第11章

’Now，wait，ma’am。Idon’tsay’twerealowsmell，mindye。’Twereahighsmell，asortofgameyflaviour，callingtomindvenisonandhare，justasyou’dexpectofagreatsquire，——notlikeapoorman’s’natomy，atall;andthatwaswhatstrengthenedmyfaiththat’twasSirBlount。’

（’Theskinsthatoldcoatwasmadeof，’ruminatedSwithin。）

’Well，well;I’venotheldoutagainstthefigureo’starvationthesefive—and—twentyyear，onnineshillingsaweek，tobeafeardofawalkingvapour，sweetorsavoury，’saidHezzy。’Sohere’shome—along。’

’Bideabitlonger，andI’mgoingtoo，’continuedFry。’Well，whenIfound’twasSirBlountmyspetdriedupwithinmymouth;forneitherhedgenorbushwerethereforrefugeagainstanyfoulspring’amighthavemadeatus。’

’’Twasverycurious;butwehadlikewisea—mentionedhisnamejustafore，intalkingoftheconfirmationthat’sshortlycomingon，’

saidHezzy。

’Istheresoontobeaconfirmation？’

’Yes。Inthisparish——thefirsttimeinWellandchurchfortwentyyears。AsIsay，Ihadtold’emthathewasconfirmedthesameyearthatIwentuptohaveitdone，asIhaveverygoodcausetomind。

Whenwewenttobeexamined，thepa’sonsaidtome，"Rehearsethearticlesofthybelief。"Mr。Blount（ashewasthen）wasnighestme，andhewhispered，"Womenandwine。""Womenandwine，"saysItothepa’son:andforthatIwassentbacktillnextconfirmation，SirBlountneverowningthathewastherascal。’

’Confirmationwasasightdifferentatthattime，’musedBiles。

’TheBishopsdidn’tlayitonsostrongthenastheydonow。Now—a—

days，yerBishopgiesbothhandstoeveryJack—ragandTom—strawthatdropsthekneeaforehim;but’twassixchapstooneblessingwhenwewasboys。TheBishopo’thattimewouldstretchouthispalmsandrunhisfingersoverourrowofcrownsasoff—handasabankgentlemantellingmoney。ThegreatlordsoftheChurchinthemdayswasn’tparticulartoasoulortwomoreorless;and，formypart，Ithinklivingwaseasierfor’t。’

’ThenewBishop，Ihear，isabachelor—man;orawidowgentlemanisit？’askedMrs。Martin。

’Bachelor，Ibelieve，ma’am。Mr。SanCleeve，makingsobold，you’veneverfacedhimyet，Ithink？’

Mrs。Martinshookherhead。

’No;itwasapieceofneglect。Ihardlyknowhowithappened，’shesaid。

’Iamgoingto，thistime，’saidSwithin，andturnedthechattoothermatters。

XXIII

SwithincouldnotsleepthatnightforthinkingofhisViviette。

Nothingtoldsosignificantlyoftheconductofherfirsthusbandtowardsthepoorladyastheabidingdreadofhimwhichwasrevealedinherbyanysuddenrevivalofhisimageormemory。ButforthatconsiderationheralmostchildliketerroratSwithin’sinadvertentdisguisewouldhavebeenludicrous。

Hewaitedanxiouslythroughseveralfollowingdaysforanopportunityofseeingher，butnonewasafforded。Herbrother’spresenceinthehousesufficientlyaccountedforthis。Atlengthheventuredtowriteanote，requestinghertosignaltohiminawayshehaddoneonceortwicebefore，——bypullingdownablindinaparticularwindowofthehouse，oneofthefewvisiblefromthetopoftheRings—Hillcolumn;thistobedoneonanyeveningwhenshecouldseehimafterdinnerontheterrace。

Whenhehadlevelledtheglassatthatwindowforfivesuccessivenightshebeheldtheblindinthepositionsuggested。Threehourslater，quiteinthedusk，herepairedtotheplaceofappointment。

’Mybrotherisawaythisevening，’sheexplained，’andthat’swhyI

cancomeout。Heisonlygoneforafewhours，norishelikelytogoforlongerjustyet。Hekeepshimselfagooddealinmycompany，whichhasmadeitunsafeformetoventurenearyou。’

’Hasheanysuspicion？’

’None，apparently。Butheratherdepressesme。’

’How，Viviette？’Swithinfeared，fromhermanner，thatthiswassomethingserious。

’Iwouldrathernottell。’

’But——Well，nevermind。’

’Yes，Swithin，Iwilltellyou。Thereshouldbenosecretsbetweenus。Heurgesuponmethenecessityofmarrying，dayafterday。’

’Formoneyandposition，ofcourse。’

’Yes。ButItakenonotice。Ilethimgoon。’

’Really，thisissad！’saidtheyoungman。’Imustworkharderthanever，oryouwillneverbeabletoownme。’

’Oyes，ingoodtime！’shecheeringlyreplied。

’Ishallbeverygladtohaveyoualwaysnearme。IfeltthegloomofourpositionkeenlywhenIwasobligedtodisappearthatnight，withoutassuringyouitwasonlyIwhostoodthere。WhywereyousofrightenedatthoseoldclothesIborrowed？’

’Don’task，——don’task！’shesaid，buryingherfaceonhisshoulder。

’Idon’twanttospeakofthat。TherewassomethingsoghastlyandsouncannyinyourputtingonsuchgarmentsthatIwishyouhadbeenmorethoughtful，andhadleftthemalone。’

Heassuredherthathedidnotstoptoconsiderwhosetheywere。

’Bytheway，theymustbesentback，’hesaid。

’No;Ineverwishtoseethemagain！Icannothelpfeelingthatyourputtingthemonwasominous。’

’Nothingisominousinserenephilosophy，’hesaid，kissingher。

’Thingsareeithercauses，ortheyarenotcauses。Whencanyouseemeagain？’

Insuchwisethehourpassedaway。Theeveningwastypicalofotherswhichfolloweditatirregularintervalsthroughthewinter。

Andduringtheintensermonthsoftheseasonfrequentfallsofsnowlengthened，evenmorethanotherdifficultieshaddone，theperiodsofisolationbetweenthepair。Swithinadheredwithallthemorestrictnesstotheletterofhispromisenottointrudeintothehouse，fromhissenseofherpowerlessnesstocompelhimtokeepoutshouldhechoosetorebel。Astudentofthegreatestforcesinnature，hehad，likemanyothersofhissort，nopersonalforcetospeakofinasocialpointofview，mainlybecausehetooknointerestinhumanranksandformulas;andhencehewasasdocileasachildinherhandswherevermattersofthatkindwereconcerned。

HerbrotherwinteredatWelland;butwhetherbecausehisexperienceoftropicclimeshadunfittedhimforthebrumalrigoursofBritain，orforsomeotherreason，heseldomshowedhimselfoutofdoors，andSwithincaughtbutpassingglimpsesofhim。NowandthenViviette’simpulsiveaffectionwouldovercomehersenseofrisk，andshewouldpressSwithintocallonheratallcosts。Thishewouldbynomeansdo。Itwasobvioustohismorelogicalmindthatthesecrecytowhichtheyhadboundthemselvesmustbekeptinitsfulness，ormightaswellbeabandonedaltogether。

Hewasnowsadlyexercisedonthesubjectofhisuncle’swill。

Therehadasyetbeennopressingreasonsforafullandcandidreplytothesolicitorwhohadcommunicatedwithhim，owingtothefactthatthepaymentswerenottobegintillSwithinwasone—and—

twenty;buttimewasgoingon，andsomethingdefinitewouldhavetobedonesoon。Toowntohismarriageandconsequentdisqualificationforthebequestwaseasyinitself;butitinvolvedtellingatleastonemanwhatbothVivietteandhimselfhadgreatreluctanceintellinganybody。MoreoverhewishedViviettetoknownothingofhislossinmakingherhiswife。Allhecouldthinkofdoingforthepresentwastowriteapostponinglettertohisuncle’slawyer，andwaitevents。

Theonecomfortofthisdrearywinter—timewashisperceptionofareturningabilitytoworkwiththeregularityandmuchofthespiritofearlierdays。

OnebrightnightinApriltherewasaneclipseofthemoon，andMr。

Torkingham，byarrangement，broughttotheobservatoryseverallabouringmenandboys，towhomhehadpromisedasightofthephenomenonthroughthetelescope。Thecomingconfirmation，fixedforMay，wasagaintalkedof;andSt。CleevelearntfromtheparsonthattheBishophadarrangedtostaythenightatthevicarage，andwastobeinvitedtoagrandluncheonatWellandHouseimmediatelyaftertheordinance。

Thisseemedlikeagoingbackintolifeagainasregardedthemistressofthathouse;andSt。Cleevewasalittlesurprisedthat，inhiscommunicationswithViviette，shehadmentionednosuchprobability。Thenextdayhewalkedroundthemansion，wonderinghowinitspresentstateanyentertainmentcouldbegiventherein。

Hefoundthattheshuttershadbeenopened，whichhadrestoredanunexpectedlivelinesstotheaspectofthewindows。Twomenwereputtingachimney—potononeofthechimney—stacks，andtwomorewerescrapinggreenmouldfromthefrontwall。Hemadenoinquiriesonthatoccasion。Threedayslaterhestrolledthitherwardagain。

Nowagreatcleaningofwindow—paneswasgoingon，HezzyBilesandSammyBlorebeingtheoperators，forwhichpurposetheirservicesmusthavebeenborrowedfromtheneighbouringfarmer。Hezzydashedwaterattheglasswithaforcethatthreatenedtobreakitin，thebroadfaceofSammybeingdiscernibleinside，smilingattheonset。

Inadditiontothese，AnthonyGreenandanotherwereweedingthegravelwalks，andputtingfreshplantsintotheflower—beds。

Neitherofthesereasonableoperationswasagreatundertaking，singlylookedat;butthelifeViviettehadlatterlyledandthemoodinwhichshehadhithertoregardedthepremises，rendereditsomewhatsignificant。Swithin，however，wasrathercuriousthanconcernedattheproceedings，andreturnedtohistowerwithfeelingsofinterestnotentirelyconfinedtotheworldsoverhead。

LadyConstantinemayormaynothaveseenhimfromthehouse;butthesameevening，whichwasfineanddry，whilehewasoccupyinghimselfintheobservatorywithcleaningtheeye—piecesoftheequatorial，skull—caponhead，observing—jacketon，andinotherwaysprimedforsweeping，thecustomarystealthysteponthewindingstaircasebroughtherforminduecourseintotheraysofthebull’s—eyelantern。Themeetingwasallthemorepleasanttohimfrombeingunexpected，andheatoncelitupalargerlampinhonouroftheoccasion。

’Itisbutahastyvisit，’shesaidwhen，afterputtinguphermouthtobekissed，shehadseatedherselfinthelowchairusedforobservations，pantingalittlewiththelabourofascent。’ButI

hopetobeabletocomemorefreelysoon。Mybrotherisstilllivingonwithme。Yes，heisgoingtostayuntiltheconfirmationisover。Aftertheconfirmationhewillcertainlyleave。Sogooditisofyou，dear，topleasemebyagreeingtotheceremony。TheBishop，youknow，isgoingtolunchwithus。Itisawonderhehaspromisedtocome，forheisamanaversetosociety，andmostlykeepsentirelywiththeclergyontheseconfirmationtours，orcircuits，orwhatevertheycallthem。ButMr。Torkingham’shouseissoverysmall，andmineissocloseathand，thatthisarrangementtorelievehimofthefussofonemeal，atleast，naturallysuggesteditself;andtheBishophasfalleninwithitveryreadily。

Howareyougettingonwithyourobservations？Haveyounotwantedmedreadfully，towritedownnotes？’

’Well，Ihavebeenobligedtodowithoutyou，whetherorno。Seehere，——howmuchIhavedone。’Andheshowedherabookruledincolumns，headed’Object，’’RightAscension，’’Declination，’

’Features，’’Remarks，’andsoon。

Shelookedoverthisandotherthings，buthermindspeedilywingeditswaybacktotheconfirmation。’Itissonewtome，’shesaid，’tohavepersonscomingtothehouse，thatIfeelratheranxious。I

hopetheluncheonwillbeasuccess。’

’YouknowtheBishop？’saidSwithin。

’Ihavenotseenhimformanyyears。IknewhimwhenIwasquiteagirl，andheheldthelittlelivingofPuddle—sub—Mixen，nearus;

butafterthattime，andeversinceIhavelivedhere，Ihaveseennothingofhim。Therehasbeennoconfirmationinthisvillage，theysay，fortwentyyears。TheotherbishopusedtomaketheyoungmenandwomengotoWarborne;hewouldn’ttakethetroubletocometosuchanout—of—the—wayparishasours。’

’ThiscleaningandpreparationthatIobservegoingonmustberatherataxuponyou？’

’MybrotherLouisseestoit，and，whatismore，bearstheexpense。’

’Yourbrother？’saidSwithin，withsurprise。

’Well，heinsistedondoingso，’shereplied，inahesitating，despondenttone。’Hehasbeenactiveinthewholematter，andwasthefirsttosuggesttheinvitation。Ishouldnothavethoughtofit。’

’Well，Iwillholdalooftillitisallover。’

’Thanks，dearest，foryourconsiderateness。Iwishitwasnotstilladvisable！ButIshallseeyouontheday，andwatchmyownphilosopherallthroughtheservicefromthecornerofmypew！……

Ihopeyouarewellpreparedfortherite，Swithin？’sheadded，turningtenderlytohim。’Itwouldperhapsbeadvisableforyoutogiveupthisastronomytilltheconfirmationisover，inordertodevoteyourattentionexclusivelytothatmoreseriousmatter。’

’Moreserious！Well，IwilldothebestIcan。Iamsorrytoseethatyouarelessinterestedinastronomythanyouusedtobe，Viviette。’

’No;itisonlythatthesepreparationsfortheBishopunsettlemymindfromstudy。Nowputonyourothercoatandhat，andcomewithmealittleway。’

XXIV

Themorningoftheconfirmationwascome。Itwasmid—Maytime，bringingwithitweathernot，perhaps，quitesobloomingasthatassumedtobenaturaltothemonthbythejoyouspoetsofthreehundredyearsago;butaverytolerable，well—wearingMay，thattheaveragerusticwouldwillinglyhavecompoundedforinlieuofMaysoccasionallyfairer，butusuallymorefoul。

AmongthelargershrubsandflowerswhichcomposedtheoutworksoftheWellandgardens，thelilac，thelaburnum，andtheguelder—rosehungouttheirrespectivecoloursofpurple，yellow，andwhite;

whilstwithinthese，beltedroundfromeverydisturbinggale，rosethecolumbine，thepeony，thelarkspur，andtheSolomon’sseal。Theanimatethingsthatmovedamidthissceneofcolourwereploddingbees，gaddingbutterflies，andnumeroussaunteringyoungfemininecandidatesfortheimpendingconfirmation，who，havinggailybedeckedthemselvesfortheceremony，wereenjoyingtheirownappearancebywalkingaboutintwosandthreestillitwastimetostart。

SwithinSt。Cleeve，whosepreparationsweresomewhatsimplerthanthoseofthevillagebelles，waitedtillhisgrandmotherandHannahhadsetout，andthen，lockingthedoor，followedtowardsthedistantchurch。OnreachingthechurchyardgatehemetMr。

Torkingham，whoshookhandswithhiminthemannerofamanwithseveralironsinthefire，andtellingSwithinwheretosit，disappearedtohuntupsomecandidateswhohadnotyetmadethemselvesvisible。

CastinghiseyesroundforViviette，andseeingnothingofher，Swithinwentontothechurchporch，andlookedin。Fromthenorthsideofthenavesmiledahostofgirls，gailyuniformindress，age，andatemporaryrepressionoftheirnaturaltendencyto’skiplikeahareoverthemeshesofgoodcounsel。’Theirwhitemuslindresses，theirroundwhitecaps，frombeneathwhosebordershair—

knotsandcurlsofvariousshadesofbrownescapedupontheirlowshoulders，asifagainsttheirwill，lightedupthedarkpewsandgreystone—worktoanunwontedwarmthandlife。Onthesouthsideweretheyoungmenandboys，——heavy，angular，andmassive，asindeedwasrathernecessary，consideringwhattheywouldhavetobearatthehandsofwindandweatherbeforetheyreturnedtothatmouldynaveforthelasttime。

Overtheheadsofallthesehecouldseeintothechanceltothesquarepewonthenorthside，whichwasattachedtoWellandHouse。

TherehediscernedLadyConstantinealreadyarrived，herbrotherLouissittingbyherside。

Swithinenteredandseatedhimselfattheendofabench，andshe，whohadbeenonthewatch，atonceshowedbysubtlesignsherconsciousnessofthepresenceoftheyoungmanwhohadreversedtheordainedsequenceoftheChurchservicesonheraccount。Sheappearedinblackattire，thoughnotstrictlyinmourning，atouchofredinherbonnetsettingofftherichnessofhercomplexionwithoutmakinghergay。Handsomestwomaninthechurchshedecidedlywas;andyetadisinterestedspectatorwhohadknownallthecircumstanceswouldprobablyhavefeltthat，thefutureconsidered，Swithin’smorenaturalmatewouldhavebeenoneofthemuslin—cladmaidenswhoweretobepresentedtotheBishopwithhimthatday。

WhentheBishophadarrivedandgoneintothechancel，andblownhisnose，thecongregationweresufficientlyimpressedbyhispresencetoleaveofflookingatoneanother。

TheRightReverendCuthbertHelmsdale，D。D。，ninety—fourthoccupantoftheepiscopalthroneofthediocese，revealedhimselftobeapersonageofdarkcomplexion，whosedarknesswasthrownstillfurtherintoprominencebythelawnprotuberancesthatnowroseuponhistwoshouldersliketheEasternandWesternhemispheres。Instatureheseemedtobetallandimposing，butsomethingofthisaspectmayhavebeenderivedfromhisrobes。

Theservicewas，asusual，ofalengthwhichseverelytriedthetarryingpowersoftheyoungpeopleassembled;anditwasnottilltheyouthofalltheotherparisheshadgoneupthattheturncamefortheWellandbevy。Swithinandsomeolderoneswerenearlythelast。When，attheheelsofMr。Torkingham，hepassedLadyConstantine’spew，heliftedhiseyesfromtheredliningofthatgentleman’shoodsufficientlyhightocatchhers。Shewasabstracted，tearful，regardinghimwithalltheraptminglingofreligion，love，fervour，andhopewhichsuchwomencanfeelatsuchtimes，andwhichmenknownothingof。HowfervidlyshewatchedtheBishopplacehishandonherbelovedyouth’shead;howshesawthegreatepiscopalringglisteninginthesunamongSwithin’sbrowncurls;howshewaitedtohearifDr。Helmsdaleutteredtheform’thisthychild’whichheusedfortheyoungerones，or’thisthyservant’whichheusedforthoseolder;andhow，whenhesaid，’thisthyCHILD，’shefeltaprickofconscience，likeapersonwhohadentrappedaninnocentyouthintomarriageforherowngratification，tillsherememberedthatshehadraisedhissocialpositionthereby，——allthiscouldonlyhavebeentoldinitsentiretybyherself。

AsforSwithin，hefeltashamedofhisownutterlackofthehighenthusiasmwhichbeamedsoeloquentlyfromhereyes。Whenhepassedheragain，onthereturnjourneyfromtheBishoptohisseat，herfacewaswarmwithablushwhichherbrothermighthaveobservedhadheregardedher。

Whetherhehadobserveditornot，assoonasSt。CleevehadsathimselfdownagainLouisGlanvilleturnedandlookedhardattheyoungastronomer。ThiswasthefirsttimethatSt。CleeveandViviette’sbrotherhadbeenfacetofaceinadistinctlight，theirfirstmeetinghavingoccurredintheduskofarailway—station。

Swithinwasnotinthehabitofnoticingpeople’sfeatures;hescarcelyeverobservedanydetailofphysiognomyinhisfriends，ageneralizationfromtheirwholeaspectforminghisideaofthem;andhenowonlynotedayoungmanofperhapsthirty，whololledagooddeal，andinwhosesmalldarkeyesseemedtobeconcentratedtheactivitythattherestofhisframedecidedlylacked。Thisgentleman’seyeswerehenceforward，totheendoftheservice，continuallyfixeduponSwithin;butasthiswastheirnaturaldirection，fromthepositionofhisseat，therewasnogreatstrangenessinthecircumstance。

SwithinwantedtosaytoViviette，’NowIhopeyouarepleased;I

haveconformedtoyourideasofmyduty，leavingmyfitnessoutofconsideration;’butashecouldonlyseeherbonnetandforeheaditwasnotpossibleeventolooktheintelligence。Heturnedtohislefthand，wheretheorganstood，withMissTabithaLarkseatedbehindit。

Itbeingnowsermon—timetheyouthfulblowerhadfallenasleepoverthehandleofhisbellows，andTabithapulledoutherhandkerchiefintendingtoflaphimawakewithit。Withthehandkerchieftumbledoutawholefamilyofunexpectedarticles:asilverthimble;aphotograph;alittlepurse;ascent—bottle;someloosehalfpence;

ninegreengooseberries;akey。TheyrolledtoSwithin’sfeet，and，passivelyobeyinghisfirstinstinct，hepickedupasmanyofthearticlesashecouldfind，andhandedthemtoheramidthesmilesoftheneighbours。

Tabithawashalf—deadwithhumiliationatsuchanevent，happeningundertheveryeyesoftheBishoponthisgloriousoccasion;sheturnedpaleasasheet，andcouldhardlykeepherseat。Fearingshemightfaint，Swithin，whohadgenuinelysympathized，bentoverandwhisperedencouragingly，’Don’tmindit，Tabitha。ShallItakeyououtintotheair？’Shedeclinedhisoffer，andpresentlythesermoncametoanend。

SwithinlingeredbehindtherestofthecongregationsufficientlylongtoseeLadyConstantine，accompaniedbyherbrother，theBishop，theBishop’schaplain，Mr。Torkingham，andseveralotherclergyandladies，entertothegrandluncheonbythedoorwhichadmittedfromthechurchyardtothelawnofWellandHouse;thewholegrouptalkingwithavivacityallthemoreintense，asitseemed，fromtherecenttwohours’enforcedrepressionoftheirsocialqualitieswithintheadjoiningbuilding。

Theyoungmanstoodtillhewasleftquitealoneinthechurchyard，andthenwentslowlyhomewardoverthehill，perhapsatrifledepressedattheimpossibilityofbeingnearVivietteinthisheronedayofgaiety，andjoiningintheconversationofthosewhosurroundedher。

Notthathefeltmuchjealousyofhersituation，ashiswife，incomparisonwithhisown。Hehadsoclearlyunderstoodfromthebeginningthat，intheeventofmarriage，theiroutwardlivesweretorunonasbefore，thattorebelnowwouldhavebeenunmanlyinhimselfandcrueltoher，byaddingtoembarrassmentsthatweregreatenoughalready。Hismomentarydoubtwasofhisownstrengthtoachievesufficientlyhighthingstorenderhim，inrelationtoher，otherthanapatronizedyoungfavourite，whomshehadmarriedatanimmensesacrificeofposition。Now，attwenty，hewasdoomedtoisolationevenfromawife;coulditbethatat，saythirty，hewouldbewelcomedeverywhere？

Butwithmotionthroughthesunandairhismoodassumedalightercomplexion，andonreachinghomeherememberedwithinterestthatVenuswasinafavourableaspectforobservationthatafternoon。

XXV

MeanwhiletheinteriorofWellandHousewasrattlingwiththeprogressoftheecclesiasticalluncheon。

TheBishop，whosatatLadyConstantine’sside，seemedenchantedwithhercompany，andfromthebeginningsheengrossedhisattentionalmostentirely。ThetruthwasthatthecircumstanceofhernothavingherwholesoulcentredonthesuccessoftherepastandthepleasureofBishopHelmsdale，impartedtoher，inagreatmeasure，themoodtoensureboth。HerbrotherLouisitwaswhohadlaidouttheplanofentertainingtheBishop，towhichshehadassentedbutindifferently。Shewassecretlyboundtoanother，onwhosecareershehadstakedallherhappiness。Havingthusotherinterestssheevincedto—daytheeaseofonewhohazardsnothing，andtherewasnosignofthatpreoccupationwithhousewifelycontingencieswhichsooftenmakesthehostesshardlyrecognizableasthecharmingwomanwhogracedafriend’shomethedaybefore。InmarryingSwithinLadyConstantinehadplayedhercard，——recklessly，impulsively，ruinously，perhaps;butshehadplayedit;itcouldnotbewithdrawn;andshetookthismorning’sluncheonasanepisodethatcouldresultinnothingtoherbeyondtheday’sentertainment。

Hence，bythatpowerofindirectnesstoaccomplishinanhourwhatstrenuousaimingwillnoteffectinalife—time，shefascinatedtheBishoptoanunprecedenteddegree。Abachelor，herejoicedinthecommandingperiodoflifethatstretchesbetweenthetimeofwaningimpulseandthetimeofincipientdotage，whenawomancanreachthemaleheartneitherbyawakeningayoungman’spassionnoranoldman’sinfatuation。Hemustbemadetoadmire，orhecanbemadetodonothing。UnintentionallythatishowVivietteoperatedonherguest。

LadyConstantine，toexternalview，wasinapositiontodesiremanythings，andofasorttodesirethem。Shewasobviously，bynature，impulsivetoindiscretion。Butinsteadofexhibitingactivitiestocorrespond，recentlygratifiedaffectionlenttohermannerjustnowasweetserenity，atrulyChristiancontentment，whichitpuzzledthelearnedBishopexceedinglytofindinawarmyoungwidow，andincreasedhisinterestinhereverymoment。Thusmattersstoodwhentheconversationveeredroundtothemorning’sconfirmation。

’ThatwasasingularlyengagingyoungmanwhocameupamongMr。

Torkingham’scandidates，’saidtheBishoptohersomewhatabruptly。

Butabruptnessdoesnotcatchawomanwithoutherwit。’Whichone？’

shesaidinnocently。

’Thatyouthwiththe"corn—coloured"hair，asapoetofthenewschoolwouldcallit，whosatjustatthesideoftheorgan。Doyouknowwhoheis？’

InansweringVivietteshowedalittlenervousness，forthefirsttimethatday。

’Oyes。Heisthesonofanunfortunategentlemanwhowasformerlycuratehere，——aMr。St。Cleeve。’

’Ineversawahandsomeryoungmaninmylife，’saidtheBishop。

LadyConstantineblushed。’Therewasalackofself—consciousness，too，inhismannerofpresentinghimself，whichverymuchwonme。A

Mr。St。Cleeve，doyousay？Acurate’sson？HisfathermusthavebeenSt。CleeveofAllAngels，whomIknew。Howcomeshetobestayingonhere？Whatishedoing？’

Mr。Torkingham，whokeptoneearontheBishopallthelunch—time，findingthatLadyConstantinewasnotreadywithananswer，hastenedtoreply:’Yourlordshipisright。HisfatherwasanAllAngels’

man。Theyouthisrathertobepitied。’

’Hewasamanoftalent，’affirmedtheBishop。’ButIquitelostsightofhim。’

’Hewascuratetothelatevicar，’resumedtheparson，’andwasmuchlikedbytheparish:but，beingerraticinhistastesandtendencies，herashlycontractedamarriagewiththedaughterofafarmer，andthenquarrelledwiththelocalgentryfornottakinguphiswife。Thisladwasanonlychild。Therewasenoughmoneytoeducatehim，andheissufficientlywellprovidedfortobeindependentoftheworldsolongasheiscontenttoliveherewithgreateconomy。Butofcoursethisgiveshimfewopportunitiesofbetteringhimself。’

’Yes，naturally，’repliedtheBishopofMelchester。’Betterhavebeenleftentirelydependentonhimself。Thesehalf—incomesdomenlittlegood，unlesstheyhappentobeeitherweaklingsorgeniuses。’

LadyConstantinewouldhavegiventheworldtosay，’Heisagenius，andthehopeofmylife;’butitwouldhavebeendecidedlyrisky，andinanothermomentwasunnecessary，forMr。Torkinghamsaid，’Thereisacertaingeniusinthisyoungman，Isometimesthink。’

’Well，hereallylooksquiteoutofthecommon，’saidtheBishop。

’Youthfulgeniusissometimesdisappointing，’observedViviette，notbelievingitintheleast。

’Yes，’saidtheBishop。’Thoughitdepends，LadyConstantine，onwhatyouunderstandbydisappointing。Itmayproducenothingvisibletotheworld’seye，andyetmaycompleteitsdevelopmentwithintoaveryperfectdegree。Objectiveachievements，thoughtheonlyoneswhicharecounted，arenottheonlyonesthatexistandhavevalue;andIforoneshouldbesorrytoassertthat，becauseamanofgeniusdiesasunknowntotheworldaswhenhewasborn，hethereforewasaninstanceofwastedmaterial。’

Objectiveachievementswere，however，thosethatLadyConstantinehadaweaknessforinthepresentcase，andsheaskedhermoreexperiencedguestifhethoughtearlydevelopmentofaspecialtalentagoodsigninyouth。

TheBishopthoughtitwellthataparticularbentshouldnotshowitselftooearly，lestdisgustshouldresult。