第17章

’Franklyandplainly，’saidSwithin，hisvoicetremblingwithacompoundofscientificandamatoryemotionthatdefiesdefinition，’doesshesayseriouslythatshewishesmetogo？’

’Shedoes。’

’ThengoIwill，’repliedSwithinfirmly。’Ihavebeenfortunateenoughtointerestsomeleadingastronomers，includingtheAstronomerRoyal;andinaletterreceivedthismorningIlearnthattheuseoftheCapeObservatoryhasbeenofferedmeforanysouthernobservationsImaywishtomake。ThisofferIwillaccept。WillyoukindlyletLadyConstantineknowthis，sincesheisinterestedinmywelfare？’

Louispromised，andwhenhewasgoneSwithinlookedblanklyathisownsituation，asifhecouldscarcelybelieveinitsreality。Herlettertohim，then，hadbeendeliberatelywritten;shemeanthimtogo。

Buthewasdeterminedthatnoneofthosemisunderstandingswhichruinthehappinessofloversshouldbeallowedtooperateinthepresentcase。Hewouldseeher，ifhesleptunderherwallsallnighttodoit，andwouldheartheordertodepartfromherownlips。Thisunexpectedstandshewasmakingforhisinterestswaswinninghisadmirationtosuchadegreeastobeindangerofdefeatingtheverycauseitwasmeanttosubserve。Awomanlikethiswasnottobeforsakeninahurry。Hewrotetwolines，andleftthenoteatthehousewithhisownhand。

’THECABIN，RINGS—HILL，July7th。

’DEARESTVIVIETTE，——Ifyouinsist，Iwillgo。Butletter—writingwillnotdo。Imusthavethecommandfromyourowntwolips，otherwiseIshallnotstir。Iamhereeveryeveningatseven。Canyoucome？——S。’

Thisnote，asfatewouldhaveit，reachedherhandsinthesinglehourofthatweekwhenshewasinamoodtocomplywithhisrequest，justwhenmovedbyareactionaryemotionafterdismissingSwithin。

Shewentupstairstothewindowthathadsolongservedpurposesofthiskind，andsignalled’Yes。’

St。Cleevesoonsawtheanswershehadgivenandwatchedherapproachfromthetowerasthesunsetdrewon。Thevividcircumstancesofhislifeatthisdateledhimevertoremembertheexternalscenesinwhichtheywereset。Itwasaneveningofexceptionalirradiations，andthewestheavengleamedlikeafoundryofallmetalscommonandrare。Thecloudswerebrokenintoathousandfragments，andthemarginofeveryfragmentshone。

Foreseeingthedisadvantageandpaintoherofmaintainingaresolveunderthepressureofameeting，hevowednottourgeherbywordorsign;toputthequestionplainlyandcalmly，andtodiscussitonareasonablebasisonly，likethephilosopherstheyassumedthemselvestobe。

Butthisintentionwasscarcelyadheredtoinallitsintegrity。

Shedulyappearedontheedgeofthefield，floodedwiththemetallicradiancethatmarkedthecloseofthisday;whereuponhequicklydescendedthesteps，andmetheratthecabindoor。Theyenteredittogether。

Astheeveninggrewdarkeranddarkerhelistenedtoherreasoning，whichwaspreciselyarepetitionofthatalreadysenthimbyletter，andbydegreesacceptedherdecision，sinceshewouldnotrevokeit。

Timecameforthemtosaygood—bye，andthen——

’Heturn’dandsawtheterrorinhereyes，Thatyearn’duponhim，shininginsuchwiseAsastarmidwayinthemidnightfix’d。’

Itwasthemiseryofherownconditionthatshowedforth，hithertoobscuredbyherardourforamelioratinghis。Theyclosedtogether，andkissedeachotherasthoughtheemotionoftheirwholeyear—and—

half’sacquaintancehadsettleddownuponthatmoment。

’Iwon’tgoawayfromyou！’saidSwithinhuskily。’Whydidyouproposeitforaninstant？’

Thusthenearlyendedinterviewwasagainprolonged，andVivietteyieldedtoallthepassionofherfirstunionwithhim。Time，however，wasmerciless，andthehourapproachedmidnight，andshewascompelledtodepart。Swithinwalkedwithhertowardsthehouse，ashehadwalkedmanytimesbefore，believingthatallwasnowsmoothagainbetweenthem，andcaring，itmustbeowned，verylittleforhisfameasanexpositorofthesouthernconstellationsjustthen。

Whentheyreachedthesilenthousehesaidwhathehadnotventuredtosaybefore，’Fixtheday——youhavedecidedthatitistobesoon，andthatIamnottogo？’

ButyouthfulSwithinwasfar，veryfar，frombeinguptothefondsubtletyofViviettethisevening。’Icannotdecidehere，’shesaidgently，releasingherselffromhisarm;’Iwillspeaktoyoufromthewindow。Waitforme。’

Shevanished;andhewaited。Itwasalongtimebeforethewindowopened，andhewasnotawarethat，withhercustomarycomplicationoffeeling，shehadkneltforsometimeinsidetheroombeforelookingout。

’Well？’saidhe。

’Itcannotbe，’sheanswered。’Icannotruinyou。Butthedayafteryouarefive—and—twentyourmarriageshallbeconfirmed，ifyouchoose。’

’O，myViviette，howisthis！’hecried。

’Swithin，Ihavenotaltered。ButIfearedformypowers，andcouldnottellyouwhilstIstoodbyyourside。IoughtnottohavegivenwayasIdidto—night。Takethebequest，andgo。Youaretooyoung——tobefettered——Ishouldhavethoughtofit！Donotcommunicatewithmeforatleastayear:itisimperative。Donottellmeyourplans。Ifwepart，wedopart。Ihavevowedavownottofurtherobstructthecourseyouhaddecidedonbeforeyouknewmeandmypulingways;andbyHeaven’shelpI’llkeepthatvow……

Nowgo。ThesearethepartingwordsofyourownViviette！’

Swithin，whowasstableasagiantinallthatappertainedtonatureandlifeoutsidehumanity，wasamerepupilindomesticmatters。Hewasquiteawedbyherfirmness，andlookedvacantlyatherforatime，tillsheclosedthewindow。Thenhemechanicallyturned，andwent，asshehadcommanded。

XXXVII

Aweekhadpassedaway。IthadbeenatimeofcloudymentalweathertoSwithinandViviette，buttheonlynoteworthyfactaboutitwasthatwhathadbeenplannedtohappenthereinhadactuallytakenplace。SwithinhadgonefromWelland，andwouldshortlygofromEngland。

ShebecameawareofitbyanotethathepostedtoheronhiswaythroughWarborne。Therewasmuchevidenceofhasteinthenote，andsomethingofreserve。Thelattershecouldnotunderstand，butitmighthavebeenobviousenoughifshehadconsidered。

Onthemorningofhisdeparturehehadsatontheedgeofhisbed，thesunlightstreamingthroughtheearlymist，thehouse—martensscratchingthebackoftheceilingoverhisheadastheyscrambledoutfromtherooffortheirday’sgnat—chasing，thethrushescrackingsnailsonthegardenstonesoutsidewiththenoisinessoflittlesmithsatworkonlittleanvils。Thesun，insendingitsrodsofyellowfireintohisroom，sent，ashesuddenlythought，mentalilluminationwithit。Forthefirsttime，ashesatthere，ithadcrossedhismindthatViviettemighthavereasonsforthisseparationwhichheknewnotof。Theremightbefamilyreasons——

mysteriousbloodnecessitieswhicharesaidtorulemembersofoldmusty—mansionedfamilies，andareunknowntootherclassesofsociety——andtheymayhavebeenjustnowbroughtbeforeherbyherbrotherLouisontheconditionthattheywerereligiouslyconcealed。

Theideathatsomefamilyskeleton，likethosehehadreadofinmemoirs，hadbeenunearthedbyLouis，andheldbeforeherterrifiedunderstandingasamatterwhichrenderedSwithin’sdeparture，andtheneutralizationofthemarriage，nolessindispensabletothemthanitwasanadvantagetohimself，seemedaveryplausibleonetoSwithinjustnow。ViviettemighthavetakenLouisintoherconfidenceatlast，forthesakeofhisbrotherlyadvice。Swithinknewthatofherownheartshewouldneverwishtogetridofhim;

butcoercedbyLouis，mightshenothavegrowntoentertainviewsofitsexpediency？EventsmadesuchasuppositiononSt。Cleeve’spartasnaturalasitwasinaccurate，and，conjoinedwithhisownexcitementatthethoughtofseeinganewheavenoverhead，influencedhimtowritebutthebriefestandmosthurriedfinalnotetoher，inwhichhefullyobeyedhersensitiverequestthathewouldomitallreferencetohisplans。Theseatthelastmomenthadbeenmodifiedtofallinwiththewinterexpeditionformerlymentioned，toobservetheTransitofVenusataremotesouthernstation。

Thebusinessbeingdone，andhimselffairlyplungedintothepreliminariesofanimportantscientificpilgrimage，Swithinacquiredthatlightnessofheartwhichmostyoungmenfeelinforsakingoldlovefornewadventure，nomatterhowcharmingmaybethegirltheyleavebehindthem。Moreover，inthepresentcase，themanwasendowedwiththatschoolboytemperamentwhichdoesnotsee，oratleastconsiderwithmuchcuriosity，theeffectofagivenschemeuponothersthanhimself。ThebearinguponLadyConstantineofwhatwasanundoubtedpredicamentforanywoman，wasforgotteninhisfeelingthatshehaddoneaveryhandsomeandnoblethingforhim，andthathewasthereforeboundinhonourtomakethemostofit。

Hisgoinghadresultedinanythingbutlightnessofheartforher。

Hersadfancycould，indeed，indulgeindreamsofheryellow—hairedladdiewithoutthatformerlybesettingfearthatthosedreamswouldprompthertoactionslikelytodistractandweighthim。Shewaswretchedonherownaccount，relievedonhis。Shenolongerstoodinthewayofhisadvancement，andthatwasenough。Forherselfshecouldliveinretirement，visitthewood，theoldcamp，thecolumn，and，likeOEnone，thinkofthelifetheyhadledthere——

’MournfulOEnone，wanderingforlornOfParis，onceherplaymateonthehills，’

leavingitentirelytohisgoodnesswhetherhewouldcomeandclaimherinthefuture，ordesertherforever。

ShewasdivertedforatimefromthesesadperformancesbyaletterwhichreachedherfromBishopHelmsdale。Toseehishandwritingagainonanenvelope，afterthinkingsoanxiouslyofmakingafather—confessorofhim，startedheroutofherequanimity。Shespeedilyregainedit，however，whenshereadhisnote。

’THEPALACE，MELCHESTER，July30，18——。

MYDEARLADYCONSTANTINE，——Iamshockedandgrievedthat，inthestrangedispensationofthingsherebelow，myofferofmarriageshouldhavereachedyoualmostsimultaneouslywiththeintelligencethatyourwidowhoodhadbeenofseveralmonthslessdurationthanyouandI，andtheworld，hadsupposed。Icanquiteunderstandthat，viewedfromanyside，thenewsmusthaveshakenanddisturbedyou;andyourunequivocalrefusaltoentertainanythoughtofanewallianceatsuchamomentwas，ofcourse，intelligible，natural，andpraiseworthy。AtpresentIwillsaynomorebeyondexpressingahopethatyouwillacceptmyassurancesthatIwasquiteignorantofthenewsatthehourofwriting，andasinceredesirethatinduetime，andassoonasyouhaverecoveredyourequanimity，Imaybeallowedtorenewmyproposal。——Iam，mydearLadyConstantine，yourseversincerely，C。MELCHESTER。’

Shelaidtheletteraside，andthoughtnomoreaboutit，beyondamomentarymeditationontheerrorsintowhichpeoplefallinreasoningfromactionstomotives。Louis，whowasnowagainwithher，becameinduecourseacquaintedwiththecontentsoftheletter，andwassatisfiedwiththepromisingpositioninwhichmattersseeminglystoodallround。

LadyConstantinewenthermournfulwaysasshehadplannedtodo，herchiefresortbeingthefamiliarcolumn，wheresheexperiencedtheunutterablemelancholyofseeingtwocarpentersdismantlethedomeofitsfeltcovering，detachitsribs，andclearawaytheenclosureatthetoptilleverythingstoodasithadstoodbeforeSwithinhadbeenknowntotheplace。Theequatorialhadalreadybeenpackedinabox，tobeinreadinessifheshouldsendforitfromabroad。Thecabin，too，wasincourseofdemolition，suchhavingbeenhisdirections，acquiescedinbyher，beforehestarted。

Yetshecouldnotbeartheideathatthesestructures，sogermanetotheeventsoftheirromance，shouldberemovedasifremovedforever。Goingtothemenshebadethemstoreupthematerialsintact，thattheymightbere—erectedifdesired。Shehadthejunctionsofthetimbersmarkedwithfigures，theboardsnumbered，andthedifferentsetsofscrewstiedupinindependentpapersforidentification。Shedidnotheartheremarksoftheworkmenwhenshehadgone，totheeffectthattheyoungmanwouldassoonthinkofbuyingahalterforhimselfascomebackandspyatthemoonfromRings—HillSpeer，afterseeingthegloriesofothernationsandthegoldandjewelsthatwerefoundthere，orshemighthavebeenmoreunhappythanshewas。

Onreturningfromoneofthesewalkstothecolumnacuriouscircumstanceoccurred。Itwasevening，andshewascomingasusualdownthroughthesighingplantation，choosingherwaybetweentherampartsofthecamptowardstheoutletgivinguponthefield，whensuddenlyinaduskyvistaamongthefir—trunksshesaw，orthoughtshesaw，agolden—haired，toddlingchild。Thechildmovedasteportwo，andvanishedbehindatree。LadyConstantine，fearingithadlostitsway，wentquicklytothespot，searched，andcalledaloud。

Butnochildcouldsheperceiveorhearanywherearound。Shereturnedtowhereshehadstoodwhenfirstbeholdingit，andlookedinthesamedirection，butnothingreappeared。Theonlyobjectatallresemblingalittleboyorgirlwastheuppertuftofabunchoffern，whichhadprematurelyyellowedtoaboutthecolourofafairchild’shair，andwavedoccasionallyinthebreeze。This，however，didnotsufficientlyexplainthephenomenon，andshereturnedtomakeinquiriesofthemanwhomshehadleftatwork，removingthelasttracesofSwithin’scabin。Buthehadgonewithherdepartureandtheapproachofnight。Feelinganindescribabledreadsheretracedhersteps，andhastenedhomewarddoubting，yethalfbelieving，whatshehadseemedtosee，andwonderingifherimaginationhadplayedhersometrick。

Thetranquilmournfulnessofhernightofsolitudeterminatedinamostunexpectedmanner。

Themorningaftertheabove—mentionedincidentLadyConstantine，aftermeditatingawhile，arosewithastrangepersonalconvictionthatborecuriouslyontheaforesaidhallucination。Sherealizedaconditionofthingsthatshehadneveranticipated，andforamomentthediscoveryofherstatesooverwhelmedherthatshethoughtshemustdieoutright。Inherterrorshesaidshehadsownthewindtoreapthewhirlwind。Thentheinstinctofself—preservationflamedupinherlikeafire。Heraltruisminsubjectingherself—lovetobenevolence，andlettingSwithingoawayfromher，wasdemolishedbythenewnecessity，asifithadbeenagossamerweb。

Therewasnoresistingorevadingthespontaneousplanofactionwhichmaturedinhermindinfiveminutes。WherewasSwithin？howcouldhebegotatinstantly？——thatwasherrulingthought。Shesearchedabouttheroomforhislastshortnote，hoping，yetdoubting，thatitscontentsweremoreexplicitonhisintendedmovementsthanthefewmeagresyllableswhichaloneshecouldcalltomind。Shecouldnotfindtheletterinherroom，andcamedownstairstoLouisaspaleasaghost。

Helookedupather，andwithsomeconcernsaid，’What’sthematter？’

’Iamsearchingeverywhereforaletter——anotefromMr。St。Cleeve—

—justafewwordstellingmewhentheOccidentalsails，thatIthinkhegoesin。’

’Whydoyouwantthatunimportantdocument？’

’ItisoftheutmostimportancethatIshouldknowwhetherhehasactuallysailedornot！’saidsheinagonizedtones。’WhereCAN

thatletterbe？’

Louisknewwherethatletterwas，forhavingseenitonherdeskhehad，withoutreadingit，tornitupandthrownitintothewaste—

paperbasket，thinkingthelessthatremainedtoremindheroftheyoungphilosopherthebetter。

’Idestroyedit，’hesaid。

’OLouis！whydidyou？’shecried。’Iamgoingtofollowhim;I

thinkitbesttodoso;andIwanttoknowifheisgone——andnowthedateislost！’

’GoingtorunafterSt。Cleeve？Absurd！’

’Yes，Iam！’shesaidwithvehementfirmness。’Imustseehim;I

wanttospeaktohimassoonaspossible。’

’GoodLord，Viviette！Areyoumad？’

’Owhatwasthedateofthatship！Butitcannotbehelped。I

startatonceforSouthampton。Ihavemadeupmymindtodoit。Hewasgoingtohisuncle’ssolicitorsintheNorthfirst;thenhewascomingbacktoSouthampton。Hecannothavesailedyet。’

’Ibelievehehassailed，’mutteredLouissullenly。

Shedidnotwaittoarguewithhim，butreturnedupstairs，wheresherangtotellGreentobereadywiththeponytodrivehertoWarbornestationinaquarterofanhour。

XXXVIII

Viviette’sdeterminationtohamperSwithinnolongerhadledher，ashasbeenshown，tobalkanyweakimpulsetoentreathisreturn，byforbiddinghimtofurnishherwithhisforeignaddress。Hisreadydisposition，hisfearthattheremightbeotherreasonsbehind，madehimobeyheronlytooliterally。Thus，toherterroranddismay，shehadplacedagratuitousdifficultyinthewayofherpresentendeavour。

ShewasreadybeforeGreen，andurgedonthatfactotumsowildlyastoleavehimnotimetochangehiscorduroysand’skitty—boots’inwhichhehadbeengardening;hethereforeturnedhimselfintoacoachmanasfardownashiswaistmerely——clappingonhispropercoat，hat，andwaistcoat，andwrappingarugoverhishorticulturalhalfbelow。Inthiscompromiseheappearedatthedoor，mounted，andreinsinhand。

SeeinghowsadanddeterminedViviettewas，Louispitiedhersofarastoputnothinginthewayofherstarting，thoughheforboretohelpher。Hethoughtherconductsentimentalfoolery，theoutcomeofmistakenpityand’suchakindofgain—givingaswouldtroubleawoman;’andhedecidedthatitwouldbebettertoletthismoodburnitselfoutthantokeepitsmoulderingbyobstruction。

’Doyourememberthedateofhissailing？’shesaidfinally，asthepony—carriageturnedtodriveoff。

’Hesailsonthe25th，thatis，to—day。Butitmaynotbetilllateintheevening。’

Withthisshestarted，andreachedWarborneintimefortheup—

train。Howmuchlongerthanitreallyisalongjourneycanseemtobe，wasfullylearntbytheunhappyViviettethatday。Thechangefulprocessionofcountryseatspastwhichshewasdragged，thenamesandmemoriesoftheirowners，hadnopointsofinterestforhernow。ShereachedSouthamptonaboutmidday，anddrovestraighttothedocks。

Onapproachingthegatesshewasmetbyacrowdofpeopleandvehiclescomingout——men，women，children，porters，police，cabs，andcarts。TheOccidentalhadjustsailed。

Theadverseintelligencecameuponherwithsuchoddsafterhermorning’stensionthatshecouldscarcelycrawlbacktothecabwhichhadbroughther。Butthiswasnotatimetosuccumb。Asshehadnoluggageshedismissedtheman，and，withoutanyrealconsciousnessofwhatshewasdoing，creptawayandsatdownonapileofmerchandise。

Afterlongthinkinghercaseassumedamorehopefulcomplexion。

Muchmightprobablybedonetowardscommunicatingwithhiminthetimeathercommand。Theobvioussteptothisend，whichsheshouldhavethoughtofsooner，wouldbetogotohisgrandmotherinWellandBottom，andthereobtainhisitineraryindetail——nodoubtwellknowntoMrs。Martin。Therewasnoleisureforhertoconsiderlongerifshewouldbehomeagainthatnight;andreturningtotherailwayshewaitedonaseatwithouteatingordrinkingtillatrainwasreadytotakeherback。

BythetimesheagainstoodinWarbornethesunrestedhischinuponthemeadows，andenvelopedthedistantoutlineoftheRings—Hillcolumninhishumidrays。HiringanemptyflythatchancedtobeatthestationshewasdriventhroughthelittletownonwardtoWelland，whichsheapproachedabouteighto’clock。Atherrequestthemansetherdownattheentrancetothepark，andwhenhewasoutofsight，insteadofpursuingherwaytotheHouse，shewentalongthehighroadinthedirectionofMrs。Martin’s。

Duskwasdrawingon，andthebatswerewheelingoverthegreenbasincalledWellandBottombythetimeshearrived;andhadanyothererrandinstigatedhercallshewouldhavepostponedittillthemorrow。Nobodyrespondedtoherknock，butshecouldhearfootstepsgoinghitherandthitherupstairs，anddullnoisesasofarticlesmovedfromtheirplaces。Sheknockedagainandagain，andultimatelythedoorwasopenedbyHannahasusual。

’Icouldmakenobodyhear，’saidLadyConstantine，whowassowearyshecouldscarcelystand。

’Iamverysorry，mylady，’saidHannah，slightlyawedonbeholdinghervisitor。’ButwewasaputtingpoorMr。Swithin’sroomtorights，nowthatheis，asawomanmaysay，deadandburiedtous;

sowedidn’thearyourladyship。I’llcallMrs。Martinatonce。

Sheisupintheroomthatusedtobehiswork—room。’

HereHannah’svoiceimpliedmoisteyes，andLadyConstantine’sinstantlyoverflowed。

’No，I’llgouptoher，’saidViviette;andalmostinadvanceofHannahshepasseduptheshrunkenashstairs。

TheebbinglightwasnotenoughtorevealtoMrs。Martin’sagedgazethepersonalityofhervisitor，tillHannahexplained。

’I’llgetalight，mylady，’saidshe。

’No，Iwouldrathernot。Whatareyoudoing，Mrs。Martin？’

’Well，thepoormisguidedboyisgone——andhe’sgoneforgoodtome！

Iamawomanofoverfour—scoreyears，myLadyConstantine;myjunkettingdaysareover，andwhether’tisfeastingorwhether’tissorrowinginthelandwillsoonbenothingtome。Buthislifemaybelongandactive，andforthesakeofhimIcareforwhatIshallneversee，andwishtomakepleasantwhatIshallneverenjoy。Iamsettinghisroominorder，astheplacewillbehisownfreeholdwhenIamgone，sothatwhenhecomesbackhemayfindallhispoorjim—cracksandtrangleysasheleft’em，andnotfeelthatIhavebetrayedhistrust。’

Mrs。Martin’svoicerevealedthatshehadburstintosuchfewtearsaswerelefther，andthenHannahbegancryinglikewise;whereuponLadyConstantine，whosehearthadbeenburstingallday（andwho，indeed，consideringhercomingtrouble，hadreasonenoughfortears），brokeintobitterersobsthaneither——sobsofabsolutepain，thatcouldnolongerbeconcealed。

HannahwasthefirsttodiscoverthatLadyConstantinewasweepingwiththem;andherfeelingsbeingprobablytheleastintenseamongthethreesheinstantlycontrolledherself。

’Refrainyourself，mydearwoman，refrain！’shesaidhastilytoMrs。

Martin;’don’tyeseehowitdoraftmylady？’AndturningtoVivietteshewhispered，’Heryearsbesogreat，yourladyship，thatperhapsye’llexcuseherforbustingoutaforeye？Weknowwhenthemindisdim，mylady，there’snotthemannersthereshouldbe;butdecayedpeoplecan’thelpit，pooroldsoul！’

’Hannah，thatwilldonow。PerhapsLadyConstantinewouldliketospeaktomealone，’saidMrs。Martin。AndwhenHannahhadretreatedMrs。Martincontinued:’Suchachargeassheis，mylady，onaccountofhergreatage！You’llpardonherbidinghereasifshewereoneofthefamily。Iputupwithsuchthingsbecauseofherlongservice，andweknowthatyearsleadtochildishness。’

’Whatareyoudoing？CanIhelpyou？’Vivietteasked，asMrs。

Martin，afterspeaking，turnedtoliftsomelargearticle。

’Oh，’tisonlytheskeletonofatelescopethat’sgotnoworksinhisinside，’saidSwithin’sgrandmother，seizingthehugepasteboardtubethatSwithinhadmade，andabandonedbecausehecouldgetnolensestosuitit。’Iamgoingtohangituptothesehooks，andthereitwillbidetillhecomesagain。’

LadyConstantinetookoneend，andthetubewashungupagainstthewhitewashedwallbystringsthattheoldwomanhadtiedroundit。

’Here’sallhisequinoctiallines，andhistopicsofCapricorn，andIdon’tknowwhatbesides，’Mrs。Martincontinued，pointingtosomecharcoalscratchesonthewall。’Ishallneverrub’emout;no，though’tissuchuntidinessasIwasneverbroughtupto，Ishallneverrub’emout。’

’WherehasSwithingonetofirst？’askedVivietteanxiously。’Wheredoeshesayyouaretowritetohim？’

’Nowhereyet，mylady。He’sgonetraipsingalloverEuropeandAmerica，andthentotheSouthPacificOceanaboutthisTransitofVenusthat’sgoingtobedonethere。Heistowritetousfirst——

Godknowswhen！——forhesaidthatifwedidn’thearfromhimforsixmonthswewerenottobegalliedatall。’

Atthisintelligence，somuchworsethanshehadexpected，LadyConstantinestoodmute，sankdown，andwouldhavefallentotheflooriftherehadnotbeenachairbehindher。Controllingherselfbyastrenuouseffort，shedisguisedherdespairandaskedvacantly:

’FromAmericatotheSouthPacific——TransitofVenus？’（Swithin’sarrangementtoaccompanytheexpeditionhadbeenmadeatthelastmoment，andthereforeshehadnotasyetbeeninformed。）

’Yes，toaloneisland，Ibelieve。’

’Yes，aloneislant，mylady！’echoedHannah，whohadcreptinandmadeherselfoneofthefamilyagain，inspiteofMrs。Martin。

’HeisgoingtomeettheEnglishandAmericanastronomersthereattheendoftheyear。AfterthathewillmostlikelygoontotheCape。’

’Butbeforetheendoftheyear——whatplacesdidhetellyouofvisiting？’

’Letmecollectmyself;heisgoingtotheobservatoryofCambridge，UnitedStates，tomeetsomegentlementhere，andspythroughthegreatrefractor。Thenthere’stheobservatoryofChicago;andI

thinkhehasalettertomakehimbeknowntoagentlemanintheobservatoryatMarseilles——andhewantstogotoVienna——andPoulkowa，too，hemeanstotakeinhisway——therebeinggreatinstrumentsandalotofastronomersateachplace。’

’DoeshetakeEuropeorAmericafirst？’sheaskedfaintly，fortheaccountseemedhopeless。

Mrs。MartincouldnottelltillshehadheardfromSwithin。ItdependeduponwhathehaddecidedtodoonthedayofhisleavingEngland。

LadyConstantinebadetheoldpeoplegood—bye，anddraggedherwearylimbshomeward。Thefatuousnessofforethoughthadseldombeenevincedmoreironically。Hadshedonenothingtohinderhim，hewouldhavekeptupanunreservedcommunicationwithher，andallmighthavebeenwell。

Forthatnightshecouldundertakenothingfurther，andshewaitedforthenextday。ThenatonceshewrotetwoletterstoSwithin，directingonetoMarseillesobservatory，onetotheobservatoryofCambridge，U。S。，asbeingtheonlytwospotsonthefaceoftheglobeatwhichtheywerelikelytointercepthim。Eachletterstatedtohimtheurgentreasonswhichexistedforhisreturn，andcontainedapassionatelyregretfulintimationthattheannuityonwhichhishopesdependedmustofnecessitybesacrificedbythecompletionoftheiroriginalcontractwithoutdelay。

Butletterconveyancewastooslowaprocesstosatisfyher。Tosendanepitomeofherepistlesbytelegraphwas，afterall，indispensable。SuchanimploringsentenceasshedesiredtoaddresstohimitwouldbehazardoustodespatchfromWarborne，andshetookadrearyjourneytoastrangetownonpurposetosenditfromanofficeatwhichshewasunknown。