第7章

’Itis——anawakening。Inthinkingoftheheavenabove，Ididnotperceive——the——’

’Earthbeneath？’

’Thebetterheavenbeneath。Pray，dearLadyConstantine，givemeyourhandforamoment。’

Sheseemedstartled，andthehandwasnotgiven。

’Iamsoanxioustogethome，’sherepeated。’Ididnotmeantostayheremorethanfiveminutes！’

’IfearIammuchtoblameforthisaccident，’hesaid。’Ioughtnottohaveintrudedhere。Butdon’tgrieve！Iwillarrangeforyourescape，somehow。Begoodenoughtofollowmedown。’

Theyredescended，and，whisperingtoLadyConstantinetoremainafewstairsbehind，hebegantorattleandunlockthedoor。

Themenprecipitatelyremovedtheirbench，andSwithinsteppedout，thelightofthesummernightbeingstillenoughtoenablethemtodistinguishhim。

’Well，Hezekiah，andSamuel，andNat，howareyou？’hesaidboldly。

’Well，sir，’tismuchasbeforewi’me，’repliedNat。’Onehouraweekwi’GodA’mightyandtherestwiththedevil，asachapmaysay。Andreally，nowyerpoorfather’sgone，I’dasliefthatthatSundayhourshouldpassliketherest;forPa’sonTarkenhamdoteaseafeller’sconsciencethatmuch，thatchurchisnohollerdayatalltothelimbs，asitwasinyerreverentfather’stime！Butwe’vebeenwaitinghere，Mr。SanCleeve，supposingyehadnotcome。’

’Ihavebeenstayingatthetop，andfastenedthedoornottobedisturbed。NowIamsorrytodisappointyou，butIhaveanotherengagementthisevening，sothatitwouldbeinconvenienttoadmityou。To—morrowevening，oranyeveningbutthis，Iwillshowyouthecometandanystarsyoulike。’

Theyreadilyagreedtocomethenextnight，andpreparedtodepart。

Butwhatwiththeflagon，andthepipes，andthefinalobservations，gettingawaywasamatteroftime。Meanwhileacloud，whichnobodyhadnoticed，arosefromthenorthoverhead，andlargedropsofrainbegantofallsorapidlythattheconclaveenteredthehuttillitshouldbeover。St。Cleevestrolledoffunderthefirs。

Thenextmomenttherewasarustlingthroughthetreesatanotherpoint，andamanandwomanappeared。Thewomantookshelterunderatree，andtheman，bearingwrapsandumbrellas，cameforward。

’Mylady’smanandmaid，’saidSammy。

’Isherladyshiphere？’askedtheman。

’No。Ireckonherladyshipkeepsmorekissablecompany，’repliedNatChapman。

’Packo’stuff！’saidBlore。

’Nothere？Well，tobesure！Wecan’tfindheranywhereinthewidehouse！I’vebeensenttolookforherwiththeseoverclothesandumbrella。I’vesufferedhorse—fleshtraipsingupanddown，andcan’tfindhernowhere。Lord，Lord，wherecanshebe，andtwomonths’wagesowingtome！’

’Whysoanxious，AnthonyGreen，asIthinkyernameisshaped？Youbenotamarriedman？’saidHezzy。

’’Tiswhattheycallme，neighbours，whetherorno。’

’Butsurelyyouwasabachelorchapbylate，aforeherladyshipgotridoftheregularservantsandtookye？’

’Iwere;butthat’spast！’

’Andhowcameyetobowyerheadto’t，Anthony？’Tiswhatyouneverwasinclinedto。Youwasbynomeansadotingmaninmytime。’

’Well，hadIbeenlefttomyownfreechoice，’tisaslikeasnotI

shouldha’shunnedformingsuchkindred，beingatthattimeapoordayman，orweekly，atmyhighestluckinhiring。But’tiswearingworktoholdoutagainstthecustomofthecountry，andthewomanwantingyetostandbyherandsaveherfromunbornshame;so，sincecommonusagewouldhaveit，Iletmyselfbecarriedawaybyopinion，andtookher。Thoughshe’sneveroncethankedmeforcoveringherconfusion，that’strue！But，’tisthewayofthelostwhensafe，andIdon’tcomplain。Heresheis，justbehind，underthetree，ifyou’dliketoseeher？——averynicehomespunwomantolookat，too，forallherfewweather—stains……Well，well，wherecanmyladybe？AndIthetrustyjineralman——’tismorethanmyplaceisworthtoloseher！Comeforward，Christiana，andtalknicelytothework—

folk。’

Whilethewomanwastalkingtherainincreasedsomuchthattheyallretreatedfurtherintothehut。St。Cleeve，whohadimpatientlystoodalittlewayoff，nowsawhisopportunity，and，puttinginhishead，said，’Therainbeatsin;youhadbettershutthedoor。I

mustascendandcloseupthedome。’

SlammingthedooruponthemwithoutceremonyhequicklywenttoLadyConstantineinthecolumn，andtellinghertheycouldnowpassthevillagersunseenhegaveherhisarm。Thusheconductedheracrossthefrontofthehutintotheshadowsofthefirs。

’Iwillruntothehouseandharnessyourlittlecarriagemyself，’

hesaidtenderly。’Iwillthentakeyouhomeinit。’

’No;pleasedon’tleavemealoneunderthesedismaltrees！’Neitherwouldshehearofhisgettingheranywraps;and，openingherlittlesunshadetokeeptherainoutofherface，shewalkedwithhimacrosstheinsulatingfield，afterwhichthetreesoftheparkaffordedherasufficientsheltertoreachhomewithoutmuchdamage。

Swithinwastoogreatlyaffectedbywhathehadoverheardtospeakmuchtoherontheway，andprotectedherasifshehadbeenashornlamb。Afterafarewellwhichhadmoremeaningthansoundinit，hehastenedbacktoRings—HillSpeer。Thework—folkwerestillinthehut，and，bydintoffriendlyconverseandasipattheflagon，hadsocheeredMr。andMrs。AnthonyGreenthattheyneitherthoughtnorcaredwhathadbecomeofLadyConstantine。

St。Cleeve’ssuddensenseofnewrelationswiththatsweetpatronesshadtakenawayinonehalf—hourhisnaturalingenuousness。

Henceforthhecouldactapart。

’Ihavemadeallsecureatthetop，’hesaid，puttinghisheadintothehut。’Iamnowgoinghome。Whentherainstops，lockthisdoorandbringthekeytomyhouse。’

XIV

ThelabouredresistancewhichLadyConstantine’sjudgmenthadofferedtoherrebelliousaffectionereshelearntthatshewasawidow，nowpassedintoabashfulnessthatrenderedheralmostasunstableofmoodasbefore。Butshewasoneofthatmettle——fervid，cordial，andspontaneous——whohadnotthehearttospoilapassion;

andheraffairshavinggonetorackandruinbynofaultofherownshewaslefttoapainfullynarrowedexistencewhichlentevensomethingofrationalitytoherattachment。Thusitwasthathertenderandunambitioussoulfoundcomfortinherreverses。

AsforSt。Cleeve，thetardinessofhisawakeningwasthenaturalresultofinexperiencecombinedwithdevotiontoahobby。But，likeaspringbudhardinbursting，thedelaywascompensatedbyafterspeed。Atoncebreathlesslyrecognizinginthisfellow—watcheroftheskiesawomanwholovedhim，inadditiontothepatronessandfriend，hetrulytranslatedthenearlyforgottenkissshehadgivenhiminhermomentofdespair。

LadyConstantine，inbeingeightornineyearshissenior，wasanobjectevenbettercalculatedtonourishayouth’sfirstpassionthanagirlofhisownage，superiorityofexperienceandripenessofemotionexercisingthesamepeculiarfascinationoverhimasoverotheryoungmenintheirfirstventuresinthiskind。

Thealchemywhichthustransmutedanabstractedastronomerintoaneagerlover——and，mustitbesaid，spoiltapromisingyoungphysicisttoproduceacommon—placeinamorato——maybealmostdescribedasworkingitschangeinoneshortnight。NextmorninghewassofascinatedwiththenovelsensationthathewantedtorushoffatoncetoLadyConstantine，andsay，’Iloveyoutrue！’intheintensesttonesofhismentalcondition，toregisterhisassertioninherheartbeforeanyofthoseaccidentswhich’creepin’twixtvows，andchangedecreesofkings，’shouldoccurtohinderhim。Buthisembarrassmentatstandinginanewpositiontowardsherwouldnotallowhimtopresenthimselfatherdoorinanysuchhurry。Hewaitedon，ashelplesslyasagirl，forachanceofencounteringher。

Butthoughshehadtacitlyagreedtoseehimonanyreasonableoccasion，LadyConstantinedidnotputherselfinhisway。Sheevenkeptherselfoutofhisway。Nowthatforthefirsttimehehadlearnttofeelastrongimpatiencefortheirmeeting，hershynessforthefirsttimeledhertodelayit。Butgiventwopeoplelivinginoneparish，wholongfromthedepthsoftheirheartstobeineachother’scompany，whatresolvesofmodesty，policy，pride，orapprehensionwillkeepthemforanylengthoftimeapart？

Oneafternoonhewaswatchingthesunfromhistower，halfechoingtheGreekastronomer’swishthathemightbesetclosetothatluminaryforthewonderofbeholdingitinallitsglory，undertheslightpenaltyofbeingconsumedthenextinstant。Heglancedoverthehigh—roadbetweenthefieldandthepark（whichsublunaryfeaturesnowtoooftendistractedhisattentionfromhistelescope），andsawherpassingalongthatway。

Shewasseatedinthedonkey—carriagethathadnowtakentheplaceofherlandau，thewhiteanimallookingnolargerthanacatatthatdistance。Thebuttonedboy，whorepresentedbothcoachmanandfootman，walkedalongsidetheanimal’sheadatasolemnpace;thedogstalkedatthedistanceofayardbehindthevehicle，withoutindulginginasinglegambol;andthewholeturn—outresembledindignityadwarfedstateprocession。

Herewasanopportunitybutfortwoobstructions:theboy，whomightbecurious;andthedog，whomightbarkandattracttheattentionofanylabourersorservantsnear。Yettheriskwastoberun，and，knowingthatshewouldsoonturnupacertainshadylaneatrightanglestotheroadshehadfollowed，heranhastilydownthestaircase，crossedthebarley（whichnowcoveredthefield）bythepathnotmorethanafootwidethathehadtroddenforhimself，andgotintothelaneattheotherend。Byslowlywalkingalonginthedirectionoftheturnpike—roadhesoonhadthesatisfactionofseeinghercoming。Tohissurprisehealsohadthesatisfactionofperceivingthatneitherboynordogwasinhercompany。

Theybothblushedastheyapproached，shefromsex，hefrominexperience。Onethingsheseemedtoseeinamoment，thatintheintervalofherabsenceSt。Cleevehadbecomeaman;andashegreetedherwiththisnewandmaturerlightinhiseyesshecouldnothideherembarrassment，ormeettheirfire。

’IhavejustsentmypageacrosstothecolumnwithyourbookonCometaryNuclei，’shesaidsoftly;’thatyoumightnothavetocometothehouseforit。IdidnotknowIshouldmeetyouhere。’

’Didn’tyouwishmetocometothehouseforit？’

’Ididnot，frankly。Youknowwhy，doyounot？’

’Yes，Iknow。Well，mylongingisatrest。Ihavemetyouagain。

Butareyouunwell，thatyoudriveoutinthischair？’

’No;Iwalkedoutthismorning，andamalittletired。’

’Ihavebeenlookingforyounightandday。Whydoyouturnyourfaceaside？Youusednottobeso。’Herhandrestedonthesideofthechair，andhetookit。’Doyouknowthatsincewelastmet，I

havebeenthinkingofyou——daringtothinkofyou——asIneverthoughtofyoubefore？’

’Yes，Iknowit。’

’Howdidyouknow？’

’Isawitinyourfacewhenyoucameup。’

’Well，IsupposeIoughtnottothinkofyouso。Andyet，hadInotlearnedto，Ishouldneverfullyhavefelthowgentleandsweetyouare。OnlythinkofmylossifIhadlivedanddiedwithoutseeingmoreinyouthaninastronomy！ButIshallneverleaveoffdoingsonow。WhenyoutalkIshallloveyourunderstanding;whenyouaresilentIshallloveyourface。ButhowshallIknowthatyoucaretobesomuchtome？’

Hermannerwasdisturbedassherecognizedtheimpendingself—

surrender，whichsheknewnothowtoresist，andwasnotaltogetherateaseinwelcoming。

’O，LadyConstantine，’hecontinued，bendingoverher，’givemesomeproofmorethanmereseemingandinference，whichareallIhaveatpresent，thatyoudon’tthinkthisItellyouofpresumptioninme！

IhavebeenunabletodoanythingsinceIlastsawyouforponderinguncertainlyonthis。Someproof，orlittlesign，thatweareoneinheart！’

Ablushsettledagainonherface;andhalfineffort，halfinspontaneity，sheputherfingeronhercheek。Healmostdevotionallykissedthespot。

’Doesthatsuffice？’sheasked，scarcelygivingherwordsvoice。

’Yes;Iamconvinced。’

’Thenthatmustbetheend。Letmedriveon;theboywillbebackagainsoon。’Shespokehastily，andlookedaskancetohidetheheatofhercheek。

’No;thetowerdoorisopen，andhewillgotothetop，andwastehistimeinlookingthroughthetelescope。’

’Thenyoushouldrushback，forhewilldosomedamage。’

’No;hemaydowhathelikes，tinkerandspoiltheinstrument，destroymypapers，——anything，sothathewillstaythereandleaveusalone。’

Sheglancedupwithaspeciesofpainedpleasure。

’Youneverusedtofeellikethat！’shesaid，andtherewaskeenself—reproachinhervoice。’Youwereoncesodevotedtoyoursciencethatthethoughtofanintruderintoyourtemplewouldhavedrivenyouwild。Nowyoudon’tcare;andwhoistoblame？Ah，notyou，notyou！’

Theanimalambledonwithher，andhe，leaningonthesideofthelittlevehicle，kepthercompany。

’Well，don’tletusthinkofthat，’hesaid。’Ioffermyselfandallmyenergies，franklyandentirely，toyou，mydear，dearlady，whoseIshallbealways！Butmywordsintellingyouthiswillonlyinjuremymeaninginsteadofemphasizeit。Inexpressing，eventomyself，mythoughtsofyou，IfindthatIfallintophraseswhich，asacritic，Ishouldhithertohaveheartilydespisedfortheircommonness。What’stheuseofsaying，forinstance，asIhavejustsaid，thatIgivemyselfentirelytoyou，andshallbeyoursalways，——thatyouhavemydevotion，myhighesthomage？Thosewordshavebeenusedsofrequentlyinaflippantmannerthathonestuseofthemisnotdistinguishablefromtheunreal。’Heturnedtoher，andadded，smiling，’Youreyesaretobemystarsforthefuture。’

’Yes，Iknowit，——Iknowit，andallyouwouldsay！IdreadedevenwhileIhopedforthis，mydearyoungfriend，’shereplied，hereyesbeingfulloftears。’Iaminjuringyou;whoknowsthatIamnotruiningyourfuture，——Iwhooughttoknowbetter？Nothingcancomeofthis，nothingmust，——andIamonlywastingyourtime。WhyhaveI

drawnyouofffromagrandcelestialstudytostudypoorlonelyme？

Sayyouwillneverdespiseme，whenyougetolder，forthisepisodeinourlives。Butyouwill，——Iknowyouwill！Allmendo，whentheyhavebeenattractedintheirunsuspectingyouth，asIhaveattractedyou。Ioughttohavekeptmyresolve。’

’Whatwasthat？’

’Tobearanythingratherthandrawyoufromyourhighpurpose;tobelikethenoblecitizenofoldGreece，who，attendingasacrifice，lethimselfbeburnttothebonebyacoalthatjumpedintohissleeveratherthandisturbthesacredceremony。’

’ButcanInotstudyandloveboth？’

’Ihopeso，——Iearnestlyhopeso。Butyou’llbethefirstifyoudo，andIamtheresponsibleoneifyoudonot。’

’YouspeakasifIwerequiteachild，andyouimmenselyolder。

Why，howolddoyouthinkIam？Iamtwenty。’

’Youseemyounger。Well，that’ssomuchthebetter。Twentysoundsstrongandfirm。HowolddoyouthinkIam？’

’Ihaveneverthoughtofconsidering。’Heinnocentlyturnedtoscrutinizeherface。Shewincedalittle。Buttheinstinctwaspremature。Timehadtakennolibertieswithherfeaturesasyet;

norhadtroubleveryroughlyhandledher。

’Iwilltellyou，’shereplied，speakingalmostwithphysicalpain，yetasifdeterminationshouldcarryherthrough。’Iameight—and—

twenty——nearly——Imeanalittlemore，afewmonthsmore。AmInotafearfuldealolderthanyou？’

’Atfirstitseemsagreatdeal，’heanswered，musing。’Butitdoesn’tseemmuchwhenonegetsusedtoit。’

’Nonsense！’sheexclaimed。’ItISagooddeal。’

’Verywell，then，sweetestLadyConstantine，letitbe，’hesaidgently。

’Youshouldnotletitbe！Apolitemanwouldhaveflatlycontradictedme……OIamashamedofthis！’sheaddedamomentafter，withasubdued，sadlookupontheground。’Iamspeakingbythecardoftheouterworld，whichIhaveleftbehindutterly;nosuchlipserviceisknowninyoursphere。Icarenothingforthosethings，really;butthatwhichiscalledtheEveinuswilloutsometimes。Well，wewillforgetthatnow，aswemust，atnoverydistantdate，forgetalltherestofthis。’

Hewalkedbesideherthoughtfullyawhile，withhiseyesalsobentontheroad。’Whymustweforgetitall？’heinquired。

’Itisonlyaninterlude。’

’Aninterlude！Itisnointerludetome。Ohowcanyoutalksolightlyofthis，LadyConstantine？Andyet，ifIweretogoawayfromhere，Imight，perhaps，soonreduceittoaninterlude！Yes，’

heresumedimpulsively，’Iwillgoaway。Lovedies，anditisjustaswelltostrangleitinitsbirth;itcanonlydieonce！I’llgo。’

’No，no！’shesaid，lookingupapprehensively。’Imisledyou。Itisnointerludetome，——itistragical。Ionlymeantthatfromaworldlypointofviewitisaninterlude，whichweshouldtrytoforget。Buttheworldisnotall。Youwillnotgoaway？’

Buthecontinueddrearily，’Yes，yes，Iseeitall;youhaveenlightenedme。Itwillbehurtingyourprospectsevenmorethanmine，ifIstay。NowSirBlountisdead，youarefreeagain，——maymarrywhereyouwill，butforthisfancyofours。I’llleaveWellandbeforeharmcomesofmystaying。’

’Don’tdecidetodoathingsorash！’shebegged，seizinghishand，andlookingmiserableattheeffectofherwords。’Ishallhavenobodyleftintheworldtocarefor！AndnowIhavegivenyouthegreattelescope，andlentyouthecolumn，itwouldbeungratefultogoaway！Iwaswrong;believemethatIdidnotmeanthatitwasamereinterludetoME。Oifyouonlyknewhowvery，veryfaritisfromthat！Itismydoubtoftheresulttoyouthatmakesmespeaksoslightingly。’

Theywerenowapproachingcross—roads，andcasuallylookinguptheybeheld，thirtyorfortyyardsbeyondthecrossing，Mr。Torkingham，whowasleaningoveragate，hisbackbeingtowardsthem。Asyethehadnotrecognizedtheirapproach。

Themaster—passionhadalreadysupplantedSt。Cleeve’snaturalingenuousnessbysubtlety。

’WoulditbewellforustomeetMr。Torkinghamjustnow？’hebegan。

’Certainlynot，’shesaidhastily，andpullingthereinsheinstantlydrovedowntheright—handroad。’Icannotmeetanybody！’

shemurmured。’Woulditnotbebetterthatyouleavemenow？——notformypleasure，butthattheremayarisenodistressingtalesaboutusbeforeweknow——howtoactinthis——this’——（shesmiledfaintlyathim）’heartachingextremity！’

Theywerepassingunderahugeoak—tree，whoselimbs，irregularwithshoulders，knuckles，andelbows，stretchedhorizontallyoverthelaneinamannerrecallingAbsalom’sdeath。Aslightrustlingwasperceptibleamidtheleafageastheydrewoutfrombeneathit，andturninguphiseyesSwithinsawthatverybuttonedpagewhoseadventtheyhaddreaded，lookingdownwithinterestatthemfromaperchnotmuchhigherthanayardabovetheirheads。Hehadabunchofoak—applesinonehand，plainlytheobjectofhisclimb，andwasfurtivelywatchingLadyConstantinewiththehopethatshemightnotseehim。Butthatshehadalreadydone，thoughshedidnotrevealit，and，fearingthatthelatterwordsoftheirconversationhadbeenoverheard，theyspokenottilltheyhadpassedthenextturning。

Shestretchedoutherhandtohis。’Thismustnotgoon，’shesaidimploringly。’Myanxietyastowhatmaybesaidofsuchmethodsofmeetingmakesmetoounhappy。Seewhathashappened！’Shecouldnothelpsmiling。’Outofthefrying—panintothefire！Aftermeanlyturningtoavoidtheparsonwehaverushedintoaworsepublicity。Itistoohumiliatingtohavetoavoidpeople，andlowersbothyouandme。Theonlyremedyisnottomeet。’

’Verywell，’saidSwithin，withasigh。’Soitshallbe。’

Andwithsmilesthatmightmoretrulyhavebeentearstheypartedthereandthen。

XV

Thesummerpassedaway，andautumn，withitsinfinitesuiteoftints，camecreepingon。Darkergrewtheevenings，tearfullerthemoonlights，andheavierthedews。Meanwhilethecomethadwaxedtoitslargestdimensions，——solargethatnotonlythenucleusbutaportionofthetailhadbeenvisibleinbroadday。Itwasnowonthewane，thougheverynighttheequatorialstillaffordedanopportunityofobservingthesingularobjectwhichwouldsoondisappearaltogetherfromtheheavensforperhapsthousandsofyears。

ButtheastronomeroftheRings—HillSpeerwasnolongeramatchforhiscelestialmaterials。Scientificallyhehadbecomebutadimvapourofhimself;theloverhadcomeintohimlikeanarmedman，andcastoutthestudent，andhisintellectualsituationwasgrowingalife—and—deathmatter。

Theresolveofthepairhadbeensofarkept:theyhadnotseeneachotherinprivateforthreemonths。ButononedayinOctoberheventuredtowriteanotetoher:——

’Icandonothing！Ihaveceasedtostudy，ceasedtoobserve。Theequatorialisuselesstome。ThisaffectionIhaveforyouabsorbsmylife，andoutweighsmyintentions。Thepowertolabourinthisgrandestoffieldshasleftme。IstruggleagainsttheweaknesstillIthinkofthecause，andthenIblessher。Buttheverydesperationofmycircumstanceshassuggestedaremedy;andthisI

wouldinformyouofatonce。

’Canyoucometome，sinceImustnotcometoyou？Iwillwaitto—

morrownightattheedgeoftheplantationbywhichyouwouldentertothecolumn。Iwillnotdetainyou;myplancanbetoldintenwords。’

Thenightafterpostingthismissivetoherhewaitedatthespotmentioned。

Itwasamelancholyeveningforcomingabroad。Ablusterouswindhadrisenduringtheday，andstillcontinuedtoincrease。Yethestoodwatchfulinthedarkness，andwasultimatelyrewardedbydiscerningashadymuffledshapethatembodieditselffromthefield，accompaniedbythescratchingofsilkoverstubble。Therewasnolongeranydisguiseastothenatureoftheirmeeting。Itwasalover’sassignation，pureandsimple;andboldlyrealizingitassuchheclaspedherinhisarms。

’Icannotbearthisanylonger！’heexclaimed。’ThreemonthssinceIsawyoualone！Onlyaglimpseofyouinchurch，orabowfromthedistance，inallthattime！Whatafearfulstrugglethiskeepingaparthasbeen！’

’YetIwouldhavehadstrengthtopersist，sinceitseemedbest，’

shemurmuredwhenshecouldspeak，’hadnotyourwordsonyourconditionsoalarmedandsaddenedme。Thisinabilityofyourstowork，orstudy，orobserve，——itisterrible！Soterribleastingisittomyconsciencethatyourhintaboutaremedyhasbroughtmeinstantly。’

’YetIdon’taltogethermindit，sinceitisyou，mydear，whohavedisplacedthework;andyetthelossoftimenearlydistractsme，whenIhaveneitherthepowertoworknorthedelightofyourcompany。’

’Butyourremedy！O，Icannothelpguessingit！Yes;youaregoingaway！’

’Letusascendthecolumn;wecanspeakmoreateasethere。ThenI

willexplainall。Iwouldnotaskyoutoclimbsohighbutthehutisnotyetfurnished。’

Heenteredthecabinatthefoot，andhavinglightedasmalllantern，conductedherupthehollowstaircasetothetop，whereheclosedtheslidesofthedometokeepoutthewind，andplacedtheobserving—chairforher。

’Icanstayonlyfiveminutes，’shesaid，withoutsittingdown。

’Yousaiditwasimportantthatyoushouldseeme，andIhavecome。

Iassureyouitisatagreatrisk。IfIamseenhereatthistimeIamruinedforever。ButwhatwouldInotdoforyou？OSwithin，yourremedy——isittogoaway？Thereisnoother;andyetIdreadthatlikedeath！’

’Icantellyouinamoment，butImustbeginatthebeginning。Allthisruinousidlenessanddistractioniscausedbythemiseryofournotbeingabletomeetwithfreedom。Thefearthatsomethingmaysnatchyoufrommekeepsmeinastateofperpetualapprehension。’

’Itistootruealsoofme！Idreadthatsomeaccidentmayhappen，andwastemydaysinmeetingthetroublehalf—way。’

’Soourlivesgoon，andourlaboursstandstill。Nowfortheremedy。DearLadyConstantine，allowmetomarryyou。’

Shestarted，andthewindwithoutshookthebuilding，sendingupayetintensermoanfromthefirs。

’Imean，marryyouquiteprivately。Letitmakenodifferencewhatevertoouroutwardlivesforyears，forIknowthatinmypresentpositionyoucouldnotpossiblyacknowledgemeashusbandpublicly。Butbymarryingatoncewesecurethecertaintythatwecannotbedividedbyaccident，coaxing，orartifice;and，ateaseonthatpoint，Ishallembracemystudieswiththeoldvigour，andyouyours。’

LadyConstantinewassoagitatedattheunexpectedboldnessofsuchaproposalfromonehithertosoboyishanddeferentialthatshesankintotheobserving—chair，herintentiontoremainforonlyafewminutesbeingquiteforgotten。

Shecoveredherfacewithherhands。’No，no，Idarenot！’shewhispered。

’Butisthereasinglethingelselefttodo？’hepleaded，kneelingdownbesideher，lessinsupplicationthaninabandonment。’Whatelsecanwedo？’

’Waittillyouarefamous。’

’ButIcannotbefamousunlessIstrive，andthisdistractingconditionpreventsallstriving！’

’CouldyounotstriveonifI——gaveyouapromise，asolemnpromise，tobeyourswhenyournameisfairlywellknown？’

St。Cleevebreathedheavily。’Itwillbealong，wearytime，’hesaid。’AndevenwithyourpromiseIshallworkbuthalf—heartedly。

Everyhourofstudywillbeinterruptedwith"Supposethisorthishappens;""Supposesomebodypersuadeshertobreakherpromise;"

worsestill，"Supposesomerivalmalignsme，andsoseducesheraway。"No，LadyConstantine，dearest，bestasyouare，thatelementofdistractionwouldstillremain，andwherethatis，nosustainedenergyispossible。Manyerroneousthingshavebeenwrittenandsaidbythesages，butneverdidtheyfloatagreaterfallacythanthatloveservesasastimulustowinthelovedonebypatienttoil。’

’Icannotarguewithyou，’shesaidweakly。

’Myonlypossibleotherchancewouldlieingoingaway，’heresumedafteramoment’sreflection，withhiseyesonthelanternflame，whichwavedandsmokedinthecurrentsofairthatleakedintothedomefromthefiercewind—streamwithout。’IfImighttakeawaytheequatorial，supposingitpossiblethatIcouldfindsomesuitableplaceforobservinginthesouthernhemisphere，——say，attheCape，——

IMIGHTbeabletoapplymyselftoseriousworkagain，afterthelapseofalittletime。Thesouthernconstellationsofferalessexhaustedfieldforinvestigation。IwonderifImight！’

’Youmean，’sheanswereduneasily，’thatyoumightapplyyourselftoworkwhenyourrecollectionofmebegantofade，andmylifetobecomeamatterofindifferencetoyou？……Yes，go！No，——Icannotbearit！Theremedyisworsethanthedisease。Icannotletyougoaway！’

’ThenhowcanyourefusetheonlyconditiononwhichIcanstay，withoutruintomypurposeandscandaltoyourname？Dearest，agreetomyproposal，asyoulovebothmeandyourself！’

Hewaited，whilethefir—treesrubbedandproddedthebaseofthetower，andthewindroaredaroundandshookit;butshecouldnotfindwordstoreply。

’WouldtoGod，’heburstout，’thatImightperishhere，likeWinstanleyinhislighthouse！Thenthedifficultywouldbesolvedforyou。’

’Youaresowrong，soverywrong，insayingso！’sheexclaimedpassionately。’Youmaydoubtmywisdom，pitymyshort—sightedness;

butthereisonethingyoudoknow，——thatIloveyoudearly！’

’Youdo，——Iknowit！’hesaid，softenedinamoment。’ButitseemssuchasimpleremedyforthedifficultythatIcannotseehowyoucanmindadoptingit，ifyoucaresomuchformeasIdoforyou。’