconjecture！FrancoisArago，aslongasfortyorfiftyyearsago，conclusivelyestablishedthefactthatscintillationisthesimplestthingintheworld，——merelyamatterofatmosphere。ButIwon’tspeakofthistoyounow。ThecomparativeabsenceofscintillationinwarmcountrieswasnoticedbyHumboldt。Then，again，thescintillationsvary。NostarflapshiswingslikeSiriuswhenhelieslow！Heflashesoutemeraldsandrubies，amethystineflamesandsapphirinecolours，inamannerquitemarvelloustobehold，andthisisonlyONEstar！So，too，doArcturus，andCapella，andlesserluminaries……ButItireyouwiththissubject？’

’Onthecontrary，youspeaksobeautifullythatIcouldlistenallday。’

Theastronomerthrewasearchingglanceuponherforamoment;buttherewasnosatireinthewarmsofteyeswhichmethisownwithaluxuriouscontemplativeinterest。’Saysomemoreofittome，’shecontinued，inavoicenotfarremovedfromcoaxing。

Aftersomehesitationthesubjectreturnedagaintohislips，andhesaidsomemore——indeed，muchmore;LadyConstantineoftenthrowinginanappreciativeremarkorquestion，oftenmeditativelyregardinghim，inpursuanceofideasnotexactlybasedonhiswords，andlettinghimgoonashewould。

Beforeheleftthehousethenewastronomicalprojectwassetintrain。Thetopofthecolumnwastoberoofedin，toformaproperobservatory;andonthegroundthatheknewbetterthananyoneelsehowthiswastobecarriedout，sherequestedhimtogiveprecisedirectionsonthepoint，andtosuperintendthewhole。Awoodencabinwastobeerectedatthefootofthetower，toprovidebetteraccommodationforcasualvisitorstotheobservatorythanthespiralstaircaseandlead—flatafforded。Asthiscabinwouldbecompletelyburiedinthedensefirfoliagewhichenvelopedthelowerpartofthecolumnanditspedestal，itwouldbenodisfigurementtothegeneralappearance。Finally，apathwastobemadeacrossthesurroundingfallow，bywhichshemighteasilyapproachthesceneofhernewstudy。

Whenhewasgoneshewrotetothefirmofopticiansconcerningtheequatorialforwhosereceptionallthiswasdesigned。

Theundertakingwassooninfullprogress;andbydegreesitbecamethetalkofthehamletsroundthatLadyConstantinehadgivenupmelancholyforastronomy，tothegreatadvantageofallwhocameincontactwithher。Onemorning，whenTabithaLarkhadcomeasusualtoread，LadyConstantinechancedtobeinaquarterofthehousetowhichsheseldomwandered;andwhileheresheheardhermaidtalkingconfidentiallytoTabithaintheadjoiningroomonthecuriousandsuddeninterestwhichLadyConstantinehadacquiredinthemoonandstars。

’Theydosayallsortsoftrumpery，’observedthehandmaid。’Theysay——though’tislittlebetterthanmischief，tobesure——thatitisn’tthemoon，anditisn’tthestars，anditisn’ttheplannards，thatmyladycaresfor，butfortheprettyladwhodraws’emdownfromtheskytopleaseher;andbeingamarriedexample，andwhatwithsinandshameknockingateverypoormaid’sdooraforeyoucansay，"Handsoff，mydear，"tothecivilestyoungman，sheoughttosetabetterpattern。’

LadyConstantine’sfaceflamedupvividly。

’IfSirBlountweretocomebackallofasudden——oh，my！’

LadyConstantinegrewcoldasice。

’There’snothinginit，’saidTabithascornfully。’Icouldproveitanyday。’

’Well，IwishIhadhalfherchance！’sighedthelady’smaid。Andnomorewassaidonthesubjectthen。

Tabitha’sremarkshowedthatthesuspicionwasquiteinembryoasyet。Nevertheless，sayingnothingtorevealwhatshehadoverheard，immediatelyafterthereadingLadyConstantineflewlikeabirdtowheresheknewthatSwithinmightbefound。

Hewasintheplantation，settinguplittlestickstomarkwherethewoodencabinwastostand。Shecalledhimtoaremoteplaceunderthefunerealtrees。

’Ihavealteredmymind，’shesaid。’Icanhavenothingtodowiththismatter。’

’Indeed？’saidSwithin，surprised。

’Astronomyisnotmyhobbyanylonger。AndyouarenotmyAstronomerRoyal。’

’OLadyConstantine！’criedtheyouth，aghast。’Why，theworkisbegun！Ithoughttheequatorialwasordered。’

Shedroppedhervoice，thoughaJerichoshoutwouldnothavebeenoverheard:’Ofcourseastronomyismyhobbyprivately，andyouaretobemyAstronomerRoyal，andIstillfurnishtheobservatory;butnottotheouterworld。Thereisareasonagainstmyindulgenceinsuchscientificfanciesopenly;andtheprojectmustbearrangedinthiswise。Thewholeenterpriseisyours:yourentthetowerofme:youbuildthecabin:yougettheequatorial。Isimplygivepermission，sinceyoudesireit。Thepaththatwastobemadefromthehilltotheparkisnottobethoughtof。Thereistobenocommunicationbetweenthehouseandthecolumn。Theequatorialwillarriveaddressedtoyou，anditscostIwillpaythroughyou。Mynamemustnotappear，andIvanishentirelyfromtheundertaking……Thisblindisnecessary，’sheadded，sighing。’Good—bye！’

’ButyouDOtakeasmuchinterestasbefore，anditWILLbeyoursjustthesame？’hesaid，walkingafterher。Hescarcelycomprehendedthesubterfuge，andwasabsolutelyblindastoitsreason。

’Canyoudoubtit？ButIdarenotdoitopenly。’

Withthisshewentaway;andinduetimetherecirculatedthroughtheparishanassertionthatitwasamistaketosupposeLadyConstantinehadanythingtodowithSwithinSt。Cleeveorhisstar—

gazingschemes。Shehadmerelyallowedhimtorentthetowerofherforuseashisobservatory，andtoputsometemporaryfixturesonitforthatpurpose。

AfterthisLadyConstantinelapsedintoherformerlifeofloneliness;andbythesepromptmeasurestheghostofarumourwhichhadbarelystartedintoexistencewasspeedilylaidtorest。Ithadprobablyoriginatedinherowndwelling，andhadgonebutlittlefurther。Yet，despiteherself—control，acertainnorthwindowoftheGreatHouse，thatcommandedanuninterruptedviewoftheuppertenfeetofthecolumn，revealedhertobesomewhatfrequentlygazingfromitatarotunditywhichhadbeguntoappearonthesummit。Tothosewithwhomshecameincontactshesometimesaddressedsuchremarksas，’IsyoungMr。St。Cleevegettingonwithhisobservatory？Ihopehewillfixhisinstrumentswithoutdamagingthecolumn，whichissointerestingtousasbeinginmemoryofmydearhusband’sgreat—grandfather——atrulybraveman。’

Ononeoccasionherbuilding—stewardventuredtosuggesttoherthat，SirBlounthavingdeputedtoherthepowertograntshortleasesinhisabsence，sheshouldhaveadistinctiveagreementwithSwithin，asbetweenlandlordandtenant，withastringentclauseagainsthisdrivingnailsintothestoneworkofsuchanhistoricalmemorial。SherepliedthatshedidnotwishtobesevereonthelastrepresentativeofsucholdandrespectedparishionersasSt。

Cleeve’smother’sfamilyhadbeen，andofsuchawell—descendedfamilyashisfather’s;sothatitwouldonlybenecessaryforthestewardtokeepaneyeonMr。St。Cleeve’sdoings。

Further，whenaletterarrivedattheGreatHousefromHiltonandPimm’s，theopticians，withinformationthattheequatorialwasreadyandpacked，andthatamanwouldbesentwithittofixit，sherepliedtothatfirmtotheeffectthattheirlettershouldhavebeenaddressedtoMr。St。Cleeve，thelocalastronomer，onwhosebehalfshehadmadetheinquiries;thatshehadnothingmoretodowiththematter;thathewouldreceivetheinstrumentandpaythebill，——herguaranteebeinggivenforthelatterperformance。

VIII

LadyConstantinethenhadthepleasureofbeholdingawaggon，ladenwithpacking—cases，movingacrossthefieldtowardsthepillar;andnotmanydayslaterSwithin，whohadnevercometotheGreatHousesincetheluncheon，metherinapathwhichheknewtobeoneofherpromenades。

’Theequatorialisfixed，andthemangone，’hesaid，halfindoubtastohisspeech，forhercommandstohimnottorecognizeheragencyorpatronagestillpuzzledhim。’Irespectfullywish——youcouldcomeandseeit，LadyConstantine。’

’Iwouldrathernot;Icannot。’

’Saturnislovely;Jupiterissimplysublime;IcanseedoublestarsintheLionandintheVirgin，whereIhadseenonlyasingleonebefore。ItisallIrequiredtosetmegoing！’