第10章

Thehutwassmallastheprophet’schamberprovidedbytheShunammite:inonecornerstoodthestove，withalittletableandchair，asmallcupboardhardby，apitcherofwater，arackoverhead，withvariousarticles，includingakettleandagridiron;

whiletheremainingthreeorfourfeetattheotherendoftheroomwasfittedoutasadormitory，forSwithin’suseduringlateobservationsinthetoweroverhead。

’Itisnotmuchofapalacetoofferyou，’heremarked，smiling。

’Butatanyrate，itisarefuge。’

ThecheerfulfirelightdispersedinsomemeasureLadyConstantine’sanxieties。’Ifweonlyhadsomethingtoeat！’shesaid。

’Dearme，’criedSt。Cleeve，blankly。’That’sathingIneverthoughtof。’

’NorI，tillnow，’shereplied。

Hereflectedwithmisgiving。

’BeyondasmallloafofbreadinthecupboardIhavenothing。

However，justoutsidethedoortherearelotsofthoselittlerabbits，aboutthesizeofrats，thatthekeeperscallrunners。Andtheyareastameaspossible。ButIfearIcouldnotcatchonenow。

Yet，dearViviette，waitaminute;I’lltry。Youmustnotbestarved。’

Hesoftlylethimselfout，andwasgonesometime。Whenhereappeared，heproduced，notarabbit，butfoursparrowsandathrush。

’Icoulddonothinginthewayofarabbitwithoutsettingawire，’

hesaid。’ButIhavemanagedtogetthesebyknowingwheretheyroost。’

Heshowedherhowtopreparethebirds，and，havingsethertoroastthembythefire，departedwiththepitcher，toreplenishitatthebrookwhichflowednearthehomesteadintheneighbouringBottom。

’Theyareallasleepatmygrandmother’s，’heinformedherwhenhere—entered，panting，withthedrippingpitcher。’Theyimaginemetobeahundredmilesoff。’

Thebirdswerenowready，andthetablewasspread。Withthisfare，ekedoutbydrytoastfromtheloaf，andmoistenedwithcupsofwaterfromthepitcher，towhichSwithinaddedalittlewinefromtheflaskhehadcarriedonhisjourney，theywereforcedtobecontentfortheirsupper。

XX

WhenLadyConstantineawokethenextmorningSwithinwasnowheretobeseen。Beforeshewasquitereadyforbreakfastsheheardthekeyturninthedoor，andfeltstartled，tillsherememberedthatthecomercouldhardlybeanybodybuthe。Hebroughtabasketwithprovisions，anextracup—and—saucer，andsoon。Inashortspaceoftimethekettlebegansingingonthestove，andthemorningmealwasready。

Thesweetresinousairfromthefirsblewinuponthemastheysatatbreakfast;thebirdshoppedroundthedoor（which，somewhatriskily，theyventuredtokeepopen）;andattheirelbowrosethelankcolumnintoanupperrealmofsunlight，whichonlyreachedthecabininfitfuldartsandflashesthroughthetrees。

’Icouldbehappyhereforever，’saidshe，claspinghishand。’I

wishIcouldneverseemygreatgloomyhouseagain，sinceIamnotrichenoughtothrowitopen，andlivethereasIoughttodo。

Povertyofthissortisnotunpleasantatanyrate。Whatareyouthinkingof？’

’Iamthinkingaboutmyoutingthismorning。Onreachingmygrandmother’sshewasonlyalittlesurprisedtoseeme。Iwasobligedtobreakfastthere，orappeartodoso，todivertsuspicion;

andthisfoodissupposedtobewantedformydinnerandsupper。

Therewillofcoursebenodifficultyinmyobtaininganamplesupplyforanylengthoftime，asIcantakewhatIlikefromthebutterywithoutobservation。ButasIlookedinmygrandmother’sfacethismorning，andsawherlookingaffectionatelyinmine，andthoughthowshehadneverconcealedanythingfromme，andhadalwayshadmywelfareatheart，Ifelt——thatIshouldliketotellherwhatwehavedone。’

’Ono，——pleasenot，Swithin！’sheexclaimedpiteously。

’Verywell，’heanswered。’OnnoconsiderationwillIdosowithoutyourconsent。’Andnomorewassaidonthematter。

ThemorningwaspassedinapplyingwetragandotherremediestothepurplelineonViviette’scheek;andintheafternoontheysetuptheequatorialunderthereplaceddome，tohaveitinorderfornightobservations。

Theeveningwasclear，dry，andremarkablycoldbycomparisonwiththedaytimeweather。Afterafrugalsuppertheyreplenishedthestovewithcharcoalfromthehomestead，whichtheyalsoburntduringtheday，——anideaofViviette’s，thatthesmokefromawoodfiremightnotbeseenmorefrequentlythanwasconsistentwiththeoccasionaloccupationofthecabinbySwithin，asheretofore。

Ateighto’clocksheinsisteduponhisascendingthetowerforobservations，instrictpursuanceoftheideaonwhichtheirmarriagehadbeenbased，namely，thatofrestoringregularitytohisstudies。

Theskyhadanewandstartlingbeautythatnight。Abroad，fluctuating，semicirculararchofvividwhitelightspannedthenorthernquarteroftheheavens，reachingfromthehorizontothestarEtaintheGreaterBear。ItwastheAuroraBorealis，justrisenupforthewinterseasonoutofthefreezingseasofthenorth，whereeveryautumnvapourwasnowundergoingrapidcongelation。

’O，letussitandlookatit！’shesaid;andtheyturnedtheirbacksupontheequatorialandthesoutherngloriesoftheheavenstothisnewbeautyinaquarterwhichtheyseldomcontemplated。

Thelustreofthefixedstarswasdiminishedtoasortofblueness。

Littlebylittlethearchgrewhigheragainstthedarkvoid，liketheformoftheSpirit—maidenintheshadesofGlenfinlas，tillitscrowndrewnearthezenith，andthrewatissueoverthewholewaggonandhorsesofthegreatnorthernconstellation。Brilliantshaftsradiatedfromtheconvexityofthearch，comingandgoingsilently。

Thetemperaturefell，andLadyConstantinedrewherwrapmorecloselyaroundher。

’We’llgodown，’saidSwithin。’Thecabinisbeautifullywarm。Whyshouldwetrytoobservetonight？Indeed，wecannot;theAuroralightoverpowerseverything。’

’Verywell。To—morrownighttherewillbenointerruption。Ishallbegone。’

’Youleavemeto—morrow，Viviette？’

’Yes;to—morrowmorning。’

Thetruthwasthat，withtheprogressofthehoursanddays，theconvictionhadbeenborneinuponViviettemoreandmoreforciblythatnotforkingdomsandprincipalitiescouldsheaffordtoriskthediscoveryofherpresenceherebyanylivingsoul。

’Butletmeseeyourface，dearest，’hesaid。’Idon’tthinkitwillbesafeforyoutomeetyourbrotheryet。’

Asitwastoodarktoseeherfaceonthesummitwheretheysattheydescendedthewindingstaircase，andinthecabinSwithinexaminedthedamagedcheek。Theline，thoughsofarattenuatedasnottobeobservablebyanyonebutacloseobserver，hadnotquitedisappeared。Butinconsequenceofherreiteratedandalmosttearfulanxietytogo，andastherewasastrongprobabilitythatherbrotherhadleftthehouse，SwithindecidedtocallatWellandnextmorning，andreconnoitrewithaviewtoherreturn。

Lockingherinhecrossedthedewystubbleintothepark。Thehousewassilentanddeserted;andonlyonetallstalkofsmokeascendedfromthechimneys。Notwithstandingthatthehourwasnearlynineheknockedatthedoor。

’IsLadyConstantineathome？’askedSwithin，withadisingenuousnessnowhabitual，yetunknowntohimsixmonthsbefore。

’No，Mr。St。Cleeve;myladyhasnotreturnedfromBath。Weexpecthereveryday。’

’Nobodystayinginthehouse？’

’Mylady’sbrotherhasbeenhere;butheisgoneontoBudmouth。Hewillcomeagainintwoorthreeweeks，Iunderstand。’

Thiswasenough。Swithinsaidhewouldcallagain，andreturnedtothecabin，where，wakingViviette，whowasnotbynatureanearlyriser，hewaitedonthecolumntillshewasreadytobreakfast。

Whenthishadbeensharedtheypreparedtostart。

Alongwalkwasbeforethem。Warbornestationlayfivemilesdistant，andthenextstationabovethatninemiles。Theywereboundforthelatter;theirplanbeingthatsheshouldtheretakethetraintothejunctionwherethewhipaccidenthadoccurred，claimherluggage，andreturnwithittoWarborne，asiffromBath。

Themorningwascoolandthewalknotwearisome。Whenoncetheyhadleftbehindthestubble—fieldoftheirenvironmentandtheparishofWelland，theysaunteredoncomfortably，LadyConstantine’sspiritsrisingasshewithdrewfurtherfromdanger。

Theypartedbyalittlebrook，abouthalfamilefromthestation;

SwithintoreturntoWellandbythewayhehadcome。

LadyConstantinetelegraphedfromthejunctiontoWarborneforacarriagetobeinreadinesstomeetheronherarrival;andthen，waitingforthedowntrain，shetravelledsmoothlyhome，reachingWellandHouseaboutfiveminutessoonerthanSwithinreachedthecolumnhardby，afterfootingitallthewayfromwheretheyhadparted。

XXI

Fromthatdayforwardtheirliferesumeditsoldchannelingeneraloutwardaspect。

Perhapsthemostremarkablefeatureintheirexploitwasitscomparativeeffectivenessasanexpedientfortheenddesigned，——

thatofrestoringcalmassiduitytothestudyofastronomy。Swithintookuphisoldpositionasthelonelyphilosopheratthecolumn，andLadyConstantinelapsedbacktoimmuredexistenceatthehouse，withapparentlynotafriendintheparish。TheenforcednarrownessoflifewhichherlimitedresourcesnecessitatedwasnowanadditionalsafeguardagainstthediscoveryofherrelationswithSt。

Cleeve。Herneighboursseldomtroubledher;asmuch，itmustbeowned，fromatacitunderstandingthatshewasnotinapositiontoreturninvitationsasfromanyselfishcoldnessengenderedbyherwantofwealth。

Atthefirstmeetingofthesecretlyunitedpairaftertheirshorthoneymoontheywerecompelledtobehaveasstrangerstoeachother。

ItoccurredintheonlypartofWellandwhichdeservedthenameofavillagestreet，andallthelabourerswerereturningtotheirmiddaymeal，withthoseoftheirwiveswhoassistedatoutdoorwork。

Beforetheeyesofthisinnocentthoughquiteuntrustworthygroup，SwithinandhisViviettecouldonlyshakehandsinpassing，thoughshecontrivedtosaytohiminanundertone，’Mybrotherdoesnotreturnyetforsometime。HehasgonetoParis。Iwillbeonthelawnthisevening，ifyoucancome。’Itwasaflutteredsmilethatshebestowedonhim，andtherewasnodoubtthateveryfibreofherheartvibratedafreshatmeeting，withsuchreserve，onewhostoodinhiscloserelationtoher。

Theshadesofnightfellearlynow，andSwithinwasatthespotofappointmentaboutthetimethatheknewherdinnerwouldbeover。

Itwasjustwheretheyhadmetatthebeginningoftheyear，butmanychangeshadresultedsincethen。Theflower—bedsthathadusedtobesoneatlyedgedwerenowjaggedandleafy;blackstarsappearedonthepalesurfaceofthegravelwalks，denotingtuftsofgrassthatgrewunmolestedthere。LadyConstantine’sexternalaffairsworejustthataspectwhichsuggeststhatnewbloodmaybeadvantageouslyintroducedintotheline;andnewbloodhadbeenintroduced，ingoodsooth，——withwhatsocialresultremainedtobeseen。

Shesilentlyenteredonthescenefromthesamewindowwhichhadgivenherpassageinmonthsgoneby。Theymetwithaconcertedembrace，andSt。Cleevespokehisgreetinginwhispers。

’Wearequitesafe，dearest，’saidshe。

’Buttheservants？’

’Mymeagrestaffconsistsofonlytwowomenandtheboy;andtheyareawayintheotherwing。Ithoughtyouwouldliketoseetheinsideofmyhouse，aftershowingmetheinsideofyours。Sowewillwalkthroughitinsteadofstayingouthere。’

Shelethiminthroughthecasement，andtheystrolledforwardsoftly，Swithinwithsomecuriosity，neverbeforehavinggonebeyondthelibraryandadjoiningroom。Thewholewesternsideofthehousewasatthistimeshutup，herlifebeingconfinedtotwoorthreesmallroomsinthesouth—eastcorner。Thegreatapartmentsthroughwhichtheynowwhisperinglywalkedworealreadythatfunerealaspectthatcomesfromdisuseandinattention。Triangularcobwebsalreadyformedlittlehammocksforthedustincornersofthewainscot，andaclosesmellofwoodandleather，seasonedwithmouse—droppings，pervadedtheatmosphere。Soseldomwasthesolitudeofthesechambersintrudedonbyhumanfeetthatmorethanonceamousestoodandlookedthetwaininthefacefromthearmofasofa，orthetopofacabinet，withoutanygreatfear。

Swithinhadnoresidentialambitionwhatever，buthewasinterestedintheplace。’Willthehouseeverbethrownopentogaiety，asitwasinoldtimes？’saidhe。

’Notunlessyoumakeafortune，’sherepliedlaughingly。’Itismineformylife，asyouknow;buttheestateissoterriblysaddledwithannuitiestoSirBlount’sdistantrelatives，oneofwhomwillsucceedmehere，thatIhavepracticallynomorethanmyownlittleprivateincometoexiston。’

’Andareyouboundtooccupythehouse？’

’Notboundto。ButImustnotletitonlease。’

’Andwasthereanystipulationintheeventofyourre—marriage？’

’Itwasnotmentioned。’

’Itissatisfactorytofindthatyoulosenothingbymarryingme，atallevents，dearViviette。’

’Ihopeyoulosenothingeither——atleast，ofconsequence。’

’WhathaveItolose？’

’Imeantyourliberty。Supposeyoubecomeapopularphysicist（popularityseemscoolingtowardsartandcoquettingwithsciencenow—a—days），andabetterchanceoffers，andonewhowouldmakeyouanewerandbrighterwifethanIamcomesinyourway。Willyouneverregretthis？Willyouneverdespiseme？’

Swithinansweredbyakiss，andtheyagainwenton;proceedinglikeacoupleofburglars，lesttheyshoulddrawtheattentionofthecookorGreen。

Inoneoftheupperroomshiseyeswereattractedbyanoldchamberorgan，whichhadoncebeenlentforuseinthechurch。Hementionedhisrecollectionofthesame，whichledhertosay，’Thatremindsmeofsomething。Thereistobeaconfirmationinourparishinthespring，andyouoncetoldmethatyouhadneverbeenconfirmed。

Whatshockingneglect！Whywasit？’

’Ihardlyknow。Theconfusionresultingfrommyfather’sdeathcausedittobeforgotten，Isuppose。’

’Now，dearSwithin，youwilldothistopleaseme，——beconfirmedonthepresentoccasion？’

’SinceIhavedonewithoutthevirtueofitsolong，mightInotdowithoutitaltogether？’

’No，no！’shesaidearnestly。’Idowishit，indeed。IammadeunhappywhenIthinkyoudon’tcareaboutsuchseriousmatters。

WithouttheChurchtoclingto，whathavewe？’

’Eachother。Butseriously，Ishouldbeinvertingtheestablishedorderofspiritualthings;peopleoughttobeconfirmedbeforetheyaremarried。’

’That’sreallyofminorconsequence。Now，don’tthinkslightinglyofwhatsomanygoodmenhavelaiddownasnecessarytobedone。

And，dearSwithin，Isomehowfeelthatacertainlevitywhichhasperhapsshownitselfinourtreatmentofthesacramentofmarriage——

bymakingaclandestineadventureofwhatis，afterall，asolemnrite——wouldbewellatonedforbyadueseriousnessinotherpointsofreligiousobservance。Thisopportunityshouldthereforenotbepassedover。Ithoughtofitalllastnight;andyouareaparson’sson，remember，andhewouldhaveinsistedonitifhehadbeenalive。Inshort，Swithin，dobeagoodboy，andobservetheChurch’sordinances。’

LadyConstantine，byvirtueofhertemperament，wasnecessarilyeitherloverordevote，andshevibratedsogracefullybetweenthesetwoconditionsthatnobodywhohadknownthecircumstancescouldhavecondemnedherinconsistencies。Tobeledintodifficultiesbythosemasteringemotionsofhers，toaimatescapebyturningroundandseizingtheapparatusofreligion——whichcouldonlyrightlybeworkedbytheveryemotionsalreadybestowedelsewhere——itwas，afterall，butNature’swell—meaningattempttopreservethehonourofherdaughter’sconscienceinthetryingquandarytowhichtheconditionsofsexhadgivenrise。AsViviettecouldnotbeconfirmedherself，andasCommunionSundaywasalongwayoff，sheurgedSwithinthus。

’Andthenewbishopissuchagoodman，’shecontinued。’Iusedtohaveaslightacquaintancewithhimwhenhewasaparishpriest。’

’Verywell，dearest。TopleaseyouI’llbeconfirmed。Mygrandmother，too，willbedelighted，nodoubt。’

Theycontinuedtheirramble:LadyConstantinefirstadvancingintoroomswiththecandle，toassureherselfthatallwasempty，andthencallinghimforwardinawhisper。Thestillnesswasbrokenonlybythesewhispers，orbytheoccasionalcrackofafloor—boardbeneaththeirtread。Atlasttheysatdown，and，shadingthecandlewithascreen，sheshowedhimthefadedcontentsofthisandthatdrawerorcabinet，orthewardrobeofsomememberofthefamilywhohaddiedyoungearlyinthecentury，whenmuslinreignedsupreme，whenwaistswereclosetoarm—pits，andmuffsaslargeassmugglers’

tubs。Theseresearchesamonghabilimentalhullsandhusks，whosehumankernelshadlongagoperished，wentonforabouthalfanhour;

whenthecompanionswerestartledbyaloudringingatthefront—

doorbell。

XXII

LadyConstantineflungdowntheold—fashionedlacework，whosebeautiesshehadbeenpointingouttoSwithin，andexclaimed，’Whocanitbe？NotLouis，surely？’

Theylistened。Anarrivalwassuchaphenomenonatthisunfrequentedmansion，andparticularlyalatearrival，thatnoservantwasonthealerttorespondtothecall;andthevisitorrangagain，moreloudlythanbefore。Soundsofthetardyopeningandshuttingofapassage—doorfromthekitchenquarterthenreachedtheirears，andViviettewentintothecorridortohearkenmoreattentively。Inafewminutesshereturnedtothewardrobe—roominwhichshehadleftSwithin。

’Yes;itismybrother！’shesaidwithdifficultcomposure。’Ijustcaughthisvoice。HehasnodoubtcomebackfromParistostay。

Thisisarathervexatious，indolentwayhehas，nevertowritetoprepareme！’

’Icaneasilygoaway，’saidSwithin。

Bythistime，however，herbrotherhadbeenshownintothehouse，andthefootstepsofthepagewereaudible，cominginsearchofLadyConstantine。

’Ifyouwillwaitthereamoment，’shesaid，directingSt。Cleeveintoabedchamberwhichadjoined;’youwillbequitesafefrominterruption，andIwillquicklycomeback。’Takingthelightshelefthim。

Swithinwaitedindarkness。Notmorethantenminuteshadpassedwhenawhisperinhervoicecamethroughthekeyhole。Heopenedthedoor。

’Yes;heiscometostay！’shesaid。’Heisatsuppernow。’

’Verywell;don’tbeflurried，dearest。ShallIstaytoo，asweplanned？’

’O，Swithin，Ifearnot！’sherepliedanxiously。’Youseehowitis。To—nightwehavebrokenthearrangementthatyoushouldnevercomehere;andthisistheresult。Willitoffendyouif——Iaskyoutoleave？’

’Notintheleast。Uponthewhole，Ipreferthecomfortofmylittlecabinandhomesteadtothegauntnessandalarmsofthisplace。’

’There，now，Ifearyouareoffended！’shesaid，atearcollectinginhereye。’IwishIwasgoingbackwithyoutothecabin！Howhappywewere，thosethreedaysofourstaythere！Butitisbetter，perhaps，justnow，thatyoushouldleaveme。Yes，theseroomsareoppressive。Theyrequirealargehouseholdtomakethemcheerful……Yet，Swithin，’sheadded，afterreflection，’Iwillnotrequestyoutogo。Doasyouthinkbest。Iwilllightanight—

light，andleaveyouheretoconsider。Formyself，Imustgodownstairstomybrotheratonce，orhe’llwonderwhatIamdoing。’

Shekindledthelittlelight，andagainretreated，closingthedooruponhim。

Swithinstoodandwaitedsometime;tillheconsideredthatuponthewholeitwouldbepreferabletoleave。Withthisintentionheemergedandwentsoftlyalongthedarkpassagetowardstheextremeend，wheretherewasalittlecrookedstaircasethatwouldconducthimdowntoadisusedsidedoor。Descendingthisstairhedulyarrivedattheothersideofthehouse，facingthequarterwhencethewindblew，andherehewassurprisedtocatchthenoiseofrainbeatingagainstthewindows。Itwasastateofweatherwhichfullyaccountedforthevisitor’simpatientringing。

St。Cleevewasinaminorkindofdilemma。Therainremindedhimthathishatandgreat—coathadbeenleftdownstairs，inthefrontpartofthehouse;andthoughhemighthavegonehomewithouteitherinordinaryweatheritwasnotapleasantfeatinthepeltingwinterrain。RetracinghisstepstoViviette’sroomhetookthelight，andopenedacloset—doorthathehadseenajaronhiswaydown。Withintheclosethungvariousarticlesofapparel，upholsterylumberofallkindsfillingthebackpart。Swithinthoughthemightfindhereacloakofherstothrowroundhim，butfinallytookdownfromapegamoresuitablegarment，theonlyoneofthesortthatwasthere。

Itwasanoldmoth—eatengreat—coat，heavilytrimmedwithfur;andinremovingitacompanioncapofsealskinwasdisclosed。

’Whosecantheybe？’hethought，andagloomyanswersuggesteditself。’Pooh，’hethensaid（summoningthescientificsideofhisnature），’matterismatter，andmentalassociationonlyadelusion。’

PuttingonthegarmentshereturnedthelighttoLadyConstantine’sbedroom，andagainpreparedtodepartasbefore。

Scarcely，however，hadheregainedthecorridorasecondtime，whenheheardalightfootstep——seeminglyViviette’s——againonthefrontlanding。Wonderingwhatshewantedwithhimfurtherhewaited，takingtheprecautiontostepintotheclosettillsureitwasshe。

Thefigurecameonward，benttothekeyholeofthebedroomdoor，andwhispered（supposinghimstillinside），’Swithin，onsecondthoughtsIthinkyoumaystaywithsafety。’

Havingnofurtherdoubtofherpersonalityhecameoutwiththoughtlessabruptnessfromtheclosetbehindher，andlookingroundsuddenlyshebeheldhisshadowyfur—cladoutline。Atoncesheraisedherhandsinhorror，asiftoprotectherselffromhim;sheutteredashriek，andturnedshudderinglytothewall，coveringherface。

Swithinwouldhavepickedherupinamoment，butbythistimehecouldhearfootstepsrushingupstairs，inresponsetohercry。Inconsternation，andwithaviewofnotcompromisingher，heeffectedhisretreatasfastaspossible，reachingthebendofthecorridorjustasherbrotherLouisappearedwithalightattheotherextremity。

’What’sthematter，forheaven’ssake，Viviette？’saidLouis。

’Myhusband！’sheinvoluntarilyexclaimed。

’Whatnonsense！’

’Oyes，itisnonsense，’sheadded，withaneffort。’Itwasnothing。’

’Butwhatwasthecauseofyourcry？’

Shehadbythistimerecoveredherreasonandjudgment。’O，itwasatrickoftheimagination，’shesaid，withafaintlaugh。’IlivesomuchalonethatIgetsuperstitious——and——IthoughtforthemomentIsawanapparition。’

’Ofyourlatehusband？’

’Yes。Butitwasnothing;itwastheoutlineofthe——tallclockandthechairbehind。Wouldyoumindgoingdown，andleavingmetogointomyroomforamoment？’

Sheenteredthebedroom，andherbrotherwentdownstairs。Swithinthoughtitbesttoleavewellalone，andgoingnoiselesslyoutofthehouseploddedthroughtherainhomeward。ItwasplainthatagitationsofonesortandanotherhadsoweakenedViviette’snervesastolayheropentoeveryimpression。Thattheclotheshehadborrowedweresomecast—offgarmentsofthelateSirBlounthadoccurredtoSt。Cleeveintakingthem;butinthemomentofreturningtohersidehehadforgottenthis，andtheshapetheygavetohisfigurehadobviouslybeenareminderoftoosuddenasortforher。Musingthushewalkedalongasifhewerestill，asbefore，thelonelystudent，dissociatedfromallmankind，andwithnoshadowofrightorinterestinWellandHouseoritsmistress。

Thegreat—coatandcapwereunpleasantcompanions;butSwithinhavingbeenreared，orhavingrearedhimself，inthescientificschoolofthought，wouldnotgivewaytohissenseoftheirweirdness。Todosowouldhavebeentreasontohisownbeliefsandaims。

Whennearlyhome，atapointwherehistrackconvergedonanotherpath，thereapproachedhimfromthelatteragroupofindistinctforms。ThetonesoftheirspeechrevealedthemtobeHezzyBiles，NatChapman，Fry，andotherlabourers。Swithinwasabouttosayawordtothem，tillrecollectinghisdisguisehedeemeditadvisabletoholdhistongue，lesthisattireshouldtellatoodangeroustaleastowherehehadcomefrom。Bydegreestheydrewcloser，theirwalkbeinginthesamedirection。

’Good—night，strainger，’saidNat。

Thestrangerdidnotreply。

Allofthempacedonabreastofhim，andhecouldperceiveinthegloomthattheirfaceswereturnedinquiringlyuponhisform。Thenawhisperpassedfromonetoanotherofthem;thenChapman，whowastheboldest，droppedimmediatelybehindhisheels，andfollowedthereforsomedistance，takingcloseobservationsofhisoutline，afterwhichthemengroupedagainandwhispered。ThinkingitbesttoletthempassonSwithinslackenedhispace，andtheywentaheadofhim，apparentlywithoutmuchreluctance。

Therewasnodoubtthattheyhadbeenimpressedbytheclotheshewore;andhavingnowishtoprovokesimilarcommentsfromhisgrandmotherandHannah，Swithintooktheprecaution，onarrivingatWellandBottom，toenterthehomesteadbytheouthouse。Herehedepositedthecapandcoatinsecurehiding，afterwardsgoingroundtothefrontandopeningthedoorintheusualway。

IntheentryhemetHannah，whosaid——

’Onlytohearwhathavebeenseedto—night，Mr。Swithin！Thework—

folkhavedroppedintotellus！’

Inthekitchenwerethemenwhohadoutstrippedhimontheroad。

Theircountenances，insteadofwearingtheusualknottyirregularities，hadasmoothed—outexpressionofblankconcern。

Swithin’sentrancewasunobtrusiveandquiet，asifhehadmerelycomedownfromhisstudyupstairs，andtheyonlynoticedhimbyenlargingtheirgaze，soastoincludehimintheaudience。

’Wewasinadeeptalkatthemoment，’continuedBlore，’andNattyhadjustbroughtupthatstoryaboutoldJeremiahPaddock’scrossingtheparkonenightatoneo’clockinthemorning，andseeingSirBlounta—shuttingmyladyout—o’—doors;andwewassayingthatitseemedatruereturnthatheshouldperishinaforeignland;whenwehappenedtolookup，andtherewasSirBlounta—walkingalong。’

’Diditovertakeyou，ordidyouovertakeit？’whisperedHannahsepulchrally。

’Idon’tsay’twasIT，’returnedSammy。’GodforbidthatIshoulddraginaresurrectionwordaboutwhatperhapswasstillsolidmanhood，andhastodie！Buthe，orit，closedinuponus，as’twere。’

’Yes，closedinuponus！’saidHaymoss。

’AndIsaid"Good—night，strainger，"’addedChapman。

’Yes，"Good—night，strainger，"——thatwezyerwords，Natty。I

supportyeinit。’

’Andthenheclosedinuponusstillmore。’

’Weclosedinuponhe，rather，’saidChapman。

’Well，well;’tisthesamethinginsuchmatters！AndtheformwasSirBlount’s。Mynostrilstoldme，for——there，’asmelled。Yes，I

couldsmell’n，beingtoleeward。’

’Lord，lord，whatunwholesomescandal’sthisabouttheghostofarespectablegentleman？’saidMrs。Martin，whohadenteredfromthesitting—room。