Itwasverynecessarytostartearly。LongbeforethegreateyeofthesunwasliftedhighenoughtoglanceintotheWellandvalley，St。Cleevearosefromhisbedinthecabinandpreparedtodepart，cookinghisbreakfastuponalittlestoveinthecorner。Theyoungrabbits，litteredduringtheforegoingsummer，watchedhispreparationsthroughtheopendoorfromthegreydawnwithout，ashebustled，halfdressed，inandoutundertheboughs，andamongtheblackberriesandbramblesthatgrewaround。
Itwasastrangeplaceforabridegroomtoperformhistoiletin，but，consideringtheunconventionalnatureofthemarriage，anotinappropriateone。Whateventshadbeenenactedinthatearthencampsinceitwasfirstthrownup，nobodycouldsay;buttheprimitivesimplicityoftheyoungman’spreparationsaccordedwellwiththeprehistoricspotonwhichtheyweremade。Embeddedunderhisfeetwerepossiblyevennowrudetrinketsthathadbeenwornatbridalceremoniesoftheearlyinhabitants。Littlesignifiedthoseceremoniesto—day，orthehappinessorotherwiseofthecontractingparties。Thathisownrite，nevertheless，signifiedmuch，wastheinconsequentreasoningofSwithin，asitisofmanyanotherbridegroombesides;andhe，liketherest，wentonwithhispreparationsinthatmoodwhichseesinhisstalerepetitionthewondrouspossibilitiesofanuntriedmove。
Thenthroughthewetcobwebs，thathunglikemovablediaphragmsoneachbladeandbough，hepushedhiswaydowntothefurrowwhichledfromthesecludedfir—treeislandtothewideworldbeyondthefield。
Hewasnotastrangertoenterprise，andstilllesstothecontemplationofenterprise;butanenterprisesuchasthishehadneverevenoutlined。Thathisdearladywastroubledatthesituationhehadplacedherinbynotgoinghimselfonthaterrand，hecouldseefromherletter;but，believinganimmediatemarriagewithhertobethetruewayofrestoringtoboththatequanimitynecessarytoserenephilosophy，hehelditoflittleaccounthowthemarriagewasbroughtabout，andhappilybeganhisjourneytowardsherplaceofsojourn。
Hepassedthroughalittlecopsebeforeleavingtheparish，thesmokefromnewlylitfiresrisinglikethestemsofbluetreesoutofthefewcottagechimneys。Hereheheardaquick，familiarfootstepinthepathaheadofhim，and，turningthecornerofthebushes，confrontedthefoot—postonhiswaytoWelland。InanswertoSt。Cleeve’sinquiryiftherewasanythingforhimselfthepostmanhandedoutoneletter，andproceededonhisroute。
Swithinopenedandreadtheletterashewalked，tillitbroughthimtoastandstillbytheimportanceofitscontents。
Theywereenoughtoagitateamorephlegmaticyouththanhe。Heleantoverthewicketwhichcameinhispath，andendeavouredtocomprehendthesenseofthewhole。
Thelargelongenvelopecontained，first，aletterfromasolicitorinanortherntown，informinghimthathispaternalgreat—uncle，whohadrecentlyreturnedfromtheCape（whitherhehadgoneinanattempttorepairabrokenconstitution），wasnowdeadandburied。
Thisgreat—uncle’snamewaslikeanewcreationtoSwithin。Hehadheldnocommunicationwiththeyoungman’sbranchofthefamilyforinnumerableyears，——never，infact，sincethemarriageofSwithin’sfatherwiththesimpledaughterofWellandFarm。Hehadbeenabachelortotheendofhislife，andhadamassedafairlygoodprofessionalfortunebyalongandextensivemedicalpracticeinthesmoky，dreary，manufacturingtowninwhichhehadlivedanddied。
Swithinhadalwaysbeentaughttothinkofhimastheembodimentofallthatwasunpleasantinman。Hewasnarrow，sarcastic，andshrewdtounseemliness。Thatveryshrewdnesshadenabledhim，withoutmuchprofessionalprofundity，toestablishhislargeandlucrativeconnexion，whichlayalmostentirelyamongaclasswhoneitherlookednorcaredfordrawing—roomcourtesies。
However，whatDr。St。Cleevehadbeenasapractitionermatterslittle。Hewasnowdead，andthebulkofhispropertyhadbeenlefttopersonswithwhomthisstoryhasnothingtodo。ButSwithinwasinformedthatoutofittherewasabequestof600poundsayeartohimself，——paymentofwhichwastobeginwithhistwenty—firstyear，andcontinueforhislife，unlessheshouldmarrybeforereachingtheageoftwenty—five。Inthelatterprecociousandobjectionableeventhisannuitywouldbeforfeited。Theaccompanyingletter，saidthesolicitor，wouldexplainall。
This，thesecondletter，wasfromhisuncletohimself，writtenaboutamonthbeforetheformer’sdeath，anddepositedwithhiswill，tobeforwardedtohisnephewwhenthateventshouldhavetakenplace。Swithinread，withthesolemnitythatsuchposthumousepistlesinspire，thefollowingwordsfromonewho，duringlife，hadneveronceaddressedhim:—
’DEARNEPHEW，——Youwilldoubtlessexperiencesomeastonishmentatreceivingacommunicationfromonewhomyouhaveneverpersonallyknown，andwho，whenthiscomesintoyourhands，willbebeyondthereachofyourknowledge。PerhapsIamtheloserbythislife—longmutualignorance。PerhapsIammuchtoblameforit;perhapsnot。
Butsuchreflectionsareprofitlessatthisdate:Ihavewrittenwithquiteotherviewsthantoworkupasentimentalregretonsuchanamazinglyremotehypothesisasthatthefactofaparticularpairofpeoplenotmeeting，amongthemillionsofotherpairsofpeoplewhohavenevermet，isagreatcalamityeithertotheworldingeneralortothemselves。
’Theoccasionofmyaddressingyouisbrieflythis:Ninemonthsagoareportcasuallyreachedmethatyourscientificstudieswerepursuedbyyouwithgreatability，andthatyouwereayoungmanofsomepromiseasanastronomer。Myownscientificproclivitiesrenderedthereportmoreinterestingthanitmightotherwisehavebeentome;anditcameuponmequiteasasurprisethatanyissueofyourfather’smarriageshouldhavesomuchinhim，oryoumighthaveseenmoreofmeinformeryearsthanyouareeverlikelytodonow。Myhealthhadthenbeguntofail，andIwasstartingfortheCape，orIshouldhavecomemyselftoinquireintoyourconditionandprospects。Ididnotreturntillsixmonthslater，andasmyhealthhadnotimprovedIsentatrustyfriendtoexamineintoyourlife，pursuits，andcircumstances，withoutyourownknowledge，andtoreporthisobservationstome。Thishedid。ThroughhimI
learnt，offavourablenews:——
’（1）Thatyouworkedassiduouslyatthescienceofastronomy。
’（2）Thateverythingwasauspiciousinthecareeryouhadchosen。
’Ofunfavourablenews:——
’（1）Thatthesmallincomeatyourcommand，evenwhenekedoutbythesumtowhichyouwouldbeentitledonyourgrandmother’sdeathandthefreeholdofthehomestead，wouldbeinadequatetosupportyoubecominglyasascientificman，whoselinesofworkwereofanaturenotcalculatedtoproduceemolumentsformanyyears，ifever。
’（2）Thattherewassomethinginyourpathworsethannarrowmeans，andthatthatsomethingwasaWOMAN。
’Tosaveyou，ifpossible，fromruinontheseheads，Itakethepreventivemeasuresdetailedbelow。
’Thechiefstepis，asmysolicitorwillhaveinformedyou，that，attheageoftwenty—five，thesumof600poundsayearbesettledonyouforlife，providedyouhavenotmarriedbeforereachingthatage;——ayearlygiftofanequalsumtobealsoprovisionallymadetoyouintheinterim——and，viceversa，thatifyoudomarrybeforereachingtheageoftwenty—fiveyouwillreceivenothingfromthedateofthemarriage。
’OneobjectofmybequestisthatyoumayhaveresourcessufficienttoenableyoutotravelandstudytheSouthernconstellations。WhenattheCape，afterhearingofyourpursuits，Iwasmuchstruckwiththeimportanceofthoseconstellationstoanastronomerjustpushingintonotice。ThereismoretobemadeoftheSouthernhemispherethaneverhasbeenmadeofityet;themineisnotsothoroughlyworkedastheNorthern，andthitheryourstudiesshouldtend。
’Theonlyotherpreventivestepinmypoweristhatofexhortation，atwhichIamnotanadept。Nevertheless，Isaytoyou，SwithinSt。
Cleeve，don’tmakeafoolofyourself，asyourfatherdid。Ifyourstudiesaretobeworthanything，believeme，theymustbecarriedonwithoutthehelpofawoman。Avoidher，andeveryoneofthesex，ifyoumeantoachieveanyworthything。Eschewallofthatsortformanyayearyet。Moreover，Isay，theladyofyouracquaintanceavoidinparticular。Ihaveheardnothingagainsthermoralcharacterhitherto;Ihavenodoubtithasbeenexcellent。
Shemayhavemanygoodqualities，bothofheartandofmind。Butshehas，inadditiontoheroriginaldisqualificationasacompanionforyou（thatis，thatofsex），thesetwoseriousdrawbacks:sheismucholderthanyourself——’
’MUCHolder！’saidSwithinresentfully。
’——andsheissoimpoverishedthatthetitleshederivesfromherlatehusbandisapositiveobjection。Beyondthis，frankly，Idon’tthinkwellofher。Idon’tthinkwellofanywomanwhodotesuponamanyoungerthanherself。Tocaretobethefirstfancyofayoungfellowlikeyoushowsnogreatcommonsenseinher。Ifshewereworthhersaltshewouldhavetoomuchpridetobeintimatewithayouthinyourunassuredposition，tosaynoworse。Sheisoldenoughtoknowthataliaisonwithhermay，andalmostcertainlywould，beyourruin;and，ontheotherhand，thatamarriagewouldbepreposterous，——unlesssheisacompletegoose，andinthatcasethereisevenmorereasonforavoidingherthanifshewereinherfewsenses。
’Awomanofhonourablefeeling，nephew，wouldbecarefultodonothingtohinderyouinyourcareer，asthisputtingofherselfinyourwaymostcertainlywill。YetIhearthatsheprofessesagreatanxietyonthissamefutureofyoursasaphysicist。Thebestwayinwhichshecanshowtherealityofheranxietyisbyleavingyoutoyourself。Perhapsshepersuadesherselfthatsheisdoingyounoharm。Well，letherhavethebenefitofthepossiblebelief;butdependuponitthatintruthshegivesthelietoherconsciencebymaintainingsuchatransparentfallacy。Women’sbrainsarenotformedforassistingatanyprofoundscience:theylackthepowertoseethingsexceptintheconcrete。She’llblabyourmostsecretplansandtheoriestoeveryoneofheracquaintance——’
’She’sgotnone！’saidSwithin，beginningtogetwarm。
’——andmakethemappearridiculousbyannouncingthembeforetheyarematured。Ifyouattempttostudywithawoman，you’llberuledbyhertoentertainfanciesinsteadoftheories，air—castlesinsteadofintentions，qualmsinsteadofopinions，sicklyprepossessionsinsteadofreasonedconclusions。Yourwideheavenofstudy，youngman，willsoonreduceitselftothemiserablenarrowexpanseofherface，andyourmyriadofstarstohertwotrumperyeyes。
’Awomanwakingayoungman’spassionsjustatamomentwhenheisendeavouringtoshineintellectually，isdoinglittlelessthancommittingacrime。
’LikeacertainphilosopherIwould，uponmysoul，haveallyoungmenfromeighteentotwenty—fivekeptunderbarrels;seeinghowoften，inthelackofsomesuchsequesteringprocess，thewomansitsdownbeforeeachashisdestiny，andtoofrequentlyenervateshispurpose，tillheabandonsthemostpromisingcourseeverconceived！
’Butnomore。Inowleaveyourfateinyourownhands。Yourwell—
wishingrelative，’JOCELYNST。CLEEVE，DoctorinMedicine。’
Ascomingfromabachelorandhardenedmisogynistofseventy—two，theopinionshereincontainedwerenothingremarkable:buttheirpracticalresultinrestrictingthesuddenendowmentofSwithin’sresearchesbyconditionswhichturnedthefavourintoaharassmentwas，atthisuniquemoment，discomfitinganddistractinginthehighestdegree。
Sensational，however，astheletterwas，thepassionateintentionofthedaywasnothazardedformorethanafewminutesthereby。Thetruthwas，thecautionandbribecametoolate，toounexpectedly，tobeofinfluence。Theywerethesortofthingwhichrequiredfermentationtorenderthemeffective。HadSt。Cleevereceivedtheexhortationamonthearlier;hadhebeenabletorunoverinhismind，ateverywakefulhourofthirtyconsecutivenights，aprivatecatechismonthepossibilitiesopenedupbythisannuity，thereisnotellingwhatmighthavebeenthestressofsuchawebofperplexityuponhim，ayoungmanwhoseloveforcelestialphysicswassecondtonone。Buttohaveheldbeforehim，atthelastmoment，thepictureofafutureadvantagethathehadneveroncethoughtof，ordiscountedforpresentstayingpower，itaffectedhimaboutasmuchastheviewofhorizonsshownbysheet—lightning。Hesawanimmenseprospect;itwent，andtheworldwasasbefore。
HecaughtthetrainatWarborne，andmovedrapidlytowardsBath;notpreciselyinthesamekeyaswhenhehaddressedinthehutatdawn，but，asregardedthemechanicalpartofthejourney，asunhesitatinglyasbefore。
Andwiththechangeofsceneevenhisgloomlefthim;hisbosom’slordsatlightlyinhisthrone。St。Cleevewasnotsufficientlyinmindofpoeticalliteraturetorememberthatwisepoetsareaccustomedtoreadthatlightnessofbosominversely。Swithinthoughtitanomenofgoodfortune;andasthinkingiscausinginnotafewsuchcases，hewasperhaps，inspiteofpoets，right。
XIX
AtthestationLadyConstantineappeared，standingexpectant;hesawherfacefromthewindowofthecarriagelongbeforeshesawhim。
Henosoonersawherthanhewassatisfiedtohisheart’scontentwithhisprize。Ifhisgreat—unclehadofferedhimfromthegraveakingdominsteadofher，hewouldnothaveacceptedit。
Swithinjumpedout，andnatureneverpaintedinawoman’sfacemoredevotionthanappearedinmylady’satthatmoment。Toboththesituationseemedlikeabeautifulallegory，nottobeexaminedtooclosely，lestitsdefectsofcorrespondencewithreallifeshouldbeapparent。
Theyalmostfearedtoshakehandsinpublic，somuchdependedupontheirpassingthatmorningwithoutmolestation。Aflywascalledandtheydroveaway。
’Takethis，’shesaid，handinghimafoldedpaper。’Itbelongstoyouratherthantome。’
Atcrossings，andotheroccasionalpauses，pedestriansturnedtheirfacesandlookedatthepair（fornoreasonbutthat，amongsomany，therewerenaturallyafewofthesortwhohaveeyestonotewhatincidentscomeintheirwayastheyplodon）;butthetwointhevehiclecouldnotbutfearthattheseinnocentbeholdershadspecialdetectivedesignsonthem。
’Youlooksodreadfullyyoung！’shesaidwithhumorousfretfulness，astheydrovealong（Swithin’scheeksbeingamazinglyfreshfromthemorningair）。’Dotrytoappearalittlehaggard，thattheparsonmayn’taskusawkwardquestions！’
Nothingfurtherhappened，andtheyweresetdownoppositeashopaboutfiftyyardsfromthechurchdoor，atfiveminutestoeleven。
’Wewilldismissthefly，’shesaid。’Itwillonlyattractidlers。’
Onturningthecornerandreachingthechurchtheyfoundthedoorajar;butthebuildingcontainedonlytwopersons，amanandawoman，——theclerkandhiswife，astheylearnt。Swithinaskedwhentheclergymanwouldarrive。
Theclerklookedathiswatch，andsaid，’Atjustoneleveno’clock。’
’Heoughttobehere，’saidSwithin。
’Yes，’repliedtheclerk，asthehourstruck。’Thefactis，sir，heisadeppity，andapttoberatherwanderinginhiswitsasregardstimeandsuchlike，whichhevstoodinthewayoftheman’sgettingabenefit。Butnodoubthe’llcome。’
’Theregularincumbentisaway，then？’
’He’sgoneforhisbarepa’son’sfortnight，——that’sall;andwewasforcedtoputupwithaweak—talentedmanornone。Thebestmengoesintothebrewing，orintotheshippingnow—a—days，yousee，sir;doctrinesbeingrathershadderyatpresent，andyourmoney’sworthnotsureinourline。Sowechurchofficersbeleftpoorlyprovidedwithmenforoddjobs。I’lltellyewhat，sir;IthinkI’dbetterrunroundtothegentleman’slodgings，andtrytofindhim？’
’Praydo，’saidLadyConstantine。
Theclerkleftthechurch;hiswifebusiedherselfwithdustingatthefurtherend，andSwithinandViviettewerelefttothemselves。
Theimaginationtravelssorapidly，andawoman’sforethoughtissoassumptive，thattheclerk’sdeparturehadnosoonerdoomedthemtoinactionthanitwasborneinuponLadyConstantine’smindthatshewouldnotbecomethewifeofSwithinSt。Cleeve，eitherto—dayoronanyotherday。Herdivinationswerecontinuallymisleadingher，sheknew:butahitchatthemomentofmarriagesurelyhadameaninginit。
’Ah，——themarriageisnottobe！’shesaidtoherself。’Thisisafatality。’
Itwastwentyminutespast，andnoparsonhadarrived。Swithintookherhand。
’Ifitcannotbeto—day，itcanbeto—morrow，’hewhispered。
’Icannotsay，’sheanswered。’Somethingtellsmeno。’
ItwasalmostimpossiblethatshecouldknowanythingofthedeterrentforceexercisedonSwithinbyhisdeadunclethatmorning。
Yethermannertalliedsocuriouslywellwithsuchknowledgethathewasstruckbyit，andremainedsilent。
’Youhaveablacktie，’shecontinued，lookingathim。
’Yes，’repliedSwithin。’Iboughtitonmywayhere。’
’Whycoulditnothavebeenlesssombreincolour？’
’Mygreat—uncleisdead。’
’Youhadagreat—uncle？Younevertoldme。’
’Ineversawhiminmylife。Ihaveonlyheardabouthimsincehisdeath。’
Hespokeinasquietandmeasuredawayashecould，buthisheartwassinking。Shewouldgoonquestioning;hecouldnottellheranuntruth。Shewoulddiscoverparticularsofthatgreat—uncle’sprovisionforhim，whichhe，Swithin，wasthrowingawayforhersake，andshewouldrefusetobehisforhisownsake。Hisconclusionatthismomentwaspreciselywhathershadbeenfiveminutessooner:theywerenevertobehusbandandwife。
Butshedidnotcontinueherquestions，forthesimplestofallreasons:hastyfootstepswereaudibleintheentrance，andtheparsonwasseencominguptheaisle，theclerkbehindhimwipingthebeadsofperspirationfromhisface。Thesomewhatsorryclericalspecimenshookhandswiththem，andenteredthevestry;andtheclerkcameupandopenedthebook。
’Thepoorgentleman’smemoryisabittopsy—turvy，’whisperedthelatter。’Hehadgotitinhismindthat’twereafuneral，andI
foundhimwanderingaboutthecemeterya—lookingforus。However，all’swellasendswell。’Andtheclerkwipedhisforeheadagain。
’Howill—omened！’murmuredViviette。
Buttheparsoncameoutrobedatthismoment，andtheclerkputonhisecclesiasticalcountenanceandlookedinhisbook。LadyConstantine’smomentarylanguorpassed;herbloodresumeditscourseswithanewspring。Thegraveutterancesofthechurchthenrolledoutuponthepalpitatingpair，andnocoupleeverjoinedtheirwhisperstheretowithmorefervencythanthey。
LadyConstantine（asshecontinuedtobecalledbytheoutsideworld，thoughshelikedtothinkherselftheMrs。St。Cleevethatshelegallywas）hadtoldGreenthatshemightbeexpectedatWellandinaday，ortwo，orthree，ascircumstancesshoulddictate。
Thoughthetimeofreturnwasthusleftopenitwasdeemedadvisable，bybothSwithinandherself，thatherjourneybackshouldnotbedeferredafterthenextday，incaseanysuspicionsmightbearoused。AsforSt。Cleeve，hiscomingsandgoingswereofnoconsequence。Itwasseldomknownwhetherhewasathomeorabroad，byreasonofhisfrequentseclusionatthecolumn。
LateintheafternoonofthenextdayheaccompaniedhertotheBathstation，intendinghimselftoremaininthatcitytillthefollowingmorning。Butwhenamanoryouthhassuchatenderarticleonhishandsasathirty—hourbrideitishardlyinthepowerofhisstrongestreasontosetherdownatarailway，andsendherofflikeasuperfluousportmanteau。Hencetheexperimentofpartingsosoonaftertheirunionprovedexcruciatinglyseveretothese。Theeveningwasdull;thebreezeofautumncreptfitfullythrougheveryslitandapertureinthetown;notasoulintheworldseemedtonoticeorcareaboutanythingtheydid。LadyConstantinesighed;
andtherewasnoresistingit，——hecouldnotleaveherthus。Hedecidedtogetintothetrainwithher，andkeephercompanyforatleastafewstationsonherway。
Itdrewontobeadarknight，and，seeingthattherewasnoseriousriskafterall，heprolongedhisjourneywithhersofarastothejunctionatwhichthebranchlinetoWarborneforkedoff。Hereitwasnecessarytowaitafewminutes，beforeeitherhecouldgobackorshecouldgoon。Theywanderedoutsidethestationdoorwayintothegloomoftheroad，andthereagreedtopart。
Whilesheyetstoodholdinghisarmaphaetonspedtowardsthestation—entrance，where，inascendingtheslopetothedoor，thehorsesuddenlyjibbed。Thegentlemanwhowasdriving，beingeitherimpatient，orpossessedwithatheorythatalljibbersmaybestartedbyseverewhipping，appliedthelash;asaresultofit，thehorsethrustroundthecarriagetowheretheystood，andtheendofthedriver’ssweepingwhipcutacrossLadyConstantine’sfacewithsuchseverityastocauseheraninvoluntarycry。Swithinturnedherroundtothelamplight，anddiscernedastreakofbloodonhercheek。
Bythistimethegentlemanwhohaddonethemischief，withmanywordsofregret，hadgiventhereinstohismananddismounted。
’Iwillgotothewaiting—roomforamoment，’whisperedViviettehurriedly;and，loosingherhandfromhisarm，shepulleddownherveilandvanishedinsidethebuilding。
Thestrangercameforwardandraisedhishat。Hewasaslightlybuiltandapparentlytown—bredmanoftwenty—eightorthirty;hismannerofaddresswasatoncecarelessandconciliatory。
’IamgreatlyconcernedatwhatIhavedone，’hesaid。’Isincerelytrustthatyourwife’——butobservingtheyouthfulnessofSwithin，hewithdrewthewordsuggestedbythemannerofSwithintowardsLadyConstantine——’Itrusttheyoungladywasnotseriouslycut？’
’Itrustnot，’saidSwithin，withsomevexation。
’Wheredidthelashtouchher？’
’Straightdownhercheek。’
’Doletmegotoher，andlearnhowsheis，andhumblyapologize。’
’I’llinquire。’
Hewenttotheladies’room，inwhichViviettehadtakenrefuge。
Shemethimatthedoor，herhandkerchieftohercheek，andSwithinexplainedthatthedriverofthephaetonhadsenttomakeinquiries。
’Icannotseehim！’shewhispered。’HeismybrotherLouis！Heis，nodoubt，goingonbythetraintomyhouse。Don’tlethimrecognizeme！Wemustwaittillheisgone。’
Swithinthereuponwentoutagain，andtoldtheyoungmanthatthecutonherfacewasnotserious，butthatshecouldnotseehim;
afterwhichtheyparted。St。CleevethenheardhimaskforaticketforWarborne，whichconfirmedLadyConstantine’sviewthathewasgoingontoherhouse。WhenthebranchtrainhadmovedoffSwithinreturnedtohisbride，whowaitedinatremblingstatewithin。
Onbeinginformedthathehaddepartedsheshowedherselfmuchrelieved。
’Wheredoesyourbrothercomefrom？’saidSwithin。
’FromLondon，immediately。Riobeforethat。Hehasafriendortwointhisneighbourhood，andvisitshereoccasionally。Ihaveseldomorneverspokentoyouofhim，becauseofhislongabsence。’
’Ishegoingtosettlenearyou？’
’No，noranywhere，Ifear。Heis，orratherwas，inthediplomaticservice。HewasfirstaclerkintheForeignOffice，andwasafterwardsappointedattacheatRioJaneiro。Buthehasresignedtheappointment。Iwishhehadnot。’
Swithinaskedwhyheresigned。
’Hecomplainedofthebanishment，andtheclimate，andeverythingthatpeoplecomplainofwhoaredeterminedtobedissatisfied，——
though，poorfellow，thereissomegroundforhiscomplaints。
Perhapssomepeoplewouldsaythatheisidle。Butheisscarcelythat;heisratherrestlessthanidle，sothatheneverpersistsinanything。Yetifasubjecttakeshisfancyhewillfollowitupwithexemplarypatiencetillsomethingdivertshim。’
’Heisnotkindtoyou，ishe，dearest？’
’Whydoyouthinkthat？’
’Yourmannerseemstosayso。’
’Well，hemaynotalwaysbekind。Butlookatmyface;doesthemarkshow？’
Astreak，straightasameridian，wasvisibledownhercheek。Thebloodhadbeenbroughtalmosttothesurface，butwasnotquitethrough，thatwhichhadoriginallyappearedthereonhavingpossiblycomefromthehorse。Itsignifiedthatto—morrowtheredlinewouldbeablackone。
SwithininformedherthatherbrotherhadtakenaticketforWarborne，andsheatonceperceivedthathewasgoingontovisitheratWelland，thoughfromhislettershehadnotexpectedhimsosoonbyafewdays。’Meanwhile，’continuedSwithin，’youcannowgethomeonlybythelatetrain，havingmissedthatone。’
’But，Swithin，don’tyouseemynewtrouble？IfIgotoWellandHouseto—night，andfindmybrotherjustarrivedthere，andheseesthiscutonmyface，whichIsupposeyoudescribedtohim——’
’Idid。’
’HewillknowIwastheladywithyou！’
’Whomhecalledmywife。Iwonderwhywelookhusbandandwifealready！’
’ThenwhatamItodo？FortheensuingthreeorfourdaysIbearinmyfaceacluetohisdiscoveryofoursecret。’
’Thenyoumustnotbeseen。Wemuststayataninnhere。’
’Ono！’shesaidtimidly。’Itistoonearhometobequitesafe。
Wemightnotbeknown;butIFwewere！’
’Wecan’tgobacktoBathnow。I’lltellyou，dearViviette，whatwemustdo。We’llgoontoWarborneinseparatecarriages;we’llmeetoutsidethestation;thencewe’llwalktothecolumninthedark，andI’llkeepyouacaptiveinthecabintillthescarhasdisappeared。’
Astherewasnothingwhichbetterrecommendeditselfthiscoursewasdecidedon;andaftertakingfromhertrunkthearticlesthatmightberequiredforanincarcerationoftwoorthreedaystheyleftthesaidtrunkatthecloak—room，andwentonbythelasttrain，whichreachedWarborneaboutteno’clock。
ItwasonlynecessaryforLadyConstantinetocoverherfacewiththethickveilthatshehadprovidedforthisescapade，towalkoutofthestationwithoutfearofrecognition。St。Cleevecameforthfromanothercompartment，andtheydidnotrejoineachothertilltheyhadreachedashadowybendintheoldturnpikeroad，beyondtheirradiationoftheWarbornelamplight。
ThewalktoWellandwaslong。ItwasthewalkwhichSwithinhadtakenintherainwhenhehadlearntthefatalforestalmentofhisstellardiscovery;butnowhewasmovedbyalessdesperatemood，andblamedneitherGodnorman。Theywerenotpressedfortime，andpassedalongthesilent，lonelywaywiththatsenseratherofpredestinationthanofchoiceintheirproceedingswhichthepresenceofnightsometimesimparts。Reachingtheparkgate，theyfounditopen，andfromthistheyinferredthatherbrotherLouishadarrived。
Leavingthehouseandparkontheirrighttheytracedthehighwayyetalittlefurther，and，plungingthroughthestubbleoftheoppositefield，drewneartheisolatedearthworkbearingtheplantationandtower，whichtogetherroselikeaflatteneddomeandlanternfromthelighter—huedplainofstubble。Itwasfartoodarktodistinguishfirsfromothertreesbytheeyealone，butthepeculiardialectofsylvanlanguagewhichthepinymultitudeusedwouldhavebeenenoughtoproclaimtheirclassatanytime。Inthelovers’stealthyprogressuptheslopesadrystickhereandtheresnappedbeneaththeirfeet，seeminglikeashotofalarm。
OnbeingunlockedthehutwasfoundpreciselyasSwithinhadleftittwodaysbefore。LadyConstantinewasthoroughlywearied，andsatdown，whilehegatheredahandfuloftwigsandspikeletsfromthemassesstrewnwithoutandlitasmallfire，firsttakingtheprecautiontoblindthelittlewindowandrelockthedoor。
LadyConstantinelookedcuriouslyaroundbythelightoftheblaze。
