Thehutwassmallastheprophet’schamberprovidedbytheShunammite:inonecornerstoodthestove，withalittletableandchair，asmallcupboardhardby，apitcherofwater，arackoverhead，withvariousarticles，includingakettleandagridiron;
whiletheremainingthreeorfourfeetattheotherendoftheroomwasfittedoutasadormitory，forSwithin’suseduringlateobservationsinthetoweroverhead。
’Itisnotmuchofapalacetoofferyou，’heremarked，smiling。
’Butatanyrate，itisarefuge。’
ThecheerfulfirelightdispersedinsomemeasureLadyConstantine’sanxieties。’Ifweonlyhadsomethingtoeat！’shesaid。
’Dearme，’criedSt。Cleeve，blankly。’That’sathingIneverthoughtof。’
’NorI，tillnow，’shereplied。
Hereflectedwithmisgiving。
’BeyondasmallloafofbreadinthecupboardIhavenothing。
However，justoutsidethedoortherearelotsofthoselittlerabbits，aboutthesizeofrats，thatthekeeperscallrunners。Andtheyareastameaspossible。ButIfearIcouldnotcatchonenow。
Yet，dearViviette，waitaminute;I’lltry。Youmustnotbestarved。’
Hesoftlylethimselfout，andwasgonesometime。Whenhereappeared，heproduced，notarabbit，butfoursparrowsandathrush。
’Icoulddonothinginthewayofarabbitwithoutsettingawire，’
hesaid。’ButIhavemanagedtogetthesebyknowingwheretheyroost。’
Heshowedherhowtopreparethebirds，and，havingsethertoroastthembythefire，departedwiththepitcher，toreplenishitatthebrookwhichflowednearthehomesteadintheneighbouringBottom。
’Theyareallasleepatmygrandmother’s，’heinformedherwhenhere—entered，panting，withthedrippingpitcher。’Theyimaginemetobeahundredmilesoff。’
Thebirdswerenowready，andthetablewasspread。Withthisfare，ekedoutbydrytoastfromtheloaf，andmoistenedwithcupsofwaterfromthepitcher，towhichSwithinaddedalittlewinefromtheflaskhehadcarriedonhisjourney，theywereforcedtobecontentfortheirsupper。
XX
WhenLadyConstantineawokethenextmorningSwithinwasnowheretobeseen。Beforeshewasquitereadyforbreakfastsheheardthekeyturninthedoor，andfeltstartled，tillsherememberedthatthecomercouldhardlybeanybodybuthe。Hebroughtabasketwithprovisions，anextracup—and—saucer，andsoon。Inashortspaceoftimethekettlebegansingingonthestove，andthemorningmealwasready。
Thesweetresinousairfromthefirsblewinuponthemastheysatatbreakfast;thebirdshoppedroundthedoor（which，somewhatriskily，theyventuredtokeepopen）;andattheirelbowrosethelankcolumnintoanupperrealmofsunlight，whichonlyreachedthecabininfitfuldartsandflashesthroughthetrees。
’Icouldbehappyhereforever，’saidshe，claspinghishand。’I
wishIcouldneverseemygreatgloomyhouseagain，sinceIamnotrichenoughtothrowitopen，andlivethereasIoughttodo。
Povertyofthissortisnotunpleasantatanyrate。Whatareyouthinkingof？’
’Iamthinkingaboutmyoutingthismorning。Onreachingmygrandmother’sshewasonlyalittlesurprisedtoseeme。Iwasobligedtobreakfastthere，orappeartodoso，todivertsuspicion;
andthisfoodissupposedtobewantedformydinnerandsupper。
Therewillofcoursebenodifficultyinmyobtaininganamplesupplyforanylengthoftime，asIcantakewhatIlikefromthebutterywithoutobservation。ButasIlookedinmygrandmother’sfacethismorning，andsawherlookingaffectionatelyinmine，andthoughthowshehadneverconcealedanythingfromme，andhadalwayshadmywelfareatheart，Ifelt——thatIshouldliketotellherwhatwehavedone。’
’Ono，——pleasenot，Swithin！’sheexclaimedpiteously。
’Verywell，’heanswered。’OnnoconsiderationwillIdosowithoutyourconsent。’Andnomorewassaidonthematter。
ThemorningwaspassedinapplyingwetragandotherremediestothepurplelineonViviette’scheek;andintheafternoontheysetuptheequatorialunderthereplaceddome，tohaveitinorderfornightobservations。
Theeveningwasclear，dry，andremarkablycoldbycomparisonwiththedaytimeweather。Afterafrugalsuppertheyreplenishedthestovewithcharcoalfromthehomestead，whichtheyalsoburntduringtheday，——anideaofViviette’s，thatthesmokefromawoodfiremightnotbeseenmorefrequentlythanwasconsistentwiththeoccasionaloccupationofthecabinbySwithin，asheretofore。
Ateighto’clocksheinsisteduponhisascendingthetowerforobservations，instrictpursuanceoftheideaonwhichtheirmarriagehadbeenbased，namely，thatofrestoringregularitytohisstudies。
Theskyhadanewandstartlingbeautythatnight。Abroad，fluctuating，semicirculararchofvividwhitelightspannedthenorthernquarteroftheheavens，reachingfromthehorizontothestarEtaintheGreaterBear。ItwastheAuroraBorealis，justrisenupforthewinterseasonoutofthefreezingseasofthenorth，whereeveryautumnvapourwasnowundergoingrapidcongelation。
’O，letussitandlookatit！’shesaid;andtheyturnedtheirbacksupontheequatorialandthesoutherngloriesoftheheavenstothisnewbeautyinaquarterwhichtheyseldomcontemplated。
Thelustreofthefixedstarswasdiminishedtoasortofblueness。
Littlebylittlethearchgrewhigheragainstthedarkvoid，liketheformoftheSpirit—maidenintheshadesofGlenfinlas，tillitscrowndrewnearthezenith，andthrewatissueoverthewholewaggonandhorsesofthegreatnorthernconstellation。Brilliantshaftsradiatedfromtheconvexityofthearch，comingandgoingsilently。
Thetemperaturefell，andLadyConstantinedrewherwrapmorecloselyaroundher。
’We’llgodown，’saidSwithin。’Thecabinisbeautifullywarm。Whyshouldwetrytoobservetonight？Indeed，wecannot;theAuroralightoverpowerseverything。’
’Verywell。To—morrownighttherewillbenointerruption。Ishallbegone。’
’Youleavemeto—morrow，Viviette？’
’Yes;to—morrowmorning。’
Thetruthwasthat，withtheprogressofthehoursanddays，theconvictionhadbeenborneinuponViviettemoreandmoreforciblythatnotforkingdomsandprincipalitiescouldsheaffordtoriskthediscoveryofherpresenceherebyanylivingsoul。
’Butletmeseeyourface，dearest，’hesaid。’Idon’tthinkitwillbesafeforyoutomeetyourbrotheryet。’
Asitwastoodarktoseeherfaceonthesummitwheretheysattheydescendedthewindingstaircase，andinthecabinSwithinexaminedthedamagedcheek。Theline，thoughsofarattenuatedasnottobeobservablebyanyonebutacloseobserver，hadnotquitedisappeared。Butinconsequenceofherreiteratedandalmosttearfulanxietytogo，andastherewasastrongprobabilitythatherbrotherhadleftthehouse，SwithindecidedtocallatWellandnextmorning，andreconnoitrewithaviewtoherreturn。
Lockingherinhecrossedthedewystubbleintothepark。Thehousewassilentanddeserted;andonlyonetallstalkofsmokeascendedfromthechimneys。Notwithstandingthatthehourwasnearlynineheknockedatthedoor。
’IsLadyConstantineathome？’askedSwithin，withadisingenuousnessnowhabitual，yetunknowntohimsixmonthsbefore。
’No，Mr。St。Cleeve;myladyhasnotreturnedfromBath。Weexpecthereveryday。’
’Nobodystayinginthehouse？’
’Mylady’sbrotherhasbeenhere;butheisgoneontoBudmouth。Hewillcomeagainintwoorthreeweeks，Iunderstand。’
Thiswasenough。Swithinsaidhewouldcallagain，andreturnedtothecabin，where，wakingViviette，whowasnotbynatureanearlyriser，hewaitedonthecolumntillshewasreadytobreakfast。
Whenthishadbeensharedtheypreparedtostart。
Alongwalkwasbeforethem。Warbornestationlayfivemilesdistant，andthenextstationabovethatninemiles。Theywereboundforthelatter;theirplanbeingthatsheshouldtheretakethetraintothejunctionwherethewhipaccidenthadoccurred，claimherluggage，andreturnwithittoWarborne，asiffromBath。
Themorningwascoolandthewalknotwearisome。Whenoncetheyhadleftbehindthestubble—fieldoftheirenvironmentandtheparishofWelland，theysaunteredoncomfortably，LadyConstantine’sspiritsrisingasshewithdrewfurtherfromdanger。
Theypartedbyalittlebrook，abouthalfamilefromthestation;
SwithintoreturntoWellandbythewayhehadcome。
LadyConstantinetelegraphedfromthejunctiontoWarborneforacarriagetobeinreadinesstomeetheronherarrival;andthen，waitingforthedowntrain，shetravelledsmoothlyhome，reachingWellandHouseaboutfiveminutessoonerthanSwithinreachedthecolumnhardby，afterfootingitallthewayfromwheretheyhadparted。
XXI
Fromthatdayforwardtheirliferesumeditsoldchannelingeneraloutwardaspect。
Perhapsthemostremarkablefeatureintheirexploitwasitscomparativeeffectivenessasanexpedientfortheenddesigned，——
thatofrestoringcalmassiduitytothestudyofastronomy。Swithintookuphisoldpositionasthelonelyphilosopheratthecolumn，andLadyConstantinelapsedbacktoimmuredexistenceatthehouse，withapparentlynotafriendintheparish。TheenforcednarrownessoflifewhichherlimitedresourcesnecessitatedwasnowanadditionalsafeguardagainstthediscoveryofherrelationswithSt。
Cleeve。Herneighboursseldomtroubledher;asmuch，itmustbeowned，fromatacitunderstandingthatshewasnotinapositiontoreturninvitationsasfromanyselfishcoldnessengenderedbyherwantofwealth。
Atthefirstmeetingofthesecretlyunitedpairaftertheirshorthoneymoontheywerecompelledtobehaveasstrangerstoeachother。
ItoccurredintheonlypartofWellandwhichdeservedthenameofavillagestreet，andallthelabourerswerereturningtotheirmiddaymeal，withthoseoftheirwiveswhoassistedatoutdoorwork。
Beforetheeyesofthisinnocentthoughquiteuntrustworthygroup，SwithinandhisViviettecouldonlyshakehandsinpassing，thoughshecontrivedtosaytohiminanundertone，’Mybrotherdoesnotreturnyetforsometime。HehasgonetoParis。Iwillbeonthelawnthisevening，ifyoucancome。’Itwasaflutteredsmilethatshebestowedonhim，andtherewasnodoubtthateveryfibreofherheartvibratedafreshatmeeting，withsuchreserve，onewhostoodinhiscloserelationtoher。
Theshadesofnightfellearlynow，andSwithinwasatthespotofappointmentaboutthetimethatheknewherdinnerwouldbeover。
Itwasjustwheretheyhadmetatthebeginningoftheyear，butmanychangeshadresultedsincethen。Theflower—bedsthathadusedtobesoneatlyedgedwerenowjaggedandleafy;blackstarsappearedonthepalesurfaceofthegravelwalks，denotingtuftsofgrassthatgrewunmolestedthere。LadyConstantine’sexternalaffairsworejustthataspectwhichsuggeststhatnewbloodmaybeadvantageouslyintroducedintotheline;andnewbloodhadbeenintroduced，ingoodsooth，——withwhatsocialresultremainedtobeseen。
Shesilentlyenteredonthescenefromthesamewindowwhichhadgivenherpassageinmonthsgoneby。Theymetwithaconcertedembrace，andSt。Cleevespokehisgreetinginwhispers。
’Wearequitesafe，dearest，’saidshe。
’Buttheservants？’
’Mymeagrestaffconsistsofonlytwowomenandtheboy;andtheyareawayintheotherwing。Ithoughtyouwouldliketoseetheinsideofmyhouse，aftershowingmetheinsideofyours。Sowewillwalkthroughitinsteadofstayingouthere。’
Shelethiminthroughthecasement，andtheystrolledforwardsoftly，Swithinwithsomecuriosity，neverbeforehavinggonebeyondthelibraryandadjoiningroom。Thewholewesternsideofthehousewasatthistimeshutup，herlifebeingconfinedtotwoorthreesmallroomsinthesouth—eastcorner。Thegreatapartmentsthroughwhichtheynowwhisperinglywalkedworealreadythatfunerealaspectthatcomesfromdisuseandinattention。Triangularcobwebsalreadyformedlittlehammocksforthedustincornersofthewainscot，andaclosesmellofwoodandleather，seasonedwithmouse—droppings，pervadedtheatmosphere。Soseldomwasthesolitudeofthesechambersintrudedonbyhumanfeetthatmorethanonceamousestoodandlookedthetwaininthefacefromthearmofasofa，orthetopofacabinet，withoutanygreatfear。
Swithinhadnoresidentialambitionwhatever，buthewasinterestedintheplace。’Willthehouseeverbethrownopentogaiety，asitwasinoldtimes？’saidhe。
’Notunlessyoumakeafortune，’sherepliedlaughingly。’Itismineformylife，asyouknow;buttheestateissoterriblysaddledwithannuitiestoSirBlount’sdistantrelatives，oneofwhomwillsucceedmehere，thatIhavepracticallynomorethanmyownlittleprivateincometoexiston。’
’Andareyouboundtooccupythehouse？’
’Notboundto。ButImustnotletitonlease。’
’Andwasthereanystipulationintheeventofyourre—marriage？’
’Itwasnotmentioned。’
’Itissatisfactorytofindthatyoulosenothingbymarryingme，atallevents，dearViviette。’
’Ihopeyoulosenothingeither——atleast，ofconsequence。’
’WhathaveItolose？’
’Imeantyourliberty。Supposeyoubecomeapopularphysicist（popularityseemscoolingtowardsartandcoquettingwithsciencenow—a—days），andabetterchanceoffers，andonewhowouldmakeyouanewerandbrighterwifethanIamcomesinyourway。Willyouneverregretthis？Willyouneverdespiseme？’
Swithinansweredbyakiss，andtheyagainwenton;proceedinglikeacoupleofburglars，lesttheyshoulddrawtheattentionofthecookorGreen。
Inoneoftheupperroomshiseyeswereattractedbyanoldchamberorgan，whichhadoncebeenlentforuseinthechurch。Hementionedhisrecollectionofthesame，whichledhertosay，’Thatremindsmeofsomething。Thereistobeaconfirmationinourparishinthespring，andyouoncetoldmethatyouhadneverbeenconfirmed。
Whatshockingneglect！Whywasit？’
’Ihardlyknow。Theconfusionresultingfrommyfather’sdeathcausedittobeforgotten，Isuppose。’
’Now，dearSwithin，youwilldothistopleaseme，——beconfirmedonthepresentoccasion？’
’SinceIhavedonewithoutthevirtueofitsolong，mightInotdowithoutitaltogether？’
’No，no！’shesaidearnestly。’Idowishit，indeed。IammadeunhappywhenIthinkyoudon’tcareaboutsuchseriousmatters。
WithouttheChurchtoclingto，whathavewe？’
’Eachother。Butseriously，Ishouldbeinvertingtheestablishedorderofspiritualthings;peopleoughttobeconfirmedbeforetheyaremarried。’
’That’sreallyofminorconsequence。Now，don’tthinkslightinglyofwhatsomanygoodmenhavelaiddownasnecessarytobedone。
And，dearSwithin，Isomehowfeelthatacertainlevitywhichhasperhapsshownitselfinourtreatmentofthesacramentofmarriage——
bymakingaclandestineadventureofwhatis，afterall，asolemnrite——wouldbewellatonedforbyadueseriousnessinotherpointsofreligiousobservance。Thisopportunityshouldthereforenotbepassedover。Ithoughtofitalllastnight;andyouareaparson’sson，remember，andhewouldhaveinsistedonitifhehadbeenalive。Inshort，Swithin，dobeagoodboy，andobservetheChurch’sordinances。’
LadyConstantine，byvirtueofhertemperament，wasnecessarilyeitherloverordevote，andshevibratedsogracefullybetweenthesetwoconditionsthatnobodywhohadknownthecircumstancescouldhavecondemnedherinconsistencies。Tobeledintodifficultiesbythosemasteringemotionsofhers，toaimatescapebyturningroundandseizingtheapparatusofreligion——whichcouldonlyrightlybeworkedbytheveryemotionsalreadybestowedelsewhere——itwas，afterall，butNature’swell—meaningattempttopreservethehonourofherdaughter’sconscienceinthetryingquandarytowhichtheconditionsofsexhadgivenrise。AsViviettecouldnotbeconfirmedherself，andasCommunionSundaywasalongwayoff，sheurgedSwithinthus。
’Andthenewbishopissuchagoodman，’shecontinued。’Iusedtohaveaslightacquaintancewithhimwhenhewasaparishpriest。’
’Verywell，dearest。TopleaseyouI’llbeconfirmed。Mygrandmother，too，willbedelighted，nodoubt。’
Theycontinuedtheirramble:LadyConstantinefirstadvancingintoroomswiththecandle，toassureherselfthatallwasempty，andthencallinghimforwardinawhisper。Thestillnesswasbrokenonlybythesewhispers，orbytheoccasionalcrackofafloor—boardbeneaththeirtread。Atlasttheysatdown，and，shadingthecandlewithascreen，sheshowedhimthefadedcontentsofthisandthatdrawerorcabinet，orthewardrobeofsomememberofthefamilywhohaddiedyoungearlyinthecentury，whenmuslinreignedsupreme，whenwaistswereclosetoarm—pits，andmuffsaslargeassmugglers’
tubs。Theseresearchesamonghabilimentalhullsandhusks，whosehumankernelshadlongagoperished，wentonforabouthalfanhour;
whenthecompanionswerestartledbyaloudringingatthefront—
doorbell。
XXII
LadyConstantineflungdowntheold—fashionedlacework，whosebeautiesshehadbeenpointingouttoSwithin，andexclaimed，’Whocanitbe？NotLouis，surely？’
Theylistened。Anarrivalwassuchaphenomenonatthisunfrequentedmansion，andparticularlyalatearrival，thatnoservantwasonthealerttorespondtothecall;andthevisitorrangagain，moreloudlythanbefore。Soundsofthetardyopeningandshuttingofapassage—doorfromthekitchenquarterthenreachedtheirears，andViviettewentintothecorridortohearkenmoreattentively。Inafewminutesshereturnedtothewardrobe—roominwhichshehadleftSwithin。
’Yes;itismybrother！’shesaidwithdifficultcomposure。’Ijustcaughthisvoice。HehasnodoubtcomebackfromParistostay。
Thisisarathervexatious，indolentwayhehas，nevertowritetoprepareme！’
’Icaneasilygoaway，’saidSwithin。
Bythistime，however，herbrotherhadbeenshownintothehouse，andthefootstepsofthepagewereaudible，cominginsearchofLadyConstantine。
’Ifyouwillwaitthereamoment，’shesaid，directingSt。Cleeveintoabedchamberwhichadjoined;’youwillbequitesafefrominterruption，andIwillquicklycomeback。’Takingthelightshelefthim。
Swithinwaitedindarkness。Notmorethantenminuteshadpassedwhenawhisperinhervoicecamethroughthekeyhole。Heopenedthedoor。
’Yes;heiscometostay！’shesaid。’Heisatsuppernow。’
’Verywell;don’tbeflurried，dearest。ShallIstaytoo，asweplanned？’
’O，Swithin，Ifearnot！’sherepliedanxiously。’Youseehowitis。To—nightwehavebrokenthearrangementthatyoushouldnevercomehere;andthisistheresult。Willitoffendyouif——Iaskyoutoleave？’
’Notintheleast。Uponthewhole，Ipreferthecomfortofmylittlecabinandhomesteadtothegauntnessandalarmsofthisplace。’
’There，now，Ifearyouareoffended！’shesaid，atearcollectinginhereye。’IwishIwasgoingbackwithyoutothecabin！Howhappywewere，thosethreedaysofourstaythere！Butitisbetter，perhaps，justnow，thatyoushouldleaveme。Yes，theseroomsareoppressive。Theyrequirealargehouseholdtomakethemcheerful……Yet，Swithin，’sheadded，afterreflection，’Iwillnotrequestyoutogo。Doasyouthinkbest。Iwilllightanight—
light，andleaveyouheretoconsider。Formyself，Imustgodownstairstomybrotheratonce，orhe’llwonderwhatIamdoing。’
Shekindledthelittlelight，andagainretreated，closingthedooruponhim。
Swithinstoodandwaitedsometime;tillheconsideredthatuponthewholeitwouldbepreferabletoleave。Withthisintentionheemergedandwentsoftlyalongthedarkpassagetowardstheextremeend，wheretherewasalittlecrookedstaircasethatwouldconducthimdowntoadisusedsidedoor。Descendingthisstairhedulyarrivedattheothersideofthehouse，facingthequarterwhencethewindblew，andherehewassurprisedtocatchthenoiseofrainbeatingagainstthewindows。Itwasastateofweatherwhichfullyaccountedforthevisitor’simpatientringing。
St。Cleevewasinaminorkindofdilemma。Therainremindedhimthathishatandgreat—coathadbeenleftdownstairs，inthefrontpartofthehouse;andthoughhemighthavegonehomewithouteitherinordinaryweatheritwasnotapleasantfeatinthepeltingwinterrain。RetracinghisstepstoViviette’sroomhetookthelight，andopenedacloset—doorthathehadseenajaronhiswaydown。Withintheclosethungvariousarticlesofapparel，upholsterylumberofallkindsfillingthebackpart。Swithinthoughthemightfindhereacloakofherstothrowroundhim，butfinallytookdownfromapegamoresuitablegarment，theonlyoneofthesortthatwasthere。
Itwasanoldmoth—eatengreat—coat，heavilytrimmedwithfur;andinremovingitacompanioncapofsealskinwasdisclosed。
’Whosecantheybe？’hethought，andagloomyanswersuggesteditself。’Pooh，’hethensaid（summoningthescientificsideofhisnature），’matterismatter，andmentalassociationonlyadelusion。’
PuttingonthegarmentshereturnedthelighttoLadyConstantine’sbedroom，andagainpreparedtodepartasbefore。
Scarcely，however，hadheregainedthecorridorasecondtime，whenheheardalightfootstep——seeminglyViviette’s——againonthefrontlanding。Wonderingwhatshewantedwithhimfurtherhewaited，takingtheprecautiontostepintotheclosettillsureitwasshe。
Thefigurecameonward，benttothekeyholeofthebedroomdoor，andwhispered（supposinghimstillinside），’Swithin，onsecondthoughtsIthinkyoumaystaywithsafety。’
Havingnofurtherdoubtofherpersonalityhecameoutwiththoughtlessabruptnessfromtheclosetbehindher，andlookingroundsuddenlyshebeheldhisshadowyfur—cladoutline。Atoncesheraisedherhandsinhorror，asiftoprotectherselffromhim;sheutteredashriek，andturnedshudderinglytothewall，coveringherface。
Swithinwouldhavepickedherupinamoment，butbythistimehecouldhearfootstepsrushingupstairs，inresponsetohercry。Inconsternation，andwithaviewofnotcompromisingher，heeffectedhisretreatasfastaspossible，reachingthebendofthecorridorjustasherbrotherLouisappearedwithalightattheotherextremity。
’What’sthematter，forheaven’ssake，Viviette？’saidLouis。
’Myhusband！’sheinvoluntarilyexclaimed。
’Whatnonsense！’
’Oyes，itisnonsense，’sheadded，withaneffort。’Itwasnothing。’
’Butwhatwasthecauseofyourcry？’
Shehadbythistimerecoveredherreasonandjudgment。’O，itwasatrickoftheimagination，’shesaid，withafaintlaugh。’IlivesomuchalonethatIgetsuperstitious——and——IthoughtforthemomentIsawanapparition。’
’Ofyourlatehusband？’
’Yes。Butitwasnothing;itwastheoutlineofthe——tallclockandthechairbehind。Wouldyoumindgoingdown，andleavingmetogointomyroomforamoment？’
Sheenteredthebedroom，andherbrotherwentdownstairs。Swithinthoughtitbesttoleavewellalone，andgoingnoiselesslyoutofthehouseploddedthroughtherainhomeward。ItwasplainthatagitationsofonesortandanotherhadsoweakenedViviette’snervesastolayheropentoeveryimpression。Thattheclotheshehadborrowedweresomecast—offgarmentsofthelateSirBlounthadoccurredtoSt。Cleeveintakingthem;butinthemomentofreturningtohersidehehadforgottenthis，andtheshapetheygavetohisfigurehadobviouslybeenareminderoftoosuddenasortforher。Musingthushewalkedalongasifhewerestill，asbefore，thelonelystudent，dissociatedfromallmankind，andwithnoshadowofrightorinterestinWellandHouseoritsmistress。
Thegreat—coatandcapwereunpleasantcompanions;butSwithinhavingbeenreared，orhavingrearedhimself，inthescientificschoolofthought，wouldnotgivewaytohissenseoftheirweirdness。Todosowouldhavebeentreasontohisownbeliefsandaims。
Whennearlyhome，atapointwherehistrackconvergedonanotherpath，thereapproachedhimfromthelatteragroupofindistinctforms。ThetonesoftheirspeechrevealedthemtobeHezzyBiles，NatChapman，Fry，andotherlabourers。Swithinwasabouttosayawordtothem，tillrecollectinghisdisguisehedeemeditadvisabletoholdhistongue，lesthisattireshouldtellatoodangeroustaleastowherehehadcomefrom。Bydegreestheydrewcloser，theirwalkbeinginthesamedirection。
’Good—night，strainger，’saidNat。
Thestrangerdidnotreply。
Allofthempacedonabreastofhim，andhecouldperceiveinthegloomthattheirfaceswereturnedinquiringlyuponhisform。Thenawhisperpassedfromonetoanotherofthem;thenChapman，whowastheboldest，droppedimmediatelybehindhisheels，andfollowedthereforsomedistance，takingcloseobservationsofhisoutline，afterwhichthemengroupedagainandwhispered。ThinkingitbesttoletthempassonSwithinslackenedhispace，andtheywentaheadofhim，apparentlywithoutmuchreluctance。
Therewasnodoubtthattheyhadbeenimpressedbytheclotheshewore;andhavingnowishtoprovokesimilarcommentsfromhisgrandmotherandHannah，Swithintooktheprecaution，onarrivingatWellandBottom，toenterthehomesteadbytheouthouse。Herehedepositedthecapandcoatinsecurehiding，afterwardsgoingroundtothefrontandopeningthedoorintheusualway。
IntheentryhemetHannah，whosaid——
’Onlytohearwhathavebeenseedto—night，Mr。Swithin！Thework—
folkhavedroppedintotellus！’
Inthekitchenwerethemenwhohadoutstrippedhimontheroad。
Theircountenances，insteadofwearingtheusualknottyirregularities，hadasmoothed—outexpressionofblankconcern。
Swithin’sentrancewasunobtrusiveandquiet，asifhehadmerelycomedownfromhisstudyupstairs，andtheyonlynoticedhimbyenlargingtheirgaze，soastoincludehimintheaudience。
’Wewasinadeeptalkatthemoment，’continuedBlore，’andNattyhadjustbroughtupthatstoryaboutoldJeremiahPaddock’scrossingtheparkonenightatoneo’clockinthemorning，andseeingSirBlounta—shuttingmyladyout—o’—doors;andwewassayingthatitseemedatruereturnthatheshouldperishinaforeignland;whenwehappenedtolookup，andtherewasSirBlounta—walkingalong。’
’Diditovertakeyou，ordidyouovertakeit？’whisperedHannahsepulchrally。
’Idon’tsay’twasIT，’returnedSammy。’GodforbidthatIshoulddraginaresurrectionwordaboutwhatperhapswasstillsolidmanhood，andhastodie！Buthe，orit，closedinuponus，as’twere。’
’Yes，closedinuponus！’saidHaymoss。
’AndIsaid\"Good—night，strainger，\"’addedChapman。
’Yes，\"Good—night，strainger，\"——thatwezyerwords，Natty。I
supportyeinit。’
’Andthenheclosedinuponusstillmore。’
’Weclosedinuponhe，rather，’saidChapman。
’Well，well;’tisthesamethinginsuchmatters！AndtheformwasSirBlount’s。Mynostrilstoldme，for——there，’asmelled。Yes，I
couldsmell’n，beingtoleeward。’
’Lord，lord，whatunwholesomescandal’sthisabouttheghostofarespectablegentleman？’saidMrs。Martin，whohadenteredfromthesitting—room。