第5章

’I’llcome。But——youneedsaynothingaboutmyvisit。Icannotcometo—night，butIwillsometimethisweek。Yetonlythisonce，totrytheinstrument。Afterwardsyoumustbecontenttopursueyourstudiesalone。’

Swithinseemedbutlittleaffectedatthisannouncement。’HiltonandPimm’smanhandedmethebill，’hecontinued。

’Howmuchisit？’

Hetoldher。’Andthemanwhohasbuiltthehutanddome，anddonetheotherfixing，hassentinhis。’Henamedthisamountalso。

’Verywell。Theyshallbesettledwith。Mydebtsmustbepaidwithmymoney，whichyoushallhaveatonce，——incash，sinceachequewouldhardlydo。Cometothehouseforitthisevening。Butno，no——youmustnotcomeopenly;suchistheworld。Cometothewindow——thewindowthatisexactlyinalinewiththelongsnowdropbed，inthesouthfront——ateightto—night，andIwillgiveyouwhatisnecessary。’

’Certainly，LadyConstantine，’saidtheyoungman。

Ateightthateveningaccordingly，Swithinenteredlikeaspectreupontheterracetoseekoutthespotshehaddesignated。Theequatorialhadsoentirelyabsorbedhisthoughtsthathedidnottroublehimselfseriouslytoconjecturethewhyandwhereforeofhersecrecy。Ifhecasuallythoughtofit，hesetitdowninageneralwaytoanintenselygenerouswishonherpartnottolessenhisinfluenceamongthepoorerinhabitantsbymakinghimappeartheobjectofpatronage。

Whilehestoodbythelongsnowdropbed，whichlookedupathimlikeanetherMilkyWay，theFrenchcasementofthewindowoppositesoftlyopened，andahandborderedbyaglimmeroflacewasstretchedforth，fromwhichhereceivedacrisplittleparcel，——

bank—notes，apparently。Heknewthehand，andhelditlongenoughtopressittohislips，theonlyformwhichhadeveroccurredtohimofexpressinghisgratitudetoherwithouttheincumbranceofclumsywords，avehicleatthebestoftimesbutrudelysuitedtosuchdelicatemerchandise。Thehandwashastilywithdrawn，asifthetreatmenthadbeenunexpected。Thenseeminglymovedbysecondthoughtsshebentforwardandsaid，’Isthenightgoodforobservations？’

’Perfect。’

Shepaused。’ThenI’llcometo—night，’sheatlastsaid。’Itmakesnodifferencetome，afterall。Waitjustonemoment。’

Hewaited，andshepresentlyemerged，muffleduplikeanun;

whereupontheylefttheterraceandstruckacrosstheparktogether。

Verylittlewassaidbyeithertilltheywerecrossingthefallow，whenheaskedifhisarmwouldhelpher。Shedidnottaketheofferedsupportjustthen;butwhentheywereascendingtheprehistoricearthwork，undertheheavygloomofthefir—trees，sheseizedit，asifratherinfluencedbytheoppressivesolitudethanbyfatigue。

Thustheyreachedthefootofthecolumn，tenthousandspiritsinprisonseemingtogasptheirgriefsfromthefunerealboughsoverhead，andafewtwigsscratchingthepillarwiththedragofimpishclawsastenaciousasthosefiguringinSt。Anthony’stemptation。

’Howintenselydarkitisjusthere！’shewhispered。’Iwonderyoucankeepinthepath。ManyancientBritonslieburiedtheredoubtless。’

Heledherroundtotheotherside，where，feelinghiswaywithhishands，hesuddenlylefther，appearingamomentafterwithalight。

’Whatplaceisthis？’sheexclaimed。

’Thisisthenewwoodcabin，’saidhe。

Shecouldjustdiscerntheoutlineofalittlehouse，notunlikeabathing—machinewithoutwheels。

’Ihavekeptlightsreadyhere，’hewenton，’asIthoughtyoumightcomeanyevening，andpossiblybringcompany。’

’Don’tcriticizemeforcomingalone，’sheexclaimedwithsensitivepromptness。’TherearesocialreasonsforwhatIdoofwhichyouknownothing。’

’PerhapsitismuchtomydiscreditthatIdon’tknow。’

’Notatall。Youareallthebetterforit。HeavenforbidthatI

shouldenlightenyou。Well，Iseethisisthehut。ButIammorecurioustogotothetopofthetower，andmakediscoveries。’

Hebroughtalittlelanternfromthecabin，andlightedherupthewindingstaircasetothetempleofthatsublimemysteryonwhosethresholdhestoodaspriest。

Thetopofthecolumnwasquitechanged。Thetub—shapedspacewithintheparapet，formerlyopentotheairandsun，wasnowarchedoverbyalightdomeoflath—workcoveredwithfelt。Butthisdomewasnotfixed。Atthelinewhereitsbasedescendedtotheparapettherewerehalfadozenironballs，preciselylikecannon—shot，standinglooselyinagroove，andonthesethedomeresteditswholeweight。Inthesideofthedomewasaslit，throughwhichthewindblewandtheNorthStarbeamed，andtowardsittheendofthegreattelescopewasdirected。Thislattermagnificentobject，withitscircles，axes，andhandlescomplete，wassecurelyfixedinthemiddleofthefloor。

’Butyoucanonlyseeonepartoftheskythroughthatslit，’saidshe。

Theastronomerstretchedouthisarm，andthewholedometurnedhorizontallyround，runningontheballswitharumblelikethunder。

InsteadofthestarPolaris，whichhadfirstbeenpeepinginthroughtheslit，therenowappearedthecountenancesofCastorandPollux。

Swithinthenmanipulatedtheequatorial，andputitthroughitscapabilitiesinlikemanner。

Shewasenchanted;beingratherexcitablesheevenclappedherhandsjustonce。Sheturnedtohim:’Nowareyouhappy？’

’ButitisallYOURS，LadyConstantine。’

’Atthismoment。Butthat’sadefectwhichcansoonberemedied。

Whenisyourbirthday？’

’Nextmonth，——theseventh。’

’Thenitshallallbeyours，——abirthdaypresent。’

Theyoungmanprotested;itwastoomuch。

’No，youmustacceptitall，——equatorial，domestand，hut，andeverythingthathasbeenputhereforthisastronomicalpurpose。

Thepossessionoftheseapparatuswouldonlycompromiseme。Alreadytheyarereputedtobeyours，andtheymustbemadeyours。Thereisnohelpforit。Ifever’（herehervoicelostsomefirmness），——’ifeveryougoawayfromme，——fromthisplace，Imean，——andmarry，andsettleinanewhomeelsewhereforgood，andforgetme，youmusttakethesethings，equatorialandall，andnevertellyourwifeoranybodyhowtheycametobeyours。’

’IwishIcoulddosomethingmoreforyou！’exclaimedthemuch—movedastronomer。’Ifyoucouldbutsharemyfame，——supposingIgetany，whichImaydiebeforedoing，——itwouldbealittlecompensation。

Astomygoingawayandmarrying，Icertainlyshallnot。Imaygoaway，butIshallnevermarry。’

’Whynot？’

’Abelovedscienceisenoughwifeforme，——combined，perhaps，withalittlewarmfriendshipwithoneofkindredpursuits。’

’Whoisthefriendofkindredpursuits？’

’YourselfIshouldlikeittobe。’

’YouwouldhavetobecomeawomanbeforeIcouldbethat，publicly;

orIaman，’shereplied，withdrymelancholy。

’WhyIawoman，oryouaman，dearLadyConstantine？’

’Icannotexplain。No;youmustkeepyourfameandyoursciencealltoyourself，andImustkeepmy——troubles。’

Swithin，todivertherfrommelancholy——notknowingthatintheexpressionofhermelancholythusandnowshefoundmuchpleasure，——

changedthesubjectbyaskingiftheyshouldtakesomeobservations。

’Yes;thesceneryiswellhungto—night，’shesaidlookingoutupontheheavens。

Thentheyproceededtoscanthesky，rovingfromplanettostar，fromsinglestarstodoublestars，fromdoubletocolouredstars，inthecursorymannerofthemerelycurious。Theyplungeddowntothatatothertimesinvisiblemultitudeinthebackrowsofthecelestialtheatre:remotelayersofconstellationswhoseshapeswerenewandsingular;prettytwinklerswhichforinfiniteageshadspenttheirbeamswithoutcallingforthfromasingleearthlypoetasingleline，orbeingabletobestowarayofcomfortonasinglebenightedtraveller。

’Andtothink，’saidLadyConstantine，’thatthewholeraceofshepherds，sincethebeginningoftheworld，——eventhoseimmortalshepherdswhowatchednearBethlehem，——shouldhavegoneintotheirgraveswithoutknowingthatforonestarthatlightedthemintheirlabours，therewereahundredasgoodbehindtryingtodoso！……

IhaveafeelingforthisinstrumentnotunliketheaweIshouldfeelinthepresenceofagreatmagicianinwhomIreallybelieved。

Itspowersaresoenormous，andweird，andfantastical，thatI

shouldhaveapersonalfearinbeingwithitalone。Musicdrewanangeldown，saidthepoet:butwhatisthattodrawingdownworlds！’

’Ioftenexperienceakindoffearoftheskyaftersittingintheobserving—chairalongtime，’heanswered。’AndwhenIwalkhomeafterwardsIalsofearit，forwhatIknowisthere，butcannotsee，asonenaturallyfearsthepresenceofavastformlesssomethingthatonlyrevealsaverylittleofitself。That’spartlywhatI

meantbysayingthatmagnitude，whichuptoacertainpointhasgrandeur，hasbeyonditghastliness。’

Thustheinterestoftheirsiderealobservationsledthemon，tilltheknowledgethatscarceanyotherhumanvisionwastravellingwithinahundredmillionmilesoftheirowngavethemsuchasenseoftheisolationofthatfacultyasalmosttobeasenseofisolationinrespectoftheirwholepersonality，causingashudderatitsabsoluteness。Atnight，whenhumandiscordsandharmoniesarehushed，inageneralsense，forthegreaterpartoftwelvehours，thereisnothingtomoderatetheblowwithwhichtheinfinitelygreat，thestellaruniverse，strikesdownupontheinfinitelylittle，themindofthebeholder;andthiswasthecasenow。Havinggotclosertoimmensitythantheirfellow—creatures，theysawatonceitsbeautyanditsfrightfulness。Theymoreandmorefeltthecontrastbetweentheirowntinymagnitudesandthoseamongwhichtheyhadrecklesslyplunged，tilltheywereoppressedwiththepresenceofavastnesstheycouldnotcopewithevenasanidea，andwhichhungaboutthemlikeanightmare。

Hestoodbyherwhilesheobserved;shebyhimwhentheychangedplaces。OncethatSwithin’semancipationfromatrammellingbodyhadbeeneffectedbythetelescope，andhewaswellawayinspace，shefeltherinfluenceoverhimdiminishingtonothing。Hewasquiteunconsciousofhisterrestrialneighbourings，andofherselfasoneofthem。Itstillfurtherreducedhertowardsunvarnishedsimplicityinhermannertohim。

Thesilencewasbrokenonlybythetickingoftheclock—workwhichgavediurnalmotiontotheinstrument。Thestarsmovedon，theendofthetelescopefollowed，buttheirtonguesstoodstill。Toexpectthathewasevervoluntarilygoingtoendthepausebyspeechwasapparentlyfutile。Shelaidherhanduponhisarm。

Hestarted，withdrewhiseyefromthetelescope，andbroughthimselfbacktotheearthbyavisible——almostpainful——effort。

’Docomeoutofit，’shecoaxed，withasoftnessinhervoicewhichanymanbutunpractisedSwithinwouldhavefelttobeexquisite。’I

feelthatIhavebeensofoolishastoputinyourhandsaninstrumenttoeffectmyownannihilation。Notawordhaveyouspokenforthelasttenminutes。’

’Ihavebeenmentallygettingonwithmygreattheory。Ihopesoontobeabletopublishittotheworld。What，areyougoing？Iwillwalkwithyou，LadyConstantine。Whenwillyoucomeagain？’

’Whenyourgreattheoryispublishedtotheworld。’

IX

LadyConstantine，ifnarrowlyobservedatthistime，wouldhaveseemedtobedeeplytroubledinconscience，andparticularlyaftertheinterviewabovedescribed。AshWednesdayoccurredinthecalendarafewdayslater，andshewenttomorningservicewithalookofgenuinecontritiononheremotionalandyearningcountenance。

Besidesherselfthecongregationconsistedonlyoftheparson，clerk，school—children，andthreeoldpeoplelivingonalms，whosatunderthereading—desk;andthus，whenMr。TorkinghamblazedforththedenunciatorysentencesoftheCommination，nearlythewholeforceofthemseemedtodescenduponherownshoulders。Lookingacrosstheemptypewsshesawthroughtheoneortwoclearpanesofthewindowoppositeayouthfulfigureinthechurchyard，andtheveryfeelingagainstwhichshehadtriedtoprayreturnedagainirresistibly。

Whenshecameoutandhadcrossedintotheprivatewalk，Swithincameforwardtospeaktoher。Thiswasamostunusualcircumstance，andarguedamatterofimportance。

’Ihavemadeanamazingdiscoveryinconnexionwiththevariablestars，’heexclaimed。’Itwillexcitethewholeastronomicalworld，andtheworldoutsidebutlittleless。Ihadlongsuspectedthetruesecretoftheirvariability;butitwasbythemerestchanceonearththatIhituponaproofofmyguess。Yourequatorialhasdoneit，mygood，kindLadyConstantine，andourfameisestablishedforever！’

Hesprangintotheair，andwavedhishatinhistriumph。

’Oh，Iamsoglad——sorejoiced！’shecried。’Whatisit？Butdon’tstoptotellme。Publishitatonceinsomepaper;nailyournametoit，orsomebodywillseizetheideaandappropriateit，——

forestallyouinsomeway。ItwillbeAdamsandLeverrieroveragain。’

’IfImaywalkwithyouIwillexplainthenatureofthediscovery。

ItaccountsfortheoccasionalgreentintofCastor，andeverydifficulty。IsaidIwouldbetheCopernicusofthestellarsystem，andIhavebeguntobe。Yetwhoknows？’

’Nowdon’tbesoupanddown！Ishallnotunderstandyourexplanation，andIwouldrathernotknowit。Ishallrevealitifitisverygrand。Women，youknow，arenotsafedepositariesofsuchvaluablesecrets。Youmaywalkwithmealittleway，withgreatpleasure。Thengoandwriteyouraccount，soastoinsureyourownershipofthediscovery……Buthowyouhavewatched！’

shecried，inasuddenaccessionofanxiety，assheturnedtolookmorecloselyathim。’Theorbitsofyoureyesareleaden，andyoureyelidsareredandheavy。Don’tdoit——praydon’t。Youwillbeill，andbreakdown。’

’Ihave，itistrue，beenupalittlelatethislastweek，’hesaidcheerfully。’Infact，Icouldn’ttearmyselfawayfromtheequatorial;itissuchawonderfulpossessionthatitkeepsmetheretilldaylight。Butwhatdoesthatmatter，nowIhavemadethediscovery？’

’Ah，itDOESmatter！Now，promiseme——Iinsist——thatyouwillnotcommitsuchimprudencesagain;forwhatshouldIdoifmyAstronomerRoyalweretodie？’

Shelaughed，butfartooapprehensivelytobeeffectiveasadisplayoflevity。

Theyparted，andhewenthometowriteouthispaper。Hepromisedtocallassoonashisdiscoverywasinprint。Thentheywaitedfortheresult。

ItisimpossibletodescribethetremulousstateofLadyConstantineduringtheinterval。ThewarminterestshetookinSwithinSt。

Cleeve——manywouldhavesaiddangerouslywarminterest——madehishopesherhopes;andthoughshesometimesadmittedtoherselfthatgreatallowancewasrequisitefortheoverweeningconfidenceofyouthinthefuture，shepermittedherselftobeblindedtoprobabilitiesforthepleasureofsharinghisdreams。Itseemednotunreasonabletosupposethepresenthourtobethebeginningofrealizationtoherdarlingwishthatthisyoungmanshouldbecomefamous。Hehadworkedhard，andwhyshouldhenotbefamousearly？

Hisverysimplicityinmundaneaffairsaffordedastrongpresumptionthatinthingscelestialhemightbewise。Toobtainsupportforthishypothesisshehadonlytothinkoverthelivesofmanyeminentastronomers。

Shewaitedfeverishlyfortheflourishoftrumpetsfromafar，bywhichsheexpectedtheannouncementofhisdiscoverytobegreeted。

Knowingthatimmediateintelligenceoftheoutburstwouldbebroughttoherbyhimself，shewatchedfromthewindowsoftheGreatHouseeachmorningforasightofhisfigurehasteningdowntheglade。

Buthedidnotcome。

Alongarrayofwetdayspassedtheirdrearyshapesbeforeher，andmadethewaitingstillmoretedious。Ononeoftheseoccasionssheranacrosstothetower，attheriskofaseverecold。Thedoorwaslocked。

Twodaysaftershewentagain。Thedoorwaslockedstill。Butthiswasonlytobeexpectedinsuchweather。Yetshewouldhavegoneontohishouse，hadtherenotbeenonereasontoomanyagainstsuchprecipitancy。Asastronomerandastronomertherewasnoharmintheirmeetings;butaswomanandmanshefearedthem。

Tendayspassedwithoutasightofhim;tenblurredanddrearydays，duringwhichthewholelandscapedrippedlikeamop;theparktreesswabbedthegravelfromthedrive，whiletheskywasazinc—colouredarchi—vaultofimmovablecloud。Itseemedasifthewholescienceofastronomyhadneverbeenreal，andthattheheavenlybodies，withtheirmotions，wereastheoreticalasthelinesandcirclesofabygonemathematicalproblem。

Shecouldcontentherselfnolongerwithfruitlessvisitstothecolumn，andwhentherainhadalittleabatedshewalkedtothenearesthamlet，andinaconversationwiththefirstoldwomanshemetcontrivedtoleaduptothesubjectofSwithinSt。Cleevebytalkingabouthisgrandmother。

’Ah，pooroldheart;’tisabadtimeforher，mylady！’exclaimedthedame。

’What？’

’Hergrandsonisdying;andsuchagentlemanthroughandthrough！’

’What！……Oh，ithassomethingtodowiththatdreadfuldiscovery！’

’Discovery，mylady？’

Shelefttheoldwomanwithanevasiveanswer，andwithabreakingheartcreptalongtheroad。Tearsbrimmedintohereyesasshewalked，andbythetimethatshewasoutofsightsobsburstforthtumultuously。

’Iamtoofondofhim！’shemoaned;’butIcan’thelpit;andI

don’tcareifit’swrong，——Idon’tcare！’

WithoutfurtherconsiderationsastowhobeheldherdoingssheinstinctivelywentstraighttowardsMrs。Martin’s。SeeingamancomingshecalmedherselfsufficientlytoaskhimthroughherdroppedveilhowpoorMr。St。Cleevewasthatday。Butsheonlygotthesamereply:’Theysayheisdying，mylady。’

WhenSwithinhadpartedfromLadyConstantine，onthepreviousAsh—

Wednesday，hehadgonestraighttothehomesteadandpreparedhisaccountof’ANewAstronomicalDiscovery。’Itwaswrittenperhapsintooglowingarhetoricforthetruescientifictoneofmind;buttherewasnodoubtthathisassertionmetwithamoststartlingaptnessallthedifficultieswhichhadaccompaniedthereceivedtheoriesonthephenomenaattendingthosechangeablesunsofmarvelloussystemssofaraway。Itaccountedforthenebulousmistthatsurroundssomeofthemattheirweakesttime;inshort，tookupapositionofprobabilitywhichhasneveryetbeensuccessfullyassailed。

Thepaperswerewrittenintriplicate，andcarefullysealedupwithbluewax。OnecopywasdirectedtoGreenwich，anothertotheRoyalSociety，anothertoaprominentastronomer。Abriefstatementoftheessenceofthediscoverywasalsopreparedfortheleadingdailypaper。

Heconsideredthesedocuments，embodyingastheydidtwoyearsofhisconstantthought，reading，andobservation，tooimportanttobeentrustedforpostingtothehandsofamessenger;tooimportanttobesenttothesub—post—officeathand。Thoughthedaywaswet，drippingwet，hewentonfootwiththemtoachiefoffice，fivemilesoff，andregisteredthem。Quiteexhaustedbythewalk，afterhislongnight—work，wetthrough，yetsustainedbythesenseofagreatachievement，hecalledatabookseller’sfortheastronomicalperiodicalstowhichhesubscribed;then，restingforashorttimeataninn，heploddedhiswayhomewards，readinghispapersashewent，andplanninghowtoenjoyareposeonhislaurelsofaweekormore。

Onhestrolledthroughtherain，holdingtheumbrellaverticallyovertheexposedpagetokeepitdrywhileheread。Suddenlyhiseyewasstruckbyanarticle。ItwasthereviewofapamphletbyanAmericanastronomer，inwhichtheauthorannouncedaconclusivediscoverywithregardtovariablestars。

ThediscoverywaspreciselythediscoveryofSwithinSt。Cleeve。

Anothermanhadforestalledhisfamebyaperiodofaboutsixweeks。

ThentheyouthfoundthatthegoddessPhilosophy，towhomhehadvowedtodedicatehiswholelife，wouldnotinreturnsupporthimthroughasinglehourofdespair。Intruth，theimpishnessofcircumstancewasnewertohimthanitwouldhavebeentoaphilosopherofthreescore—and—ten。Inawildwishforannihilationheflunghimselfdownonapatchofheatherthatlayalittleremovedfromtheroad，andinthishumidbedremainedmotionless，whiletimepassedbyunheeded。

Atlast，fromsheermiseryandweariness，hefellasleep。

TheMarchrainpeltedhimmercilessly，thebeadedmoisturefromtheheavilychargedlocksofheathpenetratedhimthroughbackandsides，andclottedhishairtounsightlytagsandtufts。Whenheawokeitwasdark。Hethoughtofhisgrandmother，andofherpossiblealarmatmissinghim。Onattemptingtorise，hefoundthathecouldhardlybendhisjoints，andthathisclotheswereasheavyasleadfromsaturation。Histeethchatteringandhiskneestremblinghepursuedhiswayhome，wherehisappearanceexcitedgreatconcern。Hewasobligedatoncetoretiretobed，andthenextdayhewasdeliriousfromthechill。

ItwasabouttendaysafterthisunhappyoccurrencethatLadyConstantinelearntthenews，asabovedescribed，andhastenedalongtothehomesteadinthatstateofanguishinwhichtheheartisnolongerunderthecontrolofthejudgment，andself—abandonmenteventoerror，vergesonheroism。

OnreachingthehouseinWellandBottomthedoorwasopenedtoherbyoldHannah，whoworeanassiduouslysorrowfullook;andLadyConstantinewasshownintothelargeroom，——sowidethatthebeamsbentinthemiddle，——whereshetookherseatinoneofamethodicrangeofchairs，beneathaportraitoftheReverendMr。St。Cleeve，herastronomer’serraticfather。

Theeightunwatereddyingplants，intherowofeightflower—pots，denotedthattherewassomethingwronginthehouse。Mrs。Martincamedownstairsfretting，herwonderatbeholdingLadyConstantinenotaltogetherdisplacingthepreviousmoodofgrief。

’Here’saprettykettleoffish，mylady！’sheexclaimed。

LadyConstantinesaid，’Hush！’andpointedinquiringlyupward。

’Heisnotoverhead，mylady，’repliedSwithin’sgrandmother。’Hisbedroomisatthebackofthehouse。’

’Howishenow？’

’Heisbetter，justatthismoment;andwearemorehopeful。Buthechangesso。’

’MayIgoup？Iknowhewouldliketoseeme。’

Herpresencehavingbeenmadeknowntothesufferer，shewasconductedupstairstoSwithin’sroom。Thewaythitherwasthroughthelargechamberhehadusedasastudyandforthemanufactureofopticalinstruments。Therelaythelargepasteboardtelescope，thathadbeenjustsuchafailureasCrusoe’slargeboat;therewerehisdiagrams，maps，globes，andcelestialapparatusofvarioussorts。

Theabsenceoftheworker，throughillnessordeathissufficienttotouchtheprosiestworkshopandtoolswiththehuesofpathos，anditwaswithaswellingbosomthatLadyConstantinepassedthroughthisarenaofhisyouthfulactivitiestothelittlechamberwherehelay。

OldMrs。Martinsatdownbythewindow，andLadyConstantinebentoverSwithin。

’Don’tspeaktome！’shewhispered。’Itwillweakenyou;itwillexciteyou。Ifyoudospeak，itmustbeverysoftly。’

Shetookhishand，andoneirrepressibletearfelluponit。

’Nothingwillexcitemenow，LadyConstantine，’hesaid;’notevenyourgoodnessincoming。MylastexcitementwaswhenIlostthebattle……Doyouknowthatmydiscoveryhasbeenforestalled？

Itisthatthat’skillingme。’

’Butyouaregoingtorecover;youarebetter，theysay。Isitso？’

’IthinkIam，to—day。Butwhocanbesure？’

’Thepoorboywassoupsetatfindingthathislabourhadbeenthrownaway，’saidhisgrandmother，’thathelaydownintherain，andchilledhislifeout。’

’Howcouldyoudoit？’LadyConstantinewhispered。’O，howcouldyouthinksomuchofrenown，andsolittleofme？Why，foreverydiscoverymadetherearetenbehindthatawaitmaking。Tocommitsuicidelikethis，asiftherewerenobodyintheworldtocareforyou！’

’Itwasdoneinmyhaste，andIamvery，verysorryforit！Ibegbothyouandallmyfewfriendsnever，nevertoforgiveme！Itwouldkillmewithself—reproachifyouweretopardonmyrashness！’

Atthismomentthedoctorwasannounced，andMrs。Martinwentdownstairstoreceivehim。LadyConstantinethoughtshewouldremaintohearhisreport，andforthispurposewithdrew，andsatdowninanookoftheadjoiningwork—roomofSwithin，thedoctormeetingherashepassedthroughitintothesickchamber。

Hewasthereatorturinglylongtime;butatlengthhecameouttotheroomshewaitedin，andcrosseditonhiswaydownstairs。Sheroseandfollowedhimtothestairhead。

’Howishe？’sheanxiouslyasked。’Willhegetoverit？’

Thedoctor，notknowingthedepthofherinterestinthepatient，spokewiththebluntcandournaturaltowardsacomparativelyindifferentinquirer。

’No，LadyConstantine，’hereplied;’there’sachangefortheworse。’

Andheretireddownthestairs。

ScarcelyknowingwhatshedidLadyConstantineranbacktoSwithin’sside，flungherselfuponthebedandinaparoxysmofsorrowkissedhim。

X

TheplacidinhabitantsoftheparishofWelland，includingwarblingwaggoners，loneshepherds，ploughmen，theblacksmith，thecarpenter，thegardenerattheGreatHouse，thestewardandagent，theparson，clerk，andsoon，werehourlyexpectingtheannouncementofSt。

Cleeve’sdeath。Thesextonhadbeengoingtoseehisbrother—in—

law，ninemilesdistant，butpromptlypostponedthevisitforafewdays，thattheremightbetheregularprofessionalhandpresenttotollthebellinanoteofduefulnessandsolemnity;anattemptbyadeputy，onapreviousoccasionofhisabsence，havingdegeneratedintoamiserablestammeringclangthatwasadisgracetotheparish。

ButSwithinSt。Cleevedidnotdecease，afactofwhich，indeed，thehabituatedreaderwillhavebeenwellawareeversincetheraincamedownupontheyoungmanintheninthchapter，andledtohisalarmingillness。Though，forthatmatter，somanymaimedhistoriesarehourlyenactingthemselvesinthisdun—colouredworldastolendalmostapriorityofinteresttonarrativesconcerningthose’WholaygreatbasesforeternityWhichprovemoreshortthanwasteorruining。’

Howitarosethathedidnotdiewasinthiswise;andhisexampleaffordsanotherinstanceofthatreflexruleofthevassalsouloverthesovereignbody，which，operatingsowonderfullyinelasticnatures，andmoreorlessinall，originallygaverisetothelegendthatsupremacylayontheotherside。

Theeveningofthedayafterthetender，despairing，farewellkissofLadyConstantine，whenhewasalittlelessweakthanduringhervisit，helaywithhisfacetothewindow。Helayalone，quietandresigned。Hehadbeenthinking，sometimesofherandotherfriends，butchieflyofhislostdiscovery。Althoughnearlyunconsciousatthetime，hehadyetbeenawareofthatkiss，asthedelicateflushwhichfollowedituponhischeekwouldhavetold;buthehadattachedlittleimportancetoitasbetweenwomanandman。Hadhebeendyingofloveinsteadofwetweather，perhapstheimpulsiveactofthathandsomeladywouldhavebeenseizedonasaproofthathislovewasreturned。Asitwasherkissseemedbuttheevidenceofanaturallydemonstrativekindliness，felttowardshimchieflybecausehewasbelievedtobeleavingherforever。

Theredsofsunsetpassed，andduskdrewon。OldHannahcameupstairstopulldowntheblindsandassheadvancedtothewindowhesaidtoher，inafaintvoice，’Well，Hannah，whatnewsto—day？’