第18章

Thereshehandedinhermessage，addressingittotheportofarrivaloftheOccidental，andagainreturnedhome。

Shewaited;andtherebeingnoreturntelegram，theinferencewasthathehadsomehowmissedhers。Forananswertoeitherofherlettersshewouldhavetowaitlongenoughtoallowhimtimetoreachoneoftheobservatories——atediouswhile。

Thensheconsideredtheweakness，thestultifyingnatureofherattemptatrecall。

Eventsmockedheronallsides。Bythefavourofanaccident，andbyherownimmenseexertionsagainstherinstincts，Swithinhadbeenrestoredtotherightfulheritagethathehadnearlyforfeitedonheraccount。Hehadjuststartedofftoutilizeit;whenshe，withoutamoment’swarning，wasaskinghimagaintocastitaway。

Shehadsetacertainmachineryinmotion——tostopitbeforeithadrevolvedonce。

Ahorridapprehensionpossessedher。IthadbeeneasyforSwithintogiveupwhathehadneverknowntheadvantagesofkeeping;buthavingoncebeguntoenjoyhispossessionwouldhegiveitupnow？

Couldhebedependedonforsuchself—sacrifice？Beforeleaving，hewouldhavedoneanythingatherrequest;butthemolliatemporafandihadnowpassed。Supposetherearrivednoreplyfromhimforthenextthreemonths;andthatwhenhisanswercameheweretoinformherthat，havingnowfullyacquiescedinheroriginaldecision，hefoundthelifehewasleadingsoprofitableastobeunabletoabandonit，eventopleaseher;thathewasverysorry，buthavingembarkedonthiscoursebyheradvicehemeanttoadheretoitbyhisown。

Therewas，indeed，everyprobabilitythat，movingaboutashewasdoing，andcautionedashehadbeenbyherveryselfagainstlisteningtohertooreadily，shewouldreceivenoreplyofanysortfromhimforthreeorperhapsfourmonths。ThiswouldbeontheeveoftheTransit;andwhatlikelihoodwastherethatayoungman，fullofardourforthatspectacle，wouldforegoitatthelastmomenttoreturntoahumdrumdomesticitywithawomanwhowasnolongeranovelty？

Ifshecouldonlyleavehimtohiscareer，andsaveherownsituationalso！Butatthatmomentthepropositionseemedasimpossibleastoconstructatriangleoftwostraightlines。

Inherwalkhome，pervadedbythesehopelessviews，shepassednearthedarkanddesertedtower。Nightinthatsolitaryplace，whichwouldhavecausedhersomeuneasinessinheryearsofblitheness，hadnoterrorsforhernow。Shewentupthewindingpath，and，thedoorbeingunlocked，feltherwaytothetop。Theopenskygreetedherasintimesprevioustothedome—and—equatorialperiod;buttherewasnotastartosuggesttoherinwhichdirectionSwithinhadgone。Theabsenceofthedomesuggestedawayoutofherdifficulties。Aleapinthedark，andallwouldbeover。Butshehadnotreachedthatstageofactionasyet，andthethoughtwasdismissedasquicklyasithadcome。

ThenewconsiderationwhichatpresentoccupiedhermindwaswhethershecouldhavethecouragetoleaveSwithintohimself，asintheoriginalplan，andsinglymeetherimpendingtrial，despisingtheshame，tillheshouldreturnatfive—and—twentyandclaimher？Yetwasthisassumptionofhisreturnsoverysafe？Howalteredthingswouldbeatthattime！Attwenty—fivehewouldstillbeyoungandhandsome;shewouldbethree—and—thirty，fadingtomiddle—ageandhomeliness，fromajunior’spointofview。Afearsharpasafrostsettleddownuponher，thatinanysuchschemeasthisshewouldbebuildinguponthesand。

Shehardlyknewhowshereachedhomethatnight。Enteringbythelawndoorshesawaredcoalinthedirectionofthearbour。Louiswassmokingthere，andhecameforward。

Hehadnotseenhersincethemorningandwasnaturallyanxiousabouther。Sheblessedthechancewhichenvelopedherinnightandlessenedtheweightoftheencounteronehalfbydeprivinghimofvision。

’Didyouaccomplishyourobject？’heasked。

’No，’saidshe。

’Howwasthat？’

’Hehassailed。’

’Averygoodthingforboth，Isay。Ibelieveyouwouldhavemarriedhim，ifyoucouldhaveovertakenhim。’

’ThatwouldI！’shesaid。

’GoodGod！’

’Iwouldmarryatinkerforthatmatter;Ihavereasonsforbeinganyman’swife，’shesaidrecklessly，’onlyIshouldprefertodrownmyself。’

Louisheldhisbreath，andstoodrigidatthemeaningherwordsconveyed。

’ButLouis，youdon’tknowall！’criedViviette。’Iamnotsobadasyouthink;minehasbeenfolly——notvice。IthoughtIhadmarriedhim——andthenIfoundIhadnot;themarriagewasinvalid——

SirBlountwasalive！AndnowSwithinhasgoneaway，andwillnotcomebackformycalling！Howcanhe？Hisfortuneislefthimonconditionthatheformsnolegaltie。Owillhe——willhe，comeagain？’

’Never，ifthat’sthepositionofaffairs，’saidLouisfirmly，afterapause。

’WhatthenshallIdo？’saidViviette。

LouisescapedtheformidabledifficultyofreplyingbypretendingtocontinuehisHavannah;andshe，boweddowntodustbywhatshehadrevealed，creptfromhimintothehouse。Louis’scigarwentoutinhishandashestoodlookingintentlyattheground。

XXXIX

Louisgotupthenextmorningwithanideainhishead。Hehaddressedforajourney，andbreakfastedhastily。

BeforehehadstartedViviettecamedownstairs。Louis，whowasnowgreatlydisturbedabouther，wentuptohissisterandtookherhand。

’Auxgrandsmauxlesgrandsremedes，’hesaid，gravely。’Ihaveaplan。’

’Ihaveadozen！’saidshe。

’Youhave？’

’Yes。Butwhataretheyworth？Andyettheremust——thereMUSTbeaway！’

’Viviette，’saidLouis，’promisethatyouwillwaittillIcomehometo—night，beforeyoudoanything。’

Herdistractedeyesshowedslightcomprehensionofhisrequestasshesaid’Yes。’

AnhourafterthattimeLouisenteredthetrainatWarborne，andwasspeedilycrossingacountryofraggedwoodland，which，thoughintrudedonbytheploughatplaces，remainedlargelyintactfromprehistorictimes，andstillaboundedwithyewsofgiganticgrowthandoakstuftedwithmistletoe。ItwastheroutetoMelchester。

Onsettingfootinthatcityhetookthecathedralspireashisguide，theplacebeingstrangetohim;andwentontillhereachedthearchwaydividingMelchestersacredfromMelchestersecular。

ThencehethreadedhiscourseintotheprecinctsofthedampandvenerableClose，levelasabowling—green，andbelovedofrooks，whofromtheirelmperchesonhighthreatenedanyunwarygazerwiththemishapofTobit。Atthecornerofthisreposefulspotstoodtheepiscopalpalace。

Louisenteredthegates，rangthebell，andlookedaround。Herethetreesandrooksseemedolder，ifpossible，thanthoseintheClosebehindhim。Everythingwasdignified，andhefelthimselflikePunchinellointheking’schambers。VerilyinthepresentcaseGlanvillewasnotamantostickattriflesanymorethanhisillustriousprototype;andontheservantbringingamessagethathislordshipwouldseehimatonce，Louismarchedboldlyin。

Throughanolddarkcorridor，roofedwitholddarkbeams，theservantledthewaytotheheavily—mouldeddooroftheBishop’sroom。Dr。Helmsdalewasthere，andwelcomedLouiswithconsiderablestateliness。Buthiscondescensionwastemperedwithacuriousanxiety，andevenwithnervousness。

HeaskedinpointedtonesafterthehealthofLadyConstantine;ifLouishadbroughtananswertotheletterhehadaddressedtoheradayortwoearlier;andifthecontentsoftheletter，orofthepreviousone，wereknowntohim。

’Ihavebroughtnoanswerfromher，’saidLouis。’Butthecontentsofyourletterhavebeenmadeknowntome。’

SinceenteringthebuildingLouishadmorethanoncefeltsomehesitation，anditmightnow，withafavouringmannerfromhisentertainer，haveoperatedtodeterhimfromgoingfurtherwithhisintention。ButtheBishophadpersonalweaknessesthatwerefataltosympathyformorethanamoment。

’ThenImayspeakinconfidencetoyouashernearestrelative，’

saidtheprelate，’andexplainthatIamnowinapositionwithregardtoLadyConstantinewhich，inviewoftheimportantofficeI

hold，IshouldnothavecaredtoplacemyselfinunlessIhadfeltquitesureofnotbeingrefusedbyher。Andhenceitisagreatgrief，andsomemortificationtome，thatIwasrefused——owing，ofcourse，tothefactthatIunwittinglyriskedmakingmyproposalattheverymomentwhenshewasundertheinfluenceofthosestrangetidings，andthereforenotherself，andscarcelyabletojudgewhatwasbestforher。’

TheBishop’swordsdisclosedamindwhosesensitivefearofdangertoitsowndignityhindereditfromcriticismelsewhere。ThingsmighthavebeenworseforLouis’sPuck—likeideaofmis—matinghisHermiawiththisDemetrius。

Throwingastrongcolourofearnestnessintohismienhereplied:

’Bishop，Vivietteismyonlysister;Iamheronlybrotherandfriend。Iamalarmedforherhealthandstateofmind。HenceI

havecometoconsultyouonthisverymatterthatyouhavebroached。

Icomeabsolutelywithoutherknowledge，andIhopeunconventionalitymaybeexcusedinmeonthescoreofmyanxietyforher。’

’Certainly。Itrustthattheprospectopenedupbymyproposal，combinedwiththisothernews，hasnotprovedtoomuchforher？’

’Mysisterisdistractedanddistressed，BishopHelmsdale。Shewantscomfort。’

’Notdistressedbymyletter？’saidtheBishop，turningred。’Hasitloweredmeinherestimation？’

’Onthecontrary;whileyourdisinterestedofferwasuppermostinhermindshewasadifferentwoman。Itisthisothermatterthatoppressesher。TheresultuponheroftherecentdiscoverywithregardtothelateSirBlountConstantineispeculiar。Tosaythatheill—usedherinhislifetimeistounderstateatruth。Hehasbeendeadnowaconsiderableperiod;butthisrevivalofhismemoryoperatesasasortofterroruponher。ImagesofthemannerofSirBlount’sdeatharewithhernightandday，intensifiedbyahideouspictureofthesupposedscene，whichwascruellysenther。Shedreadsbeingalone。NothingwillrestoremypoorViviettetoherformercheerfulnessbutadistraction——ahope——anewprospect。’

’Thatispreciselywhatacceptanceofmyofferwouldafford。’

’Precisely，’saidLouis，withgreatrespect。’Buthowtogethertoavailherselfofit，afteroncerefusingyou，isthedifficulty，andmyearnestproblem。’

’Thenwearequiteatone。’

’Weare。AnditistopromoteourwishesthatIamcome;sinceshewilldonothingofherself。’

’Thenyoucangivemenohopeofareplytomysecondcommunication？’

’Nonewhatever——byletter，’saidLouis。’Herimpressionplainlyisthatshecannotencourageyourlordship。Yet，inthefaceofallthisreticence，thesecretisthatshelovesyouwarmly。’

’Canyouindeedassuremeofthat？Indeed，indeed！’saidthegoodBishopmusingly。’ThenImusttrytoseeher。Ibegintofeel——tofeelstrongly——thatacoursewhichwouldseemprematureandunbecominginothercaseswouldbetrueandproperconductinthis。

Herunhappydilemmas——herunwontedposition——yes，yes——Iseeitall！

Icanaffordtohavesomelittlemisconstructionputuponmymotives。Iwillgoandseeherimmediately。Herpasthasbeenacruelone;shewantssympathy;andwithHeaven’shelpI’llgiveit。’

’Ithinktheremedyliesthatway，’saidLouisgently。’Somewordscamefromheronenightwhichseemedtoshowit。Iwasstandingontheterrace:Iheardsomebodysighinthedark，andfoundthatitwasshe。Iaskedherwhatwasthematter，andgentlypressedheronthissubjectofboldlyandpromptlycontractinganewmarriageasameansofdispersingthehorrorsoftheold。Heranswerimpliedthatshewouldhavenoobjectiontodoit，andtodoitatonce，providedshecouldremainexternallypassiveinthematter，thatshewouldtacitlyyield，infact，topressure，butwouldnotmeetsolicitationhalf—way。Now，BishopHelmsdale，youseewhathaspromptedme。Ontheonehandisadignitaryofhighpositionandintegrity，tosaynomore，whoisanxioustosaveherfromthegloomofhersituation;

ontheotheristhissister，whowillnotmakeknowntoyouherwillingnesstobesaved——partlyfromapathy，partlyfromafearthatshemaybethoughtforwardinrespondingfavourablyatsoearlyamoment，partlyalso，perhaps，fromamodestsensethattherewouldbesomesacrificeonyourpartinallyingyourselfwithawomanofhersecludedandsadexperience。’

’O，thereisnosacrifice！Quiteotherwise。Icaregreatlyforthisalliance，Mr。Glanville。Yoursisterisverydeartome。

Moreover，theadvantageshermindwouldderivefromtheenlargedfieldofactivitythatthepositionofabishop’swifewouldafford，arepalpable。Iaminducedtothinkthatanearlysettlementofthequestion——animmediatecomingtothepoint——whichmightbecalledtooearlyinthemajorityofcases，wouldbearightandconsideratetendernesshere。Myonlydreadisthatsheshouldthinkanimmediatefollowingupofthesubjectpremature。Andtheriskofarebuffasecondtimeisonewhich，asyoumustperceive，itwouldbehighlyunbecominginmetorun。’

’Ithinktheriskwouldbesmall，ifyourlordshipwouldapproachherfrankly。Writeshewillnot，Iamassured;andknowingthat，andhavingherinterestatheart，Iwasinducedtocometoyouandmakethiscandidstatementinreplytoyourcommunication。Herlatehusbandhavingbeenvirtuallydeadthesefourorfiveyears，believeddeadtwoyears，andactuallydeadnearlyone，noreproachcouldattachtoherifsheweretocontractanotherunionto—

morrow。’

’Iagreewithyou，Mr。Glanville，’saidtheBishopwarmly。’Iwillthinkthisover。HermotiveinnotreplyingIcanquiteunderstand:

yourmotiveincomingIcanalsounderstandandappreciateinabrother。IfIfeelconvincedthatitwouldbeaseemlyandexpedientthingIwillcometoWellandto—morrow。’

ThepointtowhichLouishadbroughttheBishopbeingsosatisfactory，hefearedtoendangeritbyanotherword。Hewentawayalmosthurriedly，andatoncelefttheprecinctsofthecathedral，lestanotherencounterwithDr。HelmsdaleshouldleadthelattertotakeanewandslowerviewofhisdutiesasViviette’ssuitor。

HereachedWellandbydinner—time，andcameuponVivietteinthesamepensivemoodinwhichhehadlefther。Itseemedshehadhardlymovedsince。

’HaveyoudiscoveredSwithinSt。Cleeve’saddress？’shesaid，withoutlookingupathim。

’No，’saidLouis。

Thenshebrokeoutwithindescribableanguish:’Butyouaskedmetowaittillthisevening;andIhavewaitedthroughthelongday，inthebeliefthatyourwordsmeantsomething，andthatyouwouldbringgoodtidings！AndnowIfindyourwordsmeantnothing，andyouhaveNOTbroughtgoodtidings！’

Louiscouldnotdecideforamomentwhattosaytothis。Shouldheventuretogiveherthoughtsanewcoursebyarevelationofhisdesign？No:itwouldbebettertoprolongherdespairyetanothernight，andspringreliefuponhersuddenly，thatshemightjumpatitandcommitherselfwithoutanintervalforreflectiononcertainaspectsoftheproceeding。

Nothing，accordingly，didhesay;andconjecturingthatshewouldbehardlylikelytotakeanydesperatestepthatnight，helefthertoherself。

Hisanxietyatthiscrisiscontinuedtobegreat。EverythingdependedontheresultoftheBishop’sself—communion。Wouldheorwouldhenotcomethenextday？Perhapsinsteadofhisimportantpresencetherewouldappearaletterpostponingthevisitindefinitely。Ifso，allwouldbelost。

Louis’ssuspensekepthimawake，andhewasnotaloneinhissleeplessness。Throughthenightheheardhissisterwalkingupanddown，inastatewhichbetokenedthatforeverypangofgriefshehaddisclosed，twiceasmanyhadremainedunspoken。Healmostfearedthatshemightseektoendherexistencebyviolence，sounreasonablysuddenwerehermoods;andhelayandlongedfortheday。

Itwasmorning。Shecamedownthesameasusual，andaskediftherehadarrivedanytelegramorletter;buttherewasneither。Louisavoidedher，knowingthatnothinghecouldsayjustthenwoulddoheranygood。

NocommunicationhadreachedhimfromtheBishop，andthatlookedwell。Byoneruseandanother，asthedaywenton，heledherawayfromcontemplatingtheremotepossibilityofhearingfromSwithin，andinducedhertolookattheworstcontingencyasherprobablefate。Itseemedasifshereallymadeuphermindtothis，forbytheafternoonshewasapathetic，likeawomanwhoneitherhopednorfeared。

Andthenaflydroveuptothedoor。

Louis，whohadbeenstandinginthehallthegreaterpartofthatday，glancedoutthroughaprivatewindow，andwenttoViviette。

’TheBishophascalled，’hesaid。’Bereadytoseehim。’

’TheBishopofMelchester？’saidViviette，bewildered。

’Yes。Iaskedhimtocome。Hecomesforananswertohisletters。’

’Ananswer——to——his——letters？’shemurmured。

’Animmediatereplyofyesorno。’

Herfaceshowedtheworkingsofhermind。Howentirelyananswerofassent，atonceactedonforbetterorforworse，wouldclearthespectrefromherpath，thereneedednotonguetotell。Itwould，moreover，accomplishthatendwithoutinvolvingtheimpoverishmentofSwithin——theinevitableresultifshehadadoptedthelegitimateroadoutofhertrouble。Hithertotherehadseemedtoherdismayedmind，unenlightenedastoanycoursesaveoneofhonesty，nopossibleachievementofBOTHherdesires——thesavingofSwithinandthesavingofherself。Butbehold，herewasaway！Atempterhadshownittoher。Itinvolvedagreatwrong，whichtoherhadquiteobscureditsfeasibility。Butsheperceivednowthatitwasindeedaway。Naturewasforcingherhandatthisgame;andtowhatwillnotnaturecompelherweakervictims，inextremes？

Louislefthertothinkitout。Whenhereachedthedrawing—roomDr。Helmsdalewasstandingtherewiththeairofamantoogoodforhisdestiny——which，tobejusttohim，wasnotfarfromthetruththistime。

’Haveyoubrokenmymessagetoher？’askedtheBishopsonorously。

’Notyourmessage;yourvisit，’saidLouis。’IleavetherestinyourLordship’shands。IhavedoneallIcanforher。’

Shewasinherownsmallroomto—day;and，feelingthatitmustbeaboldstrokeornone，heledtheBishopacrossthehalltillhereachedherapartmentandopenedthedoor;butinsteadoffollowingheshutitbehindhisvisitor。

ThenGlanvillepassedananxioustime。Hewalkedfromthefootofthestaircasetothestarofoldswordsandpikesonthewall;fromthesetothestags’horns;thencedownthecorridorasfarasthedoor，wherehecouldhearmurmuringinside，butnotitsimport。Thelongertheyremainedclosetedthemoreexciteddidhebecome。Thatshehadnotperemptorilynegativedtheproposalattheoutsetwasastrongsignofitssuccess。Itshowedthatshehadadmittedargument;andtheworthyBishophadapleaderonhissidewhomheknewlittleof。TheveryweatherseemedtofavourDr。Helmsdaleinhissuit。Ablusterouswindhadblownupfromthewest，howlinginthesmokelesschimneys，andsuggestingtothefemininemindstormsatsea，atossingocean，andthehopelessinaccessibilityofallastronomersandmenontheothersideofthesame。

TheBishophadenteredViviette’sroomattenminutespastthree。

Thelonghandofthehallclocklaylevelatforty—fiveminutespastwhentheknobofthedoormoved，andhecameout。Louismethimwherethepassagejoinedthehall。

Dr。Helmsdalewasdecidedlyinanemotionalstate，hisfacebeingslightlyflushed。Louislookedhisanxiousinquirywithoutspeakingit。

’Sheacceptsme，’saidtheBishopinalowvoice。’Andtheweddingistobesoon。Herlongsolitudeandsufferingsjustifyhaste。

Whatyousaidwastrue。Sheerwearinessanddistractionhavedrivenhertome。Shewasquitepassiveatlast，andagreedtoanythingI

proposed——suchisthepersuasiveforceoftrainedlogicalreasoning！

Agoodandwisewoman，sheperceivedwhatatrueshelterfromsadnesswasofferedinme，andwasnottheonetodespiseHeaven’sgift。’

XL

ThesilenceofSwithinwastobeaccountedforbythecircumstancethatneithertotheMediterraneannortoAmericahadheinthefirstplacedirectedhissteps。Feelinghimselfabsolutelyfreehehad，onarrivingatSouthampton，decidedtomakestraightfortheCape，andhencehadnotgoneaboardtheOccidentalatall。Hisobjectwastoleavehisheavierluggagethere，examinethecapabilitiesofthespotforhispurpose，findoutthenecessityorotherwiseofshippingoverhisownequatorial，andthencrosstoAmericaassoonastherewasagoodopportunity。HerehemightinquirethemovementsoftheTransitexpeditiontotheSouthPacific，andjoinitatsuchapointasmightbeconvenient。

Thus，thoughwronginherpremisses，Viviettehadintuitivelydecidedwithsadprecision。Therewas，asamatteroffact，agreatpossibilityofhernotbeingabletocommunicatewithhimforseveralmonths，notwithstandingthathemightpossiblycommunicatewithher。

ThisexcursivetimewasanawakeningforSwithin。Toalteredcircumstancesinevitablyfollowedalteredviews。Thatsuchchangesshouldhaveamarkedeffectuponayoungmanwhohadmadeneithergrandtournorpettyone——whohad，inshort，scarcelybeenawayfromhomeinhislife——wasnothingmorethannatural。Newideasstruggledtodisclosethemselvesandwiththeadditionofstrangetwinklerstohissouthernhorizoncameanabsorbedattentionthatway，andacorrespondingforgetfulnessofwhatlaytothenorthbehindhisback，whetherhumanorcelestial。WhoevermaydeploreitfewwillwonderthatViviette，whotillthenhadstoodhighinhisheaven，ifshehadnotdominatedit，sank，liketheNorthStar，lowerandlowerwithhisretreatsouthward。Masterofalargeadvanceofhisfirstyear’sincomeincircularnotes，heperhapstooreadilyforgotthatthemereactofhonour，butforherself—

suppression，wouldhaverenderedhimpenniless。

Meanwhile，tocomebackandclaimheratthespecifiedtime，fouryearsthence，ifsheshouldnotobjecttobeclaimed，wasasmuchapartofhisprogrammeasweretheexploitsabroadandelsewherethatweretopreludeit。Theverythoroughnessofhisintentionforthatadvanceddateinclinedhimallthemorereadilytoshelvethesubjectnow。Herunhappycautiontohimnottowritetoosoonwasacomfortablelicenseinhispresentstateoftensionaboutsublimescientificthings，whichknewnotwoman，norhersacrifices，norherfears。Intruthhewasnotonlytooyounginyears，buttooliteral，direct，anduncompromisinginnaturetounderstandsuchawomanasLadyConstantine;andshesufferedforthatlimitationinhimasithadbeenantecedentlyprobablethatshewoulddo。

HestayedbutalittletimeatCapeTownonthishisfirstreconnoitringjourney;andonthataccountwrotetonoonefromtheplace。OnleavinghefoundthereremainedsomeweeksonhishandsbeforehewishedtocrosstoAmerica;andfeelinganirrepressibledesireforfurtherstudiesinnavigationonshipboard，andunderclearskies，hetookthesteamerforMelbourne;returningthenceinduetime，andpursuinghisjourneytoAmerica，wherehelandedatBoston。

Havingatlasthadenoughofgreatcirclesandothernauticalreckonings，andtakingnointerestinmenorcities，thisindefatigablescrutineeroftheuniversewentimmediatelyontoCambridge;andthere，bythehelpofanintroductionhehadbroughtfromEngland，herevelledforatimeinthegloriesofthegiganticrefractor（whichhewaspermittedtouseonoccasion），andinthepleasuresofintercoursewiththescientificgrouparound。ThisbroughthimontothetimeofstartingwiththeTransitexpedition，whenheandhiskindbecamelosttotheeyeofcivilizationbehindthehorizonofthePacificOcean。

Tospeakoftheirdoingsonthispilgrimage，ofingressandegress，oftangentandparallax，ofexternalandinternalcontact，wouldavailnothing。IsitnotallwritteninthechroniclesoftheAstronomicalSociety？MoretothepointwillitbetomentionthatViviette’slettertoCambridgehadbeenreturnedlongbeforehereachedthatplace，whilehermissivetoMarseilleswas，ofcourse，misdirectedaltogether。OnarrivinginAmerica，uncertainofanaddressinthatcountryatwhichhewouldstaylong，Swithinwrotehisfirstlettertohisgrandmother;andinthisheorderedthatallcommunicationsshouldbesenttoawaithimatCapeTown，astheonlysafespotforfindinghim，soonerorlater。Theequatorialhealsodirectedtobeforwardedtothesameplace。Atthistime，too，heventuredtobreakViviette’scommands，andaddressalettertoher，notknowingofthestrangeresultsthathadfollowedhisabsencefromhome。

ItwasFebruary。TheTransitwasover，thescientificcompanyhadbrokenup，andSwithinhadsteamedtowardstheCapetotakeuphispermanentabodethere，withaviewtohisgreattaskofsurveying，chartingandtheorizingonthoseexceptionalfeaturesinthesouthernskieswhichhadbeenbutpartiallytreatedbytheyoungerHerschel。HavingenteredTableBayandlandedonthequay，hecalledatonceatthepost—office。

Twoletterswerehandedhim，andhefoundfromthedatethattheyhadbeenwaitingthereforsometime。Oneoftheseepistles，whichhadaweather—wornlookasregardedtheink，andwasinold—

fashionedpenmanship，heknewtobefromhisgrandmother。Heopeneditbeforehehadasmuchasglancedatthesuperscriptionofthesecond。

Besidesimmaterialportions，itcontainedthefollowing:——

’Jreckonyouknowbynowofourmainnewsthisfall，butlestyoushouldnothaveheardofitJsendtheexactthingsnippedoutofthenewspaper。Nobodyexpectedhertodoitquitesosoon;butitissaidhereaboutthatmylordbishopandmyladyhadbeendrawingnightoanunderstandingbeforetheglumtidingsofSirBlount’stakingofhisownlifereachedher;andtheaccountofthiswickeddeedwassosoreafflictingtohermind，andmadeherpoorheartsotimidandlow，thatincharitytomyladyherfewfriendsagreedonurginghertoletthebishopgoonpayinghiscourtasbefore，notwithstandingshehadnotbeenawidow—womannearsolongaswasthought。This，asitturnedout，shewaswillingtodo;andwhenmylordaskedhershetoldhimshewouldmarryhimatonceornever。

That’sasJwastold，andJhaditfromthosethatknow。’

ThecuttingfromthenewspaperwasanordinaryannouncementofmarriagebetweentheBishopofMelchesterandLadyConstantine。

SwithinwassoastoundedattheintelligenceofwhatforthenonceseemedViviette’swantonficklenessthathequiteomittedtolookatthesecondletter;andrememberednothingaboutittillanhourafterwards，whensittinginhisownroomatthehotel。

Itwasinherhandwriting，butsoalteredthatitssuperscriptionhadnotarrestedhiseye。Ithadnobeginning，ordate;butitscontentssoonacquaintedhimwithhermotivefortheprecipitateact。Thefewconcludingsentencesareallthatitwillbenecessarytoquotehere:——

’Therewasnowayoutofit，evenifIcouldhavefoundyou，withoutinfringingoneoftheconditionsIhadpreviouslylaiddown。Thelongdesireofmyhearthasbeennottoimpoverishyouormaryourcareer。Thenewdesirewastosavemyselfand，stillmore，anotheryetunborn……Ihavedoneadesperatething。YetformyselfI

coulddonobetter，andforyounoless。Iwouldhavesacrificedmysingleselftohonesty，butIwasnotaloneconcerned。Whatwomanhasarighttoblightacominglifetopreserveherpersonalintegrity？……Theonebrightspotisthatitsavesyouandyourendowmentfromfurthercatastrophes，andpreservesyoutothepleasantpathsofscientificfame。Inolongerlielikealogacrossyourpath，whichisnowasopenasonthedaybeforeyousawme，andereIencouragedyoutowinme。Alas，Swithin，Ioughttohaveknownbetter。Thefollywasgreat，andthesufferingbeuponmyhead！Ioughtnottohaveconsentedtothatlastinterview:allwaswelltillthen！……Well，Ihavebornemuch，andamnotunprepared。Asforyou，Swithin，bysimplypressingstraightonyourtriumphisassured。Donotcommunicatewithmeinanyway——noteveninanswertothis。Donotthinkofme。Donotseemeeveranymore。——YourunhappyVIVIETTE。’

Swithin’sheartswelledwithinhiminsuddenpityforher，first;