’Itis——anawakening。Inthinkingoftheheavenabove，Ididnotperceive——the——’
’Earthbeneath？’
’Thebetterheavenbeneath。Pray，dearLadyConstantine，givemeyourhandforamoment。’
Sheseemedstartled，andthehandwasnotgiven。
’Iamsoanxioustogethome，’sherepeated。’Ididnotmeantostayheremorethanfiveminutes！’
’IfearIammuchtoblameforthisaccident，’hesaid。’Ioughtnottohaveintrudedhere。Butdon’tgrieve！Iwillarrangeforyourescape，somehow。Begoodenoughtofollowmedown。’
Theyredescended，and，whisperingtoLadyConstantinetoremainafewstairsbehind，hebegantorattleandunlockthedoor。
Themenprecipitatelyremovedtheirbench，andSwithinsteppedout，thelightofthesummernightbeingstillenoughtoenablethemtodistinguishhim。
’Well，Hezekiah，andSamuel，andNat，howareyou？’hesaidboldly。
’Well，sir，’tismuchasbeforewi’me，’repliedNat。’Onehouraweekwi’GodA’mightyandtherestwiththedevil，asachapmaysay。Andreally，nowyerpoorfather’sgone，I’dasliefthatthatSundayhourshouldpassliketherest;forPa’sonTarkenhamdoteaseafeller’sconsciencethatmuch，thatchurchisnohollerdayatalltothelimbs，asitwasinyerreverentfather’stime！Butwe’vebeenwaitinghere，Mr。SanCleeve，supposingyehadnotcome。’
’Ihavebeenstayingatthetop，andfastenedthedoornottobedisturbed。NowIamsorrytodisappointyou，butIhaveanotherengagementthisevening，sothatitwouldbeinconvenienttoadmityou。To—morrowevening，oranyeveningbutthis，Iwillshowyouthecometandanystarsyoulike。’
Theyreadilyagreedtocomethenextnight，andpreparedtodepart。
Butwhatwiththeflagon，andthepipes，andthefinalobservations，gettingawaywasamatteroftime。Meanwhileacloud，whichnobodyhadnoticed，arosefromthenorthoverhead，andlargedropsofrainbegantofallsorapidlythattheconclaveenteredthehuttillitshouldbeover。St。Cleevestrolledoffunderthefirs。
Thenextmomenttherewasarustlingthroughthetreesatanotherpoint，andamanandwomanappeared。Thewomantookshelterunderatree，andtheman，bearingwrapsandumbrellas，cameforward。
’Mylady’smanandmaid，’saidSammy。
’Isherladyshiphere？’askedtheman。
’No。Ireckonherladyshipkeepsmorekissablecompany，’repliedNatChapman。
’Packo’stuff！’saidBlore。
’Nothere？Well，tobesure！Wecan’tfindheranywhereinthewidehouse！I’vebeensenttolookforherwiththeseoverclothesandumbrella。I’vesufferedhorse—fleshtraipsingupanddown，andcan’tfindhernowhere。Lord，Lord，wherecanshebe，andtwomonths’wagesowingtome！’
’Whysoanxious，AnthonyGreen，asIthinkyernameisshaped？Youbenotamarriedman？’saidHezzy。
’’Tiswhattheycallme，neighbours，whetherorno。’
’Butsurelyyouwasabachelorchapbylate，aforeherladyshipgotridoftheregularservantsandtookye？’
’Iwere;butthat’spast！’
’Andhowcameyetobowyerheadto’t，Anthony？’Tiswhatyouneverwasinclinedto。Youwasbynomeansadotingmaninmytime。’
’Well，hadIbeenlefttomyownfreechoice，’tisaslikeasnotI
shouldha’shunnedformingsuchkindred，beingatthattimeapoordayman，orweekly，atmyhighestluckinhiring。But’tiswearingworktoholdoutagainstthecustomofthecountry，andthewomanwantingyetostandbyherandsaveherfromunbornshame;so，sincecommonusagewouldhaveit，Iletmyselfbecarriedawaybyopinion，andtookher。Thoughshe’sneveroncethankedmeforcoveringherconfusion，that’strue！But，’tisthewayofthelostwhensafe，andIdon’tcomplain。Heresheis，justbehind，underthetree，ifyou’dliketoseeher？——averynicehomespunwomantolookat，too，forallherfewweather—stains……Well，well，wherecanmyladybe？AndIthetrustyjineralman——’tismorethanmyplaceisworthtoloseher！Comeforward，Christiana，andtalknicelytothework—
folk。’
Whilethewomanwastalkingtherainincreasedsomuchthattheyallretreatedfurtherintothehut。St。Cleeve，whohadimpatientlystoodalittlewayoff，nowsawhisopportunity，and，puttinginhishead，said，’Therainbeatsin;youhadbettershutthedoor。I
mustascendandcloseupthedome。’
SlammingthedooruponthemwithoutceremonyhequicklywenttoLadyConstantineinthecolumn，andtellinghertheycouldnowpassthevillagersunseenhegaveherhisarm。Thusheconductedheracrossthefrontofthehutintotheshadowsofthefirs。
’Iwillruntothehouseandharnessyourlittlecarriagemyself，’
hesaidtenderly。’Iwillthentakeyouhomeinit。’
’No;pleasedon’tleavemealoneunderthesedismaltrees！’Neitherwouldshehearofhisgettingheranywraps;and，openingherlittlesunshadetokeeptherainoutofherface，shewalkedwithhimacrosstheinsulatingfield，afterwhichthetreesoftheparkaffordedherasufficientsheltertoreachhomewithoutmuchdamage。
Swithinwastoogreatlyaffectedbywhathehadoverheardtospeakmuchtoherontheway，andprotectedherasifshehadbeenashornlamb。Afterafarewellwhichhadmoremeaningthansoundinit，hehastenedbacktoRings—HillSpeer。Thework—folkwerestillinthehut，and，bydintoffriendlyconverseandasipattheflagon，hadsocheeredMr。andMrs。AnthonyGreenthattheyneitherthoughtnorcaredwhathadbecomeofLadyConstantine。
St。Cleeve’ssuddensenseofnewrelationswiththatsweetpatronesshadtakenawayinonehalf—hourhisnaturalingenuousness。
Henceforthhecouldactapart。
’Ihavemadeallsecureatthetop，’hesaid，puttinghisheadintothehut。’Iamnowgoinghome。Whentherainstops，lockthisdoorandbringthekeytomyhouse。’
XIV
ThelabouredresistancewhichLadyConstantine’sjudgmenthadofferedtoherrebelliousaffectionereshelearntthatshewasawidow，nowpassedintoabashfulnessthatrenderedheralmostasunstableofmoodasbefore。Butshewasoneofthatmettle——fervid，cordial，andspontaneous——whohadnotthehearttospoilapassion;
andheraffairshavinggonetorackandruinbynofaultofherownshewaslefttoapainfullynarrowedexistencewhichlentevensomethingofrationalitytoherattachment。Thusitwasthathertenderandunambitioussoulfoundcomfortinherreverses。
AsforSt。Cleeve，thetardinessofhisawakeningwasthenaturalresultofinexperiencecombinedwithdevotiontoahobby。But，likeaspringbudhardinbursting，thedelaywascompensatedbyafterspeed。Atoncebreathlesslyrecognizinginthisfellow—watcheroftheskiesawomanwholovedhim，inadditiontothepatronessandfriend，hetrulytranslatedthenearlyforgottenkissshehadgivenhiminhermomentofdespair。
LadyConstantine，inbeingeightornineyearshissenior，wasanobjectevenbettercalculatedtonourishayouth’sfirstpassionthanagirlofhisownage，superiorityofexperienceandripenessofemotionexercisingthesamepeculiarfascinationoverhimasoverotheryoungmenintheirfirstventuresinthiskind。
Thealchemywhichthustransmutedanabstractedastronomerintoaneagerlover——and，mustitbesaid，spoiltapromisingyoungphysicisttoproduceacommon—placeinamorato——maybealmostdescribedasworkingitschangeinoneshortnight。NextmorninghewassofascinatedwiththenovelsensationthathewantedtorushoffatoncetoLadyConstantine，andsay，’Iloveyoutrue！’intheintensesttonesofhismentalcondition，toregisterhisassertioninherheartbeforeanyofthoseaccidentswhich’creepin’twixtvows，andchangedecreesofkings，’shouldoccurtohinderhim。Buthisembarrassmentatstandinginanewpositiontowardsherwouldnotallowhimtopresenthimselfatherdoorinanysuchhurry。Hewaitedon，ashelplesslyasagirl，forachanceofencounteringher。
Butthoughshehadtacitlyagreedtoseehimonanyreasonableoccasion，LadyConstantinedidnotputherselfinhisway。Sheevenkeptherselfoutofhisway。Nowthatforthefirsttimehehadlearnttofeelastrongimpatiencefortheirmeeting，hershynessforthefirsttimeledhertodelayit。Butgiventwopeoplelivinginoneparish，wholongfromthedepthsoftheirheartstobeineachother’scompany，whatresolvesofmodesty，policy，pride，orapprehensionwillkeepthemforanylengthoftimeapart？
Oneafternoonhewaswatchingthesunfromhistower，halfechoingtheGreekastronomer’swishthathemightbesetclosetothatluminaryforthewonderofbeholdingitinallitsglory，undertheslightpenaltyofbeingconsumedthenextinstant。Heglancedoverthehigh—roadbetweenthefieldandthepark（whichsublunaryfeaturesnowtoooftendistractedhisattentionfromhistelescope），andsawherpassingalongthatway。
Shewasseatedinthedonkey—carriagethathadnowtakentheplaceofherlandau，thewhiteanimallookingnolargerthanacatatthatdistance。Thebuttonedboy，whorepresentedbothcoachmanandfootman，walkedalongsidetheanimal’sheadatasolemnpace;thedogstalkedatthedistanceofayardbehindthevehicle，withoutindulginginasinglegambol;andthewholeturn—outresembledindignityadwarfedstateprocession。
Herewasanopportunitybutfortwoobstructions:theboy，whomightbecurious;andthedog，whomightbarkandattracttheattentionofanylabourersorservantsnear。Yettheriskwastoberun，and，knowingthatshewouldsoonturnupacertainshadylaneatrightanglestotheroadshehadfollowed，heranhastilydownthestaircase，crossedthebarley（whichnowcoveredthefield）bythepathnotmorethanafootwidethathehadtroddenforhimself，andgotintothelaneattheotherend。Byslowlywalkingalonginthedirectionoftheturnpike—roadhesoonhadthesatisfactionofseeinghercoming。Tohissurprisehealsohadthesatisfactionofperceivingthatneitherboynordogwasinhercompany。
Theybothblushedastheyapproached，shefromsex，hefrominexperience。Onethingsheseemedtoseeinamoment，thatintheintervalofherabsenceSt。Cleevehadbecomeaman;andashegreetedherwiththisnewandmaturerlightinhiseyesshecouldnothideherembarrassment，ormeettheirfire。
’IhavejustsentmypageacrosstothecolumnwithyourbookonCometaryNuclei，’shesaidsoftly;’thatyoumightnothavetocometothehouseforit。IdidnotknowIshouldmeetyouhere。’
’Didn’tyouwishmetocometothehouseforit？’
’Ididnot，frankly。Youknowwhy，doyounot？’
’Yes，Iknow。Well，mylongingisatrest。Ihavemetyouagain。
Butareyouunwell，thatyoudriveoutinthischair？’
’No;Iwalkedoutthismorning，andamalittletired。’
’Ihavebeenlookingforyounightandday。Whydoyouturnyourfaceaside？Youusednottobeso。’Herhandrestedonthesideofthechair，andhetookit。’Doyouknowthatsincewelastmet，I
havebeenthinkingofyou——daringtothinkofyou——asIneverthoughtofyoubefore？’
’Yes，Iknowit。’
’Howdidyouknow？’
’Isawitinyourfacewhenyoucameup。’
’Well，IsupposeIoughtnottothinkofyouso。Andyet，hadInotlearnedto，Ishouldneverfullyhavefelthowgentleandsweetyouare。OnlythinkofmylossifIhadlivedanddiedwithoutseeingmoreinyouthaninastronomy！ButIshallneverleaveoffdoingsonow。WhenyoutalkIshallloveyourunderstanding;whenyouaresilentIshallloveyourface。ButhowshallIknowthatyoucaretobesomuchtome？’
Hermannerwasdisturbedassherecognizedtheimpendingself—
surrender，whichsheknewnothowtoresist，andwasnotaltogetherateaseinwelcoming。
’O，LadyConstantine，’hecontinued，bendingoverher，’givemesomeproofmorethanmereseemingandinference，whichareallIhaveatpresent，thatyoudon’tthinkthisItellyouofpresumptioninme！
IhavebeenunabletodoanythingsinceIlastsawyouforponderinguncertainlyonthis。Someproof，orlittlesign，thatweareoneinheart！’
Ablushsettledagainonherface;andhalfineffort，halfinspontaneity，sheputherfingeronhercheek。Healmostdevotionallykissedthespot。
’Doesthatsuffice？’sheasked，scarcelygivingherwordsvoice。
’Yes;Iamconvinced。’
’Thenthatmustbetheend。Letmedriveon;theboywillbebackagainsoon。’Shespokehastily，andlookedaskancetohidetheheatofhercheek。
’No;thetowerdoorisopen，andhewillgotothetop，andwastehistimeinlookingthroughthetelescope。’
’Thenyoushouldrushback，forhewilldosomedamage。’
’No;hemaydowhathelikes，tinkerandspoiltheinstrument，destroymypapers，——anything，sothathewillstaythereandleaveusalone。’
Sheglancedupwithaspeciesofpainedpleasure。
’Youneverusedtofeellikethat！’shesaid，andtherewaskeenself—reproachinhervoice。’Youwereoncesodevotedtoyoursciencethatthethoughtofanintruderintoyourtemplewouldhavedrivenyouwild。Nowyoudon’tcare;andwhoistoblame？Ah，notyou，notyou！’
Theanimalambledonwithher，andhe，leaningonthesideofthelittlevehicle，kepthercompany。
’Well，don’tletusthinkofthat，’hesaid。’Ioffermyselfandallmyenergies，franklyandentirely，toyou，mydear，dearlady，whoseIshallbealways！Butmywordsintellingyouthiswillonlyinjuremymeaninginsteadofemphasizeit。Inexpressing，eventomyself，mythoughtsofyou，IfindthatIfallintophraseswhich，asacritic，Ishouldhithertohaveheartilydespisedfortheircommonness。What’stheuseofsaying，forinstance，asIhavejustsaid，thatIgivemyselfentirelytoyou，andshallbeyoursalways，——thatyouhavemydevotion，myhighesthomage？Thosewordshavebeenusedsofrequentlyinaflippantmannerthathonestuseofthemisnotdistinguishablefromtheunreal。’Heturnedtoher，andadded，smiling，’Youreyesaretobemystarsforthefuture。’
’Yes，Iknowit，——Iknowit，andallyouwouldsay！IdreadedevenwhileIhopedforthis，mydearyoungfriend，’shereplied，hereyesbeingfulloftears。’Iaminjuringyou;whoknowsthatIamnotruiningyourfuture，——Iwhooughttoknowbetter？Nothingcancomeofthis，nothingmust，——andIamonlywastingyourtime。WhyhaveI
drawnyouofffromagrandcelestialstudytostudypoorlonelyme？
Sayyouwillneverdespiseme，whenyougetolder，forthisepisodeinourlives。Butyouwill，——Iknowyouwill！Allmendo，whentheyhavebeenattractedintheirunsuspectingyouth，asIhaveattractedyou。Ioughttohavekeptmyresolve。’
’Whatwasthat？’
’Tobearanythingratherthandrawyoufromyourhighpurpose;tobelikethenoblecitizenofoldGreece，who，attendingasacrifice，lethimselfbeburnttothebonebyacoalthatjumpedintohissleeveratherthandisturbthesacredceremony。’
’ButcanInotstudyandloveboth？’
’Ihopeso，——Iearnestlyhopeso。Butyou’llbethefirstifyoudo，andIamtheresponsibleoneifyoudonot。’
’YouspeakasifIwerequiteachild，andyouimmenselyolder。
Why，howolddoyouthinkIam？Iamtwenty。’
’Youseemyounger。Well，that’ssomuchthebetter。Twentysoundsstrongandfirm。HowolddoyouthinkIam？’
’Ihaveneverthoughtofconsidering。’Heinnocentlyturnedtoscrutinizeherface。Shewincedalittle。Buttheinstinctwaspremature。Timehadtakennolibertieswithherfeaturesasyet;
norhadtroubleveryroughlyhandledher。
’Iwilltellyou，’shereplied，speakingalmostwithphysicalpain，yetasifdeterminationshouldcarryherthrough。’Iameight—and—
twenty——nearly——Imeanalittlemore，afewmonthsmore。AmInotafearfuldealolderthanyou？’
’Atfirstitseemsagreatdeal，’heanswered，musing。’Butitdoesn’tseemmuchwhenonegetsusedtoit。’
’Nonsense！’sheexclaimed。’ItISagooddeal。’
’Verywell，then，sweetestLadyConstantine，letitbe，’hesaidgently。
’Youshouldnotletitbe！Apolitemanwouldhaveflatlycontradictedme……OIamashamedofthis！’sheaddedamomentafter，withasubdued，sadlookupontheground。’Iamspeakingbythecardoftheouterworld，whichIhaveleftbehindutterly;nosuchlipserviceisknowninyoursphere。Icarenothingforthosethings，really;butthatwhichiscalledtheEveinuswilloutsometimes。Well，wewillforgetthatnow，aswemust，atnoverydistantdate，forgetalltherestofthis。’
Hewalkedbesideherthoughtfullyawhile，withhiseyesalsobentontheroad。’Whymustweforgetitall？’heinquired。
’Itisonlyaninterlude。’
’Aninterlude！Itisnointerludetome。Ohowcanyoutalksolightlyofthis，LadyConstantine？Andyet，ifIweretogoawayfromhere，Imight，perhaps，soonreduceittoaninterlude！Yes，’
heresumedimpulsively，’Iwillgoaway。Lovedies，anditisjustaswelltostrangleitinitsbirth;itcanonlydieonce！I’llgo。’
’No，no！’shesaid，lookingupapprehensively。’Imisledyou。Itisnointerludetome，——itistragical。Ionlymeantthatfromaworldlypointofviewitisaninterlude，whichweshouldtrytoforget。Buttheworldisnotall。Youwillnotgoaway？’
Buthecontinueddrearily，’Yes，yes，Iseeitall;youhaveenlightenedme。Itwillbehurtingyourprospectsevenmorethanmine，ifIstay。NowSirBlountisdead，youarefreeagain，——maymarrywhereyouwill，butforthisfancyofours。I’llleaveWellandbeforeharmcomesofmystaying。’
’Don’tdecidetodoathingsorash！’shebegged，seizinghishand，andlookingmiserableattheeffectofherwords。’Ishallhavenobodyleftintheworldtocarefor！AndnowIhavegivenyouthegreattelescope，andlentyouthecolumn，itwouldbeungratefultogoaway！Iwaswrong;believemethatIdidnotmeanthatitwasamereinterludetoME。Oifyouonlyknewhowvery，veryfaritisfromthat！Itismydoubtoftheresulttoyouthatmakesmespeaksoslightingly。’
Theywerenowapproachingcross—roads，andcasuallylookinguptheybeheld，thirtyorfortyyardsbeyondthecrossing，Mr。Torkingham，whowasleaningoveragate，hisbackbeingtowardsthem。Asyethehadnotrecognizedtheirapproach。
Themaster—passionhadalreadysupplantedSt。Cleeve’snaturalingenuousnessbysubtlety。
’WoulditbewellforustomeetMr。Torkinghamjustnow？’hebegan。
’Certainlynot，’shesaidhastily，andpullingthereinsheinstantlydrovedowntheright—handroad。’Icannotmeetanybody！’
shemurmured。’Woulditnotbebetterthatyouleavemenow？——notformypleasure，butthattheremayarisenodistressingtalesaboutusbeforeweknow——howtoactinthis——this’——（shesmiledfaintlyathim）’heartachingextremity！’
Theywerepassingunderahugeoak—tree，whoselimbs，irregularwithshoulders，knuckles，andelbows，stretchedhorizontallyoverthelaneinamannerrecallingAbsalom’sdeath。Aslightrustlingwasperceptibleamidtheleafageastheydrewoutfrombeneathit，andturninguphiseyesSwithinsawthatverybuttonedpagewhoseadventtheyhaddreaded，lookingdownwithinterestatthemfromaperchnotmuchhigherthanayardabovetheirheads。Hehadabunchofoak—applesinonehand，plainlytheobjectofhisclimb，andwasfurtivelywatchingLadyConstantinewiththehopethatshemightnotseehim。Butthatshehadalreadydone，thoughshedidnotrevealit，and，fearingthatthelatterwordsoftheirconversationhadbeenoverheard，theyspokenottilltheyhadpassedthenextturning。
Shestretchedoutherhandtohis。’Thismustnotgoon，’shesaidimploringly。’Myanxietyastowhatmaybesaidofsuchmethodsofmeetingmakesmetoounhappy。Seewhathashappened！’Shecouldnothelpsmiling。’Outofthefrying—panintothefire！Aftermeanlyturningtoavoidtheparsonwehaverushedintoaworsepublicity。Itistoohumiliatingtohavetoavoidpeople，andlowersbothyouandme。Theonlyremedyisnottomeet。’
’Verywell，’saidSwithin，withasigh。’Soitshallbe。’
Andwithsmilesthatmightmoretrulyhavebeentearstheypartedthereandthen。
XV
Thesummerpassedaway，andautumn，withitsinfinitesuiteoftints，camecreepingon。Darkergrewtheevenings，tearfullerthemoonlights，andheavierthedews。Meanwhilethecomethadwaxedtoitslargestdimensions，——solargethatnotonlythenucleusbutaportionofthetailhadbeenvisibleinbroadday。Itwasnowonthewane，thougheverynighttheequatorialstillaffordedanopportunityofobservingthesingularobjectwhichwouldsoondisappearaltogetherfromtheheavensforperhapsthousandsofyears。
ButtheastronomeroftheRings—HillSpeerwasnolongeramatchforhiscelestialmaterials。Scientificallyhehadbecomebutadimvapourofhimself;theloverhadcomeintohimlikeanarmedman，andcastoutthestudent，andhisintellectualsituationwasgrowingalife—and—deathmatter。
Theresolveofthepairhadbeensofarkept:theyhadnotseeneachotherinprivateforthreemonths。ButononedayinOctoberheventuredtowriteanotetoher:——
’Icandonothing！Ihaveceasedtostudy，ceasedtoobserve。Theequatorialisuselesstome。ThisaffectionIhaveforyouabsorbsmylife，andoutweighsmyintentions。Thepowertolabourinthisgrandestoffieldshasleftme。IstruggleagainsttheweaknesstillIthinkofthecause，andthenIblessher。Buttheverydesperationofmycircumstanceshassuggestedaremedy;andthisI
wouldinformyouofatonce。
’Canyoucometome，sinceImustnotcometoyou？Iwillwaitto—
morrownightattheedgeoftheplantationbywhichyouwouldentertothecolumn。Iwillnotdetainyou;myplancanbetoldintenwords。’
Thenightafterpostingthismissivetoherhewaitedatthespotmentioned。
Itwasamelancholyeveningforcomingabroad。Ablusterouswindhadrisenduringtheday，andstillcontinuedtoincrease。Yethestoodwatchfulinthedarkness，andwasultimatelyrewardedbydiscerningashadymuffledshapethatembodieditselffromthefield，accompaniedbythescratchingofsilkoverstubble。Therewasnolongeranydisguiseastothenatureoftheirmeeting。Itwasalover’sassignation，pureandsimple;andboldlyrealizingitassuchheclaspedherinhisarms。
’Icannotbearthisanylonger！’heexclaimed。’ThreemonthssinceIsawyoualone！Onlyaglimpseofyouinchurch，orabowfromthedistance，inallthattime！Whatafearfulstrugglethiskeepingaparthasbeen！’
’YetIwouldhavehadstrengthtopersist，sinceitseemedbest，’
shemurmuredwhenshecouldspeak，’hadnotyourwordsonyourconditionsoalarmedandsaddenedme。Thisinabilityofyourstowork，orstudy，orobserve，——itisterrible！Soterribleastingisittomyconsciencethatyourhintaboutaremedyhasbroughtmeinstantly。’
’YetIdon’taltogethermindit，sinceitisyou，mydear，whohavedisplacedthework;andyetthelossoftimenearlydistractsme，whenIhaveneitherthepowertoworknorthedelightofyourcompany。’
’Butyourremedy！O，Icannothelpguessingit！Yes;youaregoingaway！’
’Letusascendthecolumn;wecanspeakmoreateasethere。ThenI
willexplainall。Iwouldnotaskyoutoclimbsohighbutthehutisnotyetfurnished。’
Heenteredthecabinatthefoot，andhavinglightedasmalllantern，conductedherupthehollowstaircasetothetop，whereheclosedtheslidesofthedometokeepoutthewind，andplacedtheobserving—chairforher。
’Icanstayonlyfiveminutes，’shesaid，withoutsittingdown。
’Yousaiditwasimportantthatyoushouldseeme，andIhavecome。
Iassureyouitisatagreatrisk。IfIamseenhereatthistimeIamruinedforever。ButwhatwouldInotdoforyou？OSwithin，yourremedy——isittogoaway？Thereisnoother;andyetIdreadthatlikedeath！’
’Icantellyouinamoment，butImustbeginatthebeginning。Allthisruinousidlenessanddistractioniscausedbythemiseryofournotbeingabletomeetwithfreedom。Thefearthatsomethingmaysnatchyoufrommekeepsmeinastateofperpetualapprehension。’
’Itistootruealsoofme！Idreadthatsomeaccidentmayhappen，andwastemydaysinmeetingthetroublehalf—way。’
’Soourlivesgoon，andourlaboursstandstill。Nowfortheremedy。DearLadyConstantine，allowmetomarryyou。’
Shestarted，andthewindwithoutshookthebuilding，sendingupayetintensermoanfromthefirs。
’Imean，marryyouquiteprivately。Letitmakenodifferencewhatevertoouroutwardlivesforyears，forIknowthatinmypresentpositionyoucouldnotpossiblyacknowledgemeashusbandpublicly。Butbymarryingatoncewesecurethecertaintythatwecannotbedividedbyaccident，coaxing，orartifice;and，ateaseonthatpoint，Ishallembracemystudieswiththeoldvigour，andyouyours。’
LadyConstantinewassoagitatedattheunexpectedboldnessofsuchaproposalfromonehithertosoboyishanddeferentialthatshesankintotheobserving—chair，herintentiontoremainforonlyafewminutesbeingquiteforgotten。
Shecoveredherfacewithherhands。’No，no，Idarenot！’shewhispered。
’Butisthereasinglethingelselefttodo？’hepleaded，kneelingdownbesideher，lessinsupplicationthaninabandonment。’Whatelsecanwedo？’
’Waittillyouarefamous。’
’ButIcannotbefamousunlessIstrive，andthisdistractingconditionpreventsallstriving！’
’CouldyounotstriveonifI——gaveyouapromise，asolemnpromise，tobeyourswhenyournameisfairlywellknown？’
St。Cleevebreathedheavily。’Itwillbealong，wearytime，’hesaid。’AndevenwithyourpromiseIshallworkbuthalf—heartedly。
Everyhourofstudywillbeinterruptedwith\"Supposethisorthishappens;\"\"Supposesomebodypersuadeshertobreakherpromise;\"
worsestill，\"Supposesomerivalmalignsme，andsoseducesheraway。\"No，LadyConstantine，dearest，bestasyouare，thatelementofdistractionwouldstillremain，andwherethatis，nosustainedenergyispossible。Manyerroneousthingshavebeenwrittenandsaidbythesages，butneverdidtheyfloatagreaterfallacythanthatloveservesasastimulustowinthelovedonebypatienttoil。’
’Icannotarguewithyou，’shesaidweakly。
’Myonlypossibleotherchancewouldlieingoingaway，’heresumedafteramoment’sreflection，withhiseyesonthelanternflame，whichwavedandsmokedinthecurrentsofairthatleakedintothedomefromthefiercewind—streamwithout。’IfImighttakeawaytheequatorial，supposingitpossiblethatIcouldfindsomesuitableplaceforobservinginthesouthernhemisphere，——say，attheCape，——
IMIGHTbeabletoapplymyselftoseriousworkagain，afterthelapseofalittletime。Thesouthernconstellationsofferalessexhaustedfieldforinvestigation。IwonderifImight！’
’Youmean，’sheanswereduneasily，’thatyoumightapplyyourselftoworkwhenyourrecollectionofmebegantofade，andmylifetobecomeamatterofindifferencetoyou？……Yes，go！No，——Icannotbearit！Theremedyisworsethanthedisease。Icannotletyougoaway！’
’ThenhowcanyourefusetheonlyconditiononwhichIcanstay，withoutruintomypurposeandscandaltoyourname？Dearest，agreetomyproposal，asyoulovebothmeandyourself！’
Hewaited，whilethefir—treesrubbedandproddedthebaseofthetower，andthewindroaredaroundandshookit;butshecouldnotfindwordstoreply。
’WouldtoGod，’heburstout，’thatImightperishhere，likeWinstanleyinhislighthouse！Thenthedifficultywouldbesolvedforyou。’
’Youaresowrong，soverywrong，insayingso！’sheexclaimedpassionately。’Youmaydoubtmywisdom，pitymyshort—sightedness;
butthereisonethingyoudoknow，——thatIloveyoudearly！’
’Youdo，——Iknowit！’hesaid，softenedinamoment。’ButitseemssuchasimpleremedyforthedifficultythatIcannotseehowyoucanmindadoptingit，ifyoucaresomuchformeasIdoforyou。’
