’Perhapsitdoes。However，’headdedmorecheerfully，’thoughI
feelthestudytobeonealmosttragicinitsquality，IhopetobethenewCopernicus。WhathewastothesolarsystemIaimtobetothesystemsbeyond。’
Then，bymeansoftheinstrumentathand，theytravelledtogetherfromtheearthtoUranusandthemysteriousoutskirtsofthesolarsystem;fromthesolarsystemtoastarintheSwan，thenearestfixedstarinthenorthernsky;fromthestarintheSwantoremoterstars;thencetotheremotestvisible;tilltheghastlychasmwhichtheyhadbridgedbyafragilelineofsightwasrealizedbyLadyConstantine。
’Wearenowtraversingdistancesbesidewhichtheimmenselinestretchingfromtheearthtothesunisbutaninvisiblepoint，’
saidtheyouth。’When，justnow，wehadreachedaplanetwhoseremotenessisahundredtimestheremotenessofthesunfromtheearth，wewereonlyatwothousandthpartofthejourneytothespotatwhichwehaveopticallyarrivednow。’
’Oh，praydon’t;itoverpowersme！’shereplied，notwithoutseriousness。’Itmakesmefeelthatitisnotworthwhiletolive;
itquiteannihilatesme。’
’Ifitannihilatesyourladyshiptoroamovertheseyawningspacesjustonce，thinkhowitmustannihilatemetobe，asitwere，inconstantsuspensionamidthemnightafternight。’
’Yes……ItwasnotreallythissubjectthatIcametoseeyouupon，Mr。St。Cleeve，’shebeganasecondtime。’Itwasapersonalmatter。’
’Iamlistening，LadyConstantine。’
’Iwilltellityou。Yetno，——notthismoment。Letusfinishthisgrandsubjectfirst;itdwarfsmine。’
Itwouldhavebeendifficulttojudgefromheraccentswhethershewereafraidtobroachherownmatter，orreallyinterestedinhis。
Oracertainyouthfulpridethatheevidencedatbeingtheelucidatorofsuchalargetheme，andathavingdrawnhertheretohearandobserveit，mayhaveinclinedhertoindulgehimforkindness’sake。
Thereuponhetookexceptiontoheruseoftheword’grand’asdescriptiveoftheactualuniverse:
’Theimaginarypictureoftheskyastheconcavityofadomewhosebaseextendsfromhorizontohorizonofourearthisgrand，simplygrand，andIwishIhadnevergotbeyondlookingatitinthatway。
Buttheactualskyisahorror。’
’Anewviewofouroldfriends，thestars，’shesaid，smilingupatthem。
’Butsuchanobviouslytrueone！’saidtheyoungman。’Youwouldhardlythink，atfirst，thathorridmonsterslieuptherewaitingtobediscoveredbyanymoderatelypenetratingmind——monsterstowhichthoseoftheoceansbearnosortofcomparison。’
’Whatmonstersmaytheybe？’
’Impersonalmonsters，namely，Immensities。Untilapersonhasthoughtoutthestarsandtheirinter—spaces，hehashardlylearntthattherearethingsmuchmoreterriblethanmonstersofshape，namely，monstersofmagnitudewithoutknownshape。Suchmonstersarethevoidsandwasteplacesofthesky。Look，forinstance，atthosepiecesofdarknessintheMilkyWay，’hewenton，pointingwithhisfingertowherethegalaxystretchedacrossovertheirheadswiththeluminousnessofafrostedweb。’YouseethatdarkopeninginitneartheSwan？Thereisastillmoreremarkableonesouthoftheequator，calledtheCoalSack，asasortofnicknamethathasafarcicalforcefromitsveryinadequacy。Intheseoursightplungesquitebeyondanytwinklerwehaveyetvisited。Thosearedeepwellsforthehumanmindtoletitselfdowninto，leavealonethehumanbody！andthinkofthesidecavernsandsecondaryabyssestorightandleftasyoupasson！’
LadyConstantinewasheedfulandsilent。
Hetriedtogiveheryetanotherideaofthesizeoftheuniverse;
neverwasthereamoreardentendeavourtobringdowntheimmeasurabletohumancomprehension！Byfiguresofspeechandaptcomparisonshetookhermindintoleading—strings，compellinghertofollowhimintowildernessesofwhichshehadneverinherlifeevenrealizedtheexistence。
’Thereisasizeatwhichdignitybegins，’heexclaimed;’furtheronthereisasizeatwhichgrandeurbegins;furtheronthereisasizeatwhichsolemnitybegins;furtheron，asizeatwhichawfulnessbegins;furtheron，asizeatwhichghastlinessbegins。Thatsizefaintlyapproachesthesizeofthestellaruniverse。SoamInotrightinsayingthatthosemindswhoexerttheirimaginativepowerstoburythemselvesinthedepthsofthatuniversemerelystraintheirfacultiestogainanewhorror？’
Standing，asshestood，inthepresenceofthestellaruniverse，undertheveryeyesoftheconstellations，LadyConstantineapprehendedsomethingoftheearnestyouth’sargument。
’Andtoaddanewweirdnesstowhattheskypossessesinitssizeandformlessness，thereisinvolvedthequalityofdecay。Forallthewonderoftheseeverlastingstars，eternalspheres，andwhatnot，theyarenoteverlasting，theyarenoteternal;theyburnoutlikecandles。YouseethatdyingoneinthebodyoftheGreaterBear？Twocenturiesagoitwasasbrightastheothers。Thesensesmaybecometerrifiedbyplungingamongthemastheyare，butthereisapitifulnessevenintheirglory。Imaginethemallextinguished，andyourmindfeelingitswaythroughaheavenoftotaldarkness，occasionallystrikingagainsttheblack，invisiblecindersofthosestars……Ifyouarecheerful，andwishtoremainso，leavethestudyofastronomyalone。Ofallthesciences，italonedeservesthecharacteroftheterrible。’
’Iamnotaltogethercheerful。’
’Thenif，ontheotherhand，youarerestlessandanxiousaboutthefuture，studyastronomyatonce。Yourtroubleswillbereducedamazingly。Butyourstudywillreducetheminasingularway，byreducingtheimportanceofeverything。Sothatthescienceisstillterrible，evenasapanacea。Itisquiteimpossibletothinkatalladequatelyofthesky——ofwhattheskysubstantiallyis，withoutfeelingitasajuxtaposednightmare。Itisbetter——farbetter——formentoforgettheuniversethantobearitclearlyinmind！……
Butyousaytheuniversewasnotreallywhatyoucametoseemeabout。Whatwasit，mayIask，LadyConstantine？’
Shemused，andsighed，andturnedtohimwithsomethingpatheticinher。
’Theimmensityofthesubjectyouhaveengagedmeonhascompletelycrushedmysubjectoutofme！Yoursiscelestial;minelamentablyhuman！Andthelessmustgivewaytothegreater。’
’Butisit，inahumansense，andapartfrommacrocosmicmagnitudes，important？’heinquired，atlastattractedbyhermanner;forhebegantoperceive，inspiteofhisprepossession，thatshehadreallysomethingonhermind。
’Itisasimportantaspersonaltroublesusuallyare。’
NotwithstandingherpreconceivednotionofcomingtoSwithinasemployertodependant，aschatelainetopage，shewasfallingintoconfidentialintercoursewithhim。Hisvastandromanticendeavourslenthimapersonalforceandcharmwhichshecouldnotbutapprehend。Inthepresenceoftheimmensitiesthathisyoungmindhad，asitwere，broughtdownfromabovetohers，theybecameunconsciouslyequal。Therewas，moreover，aninbornlikinginLadyConstantinetodwelllessonherpermanentpositionasacountyladythanonherpassingemotionsasawoman。
’IwillpostponethematterIcametochargeyouwith，’sheresumed，smiling。’Imustreconsiderit。NowIwillreturn。’
’Allowmetoshowyououtthroughthetreesandacrossthefields？’
Shesaidneitheradistinctyesnorno;and，descendingthetower，theythreadedthefirsandcrossedtheploughedfield。Byanoddcoincidenceheremarked，whentheydrewneartheGreatHouse——
’Youmaypossiblybeinterestedinknowing，LadyConstantine，thatthatmedium—sizedstaryouseeoverthere，lowdowninthesouth，ispreciselyoverSirBlountConstantine’sheadinthemiddleofAfrica。’
’Howverystrangethatyoushouldhavesaidso！’sheanswered。’YouhavebroachedformetheverysubjectIhadcometospeakof。’
’Onadomesticmatter？’hesaid，withsurprise。
’Yes。Whatasmallmatteritseemsnow，afterourastronomicalstupendousness！andyetonmywaytoyouitsofartranscendedtheordinarymattersofmylifeasthesubjectyouhaveledmeuptotranscendsthis。But，’withalittlelaugh，’Iwillendeavourtosinkdowntosuchephemeraltrivialitiesashumantragedy，andexplain，sinceIhavecome。Thepointis，Iwantahelper:nowomaneverwantedonemore。FordaysIhavewantedatrustyfriendwhocouldgoonasecreterrandforme。Itisnecessarythatmymessengershouldbeeducated，shouldbeintelligent，shouldbesilentasthegrave。Doyougivemeyoursolemnpromiseastothelastpoint，ifIconfideinyou？’
’Mostemphatically，LadyConstantine。’
’Yourrighthanduponthecompact。’
Hegavehishand，andraisedherstohislips。Inadditiontohisrespectforherastheladyofthemanor，therewastheadmirationoftwentyyearsfortwenty—eightornineinsuchrelations。
’Itrustyou，’shesaid。’Now，beyondtheaboveconditions，itwasspeciallynecessarythatmyagentshouldhaveknownSirBlountConstantinewellbysightwhenhewasathome。Fortheerrandisconcerningmyhusband;IammuchdisturbedatwhatIhaveheardabouthim。’
’Iamindeedsorrytoknowit。’
’Thereareonlytwopeopleintheparishwhofulfilalltheconditions，——Mr。Torkingham，andyourself。IsentforMr。
Torkingham，andhecame。Icouldnottellhim。Ifeltatthelastmomentthathewouldn’tdo。IhavecometoyoubecauseIthinkyouwilldo。Thisisit:myhusbandhasledmeandalltheworldtobelievethatheisinAfrica，huntinglions。IhavehadamysteriousletterinformingmethathehasbeenseeninLondon，inverypeculiarcircumstances。ThetruthofthisIwantascertained。
Willyougoonthejourney？’
’Personally，Iwouldgototheendoftheworldforyou，LadyConstantine;but——’
’Nobuts！’
’HowcanIleave？’
’Whynot？’
’Iampreparingaworkonvariablestars。ThereisoneofthesewhichIhaveexceptionallyobservedforseveralmonths，andonthismygreattheoryismainlybased。Ithasbeenhithertocalledirregular;butIhavedetectedaperiodicityinitsso—calledirregularitieswhich，ifproved，wouldaddsomeveryvaluablefactstothoseknownonthissubject，oneofthemostinteresting，perplexing，andsuggestiveinthewholefieldofastronomy。Now，toclinchmytheory，thereshouldbeasuddenvariationthisweek，——oratlatestnextweek，——andIhavetowatcheverynightnottoletitpass。Youseemyreasonfordeclining，LadyConstantine。’
’Youngmenarealwayssoselfish！’shesaid。
’Itmightruinthewholeofmyyear’slabourifIleavenow！’
returnedtheyouth，greatlyhurt。’Couldyounotwaitafortnightlonger？’
’No，——no。Don’tthinkthatIhaveaskedyou，pray。Ihavenowishtoinconvenienceyou。’
’LadyConstantine，don’tbeangrywithme！Willyoudothis，——watchthestarformewhileIamgone？Ifyouarepreparedtodoiteffectually，Iwillgo。’
’Willitbemuchtrouble？’
’Itwillbesometrouble。Youwouldhavetocomehereeverycleareveningaboutnine。Iftheskywerenotclear，thenyouwouldhavetocomeatfourinthemorning，shouldthecloudshavedispersed。’
’Couldnotthetelescopebebroughttomyhouse？’
Swithinshookhishead。
’Perhapsyoudidnotobserveitsrealsize，——thatitwasfixedtoaframe—work？Icouldnotaffordtobuyanequatorial，andIhavebeenobligedtorigupanapparatusofmyowndevising，soastomakeitinsomemeasureanswerthepurposeofanequatorial。ItCOULDbemoved，butIwouldrathernottouchit。’
’Well，I’llgotothetelescope，’shewenton，withanemphasisthatwasnotwhollyplayful。’YouarethemostungallantyouthIevermetwith;butIsupposeImustsetthatdowntoscience。Yes，I’llgotothetoweratnineeverynight。’
’Andalone？Ishouldprefertokeepmypursuitsthereunknown。’
’Andalone，’sheanswered，quiteoverbornebyhisinflexibility。
’Youwillnotmissthemorningobservation，ifitshouldbenecessary？’
’Ihavegivenmyword。’
’AndIgivemine。IsupposeIoughtnottohavebeensoexacting！’
Hespokewiththatsuddenemotionalsenseofhisowninsignificancewhichmadethesealternationsofmoodpossible。’Iwillgoanywhere——doanythingforyou——thismoment——to—morroworatanytime。Butyoumustreturnwithmetothetower，andletmeshowyoutheobservingprocess。’
Theyretracedtheirsteps，thetenderhoar—frosttakingtheimprintoftheirfeet，whiletwostarsintheTwinslookeddownupontheirtwopersonsthroughthetrees，asifthosetwopersonscouldbearsomesortofcomparisonwiththem。Onthetowertheinstructionsweregiven。Whenallwasover，andhewasagainconductinghertotheGreatHouseshesaid——
’Whencanyoustart？’
’Now，’saidSwithin。
’Somuchthebetter。Youshallgoupbythenightmail。’
V
Onthethirdmorningaftertheyoungman’sdepartureLadyConstantineopenedthepost—baganxiously。Thoughshehadrisenbeforefouro’clock，andcrossedtothetowerthroughthegrayhalf—
lightwheneverybladeandtwigwerefurredwithrime，shefeltnolanguor。Expectationcouldbanishatcock—crowtheeye—heavinesswhichapathyhadbeenunabletodisperseallthedaylong。
Therewas，asshehadhoped，aletterfromSwithinSt。Cleeve。
’DEARLADYCONSTANTINE，——Ihavequitesucceededinmymission，andshallreturnto—morrowat10p。m。Ihopeyouhavenotfailedintheobservations。Watchingthestarthroughanopera—glassSundaynight，Ifanciedsomechangehadtakenplace，butIcouldnotmakemyselfsure。YourmemorandaforthatnightIawaitwithimpatience。
Pleasedon’tneglecttowritedownATTHEMOMENT，allremarkableappearancesbothastocolourandintensity;andbeveryexactastotime，whichcorrectinthewayIshowedyou。——Iam，dearLadyConstantine，yoursmostfaithfully，SWITHINST。
CLEEVE。’
Notanotherwordintheletterabouthiserrand;hismindranonnothingbutthisastronomicalsubject。Hehadsucceededinhismission，andyethedidnotevensayyesornotothegreatquestion，——whetherornotherhusbandwasmasqueradinginLondonattheaddressshehadgiven。
’Waseveranythingsoprovoking！’shecried。
However，thetimewasnotlongtowait。Hiswayhomewardwouldliewithinastone’s—throwofthemanor—house，andthoughforcertainreasonsshehadforbiddenhimtocallatthelatehourofhisarrival，shecouldeasilyintercepthimintheavenue。Attwentyminutespasttenshewentoutintothedrive，andstoodinthedark。
Sevenminuteslatersheheardhisfootstep，andsawhisoutlineintheslitoflightbetweentheavenue—trees。Hehadavaliseinonehand，agreat—coatonhisarm，andunderhisarmaparcelwhichseemedtobeveryprecious，fromthemannerinwhichheheldit。
’LadyConstantine？’heaskedsoftly。
’Yes，’shesaid，inherexcitementholdingoutbothherhands，thoughhehadplainlynotexpectedhertoofferone。
’Didyouwatchthestar？’
’I’lltellyoueverythingindetail;but，pray，yourerrandfirst！’
’Yes，it’sallright。Didyouwatcheverynight，notmissingone？’
’Iforgottogo——twice，’shemurmuredcontritely。
’Oh，LadyConstantine！’hecriedindismay。’Howcouldyouservemeso！whatshallIdo？’
’Pleaseforgiveme！Indeed，Icouldnothelpit。Ihadwatchedandwatched，andnothinghappened;andsomehowmyvigilancerelaxedwhenIfoundnothingwaslikelytotakeplaceinthestar。’
’Buttheverycircumstanceofitnothavinghappened，madeitallthemorelikelyeveryday。’
’Haveyou——seen——’shebeganimploringly。
Swithinsighed，loweredhisthoughtstosublunarythings，andtoldbrieflythestoryofhisjourney。SirBlountConstantinewasnotinLondonattheaddresswhichhadbeenanonymouslysenther。Itwasamistakeofidentity。ThepersonwhohadbeenseenthereSwithinhadsoughtout。HeresembledSirBlountstrongly;buthewasastranger。
’HowcanIrewardyou！’sheexclaimed，whenhehaddone。
’InnowaybutbygivingmeyourgoodwishesinwhatIamgoingtotellyouonmyownaccount。’Hespokeintonesofmysteriousexultation。’Thisparcelisgoingtomakemyfame！’
’Whatisit？’
’Ahugeobject—glassforthegreattelescopeIamsobusyabout！
Suchamagnificentaidtosciencehasneverenteredthiscountybefore，youmaydepend。’
Heproducedfromunderhisarmthecarefullycuddled—uppackage，whichwasinshapearoundflatdisk，likeadinner—plate，tiedinpaper。
Proceedingtoexplainhisplanstohermorefully，hewalkedwithhertowardsthedoorbywhichshehademerged。Itwasalittlesidewicketthroughawalldividingtheopenparkfromthegardenterraces。Hereforamomentheplacedhisvaliseandparcelonthecopingofthestonebalustrade，tillhehadbiddenherfarewell。
Thenheturned，andinlayingholdofhisbagbythedimlightpushedtheparcelovertheparapet。Itfellsmashuponthepavedwalktenoradozenfeetbeneath。
’Oh，goodheavens！’hecriedinanguish。
’What？’
’Myobject—glassbroken！’
’Isitofmuchvalue？’
’ItcostallIpossess！’
Heranroundbythestepstothelowerlawn，LadyConstantinefollowing，ashecontinued，’Itisamagnificenteight—inchfirstqualityobjectlens！ItookadvantageofmyjourneytoLondontogetit！Ihavebeensixweeksmakingthetubeofmilledboard;andasIhadnotenoughmoneybytwelvepoundsforthelens，Iborroweditofmygrandmotheroutofherlastannuitypayment。Whatcanbe，canbedone！’
’Perhapsitisnotbroken。’
Hefeltontheground，foundtheparcel，andshookit。Aclickingnoiseissuedfrominside。Swithinsmotehisforeheadwithhishand，andwalkedupanddownlikeamadfellow。
’Mytelescope！Ihavewaitedninemonthsforthislens。Nowthepossibilityofsettingupareallypowerfulinstrumentisover！Itistoocruel——howcouldithappen！……LadyConstantine，Iamashamedofmyself，——beforeyou。Oh，but，LadyConstantine，ifyouonlyknewwhatitistoapersonengagedinsciencetohavethemeansofclinchingatheorysnatchedawayatthelastmoment！ItisIagainsttheworld;andwhentheworldhasaccidentsonitssideinadditiontoitsnaturalstrength，whatchanceforme！’
Theyoungastronomerleantagainstthewall，andwassilent。HismiserywasofanintensityandkindwiththatofPalissy，inthesestruggleswithanadversefate。
’Don’tmindit，——praydon’t！’saidLadyConstantine。’Itisdreadfullyunfortunate！Youhavemywholesympathy。Canitbemended？’
’Mended，——no，no！’
’Cannotyoudowithyourpresentonealittlelonger？’
’Itisaltogetherinferior，cheap，andbad！’
’I’llgetyouanother，——yes，indeed，Iwill！Allowmetogetyouanotherassoonaspossible。I’lldoanythingtoassistyououtofyourtrouble;forIammostanxioustoseeyoufamous。Iknowyouwillbeagreatastronomer，inspiteofthismishap！Come，sayI
maygetanewone。’
Swithintookherhand。Hecouldnottrusthimselftospeak。
SomedayslateralittleboxofpeculiarkindcametotheGreatHouse。ItwasaddressedtoLadyConstantine，’withgreatcare。’
Shehaditpartlyopenedandtakentoherownlittlewriting—room;
andafterlunch，whenshehaddressedforwalking，shetookfromtheboxapaperparcelliketheonewhichhadmetwiththeaccident。
Thisshehidunderhermantle，asifshehadstolenit;and，goingoutslowlyacrossthelawn，passedthroughthelittledoorbeforespokenof，andwassoonhasteninginthedirectionoftheRings—Hillcolumn。
Therewasabrightsunoverheadonthatafternoonofearlyspring，anditsraysshedanunusualwarmthonsouth—westaspects，thoughshadyplacesstillretainedthelookandfeelofwinter。Rookswerealreadybeginningtobuildnewnestsortomendupoldones，andclamorouslycalledinneighbourstogiveopinionsondifficultiesintheirarchitecture。LadyConstantineswervedoncefromherpath，asifshehaddecidedtogotothehomesteadwhereSwithinlived;butonsecondthoughtsshebentherstepstothecolumn。
Drawingnearitshelookedup;butbyreasonoftheheightoftheparapetnobodycouldbeseenthereonwhodidnotstandontiptoe。
Shethought，however，thatheryoungfriendmightpossiblyseeher，ifhewerethere，andcomedown;andthathewasthereshesoonascertainedbyfindingthedoorunlocked，andthekeyinside。Nomovement，however，reachedherearsfromabove，andshebegantoascend。
Meanwhileaffairsatthetopofthecolumnhadprogressedasfollows。Theafternoonbeingexceptionallyfine，Swithinhadascendedabouttwoo’clock，and，seatinghimselfatthelittletablewhichhehadconstructedonthespot，hebeganreadingoverhisnotesandexaminingsomeastronomicaljournalsthathadreachedhiminthemorning。Thesunblazedintothehollowroof—spaceasintoatub，andthesideskeptouteverybreeze。ThoughthemonthwasFebruarybelowitwasMayintheabacusofthecolumn。Thisstateoftheatmosphere，andthefactthatonthepreviousnighthehadpursuedhisobservationstillpasttwoo’clock，producedinhimattheendofhalfanhouranoverpoweringinclinationtosleep。
Spreadingonthelead—workathickrugwhichhekeptupthere，heflunghimselfdownagainsttheparapet，andwassooninastateofunconsciousness。
Itwasabouttenminutesafterwardsthatasoftrustleofsilkenclothescameupthespiralstaircase，and，hesitatingonwards，reachedtheorifice，whereappearedtheformofLadyConstantine。
Shedidnotatfirstperceivethathewaspresent，andstoodstilltoreconnoitre。Hereyeglancedoverhistelescope，nowwrappedup，histableandpapers，hisobserving—chair，andhiscontrivancesformakingthebestofadeficiencyofinstruments。Allwaswarm，sunny，andsilent，exceptthatasolitarybee，whichhadsomehowgotwithinthehollowoftheabacus，wassingingroundinquiringly，unabletodiscernthatascentwastheonlymodeofescape。Inanothermomentshebeheldtheastronomer，lyinginthesunlikeasailorinthemain—top。
LadyConstantinecoughedslightly;hedidnotawake。Shethenentered，and，drawingtheparcelfrombeneathhercloak，placeditonthetable。Afterthisshewaited，lookingforalongtimeathissleepingface，whichhadaveryinterestingappearance。Sheseemedreluctanttoleave，yetwantedresolutiontowakehim;and，pencillinghisnameontheparcel，shewithdrewtothestaircase，wherethebrushingofherdressdecreasedtosilenceassherecededroundandroundonherwaytothebase。
Swithinstillslepton，andpresentlytherustlebeganagaininthefar—downinteriorofthecolumn。Thedoorcouldbeheardclosing，andtherustlecamenearer，showingthatshehadshutherselfin，——
nodoubttolessentheriskofanaccidentalsurprisebyanyroamingvillager。WhenLadyConstantinereappearedatthetop，andsawtheparcelstilluntouchedandSwithinasleepasbefore，sheexhibitedsomedisappointment;butshedidnotretreat。
Lookingagainathim，hereyesbecamesosentimentallyfixedonhisfacethatitseemedasifshecouldnotwithdrawthem。Therelay，intheshapeofanAntinous，noamoroso，nogallant，butaguilelessphilosopher。Hispartedlipswerelipswhichspoke，notoflove，butofmillionsofmiles;thosewereeyeswhichhabituallygazed，notintothedepthsofothereyes，butintootherworlds。Withinhistemplesdweltthoughts，notofwoman’slooks，butofstellaraspectsandtheconfigurationofconstellations。
Thus，tohisphysicalattractivenesswasaddedtheattractivenessofmentalinaccessibility。Theennoblinginfluenceofscientificpursuitswasdemonstratedbythespeculativepuritywhichexpresseditselfinhiseyeswheneverhelookedatherinspeaking，andinthechildlikefaultsofmannerwhicharosefromhisobtusenesstotheirdifferenceofsex。Hehadnever，sincebecomingaman，lookedevensolowastothelevelofaLadyConstantine。Hisheavenatpresentwastrulyintheskies，andnotinthatonlyotherplacewheretheysayitcanbefound，intheeyesofsomedaughterofEve。WouldanyCirceorCalypso——andifso，whatone？——evercheckthispale—hairedscientist’snocturnalsailingsintotheinterminablespacesoverhead，andhurlallhismightycalculationsoncosmicforceandstellarfireintoLimbo？Oh，thepityofit，ifsuchshouldbethecase！