第8章

’Shouldwelive……justasweare，exactly，……supposingI

agreed？’shefaintlyinquired。

’Yes，thatismyidea。’

’Quiteprivately，yousay。Howcould——themarriagebequiteprivate？’

’IwouldgoawaytoLondonandgetalicense。Thenyoucouldcometome，andreturnagainimmediatelyaftertheceremony。Icouldreturnatleisureandnotasoulintheworldwouldknowwhathadtakenplace。Think，dearest，withwhatafreeconscienceyoucouldthenassistmeinmyeffortstoplumbthesedeepsaboveus！Anyfeelingthatyoumaynowhaveagainstclandestinemeetingsassuchwouldthenberemoved，andourheartswouldbeatrest。’

Therewasacertainscientificpracticabilityeveninhislove—

making，anditherecameoutexcellently。Butshesatonwithsuspendedbreath，herheartwildlybeating，whilehewaitedinopen—

mouthedexpectation。Eachwasswayedbytheemotionwithinthem，muchasthecandle—flamewasswayedbythetempestwithout。Itwasthemostcriticaleveningoftheirlives。

Thepaleraysofthelittlelanternfelluponherbeautifulface，snuglyandneatlyboundinbyherblackbonnet;butnotabeamofthelanternleakedoutintothenighttosuggesttoanywatchfuleyethathumanlifeatitshighestexcitementwasbeatingwithinthedarkandisolatedtower;forthedomehadnowindows，andeveryshutterthataffordedanopeningforthetelescopewashermeticallyclosed。Predilectionsandmisgivingssoequallystrovewithinherstillyouthfulbreastthatshecouldnotutteraword;herintentionwheeledthiswayandthatlikethebalanceofawatch。Hisunexpectedpropositionhadbroughtaboutthesmartestencounterofinclinationwithprudence，ofimpulsewithreserve，thatshehadeverknown。

Ofallthereasonsthatshehadexpectedhimtogiveforhisurgentrequesttoseeherthisevening，anofferofmarriagewasprobablythelast。Whetherornotshehadeveramusedherselfwithhypotheticalfanciesonsuchasubject，——anditwasonlynaturalthatsheshouldvaguelyhavedoneso，——thecourageinherprotegecoollytoadvanceit，withoutahintfromherselfthatsuchaproposalwouldbetolerated，showedherthattherewasmoreinhischaracterthanshehadreckonedon:andthediscoveryalmostfrightenedher。Thehumour，attitude，andtenorofherattachmenthadbeenofquiteanunpremeditatedquality，unsuggestiveofanysuchaudacioussolutiontotheirdistressesasthis。

’Irepeatmyquestion，dearest，’hesaid，afterherlongpause。

’Shallitbedone？OrshallIexilemyself，andstudyasbestI

can，insomedistantcountry，outofsightandsound？’

’Arethosetheonlyalternatives？Yes，yes;Isupposetheyare！’

Shewaitedyetanothermoment，bentoverhiskneelingfigure，andkissedhisforehead。’Yes;itshallbedone，’shewhispered。’I

willmarryyou。’

’Myangel，Iamcontent！’

Hedrewheryieldingformtohisheart，andherheadsankuponhisshoulder，ashepressedhistwolipscontinuouslyuponhers。Tosuchhadthestudyofcelestialphysicsbroughttheminthespaceofeightmonths，oneweek，andafewodddays。

’Iamweakerthanyou，——fartheweaker，’shewenton，hertearsfalling。’RatherthanloseyououtofmysightIwillmarrywithoutstipulationorcondition。But——Iputittoyourkindness——grantmeonelittlerequest。’

Heinstantlyassented。

’Itisthat，inconsiderationofmypeculiarpositioninthiscounty，——O，youcan’tunderstandit！——youwillnotputanendtotheabsolutesecrecyofourrelationshipwithoutmyfullassent。Also，thatyouwillnevercometoWellandHousewithoutfirstdiscussingwithmetheadvisabilityofthevisit，acceptingmyopiniononthepoint。There，seehowatimidwomantriestofenceherselfin！’

’Mydearlady—love，neitherofthosetwohigh—handedcoursesshouldIhavetaken，evenhadyounotstipulatedagainstthem。Theveryessenceofourmarriageplanisthatthosetwoconditionsarekept。

Iseeaswellasyoudo，evenmorethanyoudo，howimportantitisthatforthepresent，——ay，foralongtimehence——Ishouldstillbebutthecurate’slonelyson，unattachedtoanybodyoranything，withnoobjectofinterestbuthisscience;andyoutherecluseladyofthemanor，towhomheisonlyanacquaintance。’

’Seewhatdeceitslovesowsinhonestminds！’

’ItwouldbeahumiliationtoyouatpresentthatIcouldnotbearifamarriagebetweenusweremadepublic;aninconveniencewithoutanycompensatingadvantage。’

’Iamsogladyouassumeitwithoutmysettingitbeforeyou！NowI

knowyouarenotonlygoodandtrue，butpoliticandtrustworthy。’

’Well，then，hereisourcovenant。Myladyswearstomarryme;I，inreturnforsuchgreatcourtesy，swearnevertocompromiseherbyintrudingatWellandHouse，andtokeepthemarriageconcealedtillIhavewonapositionworthyofher。’

’OrtillIrequestittobemadeknown，’sheadded，possiblyforeseeingacontingencywhichhadnotoccurredtohim。

’Ortillyourequestit，’herepeated。

’Itisagreed，’murmuredLadyConstantine，XVI

Afterthisthereonlyremainedtobesettledbetweenthemthepracticaldetailsoftheproject。

Thesewerethatheshouldleavehomeinacoupleofdays，andtakelodgingseitherinthedistantcityofBathorinaconvenientsuburbofLondon，tillasufficienttimeshouldhaveelapsedtosatisfylegalrequirements;thatonafinemorningattheendofthistimesheshouldhieawaytothesameplace，andbemetatthestationbySt。Cleeve，armedwiththemarriagelicense;whencetheyshouldatonceproceedtothechurchfixeduponfortheceremony;

returninghomeindependentlyinthecourseofthenexttwoorthreedays。

Whilethesetacticswereunderdiscussionthetwo—and—thirtywindsofheavencontinued，asbefore，tobeataboutthetower，thoughtheironsetsappearedtobesomewhatlesseninginforce。Himselfnowcalmedandsatisfied，Swithin，asisthewontofhumanity，tookserenerviewsofNature’scrushingmechanicswithout，andsaid，’Thewinddoesn’tseemdisposedtoputthetragicperiodtoourhopesandfearsthatIspokeofinmymomentarydespair。’

’Thedispositionofthewindisasviciousasever，’sheanswered，lookingintohisfacewithpausingthoughtson，perhaps，othersubjectsthanthatdiscussed。’Itisyourmoodofviewingitthathaschanged。"Thereisnothingeithergoodorbad，butthinkingmakesitso。"’

And，asifflatlytostultifySwithin’sassumption，acircularhurricane，exceedinginviolenceanythathadprecededit，seizedholduponRings—HillSpeeratthatmomentwiththedeterminationofaconsciousagent。Thefirstsensationofaresultingcatastrophewasconveyedtotheirintelligencebytheflappingofthecandle—

flameagainstthelantern—glass;thenthewind，whichhithertotheyhadheardratherthanfelt，rubbedpastthemlikeafugitive。

Swithinbeheldaroundandabovehim，inplaceoftheconcavityofthedome，theopenheaven，withitsracingclouds，remotehorizon，andintermittentgleamofstars。Thedomethathadcoveredthetowerhadbeenwhirledoffbodily;andtheyhearditdescendcrashinguponthetrees。

FindinghimselfuntouchedSwithinstretchedouthisarmstowardsLadyConstantine，whoseapparelhadbeenseizedbythespinningair，nearlyliftingheroffherlegs。She，too，wasasyetunharmed。

Eachheldtheotherforamoment，when，fearingthatsomethingfurtherwouldhappen，theytookshelterinthestaircase。

’Dearest，whatanescape！’hesaid，stillholdingher。

’Whatistheaccident？’sheasked。’Hasthewholetopreallygone？’

’Thedomehasbeenblownofftheroof。’

Assoonasitwaspracticableherelittheextinguishedlantern，andtheyemergedagainupontheleads，wheretheextentofthedisasterbecameatonceapparent。Savingtheabsenceoftheenclosinghemisphereallremainedthesame。Thedome，beingconstructedofwood，waslightbycomparisonwiththerestofthestructure，andthewheelswhichallowedithorizontal，or，asSwithinexpressedit，azimuthmotion，denieditafirmholduponthewalls;sothatithadbeenliftedoffthemlikeacoverfromapot。Theequatorialstoodinthemidstasithadstoodbefore。

Havingexecuteditsgrotesquepurposethewindsanktocomparativemildness。Swithintookadvantageofthislullbycoveringuptheinstrumentswithcloths，afterwhichthebetrothedcouplepreparedtogodownstairs。

Buttheeventsofthenighthadnotyetfullydisclosedthemselves。

Atthismomenttherewasasoundoffootstepsandaknockingatthedoorbelow。

’Itcan’tbeforme！’saidLadyConstantine。’Iretiredtomyroombeforeleavingthehouse，andtoldthemonnoaccounttodisturbme。’

SheremainedatthetopwhileSwithinwentdownthespiral。InthegloomhebeheldHannah。

’OMasterSwithin，canyecomehome！Thewindhavebloweddownthechimleythatdon’tsmoke，andthepinning—endwithit;andtheoldancienthouse，thathavebeeninyourfamilysolongasthememoryofman，isnakedtotheworld！Itisamercythatyourgrammerwerenotkilled，sittingbythehearth，pooroldsoul，andsoontowalkwi’God，——for’a’sgettingwamblingonherpins，Mr。Swithin，asagedfolksdo。AsIsay，’awasallbutmurderedbytheelements，anddoingnomoreharmthanthebabesinthewood，norspeakingoneharmfulword。AndthefireandsmokewereblowedallacrosshouselikeachapterinRevelation;andyourpoorreverentfather’sfeaturesscorchedtoflakes，lookinglikethevilestruffian，andthegiltframespoiled！Everyflitch，everyeye—piece，andeverychineisburiedunderthewalling;andIfedthempigswithmyownhands，MasterSwithin，littlethinkingtheywouldcometothisend。

Doyecollectyourself，Mr。Swithin，andcomeatonce！’

’Iwill，——Iwill。I’llfollowyouinamoment。Doyouhastenbackagainandassist。’

WhenHannahhaddepartedtheyoungmanranuptoLadyConstantine，towhomheexplainedtheaccident。AftersympathizingwitholdMrs。

MartinLadyConstantineadded，’Ithoughtsomethingwouldoccurtomarourscheme！’

’Iamnotquitesureofthatyet。’

Onashortconsiderationwithhim，sheagreedtowaitatthetopofthetowertillhecouldcomebackandinformheriftheaccidentwerereallysoseriousastointerferewithhisplanfordeparture。

Hethenlefther，andthereshesatinthedark，alone，lookingovertheparapet，andstraininghereyesinthedirectionofthehomestead。

Atfirstallwasobscurity;butwhenhehadbeengoneabouttenminuteslightsbegantomovetoandfrointhehollowwherethehousestood，andshoutsoccasionallymingledwiththewind，whichretainedsomeviolenceyet，playingoverthetreesbeneathherasonthestringsofalyre。Butnotaboughofthemwasvisible，acloakofblacknesscoveringeverythingnetherward;whileoverheadthewindyskylookeddownwithastrangeanddisguisedface，thethreeorfourstarsthatalonewerevisiblebeingsodissociatedbycloudsthatsheknewnotwhichtheywere。UnderanyothercircumstancesLadyConstantinemighthavefeltanamelessfearinthussittingaloftonalonelycolumn，withaforestgroaningunderherfeet，andpalaeolithicdeadmenfeedingitsroots;buttherecentpassionatedecisionstirredherpulsestoanintensitybesidewhichtheordinarytremorsoffeminineexistenceassertedthemselvesinvain。

Theapocalypticeffectofthescenesurroundingherwas，indeed，notinharmonious，andaffordedanappropriatebackgroundtoherintentions。

Afterwhatseemedtoheraninterminablespaceoftime，quickstepsinthestaircasebecameaudibleabovetheroarofthefirs，andinafewinstantsSt。Cleeveagainstoodbesideher。

Thecaseofthehomesteadwasserious。Hannah’saccounthadnotbeenexaggeratedinsubstance:thegableendofthehousewasopentothegarden;thejoists，leftwithoutsupport，haddropped，andwiththemtheupperfloor。Bythehelpofsomelabourers，wholivednear，andLadyConstantine’smanAnthony，whowaspassingatthetime，thehomesteadhadbeenproppedup，andprotectedforthenightbysomerickcloths;butSwithinfeltthatitwouldbeselfishinthehighestdegreetoleavetwolonelyoldwomentothemselvesatthisjuncture。’Inshort，’heconcludeddespondently，’IcannotgotostayinBathorLondonjustnow;perhapsnotforanotherfortnight！’

’Nevermind，’shesaid。’Afortnighthencewilldoaswell。’

’AndIhavetheseforyou，’hecontinued。’YourmanGreenwaspassingmygrandmother’sonhiswaybackfromWarborne，wherehehadbeen，hesays，foranylettersthathadcomeforyoubytheeveningpost。AshestayedtoassisttheothermenItoldhimIwouldgoontoyourhousewiththelettershehadbrought。OfcourseIdidnottellhimIshouldseeyouhere。’

’Thankyou。Ofcoursenot。NowI’llreturnatonce。’

Indescendingthecolumnhereyefelluponthesuperscriptionofoneoftheletters，andsheopenedandglancedoveritbythelanternlight。Sheseemedstartled，and，musing，said，’Thepostponementofour——intentionmustbe，Ifear，foralongtime。IfindthataftertheendofthismonthIcannotleavehomesafely，evenforaday。’

Perceivingthathewasabouttoaskwhy，sheadded，’Iwillnottroubleyouwiththereasonnow;itwouldonlyharassyou。Itisonlyafamilybusiness，andcannotbehelped。’

’Thenwecannotbemarriedtill——Godknowswhen！’saidSwithinblankly。’Icannotleavehometillafterthenextweekortwo;youcannotleavehomeunlesswithinthattime。Sowhatarewetodo？’

’Idonotknow。’

’Mydear，dearone，don’tletusbebeatenlikethis！Don’tletawell—consideredplanbeoverthrownbyamereaccident！Here’saremedy。DoYOUgoandstaytherequisitetimeintheparishwearetobemarriedin，insteadofme。WhenmygrandmotherisagainwellhousedIcancometoyou，insteadofyoutome，aswefirstsaid。

Thenitcanbedonewithinthetime。’

Reluctantly，shyly，andyetwithacertaingladnessofheart，shegavewaytohisproposalthattheyshouldchangeplacesintheprogramme。Therewasmuchthatshedidnotlikeinit，shesaid。

Itseemedtoherasifsheweretakingtheinitiativebygoingandattendingtothepreliminaries。Itwastheman’sparttodothat，inheropinion，andwasusuallyundertakenbyhim。

’But，’arguedSwithin，’therearecasesinwhichthewomandoesgivethenotices，andsoon;thatistosay，whenthemanisabsolutelyhinderedfromdoingso;andoursissuchacase。Theseemingisnothing;Iknowthetruth，andwhatdoesitmatter？Youdonotrefuse——retractyourwordtobemywife，because，toavoidasickeningdelay，theformalitiesrequireyoutoattendtotheminplaceofme？’

Shedidnotrefuse，shesaid。Inshortsheagreedtohisentreaty。

Theyhad，intruth，gonesofarintheirdreamofunionthattherewasnodrawingbacknow。Whicheverofthemwasforcedbycircumstancestobetheprotagonistintheenterprise，thethingmustbedone。Theirintentiontobecomehusbandandwife，atfirsthaltingandtimorous，hadaccumulatedmomentumwiththelapseofhours，tillitnowboredowneveryobstacleinitscourse。

’Sinceyoubegmeto，——sincethereisnoalternativebetweenmygoingandalongpostponement，’shesaid，astheystoodinthedarkporchofWellandHousebeforeparting，——’sinceIamtogofirst，andseemtobethepioneerinthisadventure，promiseme，Swithin，promiseyourViviette，thatinyearstocome，whenperhapsyoumaynotlovemesowarmlyasyoudonow——’

’Thatwillneverbe。’

’Well，hopingitwillnot，butsupposingitshould，promisemethatyouwillneverreproachmeastheonewhotooktheinitiativewhenitshouldhavebeenyourself，forgettingthatitwasatyourrequest;promisethatyouwillneversayIshowedimmodestreadinesstodoso，oranythingwhichmayimplyyourobliviousnessofthefactthatIactinobediencetonecessityandyourearnestprayer。’

Needitbesaidthathepromisednevertoreproachherwiththatoranyotherthingaslongastheyshouldlive？Thefewdetailsofthereversedarrangementweresoonsettled，Bathbeingtheplacefinallydecidedon。Then，withawarmaudacitywhicheventshadencouraged，hepressedhertohisbreast，andshesilentlyenteredthehouse。

Hereturnedtothehomestead，theretoattendtotheunexpecteddutiesofrepairingthehavocwroughtbythegale。

Thatnight，inthesolitudeofherchamber，LadyConstantinereopenedandreadthesubjoinedletter——oneofthosehandedtoherbySt。Cleeve:——

"—————STREET，PICCADILLY，October15，18——。

’DEARVIVIETTE，——YouwillbesurprisedtolearnthatIaminEngland，andthatIamagainoutofharness——unlessyoushouldhaveseenthelatterinthepapers。RioJaneiromaydoformonkeys，butitwon’tdoforme。HavingresignedtheappointmentIhavereturnedhere，asapreliminarysteptofindinganotherventformyenergies;

inotherwords，anothermilchcowformysustenance。Iknewnothingwhateverofyourhusband’sdeathtilltwodaysago;sothatanyletterfromyouonthesubject，atthetimeitbecameknown，musthavemiscarried。Hypocrisyatsuchamomentisworsethanuseless，andIthereforedonotcondolewithyou，particularlyastheevent，thoughnewtoabanishedmanlikeme，occurredsolongsince。Youarebetterwithouthim，Viviette，andarenowjustthelimbfordoingsomethingforyourself，notwithstandingthethreadbarestateinwhichyouseemtohavebeencastupontheworld。Youarestillyoung，and，asIimagine（unlessyouhavevastlyalteredsinceI

beheldyou），good—looking:thereforemakeupyourmindtoretrieveyourpositionbyamatchwithoneofthelocalcelebrities;andyouwoulddowelltobegindrawingneighbouringcoversatonce。A

genialsquire，withmoreweightthanwit，morerealtythanweight，andmorepersonaltythanrealty（consideringthecircumstances），wouldbebestforyou。Youmightmakeapositionforusbothbysomesuchalliance;for，totellthetruth，Ihavehadbutin—and—

outlucksofar。Ishallbewithyouinlittlemorethanafortnight，whenwewilltalkoverthematterseriously，ifyoudon’tobject。——Youraffectionatebrother，LOUIS。’

Itwasthisallusiontoherbrother’scomingvisitwhichhadcaughthereyeinthetowerstaircase，andledtoamodificationintheweddingarrangement。

HavingreadtheletterthroughonceLadyConstantineflungitasidewithanimpatientlittlestampthatshookthedecayingoldfloorandcasement。Itscontentsproducedperturbation，misgiving，butnotretreat。Thedeepglowofenchantmentshedbytheideaofaprivateunionwithherbeautifulyoungloverkilledthepalelightofcoldreasoningfromanindifferentlygoodrelative。

’Oh，no，’shemurmured，asshesat，coveringherfacewithherhand。

’NotforwealthuntoldcouldIgivehimupnow！’

Noargument，shortofApolloinpersonfromtheclouds，wouldhaveinfluencedher。Shemadeherpreparationsfordepartureasifnothinghadintervened。

XVII

InherdaysofprosperityLadyConstantinehadoftengonetothecityofBath，eitherfrivolously，forshoppingpurposes，ormusico—

religiously，toattendchoirfestivalsintheabbey;sotherewasnothingsurprisinginherrevertingtoanoldpractice。Thatthejourneymightappeartobeofasomewhatsimilarnatureshetookwithhertheservantwhohadbeenaccustomedtoaccompanyheronformeroccasions，thoughthewoman，havingnowleftherservice，andsettledinthevillageasthewifeofAnthonyGreen，withayoungchildonherhands，couldwithsomedifficultyleavehome。LadyConstantineovercametheanxiousmother’sscruplesbyprovidingthatyoungGreenshouldbewellcaredfor;andknowingthatshecouldcountuponthiswoman’sfidelity，ifuponanybody’s，incaseofanaccident（foritwaschieflyLadyConstantine’sexertionsthathadmadeanhonestwifeofMrs。Green），shedepartedforafortnight’sabsence。

Thenextdayfoundmistressandmaidsettledinlodgingsinanoldplum—colouredbrickstreet，whichahundredyearsagocouldboastofrankandfashionamongitsresidents，thoughnowthebroadfan—lightovereachbroaddooradmittedthesuntothehallsofalodging—

housekeeperonly。Thelamp—postswerestillthosethathaddonedutywithoillights;andrheumaticoldcoachmenandpostilions，thatoncehaddrivenandriddengloriouslyfromLondontoLand’sEnd，ornamentedwiththeirbentpersonsandbowlegsthepavementinfrontofthechiefinn，inthesorryhopeofearningsixpencetokeepbodyandsoultogether。

’Wearekeptwellinformedonthetimeo’day，mylady，’saidMrs。

Green，asshepulleddowntheblindsinLadyConstantine’sroomontheeveningoftheirarrival。’There’sachurchexactlyatthebackofus，andIheareveryhourstrike。’

LadyConstantinesaidshehadnoticedthattherewasachurchquitenear。

’Well，itisbettertohavethatatthebackthanotherfolks’

winders。Andifyourladyshipwantstogothereitwon’tbefartowalk。’

’That’swhatoccurredtome，’saidLadyConstantine，’IFIshouldwanttogo。’

Duringtheensuingdaysshefelttotheutmostthetediousnessofwaitingmerelythattimemightpass。Notasoulknewherthere，andsheknewnotasoul，acircumstancewhich，whileitaddedtohersenseofsecrecy，intensifiedhersolitude。Occasionallyshewenttoashop，withGreenashercompanion。Thoughtherewerepurchasestobemade，theywerebynomeansofapressingnature，andbutpoorlyfilledupthevacanciesofthosestrange，speculativedays，——

dayssurroundedbyashadeoffear，yetpoetizedbysweetexpectation。

OnthethirteenthdayshetoldGreenthatshewasgoingtotakeawalk，andleavingthehouseshepassedbytheobscureststreetstotheAbbey。Afterwanderingaboutbeneaththeaislestillhercouragewasscrewedtoitshighest，shewentoutattheotherside，and，lookingtimidlyroundtoseeifanybodyfollowed，walkedontillshecametoacertaindoor，whichshereachedjustatthemomentwhenherheartbegantosinktoitsverylowest，renderingallthescrewingupinvain。

WhetheritwasbecausethemonthwasOctober，orfromanyotherreason，thedesertedaspectofthequarteringeneralsatespeciallyonthisbuilding。Moreoverthepavementwasup，andheapsofstoneandgravelobstructedthefootway。Nobodywascoming，nobodywasgoing，inthatthoroughfare;sheappearedtobethesingleoneofthehumanracebentuponmarriagebusiness，whichseemedtohavebeenunanimouslyabandonedbyalltherestoftheworldasprovenfolly。ButshethoughtofSwithin，hisblondehair，ardenteyes，andeloquentlips，andwascarriedonwardbytheveryreflection。

Enteringthesurrogate’sroomLadyConstantinemanaged，atthelastjuncture，tostatehererrandintonessocollectedastostartleevenherselftowhichherlistenerrepliedalsoasifthewholethingwerethemostnaturalintheworld。Whenitcametotheaffirmationthatshehadlivedfifteendaysintheparish，shesaidwithdismay——

’Ono！Ithoughtthefifteendaysmeanttheintervalofresidencebeforethemarriagetakesplace。Ihavelivedhereonlythirteendaysandahalf。NowImustcomeagain！’

’Ah——well——Ithinkyouneednotbesoparticular，’saidthesurrogate。’Asamatteroffact，thoughtheletterofthelawrequiresfifteendays’residence，manypeoplemakefivesufficient。

Theprovisionisinserted，asyoudoubtlessareaware，tohinderrunawaymarriagesasmuchaspossible，andsecretunions，andothersuchobjectionablepractices。Youneednotcomeagain。’

ThateveningLadyConstantinewrotetoSwithinSt。Cleevethelastletterofthefortnight:——

’MYDEAREST，——Docometomeassoonasyoucan。ByasortoffavouringblunderIhavebeenabletoshortenthetimeofwaitingbyaday。Comeatonce，forIamalmostbrokendownwithapprehension。

Itseemsratherrashatmoments，allthis，andIwishyouwereheretoreassureme。IdidnotknowIshouldfeelsoalarmed。Iamfrightenedateveryfootstep，anddreadlestanybodywhoknowsmeshouldaccostme，andfindoutwhyIamhere。IsometimeswonderhowIcouldhaveagreedtocomeandenactyourpart，butIdidnotrealizehowtryingitwouldbe。Yououghtnottohaveaskedme，Swithin;uponmyword，itwastoocruelofyou，andIwillpunishyouforitwhenyoucome！ButIwon’tupbraid。Ihopethehomesteadisrepairedthathascostmeallthissacrificeofmodesty。IfitwereanybodyintheworldbutYOUinquestionI

wouldrushhome，withoutwaitingherefortheendofit，——IreallythinkIwould！But，dearest，no。Imustshowmystrengthnow，orletitbeforeverhid。Thebarriersofceremonyarebrokendownbetweenus，anditisforthebestthatIamhere。’

Andyet，atnopointofthistryingpreludeneedLadyConstantinehavefearedforherstrength。Deedsinthisconnexiondemandtheparticularkindofcouragethatsuchperfervidwomenareendowedwith，thecourageoftheiremotions，inwhichyoungmenareoftenlamentablydeficient。Herfearwas，intruth，thefearofbeingdiscoveredinanunwontedposition;notoftheactitself。Andthoughherletterwasinitswayatrueexpositionofherfeeling，haditbeennecessarytogothroughthewholelegalprocessoveragainshewouldhavebeenfoundequaltotheemergency。

IthadbeenforsomedaysapointofanxietywithherwhattodowithGreenduringthemorningofthewedding。Chanceunexpectedlyhelpedherinthisdifficulty。ThedaybeforethepurchaseofthelicenseGreencametoLadyConstantinewithaletterinherhandfromherhusbandAnthony，herfaceaslongasafiddle。

’Ihopethere’snothingthematter？’saidLadyConstantine。

’Thechild’stookbad，mylady！’saidMrs。Green，withsuspendedfloodsofwaterinhereyes。’IlovethechildbetterthanIshallloveallthemthat’scomingputtogether;forhe’sbeenagoodboytohismothereversincetwelveweeksaforehewasborn！’Twashe，atenderdeary，thatmadeAnthonymarryme，andtherebyturnedhisselffromalittlecalamitytoalittleblessing！For，asyouknow，themanwereabackwardmaninthechurchparto’matrimony，mylady;thoughhe’lldoanythingwhenhe’sforcedabitbyhismanlyfeelings。Andnowtolosethechild——hoo—hoo—hoo！WhatshallIdoo！’

’Well，youwanttogohomeatonce，Isuppose？’

Mrs。Greenexplained，betweenhersobs，thatsuchwasherdesire;

andthoughthiswasadayortwosoonerthanhermistresshadwishedtobeleftalonesheconsentedtoGreen’sdeparture。Soduringtheafternoonherwomanwentoff，withdirectionstoprepareforLadyConstantine’sreturnintwoorthreedays。Butastheexactdayofherreturnwasuncertainnocarriagewastobesenttothestationtomeether，herintentionbeingtohireonefromthehotel。

LadyConstantinewasnowleftinuttersolitudetoawaitherlover’sarrival。

XVIII

AmorebeautifulOctobermorningthanthatofthenextdayneverbeamedintotheWellandvalleys。Theyearlydissolutionofleafagewassettinginapace。Thefoliageoftheparktreesrapidlyresolveditselfintothemultitudeofcomplexionswhichmarkthesubtlegradesofdecay，reflectingwetlightsofsuchinnumerablehuesthatitwasawondertothinktheirbeautiesonlyarepetitionofscenesthathadbeenexhibitedthereonscoresofpreviousOctobers，andhadbeenallowedtopassawaywithoutasingledirgefromtheimperturbablebeingswhowalkedamongthem。Farintheshadowssemi—opaquescreensofbluehazemademysteriesofthecommonestgravel—pit，dingle，orrecess。

ThewoodencabinatthefootofRings—HillSpeerhadbeenfurnishedbySwithinasasittingandsleepingapartment，somelittlewhilebeforethistime;forhehadfoundithighlyconvenient，duringnightobservationsatthetopofthecolumn，toremainonthespotallnight，nottodisturbhisgrandmotherbypassinginandoutofthehouse，andtosavehimselfthelabourofincessantlycrossingthefield。

Hewouldmuchhavelikedtotellherthesecret，and，haditbeenhisowntotell，wouldprobablyhavedoneso;butsharingitwithanobjectorwhoknewnothisgrandmother’saffectionsowellashedidhimself，therewasnoalternativetoholdinghistongue。Themoreeffectuallytoguardithedecidedtosleepatthecabinduringthetwoorthreenightsprevioustohisdeparture，leavingwordatthehomesteadthatinadayortwohewasgoingonanexcursion。