Shebecamemuchabsorbedintheseverywomanlyreflections;andatlastLadyConstantinesighed，perhapssheherselfdidnotexactlyknowwhy。Thenaverysoftexpressionlightedonherlipsandeyes，andshelookedatonejumptenyearsmoreyouthfulthanbefore——
quiteagirlinaspect，youngerthanhe。Onthetablelayhisimplements;amongthemapairofscissors，which，tojudgefromtheshredsaround，hadbeenusedincuttingcurvesinthickpaperforsomecalculatingprocess。
Whatwhim，agitation，orattractionpromptedtheimpulse，nobodyknows;butshetookthescissors，and，bendingoverthesleepingyouth，cutoffoneofthecurls，orrathercrooks，——fortheyhardlyreachedacurl，——intowhicheachlockofhishairchosetotwistitselfinthelastinchofitslength。Thehairfellupontherug。
Shepickeditupquickly，returnedthescissorstothetable，and，asifherdignityhadsuddenlybecomeashamedofherfantasies，hastenedthroughthedoor，anddescendedthestaircase。
VI
WhenhisnaphadnaturallyexhausteditselfSwithinawoke。Heawokewithoutanysurprise，forhenotunfrequentlygavetosleepintheday—timewhathehadstolenfromitinthenightwatches。Thefirstobjectthatmethiseyeswastheparcelonthetable，and，seeinghisnameinscribedthereon，hemadenoscrupletoopenit。
Thesunflasheduponalensofsurprisingmagnitude，polishedtosuchasmoothnessthattheeyecouldscarcelymeetitsreflections。
HerewasacrystalinwhosedepthsweretobeseenmorewondersthanhadbeenrevealedbythecrystalsofalltheCagliostros。
Swithin，hotwithjoyousness，tookthistreasuretohistelescopemanufactoryatthehomestead;thenhestartedofffortheGreatHouse。
Ongainingitsprecinctshefeltshyofcalling，neverhavingreceivedanyhintorpermissiontodoso;whileLadyConstantine’smysteriousmannerofleavingtheparcelseemedtodemandalikemysteriousnessinhisapproachestoher。Alltheafternoonhelingeredaboutuncertainly，inthehopeofinterceptingheronherreturnfromadrive，occasionallywalkingwithanindifferentloungeacrossgladescommandedbythewindows，thatifshewerein—doorsshemightknowhewasnear。Butshedidnotshowherselfduringthedaylight。Stillimpressedbyherplayfulsecrecyhecarriedonthesameideaafterdark，byreturningtothehouseandpassingthroughthegardendoorontothelawnfront，wherehesatontheparapetthatbreastedtheterrace。
Nowshefrequentlycameouthereforamelancholysaunterafterdinner，andto—nightwassuchanoccasion。Swithinwentforward，andmetheratnearlythespotwherehehaddroppedthelenssomenightsearlier。
’Ihavecometoseeyou，LadyConstantine。Howdidtheglassgetonmytable？’
Shelaughedaslightlyasagirl;thathehadcometoherinthiswaywasplainlynooffencethusfar。
’Perhapsitwasdroppedfromthecloudsbyabird，’shesaid。
’Whyshouldyoubesogoodtome？’hecried。
’Onegoodturndeservesanother，’answeredshe。
’DearLadyConstantine！Whateverdiscoveriesresultfromthisshallbeascribedtoyouasmuchastome。WhereshouldIhavebeenwithoutyourgift？’
’Youwouldpossiblyhaveaccomplishedyourpurposejustthesame，andhavebeensomuchthenoblerforyourstruggleagainstill—luck。
Ihopethatnowyouwillbeabletoproceedwithyourlargetelescopeasifnothinghadhappened。’
’Oyes，Iwill，certainly。IamafraidIshowedtoomuchfeeling，thereverseofstoical，whentheaccidentoccurred。Thatwasnotverynobleofme。’
’Thereisnothingunnaturalinsuchfeelingatyourage。Whenyouareolderyouwillsmileatsuchmoods，andatthemishapsthatgaverisetothem。’
’Ah，Iperceiveyouthinkmeweakintheextreme，’hesaid，withjustashadeofpique。’Butyouwillneverrealizethatanincidentwhichfilledbutadegreeinthecircleofyourthoughtscoveredthewholecircumferenceofmine。Nopersoncanseeexactlywhatandwhereanother’shorizonis。’
Theysoonparted，andshere—enteredthehouse，whereshesatreflectingforsometime，tillsheseemedtofearthatshehadwoundedhisfeelings。Sheawokeinthenight，andthoughtandthoughtonthesamething，tillshehadworkedherselfintoafeverishfretaboutit。Whenitwasmorningshelookedacrossatthetower，andsittingdown，impulsivelywrotethefollowingnote:——
’DEARMR。ST。CLEEVE，——IcannotallowyoutoremainundertheimpressionthatIdespisedyourscientificendeavoursinspeakingasIdidlastnight。Ithinkyouweretoosensitivetomyremark。Butperhapsyouwereagitatedwiththelaboursoftheday，andIfearthatwatchingsolateatnightmustmakeyouveryweary。IfIcanhelpyouagain，pleaseletmeknow。Ineverrealizedthegrandeurofastronomytillyoushowedmehowtodoso。Alsoletmeknowaboutthenewtelescope。Comeandseemeatanytime。AfteryourgreatkindnessinbeingmymessengerIcanneverdoenoughforyou。
Iwishyouhadamotherorsister，andpityyourloneliness！Iamlonelytoo。——Yourstruly，VIVIETTE
CONSTANTINE。’
Shewassoanxiousthatheshouldgetthisletterthesamedaythatsheranacrosstothecolumnwithitduringthemorning，preferringtobeherownemissaryinsocuriousacase。Thedoor，asshehadexpected，waslocked;and，slippingtheletterunderit，shewenthomeagain。DuringlunchherardourinthecauseofSwithin’shurtfeelingscooleddown，tillsheexclaimedtoherself，asshesatatherlonelytable，’Whatcouldhavepossessedmetowriteinthatway！’
Afterlunchshewentfastertothetowerthanshehadgoneintheearlymorning，andpeepedeagerlyintothechinkunderthedoor。
Shecoulddiscernnoletter，and，ontryingthelatch，foundthatthedoorwouldopen。Theletterwasgone，Swithinhavingobviouslyarrivedintheinterval。
Sheblushedablushwhichseemedtosay，’Iamgettingfoolishlyinterestedinthisyoungman。’Shehad，inshort，inherownopinion，somewhatoversteppedtheboundsofdignity。Herinstinctsdidnotsquarewellwiththeformalitiesofherexistence，andshewalkedhomedespondently。
Hadaconcert，bazaar，lecture，orDorcasmeetingrequiredthepatronageandsupportofLadyConstantineatthisjuncture，thecircumstancewouldprobablyhavebeensufficienttodiverthermindfromSwithinSt。Cleeveandastronomyforsomelittletime。Butasnoneoftheseincidentswerewithintherangeofexpectation——
WellandHouseandparishlyingfarfromlargetownsandwatering—
places——thevoidinherouterlifecontinued，andwithitthevoidinherlifewithin。
Theyouthhadnotansweredherletter;neitherhadhecalleduponherinresponsetotheinvitationshehadregretted，withtherestoftheepistle，asbeingsomewhattoowarmlyinformalforblackandwhite。Tospeaktenderlytohimwasonething，towriteanother——
thatwasherfeelingimmediatelyaftertheevent;buthiscounter—
moveofsilenceandavoidance，thoughprobablytheresultofpureunconsciousnessonhispart，completelydispersedsuchself—
considerationsnow。HereyesneverfellupontheRings—Hillcolumnwithoutasolicitouswonderarisingastowhathewasdoing。Atruewoman，shewouldassumetheremotestpossibilitytobethemostlikelycontingency，ifthepossibilityhadtherecommendationofbeingtragical;andshenowfearedthatsomethingwaswrongwithSwithinSt。Cleeve。Yettherewasnottheleastdoubtthathehadbecomesoimmersedinthebusinessofthenewtelescopeastoforgeteverythingelse。
OnSunday，betweentheservices，shewalkedtoLittleWelland，chieflyforthesakeofgivingaruntoahouse—dog，alargeSt。
Bernard，ofwhomshewasfond。Thedistancewasbutshort;andshereturnedalonganarrowlane，dividedfromtheriverbyahedge，throughwhoseleaflesstwigstheripplesflashedsilverlightsintohereyes。HereshediscoveredSwithin，leaningoveragate，hiseyesbentuponthestream。
Thedogfirstattractedhisattention;thenheheardher，andturnedround。Shehadneverseenhimlookingsodespondent。
’Youhavenevercalled，thoughIinvitedyou，’saidLadyConstantine。
’Mygreattelescopewon’twork！’herepliedlugubriously。
’Iamsorryforthat。Soithasmadeyouquiteforgetme？’
’Ah，yes;youwrotemeaverykindletter，whichIoughttohaveanswered。Well，Ididforget，LadyConstantine。Mynewtelescopewon’twork，andIdon’tknowwhattodoaboutitatall！’
’CanIassistyouanyfurther？’
’No，Ifearnot。Besides，youhaveassistedmealready。’
’Whatwouldreallyhelpyououtofallyourdifficulties？Somethingwould，surely？’
Heshookhishead。
’Theremustbesomesolutiontothem？’
’Oyes，’hereplied，withahypotheticalgazeintothestream;’SOME
solutionofcourse——anequatorial，forinstance。’
’What’sthat？’
’Briefly，animpossibility。Itisasplendidinstrument，withanobjectlensof，say，eightornineinchesaperture，mountedwithitsaxisparalleltotheearth’saxis，andfittedupwithgraduatedcirclesfordenotingrightascensionsanddeclinations;besideshavingspecialeye—pieces，afinder，andallsortsofappliances——
clock—worktomakethetelescopefollowthemotioninrightascension——Icannottellyouhalftheconveniences。Ah，anequatorialisathingindeed！’
’Anequatorialistheoneinstrumentrequiredtomakeyouquitehappy？’
’Well，yes。’
’I’llseewhatIcando。’
’But，LadyConstantine，’criedtheamazedastronomer，’anequatorialsuchasIdescribecostsasmuchastwograndpianos！’
Shewasratherstaggeredatthisnews;butsheralliedgallantly，andsaid，’Nevermind。I’llmakeinquiries。’
’Butitcouldnotbeputonthetowerwithoutpeopleseeingit！Itwouldhavetobefixedtothemasonry。Andtheremustbeadomeofsomekindtokeepofftherain。Atarpaulinmightdo。’
LadyConstantinereflected。’Itwouldbeagreatbusiness，Isee，’
shesaid。’Thoughasfarasthefixingandroofinggo，Iwouldofcourseconsenttoyourdoingwhatyoulikedwiththeoldcolumn。Myworkmencouldfixit，couldtheynot？’
’Oyes。ButwhatwouldSirBlountsay，ifhecamehomeandsawthegoingson？’
LadyConstantineturnedasidetohideasuddendisplacementofbloodfromhercheek。’Ah——myhusband！’shewhispered……’Iamjustnowgoingtochurch，’sheaddedinarepressedandhurriedtone。’I
willthinkofthismatter。’
InchurchitwaswithLadyConstantineaswiththeLordAngeloofViennainasimilarsituation——Heavenhadheremptywordsonly，andherinventionheardnothertongue。ShesoonrecoveredfromthemomentaryconsternationintowhichshehadfallenatSwithin’sabruptquery。Thepossibilityofthatyoungastronomerbecomingarenownedscientistbyheraidwasathoughtwhichgavehersecretpleasure。Thecourseofrenderinghiminstantmaterialhelpbegantohaveagreatfascinationforher;itwasanewandunexpectedchannelforhercribbedandconfinedemotions。Withexperiencessomuchwiderthanhis，LadyConstantinesawthatthechanceswereperhapsamilliontooneagainstSwithinSt。CleeveeverbeingAstronomerRoyal，orAstronomerExtraordinaryofanysort;yettheremainingchanceinhisfavourwasoneofthosepossibilitieswhich，toawomanofboundingintellectandventuresomefancy，arepleasantertodwellonthanlikelyissuesthathavenosavourofhighspeculationinthem。Theequatorialquestionwasagreatone;
andshehadcaughtsuchalargesparkfromhisenthusiasmthatshecouldthinkofnothingsopiquantashowtoobtaintheimportantinstrument。
WhenTabithaLarkarrivedattheGreatHousenextday，insteadoffindingLadyConstantineinbed，asformerly，shediscoveredherinthelibrary，poringoverwhatastronomicalworksshehadbeenabletounearthfromtheworm—eatenshelves。Asthesepublicationswere，forascienceofsuchrapiddevelopment，somewhatvenerable，therewasnotmuchhelpofapracticalkindtobegainedfromthem。
Nevertheless，theequatorialretainedaholduponherfancy，tillshebecameaseagertoseeoneontheRings—HillcolumnasSwithinhimself。
TheupshotofitwasthatLadyConstantinesentamessengerthateveningtoWellandBottom，wherethehomesteadofSwithin’sgrandmotherwassituated，requestingtheyoungman’spresenceatthehouseattwelveo’clocknextday。
Hehurriedlyreturnedanobedientreply，andthepromisewasenoughtolendgreatfreshnesstohermannernextmorning，insteadoftheleadenairwhichwastoofrequentwithherbeforethesunreachedthemeridian，andsometimesafter。Swithinhad，infact，arisenasanattractivelittleinterventionbetweenherselfanddespair。
VII
Afogdefacedallthetreesoftheparkthatmorning，thewhiteatmosphereadheredtothegroundlikeafungoidgrowthfromit，andmadetheturfedundulationslookslimyandraw。ButLadyConstantinesettleddowninherchairtoawaitthecomingofthelatecurate’ssonwithaserenitywhichthevastblanksoutsidecouldneitherbafflenordestroy。
Attwominutestotwelvethedoor—bellrang，andalookoverspreadthelady’sfacethatwasneithermaternal，sisterly，noramorous;
butpartookinanindescribablemannerofallthreekinds。Thedoorwasflungopenandtheyoungmanwasusheredin，thefogstillclingingtohishair，inwhichshecoulddiscernalittlenotchwhereshehadnippedoffthecurl。
Aspeechlessnessthatsociallywasadefectinhimwastoherviewapiquantattributejustnow。Helookedsomewhatalarmed。
’LadyConstantine，haveIdoneanything，thatyouhavesent——？’hebeganbreathlessly，ashegazedinherface，withpartedlips。
’Ono，ofcoursenot！Ihavedecidedtodosomething，——nothingmore，’shesmilinglysaid，holdingoutherhand，whichherathergingerlytouched。’Don’tlooksoconcerned。Whomakesequatorials？’
Thisremarkwaslikethedrawingofaweir—hatchandshewasspeedilyinundatedwithallshewishedtoknowconcerningastronomicalopticians。Whenhehadimpartedtheparticularshewaited，manifestlyburningtoknowwhithertheseinquiriestended。
’Iamnotgoingtobuyyouone，’shesaidgently。
Helookedasifhewouldfaint。
’Certainlynot。Idonotwishit。I——couldnothaveacceptedit，’
falteredtheyoungman。
’ButIamgoingtobuyoneforMYSELF。Ilackahobby，andIshallchooseastronomy。Ishallfixmyequatorialonthecolumn。’
Swithinbrightenedup。
’AndIshallletyouhavetheuseofitwheneveryouchoose。Inbrief，SwithinSt。CleeveshallbeLadyConstantine’sAstronomerRoyal;andshe——andshe——’
’ShallbehisQueen。’Thewordscamenotmuchtheworseforbeingutteredonlyinthetoneofoneanxioustocompleteatardysentence。
’Well，that’swhatIhavedecidedtodo，’resumedLadyConstantine。
’Iwillwritetotheseopticiansatonce。’
Thereseemedtobenomoreforhimtodothantothankherfortheprivilege，wheneveritshouldbeavailable，whichhepromptlydid，andthenmadeasiftogo。ButLadyConstantinedetainedhimwith，’Haveyoueverseenmylibrary？’
’No;never。’
’Youdon’tsayyouwouldliketoseeit。’
’ButIshould。’
’Itisthethirddoorontheright。Youcanfindyourwayin，andyoucanstaythereaslongasyoulike。’
Swithinthenleftthemorning—roomfortheapartmentdesignated，andamusedhimselfinthat’soulofthehouse，’asCicerodefinedit，tillheheardthelunchbellsoundingfromtheturret，whenhecamedownfromthelibrarysteps，andthoughtittimetogohome。Butatthatmomentaservantenteredtoinquirewhetherhewouldorwouldnotprefertohavehislunchbroughtintohimthere;uponhisreplyingintheaffirmativealargetrayarrivedonthestomachofafootman，andSwithinwasgreatlysurprisedtoseeawholepheasantplacedathisdisposal。
Havingbreakfastedateightthatmorning，andhavingbeenmuchintheopenairafterwards，theAdonis—astronomer’sappetiteassumedgrandproportions。HowmuchofthatpheasanthemightconsistentlyeatwithouthurtinghisdearpatronessLadyConstantine’sfeelings，whenhecouldreadilyeatitall，wasaprobleminwhichthereasonablenessofalargerandlargerquantityargueditselfinverselyasasmallerandsmallerquantityremained。When，atlength，hehadfinallydecidedonaterminalpointinthebodyofthebird，thedoorwasgentlyopened。
’Oh，youhavenotfinished？’cametohimoverhisshoulder，inaconsideratevoice。
’Oyes，thankyou，LadyConstantine，’hesaid，jumpingup。
’Whydidyouprefertolunchinthisawkward，dustyplace？’
’Ithought——itwouldbebetter，’saidSwithinsimply。
’Thereisfruitintheotherroom，ifyouliketocome。Butperhapsyouwouldrathernot？’
’Oyes，Ishouldmuchliketo，’saidSwithin，walkingoverhisnapkin，andfollowingherassheledthewaytotheadjoiningapartment。
Here，whilesheaskedhimwhathehadbeenreading，hemodestlyventuredonanapple，inwhoseflavourherecognizedthefamiliartasteofoldfriendsrobbedfromherhusband’sorchardsinhischildhood，longbeforeLadyConstantine’sadventonthescene。Shesupposedhehadconfinedhissearchtohisownsublimesubject，astronomy？
Swithinsuddenlybecameoldertotheeye，ashisthoughtsrevertedtothetopicthusreintroduced。’Yes，’heinformedher。’Iseldomreadanyothersubject。Inthesedaysthesecretofproductivestudyistoavoidwell。’
’Didyoufindanygoodtreatises？’
’None。ThetheoriesinyourbooksarealmostasobsoleteasthePtolemaicSystem。Onlyfancy，thatmagnificentCyclopaedia，leather—bound，andstamped，andgilt，andwidemargined，andbearingtheblazonofyourhouseinmagnificentcolours，saysthatthetwinklingofthestarsisprobablycausedbyheavenlybodiespassinginfrontofthemintheirrevolutions。’
’Andisitnotso？ThatwaswhatIlearnedwhenIwasagirl。’
ThemodernEudoxusnowroseabovetheembarrassinghorizonofLadyConstantine’sgreathouse，magnificentfurniture，andawe—inspiringfootman。Hebecamequitenatural，allhisself—consciousnessfled，andhiseyespokeintohersnolessthanhislipstoherears，ashesaid，’Howsuchatheorycanhavelingeredontothisdaybeatsconjecture！FrancoisArago，aslongasfortyorfiftyyearsago，conclusivelyestablishedthefactthatscintillationisthesimplestthingintheworld，——merelyamatterofatmosphere。ButIwon’tspeakofthistoyounow。ThecomparativeabsenceofscintillationinwarmcountrieswasnoticedbyHumboldt。Then，again，thescintillationsvary。NostarflapshiswingslikeSiriuswhenhelieslow！Heflashesoutemeraldsandrubies，amethystineflamesandsapphirinecolours，inamannerquitemarvelloustobehold，andthisisonlyONEstar！So，too，doArcturus，andCapella，andlesserluminaries……ButItireyouwiththissubject？’
’Onthecontrary，youspeaksobeautifullythatIcouldlistenallday。’
Theastronomerthrewasearchingglanceuponherforamoment;buttherewasnosatireinthewarmsofteyeswhichmethisownwithaluxuriouscontemplativeinterest。’Saysomemoreofittome，’shecontinued，inavoicenotfarremovedfromcoaxing。
Aftersomehesitationthesubjectreturnedagaintohislips，andhesaidsomemore——indeed，muchmore;LadyConstantineoftenthrowinginanappreciativeremarkorquestion，oftenmeditativelyregardinghim，inpursuanceofideasnotexactlybasedonhiswords，andlettinghimgoonashewould。
Beforeheleftthehousethenewastronomicalprojectwassetintrain。Thetopofthecolumnwastoberoofedin，toformaproperobservatory;andonthegroundthatheknewbetterthananyoneelsehowthiswastobecarriedout，sherequestedhimtogiveprecisedirectionsonthepoint，andtosuperintendthewhole。Awoodencabinwastobeerectedatthefootofthetower，toprovidebetteraccommodationforcasualvisitorstotheobservatorythanthespiralstaircaseandlead—flatafforded。Asthiscabinwouldbecompletelyburiedinthedensefirfoliagewhichenvelopedthelowerpartofthecolumnanditspedestal，itwouldbenodisfigurementtothegeneralappearance。Finally，apathwastobemadeacrossthesurroundingfallow，bywhichshemighteasilyapproachthesceneofhernewstudy。
Whenhewasgoneshewrotetothefirmofopticiansconcerningtheequatorialforwhosereceptionallthiswasdesigned。
Theundertakingwassooninfullprogress;andbydegreesitbecamethetalkofthehamletsroundthatLadyConstantinehadgivenupmelancholyforastronomy，tothegreatadvantageofallwhocameincontactwithher。Onemorning，whenTabithaLarkhadcomeasusualtoread，LadyConstantinechancedtobeinaquarterofthehousetowhichsheseldomwandered;andwhileheresheheardhermaidtalkingconfidentiallytoTabithaintheadjoiningroomonthecuriousandsuddeninterestwhichLadyConstantinehadacquiredinthemoonandstars。
’Theydosayallsortsoftrumpery，’observedthehandmaid。’Theysay——though’tislittlebetterthanmischief，tobesure——thatitisn’tthemoon，anditisn’tthestars，anditisn’ttheplannards，thatmyladycaresfor，butfortheprettyladwhodraws’emdownfromtheskytopleaseher;andbeingamarriedexample，andwhatwithsinandshameknockingateverypoormaid’sdooraforeyoucansay，\"Handsoff，mydear，\"tothecivilestyoungman，sheoughttosetabetterpattern。’
LadyConstantine’sfaceflamedupvividly。
’IfSirBlountweretocomebackallofasudden——oh，my！’
LadyConstantinegrewcoldasice。
’There’snothinginit，’saidTabithascornfully。’Icouldproveitanyday。’
’Well，IwishIhadhalfherchance！’sighedthelady’smaid。Andnomorewassaidonthesubjectthen。
Tabitha’sremarkshowedthatthesuspicionwasquiteinembryoasyet。Nevertheless，sayingnothingtorevealwhatshehadoverheard，immediatelyafterthereadingLadyConstantineflewlikeabirdtowheresheknewthatSwithinmightbefound。
Hewasintheplantation，settinguplittlestickstomarkwherethewoodencabinwastostand。Shecalledhimtoaremoteplaceunderthefunerealtrees。
’Ihavealteredmymind，’shesaid。’Icanhavenothingtodowiththismatter。’
’Indeed？’saidSwithin，surprised。
’Astronomyisnotmyhobbyanylonger。AndyouarenotmyAstronomerRoyal。’
’OLadyConstantine！’criedtheyouth，aghast。’Why，theworkisbegun！Ithoughttheequatorialwasordered。’
Shedroppedhervoice，thoughaJerichoshoutwouldnothavebeenoverheard:’Ofcourseastronomyismyhobbyprivately，andyouaretobemyAstronomerRoyal，andIstillfurnishtheobservatory;butnottotheouterworld。Thereisareasonagainstmyindulgenceinsuchscientificfanciesopenly;andtheprojectmustbearrangedinthiswise。Thewholeenterpriseisyours:yourentthetowerofme:youbuildthecabin:yougettheequatorial。Isimplygivepermission，sinceyoudesireit。Thepaththatwastobemadefromthehilltotheparkisnottobethoughtof。Thereistobenocommunicationbetweenthehouseandthecolumn。Theequatorialwillarriveaddressedtoyou，anditscostIwillpaythroughyou。Mynamemustnotappear，andIvanishentirelyfromtheundertaking……Thisblindisnecessary，’sheadded，sighing。’Good—bye！’
’ButyouDOtakeasmuchinterestasbefore，anditWILLbeyoursjustthesame？’hesaid，walkingafterher。Hescarcelycomprehendedthesubterfuge，andwasabsolutelyblindastoitsreason。
’Canyoudoubtit？ButIdarenotdoitopenly。’
Withthisshewentaway;andinduetimetherecirculatedthroughtheparishanassertionthatitwasamistaketosupposeLadyConstantinehadanythingtodowithSwithinSt。Cleeveorhisstar—
gazingschemes。Shehadmerelyallowedhimtorentthetowerofherforuseashisobservatory，andtoputsometemporaryfixturesonitforthatpurpose。
AfterthisLadyConstantinelapsedintoherformerlifeofloneliness;andbythesepromptmeasurestheghostofarumourwhichhadbarelystartedintoexistencewasspeedilylaidtorest。Ithadprobablyoriginatedinherowndwelling，andhadgonebutlittlefurther。Yet，despiteherself—control，acertainnorthwindowoftheGreatHouse，thatcommandedanuninterruptedviewoftheuppertenfeetofthecolumn，revealedhertobesomewhatfrequentlygazingfromitatarotunditywhichhadbeguntoappearonthesummit。Tothosewithwhomshecameincontactshesometimesaddressedsuchremarksas，’IsyoungMr。St。Cleevegettingonwithhisobservatory？Ihopehewillfixhisinstrumentswithoutdamagingthecolumn，whichissointerestingtousasbeinginmemoryofmydearhusband’sgreat—grandfather——atrulybraveman。’
Ononeoccasionherbuilding—stewardventuredtosuggesttoherthat，SirBlounthavingdeputedtoherthepowertograntshortleasesinhisabsence，sheshouldhaveadistinctiveagreementwithSwithin，asbetweenlandlordandtenant，withastringentclauseagainsthisdrivingnailsintothestoneworkofsuchanhistoricalmemorial。SherepliedthatshedidnotwishtobesevereonthelastrepresentativeofsucholdandrespectedparishionersasSt。
Cleeve’smother’sfamilyhadbeen，andofsuchawell—descendedfamilyashisfather’s;sothatitwouldonlybenecessaryforthestewardtokeepaneyeonMr。St。Cleeve’sdoings。
Further，whenaletterarrivedattheGreatHousefromHiltonandPimm’s，theopticians，withinformationthattheequatorialwasreadyandpacked，andthatamanwouldbesentwithittofixit，sherepliedtothatfirmtotheeffectthattheirlettershouldhavebeenaddressedtoMr。St。Cleeve，thelocalastronomer，onwhosebehalfshehadmadetheinquiries;thatshehadnothingmoretodowiththematter;thathewouldreceivetheinstrumentandpaythebill，——herguaranteebeinggivenforthelatterperformance。
VIII
LadyConstantinethenhadthepleasureofbeholdingawaggon，ladenwithpacking—cases，movingacrossthefieldtowardsthepillar;andnotmanydayslaterSwithin，whohadnevercometotheGreatHousesincetheluncheon，metherinapathwhichheknewtobeoneofherpromenades。
’Theequatorialisfixed，andthemangone，’hesaid，halfindoubtastohisspeech，forhercommandstohimnottorecognizeheragencyorpatronagestillpuzzledhim。’Irespectfullywish——youcouldcomeandseeit，LadyConstantine。’
’Iwouldrathernot;Icannot。’
’Saturnislovely;Jupiterissimplysublime;IcanseedoublestarsintheLionandintheVirgin，whereIhadseenonlyasingleonebefore。ItisallIrequiredtosetmegoing！’
