’Now，wait，ma’am。Idon’tsay’twerealowsmell，mindye。’Twereahighsmell，asortofgameyflaviour，callingtomindvenisonandhare，justasyou’dexpectofagreatsquire，——notlikeapoorman’s’natomy，atall;andthatwaswhatstrengthenedmyfaiththat’twasSirBlount。’
（’Theskinsthatoldcoatwasmadeof，’ruminatedSwithin。）
’Well，well;I’venotheldoutagainstthefigureo’starvationthesefive—and—twentyyear，onnineshillingsaweek，tobeafeardofawalkingvapour，sweetorsavoury，’saidHezzy。’Sohere’shome—along。’
’Bideabitlonger，andI’mgoingtoo，’continuedFry。’Well，whenIfound’twasSirBlountmyspetdriedupwithinmymouth;forneitherhedgenorbushwerethereforrefugeagainstanyfoulspring’amighthavemadeatus。’
’’Twasverycurious;butwehadlikewisea—mentionedhisnamejustafore，intalkingoftheconfirmationthat’sshortlycomingon，’
saidHezzy。
’Istheresoontobeaconfirmation？’
’Yes。Inthisparish——thefirsttimeinWellandchurchfortwentyyears。AsIsay，Ihadtold’emthathewasconfirmedthesameyearthatIwentuptohaveitdone，asIhaveverygoodcausetomind。
Whenwewenttobeexamined，thepa’sonsaidtome，\"Rehearsethearticlesofthybelief。\"Mr。Blount（ashewasthen）wasnighestme，andhewhispered，\"Womenandwine。\"\"Womenandwine，\"saysItothepa’son:andforthatIwassentbacktillnextconfirmation，SirBlountneverowningthathewastherascal。’
’Confirmationwasasightdifferentatthattime，’musedBiles。
’TheBishopsdidn’tlayitonsostrongthenastheydonow。Now—a—
days，yerBishopgiesbothhandstoeveryJack—ragandTom—strawthatdropsthekneeaforehim;but’twassixchapstooneblessingwhenwewasboys。TheBishopo’thattimewouldstretchouthispalmsandrunhisfingersoverourrowofcrownsasoff—handasabankgentlemantellingmoney。ThegreatlordsoftheChurchinthemdayswasn’tparticulartoasoulortwomoreorless;and，formypart，Ithinklivingwaseasierfor’t。’
’ThenewBishop，Ihear，isabachelor—man;orawidowgentlemanisit？’askedMrs。Martin。
’Bachelor，Ibelieve，ma’am。Mr。SanCleeve，makingsobold，you’veneverfacedhimyet，Ithink？’
Mrs。Martinshookherhead。
’No;itwasapieceofneglect。Ihardlyknowhowithappened，’shesaid。
’Iamgoingto，thistime，’saidSwithin，andturnedthechattoothermatters。
XXIII
SwithincouldnotsleepthatnightforthinkingofhisViviette。
Nothingtoldsosignificantlyoftheconductofherfirsthusbandtowardsthepoorladyastheabidingdreadofhimwhichwasrevealedinherbyanysuddenrevivalofhisimageormemory。ButforthatconsiderationheralmostchildliketerroratSwithin’sinadvertentdisguisewouldhavebeenludicrous。
Hewaitedanxiouslythroughseveralfollowingdaysforanopportunityofseeingher，butnonewasafforded。Herbrother’spresenceinthehousesufficientlyaccountedforthis。Atlengthheventuredtowriteanote，requestinghertosignaltohiminawayshehaddoneonceortwicebefore，——bypullingdownablindinaparticularwindowofthehouse，oneofthefewvisiblefromthetopoftheRings—Hillcolumn;thistobedoneonanyeveningwhenshecouldseehimafterdinnerontheterrace。
Whenhehadlevelledtheglassatthatwindowforfivesuccessivenightshebeheldtheblindinthepositionsuggested。Threehourslater，quiteinthedusk，herepairedtotheplaceofappointment。
’Mybrotherisawaythisevening，’sheexplained，’andthat’swhyI
cancomeout。Heisonlygoneforafewhours，norishelikelytogoforlongerjustyet。Hekeepshimselfagooddealinmycompany，whichhasmadeitunsafeformetoventurenearyou。’
’Hasheanysuspicion？’
’None，apparently。Butheratherdepressesme。’
’How，Viviette？’Swithinfeared，fromhermanner，thatthiswassomethingserious。
’Iwouldrathernottell。’
’But——Well，nevermind。’
’Yes，Swithin，Iwilltellyou。Thereshouldbenosecretsbetweenus。Heurgesuponmethenecessityofmarrying，dayafterday。’
’Formoneyandposition，ofcourse。’
’Yes。ButItakenonotice。Ilethimgoon。’
’Really，thisissad！’saidtheyoungman。’Imustworkharderthanever，oryouwillneverbeabletoownme。’
’Oyes，ingoodtime！’shecheeringlyreplied。
’Ishallbeverygladtohaveyoualwaysnearme。IfeltthegloomofourpositionkeenlywhenIwasobligedtodisappearthatnight，withoutassuringyouitwasonlyIwhostoodthere。WhywereyousofrightenedatthoseoldclothesIborrowed？’
’Don’task，——don’task！’shesaid，buryingherfaceonhisshoulder。
’Idon’twanttospeakofthat。TherewassomethingsoghastlyandsouncannyinyourputtingonsuchgarmentsthatIwishyouhadbeenmorethoughtful，andhadleftthemalone。’
Heassuredherthathedidnotstoptoconsiderwhosetheywere。
’Bytheway，theymustbesentback，’hesaid。
’No;Ineverwishtoseethemagain！Icannothelpfeelingthatyourputtingthemonwasominous。’
’Nothingisominousinserenephilosophy，’hesaid，kissingher。
’Thingsareeithercauses，ortheyarenotcauses。Whencanyouseemeagain？’
Insuchwisethehourpassedaway。Theeveningwastypicalofotherswhichfolloweditatirregularintervalsthroughthewinter。
Andduringtheintensermonthsoftheseasonfrequentfallsofsnowlengthened，evenmorethanotherdifficultieshaddone，theperiodsofisolationbetweenthepair。Swithinadheredwithallthemorestrictnesstotheletterofhispromisenottointrudeintothehouse，fromhissenseofherpowerlessnesstocompelhimtokeepoutshouldhechoosetorebel。Astudentofthegreatestforcesinnature，hehad，likemanyothersofhissort，nopersonalforcetospeakofinasocialpointofview，mainlybecausehetooknointerestinhumanranksandformulas;andhencehewasasdocileasachildinherhandswherevermattersofthatkindwereconcerned。
HerbrotherwinteredatWelland;butwhetherbecausehisexperienceoftropicclimeshadunfittedhimforthebrumalrigoursofBritain，orforsomeotherreason，heseldomshowedhimselfoutofdoors，andSwithincaughtbutpassingglimpsesofhim。NowandthenViviette’simpulsiveaffectionwouldovercomehersenseofrisk，andshewouldpressSwithintocallonheratallcosts。Thishewouldbynomeansdo。Itwasobvioustohismorelogicalmindthatthesecrecytowhichtheyhadboundthemselvesmustbekeptinitsfulness，ormightaswellbeabandonedaltogether。
Hewasnowsadlyexercisedonthesubjectofhisuncle’swill。
Therehadasyetbeennopressingreasonsforafullandcandidreplytothesolicitorwhohadcommunicatedwithhim，owingtothefactthatthepaymentswerenottobegintillSwithinwasone—and—
twenty;buttimewasgoingon，andsomethingdefinitewouldhavetobedonesoon。Toowntohismarriageandconsequentdisqualificationforthebequestwaseasyinitself;butitinvolvedtellingatleastonemanwhatbothVivietteandhimselfhadgreatreluctanceintellinganybody。MoreoverhewishedViviettetoknownothingofhislossinmakingherhiswife。Allhecouldthinkofdoingforthepresentwastowriteapostponinglettertohisuncle’slawyer，andwaitevents。
Theonecomfortofthisdrearywinter—timewashisperceptionofareturningabilitytoworkwiththeregularityandmuchofthespiritofearlierdays。
OnebrightnightinApriltherewasaneclipseofthemoon，andMr。
Torkingham，byarrangement，broughttotheobservatoryseverallabouringmenandboys，towhomhehadpromisedasightofthephenomenonthroughthetelescope。Thecomingconfirmation，fixedforMay，wasagaintalkedof;andSt。CleevelearntfromtheparsonthattheBishophadarrangedtostaythenightatthevicarage，andwastobeinvitedtoagrandluncheonatWellandHouseimmediatelyaftertheordinance。
Thisseemedlikeagoingbackintolifeagainasregardedthemistressofthathouse;andSt。Cleevewasalittlesurprisedthat，inhiscommunicationswithViviette，shehadmentionednosuchprobability。Thenextdayhewalkedroundthemansion，wonderinghowinitspresentstateanyentertainmentcouldbegiventherein。
Hefoundthattheshuttershadbeenopened，whichhadrestoredanunexpectedlivelinesstotheaspectofthewindows。Twomenwereputtingachimney—potononeofthechimney—stacks，andtwomorewerescrapinggreenmouldfromthefrontwall。Hemadenoinquiriesonthatoccasion。Threedayslaterhestrolledthitherwardagain。
Nowagreatcleaningofwindow—paneswasgoingon，HezzyBilesandSammyBlorebeingtheoperators，forwhichpurposetheirservicesmusthavebeenborrowedfromtheneighbouringfarmer。Hezzydashedwaterattheglasswithaforcethatthreatenedtobreakitin，thebroadfaceofSammybeingdiscernibleinside，smilingattheonset。
Inadditiontothese，AnthonyGreenandanotherwereweedingthegravelwalks，andputtingfreshplantsintotheflower—beds。
Neitherofthesereasonableoperationswasagreatundertaking，singlylookedat;butthelifeViviettehadlatterlyledandthemoodinwhichshehadhithertoregardedthepremises，rendereditsomewhatsignificant。Swithin，however，wasrathercuriousthanconcernedattheproceedings，andreturnedtohistowerwithfeelingsofinterestnotentirelyconfinedtotheworldsoverhead。
LadyConstantinemayormaynothaveseenhimfromthehouse;butthesameevening，whichwasfineanddry，whilehewasoccupyinghimselfintheobservatorywithcleaningtheeye—piecesoftheequatorial，skull—caponhead，observing—jacketon，andinotherwaysprimedforsweeping，thecustomarystealthysteponthewindingstaircasebroughtherforminduecourseintotheraysofthebull’s—eyelantern。Themeetingwasallthemorepleasanttohimfrombeingunexpected，andheatoncelitupalargerlampinhonouroftheoccasion。
’Itisbutahastyvisit，’shesaidwhen，afterputtinguphermouthtobekissed，shehadseatedherselfinthelowchairusedforobservations，pantingalittlewiththelabourofascent。’ButI
hopetobeabletocomemorefreelysoon。Mybrotherisstilllivingonwithme。Yes，heisgoingtostayuntiltheconfirmationisover。Aftertheconfirmationhewillcertainlyleave。Sogooditisofyou，dear，topleasemebyagreeingtotheceremony。TheBishop，youknow，isgoingtolunchwithus。Itisawonderhehaspromisedtocome，forheisamanaversetosociety，andmostlykeepsentirelywiththeclergyontheseconfirmationtours，orcircuits，orwhatevertheycallthem。ButMr。Torkingham’shouseissoverysmall，andmineissocloseathand，thatthisarrangementtorelievehimofthefussofonemeal，atleast，naturallysuggesteditself;andtheBishophasfalleninwithitveryreadily。
Howareyougettingonwithyourobservations？Haveyounotwantedmedreadfully，towritedownnotes？’
’Well，Ihavebeenobligedtodowithoutyou，whetherorno。Seehere，——howmuchIhavedone。’Andheshowedherabookruledincolumns，headed’Object，’’RightAscension，’’Declination，’
’Features，’’Remarks，’andsoon。
Shelookedoverthisandotherthings，buthermindspeedilywingeditswaybacktotheconfirmation。’Itissonewtome，’shesaid，’tohavepersonscomingtothehouse，thatIfeelratheranxious。I
hopetheluncheonwillbeasuccess。’
’YouknowtheBishop？’saidSwithin。
’Ihavenotseenhimformanyyears。IknewhimwhenIwasquiteagirl，andheheldthelittlelivingofPuddle—sub—Mixen，nearus;
butafterthattime，andeversinceIhavelivedhere，Ihaveseennothingofhim。Therehasbeennoconfirmationinthisvillage，theysay，fortwentyyears。TheotherbishopusedtomaketheyoungmenandwomengotoWarborne;hewouldn’ttakethetroubletocometosuchanout—of—the—wayparishasours。’
’ThiscleaningandpreparationthatIobservegoingonmustberatherataxuponyou？’
’MybrotherLouisseestoit，and，whatismore，bearstheexpense。’
’Yourbrother？’saidSwithin，withsurprise。
’Well，heinsistedondoingso，’shereplied，inahesitating，despondenttone。’Hehasbeenactiveinthewholematter，andwasthefirsttosuggesttheinvitation。Ishouldnothavethoughtofit。’
’Well，Iwillholdalooftillitisallover。’
’Thanks，dearest，foryourconsiderateness。Iwishitwasnotstilladvisable！ButIshallseeyouontheday，andwatchmyownphilosopherallthroughtheservicefromthecornerofmypew！……
Ihopeyouarewellpreparedfortherite，Swithin？’sheadded，turningtenderlytohim。’Itwouldperhapsbeadvisableforyoutogiveupthisastronomytilltheconfirmationisover，inordertodevoteyourattentionexclusivelytothatmoreseriousmatter。’
’Moreserious！Well，IwilldothebestIcan。Iamsorrytoseethatyouarelessinterestedinastronomythanyouusedtobe，Viviette。’
’No;itisonlythatthesepreparationsfortheBishopunsettlemymindfromstudy。Nowputonyourothercoatandhat，andcomewithmealittleway。’
XXIV
Themorningoftheconfirmationwascome。Itwasmid—Maytime，bringingwithitweathernot，perhaps，quitesobloomingasthatassumedtobenaturaltothemonthbythejoyouspoetsofthreehundredyearsago;butaverytolerable，well—wearingMay，thattheaveragerusticwouldwillinglyhavecompoundedforinlieuofMaysoccasionallyfairer，butusuallymorefoul。
AmongthelargershrubsandflowerswhichcomposedtheoutworksoftheWellandgardens，thelilac，thelaburnum，andtheguelder—rosehungouttheirrespectivecoloursofpurple，yellow，andwhite;
whilstwithinthese，beltedroundfromeverydisturbinggale，rosethecolumbine，thepeony，thelarkspur，andtheSolomon’sseal。Theanimatethingsthatmovedamidthissceneofcolourwereploddingbees，gaddingbutterflies，andnumeroussaunteringyoungfemininecandidatesfortheimpendingconfirmation，who，havinggailybedeckedthemselvesfortheceremony，wereenjoyingtheirownappearancebywalkingaboutintwosandthreestillitwastimetostart。
SwithinSt。Cleeve，whosepreparationsweresomewhatsimplerthanthoseofthevillagebelles，waitedtillhisgrandmotherandHannahhadsetout，andthen，lockingthedoor，followedtowardsthedistantchurch。OnreachingthechurchyardgatehemetMr。
Torkingham，whoshookhandswithhiminthemannerofamanwithseveralironsinthefire，andtellingSwithinwheretosit，disappearedtohuntupsomecandidateswhohadnotyetmadethemselvesvisible。
CastinghiseyesroundforViviette，andseeingnothingofher，Swithinwentontothechurchporch，andlookedin。Fromthenorthsideofthenavesmiledahostofgirls，gailyuniformindress，age，andatemporaryrepressionoftheirnaturaltendencyto’skiplikeahareoverthemeshesofgoodcounsel。’Theirwhitemuslindresses，theirroundwhitecaps，frombeneathwhosebordershair—
knotsandcurlsofvariousshadesofbrownescapedupontheirlowshoulders，asifagainsttheirwill，lightedupthedarkpewsandgreystone—worktoanunwontedwarmthandlife。Onthesouthsideweretheyoungmenandboys，——heavy，angular，andmassive，asindeedwasrathernecessary，consideringwhattheywouldhavetobearatthehandsofwindandweatherbeforetheyreturnedtothatmouldynaveforthelasttime。
Overtheheadsofallthesehecouldseeintothechanceltothesquarepewonthenorthside，whichwasattachedtoWellandHouse。
TherehediscernedLadyConstantinealreadyarrived，herbrotherLouissittingbyherside。
Swithinenteredandseatedhimselfattheendofabench，andshe，whohadbeenonthewatch，atonceshowedbysubtlesignsherconsciousnessofthepresenceoftheyoungmanwhohadreversedtheordainedsequenceoftheChurchservicesonheraccount。Sheappearedinblackattire，thoughnotstrictlyinmourning，atouchofredinherbonnetsettingofftherichnessofhercomplexionwithoutmakinghergay。Handsomestwomaninthechurchshedecidedlywas;andyetadisinterestedspectatorwhohadknownallthecircumstanceswouldprobablyhavefeltthat，thefutureconsidered，Swithin’smorenaturalmatewouldhavebeenoneofthemuslin—cladmaidenswhoweretobepresentedtotheBishopwithhimthatday。
WhentheBishophadarrivedandgoneintothechancel，andblownhisnose，thecongregationweresufficientlyimpressedbyhispresencetoleaveofflookingatoneanother。
TheRightReverendCuthbertHelmsdale，D。D。，ninety—fourthoccupantoftheepiscopalthroneofthediocese，revealedhimselftobeapersonageofdarkcomplexion，whosedarknesswasthrownstillfurtherintoprominencebythelawnprotuberancesthatnowroseuponhistwoshouldersliketheEasternandWesternhemispheres。Instatureheseemedtobetallandimposing，butsomethingofthisaspectmayhavebeenderivedfromhisrobes。
Theservicewas，asusual，ofalengthwhichseverelytriedthetarryingpowersoftheyoungpeopleassembled;anditwasnottilltheyouthofalltheotherparisheshadgoneupthattheturncamefortheWellandbevy。Swithinandsomeolderoneswerenearlythelast。When，attheheelsofMr。Torkingham，hepassedLadyConstantine’spew，heliftedhiseyesfromtheredliningofthatgentleman’shoodsufficientlyhightocatchhers。Shewasabstracted，tearful，regardinghimwithalltheraptminglingofreligion，love，fervour，andhopewhichsuchwomencanfeelatsuchtimes，andwhichmenknownothingof。HowfervidlyshewatchedtheBishopplacehishandonherbelovedyouth’shead;howshesawthegreatepiscopalringglisteninginthesunamongSwithin’sbrowncurls;howshewaitedtohearifDr。Helmsdaleutteredtheform’thisthychild’whichheusedfortheyoungerones，or’thisthyservant’whichheusedforthoseolder;andhow，whenhesaid，’thisthyCHILD，’shefeltaprickofconscience，likeapersonwhohadentrappedaninnocentyouthintomarriageforherowngratification，tillsherememberedthatshehadraisedhissocialpositionthereby，——allthiscouldonlyhavebeentoldinitsentiretybyherself。
AsforSwithin，hefeltashamedofhisownutterlackofthehighenthusiasmwhichbeamedsoeloquentlyfromhereyes。Whenhepassedheragain，onthereturnjourneyfromtheBishoptohisseat，herfacewaswarmwithablushwhichherbrothermighthaveobservedhadheregardedher。
Whetherhehadobserveditornot，assoonasSt。CleevehadsathimselfdownagainLouisGlanvilleturnedandlookedhardattheyoungastronomer。ThiswasthefirsttimethatSt。CleeveandViviette’sbrotherhadbeenfacetofaceinadistinctlight，theirfirstmeetinghavingoccurredintheduskofarailway—station。
Swithinwasnotinthehabitofnoticingpeople’sfeatures;hescarcelyeverobservedanydetailofphysiognomyinhisfriends，ageneralizationfromtheirwholeaspectforminghisideaofthem;andhenowonlynotedayoungmanofperhapsthirty，whololledagooddeal，andinwhosesmalldarkeyesseemedtobeconcentratedtheactivitythattherestofhisframedecidedlylacked。Thisgentleman’seyeswerehenceforward，totheendoftheservice，continuallyfixeduponSwithin;butasthiswastheirnaturaldirection，fromthepositionofhisseat，therewasnogreatstrangenessinthecircumstance。
SwithinwantedtosaytoViviette，’NowIhopeyouarepleased;I
haveconformedtoyourideasofmyduty，leavingmyfitnessoutofconsideration;’butashecouldonlyseeherbonnetandforeheaditwasnotpossibleeventolooktheintelligence。Heturnedtohislefthand，wheretheorganstood，withMissTabithaLarkseatedbehindit。
Itbeingnowsermon—timetheyouthfulblowerhadfallenasleepoverthehandleofhisbellows，andTabithapulledoutherhandkerchiefintendingtoflaphimawakewithit。Withthehandkerchieftumbledoutawholefamilyofunexpectedarticles:asilverthimble;aphotograph;alittlepurse;ascent—bottle;someloosehalfpence;
ninegreengooseberries;akey。TheyrolledtoSwithin’sfeet，and，passivelyobeyinghisfirstinstinct，hepickedupasmanyofthearticlesashecouldfind，andhandedthemtoheramidthesmilesoftheneighbours。
Tabithawashalf—deadwithhumiliationatsuchanevent，happeningundertheveryeyesoftheBishoponthisgloriousoccasion;sheturnedpaleasasheet，andcouldhardlykeepherseat。Fearingshemightfaint，Swithin，whohadgenuinelysympathized，bentoverandwhisperedencouragingly，’Don’tmindit，Tabitha。ShallItakeyououtintotheair？’Shedeclinedhisoffer，andpresentlythesermoncametoanend。
SwithinlingeredbehindtherestofthecongregationsufficientlylongtoseeLadyConstantine，accompaniedbyherbrother，theBishop，theBishop’schaplain，Mr。Torkingham，andseveralotherclergyandladies，entertothegrandluncheonbythedoorwhichadmittedfromthechurchyardtothelawnofWellandHouse;thewholegrouptalkingwithavivacityallthemoreintense，asitseemed，fromtherecenttwohours’enforcedrepressionoftheirsocialqualitieswithintheadjoiningbuilding。
Theyoungmanstoodtillhewasleftquitealoneinthechurchyard，andthenwentslowlyhomewardoverthehill，perhapsatrifledepressedattheimpossibilityofbeingnearVivietteinthisheronedayofgaiety，andjoiningintheconversationofthosewhosurroundedher。
Notthathefeltmuchjealousyofhersituation，ashiswife，incomparisonwithhisown。Hehadsoclearlyunderstoodfromthebeginningthat，intheeventofmarriage，theiroutwardlivesweretorunonasbefore，thattorebelnowwouldhavebeenunmanlyinhimselfandcrueltoher，byaddingtoembarrassmentsthatweregreatenoughalready。Hismomentarydoubtwasofhisownstrengthtoachievesufficientlyhighthingstorenderhim，inrelationtoher，otherthanapatronizedyoungfavourite，whomshehadmarriedatanimmensesacrificeofposition。Now，attwenty，hewasdoomedtoisolationevenfromawife;coulditbethatat，saythirty，hewouldbewelcomedeverywhere？
Butwithmotionthroughthesunandairhismoodassumedalightercomplexion，andonreachinghomeherememberedwithinterestthatVenuswasinafavourableaspectforobservationthatafternoon。
XXV
MeanwhiletheinteriorofWellandHousewasrattlingwiththeprogressoftheecclesiasticalluncheon。
TheBishop，whosatatLadyConstantine’sside，seemedenchantedwithhercompany，andfromthebeginningsheengrossedhisattentionalmostentirely。ThetruthwasthatthecircumstanceofhernothavingherwholesoulcentredonthesuccessoftherepastandthepleasureofBishopHelmsdale，impartedtoher，inagreatmeasure，themoodtoensureboth。HerbrotherLouisitwaswhohadlaidouttheplanofentertainingtheBishop，towhichshehadassentedbutindifferently。Shewassecretlyboundtoanother，onwhosecareershehadstakedallherhappiness。Havingthusotherinterestssheevincedto—daytheeaseofonewhohazardsnothing，andtherewasnosignofthatpreoccupationwithhousewifelycontingencieswhichsooftenmakesthehostesshardlyrecognizableasthecharmingwomanwhogracedafriend’shomethedaybefore。InmarryingSwithinLadyConstantinehadplayedhercard，——recklessly，impulsively，ruinously，perhaps;butshehadplayedit;itcouldnotbewithdrawn;andshetookthismorning’sluncheonasanepisodethatcouldresultinnothingtoherbeyondtheday’sentertainment。
Hence，bythatpowerofindirectnesstoaccomplishinanhourwhatstrenuousaimingwillnoteffectinalife—time，shefascinatedtheBishoptoanunprecedenteddegree。Abachelor，herejoicedinthecommandingperiodoflifethatstretchesbetweenthetimeofwaningimpulseandthetimeofincipientdotage，whenawomancanreachthemaleheartneitherbyawakeningayoungman’spassionnoranoldman’sinfatuation。Hemustbemadetoadmire，orhecanbemadetodonothing。UnintentionallythatishowVivietteoperatedonherguest。
LadyConstantine，toexternalview，wasinapositiontodesiremanythings，andofasorttodesirethem。Shewasobviously，bynature，impulsivetoindiscretion。Butinsteadofexhibitingactivitiestocorrespond，recentlygratifiedaffectionlenttohermannerjustnowasweetserenity，atrulyChristiancontentment，whichitpuzzledthelearnedBishopexceedinglytofindinawarmyoungwidow，andincreasedhisinterestinhereverymoment。Thusmattersstoodwhentheconversationveeredroundtothemorning’sconfirmation。
’ThatwasasingularlyengagingyoungmanwhocameupamongMr。
Torkingham’scandidates，’saidtheBishoptohersomewhatabruptly。
Butabruptnessdoesnotcatchawomanwithoutherwit。’Whichone？’
shesaidinnocently。
’Thatyouthwiththe\"corn—coloured\"hair，asapoetofthenewschoolwouldcallit，whosatjustatthesideoftheorgan。Doyouknowwhoheis？’
InansweringVivietteshowedalittlenervousness，forthefirsttimethatday。
’Oyes。Heisthesonofanunfortunategentlemanwhowasformerlycuratehere，——aMr。St。Cleeve。’
’Ineversawahandsomeryoungmaninmylife，’saidtheBishop。
LadyConstantineblushed。’Therewasalackofself—consciousness，too，inhismannerofpresentinghimself，whichverymuchwonme。A
Mr。St。Cleeve，doyousay？Acurate’sson？HisfathermusthavebeenSt。CleeveofAllAngels，whomIknew。Howcomeshetobestayingonhere？Whatishedoing？’
Mr。Torkingham，whokeptoneearontheBishopallthelunch—time，findingthatLadyConstantinewasnotreadywithananswer，hastenedtoreply:’Yourlordshipisright。HisfatherwasanAllAngels’
man。Theyouthisrathertobepitied。’
’Hewasamanoftalent，’affirmedtheBishop。’ButIquitelostsightofhim。’
’Hewascuratetothelatevicar，’resumedtheparson，’andwasmuchlikedbytheparish:but，beingerraticinhistastesandtendencies，herashlycontractedamarriagewiththedaughterofafarmer，andthenquarrelledwiththelocalgentryfornottakinguphiswife。Thisladwasanonlychild。Therewasenoughmoneytoeducatehim，andheissufficientlywellprovidedfortobeindependentoftheworldsolongasheiscontenttoliveherewithgreateconomy。Butofcoursethisgiveshimfewopportunitiesofbetteringhimself。’
’Yes，naturally，’repliedtheBishopofMelchester。’Betterhavebeenleftentirelydependentonhimself。Thesehalf—incomesdomenlittlegood，unlesstheyhappentobeeitherweaklingsorgeniuses。’
LadyConstantinewouldhavegiventheworldtosay，’Heisagenius，andthehopeofmylife;’butitwouldhavebeendecidedlyrisky，andinanothermomentwasunnecessary，forMr。Torkinghamsaid，’Thereisacertaingeniusinthisyoungman，Isometimesthink。’
’Well，hereallylooksquiteoutofthecommon，’saidtheBishop。
’Youthfulgeniusissometimesdisappointing，’observedViviette，notbelievingitintheleast。
’Yes，’saidtheBishop。’Thoughitdepends，LadyConstantine，onwhatyouunderstandbydisappointing。Itmayproducenothingvisibletotheworld’seye，andyetmaycompleteitsdevelopmentwithintoaveryperfectdegree。Objectiveachievements，thoughtheonlyoneswhicharecounted，arenottheonlyonesthatexistandhavevalue;andIforoneshouldbesorrytoassertthat，becauseamanofgeniusdiesasunknowntotheworldaswhenhewasborn，hethereforewasaninstanceofwastedmaterial。’
Objectiveachievementswere，however，thosethatLadyConstantinehadaweaknessforinthepresentcase，andsheaskedhermoreexperiencedguestifhethoughtearlydevelopmentofaspecialtalentagoodsigninyouth。
TheBishopthoughtitwellthataparticularbentshouldnotshowitselftooearly，lestdisgustshouldresult。