第9章

Itwasverynecessarytostartearly。LongbeforethegreateyeofthesunwasliftedhighenoughtoglanceintotheWellandvalley，St。Cleevearosefromhisbedinthecabinandpreparedtodepart，cookinghisbreakfastuponalittlestoveinthecorner。Theyoungrabbits，litteredduringtheforegoingsummer，watchedhispreparationsthroughtheopendoorfromthegreydawnwithout，ashebustled，halfdressed，inandoutundertheboughs，andamongtheblackberriesandbramblesthatgrewaround。

Itwasastrangeplaceforabridegroomtoperformhistoiletin，but，consideringtheunconventionalnatureofthemarriage，anotinappropriateone。Whateventshadbeenenactedinthatearthencampsinceitwasfirstthrownup，nobodycouldsay;buttheprimitivesimplicityoftheyoungman’spreparationsaccordedwellwiththeprehistoricspotonwhichtheyweremade。Embeddedunderhisfeetwerepossiblyevennowrudetrinketsthathadbeenwornatbridalceremoniesoftheearlyinhabitants。Littlesignifiedthoseceremoniesto—day，orthehappinessorotherwiseofthecontractingparties。Thathisownrite，nevertheless，signifiedmuch，wastheinconsequentreasoningofSwithin，asitisofmanyanotherbridegroombesides;andhe，liketherest，wentonwithhispreparationsinthatmoodwhichseesinhisstalerepetitionthewondrouspossibilitiesofanuntriedmove。

Thenthroughthewetcobwebs，thathunglikemovablediaphragmsoneachbladeandbough，hepushedhiswaydowntothefurrowwhichledfromthesecludedfir—treeislandtothewideworldbeyondthefield。

Hewasnotastrangertoenterprise，andstilllesstothecontemplationofenterprise;butanenterprisesuchasthishehadneverevenoutlined。Thathisdearladywastroubledatthesituationhehadplacedherinbynotgoinghimselfonthaterrand，hecouldseefromherletter;but，believinganimmediatemarriagewithhertobethetruewayofrestoringtoboththatequanimitynecessarytoserenephilosophy，hehelditoflittleaccounthowthemarriagewasbroughtabout，andhappilybeganhisjourneytowardsherplaceofsojourn。

Hepassedthroughalittlecopsebeforeleavingtheparish，thesmokefromnewlylitfiresrisinglikethestemsofbluetreesoutofthefewcottagechimneys。Hereheheardaquick，familiarfootstepinthepathaheadofhim，and，turningthecornerofthebushes，confrontedthefoot—postonhiswaytoWelland。InanswertoSt。Cleeve’sinquiryiftherewasanythingforhimselfthepostmanhandedoutoneletter，andproceededonhisroute。

Swithinopenedandreadtheletterashewalked，tillitbroughthimtoastandstillbytheimportanceofitscontents。

Theywereenoughtoagitateamorephlegmaticyouththanhe。Heleantoverthewicketwhichcameinhispath，andendeavouredtocomprehendthesenseofthewhole。

Thelargelongenvelopecontained，first，aletterfromasolicitorinanortherntown，informinghimthathispaternalgreat—uncle，whohadrecentlyreturnedfromtheCape（whitherhehadgoneinanattempttorepairabrokenconstitution），wasnowdeadandburied。

Thisgreat—uncle’snamewaslikeanewcreationtoSwithin。Hehadheldnocommunicationwiththeyoungman’sbranchofthefamilyforinnumerableyears，——never，infact，sincethemarriageofSwithin’sfatherwiththesimpledaughterofWellandFarm。Hehadbeenabachelortotheendofhislife，andhadamassedafairlygoodprofessionalfortunebyalongandextensivemedicalpracticeinthesmoky，dreary，manufacturingtowninwhichhehadlivedanddied。

Swithinhadalwaysbeentaughttothinkofhimastheembodimentofallthatwasunpleasantinman。Hewasnarrow，sarcastic，andshrewdtounseemliness。Thatveryshrewdnesshadenabledhim，withoutmuchprofessionalprofundity，toestablishhislargeandlucrativeconnexion，whichlayalmostentirelyamongaclasswhoneitherlookednorcaredfordrawing—roomcourtesies。

However，whatDr。St。Cleevehadbeenasapractitionermatterslittle。Hewasnowdead，andthebulkofhispropertyhadbeenlefttopersonswithwhomthisstoryhasnothingtodo。ButSwithinwasinformedthatoutofittherewasabequestof600poundsayeartohimself，——paymentofwhichwastobeginwithhistwenty—firstyear，andcontinueforhislife，unlessheshouldmarrybeforereachingtheageoftwenty—five。Inthelatterprecociousandobjectionableeventhisannuitywouldbeforfeited。Theaccompanyingletter，saidthesolicitor，wouldexplainall。

This，thesecondletter，wasfromhisuncletohimself，writtenaboutamonthbeforetheformer’sdeath，anddepositedwithhiswill，tobeforwardedtohisnephewwhenthateventshouldhavetakenplace。Swithinread，withthesolemnitythatsuchposthumousepistlesinspire，thefollowingwordsfromonewho，duringlife，hadneveronceaddressedhim:—

’DEARNEPHEW，——Youwilldoubtlessexperiencesomeastonishmentatreceivingacommunicationfromonewhomyouhaveneverpersonallyknown，andwho，whenthiscomesintoyourhands，willbebeyondthereachofyourknowledge。PerhapsIamtheloserbythislife—longmutualignorance。PerhapsIammuchtoblameforit;perhapsnot。

Butsuchreflectionsareprofitlessatthisdate:Ihavewrittenwithquiteotherviewsthantoworkupasentimentalregretonsuchanamazinglyremotehypothesisasthatthefactofaparticularpairofpeoplenotmeeting，amongthemillionsofotherpairsofpeoplewhohavenevermet，isagreatcalamityeithertotheworldingeneralortothemselves。

’Theoccasionofmyaddressingyouisbrieflythis:Ninemonthsagoareportcasuallyreachedmethatyourscientificstudieswerepursuedbyyouwithgreatability，andthatyouwereayoungmanofsomepromiseasanastronomer。Myownscientificproclivitiesrenderedthereportmoreinterestingthanitmightotherwisehavebeentome;anditcameuponmequiteasasurprisethatanyissueofyourfather’smarriageshouldhavesomuchinhim，oryoumighthaveseenmoreofmeinformeryearsthanyouareeverlikelytodonow。Myhealthhadthenbeguntofail，andIwasstartingfortheCape，orIshouldhavecomemyselftoinquireintoyourconditionandprospects。Ididnotreturntillsixmonthslater，andasmyhealthhadnotimprovedIsentatrustyfriendtoexamineintoyourlife，pursuits，andcircumstances，withoutyourownknowledge，andtoreporthisobservationstome。Thishedid。ThroughhimI

learnt，offavourablenews:——

’（1）Thatyouworkedassiduouslyatthescienceofastronomy。

’（2）Thateverythingwasauspiciousinthecareeryouhadchosen。

’Ofunfavourablenews:——

’（1）Thatthesmallincomeatyourcommand，evenwhenekedoutbythesumtowhichyouwouldbeentitledonyourgrandmother’sdeathandthefreeholdofthehomestead，wouldbeinadequatetosupportyoubecominglyasascientificman，whoselinesofworkwereofanaturenotcalculatedtoproduceemolumentsformanyyears，ifever。

’（2）Thattherewassomethinginyourpathworsethannarrowmeans，andthatthatsomethingwasaWOMAN。

’Tosaveyou，ifpossible，fromruinontheseheads，Itakethepreventivemeasuresdetailedbelow。

’Thechiefstepis，asmysolicitorwillhaveinformedyou，that，attheageoftwenty—five，thesumof600poundsayearbesettledonyouforlife，providedyouhavenotmarriedbeforereachingthatage;——ayearlygiftofanequalsumtobealsoprovisionallymadetoyouintheinterim——and，viceversa，thatifyoudomarrybeforereachingtheageoftwenty—fiveyouwillreceivenothingfromthedateofthemarriage。

’OneobjectofmybequestisthatyoumayhaveresourcessufficienttoenableyoutotravelandstudytheSouthernconstellations。WhenattheCape，afterhearingofyourpursuits，Iwasmuchstruckwiththeimportanceofthoseconstellationstoanastronomerjustpushingintonotice。ThereismoretobemadeoftheSouthernhemispherethaneverhasbeenmadeofityet;themineisnotsothoroughlyworkedastheNorthern，andthitheryourstudiesshouldtend。

’Theonlyotherpreventivestepinmypoweristhatofexhortation，atwhichIamnotanadept。Nevertheless，Isaytoyou，SwithinSt。

Cleeve，don’tmakeafoolofyourself，asyourfatherdid。Ifyourstudiesaretobeworthanything，believeme，theymustbecarriedonwithoutthehelpofawoman。Avoidher，andeveryoneofthesex，ifyoumeantoachieveanyworthything。Eschewallofthatsortformanyayearyet。Moreover，Isay，theladyofyouracquaintanceavoidinparticular。Ihaveheardnothingagainsthermoralcharacterhitherto;Ihavenodoubtithasbeenexcellent。

Shemayhavemanygoodqualities，bothofheartandofmind。Butshehas，inadditiontoheroriginaldisqualificationasacompanionforyou（thatis，thatofsex），thesetwoseriousdrawbacks:sheismucholderthanyourself——’

’MUCHolder！’saidSwithinresentfully。

’——andsheissoimpoverishedthatthetitleshederivesfromherlatehusbandisapositiveobjection。Beyondthis，frankly，Idon’tthinkwellofher。Idon’tthinkwellofanywomanwhodotesuponamanyoungerthanherself。Tocaretobethefirstfancyofayoungfellowlikeyoushowsnogreatcommonsenseinher。Ifshewereworthhersaltshewouldhavetoomuchpridetobeintimatewithayouthinyourunassuredposition，tosaynoworse。Sheisoldenoughtoknowthataliaisonwithhermay，andalmostcertainlywould，beyourruin;and，ontheotherhand，thatamarriagewouldbepreposterous，——unlesssheisacompletegoose，andinthatcasethereisevenmorereasonforavoidingherthanifshewereinherfewsenses。

’Awomanofhonourablefeeling，nephew，wouldbecarefultodonothingtohinderyouinyourcareer，asthisputtingofherselfinyourwaymostcertainlywill。YetIhearthatsheprofessesagreatanxietyonthissamefutureofyoursasaphysicist。Thebestwayinwhichshecanshowtherealityofheranxietyisbyleavingyoutoyourself。Perhapsshepersuadesherselfthatsheisdoingyounoharm。Well，letherhavethebenefitofthepossiblebelief;butdependuponitthatintruthshegivesthelietoherconsciencebymaintainingsuchatransparentfallacy。Women’sbrainsarenotformedforassistingatanyprofoundscience:theylackthepowertoseethingsexceptintheconcrete。She’llblabyourmostsecretplansandtheoriestoeveryoneofheracquaintance——’

’She’sgotnone！’saidSwithin，beginningtogetwarm。

’——andmakethemappearridiculousbyannouncingthembeforetheyarematured。Ifyouattempttostudywithawoman，you’llberuledbyhertoentertainfanciesinsteadoftheories，air—castlesinsteadofintentions，qualmsinsteadofopinions，sicklyprepossessionsinsteadofreasonedconclusions。Yourwideheavenofstudy，youngman，willsoonreduceitselftothemiserablenarrowexpanseofherface，andyourmyriadofstarstohertwotrumperyeyes。

’Awomanwakingayoungman’spassionsjustatamomentwhenheisendeavouringtoshineintellectually，isdoinglittlelessthancommittingacrime。

’LikeacertainphilosopherIwould，uponmysoul，haveallyoungmenfromeighteentotwenty—fivekeptunderbarrels;seeinghowoften，inthelackofsomesuchsequesteringprocess，thewomansitsdownbeforeeachashisdestiny，andtoofrequentlyenervateshispurpose，tillheabandonsthemostpromisingcourseeverconceived！

’Butnomore。Inowleaveyourfateinyourownhands。Yourwell—

wishingrelative，’JOCELYNST。CLEEVE，DoctorinMedicine。’

Ascomingfromabachelorandhardenedmisogynistofseventy—two，theopinionshereincontainedwerenothingremarkable:buttheirpracticalresultinrestrictingthesuddenendowmentofSwithin’sresearchesbyconditionswhichturnedthefavourintoaharassmentwas，atthisuniquemoment，discomfitinganddistractinginthehighestdegree。

Sensational，however，astheletterwas，thepassionateintentionofthedaywasnothazardedformorethanafewminutesthereby。Thetruthwas，thecautionandbribecametoolate，toounexpectedly，tobeofinfluence。Theywerethesortofthingwhichrequiredfermentationtorenderthemeffective。HadSt。Cleevereceivedtheexhortationamonthearlier;hadhebeenabletorunoverinhismind，ateverywakefulhourofthirtyconsecutivenights，aprivatecatechismonthepossibilitiesopenedupbythisannuity，thereisnotellingwhatmighthavebeenthestressofsuchawebofperplexityuponhim，ayoungmanwhoseloveforcelestialphysicswassecondtonone。Buttohaveheldbeforehim，atthelastmoment，thepictureofafutureadvantagethathehadneveroncethoughtof，ordiscountedforpresentstayingpower，itaffectedhimaboutasmuchastheviewofhorizonsshownbysheet—lightning。Hesawanimmenseprospect;itwent，andtheworldwasasbefore。

HecaughtthetrainatWarborne，andmovedrapidlytowardsBath;notpreciselyinthesamekeyaswhenhehaddressedinthehutatdawn，but，asregardedthemechanicalpartofthejourney，asunhesitatinglyasbefore。

Andwiththechangeofsceneevenhisgloomlefthim;hisbosom’slordsatlightlyinhisthrone。St。Cleevewasnotsufficientlyinmindofpoeticalliteraturetorememberthatwisepoetsareaccustomedtoreadthatlightnessofbosominversely。Swithinthoughtitanomenofgoodfortune;andasthinkingiscausinginnotafewsuchcases，hewasperhaps，inspiteofpoets，right。

XIX

AtthestationLadyConstantineappeared，standingexpectant;hesawherfacefromthewindowofthecarriagelongbeforeshesawhim。

Henosoonersawherthanhewassatisfiedtohisheart’scontentwithhisprize。Ifhisgreat—unclehadofferedhimfromthegraveakingdominsteadofher，hewouldnothaveacceptedit。

Swithinjumpedout，andnatureneverpaintedinawoman’sfacemoredevotionthanappearedinmylady’satthatmoment。Toboththesituationseemedlikeabeautifulallegory，nottobeexaminedtooclosely，lestitsdefectsofcorrespondencewithreallifeshouldbeapparent。

Theyalmostfearedtoshakehandsinpublic，somuchdependedupontheirpassingthatmorningwithoutmolestation。Aflywascalledandtheydroveaway。

’Takethis，’shesaid，handinghimafoldedpaper。’Itbelongstoyouratherthantome。’

Atcrossings，andotheroccasionalpauses，pedestriansturnedtheirfacesandlookedatthepair（fornoreasonbutthat，amongsomany，therewerenaturallyafewofthesortwhohaveeyestonotewhatincidentscomeintheirwayastheyplodon）;butthetwointhevehiclecouldnotbutfearthattheseinnocentbeholdershadspecialdetectivedesignsonthem。

’Youlooksodreadfullyyoung！’shesaidwithhumorousfretfulness，astheydrovealong（Swithin’scheeksbeingamazinglyfreshfromthemorningair）。’Dotrytoappearalittlehaggard，thattheparsonmayn’taskusawkwardquestions！’

Nothingfurtherhappened，andtheyweresetdownoppositeashopaboutfiftyyardsfromthechurchdoor，atfiveminutestoeleven。

’Wewilldismissthefly，’shesaid。’Itwillonlyattractidlers。’

Onturningthecornerandreachingthechurchtheyfoundthedoorajar;butthebuildingcontainedonlytwopersons，amanandawoman，——theclerkandhiswife，astheylearnt。Swithinaskedwhentheclergymanwouldarrive。

Theclerklookedathiswatch，andsaid，’Atjustoneleveno’clock。’

’Heoughttobehere，’saidSwithin。

’Yes，’repliedtheclerk，asthehourstruck。’Thefactis，sir，heisadeppity，andapttoberatherwanderinginhiswitsasregardstimeandsuchlike，whichhevstoodinthewayoftheman’sgettingabenefit。Butnodoubthe’llcome。’

’Theregularincumbentisaway，then？’

’He’sgoneforhisbarepa’son’sfortnight，——that’sall;andwewasforcedtoputupwithaweak—talentedmanornone。Thebestmengoesintothebrewing，orintotheshippingnow—a—days，yousee，sir;doctrinesbeingrathershadderyatpresent，andyourmoney’sworthnotsureinourline。Sowechurchofficersbeleftpoorlyprovidedwithmenforoddjobs。I’lltellyewhat，sir;IthinkI’dbetterrunroundtothegentleman’slodgings，andtrytofindhim？’

’Praydo，’saidLadyConstantine。

Theclerkleftthechurch;hiswifebusiedherselfwithdustingatthefurtherend，andSwithinandViviettewerelefttothemselves。

Theimaginationtravelssorapidly，andawoman’sforethoughtissoassumptive，thattheclerk’sdeparturehadnosoonerdoomedthemtoinactionthanitwasborneinuponLadyConstantine’smindthatshewouldnotbecomethewifeofSwithinSt。Cleeve，eitherto—dayoronanyotherday。Herdivinationswerecontinuallymisleadingher，sheknew:butahitchatthemomentofmarriagesurelyhadameaninginit。

’Ah，——themarriageisnottobe！’shesaidtoherself。’Thisisafatality。’

Itwastwentyminutespast，andnoparsonhadarrived。Swithintookherhand。

’Ifitcannotbeto—day，itcanbeto—morrow，’hewhispered。

’Icannotsay，’sheanswered。’Somethingtellsmeno。’

ItwasalmostimpossiblethatshecouldknowanythingofthedeterrentforceexercisedonSwithinbyhisdeadunclethatmorning。

Yethermannertalliedsocuriouslywellwithsuchknowledgethathewasstruckbyit，andremainedsilent。

’Youhaveablacktie，’shecontinued，lookingathim。

’Yes，’repliedSwithin。’Iboughtitonmywayhere。’

’Whycoulditnothavebeenlesssombreincolour？’

’Mygreat—uncleisdead。’

’Youhadagreat—uncle？Younevertoldme。’

’Ineversawhiminmylife。Ihaveonlyheardabouthimsincehisdeath。’

Hespokeinasquietandmeasuredawayashecould，buthisheartwassinking。Shewouldgoonquestioning;hecouldnottellheranuntruth。Shewoulddiscoverparticularsofthatgreat—uncle’sprovisionforhim，whichhe，Swithin，wasthrowingawayforhersake，andshewouldrefusetobehisforhisownsake。Hisconclusionatthismomentwaspreciselywhathershadbeenfiveminutessooner:theywerenevertobehusbandandwife。

Butshedidnotcontinueherquestions，forthesimplestofallreasons:hastyfootstepswereaudibleintheentrance，andtheparsonwasseencominguptheaisle，theclerkbehindhimwipingthebeadsofperspirationfromhisface。Thesomewhatsorryclericalspecimenshookhandswiththem，andenteredthevestry;andtheclerkcameupandopenedthebook。

’Thepoorgentleman’smemoryisabittopsy—turvy，’whisperedthelatter。’Hehadgotitinhismindthat’twereafuneral，andI

foundhimwanderingaboutthecemeterya—lookingforus。However，all’swellasendswell。’Andtheclerkwipedhisforeheadagain。

’Howill—omened！’murmuredViviette。

Buttheparsoncameoutrobedatthismoment，andtheclerkputonhisecclesiasticalcountenanceandlookedinhisbook。LadyConstantine’smomentarylanguorpassed;herbloodresumeditscourseswithanewspring。Thegraveutterancesofthechurchthenrolledoutuponthepalpitatingpair，andnocoupleeverjoinedtheirwhisperstheretowithmorefervencythanthey。

LadyConstantine（asshecontinuedtobecalledbytheoutsideworld，thoughshelikedtothinkherselftheMrs。St。Cleevethatshelegallywas）hadtoldGreenthatshemightbeexpectedatWellandinaday，ortwo，orthree，ascircumstancesshoulddictate。

Thoughthetimeofreturnwasthusleftopenitwasdeemedadvisable，bybothSwithinandherself，thatherjourneybackshouldnotbedeferredafterthenextday，incaseanysuspicionsmightbearoused。AsforSt。Cleeve，hiscomingsandgoingswereofnoconsequence。Itwasseldomknownwhetherhewasathomeorabroad，byreasonofhisfrequentseclusionatthecolumn。

LateintheafternoonofthenextdayheaccompaniedhertotheBathstation，intendinghimselftoremaininthatcitytillthefollowingmorning。Butwhenamanoryouthhassuchatenderarticleonhishandsasathirty—hourbrideitishardlyinthepowerofhisstrongestreasontosetherdownatarailway，andsendherofflikeasuperfluousportmanteau。Hencetheexperimentofpartingsosoonaftertheirunionprovedexcruciatinglyseveretothese。Theeveningwasdull;thebreezeofautumncreptfitfullythrougheveryslitandapertureinthetown;notasoulintheworldseemedtonoticeorcareaboutanythingtheydid。LadyConstantinesighed;

andtherewasnoresistingit，——hecouldnotleaveherthus。Hedecidedtogetintothetrainwithher，andkeephercompanyforatleastafewstationsonherway。

Itdrewontobeadarknight，and，seeingthattherewasnoseriousriskafterall，heprolongedhisjourneywithhersofarastothejunctionatwhichthebranchlinetoWarborneforkedoff。Hereitwasnecessarytowaitafewminutes，beforeeitherhecouldgobackorshecouldgoon。Theywanderedoutsidethestationdoorwayintothegloomoftheroad，andthereagreedtopart。

Whilesheyetstoodholdinghisarmaphaetonspedtowardsthestation—entrance，where，inascendingtheslopetothedoor，thehorsesuddenlyjibbed。Thegentlemanwhowasdriving，beingeitherimpatient，orpossessedwithatheorythatalljibbersmaybestartedbyseverewhipping，appliedthelash;asaresultofit，thehorsethrustroundthecarriagetowheretheystood，andtheendofthedriver’ssweepingwhipcutacrossLadyConstantine’sfacewithsuchseverityastocauseheraninvoluntarycry。Swithinturnedherroundtothelamplight，anddiscernedastreakofbloodonhercheek。

Bythistimethegentlemanwhohaddonethemischief，withmanywordsofregret，hadgiventhereinstohismananddismounted。

’Iwillgotothewaiting—roomforamoment，’whisperedViviettehurriedly;and，loosingherhandfromhisarm，shepulleddownherveilandvanishedinsidethebuilding。

Thestrangercameforwardandraisedhishat。Hewasaslightlybuiltandapparentlytown—bredmanoftwenty—eightorthirty;hismannerofaddresswasatoncecarelessandconciliatory。

’IamgreatlyconcernedatwhatIhavedone，’hesaid。’Isincerelytrustthatyourwife’——butobservingtheyouthfulnessofSwithin，hewithdrewthewordsuggestedbythemannerofSwithintowardsLadyConstantine——’Itrusttheyoungladywasnotseriouslycut？’

’Itrustnot，’saidSwithin，withsomevexation。

’Wheredidthelashtouchher？’

’Straightdownhercheek。’

’Doletmegotoher，andlearnhowsheis，andhumblyapologize。’

’I’llinquire。’

Hewenttotheladies’room，inwhichViviettehadtakenrefuge。

Shemethimatthedoor，herhandkerchieftohercheek，andSwithinexplainedthatthedriverofthephaetonhadsenttomakeinquiries。

’Icannotseehim！’shewhispered。’HeismybrotherLouis！Heis，nodoubt，goingonbythetraintomyhouse。Don’tlethimrecognizeme！Wemustwaittillheisgone。’

Swithinthereuponwentoutagain，andtoldtheyoungmanthatthecutonherfacewasnotserious，butthatshecouldnotseehim;

afterwhichtheyparted。St。CleevethenheardhimaskforaticketforWarborne，whichconfirmedLadyConstantine’sviewthathewasgoingontoherhouse。WhenthebranchtrainhadmovedoffSwithinreturnedtohisbride，whowaitedinatremblingstatewithin。

Onbeinginformedthathehaddepartedsheshowedherselfmuchrelieved。

’Wheredoesyourbrothercomefrom？’saidSwithin。

’FromLondon，immediately。Riobeforethat。Hehasafriendortwointhisneighbourhood，andvisitshereoccasionally。Ihaveseldomorneverspokentoyouofhim，becauseofhislongabsence。’

’Ishegoingtosettlenearyou？’

’No，noranywhere，Ifear。Heis，orratherwas，inthediplomaticservice。HewasfirstaclerkintheForeignOffice，andwasafterwardsappointedattacheatRioJaneiro。Buthehasresignedtheappointment。Iwishhehadnot。’

Swithinaskedwhyheresigned。

’Hecomplainedofthebanishment，andtheclimate，andeverythingthatpeoplecomplainofwhoaredeterminedtobedissatisfied，——

though，poorfellow，thereissomegroundforhiscomplaints。

Perhapssomepeoplewouldsaythatheisidle。Butheisscarcelythat;heisratherrestlessthanidle，sothatheneverpersistsinanything。Yetifasubjecttakeshisfancyhewillfollowitupwithexemplarypatiencetillsomethingdivertshim。’

’Heisnotkindtoyou，ishe，dearest？’

’Whydoyouthinkthat？’

’Yourmannerseemstosayso。’

’Well，hemaynotalwaysbekind。Butlookatmyface;doesthemarkshow？’

Astreak，straightasameridian，wasvisibledownhercheek。Thebloodhadbeenbroughtalmosttothesurface，butwasnotquitethrough，thatwhichhadoriginallyappearedthereonhavingpossiblycomefromthehorse。Itsignifiedthatto—morrowtheredlinewouldbeablackone。

SwithininformedherthatherbrotherhadtakenaticketforWarborne，andsheatonceperceivedthathewasgoingontovisitheratWelland，thoughfromhislettershehadnotexpectedhimsosoonbyafewdays。’Meanwhile，’continuedSwithin，’youcannowgethomeonlybythelatetrain，havingmissedthatone。’

’But，Swithin，don’tyouseemynewtrouble？IfIgotoWellandHouseto—night，andfindmybrotherjustarrivedthere，andheseesthiscutonmyface，whichIsupposeyoudescribedtohim——’

’Idid。’

’HewillknowIwastheladywithyou！’

’Whomhecalledmywife。Iwonderwhywelookhusbandandwifealready！’

’ThenwhatamItodo？FortheensuingthreeorfourdaysIbearinmyfaceacluetohisdiscoveryofoursecret。’

’Thenyoumustnotbeseen。Wemuststayataninnhere。’

’Ono！’shesaidtimidly。’Itistoonearhometobequitesafe。

Wemightnotbeknown;butIFwewere！’

’Wecan’tgobacktoBathnow。I’lltellyou，dearViviette，whatwemustdo。We’llgoontoWarborneinseparatecarriages;we’llmeetoutsidethestation;thencewe’llwalktothecolumninthedark，andI’llkeepyouacaptiveinthecabintillthescarhasdisappeared。’

Astherewasnothingwhichbetterrecommendeditselfthiscoursewasdecidedon;andaftertakingfromhertrunkthearticlesthatmightberequiredforanincarcerationoftwoorthreedaystheyleftthesaidtrunkatthecloak—room，andwentonbythelasttrain，whichreachedWarborneaboutteno’clock。

ItwasonlynecessaryforLadyConstantinetocoverherfacewiththethickveilthatshehadprovidedforthisescapade，towalkoutofthestationwithoutfearofrecognition。St。Cleevecameforthfromanothercompartment，andtheydidnotrejoineachothertilltheyhadreachedashadowybendintheoldturnpikeroad，beyondtheirradiationoftheWarbornelamplight。

ThewalktoWellandwaslong。ItwasthewalkwhichSwithinhadtakenintherainwhenhehadlearntthefatalforestalmentofhisstellardiscovery;butnowhewasmovedbyalessdesperatemood，andblamedneitherGodnorman。Theywerenotpressedfortime，andpassedalongthesilent，lonelywaywiththatsenseratherofpredestinationthanofchoiceintheirproceedingswhichthepresenceofnightsometimesimparts。Reachingtheparkgate，theyfounditopen，andfromthistheyinferredthatherbrotherLouishadarrived。

Leavingthehouseandparkontheirrighttheytracedthehighwayyetalittlefurther，and，plungingthroughthestubbleoftheoppositefield，drewneartheisolatedearthworkbearingtheplantationandtower，whichtogetherroselikeaflatteneddomeandlanternfromthelighter—huedplainofstubble。Itwasfartoodarktodistinguishfirsfromothertreesbytheeyealone，butthepeculiardialectofsylvanlanguagewhichthepinymultitudeusedwouldhavebeenenoughtoproclaimtheirclassatanytime。Inthelovers’stealthyprogressuptheslopesadrystickhereandtheresnappedbeneaththeirfeet，seeminglikeashotofalarm。

OnbeingunlockedthehutwasfoundpreciselyasSwithinhadleftittwodaysbefore。LadyConstantinewasthoroughlywearied，andsatdown，whilehegatheredahandfuloftwigsandspikeletsfromthemassesstrewnwithoutandlitasmallfire，firsttakingtheprecautiontoblindthelittlewindowandrelockthedoor。

LadyConstantinelookedcuriouslyaroundbythelightoftheblaze。