第6章

’Oh，nothing，sir，’Hannahreplied，lookingoutofthewindowwithsadapathy，’onlythatthere’sacomet，theysay。’

’AWHAT？’saidthedyingastronomer，startinguponhiselbow。

’Acomet——that’sall，MasterSwithin，’repeatedHannah，inalowervoice，fearingshehaddoneharminsomeway。

’Well，tellme，tellme！’criedSwithin。’IsitGambart’s？IsitCharlestheFifth’s，orHalley’s，orFaye’s，orwhose？’

’Hush！’saidshe，thinkingSt。Cleeveslightlydeliriousagain。

’’TisGodA’mighty’s，ofcourse。Ihaven’tseedenmyself，buttheysayhe’sgettingbiggereverynight，andthathe’llbethebiggestoneknownforfiftyyearswhenhe’sfullgrowed。There，youmustnottalkanymorenow，orI’llgoaway。’

Herewasanamazingevent，littlenoiseasithadmadeinthehappening。Ofallphenomenathathehadlongedtowitnessduringhisshortastronomicalcareer，thoseappertainingtocometshadexcitedhimmost。Thatthemagnificentcometof1811wouldnotreturnagainforthirtycenturieshadbeenquiteapermanentregretwithhim。Andnow，whenthebottomlessabyssofdeathseemedyawningbeneathhisfeet，oneofthesemuch—desiredapparitions，aslarge，apparently，asanyofitstribe，hadchosentoshowitself。

’O，ifIcouldbutlivetoseethatcometthroughmyequatorial！’hecried。

Comparedwithcomets，variablestars，whichhehadhithertomadehisstudy，were，fromtheirremoteness，uninteresting。TheyweretotheformerasthecelebritiesofUjijiorUnyamwesitothecelebritiesofhisowncountry。Membersofthesolarsystem，thesedazzlingandperplexingrangers，thefascinationofallastronomers，renderedthemselvesstillmorefascinatingbythesinistersuspicionattachingtothemofbeingpossiblytheultimatedestroyersofthehumanrace。InhisphysicalprostrationSt。Cleeveweptbitterlyatnotbeinghaleandstrongenoughtowelcomewithproperhonourthepresentspecimenofthesedesirablevisitors。

Thestrenuouswishtoliveandbeholdthenewphenomenon，supplantingtheutterwearinessofexistencethathehadheretoforeexperienced，gavehimanewvitality。Thecrisispassed;therewasaturnforthebetter;andafterthatherapidlymended。Thecomethadinallprobabilitysavedhislife。Thelimitlessandcomplexwondersoftheskyresumedtheiroldpoweroverhisimagination;thepossibilitiesofthatunfathomableblueoceanwereendless。Finerfeatsthaneverhewouldperformweretobeachievedinitsinvestigation。WhatLadyConstantinehadsaid，thatforonediscoverymadetenawaitedmaking，wasstrikinglyverifiedbythesuddenappearanceofthissplendidmarvel。

ThewindowsofSt。Cleeve’sbedroomfacedthewest，andnothingwouldsatisfyhimbutthathisbedshouldbesopulledroundastogivehimaviewofthelowsky，inwhichtheasyetminutetadpoleoffirewasrecognizable。Themeresightofitseemedtolendhimsufficientresolutiontocompletehisowncureforthwith。Hisonlyfearnowwaslest，fromsomeunexpectedcauseorother，thecometwouldvanishbeforehecouldgettotheobservatoryonRings—HillSpeer。

Inhisfervourtobeginobservinghedirectedthatanoldtelescope，whichhehadusedinhisfirstcelestialattempts，shouldbetiedatoneendtothebed—post，andattheotherfixednearhiseyeashereclined。Equippedonlywiththisroughimprovisationhebegantotakenotes。LadyConstantinewasforgotten，tilloneday，suddenly，wonderingifsheknewoftheimportantphenomenon，herevolvedinhismindwhetherasafellow—studentandsincerefriendofhissheoughtnottobesentfor，andinstructedintheuseoftheequatorial。

ButthoughtheimageofLadyConstantine，inspiteofherkindnessandunmistakablywarmheart，hadbeenobscuredinhismindbytheheavenlybody，shehadnotsoreadilyforgottenhim。Tooshytorepeathervisitaftersonearlybetrayinghersecret，sheyet，everyday，bythemostingeniousandsubtlemeansthatcouldbedevisedbyawomanwhofearedforherself，butcouldnotrefrainfromtamperingwithdanger，ascertainedthestateofheryoungfriend’shealth。Onhearingoftheturninhisconditionsherejoicedonhisaccount，andbecameyetmoredespondentonherown。

Ifhehaddiedshemighthavemusedonhimasherdeardepartedsaintwithoutmuchsin:buthisreturntolifewasadelightthatbewilderedanddismayed。

Oneeveningalittlelateronhewassittingathisbedroomwindowasusual，waitingforasufficientdeclineoflighttorevealthecomet’sform，whenhebeheld，crossingthefieldcontiguoustothehouse，afigurewhichheknewtobehers。Hethoughtshemustbecomingtoseehimonthegreatcometquestion，todiscusswhichwithsodelightfulandkindacomradewasanexpectationfullofpleasure。Hencehekeenlyobservedherapproach，tillsomethinghappenedthatsurprisedhim。

When，atthedescentofthehill，shehadreachedthestilethatadmittedtoMrs。Martin’sgarden，LadyConstantinestoodquitestillforaminuteormore，hergazebentontheground。Insteadofcomingontothehouseshewentheavilyandslowlyback，almostasifinpain;andthenatlength，quickeningherpace，shewassoonoutofsight。Sheappearedinthepathnomorethatday。

XI

WhyhadLadyConstantinestoppedandturned？

Amisgivinghadtakensuddenpossessionofher。HertruesentimenttowardsSt。Cleevewastoorecognizablebyherselftobetolerated。

Thatshehadalegitimateinterestinhimasayoungastronomerwastrue;thathersympathyonaccountofhissevereillnesshadbeennaturalandcommendablewasalsotrue。Butthesuperfluousfeelingwaswhatfilledherwithtrepidation。

Superfluitieshavebeendefinedasthingsyoucannotdowithout，andthisparticularemotion，thatcamenotwithinherrightfulmeasure，wasindangerofbecomingjustsuchasuperfluitywithher。Inshort，shefeltthereandthenthattoseeSt。Cleeveagainwouldbeanimpropriety;andbyaviolenteffortsheretreatedfromhisprecincts，ashehadobserved。

Sheresolvedtoennobleherconductfromthatmomentofherlifeonwards。ShewouldexercisekindpatronagetowardsSwithinwithoutonceindulgingherselfwithhiscompany。Inexpressiblydeartoherdesertedhearthewasbecoming，butforthefutureheshouldatleastbehiddenfromhereyes。Tospeakplainly，itwasgrowingaseriousquestionwhether，ifhewerenothiddenfromhereyes，shewouldnotsoonbeplungingacrosstheraggedboundarywhichdividesthepermissiblefromtheforbidden。

Bythetimethatshehaddrawnnearhomethesunwasgoingdown。

Theheavy，many—chevronedchurch，nowsubduedbyvioletshadowexceptwhereitsuppercoursescaughtthewesternstrokeofflame—

colour，stoodclosetohergrounds，asinmanyotherparishes，thoughthevillageofwhichitformerlywasthenucleushadbecomequitedepopulated:itscottageshadbeendemolishedtoenlargethepark，leavingtheoldbuildingtostandtherealone，likeastandardwithoutanarmy。

ItwasFridaynight，andsheheardtheorganistpractisingvoluntarieswithin。Thehour，thenotes，theeven—songofthebirds，andherownpreviousemotions，combinedtoinfluenceherdevotionally。Sheentered，turningtotherightandpassingunderthechancelarch，whereshesatdownandviewedthewholeemptylength，eastandwest。Thesemi—Normanarchesofthenave，withtheirmultitudinousnotchings，werestillvisiblebythelightfromthetowerwindow，butthelowerportionofthebuildingwasinobscurity，exceptwherethefeebleglimmerfromthecandleoftheorganistspreadaglow—wormradiancearound。Theplayer，whowasMissTabithaLark，continuedwithoutintermissiontoproduceherwanderingsounds，unconsciousofanyone’spresenceexceptthatoftheyouthfulbloweratherside。

Theraysfromtheorganist’scandleilluminatedbutonesmallfragmentofthechanceloutsidetheprecinctsoftheinstrument，andthatwastheportionoftheeasternwallwhereonthetencommandmentswereinscribed。ThegiltlettersshonesternlyintoLadyConstantine’seyes;andshe，beingasimpressionableasaturtle—dove，watchedacertainoneofthosecommandmentsonthesecondtable，tillitsthunderbrokeherspiritwithblankcontrition。

Shekneltdown，anddidherutmosttoeradicatethoseimpulsestowardsSt。Cleevewhichwereinconsistentwithherpositionasthewifeofanabsentman，thoughnotunnaturalinherashisvictim。

Sheknelttillsheseemedscarcelytobelongtothetimeshelivedin，whichlostthemagnitudethatthenearnessofitsperspectivelentitonordinaryoccasions，andtookitsactualrankinthelonglineofothercenturies。Havingoncegotoutofherself，seenherselffromafaroff，shewascalmer，andwentontoregisteramagnanimousvow。ShewouldlookaboutforsomemaidenfitandlikelytomakeSt。Cleevehappy;andthisgirlshewouldendowwithwhatmoneyshecouldafford，thatthenaturalresultoftheirappositionshoulddohimnoworldlyharm。Theinterestofher，LadyConstantine’s，lifeshouldbeinwatchingthedevelopmentoflovebetweenSwithinandtheidealmaiden。Theverypainfulnessoftheschemetohersusceptibleheartmadeitpleasingtoherconscience;

andshewonderedthatshehadnotbeforethistimethoughtofastratagemwhichunitedthepossibilityofbenefitingtheastronomerwiththeadvantageofguardingagainstperiltobothSwithinandherself。Byprovidingforhimasuitablehelpmateshewouldprecludethedangerousawakeninginhimofsentimentsreciprocatingherown。

Arrivedatapointofexquisitemiserythroughthisheroicintention，LadyConstantine’stearsmoistenedthebooksuponwhichherforeheadwasbowed。Andassheheardherfeverishheartthrobagainstthedesk，shefirmlybelievedthewearingimpulsesofthatheartwouldputanendtohersadlife，andmomentarilyrecalledthebanishedimageofSt。CleevetoapostrophisehiminthoughtsthatparaphrasedthequaintlinesofHeine’sLieb’Liebchen:——

’Dearmylove，pressthyhandtomybreast，andtellIfthoutracesttheknocksinthatnarrowcell;

Acarpenterdwellsthere;cunningishe，Andslylyhe’sshapingacoffinforme！’

LadyConstantinewasdisturbedbyabreakintheorganist’smeanderingpractice，andraisingherheadshesawapersonstandingbytheplayer。ItwasMr。Torkingham，andwhathesaidwasdistinctlyaudible。Hewasinquiringforherself。

’IthoughtIsawLadyConstantinewalkthisway，’herejoinedtoTabitha’snegative。’Iamveryanxiousindeedtomeetwithher。’

Shewentforward。’Iamhere，’shesaid。’Don’tstopplaying，MissLark。Whatisit，Mr。Torkingham？’

Tabithathereuponresumedherplaying，andMr。TorkinghamjoinedLadyConstantine。

’Ihavesomeveryseriousintelligencetobreaktoyourladyship，’

hesaid。’But——Iwillnotinterruptyouhere。’（Hehadseenherrisefromherkneestocometohim。）’IwillcallattheHousethefirstmomentyoucanreceivemeafterreachinghome。’

’No，tellmehere，’shesaid，seatingherself。

Hecameclose，andplacedhishandonthepoppy—headoftheseat。

’Ihavereceivedacommunication，’heresumedhaltingly，’inwhichI

amrequestedtoprepareyouforthecontentsofaletterthatyouwillreceiveto—morrowmorning。’

’Iamquiteready。’

’Thesubjectisbrieflythis，LadyConstantine:thatyouhavebeenawidowformorethaneighteenmonths。’

’Dead！’

’Yes。SirBlountwasattackedbydysenteryandmalariousfever，onthebanksoftheZougainSouthAfrica，solongagoaslastOctobertwelvemonths，anditcarriedhimoff。Ofthethreemenwhowerewithhim，twosuccumbedtothesameillness，ahundredmilesfurtheron;whilethethird，retracinghisstepsintoahealthierdistrict，remainedtherewithanativetribe，andtooknopainstomakethecircumstancesknown。Itseemstobeonlybythemereaccidentofhishavingtoldsomethirdpartythatweknowofthematternow。

ThisisallIcantellyouatpresent。’

Shewasgreatlyagitatedforafewmoments;andtheTableoftheLawopposite，whichnowseemedtoappertaintoanotherdispensation，glistenedindistinctlyuponavisionstillobscuredbytheoldtears。

’ShallIconductyouhome？’askedtheparson。

’Nothankyou，’saidLadyConstantine。’Iwouldrathergoalone。’

XII

OntheafternoonofthenextdayMr。Torkingham，whooccasionallydroppedintoseeSt。Cleeve，calledagainasusual;afterdulyremarkingonthestateoftheweather，congratulatinghimonhissurethoughslowimprovement，andansweringhisinquiriesaboutthecomet，hesaid，’Youhaveheard，Isuppose，ofwhathashappenedtoLadyConstantine？’

’No！Nothingserious？’

’Yes，itisserious。’TheparsoninformedhimofthedeathofSirBlount，andoftheaccidentswhichhadhinderedallknowledgeofthesame，——accidentsfavouredbytheestrangementofthepairandthecessationofcorrespondencebetweenthemforsometime。

Hislistenerreceivedthenewswiththeconcernofafriend，LadyConstantine’saspectinhiseyesdependingbutlittleonherconditionmatrimonially。

’Therewasnoattempttobringhimhomewhenhedied？’

’Ono。Theclimatenecessitatesinstantburial。Weshallhavemoreparticularsinadayortwo，doubtless。’

’PoorLadyConstantine，——sogoodandsosensitiveassheis！I

supposesheisquiteprostratedbythebadnews。’

’Well，sheisratherserious，——notprostrated。Thehouseholdisgoingintomourning。’

’Ah，no，shewouldnotbequiteprostrated，’murmuredSwithin，recollectinghimself。’Hewasunkindtoherinmanyways。DoyouthinkshewillgoawayfromWelland？’

Thatthevicarcouldnottell。ButhefearedthatSirBlount’saffairshadbeeninaseriouslyinvolvedcondition，whichmightnecessitatemanyandunexpectedchanges。

TimeshowedthatMr。Torkingham’ssurmiseswerecorrect。

Duringthelongweeksofearlysummer，throughwhichtheyoungmanstilllayimprisoned，ifnotwithinhisownchamber，withinthelimitsofthehouseandgarden，newsreachedhimthatSirBlount’smismanagementandeccentricbehaviourwereresultinginseriousconsequencestoLadyConstantine;nothingless，indeed，thanheralmostcompleteimpoverishment。Hispersonaltywasswallowedupinpayinghisdebts，andtheWellandestatewassoheavilychargedwithannuitiestohisdistantrelativesthatonlyamerepittancewasleftforher。Shewasreducingtheestablishmenttothenarrowestcompasscompatiblewithdecentgentility。Thehorsesweresoldonebyone;thecarriagesalso;thegreaterpartofthehousewasshutup，andsheresidedinthesmallestrooms。Allthatwasallowedtoremainofherformercontingentofmaleservantswereanoddmanandaboy。Insteadofusingacarriageshenowdroveaboutinadonkey—

chair，thesaidboywalkinginfronttoclearthewayandkeeptheanimalinmotion;whileshewore，sohisinformantsreported，notanordinarywidow’scaporbonnet，butsomethingevenplainer，theblackmaterialbeingdrawntightlyroundherface，givingherfeaturesasmall，demure，devoutcast，verypleasingtotheeye。

’Now，what’sthemostcuriousthinginthis，Mr。SanCleeve，’saidSammyBlore，who，incallingtoinquireafterSwithin’shealth，hadimpartedsomeoftheaboveparticulars，’isthatmyladyseemsnottomindbeingaporewomanhalfsomuchaswedoatseeingherso。

’Tisawonderfulgift，Mr。SanCleeve，wonderful，tobeabletoguideyerself，andnotletlooseyersoulinblastingatsuchamisfortune。Ishouldgoanddrinkneatregular，assoonasIhadswalleredmybreakfast，tillmyinnerdswasburntoutlikea’oldcopper，ifithadhappenedtome;butmylady’splanisbest。

ThoughIonlyguesshowonefeelsinsuchlosses，tobesure，forI

neverhadnothingtolose。’

Meanwhiletheobservatorywasnotforgotten;northatvisitantofsingularshapeandhabitswhichhadappearedintheskyfromnooneknewwhence，trailingitsluminousstreamer，andproceedingonitswayinthefaceofawonderingworld，tillitshouldchoosetovanishassuddenlyasithadcome。

When，aboutamonthaftertheabovedialoguetookplace，Swithinwasallowedtogoaboutasusual，hisfirstpilgrimagewastotheRings—

HillSpeer。Herehestudiedatleisurewhathehadcometosee。

Onhisreturntothehomestead，justaftersunset，hefoundhisgrandmotherandHannahinastateofgreatconcern。Theformerwaslookingoutforhimagainsttheeveninglight，herfaceshowingitselfwornandrutted，likeanoldhighway，bythepassingofmanydays。HerinformationwasthatinhisabsenceLadyConstantinehadcalledinherdriving—chair，toinquireforhim。Herladyshiphadwishedtoobservethecometthroughthegreattelescope，buthadfoundthedoorlockedwhensheappliedatthetower。Wouldhekindlyleavethedoorunfastenedto—morrow，shehadasked，thatshemightbeabletogotothecolumnonthefollowingeveningforthesamepurpose？Shedidnotrequirehimtoattend。

DuringthenextdayhesentHannahwiththekeytoWellandHouse，notcaringtoleavethetoweropen。Aseveningadvancedandthecometgrewdistinct，hedoubtedifLadyConstantinecouldhandlethetelescopealonewithanypleasureorprofittoherself。Unable，asadevoteetoscience，torestunderthismisgiving，hecrossedthefieldinthefurrowthathehadusedeversincethecornwassown，andenteredtheplantation。Hisunpractisedmindneveronceguessedthatherstipulationsagainsthiscomingmighthaveexistedalongwithaperversehopethathewouldcome。

Onascendinghefoundheralreadythere。Shesatintheobserving—

chair:thewarmlightfromthewest，whichflowedinthroughtheopeningofthedome，brightenedherface，andherfaceonly，herrobesofsablelawnrenderingtheremainderofherfigurealmostinvisible。

’Youhavecome！’shesaidwithshypleasure。’Ididnotrequireyou。Butnevermind。’Sheextendedherhandcordiallytohim。

Beforespeakinghelookedatherwithagreatnewinterestinhiseye。Itwasthefirsttimethathehadseenherthus，andshewasalteredinmorethandress。Asoberly—sweetexpressionsatonherface。Itwasofarareandpeculiarshade——somethingthathehadneverseenbeforeinwoman。

’Haveyounothingtosay？’shecontinued。’Yourfootstepswereaudibletomefromtheverybottom，andIknewtheywereyours。Youlookalmostrestored。’

’Iamalmostrestored，’hereplied，respectfullypressingherhand。

’Areasonforlivingarose，andIlived。’

’Whatreason？’sheinquired，witharapidblush。

Hepointedtotherocket—likeobjectinthewesternsky。

’Oh，youmeanthecomet。Well，youwillnevermakeacourtier！Youknow，ofcourse，whathashappenedtome;thatIhavenolongerahusband——havehadnoneforayearandahalf。HaveyoualsoheardthatIamnowquiteapoorwoman？Tellmewhatyouthinkofit。’

’IhavethoughtverylittleofitsinceIheardthatyouseemedtomindpovertybutlittle。Thereiseventhisgoodinit，thatImaynowbeabletoshowyousomelittlekindnessforallthoseyouhavedoneme，mydearlady。’

’Unlessforeconomy’ssake，Igoandliveabroad，atDinan，Versailles，orBoulogne。’

Swithin，whohadneverthoughtofsuchacontingency，wasearnestinhisregrets;without，however，showingmorethanasincerefriend’sdisappointment。

’Ididnotsayitwasabsolutelynecessary，’shecontinued。’I

have，infact，grownsohomelyandhome—loving，Iamsointerestedintheplaceandthepeoplehere，that，inspiteofadvice，Ihavealmostdeterminednottoletthehouse;buttocontinuethelessbusiness—likebutpleasanteralternativeoflivinghumblyinapartofit，andshuttinguptherest。’

’Yourloveofastronomyisgettingasstrongasmine！’hesaidardently。’Youcouldnottearyourselfawayfromtheobservatory！’

’Youmighthavesupposedmecapableofalittlehumanfeelingaswellasscientific，inconnectionwiththeobservatory。’

’DearLadyConstantine，byadmittingthatyourastronomerhasalsoapartofyourinterest——’

’Ah，youdidnotfinditoutwithoutmytelling！’shesaid，withaplayfulnesswhichwasscarcelyplayful，anewaccessionofpinknessbeingvisibleinherface。’Idiminishmyselfinyouresteembyremindingyou。’

’Youmightdoanythinginthisworldwithoutdiminishingyourselfinmyesteem，afterthegoodnessyouhaveshown。Andmorethanthat，nomisrepresentation，norumour，nodamningappearancewhateverwouldevershakemyloyaltytoyou。’

’Butyouputaverymatter—of—factconstructiononmymotivessometimes。YouseemeinsuchahardlightthatIhavetodrophintsinquiteamanoeuvringmannertoletyouknowIamassympatheticasotherpeople。Isometimesthinkyouwouldratherhavemediethanhaveyourequatorialstolen。Confessthatyouradmirationformewasbasedonmyhouseandpositioninthecounty！

NowIamshornofallthatglory，suchasitwas，andamawidow，andampoorerthanmytenants，andcannolongerbuytelescopes，andamunable，fromthenarrownessofmycircumstances，tomixincirclesthatpeopleformerlysaidIadorned，IfearIhavelostthelittleholdIoncehadoveryou。’

’Youareasunjustnowasyouhavebeengeneroushitherto，’saidSt。

Cleeve，withtearsinhiseyesatthegentlebanterofthelady，whichhe，poorinnocent，readasherrealopinions。Seizingherhandhecontinued，intonesbetweenreproachandanger，’IsweartoyouthatIhavebuttwodevotions，twothoughts，twohopes，andtwoblessingsinthisworld，andthatoneofthemisyourself！’

’Andtheother？’

’Thepursuitofastronomy。’

’Andastronomystandsfirst。’

’Ihaveneverordinatedtwosuchdissimilarideas。Andwhyshouldyoudeploreyouralteredcircumstances，mydearlady？Yourwidowhood，ifImaytakethelibertytospeakonsuchasubject，is，thoughIsupposeasadness，notperhapsanunmixedevil。Forthoughyourpecuniarytroubleshavebeendiscoveredtotheworldandyourselfbyit，yourhappinessinmarriagewas，asyouhaveconfidedtome，notgreat;andyouarenowleftfreeasabirdtofollowyourownhobbies。’

’Iwonderyourecognizethat。’

’Butperhaps，’headded，withasighofregret，’youwillagainfallapreytosomeman，someuninterestingcountrysquireorother，andbelosttothescientificworldafterall。’

’IfIfallapreytoanyman，itwillnotbetoacountrysquire。

Butdon’tgoonwiththis，forheaven’ssake！Youmaythinkwhatyoulikeinsilence。’

’Weareforgettingthecomet，’saidSt。Cleeve。Heturned，andsettheinstrumentinorderforobservation，andwheeledroundthedome。

Whileshewaslookingatthenucleusofthefieryplume，thatnowfilledsolargeaspaceoftheskyascompletelytodominateit，Swithindroppedhisgazeuponthefield，andbeheldinthedyinglightanumberoflabourerscrossingdirectlytowardsthecolumn。

’Whatdoyousee？’LadyConstantineasked，withoutceasingtoobservethecomet。

’Someofthework—folkarecomingthisway。Iknowwhattheyarecomingfor，——Ipromisedtoletthemlookatthecometthroughtheglass。’

’Theymustnotcomeuphere，’shesaiddecisively。

’Theyshallawaityourtime。’

’Ihaveaspecialreasonforwishingthemnottoseemehere。Ifyouaskwhy，Icantellyou。Theymistakenlysuspectmyinteresttobelessinastronomythanintheastronomer，andtheymusthavenoshowingforsuchawildnotion。Whatcanyoudotokeepthemout？’

’I’lllockthedoor，’saidSwithin。’TheywillthenthinkIamaway。’Herandownthestaircase，andshecouldhearhimhastilyturningthekey。LadyConstantinesighed。

’Whatweakness，whatweakness！’shesaidtoherself。’Thatenviedpowerofself—control，whereisit？Thatpowerofconcealmentwhichawomanshouldhave——where？Torunsuchrisks，tocomeherealone，—

—oh，ifitwereknown！ButIwasalwaysso，——always！’

Shejumpedup，andfollowedhimdownstairs。

XIII

Hewasstandingimmediatelyinsidethedooratthebottom，thoughitwassodarkshecouldhardlyseehim。Thevillagerswereaudiblytalkingjustwithout。

’He’ssuretocome，ratheorlate，’resoundedupthespiralinthevocalnoteofHezzyBiles。’Hewouldn’tletsuchafineshowasthecometmakesto—nightgobywithoutpeepingatit，——notMasterCleeve！Didyebringalongtheflagon，Haymoss？Thenwe’llsitdowninsidehislittleboard—househere，andwait。He’llcomeaforebed—time。Why，hisspy—glasswillstretchoutthattherecometaslongasWellandLane！’

’I’dassoonmissthegreatpeep—showthatcomeseveryyeartoGreenhillFairasasightofsuchaimmortalspectacleasthis！’

saidAmosFry。

’"Immortalspectacle，"——wheredidyegetthatchoicemossel，Haymoss？’inquiredSammyBlore。’Well，well，theLordsavegoodscholars——andtakejustabito’careofthemthatbain’t！As’tissodarkinthehut，supposewedrawoutthebenchintothefronthere，souls？’

Thebenchwasaccordinglybroughtforth，andinordertohaveabacktoleanagainst，theyplaceditexactlyacrossthedoorintothespiralstaircase。

’Now，haveyegotanybacky？Ifyehaven’t，Ihave，’continuedSammyBlore。Astrikingofmatchesfollowed，andthespeakerconcludedcomfortably，’Nowweshalldoverywell。’

’Andwhatdothiscometmean？’askedHaymoss。’Thatsomegreattumultisgoingtohappen，orthatweshalldieofafamine？’

’Famine——no！’saidNatChapman。’Thatonlytouchessuchaswe，andtheLordonlyconsarnshimselfwithborngentlemen。Itisn’ttobesupposedthatastrangefierylanternlikethatwouldbelightedupforfolkswithtenoradozenshillingsaweekandtheirgristing，andaloado’thornfaggotswhenwecanget’em。If’tisatokenthathe’sgettinghotaboutthewaysofanybodyinthisparish，’tisaboutmyLadyConstantine’s，sincesheistheonlyoneofafigureworthsuchahint。’

’Asforherincome，——thatshe’snowlost。’

’Ah，well;Idon’ttakeinallIhear。’

LadyConstantinedrewclosetoSt。Cleeve’sside，andwhispered，trembling，’Doyouthinktheywillwaitlong？Orcanwegetout？’

Swithinfelttheawkwardnessofthesituation。Themenhadplacedthebenchclosetothedoor，which，owingtothestairswithin，openedoutwards;sothatatthefirstpushbythepairinsidetoreleasethemselvesthebenchmusthavegoneover，andsentthesmokerssprawlingontheirfaces。Hewhisperedtohertoascendthecolumnandwaittillhecame。

’Andhavethedeadmanlefthernothing？Hey？Andhavehecarriedhisinheritanceinto’sgrave？Andwillhisskeletonliewarmonaccounto’t？Hee—hee！’saidHaymoss。

’’Tisallswalleredup，’observedHezzyBiles。’Hisgoings—onmadehermiserabletill’adied，andifIwerethewomanI’dhavemyrandysnow。Heoughttohavebequeathedtoherouryounggent，Mr。

St。Cleeve，assomesortofamends。I’dupandmarryen，ifIwereshe;sinceherdownfallhasbrought’emquiteneartogether，andmadehimasgoodassheinrank，ashewasaforeinboneandbreeding。’

’D’yethinkshewill？’askedSammyBlore。’Orisshemeaningtoenteruponavirginlifefortherestofherdays？’

’Idon’twanttobeunreverenttoherladyship;butIreallydon’tthinksheismeaninganysuchwasteofaChristiancarcase。Isayshe’srathermeaningtocommitflatmatrimonywi’somebodyorother，andoneyounggentlemaninparticular。’

’Buttheyoungmanhimself？’

’Planned，cutout，andfinishedforthedelightof’ooman！’

’Yethemustbewilling。’

’Thatwouldsooncome。Iftheygetupthistowerrulingplannardstogethermuchlonger，theirplannardswillsoonrulethemtogether，inmywayo’thinking。Ifshe’veadispositiontowardstheknot，shecansoonteachhim。’

’True，true，andlawfully。Whatbeforemidha’beenawrongdesireisnowaholywish！’

ThescalesfellfromSwithinSt。Cleeve’seyesasheheardthewordsofhisneighbours。Howsuddenlythetruthdawneduponhim;howitbewilderedhim，tillhescarcelyknewwherehewas;howherecalledthefullforceofwhathehadonlyhalfapprehendedatearliertimes，particularlyofthatsweetkissshehadimpressedonhislipswhenshesupposedhimdying，——thesevividrealizationsaredifficulttotellinslowverbiage。Hecouldremaintherenolonger，andwithanelectrifiedheartheretreatedupthespiral。

HefoundLadyConstantinehalfwaytothetop，standingbyaloop—

hole;andwhenshespokehediscoveredthatshewasalmostintears。

’Aretheygone？’sheasked。

’Ifeartheywillnotgoyet，’hereplied，withanervousfluctuationofmannerthathadneverbeforeappearedinhisbearingtowardsher。

’WhatshallIdo？’sheasked。’Ioughtnottobehere;nobodyknowsthatIamoutofthehouse。Oh，thisisamistake！Imustgohomesomehow。’

’Didyouhearwhattheyweresaying？’

’No，’saidshe。’Whatisthematter？Surelyyouaredisturbed？

Whatdidtheysay？’

’Itwouldbetheexaggerationoffranknessinmetotellyou。’

’Isitwhatawomanoughtnottobemadeacquaintedwith？’

’Itis，inthiscase。Itissonewandsoindescribableanideatome——that’——heleantagainsttheconcavewall，quitetremulouswithstrangeincipientsentiments。

’Whatsortofanidea？’sheaskedgently。