第13章

’AndwhatdoIfindthem？’

’Yousayreprehensible。Butyoumightatleastletmeheartheproof！’

’Icandomore，sir。Icanletyouseeit！’

Therewasapause。LouisGlanvillewassohighlyinterestedthathestoodupontheseatofthearbour，andlookedthroughtheleafageoverthewall。TheBishophadproducedanarticlefromhispocket。

’Whatisit？’saidSwithin，laboriouslyscrutinizingthething。

’Why，don’tyousee？’saidtheBishop，holdingitoutbetweenhisfingerandthumbinSwithin’sface。’Abracelet，——acoralbracelet。

Ifoundthewantonobjectonthebedinyourcabin！Andofthesexoftheownertherecanbenodoubt。Morethanthat，shewasconcealedbehindthecurtains，forIsawthemmove。’InthedecisionofhisopiniontheBishopthrewthecoralbraceletdownonatombstone。

’Nobodywasinmyroom，mylord，whohadnotaperfectrighttobethere，’saidtheyoungerman。

’Well，well，that’samatterofassertion。Nowdon’tgetintoapassion，andsaytomeinyourhastewhatyou’llrepentofsayingafterwards。’

’Iamnotinapassion，Iassureyourlordship。Iamtoosadforpassion。’

’Verywell;that’sahopefulsign。NowIwouldaskyou，asonemanofanother，doyouthinkthattocometome，theBishopofthislargeandimportantdiocese，asyoucameyesterday，andpretendtobesomethingthatyouarenot，isquiteuprightconduct，leavealonereligious？Thinkitover。Wemaynevermeetagain。ButbearinmindwhatyourBishopandspiritualheadsaystoyou，andseeifyoucannotmendbeforeitistoolate。’

SwithinwasmeekasMoses，buthetriedtoappearsturdy。’Mylord，Iaminadifficultposition，’hesaidmournfully;’howdifficult，nobodybutmyselfcantell。Icannotexplain;thereareinsuperablereasonsagainstit。ButwillyoutakemywordofassurancethatI

amnotsobadasIseem？SomedayIwillproveit。TillthenI

onlyaskyoutosuspendyourjudgmentonme。’

TheBishopshookhisheadincredulouslyandwenttowardsthevicarage，asifhehadlosthishearing。Swithinfollowedhimwithhiseyes，andLouisfollowedthedirectionofSwithin’s。BeforetheBishophadreachedthevicarageentranceLadyConstantinecrossedinfrontofhim。Shehadabasketonherarm，andwas，infact，goingtovisitsomeofthepoorercottages。WhocouldbelievetheBishopnowtobethesamemanthathehadbeenamomentbefore？Thedarknesslefthisfaceasifhehadcomeoutofacave;hislookwasallsweetness，andshine，andgaiety，asheagaingreetedViviette。

XXVIII

TheconversationwhicharosebetweentheBishopandLadyConstantinewasofthatlivelyandreproductivekindwhichcannotbeendedduringanyreasonablehaltoftwopeoplegoinginoppositedirections。Heturned，andwalkedwithheralongthelaurel—

screenedlanethatborderedthechurchyard，tilltheirvoicesdiedawayinthedistance。Swithinthenarousedhimselffromhisthoughtfulregardofthem，andwentoutofthechurchyardbyanothergate。

Seeinghimselfnowtobeleftaloneonthescene，LouisGlanvilledescendedfromhispostofobservationinthearbour。Hecamethroughtheprivatedoorway，andontothatspotamongthegraveswheretheBishopandSt。Cleevehadconversed。OnthetombstonestilllaythecoralbraceletwhichDr。Helmsdalehadflungdownthereinhisindignation;fortheagitated，introspectivemoodintowhichSwithinhadbeenthrownhadbanishedfromhismindallthoughtofsecuringthetrinketandputtingitinhispocket。

Louispickedupthelittleredscandal—breedingthing，andwhilewalkingonwithitinhishandheobservedTabithaLarkapproachingthechurch，incompanywiththeyoungblowerwhomshehadgoneinsearchoftoinspireherorgan—practisingwithin。Louisimmediatelyputtogether，withthatrarediplomatickeennessofwhichhewasproud，thelittlescenehehadwitnessedbetweenTabithaandSwithinduringtheconfirmation，andtheBishop’ssternstatementastowherehehadfoundthebracelet。Hehadnolongeranydoubtthatitbelongedtoher。

’Poorgirl！’hesaidtohimself，andsanginanundertone——

’Traderi，dera，L’histoiren’estpasnouvelle！’

WhenshedrewnearerLouiscalledherbyname。Shesenttheboyintothechurch，andcameforward，blushingathavingbeencalledbysofineagentleman。Louisheldoutthebracelet。

’HereissomethingIhavefound，orsomebodyelsehasfound，’hesaidtoher。’Iwon’tstatewhere。Putitaway，andsaynomoreaboutit。Iwillnotmentioniteither。Nowgoonintothechurchwhereyouaregoing，andmayHeavenhavemercyonyoursoul，mydear。’

’Thankyou，sir，’saidTabitha，withsomeperplexity，yetinclinedtobepleased，andonlyrecognizinginthesituationthefactthatLadyConstantine’shumorousbrotherwasmakingherapresent。

’Youaremuchobligedtome？’

’Oyes！’

’Well，MissLark，I’vediscoveredasecret，yousee。’

’Whatmaythatbe，Mr。Glanville？’

’Thatyouareinlove。’

’Idon’tadmitit，sir。Whotoldyouso？’

’Nobody。OnlyIputtwoandtwotogether。Nowtakemyadvice。

Bewareoflovers！Theyareabadlot，andbringyoungwomentotears。’

’Somedo，Idaresay。Butsomedon’t。’

’Andyouthinkthatinyourparticularcasethelatteralternativewillholdgood？Wegenerallythinkweshallbeluckyourselves，thoughalltheworldbeforeus，inthesamesituation，havebeenotherwise。’

’Oyes，orweshoulddieoutrightofdespair。’

’Well，Idon’tthinkyouwillbeluckyinyourcase。’

’Pleasehowdoyouknowsomuch，sincemycasehasnotyetarrived？’

askedTabitha，tossingherheadalittledisdainfully，butlessthanshemighthavedoneifhehadnotobtainedacharterforhisdiscoursebygivingherthebracelet。

’Fie，Tabitha！’

’Itellyouithasnotarrived！’shesaid，withsomeanger。’Ihavenotgotalover，andeverybodyknowsIhaven’t，andit’saninsinuatingthingforyoutosayso！’

Louislaughed，thinkinghownaturalitwasthatagirlshouldsoemphaticallydenycircumstancesthatwouldnotbearcuriousinquiry。

’Why，ofcourseImeantmyself，’hesaidsoothingly。’So，then，youwillnotacceptme？’

’Ididn’tknowyoumeantyourself，’shereplied。’ButIwon’tacceptyou。AndIthinkyououghtnottojestonsuchsubjects。’

’Well，perhapsnot。However，don’tlettheBishopseeyourbracelet，andallwillbewell。Butmind，loversaredeceivers。’

Tabithalaughed，andtheyparted，thegirlenteringthechurch。Shehadbeenfeelingalmostcertainthat，havingaccidentallyfoundthebraceletsomewhere，hehadpresenteditinawhimtoherasthefirstgirlhemet。Yetnowshebegantohavemomentarydoubtswhetherhehadnotbeenlabouringunderamistake，andhadimaginedhertobetheowner。Thebraceletwasnotvaluable;itwas，infact，ameretoy，——thepairofwhichthiswasonebeingalittlepresentmadetoLadyConstantinebySwithinonthedayoftheirmarriage;andshehadnotwornthemwithsufficientfrequencyoutofdoorsforTabithatorecognizeeitheraspositivelyherladyship’s。

Butwhen，outofsightoftheblower，thegirlmomentarilytriediton，inacornerbytheorgan，itseemedtoherthattheornamentwaspossiblyLadyConstantine’s。NowthatthepinkbeadsshonebeforehereyesonherownarmsherememberedhavingseenabraceletwithjustsuchaneffectgracingthewristofLadyConstantineupononeoccasion。Atemporaryself—surrendertothesophismthatifMr。

LouisGlanvillechosetogiveawayanythingbelongingtohissister，she，Tabitha，hadarighttotakeitwithoutquestion，wassooncheckedbyaresolvetocarrythetemptingstringsofcoraltoherladyshipthatevening，andinquirethetruthaboutthem。Thisdecidedonsheslippedthebraceletintoherpocket，andplayedhervoluntarieswithalightheart。

BishopHelmsdaledidnottearhimselfawayfromWellandtillabouttwoo’clockthatafternoon，whichwasthreehourslaterthanhehadintendedtoleave。ItwaswithafeelingofreliefthatSwithin，lookingfromthetopofthetower，sawthecarriagedriveoutfromthevicarageintotheturnpikeroad，andwhirltherightreverendgentlemanagaintowardsWarborne。ThecoastbeingnowclearofhimSwithinmeditatedhowtoseeViviette，andexplainwhathadhappened。Withthisinviewhewaitedwherehewastilleveningcameon。

MeanwhileLadyConstantineandherbrotherdinedbythemselvesatWellandHouse。Theyhadnotmetsincethemorning，andassoonastheywereleftaloneLouissaid，’Youhavedoneverywellsofar;

butyoumighthavebeenalittlewarmer。’

’Donewell？’sheasked，withsurprise。

’Yes，withtheBishop。Thedifficultquestionishowtofollowupouradvantage。Howareyoutokeepyourselfinsightofhim？’

’Heavens，Louis！Youdon’tseriouslymeanthattheBishopofMelchesterhasanyfeelingsformeotherthanfriendly？’

’Viviette，thisisaffectation。YouknowhehasaswellasIdo。’

Shesighed。’Yes，’shesaid。’IownIhadasuspicionofthesamething。Whatamisfortune！’

’Amisfortune？Surelytheworldisturnedupsidedown！Youwilldrivemetodespairaboutourfutureifyouseethingssoawry。

Exertyourselftodosomething，soastomakeofthisaccidentastepping—stonetohigherthings。Thegentlemanwillgiveustheslipifwedon’tpursuethefriendshipatonce。’

’Icannothaveyoutalklikethis，’shecriedimpatiently。’IhavenomorethoughtoftheBishopthanIhaveofthePope。Iwouldmuchrathernothavehadhimheretolunchatall。Yousaiditwouldbenecessarytodoit，andanopportunity，andIthoughtitmydutytoshowsomehospitalitywhenhewascomingsonear，Mr。Torkingham’shousebeingsosmall。ButofcourseIunderstoodthattheopportunitywouldbeoneforyouingettingtoknowhim，yourprospectsbeingsoindefiniteatpresent;notoneforme。’

’Ifyoudon’tfollowupthischanceofbeingspiritualqueenofMelchester，youwillneverhaveanotherofbeinganything。Mindthis，Viviette:youarenotsoyoungasyouwere。Youaregettingontobeamiddle—agedwoman，andyourblackhairispreciselyofthesortwhichtimequicklyturnsgrey。Youmustmakeupyourmindtogrizzledbachelorsorwidowers。Youngmarriageablemenwon’tlookatyou;oriftheydojustnow，inayearortwomorethey’lldespiseyouasanantiquatedparty。’

LadyConstantineperceptiblypaled。’Youngmenwhat？’sheasked。

’Saythatagain。’

’Isaiditwasnousetothinkofyoungmen;theywon’tlookatyoumuchlonger;oriftheydo，itwillbetolookawayagainveryquickly。’

’YouimplythatifIweretomarryamanyoungerthanmyselfhewouldspeedilyacquireacontemptforme？Howmuchyoungermustamanbethanhiswife——togetthatfeelingforher？’Shewasrestingherelbowonthechairasshefaintlyspokethewords，andcoveredhereyeswithherhand。

’Anexceedinglysmallnumberofyears，’saidLouisdrily。’NowtheBishopisatleastfifteenyearsolderthanyou，andonthataccount，nolessthanonothers，isanexcellentmatch。Youwouldbeheadofthechurchinthisdiocese:whatmorecanyourequireaftertheseyearsofmiserableobscurity？Inaddition，youwouldescapethatminorthorninthefleshofbishops’wives，ofbeingonly"Mrs。"whiletheirhusbandsarepeers。’

Shewasnotlistening;hispreviousobservationstilldetainedherthoughts。

’Louis，’shesaid，’inthecaseofawomanmarryingamanmuchyoungerthanherself，doeshegettodislikeher，eveniftherehasbeenasocialadvantagetohimintheunion？’

’Yes，——notawhitless。Askanypersonofexperience。Butwhatofthat？Let’stalkofourownaffairs。YousayyouhavenothoughtoftheBishop。Andyetifhehadstayedhereanotherdayortwohewouldhaveproposedtoyoustraightoff。’

’Seriously，Louis，Icouldnotaccepthim。’

’Whynot？’

’Idon’tlovehim。’

’Oh，oh，Ilikethosewords！’criedLouis，throwinghimselfbackinhischairandlookingattheceilinginsatiricalenjoyment。’A

womanwhoattwo—and—twentymarriedforconvenience，atthirtytalksofnotmarryingwithoutlove;theruleofinverse，thatis，inwhichmorerequiresless，andlessrequiresmore。Asyouronlybrother，olderthanyourself，andmoreexperienced，IinsistthatyouencouragetheBishop。’

’Don’tquarrelwithme，Louis！’shesaidpiteously。’Wedon’tknowthathethinksanythingofme，——weonlyguess。’

’Iknowit，——andyoushallhearhowIknow。Iamofacuriousandconjecturalnature，asyouareaware。Lastnight，wheneverybodyhadgonetobed，Isteppedoutforafiveminutes’smokeonthelawn，andwalkeddowntowhereyougetnearthevicaragewindows。

WhileIwasthereinthedarkoneofthemopened，andBishopHelmsdaleleantout。Theilluminatedoblongofyourwindowshonehimfullinthefacebetweenthetrees，andpresentlyyourshadowcrossedit。Hewavedhishand，andmurmuredsometenderwords，thoughwhattheywereexactlyIcouldnothear。’

’Whatavague，imaginarystory，——asifhecouldknowmyshadow！

Besides，amanoftheBishop’sdignitywouldn’thavedonesuchathing。WhenIknewhimasayoungermanhewasnotatallromantic，andhe’snotlikelytohavegrownsonow。’

’That’sjustwhatheislikelytohavedone。Noloverissoextremeaspecimenofthespeciesasanoldlover。Come，Viviette，nomoreofthisfencing。Ihaveenteredintotheprojectheartandsoul——somuchthatIhavepostponedmydeparturetillthematteriswellunderway。’

’Louis——mydearLouis——youwillbringmeintosomedisagreeableposition！’saidshe，claspingherhands。’Idoentreatyounottointerfereordoanythingrashaboutme。Thestepisimpossible。I

havesomethingtotellyousomeday。Imustliveon，andendure——’

’Everythingexceptthispenury，’repliedLouis，unmoved。’Come，I

havebegunthecampaignbyinvitingBishopHelmsdale，andI’lltaketheresponsibilityofcarryingiton。AllIaskofyouisnottomakeaninnyofyourself。Come，givemeyourpromise！’

’No，Icannot，——Idon’tknowhowto！Ionlyknowonething，——thatI

aminnohurry——’

’"Nohurry"behanged！Agree，likeagoodsister，tocharmtheBishop。’

’Imustconsider！’shereplied，withperturbedevasiveness。

ItbeingafineeveningLouiswentoutofthehousetoenjoyhiscigarintheshrubbery。Onreachinghisfavouriteseathefoundhehadlefthiscigar—casebehindhim;heimmediatelyreturnedforit。

WhenheapproachedthewindowbywhichhehademergedhesawSwithinSt。Cleevestandingthereinthedusk，talkingtoVivietteinside。

St。Cleeve’sbackwastowardsLouis，but，whetheratasignalfromherorbyaccident，hequicklyturnedandrecognizedGlanville;

whereuponraisinghishattoLadyConstantinetheyoungmanpassedalongtheterrace—walkandoutbythechurchyarddoor。

Louisrejoinedhissister。’Ididn’tknowyouallowedyourlawntobeapublicthoroughfarefortheparish，’hesaid。

’Iamnotexclusive，especiallysinceIhavebeensopoor，’repliedshe。

’Thendoyouleteverybodypassthisway，oronlythatillustriousyouthbecauseheissogood—looking？’

’Ihavenostrictruleinthecase。Mr。St。Cleeveisanacquaintanceofmine，andhecancertainlycomehereifhechooses。’

Hercolourrosesomewhat，andshespokewarmly。

Louiswastoocautiousabirdtorevealtoherwhathadsuddenlydawneduponhismind——thathissister，incommonwiththe（tohisthinking）unhappyTabithaLark，hadbeenfoolishenoughtogetinterestedinthisphenomenonoftheparish，thisscientificAdonis。

Butheresolvedtocureatoncehertenderfeeling，ifitexisted，bylettingoutasecretwhichwouldinflameherdignityagainsttheweakness。

’Agood—lookingyoungman，’hesaid，withhiseyeswhereSwithinhadvanished。’Butnotsogoodashelooks。Infactaregularyoungsinner。’

’Whatdoyoumean？’

’Oh，onlyalittlefeatureIdiscoveredinSt。Cleeve’shistory。

ButIsupposehehasarighttosowhiswildoatsaswellasotheryoungmen。’

’Tellmewhatyoualludeto，——do，Louis。’

’ItishardlyfitthatIshould。However，thecaseisamusingenough。Iwassittinginthearbourto—day，andwasanunwillinglistenertotheoddestinterviewIeverheardof。OurfriendtheBishopdiscovered，whenwevisitedtheobservatorylastnight，thatourastronomerwasnotaloneinhisseclusion。Aladysharedhisromanticcabinwithhim;andfindingthis，theBishopnaturallyenoughfeltthattheordinanceofconfirmationhadbeenprofaned。

SohislordshipsentforMasterSwithinthismorning，andmeetinghiminthechurchyardreadhimsuchanexcommunicatinglectureasI

warranthewon’tforgetinhislifetime。Ha—ha—ha！’Twasverygood，——very。’

Hewatchedherfacenarrowlywhilehespokewithsuchseemingcarelessness。Insteadoftheagitationofjealousythathehadexpectedtobearousedbythishintofanotherwomaninthecase，therewasacuriousexpression，morelikeembarrassmentthananythingelsewhichmighthavebeenfairlyattributedtothesubject。’CanitbethatIammistaken？’heaskedhimself。

ThepossibilitythathemightbemistakenrestoredLouistogood—

humour，andlightshavingbeenbroughthesatwithhissisterforsometime，talkingwithpurposeofSwithin’slowrankononeside，andthesordidstrugglesthatmightbeinstoreforhim。St。Cleevebeingintheunhappycaseofderivinghisexistencethroughtwochannelsofsociety，itresultedthatheseemedtobelongtoeitherthisorthataccordingtothealtitudeofthebeholder。LouisthrewthelightentirelyonSwithin’sagriculturalside，bringingoutoldMrs。Martinandherconnexionsandherwaysoflifewithluminousdistinctness，tillLadyConstantinebecamegreatlydepressed。She，inherhopefulness，hadalmostforgotten，latterly，thatthebucolicelement，soincisivelyrepresentedbyMessrs。HezzyBiles，HaymossFry，SammyBlore，andtherestenteredintohisconditionatall;toherhehadbeenthesonofhisacademicfatheralone。

ButshewouldnotrevealthedepressiontowhichshehadbeensubjectedbythisresuscitationofthehomelyhalfofpoorSwithin，presentlyputtinganendtothesubjectbywalkinghitherandthitherabouttheroom。

’Whathaveyoulost？’saidLouis，observinghermovements。

’Nothingofconsequence，——abracelet。’

’Coral？’heinquiredcalmly。

’Yes。Howdidyouknowitwascoral？Youhaveneverseenit，haveyou？’

Hewasabouttomakeanswer;buttheamazedenlightenmentwhichherannouncementhadproducedinhimthroughknowingwheretheBishophadfoundsuchanarticle，ledhimtoreconsiderhimself。Then，likeanastuteman，bynomeanssureofthedimensionsoftheintriguehemightbeuncovering，hesaidcarelessly，’Ifoundsuchaoneinthechurchyardto—day。ButIthoughtitappearedtobeofnogreatrarity，andIgaveittooneofthevillagegirlswhowaspassingby。’

’Didshetakeit？Whowasshe？’saidtheunsuspectingViviette。

’Really，Idon’tremember。Isupposeitisofnoconsequence？’

’Ono;itsvalueisnothing，comparatively。Itwasonlyoneofapairsuchasyounggirlswear。’LadyConstantinecouldnotaddthat，inspiteofthis，sheherselfvalueditasbeingSwithin’spresent，andthebesthecouldafford。

Panic—struckbyhisruminations，althoughrevealingnothingbyhismanner，Louissoonafterwentuptohisroom，professedlytowriteletters。Hegaveventtoalowwhistlewhenhewasoutofhearing。

Heofcourserememberedperfectlywelltowhomhehadgiventhecorals，andresolvedtoseekoutTabithathenextmorningtoascertainwhethershecouldpossiblyhaveownedsuchatrinketaswellashissister，——whichatpresentheverygreatlydoubted，thoughferventlyhopingthatshemight。

XXIX

TheeffectuponSwithinoftheinterviewwiththeBishophadbeenaverymarkedone。Hefeltthathehadgoodgroundforresentingthatdignitary’stoneinhaughtilyassumingthatallmustbesinfulwhichatthefirstblushappearedtobeso，andinnarrowlyrefusingayoungmanthebenefitofasingledoubt。Swithin’sassurancethathewouldbeabletoexplainallsomedayhadbeentakenincontemptuousincredulity。

’HemaybeasvirtuousashisprototypeTimothy;buthe’sanopinionatedoldfogeyallthesame，’saidSt。Cleevepetulantly。

Yet，ontheotherhand，Swithin’snaturewassofreshandingenuous，notwithstandingthatrecentaffairshadsomewhatdenaturalizedhim，thatforamanintheBishop’spositiontothinkhimimmoralwasalmostasoverwhelmingasifhehadactuallybeenso，andatmomentshecouldscarcelybearexistenceundersogrossasuspicion。WhatwashisunionwithLadyConstantineworthtohimwhen，byreasonofit，hewasthoughtareprobatebyalmosttheonlymanwhohadprofessedtotakeaninterestinhim？

Certainly，bycontrastwithhisair—builtimageofhimselfasaworthyastronomer，receivedbyalltheworld，andtheenviedhusbandofViviette，thepresentimputationwashumiliating。Thegloriouslightofthistenderandrefinedpassionseemedtohavebecomedebasedtoburlesquehuesbypureaccident，andhisaestheticnolessthanhisethictastewasoffendedbysuchananti—climax。Hewhohadsoaredamidtheremotestgrandeursofnaturehadbeentakentotaskonarudimentaryquestionofmorals，whichhadneverbeenaquestionwithhimatall。Thiswaswhattheexigenciesofanawkwardattachmenthadbroughthimto;butheblamedthecircumstances，andnotforonemomentLadyConstantine。

HavingnowsethisheartagainstalongerconcealmenthewasdisposedtothinkthatanexcellentwayofbeginningarevelationoftheirmarriagewouldbebywritingaconfidentiallettertotheBishop，detailingthewholecase。Butitwasimpossibletodothisonhisownresponsibility。HestillrecognizedtheunderstandingenteredintowithViviette，beforethemarriage，tobeasbindingasever，——thattheinitiativeindisclosingtheirunionshouldcomefromher。Yethehardlydoubtedthatshewouldtakethatinitiativewhenhetoldherofhisextraordinaryreprimandinthechurchyard。

ThiswaswhathehadcometodowhenLouissawhimstandingatthewindow。Butbeforehehadsaidhalf—a—dozenwordstoVivietteshemotionedhimtogoon，whichhemechanicallydid，erehecouldsufficientlycollecthisthoughtsonitsadvisabilityorotherwise。

Hedidnot，however，gofar。WhileLouisandhissisterwerediscussinghiminthedrawing—roomhelingeredmusinginthechurchyard，hopingthatshemightbeabletoescapeandjoinhimintheconsultationhesoearnestlydesired。

Sheatlastfoundopportunitytodothis。AssoonasLouishadlefttheroomandshuthimselfinupstairssheranoutbythewindowinthedirectionSwithinhadtaken。Whenherfootstepsbegancrunchingonthegravelhecameforwardfromthechurchyarddoor。

Theyembracedeachotherinhaste，andthen，inafewshortpantingwords，sheexplainedtohimthatherbrotherhadheardandwitnessedtheinterviewonthatspotbetweenhimselfandtheBishop，andhadtoldherthesubstanceoftheBishop’saccusation，notknowingshewasthewomaninthecabin。

’AndwhatIcannotunderstandisthis，’sheadded;’howdidtheBishopdiscoverthatthepersonbehindthebed—curtainswasawomanandnotaman？’

SwithinexplainedthattheBishophadfoundthebraceletonthebed，andhadbroughtittohiminthechurchyard。

’OSwithin，whatdoyousay？Foundthecoralbracelet？Whatdidyoudowithit？’

Swithinclappedhishandtohispocket。

’Dearme！Irecollect——IleftitwhereitlayonReubenHeath’stombstone。’

’Oh，mydear，dearSwithin！’shecriedmiserably。’Youhavecompromisedmebyyourforgetfulness。Ihaveclaimedthearticleasmine。MybrotherdidnottellmethattheBishopbroughtitfromthecabin。WhatcanI，canIdo，thatneithertheBishopnormybrothermayconclude_I_wasthewomanthere？’

’Butifweannounceourmarriage——’

’Evenasyourwife，thepositionwastooundignified——tooIdon’tknowwhat——formeevertoadmitthatIwasthere！Rightorwrong，I

mustdeclarethebraceletwasnotmine。Suchanescapade——why，itwouldmakemeridiculousinthecounty;andanythingratherthanthat！’

’Iwasinhopethatyouwouldagreetoletourmarriagebeknown，’

saidSwithin，withsomedisappointment。’Ithoughtthatthesecircumstanceswouldmakethereasonfordoingsodoublystrong。’

’Yes。Butthereare，alas，reasonsagainstitstillstronger！Letmehavemyway。’

’Certainly，dearest。Ipromisedthatbeforeyouagreedtobemine。

Myreputation——whatisit！PerhapsIshallbedeadandforgottenbeforethenexttransitofVenus！’

Shesoothedhimtenderly，butcouldnottellhimwhyshefeltthereasonsagainstanyannouncementasyettobestrongerthanthoseinfavourofit。Howcouldshe，whenherfeelinghadbeencautiouslyfedanddevelopedbyherbrotherLouis’sunvarnishedexhibitionofSwithin’smaterialpositionintheeyesoftheworld？——thatofayoungman，thescionofafamilyoffarmersrecentlyhertenants，livingatthehomesteadwithhisgrandmother，Mrs。Martin。