第14章

Tosoftenherrefusalshesaidindeclaringit，’Oneconcession，Swithin，Icertainlywillmake。Iwillseeyouoftener。Iwillcometothecabinandtowerfrequently;andwillcontrive，too，thatyoucometothehouseoccasionally。Duringthelastwinterwepassedwholeweekswithoutmeeting;don’tletusallowthattohappenagain。’

’Verywell，dearest，’saidSwithingood—humouredly。’Idon’tcaresoterriblymuchfortheoldman’sopinionofme，afterall。Forthepresent，then，letthingsbeastheyare。’

Nevertheless，theyouthfeltherrefusalmorethanheowned;buttheunequaltemperamentofSwithin’sage，sosoondepressedonhisownaccount，wasalsosoontorecoveronhers，anditwaswithalmostachild’sforgetfulnessofthepastthathetookherviewofthecase。

Whenhewasgoneshehastilyre—enteredthehouse。Herbrotherhadnotreappearedfromupstairs;butshewasinformedthatTabithaLarkwaswaitingtoseeher，ifherladyshipwouldpardonthesaidTabithaforcomingsolate。LadyConstantinemadenoobjection，andsawtheyounggirlatonce。

WhenLadyConstantineenteredthewaiting—roombehold，inTabitha’soutstretchedhandlaythecoralornamentwhichhadbeencausingViviettesomuchanxiety。

’Iguessed，onsecondthoughts，thatitwasyours，mylady，’saidTabitha，withratherafrightenedface;’andsoIhavebroughtitback。’

’Buthowdidyoucomebyit，Tabitha？’

’Mr。Glanvillegaveittome;hemusthavethoughtitwasmine。I

tookit，fancyingatthemomentthathehandedittomebecauseI

happenedtocomebyfirstafterhehadfoundit。’

LadyConstantinesawhowthesituationmightbeimprovedsoastoeffectherdeliverancefromthistroublesomelittlewebofevidence。

’Oh，youcankeepit，’shesaidbrightly。’Itwasverygoodofyoutobringitback。Butkeepitforyourveryown。TakeMr。

Glanvilleathisword，anddon’texplain。And，Tabitha，dividethestrandsintotwobracelets;thereareenoughofthemtomakeapair。’

Thenextmorning，inpursuanceofhisresolution，Louiswanderedroundthegroundstillhesawthegirlforwhomhewaswaitingenterthechurch。Heaccostedheroverthewall。But，puzzlingtoview，acoralbraceletblushedoneachofheryoungarms，forshehadpromptlycarriedoutthesuggestionofLadyConstantine。

’Youarewearingit，Isee，Tabitha，withtheother，’hemurmured。

’Thenyoumeantokeepit？’

’Yes，Imeantokeepit。’

’YouaresureitisnotLadyConstantine’s？Ifindshehasonelikeit。’

’Quitesure。Butyouhadbettertakeittoher，sir，andaskher，’

saidthesaucygirl。

’Oh，no;that’snotnecessary，’repliedLouis，considerablyshakeninhisconvictions。

WhenLouismethissister，ashorttimeafter，hedidnotcatchher，ashehadintendedtodo，bysayingsuddenly，’Ihavefoundyourbracelet。Iknowwhohasgotit。’

’Youcannothavefoundit，’sherepliedquietly，’forIhavediscoveredthatitwasneverlost，’andstretchingoutbothherhandssherevealedoneoneach，ViviettehavingperformedthesameoperationwithherremainingbraceletthatshehadadvisedTabithatodowiththeother。

Louiswasmystified，butbynomeansconvinced。Inspiteofthisattempttohoodwinkhimhismindreturnedtothesubjecteveryhouroftheday。TherewasnodoubtthateitherTabithaorViviettehadbeenwithSwithininthecabin。HerecapitulatedeverycasethathadoccurredduringhisvisittoWellandinwhichhissister’smannerhadbeenofacolourtojustifythesuspicionthatitwasshe。Therewasthatstrangeincidentinthecorridor，whenshehadscreamedatwhatshedescribedtobeashadowyresemblancetoherlatehusband;howveryimprobablethatthisfancyshouldhavebeentheonlycauseofheragitation！Thenhehadnoticed，duringSwithin’sconfirmation，ablushuponhercheekwhenhepassedheronhiswaytotheBishop，andthefervourinherglanceduringthefewmomentsoftheimpositionofhands。Thenhesuddenlyrecalledthenightattherailwaystation，whentheaccidentwiththewhiptookplace，andhow，whenhereachedWellandHouseanhourlater，hehadfoundnoViviettethere。Runningthusfromincidenttoincidentheincreasedhissuspicionswithoutbeingabletocullfromthecircumstancesanythingamountingtoevidence;butevidencehenowdeterminedtoacquirewithoutsayingawordtoanyone。

Hisplanwasofacruelkind:tosetatrapintowhichthepairwouldblindlywalkifanysecretunderstandingexistedbetweenthemofthenaturehesuspected。

XXX

Louisbeganhisstratagembycallingatthetoweroneafternoon，asifontheimpulseofthemoment。

AfterafriendlychatwithSwithin，whomhefoundthere（havingwatchedhimenter），LouisinvitedtheyoungmantodinethesameeveningattheHouse，thathemighthaveanopportunityofshowinghimsomeinterestingoldscientificworksinfolio，which，accordingtoLouis’saccount，hehadstumbledoninthelibrary。LouissetnogreatbaitforSt。Cleeveinthisstatement，foroldsciencewasnotoldartwhich，havingperfecteditself，hasdiedandleftitssecrethiddeninitsremains。ButSwithinwasaresponsivefellow，andreadilyagreedtocome;being，moreover，alwaysgladofachanceofmeetingVivietteenfamille。Hehopedtotellherofaschemethathadlatelysuggesteditselftohimaslikelytobenefitthemboth:

thatheshouldgoawayforawhile，andendeavourtoraisesufficientfundstovisitthegreatobservatoriesofEurope，withaneyetoapostinoneofthem。Hithertotheonlybartotheplanhadbeentheexceedingnarrownessofhisincome，which，thoughsufficientforhispresentlife，wasabsolutelyinadequatetotherequirementsofatravellingastronomer。

MeanwhileLouisGlanvillehadreturnedtotheHouseandtoldhissisterinthemostinnocentmannerthathehadbeeninthecompanyofSt。Cleevethatafternoon，gettingafewwrinklesonastronomy;

thattheyhadgrownsofriendlyoverthefascinatingsubjectastoleavehimnoalternativebuttoinviteSt。CleevetodineatWellandthesameevening，withaviewtocertainresearchesinthelibraryafterwards。

’Icouldquitemakeallowancesforanyyouthfulerrorsintowhichhemayhavebeenbetrayed，’Louiscontinuedsententiously，’since，forascientist，heisreallyadmirable。NodoubttheBishop’scautionwillnotbelostuponhim;andasforhisbirthandconnexions，——

thosehecan’thelp。’

LadyConstantineshowedsuchalacrityinadoptingtheideaofhavingSwithintodinner，andsheignoredhis’youthfulerrors’socompletely，asalmosttobetrayherself。InfulfilmentofherpromisetoseehimoftenershehadbeenintendingtorunacrosstoSwithinonthatidenticalevening。Nowthetroublewouldbesavedinaverydelightfulway，bytheexerciseofalittlehospitalitywhichVivietteherselfwouldnothavedaredtosuggest。

Dinner—timecameandwithitSwithin，exhibitingratherablushingandnervousmannerthatwas，unfortunately，morelikelytobetraytheircausethanwasViviette’sownmorepractisedbearing。

ThroughoutthemealLouissatlikeaspiderinthecornerofhisweb，observingthemnarrowly，andatmomentsflingingoutanartfulthreadhereandthere，withaviewtotheirentanglement。Buttheyunderwenttheordealmarvellouslywell。Perhapstheactualtiebetweenthem，throughbeingsomuchcloserandofsomuchmorepracticalanaturethaneventheircriticsupposedit，wasinitselfaprotectionagainsttheirexhibitingthatultra—reciprocityofmannerwhich，iftheyhadbeenmerelylovers，mighthavebetrayedthem。

Afterdinnerthetriodulyadjournedtothelibraryashadbeenplanned，andthevolumeswerebroughtforthbyLouiswiththezestofabibliophilist。Swithinhadseenmostofthembefore，andthoughtbutlittleofthem;butthepleasureofstayinginthehousemadehimwelcomeanyreasonfordoingso，andhewillinglylookedatwhateverwasputbeforehim，fromBertius’sPtolemytoRees’sCyclopaedia。

Theeveningthuspassedaway，anditbegantogrowlate。Swithinwho，amongotherthings，hadplannedtogotoGreenwichnextdaytoviewtheRoyalObservatory，wouldeverynowandthenstartupandpreparetoleaveforhome，whenGlanvillewouldunearthsomeothervolumeandsodetainhimyetanotherhalf—hour。

’ByGeorge！’hesaid，lookingattheclockwhenSwithinwasatlastreallyabouttodepart。’Ididn’tknowitwassolate。Whynotstayhereto—night，St。Cleeve？Itisverydark，andthewaytoyourplaceisanawkwardcross—cutoverthefields。’

’Itwouldnotinconvenienceusatall，Mr。St。Cleeve，ifyouwouldcaretostay，’saidLadyConstantine。

’Iamafraid——thefactis，Iwantedtotakeanobservationattwentyminutespasttwo，’beganSwithin。

’Oh，now，nevermindyourobservation，’saidLouis。’That’sonlyanexcuse。Dothatto—morrownight。Nowyouwillstay。Itissettled。Viviette，sayhemuststay，andwe’llhaveanotherhourofthesecharmingintellectualresearches。’

Vivietteobeyedwithdelightfulease。’Dostay，MrSt。Cleeve！’shesaidsweetly。

’Well，intruthIcandowithouttheobservation，’repliedtheyoungman，ashegaveway。’Itisnotofthegreatestconsequence。’

Thusitwasarranged;buttheresearchesamongthetomeswerenotprolongedtotheextentthatLouishadsuggested。Inthree—quartersofanhourfromthattimetheyhadallretiredtotheirrespectiverooms;LadyConstantine’sbeingononesideofthewestcorridor，Swithin’sopposite，andLouis’satthefurtherend。

HadapersonfollowedLouiswhenhewithdrew，thatwatcherwouldhavediscovered，onpeepingthroughthekey—holeofhisdoor，thathewasengagedinoneoftheoddestofoccupationsforsuchaman，——

sweepingdownfromtheceiling，bymeansofawalking—cane，alongcobwebwhichlingeredonhighinthecorner。Keepingitstretcheduponthecanehegentlyopenedthedoor，andsetthecandleinsuchapositiononthematthatthelightshonedownthecorridor。Thusguidedbyitsrayshepassedoutslipperless，tillhereachedthedoorofSt。Cleeve’sroom，whereheappliedthedanglingspider’sthreadinsuchamannerthatitstretchedacrosslikeatight—ropefromjambtojamb，barring，initsfragileway，entranceandegress。

Theoperationcompletedheretiredagain，and，extinguishinghislight，wentthroughhisbedroomwindowoutupontheflatroofoftheporticotowhichitgaveaccess。

HereLouismadehimselfcomfortableinhischairandsmoking—cap，enjoyingthefragranceofacigarforsomethinglikehalf—an—hour。

HispositioncommandedaviewofthetwowindowsofLadyConstantine’sroom，andfromtheseadimlightshonecontinuously。

Havingthewindowpartlyopenathisback，andthedoorofhisroomalsoscarcelyclosed，hisearretainedafaircommandofanynoisesthatmightbemade。

Induetimefaintmovementsbecameaudible;whereupon，returningtohisroom，here—enteredthecorridorandlistenedintently。Allwassilentagain，anddarknessreignedfromendtoend。Glanville，however，gropedhiswayalongthepassagetillheagainreachedSwithin’sdoor，whereheexamined，bythelightofawax—matchhehadbrought，theconditionofthespider’sthread。Itwasgone;

somebodyhadcarrieditoffbodily，asSamsoncarriedoffthepinandtheweb。Inotherwords，apersonhadpassedthroughthedoor。

Stillholdingthefaintwax—lightinhishandLouisturnedtothedoorofLadyConstantine’schamber，whereheobservedfirstthat，thoughitwaspushedtogethersoastoappearfastenedtocursoryview，thedoorwasnotreallyclosedbyaboutaquarterofaninch。

Hedroppedhislightandextinguisheditwithhisfoot。Listening，heheardavoicewithin，——Viviette’svoice，inasubduedmurmur，thoughspeakingearnestly。

WithoutanyhesitationLouisthenreturnedtoSwithin’sdoor，openedit，andwalkedin。Thestarlightfromwithoutwassufficient，nowthathiseyeshadbecomeaccustomedtothedarkness，torevealthattheroomwasunoccupied，andthatnothingthereinhadbeendisturbed。

WithaheavytreadLouiscameforth，walkedloudlyacrossthecorridor，knockedatLadyConstantine’sdoor，andcalled’Viviette！’

Sheheardhiminstantly，replying’Yes’instartledtones。

Immediatelyafterwardssheopenedherdoor，andconfrontedhiminherdressing—gown，withalightinherhand。’Whatisthematter，Louis？’shesaid。

’Iamgreatlyalarmed。Ourvisitorismissing。’

’Missing？What，Mr。St。Cleeve？’

’Yes。Iwassittinguptofinishacigar，whenIthoughtIheardanoiseinthisdirection。OncomingtohisroomIfindheisnotthere。’

’GoodHeaven！Iwonderwhathashappened！’sheexclaimed，inapparentlyintensealarm。

’Iwonder，’saidGlanvillegrimly。

’Supposeheisasomnambulist！Ifso，hemayhavegoneoutandbrokenhisneck。Ihaveneverheardthatheisone，buttheysaythatsleepinginstrangeplacesdisturbsthemindsofpeoplewhoaregiventothatsortofthing，andprovokesthemtoit。’

’Unfortunatelyforyourtheoryhisbedhasnotbeentouched。’

’Oh，whatthencanitbe？’

Herbrotherlookedherfullintheface。’Viviette！’hesaidsternly。

Sheseemedpuzzled。’Well？’shereplied，insimpletones。

’Iheardvoicesinyourroom，’hecontinued。

’Voices？’

’Avoice，——yours。’

’Yes，youmayhavedoneso。Itwasmine。’

’Alistenerisrequiredforaspeaker。’

’True，Louis。’

’Well，towhomwereyouspeaking？’

’God。’

’Viviette！Iamashamedofyou。’

’Iwassayingmyprayers。’

’Prayers——toGod！ToSt。Swithin，rather！’

’Whatdoyoumean，Louis？’sheasked，flushingupwarm，anddrawingbackfromhim。’ItwasaformofprayerIuse，particularlywhenI

amintrouble。ItwasrecommendedtomebytheBishop，andMr。

Torkinghamcommendsitveryhighly。’

’Onyourhonour，ifyouhaveany，’hesaidbitterly，’whomhaveyouthereinyourroom？’

’Nohumanbeing。’

’Flatly，Idon’tbelieveyou。’

Shegaveadignifiedlittlebow，and，wavingherhandintotheapartment，said，’Verywell;thensearchandsee。’

Louisentered，andglancedroundtheroom，behindthecurtains，underthebed，outofthewindow——aviewfromwhichshowedthatescapethencewouldhavebeenimpossible，——everywhere，inshort，capableorincapableofaffordingaretreattohumanity;butdiscoverednobody。Allheobservedwasthatalightstoodonthelowtablebyherbedside;thatonthebedlayanopenPrayer—Book，thecounterpanebeingunpressed，exceptintoalittlepitbesidethePrayerBook，apparentlywhereherheadhadrestedinkneeling。

’ButwhereisSt。Cleeve？’hesaid，turninginbewildermentfromtheseevidencesofinnocentdevotion。

’Wherecanhebe？’shechimedin，withrealdistress。’Ishouldsomuchliketoknow。Lookaboutforhim。Iamquiteuneasy！’

’Iwill，ononecondition:thatyouownthatyoulovehim。’

’Whyshouldyouforcemetothat？’shemurmured。’ItwouldbenosuchwonderifIdid。’

’Come，youdo。’

’Well，Ido。’

’NowI’lllookforhim。’

Louistookalight，andturnedaway，astonishedthatshehadnotindignantlyresentedhisintrusionandthenatureofhisquestioning。

Atthismomentaslightnoisewasheardonthestaircase，andtheycouldseeafigurerisingstepbystep，andcomingforwardagainstthelonglightsofthestaircasewindow。ItwasSwithin，inhisordinarydress，andcarryinghisbootsinhishand。Whenhebeheldthemstandingtheresomotionless，helookedratherdisconcerted，butcameontowardshisroom。

LadyConstantinewastooagitatedtospeak，butLouissaid，’Iamgladtoseeyouagain。Hearinganoise，afewminutesago，Icameouttolearnwhatitcouldbe。Ifoundyouabsent，andwehavebeenverymuchalarmed。’

’Iamverysorry，’saidSwithin，withcontrition。’Ioweyouahundredapologies:butthetruthisthatonenteringmybedroomI

foundtheskyremarkablyclear，andthoughItoldyouthattheobservationIwastomakewasofnogreatconsequence，onthinkingitoveraloneIfeltitoughtnottobeallowedtopass;soIwastemptedtorunacrosstotheobservatory，andmakeit，asIhadhoped，withoutdisturbinganybody。IfIhadknownthatIshouldalarmyouIwouldnothavedoneitfortheworld。’

SwithinspokeveryearnestlytoLouis，anddidnotobservethetenderreproachinViviette’seyeswhenheshowedbyhistalehisdecidednotionthattheprimeuseofdarknightslayintheirfurtheranceofpracticalastronomy。

Everythingbeingnowsatisfactorilyexplainedthethreeretiredtotheirseveralchambers，andLouisheardnomorenoisesthatnight，orrathermorning;hisattemptstosolvethemysteryofViviette’slifehereandherrelationswithSt。Cleevehavingthusfarresultedchieflyinperplexity。True，anadmissionhadbeenwrungfromher;

andevenwithoutsuchanadmissionitwasclearthatshehadatenderfeelingforSwithin。Howtoextinguishthatromanticfollyitnowbecamehisobjecttoconsider。

XXXI

Swithin’smidnightexcursiontothetowerinthecauseofscienceledhimtooversleephimself，andwhenthebrotherandsistermetatbreakfastinthemorninghedidnotappear。

’Don’tdisturbhim，——don’tdisturbhim，’saidLouislaconically。

’Hullo，Viviette，whatareyoureadingtherethatmakesyouflameupso？’

Shewasglancingoveraletterthatshehadjustopened，andathiswordslookedupwithmisgiving。

Theincidentofthepreviousnightleftheringreatdoubtastowhatherbearingtowardshimoughttobe。Shehadmadenoshowofresentinghisconductatthetime，fromamomentarysuppositionthathemustknowallhersecret;andafterwards，findingthathedidnotknowit，itseemedtoolatetoaffectindignationathissuspicions。

Soshepreservedaquietneutrality。Evenhadsheresolvedonanartificialpartshemighthaveforgottentoplayitatthisinstant，theletterbeingofakindtobanishpreviousconsiderations。

’ItisaletterfromBishopHelmsdale，’shefaltered。

’Welldone！Ihopeforyoursakeitisanoffer。’

’That’sjustwhatitis。’

’No，——surely？’saidLouis，beginningalaughofsurprise。

’Yes，’shereturnedindifferently。’Youcanreadit，ifyoulike。’

’Idon’twishtopryintoacommunicationofthatsort。’

’Oh，youmayreadit，’shesaid，tossingtheletteracrosstohim。

Louisthereuponreadasunder:——

’THEPALACE，MELCHESTER，June28，18——。

’MYDEARLADYCONSTANTINE，——DuringthetwoorthreeweeksthathaveelapsedsinceIexperiencedthegreatpleasureofrenewingmyacquaintancewithyou，thevariedagitationofmyfeelingshasclearlyprovedthatmyonlycourseistoaddressyoubyletter，andatonce。Whetherthesubjectofmycommunicationbeacceptabletoyouornot，Icanatleastassureyouthattosuppressitwouldbefarlessnatural，anduponthewholelessadvisable，thantospeakoutfrankly，evenifafterwardsIholdmypeaceforever。

’Thegreatchangeinmyexperienceduringthepastyearortwo——thechange，thatis，whichhasresultedfrommyadvancementtoabishopric——hasfrequentlysuggestedtome，oflate，thatadiscontinuanceinmydomesticlifeofthesolitudeofpastyearswasaquestionwhichoughttobeseriouslycontemplated。ButwhetherI

shouldeverhavecontemplateditwithoutthegreatgoodfortuneofmymeetingwithyouisdoubtful。However，thethinghasbeenconsideredatlast，andwithoutmoreadoIcandidlyaskifyouwouldbewillingtogiveupyourlifeatWelland，andrelievemyhouseholdlonelinessherebybecomingmywife。

’Iamfarfromdesiringtoforceahurrieddecisiononyourpart，andwillwaityourgoodpleasurepatiently，shouldyoufeelanyuncertaintyatthemomentastothestep。Iamquitedisqualified，byhabitsandexperience，forthedelightfulprocedureofurgingmysuitintheardenttermswhichwouldbesoappropriatetowardssuchalady，andsoexpressiveofmyinmostfeeling。Intruth，aprosyclericoffive—and—fortywantsencouragementtomakehimeloquent。

Ofthis，however，Icanassureyou:thatifadmiration，esteem，anddevotioncancompensateinanywayforthelackofthosequalitieswhichmightbefoundtoburnwithmoreoutwardbrightnessinayoungerman，thoseitisinmypowertobestowforthetermofmyearthlylife。Yoursteadyadherencetochurchprinciplesandyourinterestinecclesiasticalpolity（aswasshownbyyourbrightquestioningonthosesubjectsduringourmorningwalkroundyourgrounds）haveindicatedstronglytomethegraceandappropriatenesswithwhichyouwouldfillthepositionofabishop’swife，andhowgreatlyyouwouldaddtohisreputation，shouldyoubedisposedtohonourhimwithyourhand。FormerlytherehavebeentimeswhenI

wasofopinion——andyouwillrightlyappreciatemycandourinowningit——thatawifewasanimpedimenttoabishop’sdueactivities;butconstantobservationhasconvincedmethat，farfromthisbeingthetruth，ameetconsortinfuseslifeintoepiscopalinfluenceandteaching。

’ShouldyoureplyintheaffirmativeIwillatoncecometoseeyou，andwithyourpermissionwill，amongotherthings，showyouafewplain，practicalruleswhichIhaveinterestedmyselfindrawingupforourfutureguidance。Shouldyourefusetochangeyourconditiononmyaccount，yourdecisionwill，asIneedhardlysay，beagreatblowtome。Inanyevent，IcouldnotdolessthanIhavedone，aftergivingthesubjectmyfullconsideration。Eveniftherebeaslightdeficiencyofwarmthonyourpart，myearnesthopeisthatamindcomprehensiveasyourswillperceivetheimmensepowerforgoodthatyoumightexerciseinthepositioninwhichaunionwithmewouldplaceyou，andallowthatperceptiontoweighindeterminingyouranswer。

’Iremain，mydearLadyConstantine，withthehighestrespectandaffection，——Yoursalways，’C。MELCHESTER。’

’Well，youwillnothavethefoolhardinesstodecline，nowthatthequestionhasactuallybeenpopped，Ishouldhope，’saidLouis，whenhehaddonereading。

’CertainlyIshall，’shereplied。

’Youwillreallybesuchaflat，Viviette？’

’Youspeakwithoutmuchcompliment。Ihavenottheleastideaofacceptinghim。’

’Surelyyouwillnotletyourinfatuationforthatyoungfellowcarryyousofar，aftermyacquaintingyouwiththeshadysideofhischaracter？Youcallyourselfareligiouswoman，sayyourprayersoutloud，followuptherevivedmethodsinchurchpractice，andwhatnot;andyetyoucanthinkwithpartialityofapersonwho，farfromhavinganyreligioninhim，breaksthemostelementarycommandmentsinthedecalogue。’

’Icannotagreewithyou，’shesaid，turningherfaceaskance，forsheknewnothowmuchofherbrother’slanguagewassincere，andhowmuchassumed，theextentofhisdiscoverieswithregardtohersecrettiesbeingamystery。Atmomentsshewasdisposedtodeclarethewholetruth，andhavedonewithit。Butshehesitated，andleftthewordsunsaid;andLouiscontinuedhisbreakfastinsilence。

Whenhehadfinished，andshehadeatenlittleornothing，heaskedoncemore，’Howdoyouintendtoanswerthatletter？Hereyouare，thepoorestwomaninthecounty，abandonedbypeoplewhousedtobegladtoknowyou，andleadingalifeasdismalanddrearyasanun’s，whenanopportunityisofferedyouofleapingatonceintoaleadingpositioninthispartofEngland。Bishopsaregiventohospitality;youwouldbewelcomedeverywhere。Inshort，youranswermustbeyes。’

’Andyetitwillbeno，’shesaid，inalowvoice。Shehadatlengthlearnt，fromthetoneofherbrother’slatterremarks，thatatanyratehehadnoknowledgeofheractualmarriage，whateverindirecttieshemightsuspectherguiltyof。

Louiscouldrestrainhimselfnolongeratheranswer。’Thenconductyouraffairsyourownway。Iknowyoutobeleadingalifethatwon’tbearinvestigation，andI’mhangedifI’llstayhereanylonger！’

Sayingwhich，Glanvillejerkedbackhischair，andstrodeoutoftheroom。Inlessthanaquarterofanhour，andbeforeshehadmovedastepfromthetable，sheheardhimleavingthehouse。

XXXII

Whattodoshecouldnottell。ThestepwhichSwithinhadentreatedhertotake，objectionableandprematureasithadseemedinacountyaspect，wouldatalleventshavesavedherfromthisdilemma。

HadsheallowedhimtotelltheBishophissimplestoryinitsfulness，whocouldsaybutthatthatdivinemighthavegenerouslybridledhisownimpulses，enteredintothecasewithsympathy，andforwardedwithzesttheirdesignsforthefuture，owingtohisinterestofoldinSwithin’sfather，andinthenaturallyattractivefeaturesoftheyoungman’scareer。

Apuffofwindfromtheopenwindow，waftingtheBishop’slettertothefloor，arousedherfromherreverie。Withasighshestoopedandpickeditup，glancedatitagain;thenarose，andwiththedeliberatenessofinevitableactionwroteherreply:——

’WELLANDHOUSE，June29，18——。

’MYDEARBISHOPOFMELCHESTER，——Iconfesstoyouthatyourletter，sograciousandflatteringasitis，hastakenyourfriendsomewhatunawares。TheleastIcandoinreturnforitscontentsistoreplyasquicklyaspossible。

’Thereisnooneintheworldwhoesteemsyourhighqualitiesmorethanmyself，orwhohasgreaterfaithinyourabilitytoadorntheepiscopalseatthatyouhavebeencalledontofill。ButtoyourquestionIcangiveonlyonereply，andthatisanunqualifiednegative。Tostatethisunavoidabledecisiondistressesme，withoutaffectation;andItrustyouwillbelievethat，thoughIdeclinethedistinctionofbecomingyourwife，Ishallneverceasetointerestmyselfinallthatpertainstoyouandyouroffice;andshallfeelthekeenestregretifthisrefusalshouldoperatetopreventalifelongfriendshipbetweenus。——Iam，mydearBishopofMelchester，eversincerelyyours，’VIVIETTECONSTANTINE。’

Asuddenrevulsionfromthesubterfugeofwritingasifshewerestillawidow，wroughtinhermindafeelingofdissatisfactionwiththewholeschemeofconcealment;andpushingasidethelettersheallowedittoremainunfoldedandunaddressed。InafewminutessheheardSwithinapproaching，whensheputtheletteroutofthewayandturnedtoreceivehim。