’Ah，myheart！hereyesandsheHavetaughttheenewastrology。
Howe’erLove’snativehourswereset，Whateverstarrysynodmet，’Tisinthemercyofhereye，IfpoorLoveshallliveordie。’
CRASHAW:Love’sHoroscope。
PREFACE
Thisslightly—builtromancewastheoutcomeofawishtosettheemotionalhistoryoftwoinfinitesimallivesagainstthestupendousbackgroundofthestellaruniverse，andtoimparttoreadersthesentimentthatofthesecontrastingmagnitudesthesmallermightbethegreatertothemasmen。
But，onthepublicationofthebookpeopleseemedtobelessstruckwiththesehighaimsoftheauthorthanwiththeirownopinion，first，thatthenovelwasan’improper’oneinitsmorals，and，secondly，thatitwasintendedtobeasatireontheEstablishedChurchofthiscountry。Iwasmadetosufferinconsequencefromseveraleminentpens。
That，however，wasthirteenyearsago，and，inrespectofthefirstopinion，Iventuretothinkthatthosewhocaretoreadthestorynowwillbequiteastonishedatthescrupulousproprietyobservedthereinontherelationsofthesexes;forthoughtheremaybefrivolous，andevengrotesquetouchesonoccasion，thereishardlyasinglecaressinthebookoutsidelegalmatrimony，orwhatwasintendedsotobe。
Asforthesecondopinion，itissufficienttodrawattention，asI
didatthetime，tothefactthattheBishopiseveryinchagentleman，andthattheparishpriestwhofiguresinthenarrativeisoneofitsmostestimablecharacters。
However，thepagesmustspeakforthemselves。Somefewreaders，I
trust——totakeaseriousview——willberemindedbythisimperfectstory，inamannernotunprofitabletothegrowthofthesocialsympathies，ofthepathos，misery，long—suffering，anddivinetendernesswhichinreallifefrequentlyaccompanythepassionofsuchawomanasVivietteforaloverseveralyearsherjunior。
Thesceneoftheactionwassuggestedbytworealspotsinthepartofthecountryspecified，eachofwhichhasacolumnstandinguponit。Certainsurroundingpeculiaritieshavebeenimportedintothenarrativefrombothsites。
T。H。
July1895。
TWOONATOWER。
I
Onanearlywinterafternoon，clearbutnotcold，whenthevegetableworldwasaweirdmultitudeofskeletonsthroughwhoseribsthesunshonefreely，agleaminglandaucametoapauseonthecrestofahillinWessex。ThespotwaswheretheoldMelchesterRoad，whichthecarriagehadhithertofollowed，wasjoinedbyadrivethatledroundintoaparkatnogreatdistanceoff。
Thefootmanalighted，andwenttotheoccupantofthecarriage，aladyabouteight—ornine—and—twenty。Shewaslookingthroughtheopeningaffordedbyafield—gateattheundulatingstretchofcountrybeyond。Inpursuanceofsomeremarkfromhertheservantlookedinthesamedirection。
Thecentralfeatureofthemiddledistance，astheybeheldit，wasacircularisolatedhill，ofnogreatelevation，whichplaceditselfinstrongchromaticcontrastwithawideacreageofsurroundingarablebybeingcoveredwithfir—trees。Thetreeswereallofonesizeandage，sothattheirtipsassumedtheprecisecurveofthehilltheygrewupon。Thispine—cladprotuberancewasyetfurthermarkedoutfromthegenerallandscapebyhavingonitssummitatowerintheformofaclassicalcolumn，which，thoughpartlyimmersedintheplantation，roseabovethetree—topstoaconsiderableheight。Uponthisobjecttheeyesofladyandservantwerebent。
’Thenthereisnoroadleadingnearit？’sheasked。
’Nothingnearerthanwherewearenow，mylady。’
’Thendrivehome，’shesaidafteramoment。Andthecarriagerolledonitsway。
Afewdayslater，thesamelady，inthesamecarriage，passedthatspotagain。Hereyes，asbefore，turnedtothedistanttower。
’Nobbs，’shesaidtothecoachman，’couldyoufindyourwayhomethroughthatfield，soastogetneartheoutskirtsoftheplantationwherethecolumnis？’
Thecoachmanregardedthefield。’Well，mylady，’heobserved，’indryweatherwemightdriveintherebyinchingandpinching，andsogetacrossbyFive—and—TwentyAcres，allbeingwell。Butthegroundissoheavyaftertheserainsthatperhapsitwouldhardlybesafetotryitnow。’
’Perhapsnot，’sheassentedindifferently。’Rememberit，willyou，atadriertime？’
Andagainthecarriagespedalongtheroad，thelady’seyesrestingonthesegmentalhill，thebluetreesthatmuffledit，andthecolumnthatformeditsapex，tilltheywereoutofsight。
Alongtimeelapsedbeforethatladydroveoverthehillagain。ItwasFebruary;thesoilwasnowunquestionablydry，theweatherandscenebeinginotherrespectsmuchastheyhadbeenbefore。Thefamiliarshapeofthecolumnseemedtoremindherthatatlastanopportunityforacloseinspectionhadarrived。Givingherdirectionsshesawthegateopened，andafteralittlemanoeuvringthecarriageswayedslowlyintotheunevenfield。
Althoughthepillarstooduponthehereditaryestateofherhusbandtheladyhadnevervisitedit，owingtoitsinsulationbythiswell—
nighimpracticableground。Thedrivetothebaseofthehillwastediousandjerky，andonreachingitshealighted，directingthatthecarriageshouldbedrivenbackemptyovertheclods，towaitforheronthenearestedgeofthefield。Shethenascendedbeneaththetreesonfoot。
Thecolumnnowshoweditselfasamuchmoreimportanterectionthanithadappearedfromtheroad，orthepark，orthewindowsofWellandHouse，herresidencehardby，whenceshehadsurveyedithundredsoftimeswithouteverfeelingasufficientinterestinitsdetailstoinvestigatethem。Thecolumnhadbeenerectedinthelastcentury，asasubstantialmemorialofherhusband’sgreat—
grandfather，arespectableofficerwhohadfallenintheAmericanwar，andthereasonofherlackofinterestwaspartlyowingtoherrelationswiththishusband，ofwhichmoreanon。Itwaslittlebeyondthesheerdesireforsomethingtodo——thechronicdesireofhercuriouslylonelylife——thathadbroughtherherenow。Shewasinamoodtowelcomeanythingthatwouldinsomemeasuredisperseanalmostkillingennui。Shewouldhavewelcomedevenamisfortune。
Shehadheardthatfromthesummitofthepillarfourcountiescouldbeseen。Whateverpleasurableeffectwastobederivedfromlookingintofourcountiessheresolvedtoenjoyto—day。
Thefir—shroudedhill—topwas（accordingtosomeantiquaries）anoldRomancamp，——ifitwerenot（asothersinsisted）anoldBritishcastle，or（astherestswore）anoldSaxonfieldofWitenagemote，——
withremainsofanouterandaninnervallum，awindingpathleadingupbetweentheiroverlappingendsbyaneasyascent。Thespikeletsfromthetreesformedasoftcarpetovertheroute，andoccasionallyabrakeofbramblesbarredtheinterspacesofthetrunks。Soonshestoodimmediatelyatthefootofthecolumn。
IthadbeenbuiltintheTuscanorderofclassicarchitecture，andwasreallyatower，beinghollowwithstepsinside。Thegloomandsolitudewhichprevailedroundthebasewereremarkable。Thesoboftheenvironingtreeswashereexpressivelymanifest;andmovedbythelightbreezetheirthinstraightstemsrockedinseconds，likeinvertedpendulums;whilesomeboughsandtwigsrubbedthepillar’ssides，oroccasionallyclickedincatchingeachother。Belowtheleveloftheirsummitsthemasonrywaslichen—stainedandmildewed，forthesunneverpiercedthatmoaningcloudofblue—blackvegetation。Padsofmossgrewinthejointsofthestone—work，andhereandthereshade—lovinginsectshadengravedonthemortarpatternsofnohumanstyleormeaning;butcuriousandsuggestive。
Abovethetreesthecasewasdifferent:thepillarroseintotheskyabrightandcheerfulthing，unimpeded，clean，andflushedwiththesunlight。
Thespotwasseldomvisitedbyapedestrian，exceptperhapsintheshootingseason。Therarityofhumanintrusionwasevidencedbythemazesofrabbit—runs，thefeathersofshybirds，theexuviaeofreptiles;asalsobythewell—wornpathsofsquirrelsdownthesidesoftrunks，andthencehorizontallyaway。Thefactoftheplantationbeinganislandinthemidstofanarableplainsufficientlyaccountedforthislackofvisitors。Fewunaccustomedtosuchplacescanbeawareoftheinsulatingeffectofploughedground，whennonecessitycompelspeopletotraverseit。Thisrotundhilloftreesandbrambles，standinginthecentreofaploughedfieldofsomeninetyorahundredacres，wasprobablyvisitedlessfrequentlythanarockwouldhavebeenvisitedinalakeofequalextent。
Shewalkedroundthecolumntotheotherside，whereshefoundthedoorthroughwhichtheinteriorwasreached。Thepaint，ifithadeverhadany，wasallwashedfromthewood，anddownthedecayingsurfaceoftheboardsliquidrustfromthenailsandhingeshadruninredstains。Overthedoorwasastonetablet，bearing，apparently，lettersorwords;buttheinscription，whateveritwas，hadbeensmoothedoverwithaplasteroflichen。
Herestoodthisaspiringpieceofmasonry，erectedasthemostconspicuousandineffaceablereminderofamanthatcouldbethoughtof;andyetthewholeaspectofthememorialbetokenedforgetfulness。Probablynotadozenpeoplewithinthedistrictknewthenameofthepersoncommemorated，whileperhapsnotasoulrememberedwhetherthecolumnwereholloworsolid，whetherwithorwithoutatabletexplainingitsdateandpurpose。Sheherselfhadlivedwithinamileofitforthelastfiveyears，andhadnevercomenearittillnow。
Shehesitatedtoascendalone，butfindingthatthedoorwasnotfastenedshepusheditopenwithherfoot，andentered。Ascrapofwriting—paperlaywithin，andarrestedherattentionbyitsfreshness。Somehumanbeing，then，knewthespot，despitehersurmises。Butasthepaperhadnothingonitnocluewasafforded;
yetfeelingherselftheproprietorofthecolumnandofallarounditherself—assertivenesswassufficienttoleadheron。Thestaircasewaslightedbyslitsinthewall，andtherewasnodifficultyinreachingthetop，thestepsbeingquiteunworn。Thetrap—doorleadingontotheroofwasopen，andonlookingthroughitaninterestingspectaclemethereye。
Ayouthwassittingonastoolinthecentreoftheleadflatwhichformedthesummitofthecolumn，hiseyebeingappliedtotheendofalargetelescopethatstoodbeforehimonatripod。Thissortofpresencewasunexpected，andtheladystartedbackintotheshadeoftheopening。Theonlyeffectproduceduponhimbyherfootfallwasanimpatientwaveofthehand，whichhedidwithoutremovinghiseyefromtheinstrument，asiftoforbidhertointerrupthim。
Pausingwhereshestoodtheladyexaminedtheaspectoftheindividualwhothusmadehimselfsocompletelyathomeonabuildingwhichshedeemedherunquestionedproperty。Hewasayouthwhomightproperlyhavebeencharacterizedbyawordthejudiciouschroniclerwouldnotreadilyuseinsuchaconnexion，preferringtoreserveitforraisingimagesoftheoppositesex。Whetherbecausenodeepfelicityislikelytoarisefromthecondition，orfromanyotherreason，tosayinthesedaysthatayouthisbeautifulisnottoawardhimthatamountofcreditwhichtheexpressionwouldhavecarriedwithitifhehadlivedinthetimesoftheClassicalDictionary。Somuch，indeed，isthereversethecasethattheassertioncreatesanawkwardnessinsayinganythingmoreabouthim。
Thebeautifulyouthusuallyvergessoperilouslyontheincipientcoxcomb，whoisabouttobecometheLotharioorJuanamongtheneighbouringmaidens，that，forthedueunderstandingofourpresentyoungman，hissublimeinnocenceofanythoughtconcerninghisownmaterialaspect，orthatofothers，ismostferventlyasserted，andmustbeasferventlybelieved。
Suchashewas，theretheladsat。Thesunshonefullinhisface，andonhisheadheworeablackvelvetskull—cap，leavingtoviewbelowitacurlymarginofverylightshininghair，whichaccordedwellwiththeflushuponhischeek。
HehadsuchacomplexionasthatwithwhichRaffaelleenrichesthecountenanceoftheyouthfulsonofZacharias，——acomplexionwhich，thoughclear，isfarenoughremovedfromvirgindelicacy，andsuggestsplentyofsunandwindasitsaccompaniment。Hisfeaturesweresufficientlystraightinthecontourstocorrectthebeholder’sfirstimpressionthattheheadwastheheadofagirl。Besidehimstoodalittleoaktable，andinfrontwasthetelescope。
Hisvisitorhadampletimetomaketheseobservations;andshemayhavedonesoallthemorekeenlythroughbeingherselfofatotallyoppositetype。Herhairwasblackasmidnight，hereyeshadnolessdeepashade，andhercomplexionshowedtherichnessdemandedasasupporttothesedecidedfeatures。Asshecontinuedtolookattheprettyfellowbeforeher，apparentlysofarabstractedintosomespeculativeworldasscarcelytoknowarealone，awarmerwaveofherwarmtemperamentglowedvisiblythroughher，andaqualifiedobservermightfromthishavehazardedaguessthattherewasRomancebloodinherveins。
Buteventheinterestattachingtotheyouthcouldnotarrestherattentionforever，andashemadenofurthersignsofmovinghiseyefromtheinstrumentshebrokethesilencewith——
’Whatdoyousee？——somethinghappeningsomewhere？’
’Yes，quiteacatastrophe！’heautomaticallymurmured，withoutmovinground。
’What？’
’Acycloneinthesun。’
Theladypaused，asiftoconsidertheweightofthateventinthescaleofterrenelife。
’Willitmakeanydifferencetoushere？’sheasked。
Theyoungmanbythistimeseemedtobeawakenedtotheconsciousnessthatsomebodyunusualwastalkingtohim;heturned，andstarted。
’Ibegyourpardon，’hesaid。’Ithoughtitwasmyrelativecometolookafterme！Sheoftencomesaboutthistime。’
Hecontinuedtolookatherandforgetthesun，justsuchareciprocityofinfluenceasmighthavebeenexpectedbetweenadarkladyandaflaxen—hairedyouthmakingitselfapparentinthefacesofeach。
’Don’tletmeinterruptyourobservations，’saidshe。
’Ah，no，’saidhe，againapplyinghiseye;whereuponhisfacelosttheanimationwhichherpresencehadlentit，andbecameimmutableasthatofabust，thoughsuperaddingtotheserenityofreposethesensitivenessoflife。Theexpressionthatsettledonhimwasoneofawe。Notunaptlymightithavebeensaidthathewasworshippingthesun。Amongthevariousintensitiesofthatworshipwhichhaveprevailedsincethefirstintelligentbeingsawtheluminarydeclinewestward，astheyoungmannowbehelditdoing，hiswasnottheweakest。Hewasengagedinwhatmaybecalledaverychastenedorschooledformofthatfirstandmostnaturalofadorations。
’Butwouldyouliketoseeit？’herecommenced。’Itisaneventthatiswitnessedonlyaboutonceintwoorthreeyears，thoughitmayoccuroftenenough。’
Sheassented，andlookedthroughtheshadedeyepiece，andsawawhirlingmass，inthecentreofwhichtheblazingglobeseemedtobelaidbaretoitscore。Itwasapeepintoamaelstromoffire，takingplacewherenobodyhadeverbeenoreverwouldbe。
’ItisthestrangestthingIeverbeheld，’shesaid。Thenhelookedagain;tillwonderingwhohercompanioncouldbesheasked，’Areyouoftenhere？’
’Everynightwhenitisnotcloudy，andoftenintheday。’
’Ah，night，ofcourse。Theheavensmustbebeautifulfromthispoint。’
’Theyarerathermorethanthat。’
’Indeed！Haveyouentirelytakenpossessionofthiscolumn？’
’Entirely。’
’Butitismycolumn，’shesaid，withsmilingasperity。
’ThenareyouLadyConstantine，wifeoftheabsentSirBlountConstantine？’
’IamLadyConstantine。’
’Ah，thenIagreethatitisyourladyship’s。Butwillyouallowmetorentitofyouforatime，LadyConstantine？’
’Youhavetakenit，whetherIallowitornot。However，intheinterestsofscienceitisadvisablethatyoucontinueyourtenancy。
Nobodyknowsyouarehere，Isuppose？’
’Hardlyanybody。’
Hethentookherdownafewstepsintotheinterior，andshowedhersomeingeniouscontrivancesforstowingarticlesaway。
’Nobodyevercomesnearthecolumn，——or，asit’scalledhere，Rings—
HillSpeer，’hecontinued;’andwhenIfirstcameupitnobodyhadbeenhereforthirtyorfortyyears。Thestaircasewaschokedwithdaws’nestsandfeathers，butIclearedthemout。’
’Iunderstoodthecolumnwasalwayskeptlocked？’
’Yes，ithasbeenso。Whenitwasbuilt，in1782，thekeywasgiventomygreat—grandfather，tokeepbyhimincasevisitorsshouldhappentowantit。HelivedjustdowntherewhereIlivenow。’
Hedenotedbyanodalittledelllyingimmediatelybeyondtheploughedlandwhichenvironedthem。
’Hekeptitinhisbureau，andasthebureaudescendedtomygrandfather，mymother，andmyself，thekeydescendedwithit。
Afterthefirstthirtyorfortyyears，nobodyeveraskedforit。
OnedayIsawit，lyingrustyinitsniche，and，findingthatitbelongedtothiscolumn，Itookitandcameup。Istayedheretillitwasdark，andthestarscameout，andthatnightIresolvedtobeanastronomer。Icamebackherefromschoolseveralmonthsago，andImeantobeanastronomerstill。’
Heloweredhisvoice，andadded:
’IaimatnothinglessthanthedignityandofficeofAstronomerRoyal，ifIlive。PerhapsIshallnotlive。’
’Idon’tseewhyyoushouldsupposethat，’saidshe。’Howlongareyougoingtomakethisyourobservatory？’
’Aboutayearlonger——tillIhaveobtainedapracticalfamiliaritywiththeheavens。Ah，ifIonlyhadagoodequatorial！’
’Whatisthat？’
’Aproperinstrumentformypursuit。Buttimeisshort，andscienceisinfinite，——howinfiniteonlythosewhostudyastronomyfullyrealize，——andperhapsIshallbewornoutbeforeImakemymark。’
Sheseemedtobegreatlystruckbytheoddmixtureinhimofscientificearnestnessandmelancholymistrustofallthingshuman。
Perhapsitwasowingtothenatureofhisstudies。
’Youareoftenonthistoweraloneatnight？’shesaid。
’Yes;atthistimeoftheyearparticularly，andwhilethereisnomoon。Iobservefromsevenoreighttillabouttwointhemorning，withaviewtomygreatworkonvariablestars。Butwithsuchatelescopeasthis——well，Imustputupwithit！’
’CanyouseeSaturn’sringandJupiter’smoons？’
Hesaiddrilythathecouldmanagetodothat，notwithoutsomecontemptforthestateofherknowledge。
’Ihaveneverseenanyplanetorstarthroughatelescope。’
’Ifyouwillcomethefirstclearnight，LadyConstantine，Iwillshowyouanynumber。Imean，atyourexpresswish;nototherwise。’
’Ishouldliketocome，andpossiblymayatsometime。Thesestarsthatvarysomuch——sometimeseveningstars，sometimesmorningstars，sometimesintheeast，andsometimesinthewest——havealwaysinterestedme。’
’Ah——nowthereisareasonforyournotcoming。YourignoranceoftherealitiesofastronomyissosatisfactorythatIwillnotdisturbitexceptatyourseriousrequest。’
’ButIwishtobeenlightened。’
’Letmecautionyouagainstit。’
’Isenlightenmentonthesubject，then，soterrible？’
’Yes，indeed。’
Shelaughinglydeclaredthatnothingcouldhavesopiquedhercuriosityashisstatement，andturnedtodescend。Hehelpedherdownthestairsandthroughthebriers。Hewouldhavegonefurtherandcrossedtheopencorn—landwithher，butshepreferredtogoalone。Hethenretracedhiswaytothetopofthecolumn，but，insteadoflookinglongeratthesun，watchedherdiminishingtowardsthedistantfence，behindwhichwaitedthecarriage。Wheninthemidstofthefield，adarkspotonanareaofbrown，therecrossedherpathamovingfigure，whomitwasasdifficulttodistinguishfromtheearthhetrodasthecaterpillarfromitsleaf，byreasonoftheexcellentmatchbetweenhisclothesandtheclods。
Hewasoneofadying—outgenerationwhoretainedtheprinciple，nearlyunlearntnow，thataman’shabilimentsshouldbeinharmonywithhisenvironment。LadyConstantineandthisfigurehaltedbesideeachotherforsomeminutes;thentheywentontheirseveralways。
ThebrownpersonwasalabouringmanknowntotheworldofWellandasHaymoss（theencrustedformofthewordAmos，toadoptthephraseofphilologists）。ThereasonofthehalthadbeensomeinquiriesaddressedtohimbyLadyConstantine。
’Whoisthat——AmosFry，Ithink？’shehadasked。
’Yesmylady，’saidHaymoss;’ahomelybarleydriller，bornundertheeavesofyourladyship’soutbuildings，inamannerofspeaking，—
—thoughyourladyshipwasneitherbornnor’temptedatthattime。’
’Wholivesintheoldhousebehindtheplantation？’
’OldGammerMartin，mylady，andhergrandson。’
’Hehasneitherfathernormother，then？’
’Notasingleone，mylady。’
’Wherewasheeducated？’
’AtWarborne，——aplacewheretheydrawupyounggam’sters’brainslikerhubarbunderaninepennypan，mylady，excusingmycommonway。
Theyhitsomuchlarningintoenthat’acouldtalklikethedayofPentecost;whichisawonderfulthingforasimpleboy，andhismotheronlytheplainestcipheringwomanintheworld。WarborneGrammarSchool——that’swhere’twas’awentto。Hisfather，thereverentPa’sonSt。Cleeve，madeaterriblebrucklehitin’smarrying，inthesightofthehigh。Hewerethecuratehere，mylady，foralengtho’time。’
’Oh，curate，’saidLadyConstantine。’ItwasbeforeIknewthevillage。’
’Ay，longandmerryago！AndhemarriedFarmerMartin’sdaughter——
GilesMartin，alimberishman，whousedtogoratherbaduponhislags，ifyoucanmind。Iknowedthemanwellenough;whoshouldknowenbetter！Themaidwasapoorwindlingthing，and，thoughaplaywardpieceo’fleshwhenhemarriedher，’asockedandsighed，andwentoutlikeasnoff！Yes，mylady。Well，whenPa’sonSt。
Cleevemarriedthishomespunwomanthetoppermostfolkwouldn’tspeaktohiswife。Thenhedroppedacussortwo，andsaidhe’dnolongergethislivingbycuringtheirtwopennysoulso’suchd———
nonsenseasthat（excusingmycommonway），andhetooktofarmingstraightway，andthen’adroppeddowndeadinanor’—westthunderstorm;itbeingsaid——hee—hee！——thatMasterGodwasintantrumswi’enforleavinghisservice，——hee—hee！IgivethestoryasIheardit，mylady，butbedazedifIbelieveinsuchtrumperyaboutfolksinthesky，noranythingelsethat’ssaidon’em，goodorbad。Well，Swithin，theboy，wassenttothegrammarschool，asIsayfor;butwhatwithhavingtwostationsoflifeinhisbloodhe’sgoodfornothing，mylady。Hemopesabout——sometimeshere，andsometimesthere;nobodytroublesabouten。’
LadyConstantinethankedherinformant，andproceededonward。Toher，asawoman，themostcuriousfeatureintheafternoon’sincidentwasthatthislad，ofstrikingbeauty，scientificattainments，andcultivatedbearing，shouldbelinked，onthematernalside，withalocalagriculturalfamilythroughhisfather’smatrimonialeccentricity。Amoreattractivefeatureinthecasewasthatthesameyouth，socapableofbeingruinedbyflattery，blandishment，pleasure，evengrossprosperity，shouldbeatpresentlivingoninaprimitiveEdenofunconsciousness，withaimstowardswhoseaccomplishmentaCalibanshapewouldhavebeenaseffectiveashisown。
II
SwithinSt。Cleevelingeredonathispost，untilthemoresanguinebirdsoftheplantation，alreadyrecoveringfromtheirmidwinteranxieties，pipedashorteveninghymntothevanishingsun。
Thelandscapewasgentlyconcave;withtheexceptionoftowerandhilltherewerenopointsonwhichlateraysmightlinger;andhencethedish—shapedninetyacresoftilledlandassumedauniformhueofshadequitesuddenly。Theoneortwostarsthatappearedwerequicklycloudedover，anditwassoonobviousthattherewouldbenosweepingtheheavensthatnight。Aftertyingapieceoftarpaulin，whichhadonceseenserviceonhismaternalgrandfather’sfarm，overalltheapparatusaroundhim，hewentdownthestairsinthedark，andlockedthedoor。
WiththekeyinhispockethedescendedthroughtheunderwoodonthesideoftheslopeoppositetothattroddenbyLadyConstantine，andcrossedthefieldinalinemathematicallystraight，andinamannerthatleftnotraces，bykeepinginthesamefurrowallthewayontiptoe。Inafewminuteshereachedalittledell，whichoccurredquiteunexpectedlyontheothersideofthefield—fence，anddescendedtoavenerablethatchedhouse，whoseenormousroof，brokenupbydormersasbigashaycocks，couldbeseeneveninthetwilight。Overthewhitewalls，builtofchalkinthelump，outlinesofcreepersformeddarkpatterns，asifdrawnincharcoal。
Insidethehousehismaternalgrandmotherwassittingbyawoodfire。Beforeitstoodapipkin，inwhichsomethingwasevidentlykeptwarm。Aneight—leggedoaktableinthemiddleoftheroomwaslaidforameal。Thiswomanofeighty，inalargemobcap，underwhichsheworealittlecaptokeeptheotherclean，retainedfacultiesbutlittleblunted。Shewasgazingintotheflames，withherhandsuponherknees，quietlyre—enactinginherbraincertainofthelongchainofepisodes，pathetic，tragical，andhumorous，whichhadconstitutedtheparishhistoryforthelastsixtyyears。
OnSwithin’sentryshelookedupathiminasidewaydirection。
’Youshouldnothavewaitedforme，granny，’hesaid。
’’Tisofnoaccount，mychild。I’vehadanapwhilesittinghere。
Yes，I’vehadanap，andwentstraightupintomyoldcountryagain，asusual。TheplacewasasnaturalaswhenIleftit，——e’enjustthreescoreyearsago！Allthefolksandmyoldauntwerethere，aswhenIwasachild，——yetIsupposeifIwerereallytosetoutandgothere，hardlyasoulwouldbeleftalivetosaytome，doghowart！ButtellHannahtostirherstumpsandservesupper——thoughI’dfaindoitmyself，thepooroldsoulisgettingsounhandy！’
Hannahrevealedherselftobemuchnimblerandseveralyearsyoungerthangranny，thoughofthisthelatterseemedtobeoblivious。WhenthemealwasnearlyoverMrs。Martinproducedthecontentsofthemysteriousvesselbythefire，sayingthatshehadcausedittobebroughtinfromthebackkitchen，becauseHannahwashardlytobetrustedwithsuchthings，shewasbecomingsochildish。
’Whatisit，then？’saidSwithin。’Oh，oneofyourspecialpuddings。’Atsightofit，however，headdedreproachfully，’Now，granny！’
Insteadofbeinground，itwasinshapeanirregularboulderthathadbeenexposedtotheweatherforcenturies——alittlescrapparedoffhere，andalittlepiecebrokenawaythere;thegeneralaimbeing，nevertheless，toavoiddestroyingthesymmetryofthepuddingwhiletakingasmuchaspossibleofitssubstance。
’Thefactis，’addedSwithin，’thepuddingishalfgone！’
’I’veonlyslicedoffthemerestparingonceortwice，totasteifitwaswelldone！’pleadedgrannyMartin，withwoundedfeelings。’I
saidtoHannahwhenshetookitup，\"Putitheretokeepitwarm，asthere’sabetterfirethaninthebackkitchen。\"’
’Well，Iamnotgoingtoeatanyofit！’saidSwithindecisively，asherosefromthetable，pushedawayhischair，andwentup—stairs;
the’otherstationoflifethatwasinhisblood，’andwhichhadbeenbroughtoutbythegrammarschool，probablystimulatinghim。
’Ah，theworldisanungratefulplace！’TwasapityIdidn’ttakemypoornameoffthisearthlycalendarandcreepundergroundsixtylongyearsago，insteadofleavingmyowncountytocomehere！’