’AndwhatdoIfindthem？’
’Yousayreprehensible。Butyoumightatleastletmeheartheproof！’
’Icandomore，sir。Icanletyouseeit！’
Therewasapause。LouisGlanvillewassohighlyinterestedthathestoodupontheseatofthearbour，andlookedthroughtheleafageoverthewall。TheBishophadproducedanarticlefromhispocket。
’Whatisit？’saidSwithin，laboriouslyscrutinizingthething。
’Why，don’tyousee？’saidtheBishop，holdingitoutbetweenhisfingerandthumbinSwithin’sface。’Abracelet，——acoralbracelet。
Ifoundthewantonobjectonthebedinyourcabin！Andofthesexoftheownertherecanbenodoubt。Morethanthat，shewasconcealedbehindthecurtains，forIsawthemmove。’InthedecisionofhisopiniontheBishopthrewthecoralbraceletdownonatombstone。
’Nobodywasinmyroom，mylord，whohadnotaperfectrighttobethere，’saidtheyoungerman。
’Well，well，that’samatterofassertion。Nowdon’tgetintoapassion，andsaytomeinyourhastewhatyou’llrepentofsayingafterwards。’
’Iamnotinapassion，Iassureyourlordship。Iamtoosadforpassion。’
’Verywell;that’sahopefulsign。NowIwouldaskyou，asonemanofanother，doyouthinkthattocometome，theBishopofthislargeandimportantdiocese，asyoucameyesterday，andpretendtobesomethingthatyouarenot，isquiteuprightconduct，leavealonereligious？Thinkitover。Wemaynevermeetagain。ButbearinmindwhatyourBishopandspiritualheadsaystoyou，andseeifyoucannotmendbeforeitistoolate。’
SwithinwasmeekasMoses，buthetriedtoappearsturdy。’Mylord，Iaminadifficultposition，’hesaidmournfully;’howdifficult，nobodybutmyselfcantell。Icannotexplain;thereareinsuperablereasonsagainstit。ButwillyoutakemywordofassurancethatI
amnotsobadasIseem？SomedayIwillproveit。TillthenI
onlyaskyoutosuspendyourjudgmentonme。’
TheBishopshookhisheadincredulouslyandwenttowardsthevicarage，asifhehadlosthishearing。Swithinfollowedhimwithhiseyes，andLouisfollowedthedirectionofSwithin’s。BeforetheBishophadreachedthevicarageentranceLadyConstantinecrossedinfrontofhim。Shehadabasketonherarm，andwas，infact，goingtovisitsomeofthepoorercottages。WhocouldbelievetheBishopnowtobethesamemanthathehadbeenamomentbefore？Thedarknesslefthisfaceasifhehadcomeoutofacave;hislookwasallsweetness，andshine，andgaiety，asheagaingreetedViviette。
XXVIII
TheconversationwhicharosebetweentheBishopandLadyConstantinewasofthatlivelyandreproductivekindwhichcannotbeendedduringanyreasonablehaltoftwopeoplegoinginoppositedirections。Heturned，andwalkedwithheralongthelaurel—
screenedlanethatborderedthechurchyard，tilltheirvoicesdiedawayinthedistance。Swithinthenarousedhimselffromhisthoughtfulregardofthem，andwentoutofthechurchyardbyanothergate。
Seeinghimselfnowtobeleftaloneonthescene，LouisGlanvilledescendedfromhispostofobservationinthearbour。Hecamethroughtheprivatedoorway，andontothatspotamongthegraveswheretheBishopandSt。Cleevehadconversed。OnthetombstonestilllaythecoralbraceletwhichDr。Helmsdalehadflungdownthereinhisindignation;fortheagitated，introspectivemoodintowhichSwithinhadbeenthrownhadbanishedfromhismindallthoughtofsecuringthetrinketandputtingitinhispocket。
Louispickedupthelittleredscandal—breedingthing，andwhilewalkingonwithitinhishandheobservedTabithaLarkapproachingthechurch，incompanywiththeyoungblowerwhomshehadgoneinsearchoftoinspireherorgan—practisingwithin。Louisimmediatelyputtogether，withthatrarediplomatickeennessofwhichhewasproud，thelittlescenehehadwitnessedbetweenTabithaandSwithinduringtheconfirmation，andtheBishop’ssternstatementastowherehehadfoundthebracelet。Hehadnolongeranydoubtthatitbelongedtoher。
’Poorgirl！’hesaidtohimself，andsanginanundertone——
’Traderi，dera，L’histoiren’estpasnouvelle！’
WhenshedrewnearerLouiscalledherbyname。Shesenttheboyintothechurch，andcameforward，blushingathavingbeencalledbysofineagentleman。Louisheldoutthebracelet。
’HereissomethingIhavefound，orsomebodyelsehasfound，’hesaidtoher。’Iwon’tstatewhere。Putitaway，andsaynomoreaboutit。Iwillnotmentioniteither。Nowgoonintothechurchwhereyouaregoing，andmayHeavenhavemercyonyoursoul，mydear。’
’Thankyou，sir，’saidTabitha，withsomeperplexity，yetinclinedtobepleased，andonlyrecognizinginthesituationthefactthatLadyConstantine’shumorousbrotherwasmakingherapresent。
’Youaremuchobligedtome？’
’Oyes！’
’Well，MissLark，I’vediscoveredasecret，yousee。’
’Whatmaythatbe，Mr。Glanville？’
’Thatyouareinlove。’
’Idon’tadmitit，sir。Whotoldyouso？’
’Nobody。OnlyIputtwoandtwotogether。Nowtakemyadvice。
Bewareoflovers！Theyareabadlot，andbringyoungwomentotears。’
’Somedo，Idaresay。Butsomedon’t。’
’Andyouthinkthatinyourparticularcasethelatteralternativewillholdgood？Wegenerallythinkweshallbeluckyourselves，thoughalltheworldbeforeus，inthesamesituation，havebeenotherwise。’
’Oyes，orweshoulddieoutrightofdespair。’
’Well，Idon’tthinkyouwillbeluckyinyourcase。’
’Pleasehowdoyouknowsomuch，sincemycasehasnotyetarrived？’
askedTabitha，tossingherheadalittledisdainfully，butlessthanshemighthavedoneifhehadnotobtainedacharterforhisdiscoursebygivingherthebracelet。
’Fie，Tabitha！’
’Itellyouithasnotarrived！’shesaid，withsomeanger。’Ihavenotgotalover，andeverybodyknowsIhaven’t，andit’saninsinuatingthingforyoutosayso！’
Louislaughed，thinkinghownaturalitwasthatagirlshouldsoemphaticallydenycircumstancesthatwouldnotbearcuriousinquiry。
’Why，ofcourseImeantmyself，’hesaidsoothingly。’So，then，youwillnotacceptme？’
’Ididn’tknowyoumeantyourself，’shereplied。’ButIwon’tacceptyou。AndIthinkyououghtnottojestonsuchsubjects。’
’Well，perhapsnot。However，don’tlettheBishopseeyourbracelet，andallwillbewell。Butmind，loversaredeceivers。’
Tabithalaughed，andtheyparted，thegirlenteringthechurch。Shehadbeenfeelingalmostcertainthat，havingaccidentallyfoundthebraceletsomewhere，hehadpresenteditinawhimtoherasthefirstgirlhemet。Yetnowshebegantohavemomentarydoubtswhetherhehadnotbeenlabouringunderamistake，andhadimaginedhertobetheowner。Thebraceletwasnotvaluable;itwas，infact，ameretoy，——thepairofwhichthiswasonebeingalittlepresentmadetoLadyConstantinebySwithinonthedayoftheirmarriage;andshehadnotwornthemwithsufficientfrequencyoutofdoorsforTabithatorecognizeeitheraspositivelyherladyship’s。
Butwhen，outofsightoftheblower，thegirlmomentarilytriediton，inacornerbytheorgan，itseemedtoherthattheornamentwaspossiblyLadyConstantine’s。NowthatthepinkbeadsshonebeforehereyesonherownarmsherememberedhavingseenabraceletwithjustsuchaneffectgracingthewristofLadyConstantineupononeoccasion。Atemporaryself—surrendertothesophismthatifMr。
LouisGlanvillechosetogiveawayanythingbelongingtohissister，she，Tabitha，hadarighttotakeitwithoutquestion，wassooncheckedbyaresolvetocarrythetemptingstringsofcoraltoherladyshipthatevening，andinquirethetruthaboutthem。Thisdecidedonsheslippedthebraceletintoherpocket，andplayedhervoluntarieswithalightheart。
BishopHelmsdaledidnottearhimselfawayfromWellandtillabouttwoo’clockthatafternoon，whichwasthreehourslaterthanhehadintendedtoleave。ItwaswithafeelingofreliefthatSwithin，lookingfromthetopofthetower，sawthecarriagedriveoutfromthevicarageintotheturnpikeroad，andwhirltherightreverendgentlemanagaintowardsWarborne。ThecoastbeingnowclearofhimSwithinmeditatedhowtoseeViviette，andexplainwhathadhappened。Withthisinviewhewaitedwherehewastilleveningcameon。
MeanwhileLadyConstantineandherbrotherdinedbythemselvesatWellandHouse。Theyhadnotmetsincethemorning，andassoonastheywereleftaloneLouissaid，’Youhavedoneverywellsofar;
butyoumighthavebeenalittlewarmer。’
’Donewell？’sheasked，withsurprise。
’Yes，withtheBishop。Thedifficultquestionishowtofollowupouradvantage。Howareyoutokeepyourselfinsightofhim？’
’Heavens，Louis！Youdon’tseriouslymeanthattheBishopofMelchesterhasanyfeelingsformeotherthanfriendly？’
’Viviette，thisisaffectation。YouknowhehasaswellasIdo。’
Shesighed。’Yes，’shesaid。’IownIhadasuspicionofthesamething。Whatamisfortune！’
’Amisfortune？Surelytheworldisturnedupsidedown！Youwilldrivemetodespairaboutourfutureifyouseethingssoawry。
Exertyourselftodosomething，soastomakeofthisaccidentastepping—stonetohigherthings。Thegentlemanwillgiveustheslipifwedon’tpursuethefriendshipatonce。’
’Icannothaveyoutalklikethis，’shecriedimpatiently。’IhavenomorethoughtoftheBishopthanIhaveofthePope。Iwouldmuchrathernothavehadhimheretolunchatall。Yousaiditwouldbenecessarytodoit，andanopportunity，andIthoughtitmydutytoshowsomehospitalitywhenhewascomingsonear，Mr。Torkingham’shousebeingsosmall。ButofcourseIunderstoodthattheopportunitywouldbeoneforyouingettingtoknowhim，yourprospectsbeingsoindefiniteatpresent;notoneforme。’
’Ifyoudon’tfollowupthischanceofbeingspiritualqueenofMelchester，youwillneverhaveanotherofbeinganything。Mindthis，Viviette:youarenotsoyoungasyouwere。Youaregettingontobeamiddle—agedwoman，andyourblackhairispreciselyofthesortwhichtimequicklyturnsgrey。Youmustmakeupyourmindtogrizzledbachelorsorwidowers。Youngmarriageablemenwon’tlookatyou;oriftheydojustnow，inayearortwomorethey’lldespiseyouasanantiquatedparty。’
LadyConstantineperceptiblypaled。’Youngmenwhat？’sheasked。
’Saythatagain。’
’Isaiditwasnousetothinkofyoungmen;theywon’tlookatyoumuchlonger;oriftheydo，itwillbetolookawayagainveryquickly。’
’YouimplythatifIweretomarryamanyoungerthanmyselfhewouldspeedilyacquireacontemptforme？Howmuchyoungermustamanbethanhiswife——togetthatfeelingforher？’Shewasrestingherelbowonthechairasshefaintlyspokethewords，andcoveredhereyeswithherhand。
’Anexceedinglysmallnumberofyears，’saidLouisdrily。’NowtheBishopisatleastfifteenyearsolderthanyou，andonthataccount，nolessthanonothers，isanexcellentmatch。Youwouldbeheadofthechurchinthisdiocese:whatmorecanyourequireaftertheseyearsofmiserableobscurity？Inaddition，youwouldescapethatminorthorninthefleshofbishops’wives，ofbeingonly\"Mrs。\"whiletheirhusbandsarepeers。’
Shewasnotlistening;hispreviousobservationstilldetainedherthoughts。
’Louis，’shesaid，’inthecaseofawomanmarryingamanmuchyoungerthanherself，doeshegettodislikeher，eveniftherehasbeenasocialadvantagetohimintheunion？’
’Yes，——notawhitless。Askanypersonofexperience。Butwhatofthat？Let’stalkofourownaffairs。YousayyouhavenothoughtoftheBishop。Andyetifhehadstayedhereanotherdayortwohewouldhaveproposedtoyoustraightoff。’
’Seriously，Louis，Icouldnotaccepthim。’
’Whynot？’
’Idon’tlovehim。’
’Oh，oh，Ilikethosewords！’criedLouis，throwinghimselfbackinhischairandlookingattheceilinginsatiricalenjoyment。’A
womanwhoattwo—and—twentymarriedforconvenience，atthirtytalksofnotmarryingwithoutlove;theruleofinverse，thatis，inwhichmorerequiresless，andlessrequiresmore。Asyouronlybrother，olderthanyourself，andmoreexperienced，IinsistthatyouencouragetheBishop。’
’Don’tquarrelwithme，Louis！’shesaidpiteously。’Wedon’tknowthathethinksanythingofme，——weonlyguess。’
’Iknowit，——andyoushallhearhowIknow。Iamofacuriousandconjecturalnature，asyouareaware。Lastnight，wheneverybodyhadgonetobed，Isteppedoutforafiveminutes’smokeonthelawn，andwalkeddowntowhereyougetnearthevicaragewindows。
WhileIwasthereinthedarkoneofthemopened，andBishopHelmsdaleleantout。Theilluminatedoblongofyourwindowshonehimfullinthefacebetweenthetrees，andpresentlyyourshadowcrossedit。Hewavedhishand，andmurmuredsometenderwords，thoughwhattheywereexactlyIcouldnothear。’
’Whatavague，imaginarystory，——asifhecouldknowmyshadow！
Besides，amanoftheBishop’sdignitywouldn’thavedonesuchathing。WhenIknewhimasayoungermanhewasnotatallromantic，andhe’snotlikelytohavegrownsonow。’
’That’sjustwhatheislikelytohavedone。Noloverissoextremeaspecimenofthespeciesasanoldlover。Come，Viviette，nomoreofthisfencing。Ihaveenteredintotheprojectheartandsoul——somuchthatIhavepostponedmydeparturetillthematteriswellunderway。’
’Louis——mydearLouis——youwillbringmeintosomedisagreeableposition！’saidshe，claspingherhands。’Idoentreatyounottointerfereordoanythingrashaboutme。Thestepisimpossible。I
havesomethingtotellyousomeday。Imustliveon，andendure——’
’Everythingexceptthispenury，’repliedLouis，unmoved。’Come，I
havebegunthecampaignbyinvitingBishopHelmsdale，andI’lltaketheresponsibilityofcarryingiton。AllIaskofyouisnottomakeaninnyofyourself。Come，givemeyourpromise！’
’No，Icannot，——Idon’tknowhowto！Ionlyknowonething，——thatI
aminnohurry——’
’\"Nohurry\"behanged！Agree，likeagoodsister，tocharmtheBishop。’
’Imustconsider！’shereplied，withperturbedevasiveness。
ItbeingafineeveningLouiswentoutofthehousetoenjoyhiscigarintheshrubbery。Onreachinghisfavouriteseathefoundhehadlefthiscigar—casebehindhim;heimmediatelyreturnedforit。
WhenheapproachedthewindowbywhichhehademergedhesawSwithinSt。Cleevestandingthereinthedusk，talkingtoVivietteinside。
St。Cleeve’sbackwastowardsLouis，but，whetheratasignalfromherorbyaccident，hequicklyturnedandrecognizedGlanville;
whereuponraisinghishattoLadyConstantinetheyoungmanpassedalongtheterrace—walkandoutbythechurchyarddoor。
Louisrejoinedhissister。’Ididn’tknowyouallowedyourlawntobeapublicthoroughfarefortheparish，’hesaid。
’Iamnotexclusive，especiallysinceIhavebeensopoor，’repliedshe。
’Thendoyouleteverybodypassthisway，oronlythatillustriousyouthbecauseheissogood—looking？’
’Ihavenostrictruleinthecase。Mr。St。Cleeveisanacquaintanceofmine，andhecancertainlycomehereifhechooses。’
Hercolourrosesomewhat，andshespokewarmly。
Louiswastoocautiousabirdtorevealtoherwhathadsuddenlydawneduponhismind——thathissister，incommonwiththe（tohisthinking）unhappyTabithaLark，hadbeenfoolishenoughtogetinterestedinthisphenomenonoftheparish，thisscientificAdonis。
Butheresolvedtocureatoncehertenderfeeling，ifitexisted，bylettingoutasecretwhichwouldinflameherdignityagainsttheweakness。
’Agood—lookingyoungman，’hesaid，withhiseyeswhereSwithinhadvanished。’Butnotsogoodashelooks。Infactaregularyoungsinner。’
’Whatdoyoumean？’
’Oh，onlyalittlefeatureIdiscoveredinSt。Cleeve’shistory。
ButIsupposehehasarighttosowhiswildoatsaswellasotheryoungmen。’
’Tellmewhatyoualludeto，——do，Louis。’
’ItishardlyfitthatIshould。However，thecaseisamusingenough。Iwassittinginthearbourto—day，andwasanunwillinglistenertotheoddestinterviewIeverheardof。OurfriendtheBishopdiscovered，whenwevisitedtheobservatorylastnight，thatourastronomerwasnotaloneinhisseclusion。Aladysharedhisromanticcabinwithhim;andfindingthis，theBishopnaturallyenoughfeltthattheordinanceofconfirmationhadbeenprofaned。
SohislordshipsentforMasterSwithinthismorning，andmeetinghiminthechurchyardreadhimsuchanexcommunicatinglectureasI
warranthewon’tforgetinhislifetime。Ha—ha—ha！’Twasverygood，——very。’
Hewatchedherfacenarrowlywhilehespokewithsuchseemingcarelessness。Insteadoftheagitationofjealousythathehadexpectedtobearousedbythishintofanotherwomaninthecase，therewasacuriousexpression，morelikeembarrassmentthananythingelsewhichmighthavebeenfairlyattributedtothesubject。’CanitbethatIammistaken？’heaskedhimself。
ThepossibilitythathemightbemistakenrestoredLouistogood—
humour，andlightshavingbeenbroughthesatwithhissisterforsometime，talkingwithpurposeofSwithin’slowrankononeside，andthesordidstrugglesthatmightbeinstoreforhim。St。Cleevebeingintheunhappycaseofderivinghisexistencethroughtwochannelsofsociety，itresultedthatheseemedtobelongtoeitherthisorthataccordingtothealtitudeofthebeholder。LouisthrewthelightentirelyonSwithin’sagriculturalside，bringingoutoldMrs。Martinandherconnexionsandherwaysoflifewithluminousdistinctness，tillLadyConstantinebecamegreatlydepressed。She，inherhopefulness，hadalmostforgotten，latterly，thatthebucolicelement，soincisivelyrepresentedbyMessrs。HezzyBiles，HaymossFry，SammyBlore，andtherestenteredintohisconditionatall;toherhehadbeenthesonofhisacademicfatheralone。
ButshewouldnotrevealthedepressiontowhichshehadbeensubjectedbythisresuscitationofthehomelyhalfofpoorSwithin，presentlyputtinganendtothesubjectbywalkinghitherandthitherabouttheroom。
’Whathaveyoulost？’saidLouis，observinghermovements。
’Nothingofconsequence，——abracelet。’
’Coral？’heinquiredcalmly。
’Yes。Howdidyouknowitwascoral？Youhaveneverseenit，haveyou？’
Hewasabouttomakeanswer;buttheamazedenlightenmentwhichherannouncementhadproducedinhimthroughknowingwheretheBishophadfoundsuchanarticle，ledhimtoreconsiderhimself。Then，likeanastuteman，bynomeanssureofthedimensionsoftheintriguehemightbeuncovering，hesaidcarelessly，’Ifoundsuchaoneinthechurchyardto—day。ButIthoughtitappearedtobeofnogreatrarity，andIgaveittooneofthevillagegirlswhowaspassingby。’
’Didshetakeit？Whowasshe？’saidtheunsuspectingViviette。
’Really，Idon’tremember。Isupposeitisofnoconsequence？’
’Ono;itsvalueisnothing，comparatively。Itwasonlyoneofapairsuchasyounggirlswear。’LadyConstantinecouldnotaddthat，inspiteofthis，sheherselfvalueditasbeingSwithin’spresent，andthebesthecouldafford。
Panic—struckbyhisruminations，althoughrevealingnothingbyhismanner，Louissoonafterwentuptohisroom，professedlytowriteletters。Hegaveventtoalowwhistlewhenhewasoutofhearing。
Heofcourserememberedperfectlywelltowhomhehadgiventhecorals，andresolvedtoseekoutTabithathenextmorningtoascertainwhethershecouldpossiblyhaveownedsuchatrinketaswellashissister，——whichatpresentheverygreatlydoubted，thoughferventlyhopingthatshemight。
XXIX
TheeffectuponSwithinoftheinterviewwiththeBishophadbeenaverymarkedone。Hefeltthathehadgoodgroundforresentingthatdignitary’stoneinhaughtilyassumingthatallmustbesinfulwhichatthefirstblushappearedtobeso，andinnarrowlyrefusingayoungmanthebenefitofasingledoubt。Swithin’sassurancethathewouldbeabletoexplainallsomedayhadbeentakenincontemptuousincredulity。
’HemaybeasvirtuousashisprototypeTimothy;buthe’sanopinionatedoldfogeyallthesame，’saidSt。Cleevepetulantly。
Yet，ontheotherhand，Swithin’snaturewassofreshandingenuous，notwithstandingthatrecentaffairshadsomewhatdenaturalizedhim，thatforamanintheBishop’spositiontothinkhimimmoralwasalmostasoverwhelmingasifhehadactuallybeenso，andatmomentshecouldscarcelybearexistenceundersogrossasuspicion。WhatwashisunionwithLadyConstantineworthtohimwhen，byreasonofit，hewasthoughtareprobatebyalmosttheonlymanwhohadprofessedtotakeaninterestinhim？
Certainly，bycontrastwithhisair—builtimageofhimselfasaworthyastronomer，receivedbyalltheworld，andtheenviedhusbandofViviette，thepresentimputationwashumiliating。Thegloriouslightofthistenderandrefinedpassionseemedtohavebecomedebasedtoburlesquehuesbypureaccident，andhisaestheticnolessthanhisethictastewasoffendedbysuchananti—climax。Hewhohadsoaredamidtheremotestgrandeursofnaturehadbeentakentotaskonarudimentaryquestionofmorals，whichhadneverbeenaquestionwithhimatall。Thiswaswhattheexigenciesofanawkwardattachmenthadbroughthimto;butheblamedthecircumstances，andnotforonemomentLadyConstantine。
HavingnowsethisheartagainstalongerconcealmenthewasdisposedtothinkthatanexcellentwayofbeginningarevelationoftheirmarriagewouldbebywritingaconfidentiallettertotheBishop，detailingthewholecase。Butitwasimpossibletodothisonhisownresponsibility。HestillrecognizedtheunderstandingenteredintowithViviette，beforethemarriage，tobeasbindingasever，——thattheinitiativeindisclosingtheirunionshouldcomefromher。Yethehardlydoubtedthatshewouldtakethatinitiativewhenhetoldherofhisextraordinaryreprimandinthechurchyard。
ThiswaswhathehadcometodowhenLouissawhimstandingatthewindow。Butbeforehehadsaidhalf—a—dozenwordstoVivietteshemotionedhimtogoon，whichhemechanicallydid，erehecouldsufficientlycollecthisthoughtsonitsadvisabilityorotherwise。
Hedidnot，however，gofar。WhileLouisandhissisterwerediscussinghiminthedrawing—roomhelingeredmusinginthechurchyard，hopingthatshemightbeabletoescapeandjoinhimintheconsultationhesoearnestlydesired。
Sheatlastfoundopportunitytodothis。AssoonasLouishadlefttheroomandshuthimselfinupstairssheranoutbythewindowinthedirectionSwithinhadtaken。Whenherfootstepsbegancrunchingonthegravelhecameforwardfromthechurchyarddoor。
Theyembracedeachotherinhaste，andthen，inafewshortpantingwords，sheexplainedtohimthatherbrotherhadheardandwitnessedtheinterviewonthatspotbetweenhimselfandtheBishop，andhadtoldherthesubstanceoftheBishop’saccusation，notknowingshewasthewomaninthecabin。
’AndwhatIcannotunderstandisthis，’sheadded;’howdidtheBishopdiscoverthatthepersonbehindthebed—curtainswasawomanandnotaman？’
SwithinexplainedthattheBishophadfoundthebraceletonthebed，andhadbroughtittohiminthechurchyard。
’OSwithin，whatdoyousay？Foundthecoralbracelet？Whatdidyoudowithit？’
Swithinclappedhishandtohispocket。
’Dearme！Irecollect——IleftitwhereitlayonReubenHeath’stombstone。’
’Oh，mydear，dearSwithin！’shecriedmiserably。’Youhavecompromisedmebyyourforgetfulness。Ihaveclaimedthearticleasmine。MybrotherdidnottellmethattheBishopbroughtitfromthecabin。WhatcanI，canIdo，thatneithertheBishopnormybrothermayconclude_I_wasthewomanthere？’
’Butifweannounceourmarriage——’
’Evenasyourwife，thepositionwastooundignified——tooIdon’tknowwhat——formeevertoadmitthatIwasthere！Rightorwrong，I
mustdeclarethebraceletwasnotmine。Suchanescapade——why，itwouldmakemeridiculousinthecounty;andanythingratherthanthat！’
’Iwasinhopethatyouwouldagreetoletourmarriagebeknown，’
saidSwithin，withsomedisappointment。’Ithoughtthatthesecircumstanceswouldmakethereasonfordoingsodoublystrong。’
’Yes。Butthereare，alas，reasonsagainstitstillstronger！Letmehavemyway。’
’Certainly，dearest。Ipromisedthatbeforeyouagreedtobemine。
Myreputation——whatisit！PerhapsIshallbedeadandforgottenbeforethenexttransitofVenus！’
Shesoothedhimtenderly，butcouldnottellhimwhyshefeltthereasonsagainstanyannouncementasyettobestrongerthanthoseinfavourofit。Howcouldshe，whenherfeelinghadbeencautiouslyfedanddevelopedbyherbrotherLouis’sunvarnishedexhibitionofSwithin’smaterialpositionintheeyesoftheworld？——thatofayoungman，thescionofafamilyoffarmersrecentlyhertenants，livingatthehomesteadwithhisgrandmother，Mrs。Martin。
