mournedoldMrs。Martin。’ButItoldhismotherhow’twouldbe——
marryingsomanynotchesaboveher。Thechildwassuretochawhigh，likehisfather！’
WhenSwithinhadbeenup—stairsaminuteortwohowever，healteredhismind，andcomingdownagainateallthepudding，withtheaspectofapersonundertakingadeedofgreatmagnanimity。Therelishwithwhichhedidsorestoredtheunisonthatknewnomoreseriousinterruptionsthansuchasthis。
’Mr。Torkinghamhasbeenherethisafternoon，’saidhisgrandmother;
’andhewantsmetolethimmeetsomeofthechoirhereto—nightforpractice。Theywholiveatthisendoftheparishwon’tgotohishousetotryoverthetunes，because’tissofar，theysay，andso’tis，poormen。Sohe’sgoingtoseewhatcomingtothemwilldo。
Heasksifyouwouldliketojoin。’
’IwouldifIhadnotsomuchtodo。’
’Butitiscloudyto—night。’
’Yes;butIhavecalculationswithoutend，granny。Now，don’tyoutellhimI’minthehouse，willyou？andthenhe’llnotaskforme。’
’Butifheshould，mustIthentellalie，Lordforgiveme？’
’No，youcansayI’mup—stairs;hemustthinkwhathelikes。Notawordabouttheastronomytoanyofthem，whateveryoudo。Ishouldbecalledavisionary，andallsorts。’
’Sothoubeest，child。Whycan’tyedosomethingthat’sofuse？’
AtthesoundoffootstepsSwithinbeatahastyretreatup—stairs，wherehestruckalight，andrevealedatablecoveredwithbooksandpapers，whileroundthewallshungstar—maps，andotherdiagramsillustrativeofcelestialphenomena。Inacornerstoodahugepasteboardtube，whichacloseinspectionwouldhaveshowntobeintendedforatelescope。Swithinhungathickclothoverthewindow，inadditiontothecurtains，andsatdowntohispapers。Ontheceilingwasablackstainofsmoke，andunderthisheplacedhislamp，evidencingthatthemidnightoilwasconsumedonthatprecisespotveryoften。
Meanwhiletherehadenteredtotheroombelowapersonagewho，tojudgefromhervoiceandthequickpit—patofherfeet，wasamaidenyoungandblithe。Mrs。MartinwelcomedherbythetitleofMissTabithaLark，andinquiredwhatwindhadbroughtherthatway;towhichthevisitorrepliedthatshehadcomeforthesinging。
’Sityedown，then，’saidgranny。’AnddoyoustillgototheHousetoreadtomylady？’
’Yes，Igoandread，Mrs。Martin;butastogettingmyladytohearken，that’smorethanateamofsixhorsescouldforcehertodo。’
Thegirlhadaremarkablysmartandfluentutterance，whichwasprobablyacause，oraconsequence，ofhervocation。
’’Tisthesamestory，then？’saidgrandmotherMartin。
’Yes。Eatenoutwithlistlessness。She’sneithersicknorsorry，buthowdullanddrearysheis，onlyherselfcantell。WhenIgetthereinthemorning，theresheissittingupinbed，formyladydon’tcaretogetup;andthenshemakesmebringthisbookandthatbook，tillthebedisheapedupwithimmensevolumesthathalfburyher，makingherlook，assheleansuponherelbow，likethestoningofStephen。Sheyawns;thenshelookstowardsthetallglass;thenshelooksoutattheweather，mooninghergreatblackeyes，andfixingthemontheskyasiftheystuckthere，whilemytonguegoesflick—flackalong，ahundredandfiftywordsaminute;thenshelooksattheclock;thensheasksmewhatI’vebeenreading。’
’Ah，poorsoul！’saidgranny。’Nodoubtshesaysinthemorning，\"WouldGoditwereevening，\"andintheevening，\"WouldGoditweremorning，\"likethedisobedientwomaninDeuteronomy。’
Swithin，intheroomoverhead，hadsuspendedhiscalculations，fortheduologueinterestedhim。Therenowcrunchedheavierstepsoutsidethedoor，andhisgrandmothercouldbeheardgreetingsundrylocalrepresentativesofthebassandtenorvoice，wholentacheerfulandwell—knownpersonalitytothenamesSammyBlore，NatChapman，HezekiahBiles，andHaymossFry（thelatterbeingonewithwhomthereaderhasalreadyadistantacquaintance）;besidesthesecamesmallproducersoftreble，whohadnotyetdevelopedintosuchdistinctiveunitsofsocietyastorequireparticularizing。
’Isthegoodmancome？’askedNatChapman。’No，——Iseewebehereaforehim。Andhowisitwithagedwomento—night，Mrs。Martin？’
’Tedioustraipsingenoughwiththisone，Nat。Sityedown。Well，littleFreddy，youdon’twishinthemorningthat’twereevening，andateveningthat’tweremorningagain，doyou，Freddy，trustyeforit？’
’Now，whomightwishsuchathingasthat，MrsMartin？——nobodyinthisparish？’askedSammyBlorecuriously。
’Myladyisalwayswishingit，’spokeupMissTabithaLark。
’Oh，she！Nobodycanbeanswerableforthewishesofthatonnaturaltribeofmankind。Notbutthatthewoman’sheart—stringsistriedinmanyaggravatingways。’
’Ah，poorwoman！’saidgranny。’Thestateshefindsherselfin——
neithermaid，wife，norwidow，asyoumaysay——isnottheprimestformoflifeforkeepingingoodspirits。HowlongisitsinceshehasheardfromSirBlount，Tabitha？’
’Twoyearsandmore，’saidtheyoungwoman。’HewentintoonesideofAfrica，asitmightbe，threeSt。Martin’sdaysback。Icanmindit，because’twasmybirthday。Andhemeanttocomeouttheotherside。Buthedidn’t。Hehasnevercomeoutatall。’
’Foralltheworldlikelosingaratinabarley—mow，’saidHezekiah。’He’slost，thoughyouknowwhereheis。’
Hiscomradesnodded。
’Ay，myladyisawalkingweariness。IseedheryawnjustattheverymomentwhenthefoxwashalloaedawaybyLorntonCopse，andthehoundsrunnedenallbutpasthercarriagewheels。IfIweresheI’dseealittlelife;thoughthere’snofair，club—walking，norfeasttospeakof，tillEasterweek，——that’strue。’
’Shedaresnot。She’sundersolemnoathtodonosuchthing。’
’BecustifIwouldkeepanysuchoath！Buthere’sthepa’son，ifmyearsdon’tdeceiveme。’
Therewasanoiseofhorse’shoofswithout，astumblingagainstthedoor—scraper，atetheringtothewindow—shutter，acreakingofthedooronitshinges，andavoicewhichSwithinrecognizedasMr。
Torkingham’s。Hegreetedeachofthepreviousarrivalsbyname，andstatedthathewasgladtoseethemallsopunctuallyassembled。
’Ay，sir，’saidHaymossFry。’’Tisonlymyjintsthathavekeptmefromassemblingmyselflongago。I’dassembleuponthetopofWellandSteeple，if’tweren’tformyjints。Iassureye，Pa’sonTarkenham，thatintheclitcho’myknees，wheretherainusedtocomethroughwhenIwascuttingclotsforthenewlawn，inoldmylady’stime，’tisasifratswezgnawing，everynowandthen。Whenafeller’syounghe’stoosmallinthebraintoseehowsoonaconstitutioncanbesquandered，worseluck！’
’True，’saidBiles，tofillthetimewhiletheparsonwasengagedinfindingthePsalms。’Aman’safooltillhe’sforty。OftenhaveI
thought，whenhay—pitching，andthesmallofmybackseemingnostouterthanaharnet’s，\"ThedevilsendthatIhadbutthemakingoflabouringmenforatwelvemonth！\"I’dgieeverymanjacktwogoodbackbones，evenifthealterationwasaswrongasforgery。’
’Four，——fourbackbones，’saidHaymoss，decisively。
’Yes，four，’threwinSammyBlore，withadditionalweightofexperience。’Foryouwantoneinfrontforbreast—ploughingandsuchlike，oneattherightsideforground—dressing，andoneattheleftsideforturningmixens。’
’Well;thennextI’dmoveeveryman’swyndpipeagoodspanawayfromhisglutchpipe，sothatatharvesttimehecouldfetchbreathin’sdrinking，withoutbeingchokedandstrangledasheisnow。ThinksI，whenIfeelthevictualsgoing——’
’Now，we’llbegin，’interruptedMr。Torkingham，hismindreturningtothisworldagainonconcludinghissearchforahymn。
Thereupontheracketofchair—legsonthefloorsignifiedthattheyweresettlingintotheirseats，——adisturbancewhichSwithintookadvantageofbygoingontiptoeacrossthefloorabove，andputtingsheetsofpaperoverknot—holesintheboardingatpointswherecarpetwaslacking，thathislamp—lightmightnotshinedown。Theabsenceofaceilingbeneathrenderedhispositionvirtuallythatofonesuspendedinthesameapartment。
Theparsonannouncedthetune，andhisvoiceburstforthwith’Onward，Christiansoldiers！’innotesofrigidcheerfulness。
Inthisstart，however，hewasjoinedonlybythegirlsandboys，themenfurnishingbutanaccompanimentofahasandhems。Mr。
Torkinghamstopped，andSammyBlorespoke，——
’Begyourpardon，sir，——ifyou’lldealmildwithusamoment。Whatwiththewindandwalking，mythroat’sasroughasagrater;andnotknowingyouweregoingtohitupthatminute，Ihadn’thawked，andI
don’tthinkHezzyandNathad，either，——hadye，souls？’
’Ihadn’tgotthoroughready，that’strue，’saidHezekiah。
’Quiterightofyou，then，tospeak，’saidMr。Torkingham。’Don’tmindexplaining;wearehereforpractice。Nowclearyourthroats，then，andatitagain。’
Therewasanoiseasofatmospherichoesandscrapers，andthebasscontingentatlastgotunderwaywithatimeofitsown:
’Honwerd，Christensojers！’
’Ah，that’swherewearesodefective——thepronunciation，’
interruptedtheparson。’Nowrepeatafterme:\"On—ward，Christ—
ian，sol—diers。\"’
Thechoirrepeatedlikeanexaggerativeecho:’On—wed，Chris—ting，sol—jaws！’
’Better！’saidtheparson，inthestrenuouslysanguinetonesofamanwhogothislivingbydiscoveringabrightsideinthingswhereitwasnotveryperceptibletootherpeople。’Butitshouldnotbegivenwithquitesoextremeanaccent;orwemaybecalledaffectedbyotherparishes。And，NathanielChapman，there’sajauntinessinyourmannerofsingingwhichisnotquitebecoming。Whydon’tyousingmoreearnestly？’
’Myconsciencewon’tletme，sir。Theysayeverymanforhimself:
but，thankGod，I’mnotsomeanastolessenoldfokes’chancesbybeingearnestatmytimeo’life，andtheysomuchnearertheneedo’t。’
’It’sbadreasoning，Nat，Ifear。Now，perhapswehadbettersol—fathetune。Eyesonyourbooks，please。Sol—sol！fa—fa！mi——’
’Ican’tsinglikethat，notI！’saidSammyBlore，withcondemnatoryastonishment。’Icansinggenuinemusic，likeFandG;butnotanythingsomuchoutoftheorderofnaterasthat。’
’Perhapsyou’vebroughtthewrongbook，sir？’chimedinHaymoss，kindly。’I’veknowedmusicearlyinlifeandlate，——inshort，eversinceLukeSneapbrokehisnewfiddle—bowintheweddingpsalm，whenPa’sonWiltonbroughthomehisbride（youcanmindthetime，Sammy？—
—whenwesung\"Hiswife，likeafairfertilevine，herlovelyfruitshallbring，\"whentheyoungwomanturnedasredasarose，notknowing’twascoming）。I’veknowedmusiceversincethen，Isay，sir，andneverheardthelikeo’that。EverymartelnotehadhisnameofA，B，C，atthattime。’
’Yes，yes，men;butthisisamorerecentsystem！’
’Still，youcan’talteraold—establishednotethat’sAorBbynater，’rejoinedHaymoss，withyetdeeperconvictionthatMr。
Torkinghamwasgettingoffhishead。’NowsoundA，neighbourSammy，andlet’shaveaslapatChristensojersagain，andshowthePa’sonthetrueway！’
Sammyproducedaprivatetuning—fork，blackandgrimy，which，beingaboutseventyyearsofage，andwroughtbeforepianofortebuildershadsentupthepitchtomaketheirinstrumentsbrilliant，wasnearlyanoteflatterthantheparson’s。Whileanargumentastothetruepitchwasinprogress，therecameaknockingwithout。
’Somebody’satthedoor！’saidalittletreblegirl。
’ThoughtIheardaknockbefore！’saidtherelievedchoir。
Thelatchwaslifted，andamanaskedfromthedarkness，’IsMr。
Torkinghamhere？’
’Yes，Mills。Whatdoyouwant？’
Itwastheparson’sman。
’Oh，ifyouplease，’saidMills，showinganadvancedmarginofhimselfroundthedoor，’LadyConstantinewantstoseeyouveryparticular，sir，andcouldyoucallonherafterdinner，ifyouben’tengagedwithpoorfokes？She’sjusthadaletter，——sotheysay，——andit’saboutthat，Ibelieve。’
Finding，onlookingathiswatch，thatitwasnecessarytostartatonceifhemeanttoseeherthatnight，theparsoncutshortthepractising，and，naminganothernightformeeting，hewithdrew。Allthesingersassistedhimontohiscob，andwatchedhimtillhedisappearedovertheedgeoftheBottom。
III
Mr。Torkinghamtrottedbrisklyonwardtohishouse，adistanceofaboutamile，eachcottage，asitrevealeditshalf—buriedpositionbyitssinglelight，appearinglikeaone—eyednightcreaturewatchinghimfromanambush。Leavinghishorseattheparsonageheperformedtheremainderofthejourneyonfoot，crossingtheparktowardsWellandHousebyastileandpath，tillhestruckintothedrivenearthenorthdoorofthemansion。
Thisdrive，itmayberemarked，wasalsothecommonhighwaytothelowervillage，andhenceLadyConstantine’sresidenceandpark，asisoccasionallythecasewithold—fashionedmanors，possessednoneoftheexclusivenessfoundinsomearistocraticsettlements。Theparishionerslookedupontheparkavenueastheirnaturalthoroughfare，particularlyforchristenings，weddings，andfunerals，whichpassedthesquire’smansionwithdueconsiderationsastothesceniceffectofthesamefromthemanorwindows。HencethehouseofConstantine，whengoingoutfromitsbreakfast，hadbeencontinuallycrossedonthedoorstepforthelasttwohundredyearsbythehousesofHodgeandGilesinfullcrytodinner。Atpresentthesecollisionswerebuttooinfrequent，forthoughthevillagerspassedthenorthfrontdoorasregularlyasever，theyseldommetaConstantine。Onlyonewastheretobemet，andshehadnozestforoutingsbeforenoon。
Thelong，lowfrontoftheGreatHouse，asitwascalledbytheparish，stretchingfromendtoendoftheterrace，wasindarknessasthevicarslackenedhispacebeforeit，andonlythedistantfallofwaterdisturbedthestillnessofthemanorialprecincts。
OngainingadmittancehefoundLadyConstantinewaitingtoreceivehim。Sheworeaheavydressofvelvetandlace，andbeingtheonlypersoninthespaciousapartmentshelookedsmallandisolated。Inherlefthandsheheldaletterandacoupleofat—homecards。Thesoftdarkeyeswhichsheraisedtohimasheentered——large，andmelancholybycircumstancefarmorethanbyquality——werethenaturalindicesofawarmandaffectionate，perhapsslightlyvoluptuoustemperament，languishingforwantofsomethingtodo，cherish，orsufferfor。
Mr。Torkinghamseatedhimself。Hisboots，whichhadseemedelegantinthefarm—house，appearedratherclumsyhere，andhiscoat，thatwasamodeloftailoringwhenhestoodamidthechoir，nowexhibiteddecidedlystrainedrelationswithhislimbs。ThreeyearshadpassedsincehisinductiontothelivingofWelland，buthehadneverasyetfoundmeanstoestablishthatreciprocitywithLadyConstantinewhichusuallygrowsup，inthecourseoftime，betweenparsonageandmanor—house，——unless，indeed，eithersideshouldsurprisetheotherbyshowingrespectivelyaweaknessforawkwardmodernideasonlandownership，oronchurchformulas，whichhadnotbeenthecasehere。Thepresentmeeting，however，seemedlikelytoinitiatesuchareciprocity。
TherewasanappearanceofconfidenceonLadyConstantine’sface;
shesaidshewassoverygladthathehadcome，andlookingdownattheletterinherhandwasonthepointofpullingitfromitsenvelope;butshedidnot。Afteramomentshewentonmorequickly:
’Iwantedyouradvice，orratheryouropinion，onaseriousmatter，—
—onapointofconscience。’Sayingwhichshelaiddowntheletterandlookedatthecards。
Itmighthavebeenapparenttoamorepenetratingeyethanthevicar’sthatLadyConstantine，eitherfromtimidity，misgiving，orreconviction，hadswervedfromherintendedcommunication，orperhapsdecidedtobeginattheotherend。
Theparson，whohadbeenexpectingaquestiononsomelocalbusinessorintelligence，atthetenorofherwordsalteredhisfacetothehigherbranchofhisprofession。
’IhopeImayfindmyselfofservice，onthatoranyotherquestion，’hesaidgently。
’Ihopeso。Youmaypossiblybeaware，Mr。Torkingham，thatmyhusband，SirBlountConstantine，was，nottomincematters，amistaken——somewhatjealousman。Yetyoumayhardlyhavediscerneditintheshorttimeyouknewhim。’
’IhadsomelittleknowledgeofSirBlount’scharacterinthatrespect。’
’Well，onthisaccountmymarriedlifewithhimwasnotofthemostcomfortablekind。’（LadyConstantine’svoicedroppedtoamorepatheticnote。）’IamsureIgavehimnocauseforsuspicion;
thoughhadIknownhisdispositionsoonerIshouldhardlyhavedaredtomarryhim。Buthisjealousyanddoubtofmewerenotsostrongastodiverthimfromapurposeofhis，——amaniaforAfricanlion—
hunting，whichhedignifiedbycallingitaschemeofgeographicaldiscovery;forhewasinordinatelyanxioustomakeanameforhimselfinthatfield。Itwastheonepassionthatwasstrongerthanhismistrustofme。Beforegoingawayhesatdownwithmeinthisroom，andreadmealecture，whichresultedinaveryrashofferonmypart。WhenItellittoyou，youwillfindthatitprovidesakeytoallthatisunusualinmylifehere。Hebademeconsiderwhatmypositionwouldbewhenhewasgone;hopedthatI
shouldrememberwhatwasduetohim，——thatIwouldnotsobehavetowardsothermenastobringthenameofConstantineintosuspicion;andchargedmetoavoidlevityofconductinattendinganyball，rout，ordinnertowhichImightbeinvited。I，insomecontemptforhislowopinionofme，volunteered，thereandthen，tolivelikeacloisterednunduringhisabsence;togointonosocietywhatever，——scarceeventoaneighbour’sdinner—party;anddemandedbitterlyifthatwouldsatisfyhim。Hesaidyes，heldmetomyword，andgavemenoloopholeforretractingit。Theinevitablefruitsofprecipitancyhaveresultedtome:mylifehasbecomeaburden。Igetsuchinvitationsasthese’（holdingupthecards），’butIsoinvariablyrefusethemthattheyaregettingveryrare……Iaskyou，canIhonestlybreakthatpromisetomyhusband？’
Mr。Torkinghamseemedembarrassed。’IfyoupromisedSirBlountConstantinetoliveinsolitudetillhecomesback，youare，itseemstome，boundbythatpromise。Ifearthatthewishtobereleasedfromyourengagementistosomeextentareasonwhyitshouldbekept。Butyourownconsciencewouldsurelybethebestguide，LadyConstantine？’
’Myconscienceisquitebewilderedwithitsresponsibilities，’shecontinued，withasigh。’Yetitcertainlydoessometimessaytomethat——thatIoughttokeepmyword。Verywell;ImustgoonasIamgoing，Isuppose。’
’Ifyourespectavow，Ithinkyoumustrespectyourown，’saidtheparson，acquiringsomefurtherfirmness。’Haditbeenwrungfromyoubycompulsion，moralorphysical，itwouldhavebeenopentoyoutobreakit。Butasyouproposedavowwhenyourhusbandonlyrequiredagoodintention，Ithinkyououghttoadheretoit;orwhatistheprideworththatledyoutoofferit？’
’Verywell，’shesaid，withresignation。’Butitwasquiteaworkofsupererogationonmypart。’
’Thatyouproposeditinasupererogatoryspiritdoesnotlessenyourobligation，havingonceputyourselfunderthatobligation。
St。Paul，inhisEpistletotheHebrews，says，\"Anoathforconfirmationisanendofallstrife。\"AndyouwillreadilyrecallthewordsofEcclesiastes，\"Paythatwhichthouhastvowed。Betterisitthatthoushouldestnotvowthanthatthoushouldestvowandnotpay。\"WhynotwritetoSirBlount，tellhimtheinconvenienceofsuchabond，andaskhimtoreleaseyou？’
’No;neverwillI。Theexpressionofsuchadesirewould，inhismind，beasufficientreasonfordisallowingit。I’llkeepmyword。’
Mr。Torkinghamrosetoleave。Aftershehadheldoutherhandtohim，whenhehadcrossedtheroom，andwaswithintwostepsofthedoor，shesaid，’Mr。Torkingham。’Hestopped。’WhatIhavetoldyouisonlytheleastpartofwhatIsentforyoutotellyou。’
Mr。Torkinghamwalkedbacktoherside。’Whatistherestofit，then？’heasked，withgravesurprise。
’Itisatruerevelation，asfarasitgoes;butthereissomethingmore。Ihavereceivedthisletter，andIwantedtosay——something。’
’Thensayitnow，mydearlady。’
’No，’sheanswered，withalookofutterinability。’Icannotspeakofitnow！Someothertime。Don’tstay。Pleaseconsiderthisconversationasprivate。Good—night。’
IV
Itwasabrightstarlightnight，aweekortendayslater。TherehadbeenseveralsuchnightssincetheoccasionofLadyConstantine’spromisetoSwithinSt。CleevetocomeandstudyastronomicalphenomenaontheRings—Hillcolumn;butshehadnotgonethere。Thiseveningshesatatawindow，theblindofwhichhadnotbeendrawndown。Herelbowrestedonalittletable，andhercheekonherhand。HereyeswereattractedbythebrightnessoftheplanetJupiter，asherodeintheeclipticopposite，beamingdownuponherasifdesirousofnotice。
Beneaththeplanetcouldbestilldiscernedthedarkedgesoftheparklandscapeagainstthesky。Asoneofitsfeatures，thoughnearlyscreenedbythetreeswhichhadbeenplantedtoshutoutthefallowtractsoftheestate，rosetheupperpartofthecolumn。Itwashardlyvisiblenow，evenifvisibleatall;yetLadyConstantineknewfromdaytimeexperienceitsexactbearingfromthewindowatwhichsheleaned。Theknowledgethatthereitstillwas，despiteitsrapidenvelopmentbytheshades，ledherlonelymindtoherlatemeetingonitssummitwiththeyoungastronomer，andtoherpromisetohonourhimwithavisitforlearningsomesecretsaboutthescintillatingbodiesoverhead。Thecuriousjuxtapositionofyouthfulardourandolddespairthatshehadfoundintheladwouldhavemadehiminterestingtoawomanofperception，apartfromhisfairhairandearly—Christianface。Butsuchistheheighteningtouchofmemorythathisbeautywasprobablyricherinherimaginationthaninthereal。Itwasamootpointtoconsiderwhetherthetemptationsthatwouldbebroughttobearuponhiminhiscoursewouldexceedthestayingpowerofhisnature。Hadhebeenawealthyyouthhewouldhaveseemedonetotremblefor。Inspiteofhisattractiveambitionsandgentlemanlybearing，shethoughtitwouldpossiblybebetterforhimifheneverbecameknownoutsidehislonelytower，——forgettingthathehadreceivedsuchintellectualenlargementaswouldprobablymakehiscontinuanceinWellandseem，inhisowneye，aslightuponhisfather’sbranchofhisfamily，whosesocialstandinghadbeen，onlyafewyearsearlier，butlittleremovedfromherown。
Suddenlysheflungacloakaboutherandwentoutontheterrace。
Shepasseddownthestepstothelowerlawn，throughthedoortotheopenpark，andtherestoodstill。Thetowerwasnowdiscernible。
Asthewordsinwhichathoughtisexpresseddevelopafurtherthought，sodidthefactofherhavinggotsofarinfluencehertogofurther。Apersonwhohadcasuallyobservedhergaitwouldhavethoughtitirregular;andthelesseningsandincreasingsofspeedwithwhichsheproceededinthedirectionofthepillarcouldbeaccountedforonlybyamotivemuchmoredisturbingthananintentiontolookthroughatelescope。Thusshewenton，till，leavingthepark，shecrossedtheturnpike—road，andenteredthelargefield，inthemiddleofwhichthefir—cladhillstoodlikeMontSt。Michelinitsbay。
Thestarsweresobrightasdistinctlytoshowhertheplace，andnowshecouldseeafaintlightatthetopofthecolumn，whichroselikeashadowyfingerpointingtotheupperconstellations。Therewasnowind，inahumansense;butasteadystertorousbreathingfromthefir—treesshowedthat，nowasalways，therewasmovementinapparentstagnation。Nothingbutanabsolutevacuumcouldparalyzetheirutterance。
Thedoorofthetowerwasshut。ItwassomethingmorethanthefreakishnesswhichisengenderedbyasickeningmonotonythathadledLadyConstantinethusfar，andhenceshemadenoadoaboutadmittingherself。Threeyearsago，whenhereveryactionwasathingofpropriety，shehadknownofnopossiblepurposewhichcouldhaveledherabroadinamannersuchasthis。
Sheascendedthetowernoiselessly。OnraisingherheadabovethehatchwayshebeheldSwithinbendingoverascrollofpaperwhichlayonthelittletablebesidehim。Thesmalllanternthatilluminateditshowedalsothathewaswarmlywrappedupinacoatandthickcap，behindhimstandingthetelescopeonitsframe。
Whatwashedoing？Shelookedoverhisshoulderuponthepaper，andsawfiguresandsigns。Whenhehadjotteddownsomethinghewenttothetelescopeagain。
’Whatareyoudoingto—night？’shesaidinalowvoice。
Swithinstarted，andturned。Thefaintlamp—lightwassufficienttorevealherfacetohim。
’Tediouswork，LadyConstantine，’heanswered，withoutbetrayingmuchsurprise。’Doingmybesttowatchphenomenalstars，asImaycallthem。’
’YousaidyouwouldshowmetheheavensifIcouldcomeonastarlightnight。Ihavecome。’
Swithin，asapreliminary，sweptroundthetelescopetoJupiter，andexhibitedtoherthegloryofthatorb。ThenhedirectedtheinstrumenttothelessbrightshapeofSaturn。
’Here，’hesaid，warminguptothesubject，’weseeaworldwhichistomymindbyfarthemostwonderfulinthesolarsystem。Thinkofstreamsofsatellitesormeteorsracingroundandroundtheplanetlikeafly—wheel，soclosetogetherastoseemsolidmatter！’Heenteredfurtherandfurtherintothesubject，hisideasgatheringmomentumashewenton，likehispetheavenlybodies。
Whenhepausedforbreathshesaid，intonesverydifferentfromhisown，’Ioughtnowtotellyouthat，thoughIaminterestedinthestars，theywerenotwhatIcametoseeyouabout……IfirstthoughtofdisclosingthemattertoMr。Torkingham;butIalteredmymind，anddecidedonyou。’
Shespokeinsolowavoicethathemightnothaveheardher。Atallevents，abstractedbyhisgrandtheme，hedidnotheedher。Hecontinued，——
’Well，wewillgetoutsidethesolarsystemaltogether，——leavethewholegroupofsun，primaryandsecondaryplanetsquitebehindusinourflight，asabirdmightleaveitsbushandsweepintothewholeforest。Nowwhatdoyousee，LadyConstantine？’HelevelledtheachromaticatSirius。
Shesaidthatshesawabrightstar，thoughitonlyseemedapointoflightnowasbefore。
’That’sbecauseitissodistantthatnomagnifyingwillbringitssizeuptozero。Thoughcalledafixedstar，itis，likeallfixedstars，movingwithinconceivablevelocity;butnomagnifyingwillshowthatvelocityasanythingbutrest。’
AndthustheytalkedonaboutSirius，andthenaboutotherstars……inthescrowlOfallthosebeasts，andfish，andfowl，Withwhich，likeIndianplantations，Thelearnedstocktheconstellations，tillheaskedherhowmanystarsshethoughtwerevisibletothematthatmoment。
Shelookedaroundoverthemagnificentstretchofskythattheirhighpositionunfolded。’Oh，thousands，hundredsofthousands，’shesaidabsently。
’No。Thereareonlyaboutthreethousand。Now，howmanydoyouthinkarebroughtwithinsightbythehelpofapowerfultelescope？’
’Iwon’tguess。’
’Twentymillions。Sothat，whateverthestarsweremadefor，theywerenotmadetopleaseoureyes。Itisjustthesameineverything;nothingismadeforman。’
’Isitthatnotionwhichmakesyousosadforyourage？’sheasked，withalmostmaternalsolicitude。’Ithinkastronomyisabadstudyforyou。Itmakesyoufeelhumaninsignificancetooplainly。’