’Shouldwelive……justasweare，exactly，……supposingI
agreed？’shefaintlyinquired。
’Yes，thatismyidea。’
’Quiteprivately，yousay。Howcould——themarriagebequiteprivate？’
’IwouldgoawaytoLondonandgetalicense。Thenyoucouldcometome，andreturnagainimmediatelyaftertheceremony。Icouldreturnatleisureandnotasoulintheworldwouldknowwhathadtakenplace。Think，dearest，withwhatafreeconscienceyoucouldthenassistmeinmyeffortstoplumbthesedeepsaboveus！Anyfeelingthatyoumaynowhaveagainstclandestinemeetingsassuchwouldthenberemoved，andourheartswouldbeatrest。’
Therewasacertainscientificpracticabilityeveninhislove—
making，anditherecameoutexcellently。Butshesatonwithsuspendedbreath，herheartwildlybeating，whilehewaitedinopen—
mouthedexpectation。Eachwasswayedbytheemotionwithinthem，muchasthecandle—flamewasswayedbythetempestwithout。Itwasthemostcriticaleveningoftheirlives。
Thepaleraysofthelittlelanternfelluponherbeautifulface，snuglyandneatlyboundinbyherblackbonnet;butnotabeamofthelanternleakedoutintothenighttosuggesttoanywatchfuleyethathumanlifeatitshighestexcitementwasbeatingwithinthedarkandisolatedtower;forthedomehadnowindows，andeveryshutterthataffordedanopeningforthetelescopewashermeticallyclosed。Predilectionsandmisgivingssoequallystrovewithinherstillyouthfulbreastthatshecouldnotutteraword;herintentionwheeledthiswayandthatlikethebalanceofawatch。Hisunexpectedpropositionhadbroughtaboutthesmartestencounterofinclinationwithprudence，ofimpulsewithreserve，thatshehadeverknown。
Ofallthereasonsthatshehadexpectedhimtogiveforhisurgentrequesttoseeherthisevening，anofferofmarriagewasprobablythelast。Whetherornotshehadeveramusedherselfwithhypotheticalfanciesonsuchasubject，——anditwasonlynaturalthatsheshouldvaguelyhavedoneso，——thecourageinherprotegecoollytoadvanceit，withoutahintfromherselfthatsuchaproposalwouldbetolerated，showedherthattherewasmoreinhischaracterthanshehadreckonedon:andthediscoveryalmostfrightenedher。Thehumour，attitude，andtenorofherattachmenthadbeenofquiteanunpremeditatedquality，unsuggestiveofanysuchaudacioussolutiontotheirdistressesasthis。
’Irepeatmyquestion，dearest，’hesaid，afterherlongpause。
’Shallitbedone？OrshallIexilemyself，andstudyasbestI
can，insomedistantcountry，outofsightandsound？’
’Arethosetheonlyalternatives？Yes，yes;Isupposetheyare！’
Shewaitedyetanothermoment，bentoverhiskneelingfigure，andkissedhisforehead。’Yes;itshallbedone，’shewhispered。’I
willmarryyou。’
’Myangel，Iamcontent！’
Hedrewheryieldingformtohisheart，andherheadsankuponhisshoulder，ashepressedhistwolipscontinuouslyuponhers。Tosuchhadthestudyofcelestialphysicsbroughttheminthespaceofeightmonths，oneweek，andafewodddays。
’Iamweakerthanyou，——fartheweaker，’shewenton，hertearsfalling。’RatherthanloseyououtofmysightIwillmarrywithoutstipulationorcondition。But——Iputittoyourkindness——grantmeonelittlerequest。’
Heinstantlyassented。
’Itisthat，inconsiderationofmypeculiarpositioninthiscounty，——O，youcan’tunderstandit！——youwillnotputanendtotheabsolutesecrecyofourrelationshipwithoutmyfullassent。Also，thatyouwillnevercometoWellandHousewithoutfirstdiscussingwithmetheadvisabilityofthevisit，acceptingmyopiniononthepoint。There，seehowatimidwomantriestofenceherselfin！’
’Mydearlady—love，neitherofthosetwohigh—handedcoursesshouldIhavetaken，evenhadyounotstipulatedagainstthem。Theveryessenceofourmarriageplanisthatthosetwoconditionsarekept。
Iseeaswellasyoudo，evenmorethanyoudo，howimportantitisthatforthepresent，——ay，foralongtimehence——Ishouldstillbebutthecurate’slonelyson，unattachedtoanybodyoranything，withnoobjectofinterestbuthisscience;andyoutherecluseladyofthemanor，towhomheisonlyanacquaintance。’
’Seewhatdeceitslovesowsinhonestminds！’
’ItwouldbeahumiliationtoyouatpresentthatIcouldnotbearifamarriagebetweenusweremadepublic;aninconveniencewithoutanycompensatingadvantage。’
’Iamsogladyouassumeitwithoutmysettingitbeforeyou！NowI
knowyouarenotonlygoodandtrue，butpoliticandtrustworthy。’
’Well，then，hereisourcovenant。Myladyswearstomarryme;I，inreturnforsuchgreatcourtesy，swearnevertocompromiseherbyintrudingatWellandHouse，andtokeepthemarriageconcealedtillIhavewonapositionworthyofher。’
’OrtillIrequestittobemadeknown，’sheadded，possiblyforeseeingacontingencywhichhadnotoccurredtohim。
’Ortillyourequestit，’herepeated。
’Itisagreed，’murmuredLadyConstantine，XVI
Afterthisthereonlyremainedtobesettledbetweenthemthepracticaldetailsoftheproject。
Thesewerethatheshouldleavehomeinacoupleofdays，andtakelodgingseitherinthedistantcityofBathorinaconvenientsuburbofLondon，tillasufficienttimeshouldhaveelapsedtosatisfylegalrequirements;thatonafinemorningattheendofthistimesheshouldhieawaytothesameplace，andbemetatthestationbySt。Cleeve，armedwiththemarriagelicense;whencetheyshouldatonceproceedtothechurchfixeduponfortheceremony;
returninghomeindependentlyinthecourseofthenexttwoorthreedays。
Whilethesetacticswereunderdiscussionthetwo—and—thirtywindsofheavencontinued，asbefore，tobeataboutthetower，thoughtheironsetsappearedtobesomewhatlesseninginforce。Himselfnowcalmedandsatisfied，Swithin，asisthewontofhumanity，tookserenerviewsofNature’scrushingmechanicswithout，andsaid，’Thewinddoesn’tseemdisposedtoputthetragicperiodtoourhopesandfearsthatIspokeofinmymomentarydespair。’
’Thedispositionofthewindisasviciousasever，’sheanswered，lookingintohisfacewithpausingthoughtson，perhaps，othersubjectsthanthatdiscussed。’Itisyourmoodofviewingitthathaschanged。\"Thereisnothingeithergoodorbad，butthinkingmakesitso。\"’
And，asifflatlytostultifySwithin’sassumption，acircularhurricane，exceedinginviolenceanythathadprecededit，seizedholduponRings—HillSpeeratthatmomentwiththedeterminationofaconsciousagent。Thefirstsensationofaresultingcatastrophewasconveyedtotheirintelligencebytheflappingofthecandle—
flameagainstthelantern—glass;thenthewind，whichhithertotheyhadheardratherthanfelt，rubbedpastthemlikeafugitive。
Swithinbeheldaroundandabovehim，inplaceoftheconcavityofthedome，theopenheaven，withitsracingclouds，remotehorizon，andintermittentgleamofstars。Thedomethathadcoveredthetowerhadbeenwhirledoffbodily;andtheyhearditdescendcrashinguponthetrees。
FindinghimselfuntouchedSwithinstretchedouthisarmstowardsLadyConstantine，whoseapparelhadbeenseizedbythespinningair，nearlyliftingheroffherlegs。She，too，wasasyetunharmed。
Eachheldtheotherforamoment，when，fearingthatsomethingfurtherwouldhappen，theytookshelterinthestaircase。
’Dearest，whatanescape！’hesaid，stillholdingher。
’Whatistheaccident？’sheasked。’Hasthewholetopreallygone？’
’Thedomehasbeenblownofftheroof。’
Assoonasitwaspracticableherelittheextinguishedlantern，andtheyemergedagainupontheleads，wheretheextentofthedisasterbecameatonceapparent。Savingtheabsenceoftheenclosinghemisphereallremainedthesame。Thedome，beingconstructedofwood，waslightbycomparisonwiththerestofthestructure，andthewheelswhichallowedithorizontal，or，asSwithinexpressedit，azimuthmotion，denieditafirmholduponthewalls;sothatithadbeenliftedoffthemlikeacoverfromapot。Theequatorialstoodinthemidstasithadstoodbefore。
Havingexecuteditsgrotesquepurposethewindsanktocomparativemildness。Swithintookadvantageofthislullbycoveringuptheinstrumentswithcloths，afterwhichthebetrothedcouplepreparedtogodownstairs。
Buttheeventsofthenighthadnotyetfullydisclosedthemselves。
Atthismomenttherewasasoundoffootstepsandaknockingatthedoorbelow。
’Itcan’tbeforme！’saidLadyConstantine。’Iretiredtomyroombeforeleavingthehouse，andtoldthemonnoaccounttodisturbme。’
SheremainedatthetopwhileSwithinwentdownthespiral。InthegloomhebeheldHannah。
’OMasterSwithin，canyecomehome！Thewindhavebloweddownthechimleythatdon’tsmoke，andthepinning—endwithit;andtheoldancienthouse，thathavebeeninyourfamilysolongasthememoryofman，isnakedtotheworld！Itisamercythatyourgrammerwerenotkilled，sittingbythehearth，pooroldsoul，andsoontowalkwi’God，——for’a’sgettingwamblingonherpins，Mr。Swithin，asagedfolksdo。AsIsay，’awasallbutmurderedbytheelements，anddoingnomoreharmthanthebabesinthewood，norspeakingoneharmfulword。AndthefireandsmokewereblowedallacrosshouselikeachapterinRevelation;andyourpoorreverentfather’sfeaturesscorchedtoflakes，lookinglikethevilestruffian，andthegiltframespoiled！Everyflitch，everyeye—piece，andeverychineisburiedunderthewalling;andIfedthempigswithmyownhands，MasterSwithin，littlethinkingtheywouldcometothisend。
Doyecollectyourself，Mr。Swithin，andcomeatonce！’
’Iwill，——Iwill。I’llfollowyouinamoment。Doyouhastenbackagainandassist。’
WhenHannahhaddepartedtheyoungmanranuptoLadyConstantine，towhomheexplainedtheaccident。AftersympathizingwitholdMrs。
MartinLadyConstantineadded，’Ithoughtsomethingwouldoccurtomarourscheme！’
’Iamnotquitesureofthatyet。’
Onashortconsiderationwithhim，sheagreedtowaitatthetopofthetowertillhecouldcomebackandinformheriftheaccidentwerereallysoseriousastointerferewithhisplanfordeparture。
Hethenlefther，andthereshesatinthedark，alone，lookingovertheparapet，andstraininghereyesinthedirectionofthehomestead。
Atfirstallwasobscurity;butwhenhehadbeengoneabouttenminuteslightsbegantomovetoandfrointhehollowwherethehousestood，andshoutsoccasionallymingledwiththewind，whichretainedsomeviolenceyet，playingoverthetreesbeneathherasonthestringsofalyre。Butnotaboughofthemwasvisible，acloakofblacknesscoveringeverythingnetherward;whileoverheadthewindyskylookeddownwithastrangeanddisguisedface，thethreeorfourstarsthatalonewerevisiblebeingsodissociatedbycloudsthatsheknewnotwhichtheywere。UnderanyothercircumstancesLadyConstantinemighthavefeltanamelessfearinthussittingaloftonalonelycolumn，withaforestgroaningunderherfeet，andpalaeolithicdeadmenfeedingitsroots;buttherecentpassionatedecisionstirredherpulsestoanintensitybesidewhichtheordinarytremorsoffeminineexistenceassertedthemselvesinvain。
Theapocalypticeffectofthescenesurroundingherwas，indeed，notinharmonious，andaffordedanappropriatebackgroundtoherintentions。
Afterwhatseemedtoheraninterminablespaceoftime，quickstepsinthestaircasebecameaudibleabovetheroarofthefirs，andinafewinstantsSt。Cleeveagainstoodbesideher。
Thecaseofthehomesteadwasserious。Hannah’saccounthadnotbeenexaggeratedinsubstance:thegableendofthehousewasopentothegarden;thejoists，leftwithoutsupport，haddropped，andwiththemtheupperfloor。Bythehelpofsomelabourers，wholivednear，andLadyConstantine’smanAnthony，whowaspassingatthetime，thehomesteadhadbeenproppedup，andprotectedforthenightbysomerickcloths;butSwithinfeltthatitwouldbeselfishinthehighestdegreetoleavetwolonelyoldwomentothemselvesatthisjuncture。’Inshort，’heconcludeddespondently，’IcannotgotostayinBathorLondonjustnow;perhapsnotforanotherfortnight！’
’Nevermind，’shesaid。’Afortnighthencewilldoaswell。’
’AndIhavetheseforyou，’hecontinued。’YourmanGreenwaspassingmygrandmother’sonhiswaybackfromWarborne，wherehehadbeen，hesays，foranylettersthathadcomeforyoubytheeveningpost。AshestayedtoassisttheothermenItoldhimIwouldgoontoyourhousewiththelettershehadbrought。OfcourseIdidnottellhimIshouldseeyouhere。’
’Thankyou。Ofcoursenot。NowI’llreturnatonce。’
Indescendingthecolumnhereyefelluponthesuperscriptionofoneoftheletters，andsheopenedandglancedoveritbythelanternlight。Sheseemedstartled，and，musing，said，’Thepostponementofour——intentionmustbe，Ifear，foralongtime。IfindthataftertheendofthismonthIcannotleavehomesafely，evenforaday。’
Perceivingthathewasabouttoaskwhy，sheadded，’Iwillnottroubleyouwiththereasonnow;itwouldonlyharassyou。Itisonlyafamilybusiness，andcannotbehelped。’
’Thenwecannotbemarriedtill——Godknowswhen！’saidSwithinblankly。’Icannotleavehometillafterthenextweekortwo;youcannotleavehomeunlesswithinthattime。Sowhatarewetodo？’
’Idonotknow。’
’Mydear，dearone，don’tletusbebeatenlikethis！Don’tletawell—consideredplanbeoverthrownbyamereaccident！Here’saremedy。DoYOUgoandstaytherequisitetimeintheparishwearetobemarriedin，insteadofme。WhenmygrandmotherisagainwellhousedIcancometoyou，insteadofyoutome，aswefirstsaid。
Thenitcanbedonewithinthetime。’
Reluctantly，shyly，andyetwithacertaingladnessofheart，shegavewaytohisproposalthattheyshouldchangeplacesintheprogramme。Therewasmuchthatshedidnotlikeinit，shesaid。
Itseemedtoherasifsheweretakingtheinitiativebygoingandattendingtothepreliminaries。Itwastheman’sparttodothat，inheropinion，andwasusuallyundertakenbyhim。
’But，’arguedSwithin，’therearecasesinwhichthewomandoesgivethenotices，andsoon;thatistosay，whenthemanisabsolutelyhinderedfromdoingso;andoursissuchacase。Theseemingisnothing;Iknowthetruth，andwhatdoesitmatter？Youdonotrefuse——retractyourwordtobemywife，because，toavoidasickeningdelay，theformalitiesrequireyoutoattendtotheminplaceofme？’
Shedidnotrefuse，shesaid。Inshortsheagreedtohisentreaty。
Theyhad，intruth，gonesofarintheirdreamofunionthattherewasnodrawingbacknow。Whicheverofthemwasforcedbycircumstancestobetheprotagonistintheenterprise，thethingmustbedone。Theirintentiontobecomehusbandandwife，atfirsthaltingandtimorous，hadaccumulatedmomentumwiththelapseofhours，tillitnowboredowneveryobstacleinitscourse。
’Sinceyoubegmeto，——sincethereisnoalternativebetweenmygoingandalongpostponement，’shesaid，astheystoodinthedarkporchofWellandHousebeforeparting，——’sinceIamtogofirst，andseemtobethepioneerinthisadventure，promiseme，Swithin，promiseyourViviette，thatinyearstocome，whenperhapsyoumaynotlovemesowarmlyasyoudonow——’
’Thatwillneverbe。’
’Well，hopingitwillnot，butsupposingitshould，promisemethatyouwillneverreproachmeastheonewhotooktheinitiativewhenitshouldhavebeenyourself，forgettingthatitwasatyourrequest;promisethatyouwillneversayIshowedimmodestreadinesstodoso，oranythingwhichmayimplyyourobliviousnessofthefactthatIactinobediencetonecessityandyourearnestprayer。’
Needitbesaidthathepromisednevertoreproachherwiththatoranyotherthingaslongastheyshouldlive？Thefewdetailsofthereversedarrangementweresoonsettled，Bathbeingtheplacefinallydecidedon。Then，withawarmaudacitywhicheventshadencouraged，hepressedhertohisbreast，andshesilentlyenteredthehouse。
Hereturnedtothehomestead，theretoattendtotheunexpecteddutiesofrepairingthehavocwroughtbythegale。
Thatnight，inthesolitudeofherchamber，LadyConstantinereopenedandreadthesubjoinedletter——oneofthosehandedtoherbySt。Cleeve:——
\"—————STREET，PICCADILLY，October15，18——。
’DEARVIVIETTE，——YouwillbesurprisedtolearnthatIaminEngland，andthatIamagainoutofharness——unlessyoushouldhaveseenthelatterinthepapers。RioJaneiromaydoformonkeys，butitwon’tdoforme。HavingresignedtheappointmentIhavereturnedhere，asapreliminarysteptofindinganotherventformyenergies;
inotherwords，anothermilchcowformysustenance。Iknewnothingwhateverofyourhusband’sdeathtilltwodaysago;sothatanyletterfromyouonthesubject，atthetimeitbecameknown，musthavemiscarried。Hypocrisyatsuchamomentisworsethanuseless，andIthereforedonotcondolewithyou，particularlyastheevent，thoughnewtoabanishedmanlikeme，occurredsolongsince。Youarebetterwithouthim，Viviette，andarenowjustthelimbfordoingsomethingforyourself，notwithstandingthethreadbarestateinwhichyouseemtohavebeencastupontheworld。Youarestillyoung，and，asIimagine（unlessyouhavevastlyalteredsinceI
beheldyou），good—looking:thereforemakeupyourmindtoretrieveyourpositionbyamatchwithoneofthelocalcelebrities;andyouwoulddowelltobegindrawingneighbouringcoversatonce。A
genialsquire，withmoreweightthanwit，morerealtythanweight，andmorepersonaltythanrealty（consideringthecircumstances），wouldbebestforyou。Youmightmakeapositionforusbothbysomesuchalliance;for，totellthetruth，Ihavehadbutin—and—
outlucksofar。Ishallbewithyouinlittlemorethanafortnight，whenwewilltalkoverthematterseriously，ifyoudon’tobject。——Youraffectionatebrother，LOUIS。’
Itwasthisallusiontoherbrother’scomingvisitwhichhadcaughthereyeinthetowerstaircase，andledtoamodificationintheweddingarrangement。
HavingreadtheletterthroughonceLadyConstantineflungitasidewithanimpatientlittlestampthatshookthedecayingoldfloorandcasement。Itscontentsproducedperturbation，misgiving，butnotretreat。Thedeepglowofenchantmentshedbytheideaofaprivateunionwithherbeautifulyoungloverkilledthepalelightofcoldreasoningfromanindifferentlygoodrelative。
’Oh，no，’shemurmured，asshesat，coveringherfacewithherhand。
’NotforwealthuntoldcouldIgivehimupnow！’
Noargument，shortofApolloinpersonfromtheclouds，wouldhaveinfluencedher。Shemadeherpreparationsfordepartureasifnothinghadintervened。
XVII
InherdaysofprosperityLadyConstantinehadoftengonetothecityofBath，eitherfrivolously，forshoppingpurposes，ormusico—
religiously，toattendchoirfestivalsintheabbey;sotherewasnothingsurprisinginherrevertingtoanoldpractice。Thatthejourneymightappeartobeofasomewhatsimilarnatureshetookwithhertheservantwhohadbeenaccustomedtoaccompanyheronformeroccasions，thoughthewoman，havingnowleftherservice，andsettledinthevillageasthewifeofAnthonyGreen，withayoungchildonherhands，couldwithsomedifficultyleavehome。LadyConstantineovercametheanxiousmother’sscruplesbyprovidingthatyoungGreenshouldbewellcaredfor;andknowingthatshecouldcountuponthiswoman’sfidelity，ifuponanybody’s，incaseofanaccident（foritwaschieflyLadyConstantine’sexertionsthathadmadeanhonestwifeofMrs。Green），shedepartedforafortnight’sabsence。
Thenextdayfoundmistressandmaidsettledinlodgingsinanoldplum—colouredbrickstreet，whichahundredyearsagocouldboastofrankandfashionamongitsresidents，thoughnowthebroadfan—lightovereachbroaddooradmittedthesuntothehallsofalodging—
housekeeperonly。Thelamp—postswerestillthosethathaddonedutywithoillights;andrheumaticoldcoachmenandpostilions，thatoncehaddrivenandriddengloriouslyfromLondontoLand’sEnd，ornamentedwiththeirbentpersonsandbowlegsthepavementinfrontofthechiefinn，inthesorryhopeofearningsixpencetokeepbodyandsoultogether。
’Wearekeptwellinformedonthetimeo’day，mylady，’saidMrs。
Green，asshepulleddowntheblindsinLadyConstantine’sroomontheeveningoftheirarrival。’There’sachurchexactlyatthebackofus，andIheareveryhourstrike。’
LadyConstantinesaidshehadnoticedthattherewasachurchquitenear。
’Well，itisbettertohavethatatthebackthanotherfolks’
winders。Andifyourladyshipwantstogothereitwon’tbefartowalk。’
’That’swhatoccurredtome，’saidLadyConstantine，’IFIshouldwanttogo。’
Duringtheensuingdaysshefelttotheutmostthetediousnessofwaitingmerelythattimemightpass。Notasoulknewherthere，andsheknewnotasoul，acircumstancewhich，whileitaddedtohersenseofsecrecy，intensifiedhersolitude。Occasionallyshewenttoashop，withGreenashercompanion。Thoughtherewerepurchasestobemade，theywerebynomeansofapressingnature，andbutpoorlyfilledupthevacanciesofthosestrange，speculativedays，——
dayssurroundedbyashadeoffear，yetpoetizedbysweetexpectation。
OnthethirteenthdayshetoldGreenthatshewasgoingtotakeawalk，andleavingthehouseshepassedbytheobscureststreetstotheAbbey。Afterwanderingaboutbeneaththeaislestillhercouragewasscrewedtoitshighest，shewentoutattheotherside，and，lookingtimidlyroundtoseeifanybodyfollowed，walkedontillshecametoacertaindoor，whichshereachedjustatthemomentwhenherheartbegantosinktoitsverylowest，renderingallthescrewingupinvain。
WhetheritwasbecausethemonthwasOctober，orfromanyotherreason，thedesertedaspectofthequarteringeneralsatespeciallyonthisbuilding。Moreoverthepavementwasup，andheapsofstoneandgravelobstructedthefootway。Nobodywascoming，nobodywasgoing，inthatthoroughfare;sheappearedtobethesingleoneofthehumanracebentuponmarriagebusiness，whichseemedtohavebeenunanimouslyabandonedbyalltherestoftheworldasprovenfolly。ButshethoughtofSwithin，hisblondehair，ardenteyes，andeloquentlips，andwascarriedonwardbytheveryreflection。
Enteringthesurrogate’sroomLadyConstantinemanaged，atthelastjuncture，tostatehererrandintonessocollectedastostartleevenherselftowhichherlistenerrepliedalsoasifthewholethingwerethemostnaturalintheworld。Whenitcametotheaffirmationthatshehadlivedfifteendaysintheparish，shesaidwithdismay——
’Ono！Ithoughtthefifteendaysmeanttheintervalofresidencebeforethemarriagetakesplace。Ihavelivedhereonlythirteendaysandahalf。NowImustcomeagain！’
’Ah——well——Ithinkyouneednotbesoparticular，’saidthesurrogate。’Asamatteroffact，thoughtheletterofthelawrequiresfifteendays’residence，manypeoplemakefivesufficient。
Theprovisionisinserted，asyoudoubtlessareaware，tohinderrunawaymarriagesasmuchaspossible，andsecretunions，andothersuchobjectionablepractices。Youneednotcomeagain。’
ThateveningLadyConstantinewrotetoSwithinSt。Cleevethelastletterofthefortnight:——
’MYDEAREST，——Docometomeassoonasyoucan。ByasortoffavouringblunderIhavebeenabletoshortenthetimeofwaitingbyaday。Comeatonce，forIamalmostbrokendownwithapprehension。
Itseemsratherrashatmoments，allthis，andIwishyouwereheretoreassureme。IdidnotknowIshouldfeelsoalarmed。Iamfrightenedateveryfootstep，anddreadlestanybodywhoknowsmeshouldaccostme，andfindoutwhyIamhere。IsometimeswonderhowIcouldhaveagreedtocomeandenactyourpart，butIdidnotrealizehowtryingitwouldbe。Yououghtnottohaveaskedme，Swithin;uponmyword，itwastoocruelofyou，andIwillpunishyouforitwhenyoucome！ButIwon’tupbraid。Ihopethehomesteadisrepairedthathascostmeallthissacrificeofmodesty。IfitwereanybodyintheworldbutYOUinquestionI
wouldrushhome，withoutwaitingherefortheendofit，——IreallythinkIwould！But，dearest，no。Imustshowmystrengthnow，orletitbeforeverhid。Thebarriersofceremonyarebrokendownbetweenus，anditisforthebestthatIamhere。’
Andyet，atnopointofthistryingpreludeneedLadyConstantinehavefearedforherstrength。Deedsinthisconnexiondemandtheparticularkindofcouragethatsuchperfervidwomenareendowedwith，thecourageoftheiremotions，inwhichyoungmenareoftenlamentablydeficient。Herfearwas，intruth，thefearofbeingdiscoveredinanunwontedposition;notoftheactitself。Andthoughherletterwasinitswayatrueexpositionofherfeeling，haditbeennecessarytogothroughthewholelegalprocessoveragainshewouldhavebeenfoundequaltotheemergency。
IthadbeenforsomedaysapointofanxietywithherwhattodowithGreenduringthemorningofthewedding。Chanceunexpectedlyhelpedherinthisdifficulty。ThedaybeforethepurchaseofthelicenseGreencametoLadyConstantinewithaletterinherhandfromherhusbandAnthony，herfaceaslongasafiddle。
’Ihopethere’snothingthematter？’saidLadyConstantine。
’Thechild’stookbad，mylady！’saidMrs。Green，withsuspendedfloodsofwaterinhereyes。’IlovethechildbetterthanIshallloveallthemthat’scomingputtogether;forhe’sbeenagoodboytohismothereversincetwelveweeksaforehewasborn！’Twashe，atenderdeary，thatmadeAnthonymarryme，andtherebyturnedhisselffromalittlecalamitytoalittleblessing！For，asyouknow，themanwereabackwardmaninthechurchparto’matrimony，mylady;thoughhe’lldoanythingwhenhe’sforcedabitbyhismanlyfeelings。Andnowtolosethechild——hoo—hoo—hoo！WhatshallIdoo！’
’Well，youwanttogohomeatonce，Isuppose？’
Mrs。Greenexplained，betweenhersobs，thatsuchwasherdesire;
andthoughthiswasadayortwosoonerthanhermistresshadwishedtobeleftalonesheconsentedtoGreen’sdeparture。Soduringtheafternoonherwomanwentoff，withdirectionstoprepareforLadyConstantine’sreturnintwoorthreedays。Butastheexactdayofherreturnwasuncertainnocarriagewastobesenttothestationtomeether，herintentionbeingtohireonefromthehotel。
LadyConstantinewasnowleftinuttersolitudetoawaitherlover’sarrival。
XVIII
AmorebeautifulOctobermorningthanthatofthenextdayneverbeamedintotheWellandvalleys。Theyearlydissolutionofleafagewassettinginapace。Thefoliageoftheparktreesrapidlyresolveditselfintothemultitudeofcomplexionswhichmarkthesubtlegradesofdecay，reflectingwetlightsofsuchinnumerablehuesthatitwasawondertothinktheirbeautiesonlyarepetitionofscenesthathadbeenexhibitedthereonscoresofpreviousOctobers，andhadbeenallowedtopassawaywithoutasingledirgefromtheimperturbablebeingswhowalkedamongthem。Farintheshadowssemi—opaquescreensofbluehazemademysteriesofthecommonestgravel—pit，dingle，orrecess。
ThewoodencabinatthefootofRings—HillSpeerhadbeenfurnishedbySwithinasasittingandsleepingapartment，somelittlewhilebeforethistime;forhehadfoundithighlyconvenient，duringnightobservationsatthetopofthecolumn，toremainonthespotallnight，nottodisturbhisgrandmotherbypassinginandoutofthehouse，andtosavehimselfthelabourofincessantlycrossingthefield。
Hewouldmuchhavelikedtotellherthesecret，and，haditbeenhisowntotell，wouldprobablyhavedoneso;butsharingitwithanobjectorwhoknewnothisgrandmother’saffectionsowellashedidhimself，therewasnoalternativetoholdinghistongue。Themoreeffectuallytoguardithedecidedtosleepatthecabinduringthetwoorthreenightsprevioustohisdeparture，leavingwordatthehomesteadthatinadayortwohewasgoingonanexcursion。