thenheblanchedwithahorrifiedsenseofwhatshehaddone，andathisownrelationtothedeed。Hefeltlikeanawakenedsomnambulistwhoshouldfindthathehadbeenaccessorytoatragedyduringhisunconsciousness。Shehadloosenedtheknotofherdifficultiesbycuttingitunscrupulouslythroughandthrough。
Thebigtidingsratherdazedthancrushedhim，hispredominantfeelingbeingsoonagainoneofkeenestsorrowandsympathy。Yetonethingwasobvious;hecoulddonothing——absolutelynothing。Theeventwhichhenowheardofforthefirsttimehadtakenplacefivelongmonthsago。Hereflected，andregretted——andmechanicallywentonwithhispreparationsforsettlingdowntoworkundertheshadowofTableMountain。Hewasasonewhosuddenlyfindstheworldastrangerplacethanhethought;butisexcludedbyage，temperament，andsituationfrombeingmuchmorethananastonishedspectatorofitsstrangeness。
TheRoyalObservatorywasaboutamileoutofthetown，andhitherherepairedassoonashehadestablishedhimselfinlodgings。Hehaddecided，onhisfirstvisittotheCape，thatitwouldbehighlyadvantageoustohimifhecouldsupplementtheoccasionaluseofthelargeinstrumentsherebytheuseathisownhouseofhisownequatorial，andhadaccordinglygivendirectionsthatitmightbesentoverfromEngland。Thepreciouspossessionnowarrived;andalthoughthesightofit——ofthebrassesonwhichherhandhadoftenrested，oftheeyepiecethroughwhichherdarkeyeshadbeamed——
engenderedsomedecidedlybitterregretsinhimforatime，hecouldnotlongaffordtogivetothepastthedaysthatweremeantforthefuture。
Unabletogetaroomconvenientforaprivateobservatoryheresolvedatlasttofixtheinstrumentonasolidpillarinthegarden;andseveraldayswerespentinaccommodatingittoitsnewposition。InthislatitudetherewasnonecessityforeconomizingclearnightsashehadbeenobligedtodoontheoldtoweratWelland。Thereithadhappenedmorethanonce，thatafterwaitingidlethroughdaysandnightsofcloudyweather，Viviettewouldfixhertimeformeetinghimatanhourwhenatlasthehadanopportunityofseeingthesky;sothatingivingtoherthegoldenmomentsofcloudlessnesshewaslosinghischancewiththeorbsabove。
Thosefeatureswhichusuallyattracttheeyeofthevisitortoanewlatitudearethenovelformsofhumanandvegetablelife，andothersuchsublunarythings。Buttheyoungmanglancedslightinglyatthese;thechangesoverheadhadallhisattention。Theoldsubjectwasimprintedthere，butinanewtype。Herewasaheaven，fixedandancientasthenorthern;yetithadneverappearedabovetheWellandhillssincetheywereheavedupfrombeneath。Herewasanunalterablecircumpolarregion;butthepolarpatternsstereotypedinhistoryandlegend——withoutwhichithadalmostseemedthatapolarskycouldnotexist——hadneverbeenseentherein。
St。Cleeve，aswasnatural，beganbycursorysurveys，whichwerenotlikelytobeofmuchutilitytotheworldortohimself。Hewastedseveralweeks——indeedabovetwomonths——inacomparativelyidlesurveyofsouthernnovelties;inthemereluxuryoflookingatstellarobjectswhosewonderswereknown，recounted，andclassified，longbeforehisownpersonalityhadbeenheardof。Withachild’ssimpledelightheallowedhisinstrumenttorove，eveningafterevening，fromthegorgeousglitterofCanopustothehazycloudsofMagellan。BeforehehadwellfinishedthisopticalpreludetherefloatedovertohimfromtheothersideoftheEquatorthepostscripttotheepistleofhislostViviette。Itcameinthevehicleofacommonnewspaper，undertheheadof’Births:’——
’April10th，18——，atthePalace，Melchester，thewifeoftheBishopofMelchester，ofason。’
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Threeyearspassedaway，andSwithinstillremainedattheCape，quietlypursuingtheworkthathadbroughthimthere。Hismemorandaofobservationshadaccumulatedtoawheelbarrowload，andhewasbeginningtoshapethemintoatreatisewhichshouldpossesssomescientificutility。
Hehadgaugedthesouthernskieswithgreaterresultsthanevenhehimselfhadanticipated。Thoseunfamiliarconstellationswhich，tothecasualbeholder，areatmostanewarrangementofordinarypointsoflight，weretothisprofessedastronomer，astohisbrethren，afargreatermatter。
Itwasbelowthesurfacethathismateriallay。There，inregionsrevealedonlytotheinstrumentalobserver，weresunsofhybridkind——fire—fogs，floatingnuclei，globesthatflewingroupslikeswarmsofbees，andotherextraordinarysights——which，whendecomposedbySwithin’sequatorial，turnedouttobethebeginningofanewseriesofphenomenainsteadoftheendofanoldone。
Thereweregloomydesertsinthosesouthernskiessuchasthenorthshowsscarcelyanexampleof;sitessetapartforthepositionofsunswhichforsomeunfathomablereasonwereleftuncreated，theirplacesremainingeversinceconspicuousbytheiremptiness。
TheinspectionofthesechasmsbroughthimasecondpulsationofthatoldhorrorwhichhehadusedtodescribetoVivietteasproducedinhimbybottomlessnessinthenorthheaven。Theghostlyfingeroflimitlessvacancytouchedhimnowontheotherside。
Infinitedeepsinthenorthstellarregionhadahomelyfamiliarityaboutthem，whencomparedwithinfinitedeepsintheregionofthesouthpole。Thiswasanevenmoreunknowntractoftheunknown。
Spacehere，beinglessthehistorichauntofhumanthoughtthanoverheadathome，seemedtobepervadedwithamorelonelyloneliness。
WeretheregivenonpapertotheseastronomicalexercitationsofSt。
CleeveaspaceproportionabletothatoccupiedbyhisyearwithVivietteatWelland，thisnarrativewouldtrebleitslength;butnotasingleadditionalglimpsewouldbeaffordedofSwithininhisrelationswitholdemotions。Intheseexperimentswithtubesandglasses，importantastheyweretohumanintellect，therewaslittlefoodforthesympatheticinstinctswhichcreatethechangesinalife。Thatwhichistheforegroundandmeasuringbaseofoneperspectivedraughtmaybethevanishing—pointofanotherperspectivedraught，whileyettheyarebothdraughtsofthesamething。Swithin’sdoingsanddiscoveriesinthesouthernsiderealsystemwere，nodoubt，incidentsofthehighestimportancetohim;
andyetfromanintersocialpointofviewtheyservedbutthehumblepurposeofkillingtime，whileotherdoings，morenearlyalliedtohisheartthantohisunderstanding，developedthemselvesathome。
Intheintervalsbetweenhisprofessionaloccupationshetookwalksoverthesand—flatsnear，oramongthefarmswhichweregraduallyoverspreadingthecountryinthevicinityofCapeTown。HegrewfamiliarwiththeoutlineofTableMountain，andthefleecy’Devil’sTable—Cloth’whichusedtosettleonitstopwhenthewindwassouth—east。OnthesepromenadeshewouldmoreparticularlythinkofViviette，andofthatcuriouspatheticchapterinhislifewithherwhichseemedtohavewounditselfupandendedforever。Thosesceneswererapidlyrecedingintodistance，andtheintensityofhissentimentregardingthemhadproportionatelyabated。Hefeltthattherehadbeensomethingwrongtherein，andyethecouldnotexactlydefinetheboundaryofthewrong。Viviette’ssadandamazingsequeltothatchapterhadstillafearful，catastrophicaspectinhiseyes;butinsteadofmusingoveritanditsbearingsheshunnedthesubject，asweshunbynighttheshadysceneofadisaster，andkeeptotheopenroad。
Hesometimescontemplatedherapartfromthepast——leadingherlifeintheCathedralCloseatMelchester;andwonderedhowoftenshelookedsouthandthoughtofwherehewas。
OnoneoftheseafternoonwalksintheneighbourhoodoftheRoyalObservatoryheturnedandgazedtowardsthesignal—postontheLion’sRump。Thiswasahighpromontorytothenorth—westofTableMountain，andoverlookedTableBay。Beforehiseyeshadleftthescenethesignalwassuddenlyhoistedonthestaff。Itannouncedthatamailsteamerhadappearedinviewoverthesea。Inthecourseofanhourheretracedhissteps，ashehadoftendoneonsuchoccasions，andstrolledleisurelyacrosstheinterveningmileandahalftillhearrivedatthepost—officedoor。
TherewasnoletterfromEnglandforhim;buttherewasanewspaper，addressedintheseventeenthcenturyhandwritingofhisgrandmother，who，inspiteofhergreatage，stillretainedasteadyholdonlife。Heturnedawaydisappointed，andresumedhiswalkintothecountry，openingthepaperashewentalong。
Acrossinblackinkattractedhisattention;anditwasoppositeanameamongthe’Deaths。’Hisbloodranicilyashediscernedthewords’ThePalace，Melchester。’Butitwasnotshe。Herhusband，theBishopofMelchester，had，afterashortillness，departedthislifeatthecomparativelyearlyageoffiftyyears。
AlltheenactmentsofthebygonedaysatWellandnowstarteduplikeanawakenedarmyfromtheground。Butafewmonthswerewantingtothetimewhenhewouldbeofanagetomarrywithoutsacrificingtheannuitywhichformedhismeansofsubsistence。ItwasapointinhislifethathadhadnomeaningorinterestforhimsincehisseparationfromViviette，forwomenwerenownomoretohimthantheinhabitantsofJupiter。ButthewhirligigoftimehavingagainsetViviettefree，theaspectofhomealtered，andconjectureastoherfuturefoundroomtoworkanew。
Butbeyondthesimplefactthatshewasawidowheforsometimegainednotanatomofintelligenceconcerningher。Therewasnooneofwhomhecouldinquirebuthisgrandmother，andshecouldtellhimnothingaboutaladywhodweltfarawayatMelchester。
Severalmonthsslippedbythus;andnofeelingwithinhimrosetosufficientstrengthtoforcehimoutofapassiveattitude。ThenbythemerestchancehisgrannystatedinoneofherramblingepistlesthatLadyConstantinewascomingtoliveagainatWellandintheoldhouse，withherchild，nowalittleboybetweenthreeandfouryearsofage。
Swithin，however，livedonasbefore。
Butbythefollowingautumnachangebecamenecessaryfortheyoungmanhimself。HisworkattheCapewasdone。Hisuncle’swishesthatheshouldstudytherehadbeenmorethanobserved。Thematerialsforhisgreattreatisewerecollected，anditnowonlyremainedforhimtoarrange，digest，andpublishthem，forwhichpurposeareturntoEnglandwasindispensable。
Sotheequatorialwasunscrewed，andthestandtakendown;theastronomer’sbarrow—loadofpreciousmemoranda，androllsuponrollsofdiagrams，representingthreeyearsofcontinuouslabour，weresafelypacked;andSwithindepartedforgoodandallfromtheshoresofCapeTown。
Hehadlongbeforeinformedhisgrandmotherofthedateatwhichshemightexpecthim;andinareplyfromher，whichreachedhimjustprevioustosailing，shecasuallymentionedthatshefrequentlysawLadyConstantine;thatonthelastoccasionherladyshiphadshowngreatinterestintheinformationthatSwithinwascominghome，andhadinquiredthetimeofhisreturn。
OnalatesummerdaySwithinsteppedfromthetrainatWarborne，and，directinghisbaggagetobesentonafterhim，setoutonfootforoldWellandonceagain。
Itseemedbutthedayafterhisdeparture，solittlehadthescenechanged。True，therewasthatchangewhichisalwaysthefirsttoarrestattentioninplacesthatareconventionallycalledunchanging——ahigherandbroadervegetationateveryfamiliarcornerthanattheformertime。
Hehadnotgoneamilewhenhesawwalkingbeforehimaclergymanwhoseform，afterconsideration，herecognized，inspiteofanovelwhitenessinthatpartofhishairthatshowedbelowthebrimofhishat。Swithinwalkedmuchfasterthanthisgentleman，andsoonwasathisside。
’Mr。Torkingham！Iknewitwas，’saidSwithin。
Mr。Torkinghamwasslowerinrecognizingtheastronomer，butinamomenthadgreetedhimwithawarmshakeofthehand。
’Ihavebeentothestationonpurposetomeetyou！’criedMr。
Torkingham，’andwasreturningwiththeideathatyouhadnotcome。
Iamyourgrandmother’semissary。Shecouldnotcomeherself，andasshewasanxious，andnobodyelsecouldbespared，Icameforher。’
Thentheywalkedontogether。TheparsontoldSwithinallabouthisgrandmother，theparish，andhisendeavourstoenlightenit;andinduecoursesaid，’YouarenodoubtawarethatLadyConstantineislivingagainatWelland？’
Swithinsaidhehadheardasmuch，andadded，whatwasfarwithinthetruth，thatthenewsoftheBishop’sdeathhadbeenagreatsurprisetohim。
’Yes，’saidMr。Torkingham，withninethoughtstooneword。’Onemighthaveprophesied，tolookathim，thatMelchesterwouldnotlackabishopforthenextfortyyears。Yes;paledeathknocksatthecottagesofthepoorandthepalacesofkingswithanimpartialfoot！’
’Washeaparticularlygoodman？’askedSwithin。
’HewasnotaKenoraHeber。Tospeakcandidly，hehadhisfaults，ofwhicharrogancewasnottheleast。Butwhoisperfect？’
Swithin，somehow，feltrelievedtohearthattheBishopwasnotaperfectman。
’Hispoorwife，Ifear，hadnotagreatdealmorehappinesswithhimthanwithherfirsthusband。Butonemightalmosthaveforeseenit;
themarriagewashasty——theresultofared—hotcaprice，hardlybecominginamanofhisposition;anditbetokenedawantoftemperatediscretionwhichsoonshoweditselfinotherways。That’salltherewastobesaidagainsthim，andnowit’sallover，andthingshavesettledagainintotheiroldcourse。ButtheBishop’swidowisnottheLadyConstantineofformerdays。No;putitasyouwill，sheisnotthesame。Thereseemstobeanamelesssomethingonhermind——atrouble——arootedmelancholy，whichnoman’sministrycanreach。Formerlyshewasawomanwhoseconfidenceitwaseasytogain;butneitherreligionnorphilosophyavailswithhernow。
Beyondthat，herlifeisstrangelylikewhatitwaswhenyouwerewithus。’
Conversingthustheypursuedtheturnpikeroadtilltheirconversationwasinterruptedbyacryingvoiceontheirleft。Theylooked，andperceivedthatachild，ingettingoveranadjoiningstile，hadfallenonhisface。
Mr。TorkinghamandSwithinbothhasteneduptohelpthesufferer，whowasalovelylittlefellowwithflaxenhair，whichspreadoutinafrillofcurlsfrombeneathaquaint，close—fittingvelvetcapthathewore。Swithinpickedhimup，whileMr。Torkinghamwipedthesandfromhislipsandnose，andadministeredafewwordsofconsolation，togetherwithafewsweet—meats，which，somewhattoSwithin’ssurprise，theparsonproducedasifbymagicfromhispocket。Onehalfthecomfortrenderedwouldhavesufficedtosoothesuchadispositionasthechild’s。Heceasedcryingandranawayindelighttohisunconsciousnurse，whowasreachingupforblackberriesatahedgesomewayoff。
’Youknowwhoheis，ofcourse？’saidMr。Torkingham，astheyresumedtheirjourney。
’No，’saidSwithin。
’Oh，Ithoughtyoudid。Yethowshouldyou？ItisLadyConstantine’sboy——heronlychild。Hisfondmotherlittlethinksheissofarawayfromhome。’
’Dearme！——LadyConstantine’s——ah，howinteresting！’Swithinpausedabstractedlyforamoment，thensteppedbackagaintothestile，whilehestoodwatchingthelittleboyoutofsight。
’Icanneverventureoutofdoorsnowwithoutsweetsinmypocket，’
continuedthegood—naturedvicar:’andtheresultisthatImeetthatyoungmanmorefrequentlyonmyroundsthananyotherofmyparishioners。’
St。Cleevewassilent，andtheyturnedintoWellandLane，wheretheirpathspresentlydiverged，andSwithinwaslefttopursuehiswayalone。Hemighthaveaccompaniedthevicaryetfurther，andgonestraighttoWellandHouse;butitwouldhavebeendifficulttodosothenwithoutprovokinginquiry。Itwaseasytogotherenow:
byacrosspathhecouldbeatthemansionalmostassoonasbythedirectroad。AndyetSwithindidnotturn;hefeltanindescribablereluctancetoseeViviette。Hecouldnotexactlysaywhy。True，beforeheknewhowthelandlayitmightbeawkwardtoattempttocall:andthiswasasufficientexcuseforpostponement。
Inthismoodhewenton，followingthedirectwaytohisgrandmother’shomestead。Hereachedthegarden—gate，and，lookingintotheboskybasinwheretheoldhousestood，sawagracefulfemaleformmovingbeforetheporch，biddingadieutosomeonewithinthedoor。
Hewonderedwhatcreatureofthatmouldhisgrandmothercouldknow，andwentforwardwithsomehesitation。Athisapproachtheapparitionturned，andhebeheld，developedintoblushingwomanhood，onewhohadoncebeenknowntohimasthevillagemaidenTabithaLark。SeeingSwithin，andapparentlyfromaninstinctthatherpresencewouldnotbedesirablejustthen，shemovedquicklyroundintothegarden。
Thereturnedtravellerenteredthehouse，wherehefoundawaitinghimpooroldMrs。Martin，towhoseearthlycoursedeathstoodratherastheasymptotethanastheend。Shewasperceptiblysmallerinformthanwhenhehadlefther，andshecouldseelessdistinctly。
Aratheraffectinggreetingfollowed，inwhichhisgrandmothermurmuredthewordsofIsrael:’\"Nowletmedie，sinceIhaveseenthyface，becausethouartyetalive。\"’
TheformofHannahhaddisappearedfromthekitchen，thatancientservanthavingbeengatheredtoherfathersaboutsixmonthsbefore，herplacebeingfilledbyayounggirlwhoknewnotJoseph。Theypresentlychattedwithmuchcheerfulness，andhisgrandmothersaid，’HaveyouheardwhatawonderfulyoungwomanMissLarkhasbecome？——
amerefleet—footed，slitteringmaidwhenyouwerelasthome。’
St。Cleevehadnotheard，buthehadpartlyseen，andhewasinformedthatTabithahadleftWellandshortlyafterhisowndeparture，andhadstudiedmusicwithgreatsuccessinLondon，whereshehadresidedeversincetillquiterecently;thatsheplayedatconcerts，oratorios——had，inshort，joinedthephalanxofWonderfulWomenwhohadresolvedtoeclipsemasculinegeniusaltogether，andhumiliatethebrutalsextothedust。
’Sheisonlyinthegarden，’addedhisgrandmother。’Whydon’tyegooutandspeaktoher？’
Swithinwasnothingloth，andstrolledoutundertheapple—trees，wherehearrivedjustintimetopreventMissLarkfromgoingoffbythebackgate。Therewasnotmuchdifficultyinbreakingtheicebetweenthem，andtheybegantochatwithvivacity。
Nowalltheseproceedingsoccupiedtime，forsomehowitwasverycharmingtotalktoMissLark;andbydegreesSt。CleeveinformedTabithaofhisgreatundertaking，andofthevoluminousnoteshehadamassed，whichwouldrequiresomuchrearrangementandrecopyingbyanamanuensisastoabsolutelyappalhim。Hegreatlyfearedheshouldnotgetonecarefulenoughforsuchscientificmatter;
whereuponTabithasaidshewouldbedelightedtodoitforhim。
Thenblushing，anddeclaringsuddenlythatithadgrownquitelate，shelefthimandthegardenforherrelation’shousehardby。
Swithin，nolessthanTabitha，hadbeensurprisedbythedisappearanceofthesunbehindthehill;andthequestionnowarosewhetheritwouldbeadvisabletocalluponViviettethatnight。
Therewaslittledoubtthatsheknewofhiscoming;butmorethanthathecouldnotpredicate;andbeingentirelyignorantofwhomshehadaroundher，entirelyinthedarkastoherpresentfeelingstowardshim，hethoughtitwouldbebettertodeferhisvisituntilthenextday。
Walkingroundtothefrontofthehousehebeheldthewell—knownagriculturistsHezzyBiles，HaymossFry，andsomeothersofthesameoldschool，passingthegatehomewardfromtheirworkwithbundlesofwoodattheirbacks。Swithinsalutedthemoverthetoprail。
’Well！domyeyesandears——’beganHezzy;andthen，balancinghisfaggotonendagainstthehedge，hecameforward，theothersfollowing。
’SaysItomyselfassoonasIheerdhisvoice，’Hezzycontinued（addressingSwithinasifhewereadisinterestedspectatorandnothimself），’pleaseGodI’llpitchmynitch，andgoacrossandspeaktoen。’
’Iknowedinawinking’twassomegreatnavigatorthatIseeastandingthere，’saidHaymoss。’Butwhe’r’twereasortofnabob，oradiment—digger，oralion—hunter，Icouldn’tsomuchasguesstillIheerdenspeak。’
’AndwhatchangeshavecomeoverWellandsinceIwaslastathome？’
askedSwithin。
’Well，Mr。SanCleeve，’Hezzyreplied，’whenyou’vesaidthatafewstriplingboysandmaidenshavebustedintoblooth，andafewmarriedwomenhaveplimmedandchimped（myladyamong’em），why，you’vesaidanighstall，Mr。SanCleeve。’
Theconversationthusbeganwascontinuedondiversmatterstilltheywereallenvelopedintotaldarkness，whenhisoldacquaintancesshoulderedtheirfaggotsagainandproceededontheirway。
NowthathewasactuallywithinhercoastsagainSwithinfeltalittlemorestronglytheinfluenceofthepastandViviettethanhehadbeenaccustomedtodoforthelasttwoorthreeyears。DuringthenighthefelthalfsorrythathehadnotmarchedofftotheGreatHousetoseeher，regardlessofthetimeofday。Ifshereallynourishedforhimanyparticleofheroldaffectionithadbeenthecruellestthingnottocall。AfewquestionsthatheputconcerninghertohisgrandmotherelicitedthatLadyConstantinehadnofriendsabouther——notevenherbrother——andthatherhealthhadnotbeensogoodsinceherreturnfromMelchesterasformerly。
Still，thisprovednothingastothestateofherheart，andasshehadkeptadeadsilencesincetheBishop’sdeathitwasquitepossiblethatshewouldmeethimwiththatcoldrepressivetoneandmannerwhichexperiencedwomenknowsowellhowtoputonwhentheywishtointimatetothelong—lostloverthatoldepisodesaretobetakenasforgotten。
Thenextmorninghepreparedtocall，ifonlyonthegroundofoldacquaintance，forSwithinwastoostraightforwardtoascertainanythingindirectly。Itwasrathertooearlyforthispurposewhenhewentoutfromhisgrandmother’sgarden—gate，afterbreakfast，andhewaitedinthegarden。WhilehelingeredhiseyefellonRings—
HillSpeer。
Itappeareddark，foramoment，againsttheblueskybehindit;thenthefleetingcloudwhichshadoweditpassedon，andthefaceofthecolumnbrightenedintosuchluminousnessthattheskybehindsanktothecomplexionofadarkfoil。
’Surelysomebodyisonthecolumn，’hesaidtohimself，aftergazingatitawhile。
InsteadofgoingstraighttotheGreatHousehedeviatedthroughtheinsulatingfield，nowsownwithturnips，whichsurroundedtheplantationonRings—Hill。Bythetimethatheplungedunderthetreeshewasstillmorecertainthatsomebodywasonthetower。Hecreptuptothebasewithproprietarycuriosity，forthespotseemedagainlikehisown。
Thepathstillremainedmuchasformerly，butthenookinwhichthecabinhadstoodwascoveredwithundergrowth。Swithinenteredthedoorofthetower，ascendedthestaircaseabouthalf—wayontip—toe，andlistened，forhedidnotwishtointrudeonthetopifanystrangerwerethere。Thehollowspiral，asheknewfromoldexperience，wouldbringdowntohisearstheslightestsoundfromabove;anditnowrevealedtohimthewordsofaduologueinprogressatthesummitofthetower。
’Mother，whatshallIdo？’achild’svoicesaid。’ShallIsing？’
Themotherseemedtoassent，forthechildbegan——
’TherobinhasfledfromthewoodTothesnughabitationofman。’
Thisperformanceapparentlyattractedbutlittleattentionfromthechild’scompanion，fortheyoungvoicesuggested，asanewformofentertainment，’ShallIsaymyprayers？’
’Yes，’repliedonewhomSwithinhadbeguntorecognize。
’WhoshallIprayfor？’
Noanswer。
’WhoshallIprayfor？’
’Prayforfather。’
’Butheisgonetoheaven？’
AsighfromViviettewasdistinctlyaudible。
’Youmadeamistake，didn’tyou，mother？’continuedthelittleone。
’Imusthave。Thestrangestmistakeawomanevermade！’
Nothingmorewassaid，andSwithinascended，wordsfromaboveindicatingtohimthathisfootstepswereheard。Inanotherhalf—
minuteherosethroughthehatchway。Aladyinblackwassittinginthesun，andtheboywiththeflaxenhairwhomhehadseenyesterdaywasatherfeet。
’Viviette！’hesaid。
’Swithin！——atlast！’shecried。
Thewordsdieduponherlips，andfromveryfaintnessshebentherhead。Forinsteadofrushingforwardtoherhehadstoodstill;andthereappeareduponhisfacealookwhichtherewasnomistaking。
Yes;hewasshockedatherwornandfadedaspect。TheimagehehadmentallycarriedoutwithhimtotheCapehehadbroughthomeagainasthatofthewomanhewasnowtorejoin。Butanotherwomansatbeforehim，andnottheoriginalViviette。Hercheekshadlostforeverthatfirmcontourwhichhadbeendrawnbythevigoroushandofyouth，andthemassesofhairthatwereoncedarknessvisiblehadbecometouchedhereandtherebyafaintgreyhaze，liketheViaLacteainamidnightsky。
Yettothosewhohadeyestounderstandaswellastosee，thechastenedpensivenessofheroncehandsomefeaturesrevealedmorepromisingmaterialbeneaththaneverheryouthhaddone。ButSwithinwashopelesslyherjunior。Unhappilyforherhehadnowjustarrivedatanagewhosecanonoffaithitisthatthesillyperiodofwoman’slifeisheronlyperiodofbeauty。Viviettesawitall，andknewthatTimehadatlastbroughtabouthisrevenges。
Shehadtremblinglywatchedandwaitedwithoutsleep，eversinceSwithinhadre—enteredWelland，anditwasforthis。
Swithincameforward，andtookherbythehand，whichshepassivelyallowedhimtodo。
’Swithin，youdon’tloveme，’shesaidsimply。
’OViviette！’
’Youdon’tloveme，’sherepeated。
’Don’tsayit！’
’Yes，butIwill！youhavearightnottoloveme。Youdidonce。
ButnowIamanoldwoman，andyouarestillayoungman;sohowcanyouloveme？Idonotexpectit。Itiskindandcharitableofyoutocomeandseemehere。’
’IhavecomeallthewayfromtheCape，’hefaltered，forherinsistencetookallpoweroutofhimtodenyinmerepolitenesswhatshesaid。
’Yes;youhavecomefromtheCape;butnotforme，’sheanswered。
’Itwouldbeabsurdifyouhadcomeforme。Youhavecomebecauseyourworkthereisfinished……Iliketositherewithmylittleboy——itisapleasantspot。Itwasoncesomethingtous，wasitnot？butthatwaslongago。Youscarcelyknewmeforthesamewoman，didyou？’
’Knewyou——yes，ofcourseIknewyou！’
’Youlookedasifyoudidnot。Butyoumustnotbesurprisedatme。
Ibelongtoanearliergenerationthanyou，remember。’
Thus，insheerbitternessofspiritdidsheinflictwoundsonherselfbyexaggeratingthedifferenceintheiryears。Butshehadneverthelessspokentruly。Sympathizewithherashemight，andasheunquestionablydid，helovedhernolonger。Butwhyhadsheexpectedotherwise？’Owoman，’mightaprophethavesaidtoher，’greatisthyfaithifthoubelievestajuniorlover’slovewilllastfiveyears！’
’Ishallbegladtoknowthroughyourgrandmotherhowyouaregettingon，’shesaidmeekly。’ButnowIwouldmuchratherthatwepart。Yes;donotquestionme。Iwouldratherthatwepart。Good—
bye。’
Hardlyknowingwhathedidhetouchedherhand，andobeyed。Hewasascientist，andtookwordsliterally。Thereissomethingintheinexorablysimplelogicofsuchmenwhichpartakesofthecrueltyofthenaturallawsthataretheirstudy。Heenteredthetower—steps，andmechanicallydescended;anditwasnottillhegothalf—waydownthathethoughtshecouldnotmeanwhatshehadsaid。
BeforeleavingCapeTownhehadmadeuphismindonthisonepoint;
thatifshewerewillingtomarryhim，marryherhewouldwithoutletorhindrance。Thatmuchhemorallyowedher，andwasnotthemantodemur。AndthoughtheSwithinwhohadreturnedwasnotquitetheSwithinwhohadgoneaway，thoughhecouldnotnowloveherwiththesortoflovehehadoncebestowed;hebelievedthatallherconducthadbeendictatedbythepurestbenevolencetohim，bythatcharitywhich’seekethnotherown。’Hencehedidnotflinchfromawishtodealwithloving—kindnesstowardsher——asentimentperhapsinthelong—runmoretobeprizedthanlover’slove。
Hermannerhadcaughthimunawares;butnowrecoveringhimselfheturnedbackdeterminedly。Burstingoutupontheroofheclaspedherinhisarms，andkissedherseveraltimes。
’Viviette，Viviette，’hesaid，’Ihavecometomarryyou！’
Sheutteredashriek——ashriekofamazedjoy——suchasneverwasheardonthattowerbeforeorsince——andfellinhisarms，claspinghisneck。
Thereshelayheavily。Nottodisturbherhesatdowninherseat，stillholdingherfast。Theirlittleson，whohadstoodwithroundconjecturaleyesthroughoutthemeeting，nowcameclose;andpresentlylookinguptoSwithinsaid——
’Motherhasgonetosleep。’
Swithinlookeddown，andstarted。Hertightclasphadloosened。A
waveofwhiteness，likethatofmarblewhichhadneverseenthesun，creptupfromherneck，andtravelledupwardsandonwardsoverhercheek，lips，eyelids，forehead，temples，itsmarginbanishingbackthelivepinktillthelatterhadentirelydisappeared。
Seeingthatsomethingwaswrong，yetnotunderstandingwhat，thelittleboybegantocry;butinhisconcentrationSwithinhardlyheardit。’Viviette——Viviette！’hesaid。
Thechildcriedwithstilldeepergrief，and，afteramomentaryhesitation，pushedhishandintoSwithin’sforprotection。
’Hush，hush！mychild，’saidSwithindistractedly。’I’lltakecareofyou！OViviette！’heexclaimedagain，pressingherfacetohis。
Butshedidnotreply。
’Whatcanthisbe？’heaskedhimself。Hewouldnotthenansweraccordingtohisfear。
Helookedupforhelp。NobodyappearedinsightbutTabithaLark，whowasskirtingthefieldwithaboundingtread——thesinglebrightspotofcolourandanimationwithinthewidehorizon。Whenhelookeddownagainhisfeardeepenedtocertainty。Itwasnolongerameresurmisethathelpwasvain。Suddenjoyafterdespairhadtouchedanover—strainedhearttoosmartly。Viviettewasdead。TheBishopwasavenged。
