’Whynot？’
’Ithoughtyouhadbetternot，asitdoesnotconcernmefurthernow。Thesolicitorsarelabouringunderamistakeinsupposingthatitdoes。Ihavetowriteatonceandinformthemthattheannuityisnotminetoreceive。’
’Whatastrangemysteryinyourlife！’shesaid，forcingaperplexedsmile。’Somethingtobalancethetragedyinmine。Iamabsolutelyinthedarkastoyourpasthistory，itseems。AndyetIhadthoughtyoutoldmeeverything。’
’Icouldnottellyouthat，Viviette，becauseitwouldhaveendangeredourrelations——thoughnotinthewayyoumaysuppose。
Youwouldhavereprovedme。You，whoaresogenerousandnoble，wouldhaveforbiddenmetodowhatIdid;andIwasdeterminednottobeforbidden。’
’Todowhat？’
’Tomarryyou。’
’WhyshouldIhaveforbidden？’
’MustItell——whatIwouldnot？’hesaid，placinghishandsuponherarms，andlookingsomewhatsadlyather。’Well，perhapsasithascometothisyououghttoknowall，sinceitcanmakenopossibledifferencetomyintentionsnow。Weareoneforever——legalblundersnotwithstanding;forhappilytheyarequicklyreparable——
andthisquestionofadevisefrommyuncleJocelynonlyconcernedmewhenIwasasingleman。’
Thereupon，withobviouslynoconsiderationofthepossibilitiesthatwerereopenedofthenullityoftheirmarriagecontract，herelatedindetail，andnotwithoutmisgivingforhavingconcealedthemsolong，theeventsthathadoccurredonthemorningoftheirwedding—
day;howhehadmetthepostmanonhiswaytoWarborneafterdressinginthecabin，andhowhehadreceivedfromhimtheletterhisdeadunclehadconfidedtohisfamilylawyers，informinghimoftheannuity，andoftheimportantrequestattached——thatheshouldremainunmarrieduntilhisfive—and—twentiethyear;howincomparisonwiththepossessionofherdearselfhehadreckonedtheincomeasnought，abandonedallideaofitthereandthen，andhadcomeontotheweddingasifnothinghadhappenedtointerruptforamomenttheworkingoutoftheirplan;howhehadscarcelythoughtwithanyclosenessofthecircumstancesofthecasesince，untilremindedofthembythisnoteshehadseen，andapreviousoneofalikesortreceivedfromthesamesolicitors。
’OSwithin！Swithin！’shecried，burstingintotearsassherealizeditall，andsinkingontheobserving—chair;’Ihaveruinedyou！yes，Ihaveruinedyou！’
Theyoungmanwasdismayedbyherunexpectedgrief，andendeavouredtosootheher;butsheseemedtouchedbyapoignantremorsewhichwouldnotbecomforted。
’Andnow，’shecontinued，assoonasshecouldspeak，’whenyouareoncemorefree，andinaposition——actuallyinapositiontoclaimtheannuitythatwouldbethemakingofyou，Iamcompelledtocometoyou，andbeseechyoutoundoyourselfagain，merelytosaveme！’
’Nottosaveyou，Viviette，buttoblessme。Youdonotaskmetore—marry;itisnotaquestionofalternativesatall;itismystraightcourse。Idonotdreamofdoingotherwise。IshouldbewretchedifyouthoughtforonemomentIcouldentertaintheideaofdoingotherwise。’
Butthemorehesaidtheworsehemadethematter。Itwasastateofaffairsthatwouldnotbeardiscussionatall，andtheunsophisticatedviewhetookofhiscourseseemedtoincreaseherresponsibility。
’Whydidyouruncleattachsuchacruelconditiontohisbounty？’
shecriedbitterly。’O，helittlethinkshowhardhehitsmefromthegrave——me，whohaveneverdonehimwrong;andyou，too！
Swithin，areyousurethathemakesthatconditionindispensable？
Perhapshemeantthatyoushouldnotmarrybeneathyou;perhapshedidnotmeantoobjectinsuchacaseasyourmarrying（forgivemeforsayingit）alittleaboveyou。’
’Thereisnodoubtthathedidnotcontemplateacasewhichhasledtosuchhappinessasthishasdone，’theyouthmurmuredwithhesitation;forthoughhescarcelyrememberedawordofhisuncle’sletterofadvice，hehadadimapprehensionthatitwascouchedintermsalludingspecificallytoLadyConstantine。
’Areyousureyoucannotretainthemoney，andbemylawfulhusbandtoo？’sheaskedpiteously。’O，whatawrongIamdoingyou！Ididnotdreamthatitcouldbeasbadasthis。IknewIwaswastingyourtimebylettingyouloveme，andhamperingyourprojects;butI
thoughttherewerecompensatingadvantages。ThiswreckingofyourfutureatmyhandsIdidnotcontemplate。Youaresurethereisnoescape？Haveyouhisletterwiththeconditions，orthewill？Letmeseetheletterinwhichheexpresseshiswishes。’
’IassureyouitisallasIsay，’hepensivelyreturned。’EvenifIwerenotlegallyboundbytheconditionsIshouldbemorally。’
’Buthowdoesheputit？Howdoeshejustifyhimselfinmakingsuchaharshrestriction？Doletmeseetheletter，Swithin。Ishallthinkitawantofconfidenceifyoudonot。Imaydiscoversomewayoutofthedifficultyifyouletmelookatthepapers。
Eccentricwillscanbeevadedinallsortsofways。’
Stillhehesitated。’Iwouldratheryoudidnotseethepapers，’hesaid。
Butshepersistedasonlyafondwomancan。Herconvictionwasthatshewho，asawomanmanyyearshissenior，shouldhaveshownherloveforhimbyguidinghimstraightintothepathsheaimedat，hadblockedhisattemptedcareerforherownhappiness。Thismadehermoreintentthanevertofindoutadevicebywhich，whileshestillretainedhim，hemightalsoretainthelife—interestunderhisuncle’swill。
Herentreatieswereatlengthtoopotentforhisresistance。
Accompanyingherdownstairstothecabin，heopenedthedeskfromwhichtheotherpapershadbeentaken，andagainsthisbetterjudgmenthandedhertheominouscommunicationofJocelynSt。Cleevewhichlayintheenvelopejustasithadbeenreceivedthree—
quartersofayearearlier。
’Don’treaditnow，’hesaid。’Don’tspoilourmeetingbyenteringintoasubjectwhichisvirtuallypastanddonewith。Takeitwithyou，andlookitoveratyourleisure——merelyasanoldcuriosity，remember，andnotasastilloperativedocument。Ihavealmostforgottenwhatthecontentsare，beyondthegeneraladviceandstipulationthatIwastoremainabachelor。’
’Atanyrate，’sherejoined，’donotreplytothenoteIhaveseenfromthesolicitorstillIhavereadthisalso。’
Hepromised。’Butnowaboutourpublicwedding，’hesaid。’Likecertainroyalpersonages，weshallhavehadthereligiousriteandthecivilcontractperformedonindependentoccasions。Willyoufixtheday？Whenisittobe？andshallittakeplaceataregistrar’soffice，sincethereisnonecessityforhavingthesacredpartoveragain？’
’I’llthink，’repliedshe。’I’llthinkitover。’
’Andletmeknowassoonasyoucanhowyoudecidetoproceed。’
’Iwillwriteto—morrow，orcome。Idonotknowwhattosaynow。I
cannotforgethowIamwrongingyou。ThisisalmostmorethanIcanbear！’
TodiverthermindhebegantalkingaboutGreenwichObservatory，andthegreatinstrumentstherein，andhowhehadbeenreceivedbytheastronomers，andthedetailsoftheexpeditiontoobservetheTransitofVenus，togetherwithmanyothersubjectsofthesort，towhichshehadnotpowertolendherattention。
’Imustreachhomebeforethepeopleareoutofchurch，’sheatlengthsaidwearily。’IwishnobodytoknowIhavebeenoutthismorning。’AndforbiddingSwithintocrossintotheopeninhercompanyshelefthimontheedgeoftheisolatedplantation，whichhadlatterlyknownhertreadsowell。
XXXV
LadyConstantinecrossedthefieldandtheparkbeyond，andfoundonpassingthechurchthatthecongregationwasstillwithin。Therewasnohurryforgettingindoors，theopenwindowsenablinghertohearthatMr。Torkinghamhadonlyjustgivenouthistext。Soinsteadofenteringthehouseshewentthroughthegarden—doortotheoldbowling—green，andsatdowninthearbourthatLouishadoccupiedwhenheoverheardtheinterviewbetweenSwithinandtheBishop。Notuntilthendidshefindcouragetodrawouttheletterandpapersrelatingtothebequest，whichSwithininacriticalmomenthadhandedtoher。
HadhebeeneversolittleolderhewouldnothaveplacedthatunconsideredconfidenceinViviettewhichhadledhimtogivewaytohercuriosity。Buttheinfluenceoverhimwhicheightornineoutnumberingyearslentherwasimmenselyincreasedbyherhigherpositionandwiderexperiences，andhehadyieldedthepoint，asheyieldedallsocialpoints;whilethesameconditionsexemptedhimfromanydeepconsciousnessthatitwashisdutytoprotectherevenfromherself。
ThepreambleofDr。St。Cleeve’sletter，inwhichhereferredtohispleasureathearingoftheyoungman’spromiseasanastronomer，disturbedhernotatall——indeed，somewhatprepossessedherinfavouroftheoldgentlemanwhohadwrittenit。Thefirstitemofwhathecalled’unfavourablenews，’namely，theallusiontotheinadequacyofSwithin’sincometothewantsofascientificman，whoselinesofworkwerenotcalculatedtoproducepecuniaryemolumentformanyyears，deepenedthecastofherfacetoconcern。
Shereachedtheseconditemoftheso—calledunfavourablenews;andherfaceflushedasshereadhowthedoctorhadlearnt’thattherewassomethinginyourpathworsethannarrowmeans，andthatsomethingisawoman。’
’Tosaveyou，ifpossible，fromruinontheseheads，’shereadon，’Itakethepreventivemeasuresentailedbelow。’
Andthenfollowedtheannouncementofthe600poundsayearsettledontheyouthforlife，onthesingleconditionthatheremainedunmarriedtilltheageoftwenty—five——justasSwithinhadexplainedtoher。Shenextlearntthatthebequestwasforadefiniteobject—
—thathemighthaveresourcessufficienttoenablehimtotravelinaninexpensiveway，andbeginastudyofthesouthernconstellations，which，accordingtotheshrewdoldman’sjudgment，wereaminenotsothoroughlyworkedasthenorthern，andthereforetoberecommended。Thiswasfollowedbysomesentenceswhichhitherinthefacelikeaswitch:——
’Theonlyotherpreventivestepinmypoweristhatofexhortation……SwithinSt。Cleeve，don’tmakeafoolofyourself，asyourfatherdid。Ifyourstudiesaretobeworthanything，believemetheymustbecarriedonwithoutthehelpofawoman。Avoidher，andeveryoneofthesex，ifyoumeantoachieveanyworthything。
Eschewallofthatsortformanyayearyet。Moreover，Isay，theladyofyouracquaintanceavoidinparticular……Shehas，inadditiontoheroriginaldisqualificationasacompanionforyou（thatis，thatofsex），thesetwospecialdrawbacks:sheismucholderthanyourself——’
LadyConstantine’sindignantflushforsookher，andpaledespairsucceededinitsstead。Alas，itwastrue。Handsome，andinherprime，shemightbe;butshewastoooldforSwithin！
’Andsheissoimpoverished……Beyondthis，frankly，Idon’tthinkwellofher。Idon’tthinkwellofanywomanwhodotesuponamanyoungerthanherself……Tocaretobethefirstfancyofayoungfellowlikeyoushowsnogreatcommonsenseinher。Ifshewereworthhersaltshewouldhavetoomuchpridetobeintimatewithayouthinyourunassuredposition，tosaynomore。’
（Viviette’sfacebythistimetingledhotagain。）’Sheisoldenoughtoknowthataliaisonwithhermay，andalmostcertainlywould，beyourruin;and，ontheotherhand，thatamarriagewouldbepreposterous——unlesssheisacompletefool;andinthatcasethereisevenmorereasonforavoidingherthanifshewereinherfewsenses。
’Awomanofhonourablefeeling，nephew，wouldbecarefultodonothingtohinderyouinyourcareer，asthisputtingofherselfinyourwaymostcertainlywill。YetIhearthatsheprofessesagreatanxietyonthissamefutureofyoursasaphysicist。Thebestwayinwhichshecanshowtherealityofheranxietyisbyleavingyoutoyourself。’
Leavinghimtohimself！Shepaledagain，asifchilledbyaconvictionthatinthistheoldmanwasright。
’She’llblabyourmostsecretplansandtheoriestoeveryoneofheracquaintance，andmakeyouappearridiculousbyannouncingthembeforetheyarematured。Ifyouattempttostudywithawoman，you’llberuledbyhertoentertainfanciesinsteadoftheories，air—castlesinsteadofintentions，qualmsinsteadofopinions，sicklyprepossessionsinsteadofreasonedconclusions……
’Anexperiencedwomanwakingayoungman’spassionsjustatamomentwhenheisendeavouringtoshineintellectually，isdoinglittlelessthancommittingacrime。’
Thusmuchtheletter;anditwasenoughforher，indeed。Theflushesofindignationwhichhadpassedoverher，asshegatheredthisman’sopinionofherself，combinedwithflushesofgriefandshamewhensheconsideredthatSwithin——herdearSwithin——wasperfectlyacquaintedwiththiscynicalviewofhernature;that，rejectitashemight，andasheunquestionablydid，suchthoughtsofherhadbeenimplantedinhim，andlayinhim。Stifledastheywere，theylayinhimlikeseedstoodeepforgermination，whichaccidentmightsomedaybringnearthesurfaceandaerateintolife。
Thehumiliationofsuchapossibilitywasalmosttoomuchtoendure;
themortification——shehadknownnothinglikeittillnow。Butthiswasnotall。Theresucceededafeelingincomparisonwithwhichresentmentandmortificationwerehappymoods——amiserableconvictionthatthisoldmanwhospokefromthegravewasnotaltogetherwronginhisspeaking;thathewasonlyhalfwrong;thathewas，perhaps，virtuallyright。Onlythosepersonswhoarebynatureaffectedwiththatreadyesteemforothers’positionswhichinducesanundervaluingoftheirown，fullyexperiencethedeepsmartofsuchconvictionsagainstself——thewishforannihilationthatisengenderedinthemomentofdespair，atfeelingthatatlengthwe，ourbestandfirmestfriend，ceasetobelieveinourcause。
Viviettecouldhearthepeoplecomingoutofchurchontheothersideofthegardenwall。Theirfootstepsandtheircheerfulvoicesdiedaway;thebellrangforlunch;andshewentin。Butherlifeduringthatmorningandafternoonwaswhollyintrospective。Knowingthefullcircumstancesofhissituationassheknewthemnow——asshehadneverbeforeknownthem——oughtshetomakeherselfthelegalwifeofSwithinSt。Cleeve，andsosecureherownhonouratanypricetohim？suchwastheformidablequestionwhichLadyConstantinepropoundedtoherstartledunderstanding。Asasubjectivelyhonestwomanalone，beginninghercharityathome，therewasnodoubtthatsheought。SaveThyselfwassoundOldTestamentdoctrine，andnotaltogetherdiscountenancedintheNew。
Butwastherealineofconductwhichtranscendedmereself—
preservation？andwoulditnotbeanexcellentthingtoputitinpracticenow？
ThatshehadwrongedSt。Cleevebymarryinghim——thatshewouldwronghiminfinitelymorebycompletingthemarriage——therewas，inheropinion，nodoubt。Sheinherexperiencehadsoughtouthiminhisinexperience，andhadledhimlikeachild。Sheremembered——asifithadbeenherfault，thoughitwasinfactonlyhermisfortune—
—thatshehadbeentheonetogoforthelicenseandtakeupresidenceintheparishinwhichtheywerewedded。Hewasnowjustone—and—twenty。Withouther，hehadalltheworldbeforehim，sixhundredayear，andleavetocutasstraightaroadtofameasheshouldchoose:withher，thisstorywasnegatived。
Nomoneyfromhisuncle;nopowerofadvancement;butabondagewithawomanwhosedisparityofyears，thoughimmaterialjustnow，wouldoperateinthefutureasawetblanketuponhissocialambitions;
andthatcontentwithlifeasitwaswhichshehadnoticedmorethanonceinhimlatterly，acontentimperillinghisscientificspiritbyabstractinghiszealforprogress。
Itwasimpossible，inshort，toblindherselftotheinferencethatmarriagewithherhadnotbenefitedhim。Mattersmightimproveinthefuture;buttotakeuponherselfthewholeliabilityofSwithin’slife，asshewoulddobydeprivinghimofthehelphisunclehadoffered，wasafearfulresponsibility。Howcouldshe，anunendowedwoman，replacesuchassistance？HisrecentvisittoGreenwich，whichhadmomentarilyrevivedthatzestforhispursuitthatwasnowlessconstantthanheretofore，shouldbyrightsbesupplementedbyothersuchexpeditions。Itwouldbetruebenevolencenottodeprivehimofmeanstocontinuethem，soastokeephisardouralive，regardlessofthecosttoherself。
Itcouldbedone。BytheextraordinaryfavourofauniqueaccidentshehadnowanopportunityofredeemingSwithin’sseriouslycompromisedfuture，andrestoringhimtoastatenoworsethanhisfirst。Hisannuitycouldbeenjoyedbyhim，histravelsundertaken，hisstudiespursued，hishighvocationinitiated，byonelittlesacrifice——thatofherself。Sheonlyhadtorefusetolegalizetheirmarriage，topartfromhimforever，andallwouldbewellwithhimthenceforward。Thepaintohimwouldafterallbebutslight，whateveritmightbetohiswretchedViviette。
Theineptnessofretaininghimathersidelaynotonlyinthefactitselfofinjurytohim，butinthelikelihoodofhislivingtoseeitassuch，andreproachingherforselfishnessinnotlettinghimgointhisunprecedentedopportunityforcorrectingamoveprovedtobefalse。Hewishedtoexaminethesouthernheavens——perhapshisuncle’sletterwasthefatherofthewish——andtherewasnotellingwhatgoodmightnotresulttomankindatlargefromhisexploitsthere。Whyshouldshe，tosavehernarrowhonour，wastethewidepromiseofhisability？
Thatinimmolatingherselfbyrefusinghim，andleavinghimfreetoworkwondersforthegoodofhisfellow—creatures，shewouldinallprobabilityaddtothesumofhumanfelicity，consoledherbyitsbreadthasanideaevenwhileittorturedherbymakingherselfthescapegoatorsingleunitonwhomtheevilwouldfall。Oughtapossiblylargenumber，Swithinincluded，toremainunbenefitedbecausetheoneindividualtowhomhisreleasewouldbeaninjurychancedtobeherself？Lovebetweenmanandwoman，whichinHomer，Moses，andotherearlyexhibitorsoflife，ismeredesire，hadforcenturiespastsofarbroadenedastoincludesympathyandfriendship;surelyitshouldinthisadvancedstageoftheworldincludebenevolencealso。Ifso，itwasherdutytosetheryoungmanfree。
Thusshelaboured，withagenerositymoreworthyeventhanitsobject，tosinkherloveforherowndecorumindevotiontotheworldingeneral，andtoSwithininparticular。Tocounselheractivitiesbyherunderstanding，ratherthanbyheremotionsasusual，washardworkforatenderwoman;butshestrovehard，andmadeadvance。Theself—centredattitudenaturaltooneinhersituationwasbecomingdisplacedbythesympatheticattitude，which，thoughithadtobeartificiallyfosteredatfirst，gaveher，bydegrees，acertainsweetsensethatshewasrisingaboveself—love。
Thatmaternalelementwhichhadfromtimetotimeevinceditselfinheraffectionfortheyouth，andwasimpartedbyhersuperiorripenessinexperienceandyears，appearednowagain，asshedrewnearertheresolvenottosecureproprietyinherownsocialconditionattheexpenseofthisyouth’searthlyutility。
Unexpectedlygrandfruitsaresometimesforcedforthbyharshpruning。TheilliberalletterofSwithin’sunclewassuggestingtoLadyConstantineanaltruismwhosethoroughnesswouldprobablyhaveamazedthatqueeroldgentlemanintoawithdrawaloftheconditionsthathadinducedit。ToloveSt。Cleevesofarbetterthanherselfasthiswastosurpasstheloveofwomenasconventionallyunderstood，andasmostlyexisting。
Before，however，clinchingherdecisionbyanydefinitestepsheworriedherlittlebrainbydevisingeverykindofingeniousscheme，inthehopeoflightingononethatmightshowherhowthatdecisioncouldbeavoidedwiththesamegoodresult。Buttosecureforhimtheadvantagesoffered，andtoretainhimlikewise;reflectiononlyshowedittobeimpossible。
YettolethimgoFOREVERwasmorethanshecouldendure，andatlengthshejumpedatanideawhichpromisedsomesortofimprovementonthatdesign。Shewouldproposethatreunionshouldnotbeentirelyabandoned，butsimplypostponed——namely，tillafterhistwenty—fifthbirthday——whenhemightbeherhusbandwithout，atanyrate，thelosstohimoftheincome。Bythistimehewouldapproximatetoaman’sfulljudgment，andthatpainfulaspectofherasonewhohaddeludedhisrawimmaturitywouldhavepassedforever。
Theplansomewhatappeasedherdisquietedhonour。Toletamarriagesinkintoabeyanceforfourorfiveyearswasnottonullifyit;andthoughshewouldleaveittohimtomoveitssubstantiationattheendofthattime，withoutpresentstipulations，shehadnotmuchdoubtupontheissue。
Theclockstruckfive。Thissilentmentaldebatehadoccupiedherwholeafternoon。Perhapsitwouldnothaveendednowbutforanunexpectedincident——theentryofherbrotherLouis。Hecameintotheroomwhereshewassitting，orratherwrithing，andafterafewwordstoexplainhowhehadgotthereandaboutthemistakeinthedateofSirBlount’sdeath，hewalkedupclosetoher。Hisnextremarkswereapologeticinform，butinessencetheywerebitternessitself。
’Viviette，’hesaid，’IamsorryformyhastywordstoyouwhenI
lastleftthishouse。Ireadilywithdrawthem。Mysuspicionstookawrongdirection。IthinknowthatIknowthetruth。YouhavebeenevenmadderthanIsupposed！’
’Inwhatway？’sheaskeddistantly。
’Ilatelythoughtthatunhappyyoungmanwasonlyyourtoo—favouredlover。’
’Youthoughtwrong:heisnot。’
’Heisnot——Ibelieveyou——forheismore。Inowampersuadedthatheisyourlawfulhusband。Canyoudenyit！’
’Ican。’
’Onyoursacredword！’
’Onmysacredwordheisnotthateither。’
’Thankheavenforthatassurance！’saidLouis，exhalingabreathofrelief。’IwasnotsopositiveasIpretendedtobe——butIwantedtoknowthetruthofthismystery。SinceyouarenotfetteredtohiminthatwayIcarenothing。’
Louisturnedaway;andthataffordedheranopportunityforleavingtheroom。Thosefewwordswerethelastgrainsthathadturnedthebalance，andsettledherdoom。
ShewouldletSwithingo。Allthevoicesinherworldseemedtoclamourforthatconsummation。Themorning’smortification，theafternoon’sbenevolence，andtheevening’sinstinctsofevasionhadjoinedtocarrythepoint。
Accordinglyshesatdown，andwrotetoSwithinasummaryofthethoughtsabovedetailed。
’Weshallseparate，’sheconcluded。’Youtoobeyyouruncle’sordersandexplorethesouthernskies;Itowaitasonewhocanimplicitlytrustyou。Donotseemeagaintilltheyearshaveexpired。Youwillfindmestillthesame。Iamyourwifethroughalltime;theletterofthelawisnotneededtoreassertitatpresent;whiletheabsenceofthelettersecuresyourfortune。’
NothingcanexpresswhatitcostLadyConstantinetomarshalherarguments;butshedidit，andvanquishedself—comfortbyasenseofthegeneralexpediency。Itmayunhesitatinglybeaffirmedthattheonlyignoblereasonwhichmighthavedictatedsuchastepwasnon—
existent;thatistosay，aseriousdeclineinheraffection。
Tenderlyshehadlovedtheyouthatfirst，andtenderlyshelovedhimnow，astimeandherafter—conductproved。
Womenthemostdelicategetusedtostrangemoralsituations。EveprobablyregainedhernormalsweetcomposureaboutaweekaftertheFall。OnfirstlearningofheranomalouspositionLadyConstantinehadblushedhot，andherpureinstinctshadpromptedhertolegalizehermarriagewithoutamoment’sdelay。Heavenandearthweretobemovedatoncetoeffectit。Dayafterdayhadpassed;herunionhadremainedunsecured，andtheideaofitsnullityhadgraduallyceasedtobestrangetoher;tillitbecameoflittleaccountbesideherboldresolvefortheyoungman’ssake。
XXXVI
TheimmediateeffectuponSt。Cleeveofthereceiptofherwell—
reasonedargumentforretrocessionwas，naturally，abitterattackuponhimselfforhavingbeenguiltyofsuchcruelcarelessnessastoleaveinherwaythelawyer’sletterthathadfirstmadeherawareofhisuncle’sprovisionforhim。Immatureashewas，hecouldrealizeViviette’spositionsufficientlywelltoperceivewhatthepoorladymustsufferathavingsuddenlythrustuponhertheresponsibilityofrepairingherownsituationasawifebyruininghisasalegatee。True，itwasbythepurestinadvertencethathispendingsacrificeofmeanshadbeendiscovered;butheshouldhavetakenspecialpainstorendersuchamishapimpossible。Ifonthefirstoccasion，whenarevelationmighthavebeenmadewithimpunity，hewouldnotputitinthepowerofhergoodnaturetorelievehispositionbyrefusinghim，heshouldhaveshowndoublecarenottodosonow，whenshecouldnotexercisethatbenevolencewithoutthelossofhonour。
Withayoungman’sinattentiontoissueshehadnotconsideredhowsharpherfeelingsasawomanmustbeinthiscontingency。Ithadseemedtheeasiestthingintheworldtoremedythedefectintheirmarriage，andthereforenothingtobeanxiousabout。Andinhisinnocenceofanythoughtofappropriatingthebequestbytakingadvantageoftheloopholeinhismatrimonialbond，heundervaluedtheimportanceofconcealingtheexistenceofthatbequest。
TheloomingfearofunhappinessbetweenthemrevivedinSwithinthewarmemotionsoftheirearlieracquaintance。AlmostbeforethesunhadsethehastenedtoWellandHouseinsearchofher。Theairwasdisturbedbystiffsummerblasts，productiveofwindfallsandprematuredescentsofleafage。Itwasanhourwhenunripeapplesshowerdowninorchards，andunbrownedchestnutsdescendintheirhusksupontheparkglades。Therewasnohelpforitthisafternoonbuttocalluponherinadirectmanner，regardlessofsuspicions。
Hewasthunderstruckwhen，whilewaitinginthefullexpectationofbeingadmittedtoherpresence，theanswerbroughtbacktohimwasthatshewasunabletoseehim。
Thishadneverhappenedbeforeinthewholecourseoftheiracquaintance。Butheknewwhatitmeant，andturnedawaywithavaguedisquietude。HedidnotknowthatLadyConstantinewasjustabovehishead，listeningtohismovementswiththeliveliestemotions，and，whileprayingforhimtogo，longingforhimtoinsistonseeingherandspoilall。Butthefaintestsymptombeingalwayssufficienttoconvincehimofhavingblundered，heunwittinglytookheratherword，andwentrapidlyaway。
However，hecalledagainthenextday，andshe，havinggainedstrengthbyonevictoryoverherself，wasenabledtorepeatherrefusalwithgreaterease。Knowingthistobetheonlycoursebywhichherpointcouldbemaintained，sheclungtoitwithstrenuousandreligiouspertinacity。
Thusimmuredandself—controllingshepassedaweek。Herbrother，thoughhedidnotliveinthehouse（preferringthenearestwatering—placeatthistimeoftheyear），wascontinuallycomingthere;andonedayhehappenedtobepresentwhenshedeniedherselftoSwithinforthethirdtime。Louis，whodidnotobservethetearsinhereyes，wasastonishedanddelighted:shewascomingtohersensesatlast。Believingnowthattherehadbeennothingmorebetweenthemthanatoo—plainlyshownpartialityonherpart，heexpressedhiscommendationofherconducttoherface。Atthis，insteadofowningtoitsadvantagealso，hertearsburstforthoutright。
Notknowingwhattomakeofthis，Louissaid——
’Well，Iamsimplyupholdingyouinyourcourse。’
’Yes，yes;Iknowit！’shecried。’Anditismydeliberatelychosencourse。Iwishhe——SwithinSt。Cleeve——wouldgoonhistravelsatonce，andleavetheplace！Sixhundredayearhasbeenlefthimfortravelandstudyofthesouthernconstellations;andIwishhewoulduseit。Youmightrepresenttheadvantagetohimofthecourseifyoucaredto。’
LouisthoughthecoulddonobetterthanletSwithinknowthisassoonaspossible。AccordinglywhenSt。Cleevewaswritinginthehutthenextdayheheardthecrackleoffootstepsoverthefir—
needlesoutside，andjumpedup，supposingthemtobehers;but，tohisdisappointment，itwasherbrotherwhoappearedatthedoor。
’Excusemyinvadingthehermitage，St。Cleeve，’hesaidinhiscarelessway，’butIhaveheardfrommysisterofyourgoodfortune。’
’Mygoodfortune？’
’Yes，inhavinganopportunityforroving;andwithatraveller’sconceitIcouldn’thelpcomingtogiveyouthebenefitofmyexperience。Whendoyoustart？’
’Ihavenotformedanyplanasyet。Indeed，Ihadnotquitebeenthinkingofgoing。’
Louisstared。
’Notgoing？ThenImayhavebeenmisinformed。WhatIhaveheardisthatagoodunclehaskindlybequeathedyouasufficientincometomakeasecondIsaacNewtonofyou，ifyouonlyuseitashedirects。’
Swithinbreathedquickly，butsaidnothing。
’Ifyouhavenotdecidedsotomakeuseofit，letmeimploreyou，asyourfriend，andonenearlyoldenoughtobeyourfather，todecideatonce。Suchachancedoesnothappentoascientificyouthonceinacentury。’
’Thankyouforyourgoodadvice——foritisgoodinitself，Iknow，’
saidSwithin，inalowvoice。’ButhasLadyConstantinespokenofitatall？’
’ShethinksasIdo。’
’Shehasspokentoyouonthesubject？’
’Certainly。Morethanthat;itisatherrequest——thoughIdidnotintendtosayso——thatIcometospeaktoyouaboutitnow。’
