Tosoftenherrefusalshesaidindeclaringit，’Oneconcession，Swithin，Icertainlywillmake。Iwillseeyouoftener。Iwillcometothecabinandtowerfrequently;andwillcontrive，too，thatyoucometothehouseoccasionally。Duringthelastwinterwepassedwholeweekswithoutmeeting;don’tletusallowthattohappenagain。’
’Verywell，dearest，’saidSwithingood—humouredly。’Idon’tcaresoterriblymuchfortheoldman’sopinionofme，afterall。Forthepresent，then，letthingsbeastheyare。’
Nevertheless，theyouthfeltherrefusalmorethanheowned;buttheunequaltemperamentofSwithin’sage，sosoondepressedonhisownaccount，wasalsosoontorecoveronhers，anditwaswithalmostachild’sforgetfulnessofthepastthathetookherviewofthecase。
Whenhewasgoneshehastilyre—enteredthehouse。Herbrotherhadnotreappearedfromupstairs;butshewasinformedthatTabithaLarkwaswaitingtoseeher，ifherladyshipwouldpardonthesaidTabithaforcomingsolate。LadyConstantinemadenoobjection，andsawtheyounggirlatonce。
WhenLadyConstantineenteredthewaiting—roombehold，inTabitha’soutstretchedhandlaythecoralornamentwhichhadbeencausingViviettesomuchanxiety。
’Iguessed，onsecondthoughts，thatitwasyours，mylady，’saidTabitha，withratherafrightenedface;’andsoIhavebroughtitback。’
’Buthowdidyoucomebyit，Tabitha？’
’Mr。Glanvillegaveittome;hemusthavethoughtitwasmine。I
tookit，fancyingatthemomentthathehandedittomebecauseI
happenedtocomebyfirstafterhehadfoundit。’
LadyConstantinesawhowthesituationmightbeimprovedsoastoeffectherdeliverancefromthistroublesomelittlewebofevidence。
’Oh，youcankeepit，’shesaidbrightly。’Itwasverygoodofyoutobringitback。Butkeepitforyourveryown。TakeMr。
Glanvilleathisword，anddon’texplain。And，Tabitha，dividethestrandsintotwobracelets;thereareenoughofthemtomakeapair。’
Thenextmorning，inpursuanceofhisresolution，Louiswanderedroundthegroundstillhesawthegirlforwhomhewaswaitingenterthechurch。Heaccostedheroverthewall。But，puzzlingtoview，acoralbraceletblushedoneachofheryoungarms，forshehadpromptlycarriedoutthesuggestionofLadyConstantine。
’Youarewearingit，Isee，Tabitha，withtheother，’hemurmured。
’Thenyoumeantokeepit？’
’Yes，Imeantokeepit。’
’YouaresureitisnotLadyConstantine’s？Ifindshehasonelikeit。’
’Quitesure。Butyouhadbettertakeittoher，sir，andaskher，’
saidthesaucygirl。
’Oh，no;that’snotnecessary，’repliedLouis，considerablyshakeninhisconvictions。
WhenLouismethissister，ashorttimeafter，hedidnotcatchher，ashehadintendedtodo，bysayingsuddenly，’Ihavefoundyourbracelet。Iknowwhohasgotit。’
’Youcannothavefoundit，’sherepliedquietly，’forIhavediscoveredthatitwasneverlost，’andstretchingoutbothherhandssherevealedoneoneach，ViviettehavingperformedthesameoperationwithherremainingbraceletthatshehadadvisedTabithatodowiththeother。
Louiswasmystified，butbynomeansconvinced。Inspiteofthisattempttohoodwinkhimhismindreturnedtothesubjecteveryhouroftheday。TherewasnodoubtthateitherTabithaorViviettehadbeenwithSwithininthecabin。HerecapitulatedeverycasethathadoccurredduringhisvisittoWellandinwhichhissister’smannerhadbeenofacolourtojustifythesuspicionthatitwasshe。Therewasthatstrangeincidentinthecorridor，whenshehadscreamedatwhatshedescribedtobeashadowyresemblancetoherlatehusband;howveryimprobablethatthisfancyshouldhavebeentheonlycauseofheragitation！Thenhehadnoticed，duringSwithin’sconfirmation，ablushuponhercheekwhenhepassedheronhiswaytotheBishop，andthefervourinherglanceduringthefewmomentsoftheimpositionofhands。Thenhesuddenlyrecalledthenightattherailwaystation，whentheaccidentwiththewhiptookplace，andhow，whenhereachedWellandHouseanhourlater，hehadfoundnoViviettethere。Runningthusfromincidenttoincidentheincreasedhissuspicionswithoutbeingabletocullfromthecircumstancesanythingamountingtoevidence;butevidencehenowdeterminedtoacquirewithoutsayingawordtoanyone。
Hisplanwasofacruelkind:tosetatrapintowhichthepairwouldblindlywalkifanysecretunderstandingexistedbetweenthemofthenaturehesuspected。
XXX
Louisbeganhisstratagembycallingatthetoweroneafternoon，asifontheimpulseofthemoment。
AfterafriendlychatwithSwithin，whomhefoundthere（havingwatchedhimenter），LouisinvitedtheyoungmantodinethesameeveningattheHouse，thathemighthaveanopportunityofshowinghimsomeinterestingoldscientificworksinfolio，which，accordingtoLouis’saccount，hehadstumbledoninthelibrary。LouissetnogreatbaitforSt。Cleeveinthisstatement，foroldsciencewasnotoldartwhich，havingperfecteditself，hasdiedandleftitssecrethiddeninitsremains。ButSwithinwasaresponsivefellow，andreadilyagreedtocome;being，moreover，alwaysgladofachanceofmeetingVivietteenfamille。Hehopedtotellherofaschemethathadlatelysuggesteditselftohimaslikelytobenefitthemboth:
thatheshouldgoawayforawhile，andendeavourtoraisesufficientfundstovisitthegreatobservatoriesofEurope，withaneyetoapostinoneofthem。Hithertotheonlybartotheplanhadbeentheexceedingnarrownessofhisincome，which，thoughsufficientforhispresentlife，wasabsolutelyinadequatetotherequirementsofatravellingastronomer。
MeanwhileLouisGlanvillehadreturnedtotheHouseandtoldhissisterinthemostinnocentmannerthathehadbeeninthecompanyofSt。Cleevethatafternoon，gettingafewwrinklesonastronomy;
thattheyhadgrownsofriendlyoverthefascinatingsubjectastoleavehimnoalternativebuttoinviteSt。CleevetodineatWellandthesameevening，withaviewtocertainresearchesinthelibraryafterwards。
’Icouldquitemakeallowancesforanyyouthfulerrorsintowhichhemayhavebeenbetrayed，’Louiscontinuedsententiously，’since，forascientist，heisreallyadmirable。NodoubttheBishop’scautionwillnotbelostuponhim;andasforhisbirthandconnexions，——
thosehecan’thelp。’
LadyConstantineshowedsuchalacrityinadoptingtheideaofhavingSwithintodinner，andsheignoredhis’youthfulerrors’socompletely，asalmosttobetrayherself。InfulfilmentofherpromisetoseehimoftenershehadbeenintendingtorunacrosstoSwithinonthatidenticalevening。Nowthetroublewouldbesavedinaverydelightfulway，bytheexerciseofalittlehospitalitywhichVivietteherselfwouldnothavedaredtosuggest。
Dinner—timecameandwithitSwithin，exhibitingratherablushingandnervousmannerthatwas，unfortunately，morelikelytobetraytheircausethanwasViviette’sownmorepractisedbearing。
ThroughoutthemealLouissatlikeaspiderinthecornerofhisweb，observingthemnarrowly，andatmomentsflingingoutanartfulthreadhereandthere，withaviewtotheirentanglement。Buttheyunderwenttheordealmarvellouslywell。Perhapstheactualtiebetweenthem，throughbeingsomuchcloserandofsomuchmorepracticalanaturethaneventheircriticsupposedit，wasinitselfaprotectionagainsttheirexhibitingthatultra—reciprocityofmannerwhich，iftheyhadbeenmerelylovers，mighthavebetrayedthem。
Afterdinnerthetriodulyadjournedtothelibraryashadbeenplanned，andthevolumeswerebroughtforthbyLouiswiththezestofabibliophilist。Swithinhadseenmostofthembefore，andthoughtbutlittleofthem;butthepleasureofstayinginthehousemadehimwelcomeanyreasonfordoingso，andhewillinglylookedatwhateverwasputbeforehim，fromBertius’sPtolemytoRees’sCyclopaedia。
Theeveningthuspassedaway，anditbegantogrowlate。Swithinwho，amongotherthings，hadplannedtogotoGreenwichnextdaytoviewtheRoyalObservatory，wouldeverynowandthenstartupandpreparetoleaveforhome，whenGlanvillewouldunearthsomeothervolumeandsodetainhimyetanotherhalf—hour。
’ByGeorge！’hesaid，lookingattheclockwhenSwithinwasatlastreallyabouttodepart。’Ididn’tknowitwassolate。Whynotstayhereto—night，St。Cleeve？Itisverydark，andthewaytoyourplaceisanawkwardcross—cutoverthefields。’
’Itwouldnotinconvenienceusatall，Mr。St。Cleeve，ifyouwouldcaretostay，’saidLadyConstantine。
’Iamafraid——thefactis，Iwantedtotakeanobservationattwentyminutespasttwo，’beganSwithin。
’Oh，now，nevermindyourobservation，’saidLouis。’That’sonlyanexcuse。Dothatto—morrownight。Nowyouwillstay。Itissettled。Viviette，sayhemuststay，andwe’llhaveanotherhourofthesecharmingintellectualresearches。’
Vivietteobeyedwithdelightfulease。’Dostay，MrSt。Cleeve！’shesaidsweetly。
’Well，intruthIcandowithouttheobservation，’repliedtheyoungman，ashegaveway。’Itisnotofthegreatestconsequence。’
Thusitwasarranged;buttheresearchesamongthetomeswerenotprolongedtotheextentthatLouishadsuggested。Inthree—quartersofanhourfromthattimetheyhadallretiredtotheirrespectiverooms;LadyConstantine’sbeingononesideofthewestcorridor，Swithin’sopposite，andLouis’satthefurtherend。
HadapersonfollowedLouiswhenhewithdrew，thatwatcherwouldhavediscovered，onpeepingthroughthekey—holeofhisdoor，thathewasengagedinoneoftheoddestofoccupationsforsuchaman，——
sweepingdownfromtheceiling，bymeansofawalking—cane，alongcobwebwhichlingeredonhighinthecorner。Keepingitstretcheduponthecanehegentlyopenedthedoor，andsetthecandleinsuchapositiononthematthatthelightshonedownthecorridor。Thusguidedbyitsrayshepassedoutslipperless，tillhereachedthedoorofSt。Cleeve’sroom，whereheappliedthedanglingspider’sthreadinsuchamannerthatitstretchedacrosslikeatight—ropefromjambtojamb，barring，initsfragileway，entranceandegress。
Theoperationcompletedheretiredagain，and，extinguishinghislight，wentthroughhisbedroomwindowoutupontheflatroofoftheporticotowhichitgaveaccess。
HereLouismadehimselfcomfortableinhischairandsmoking—cap，enjoyingthefragranceofacigarforsomethinglikehalf—an—hour。
HispositioncommandedaviewofthetwowindowsofLadyConstantine’sroom，andfromtheseadimlightshonecontinuously。
Havingthewindowpartlyopenathisback，andthedoorofhisroomalsoscarcelyclosed，hisearretainedafaircommandofanynoisesthatmightbemade。
Induetimefaintmovementsbecameaudible;whereupon，returningtohisroom，here—enteredthecorridorandlistenedintently。Allwassilentagain，anddarknessreignedfromendtoend。Glanville，however，gropedhiswayalongthepassagetillheagainreachedSwithin’sdoor，whereheexamined，bythelightofawax—matchhehadbrought，theconditionofthespider’sthread。Itwasgone;
somebodyhadcarrieditoffbodily，asSamsoncarriedoffthepinandtheweb。Inotherwords，apersonhadpassedthroughthedoor。
Stillholdingthefaintwax—lightinhishandLouisturnedtothedoorofLadyConstantine’schamber，whereheobservedfirstthat，thoughitwaspushedtogethersoastoappearfastenedtocursoryview，thedoorwasnotreallyclosedbyaboutaquarterofaninch。
Hedroppedhislightandextinguisheditwithhisfoot。Listening，heheardavoicewithin，——Viviette’svoice，inasubduedmurmur，thoughspeakingearnestly。
WithoutanyhesitationLouisthenreturnedtoSwithin’sdoor，openedit，andwalkedin。Thestarlightfromwithoutwassufficient，nowthathiseyeshadbecomeaccustomedtothedarkness，torevealthattheroomwasunoccupied，andthatnothingthereinhadbeendisturbed。
WithaheavytreadLouiscameforth，walkedloudlyacrossthecorridor，knockedatLadyConstantine’sdoor，andcalled’Viviette！’
Sheheardhiminstantly，replying’Yes’instartledtones。
Immediatelyafterwardssheopenedherdoor，andconfrontedhiminherdressing—gown，withalightinherhand。’Whatisthematter，Louis？’shesaid。
’Iamgreatlyalarmed。Ourvisitorismissing。’
’Missing？What，Mr。St。Cleeve？’
’Yes。Iwassittinguptofinishacigar，whenIthoughtIheardanoiseinthisdirection。OncomingtohisroomIfindheisnotthere。’
’GoodHeaven！Iwonderwhathashappened！’sheexclaimed，inapparentlyintensealarm。
’Iwonder，’saidGlanvillegrimly。
’Supposeheisasomnambulist！Ifso，hemayhavegoneoutandbrokenhisneck。Ihaveneverheardthatheisone，buttheysaythatsleepinginstrangeplacesdisturbsthemindsofpeoplewhoaregiventothatsortofthing，andprovokesthemtoit。’
’Unfortunatelyforyourtheoryhisbedhasnotbeentouched。’
’Oh，whatthencanitbe？’
Herbrotherlookedherfullintheface。’Viviette！’hesaidsternly。
Sheseemedpuzzled。’Well？’shereplied，insimpletones。
’Iheardvoicesinyourroom，’hecontinued。
’Voices？’
’Avoice，——yours。’
’Yes，youmayhavedoneso。Itwasmine。’
’Alistenerisrequiredforaspeaker。’
’True，Louis。’
’Well，towhomwereyouspeaking？’
’God。’
’Viviette！Iamashamedofyou。’
’Iwassayingmyprayers。’
’Prayers——toGod！ToSt。Swithin，rather！’
’Whatdoyoumean，Louis？’sheasked，flushingupwarm，anddrawingbackfromhim。’ItwasaformofprayerIuse，particularlywhenI
amintrouble。ItwasrecommendedtomebytheBishop，andMr。
Torkinghamcommendsitveryhighly。’
’Onyourhonour，ifyouhaveany，’hesaidbitterly，’whomhaveyouthereinyourroom？’
’Nohumanbeing。’
’Flatly，Idon’tbelieveyou。’
Shegaveadignifiedlittlebow，and，wavingherhandintotheapartment，said，’Verywell;thensearchandsee。’
Louisentered，andglancedroundtheroom，behindthecurtains，underthebed，outofthewindow——aviewfromwhichshowedthatescapethencewouldhavebeenimpossible，——everywhere，inshort，capableorincapableofaffordingaretreattohumanity;butdiscoverednobody。Allheobservedwasthatalightstoodonthelowtablebyherbedside;thatonthebedlayanopenPrayer—Book，thecounterpanebeingunpressed，exceptintoalittlepitbesidethePrayerBook，apparentlywhereherheadhadrestedinkneeling。
’ButwhereisSt。Cleeve？’hesaid，turninginbewildermentfromtheseevidencesofinnocentdevotion。
’Wherecanhebe？’shechimedin，withrealdistress。’Ishouldsomuchliketoknow。Lookaboutforhim。Iamquiteuneasy！’
’Iwill，ononecondition:thatyouownthatyoulovehim。’
’Whyshouldyouforcemetothat？’shemurmured。’ItwouldbenosuchwonderifIdid。’
’Come，youdo。’
’Well，Ido。’
’NowI’lllookforhim。’
Louistookalight，andturnedaway，astonishedthatshehadnotindignantlyresentedhisintrusionandthenatureofhisquestioning。
Atthismomentaslightnoisewasheardonthestaircase，andtheycouldseeafigurerisingstepbystep，andcomingforwardagainstthelonglightsofthestaircasewindow。ItwasSwithin，inhisordinarydress，andcarryinghisbootsinhishand。Whenhebeheldthemstandingtheresomotionless，helookedratherdisconcerted，butcameontowardshisroom。
LadyConstantinewastooagitatedtospeak，butLouissaid，’Iamgladtoseeyouagain。Hearinganoise，afewminutesago，Icameouttolearnwhatitcouldbe。Ifoundyouabsent，andwehavebeenverymuchalarmed。’
’Iamverysorry，’saidSwithin，withcontrition。’Ioweyouahundredapologies:butthetruthisthatonenteringmybedroomI
foundtheskyremarkablyclear，andthoughItoldyouthattheobservationIwastomakewasofnogreatconsequence，onthinkingitoveraloneIfeltitoughtnottobeallowedtopass;soIwastemptedtorunacrosstotheobservatory，andmakeit，asIhadhoped，withoutdisturbinganybody。IfIhadknownthatIshouldalarmyouIwouldnothavedoneitfortheworld。’
SwithinspokeveryearnestlytoLouis，anddidnotobservethetenderreproachinViviette’seyeswhenheshowedbyhistalehisdecidednotionthattheprimeuseofdarknightslayintheirfurtheranceofpracticalastronomy。
Everythingbeingnowsatisfactorilyexplainedthethreeretiredtotheirseveralchambers，andLouisheardnomorenoisesthatnight，orrathermorning;hisattemptstosolvethemysteryofViviette’slifehereandherrelationswithSt。Cleevehavingthusfarresultedchieflyinperplexity。True，anadmissionhadbeenwrungfromher;
andevenwithoutsuchanadmissionitwasclearthatshehadatenderfeelingforSwithin。Howtoextinguishthatromanticfollyitnowbecamehisobjecttoconsider。
XXXI
Swithin’smidnightexcursiontothetowerinthecauseofscienceledhimtooversleephimself，andwhenthebrotherandsistermetatbreakfastinthemorninghedidnotappear。
’Don’tdisturbhim，——don’tdisturbhim，’saidLouislaconically。
’Hullo，Viviette，whatareyoureadingtherethatmakesyouflameupso？’
Shewasglancingoveraletterthatshehadjustopened，andathiswordslookedupwithmisgiving。
Theincidentofthepreviousnightleftheringreatdoubtastowhatherbearingtowardshimoughttobe。Shehadmadenoshowofresentinghisconductatthetime，fromamomentarysuppositionthathemustknowallhersecret;andafterwards，findingthathedidnotknowit，itseemedtoolatetoaffectindignationathissuspicions。
Soshepreservedaquietneutrality。Evenhadsheresolvedonanartificialpartshemighthaveforgottentoplayitatthisinstant，theletterbeingofakindtobanishpreviousconsiderations。
’ItisaletterfromBishopHelmsdale，’shefaltered。
’Welldone！Ihopeforyoursakeitisanoffer。’
’That’sjustwhatitis。’
’No，——surely？’saidLouis，beginningalaughofsurprise。
’Yes，’shereturnedindifferently。’Youcanreadit，ifyoulike。’
’Idon’twishtopryintoacommunicationofthatsort。’
’Oh，youmayreadit，’shesaid，tossingtheletteracrosstohim。
Louisthereuponreadasunder:——
’THEPALACE，MELCHESTER，June28，18——。
’MYDEARLADYCONSTANTINE，——DuringthetwoorthreeweeksthathaveelapsedsinceIexperiencedthegreatpleasureofrenewingmyacquaintancewithyou，thevariedagitationofmyfeelingshasclearlyprovedthatmyonlycourseistoaddressyoubyletter，andatonce。Whetherthesubjectofmycommunicationbeacceptabletoyouornot，Icanatleastassureyouthattosuppressitwouldbefarlessnatural，anduponthewholelessadvisable，thantospeakoutfrankly，evenifafterwardsIholdmypeaceforever。
’Thegreatchangeinmyexperienceduringthepastyearortwo——thechange，thatis，whichhasresultedfrommyadvancementtoabishopric——hasfrequentlysuggestedtome，oflate，thatadiscontinuanceinmydomesticlifeofthesolitudeofpastyearswasaquestionwhichoughttobeseriouslycontemplated。ButwhetherI
shouldeverhavecontemplateditwithoutthegreatgoodfortuneofmymeetingwithyouisdoubtful。However，thethinghasbeenconsideredatlast，andwithoutmoreadoIcandidlyaskifyouwouldbewillingtogiveupyourlifeatWelland，andrelievemyhouseholdlonelinessherebybecomingmywife。
’Iamfarfromdesiringtoforceahurrieddecisiononyourpart，andwillwaityourgoodpleasurepatiently，shouldyoufeelanyuncertaintyatthemomentastothestep。Iamquitedisqualified，byhabitsandexperience，forthedelightfulprocedureofurgingmysuitintheardenttermswhichwouldbesoappropriatetowardssuchalady，andsoexpressiveofmyinmostfeeling。Intruth，aprosyclericoffive—and—fortywantsencouragementtomakehimeloquent。
Ofthis，however，Icanassureyou:thatifadmiration，esteem，anddevotioncancompensateinanywayforthelackofthosequalitieswhichmightbefoundtoburnwithmoreoutwardbrightnessinayoungerman，thoseitisinmypowertobestowforthetermofmyearthlylife。Yoursteadyadherencetochurchprinciplesandyourinterestinecclesiasticalpolity（aswasshownbyyourbrightquestioningonthosesubjectsduringourmorningwalkroundyourgrounds）haveindicatedstronglytomethegraceandappropriatenesswithwhichyouwouldfillthepositionofabishop’swife，andhowgreatlyyouwouldaddtohisreputation，shouldyoubedisposedtohonourhimwithyourhand。FormerlytherehavebeentimeswhenI
wasofopinion——andyouwillrightlyappreciatemycandourinowningit——thatawifewasanimpedimenttoabishop’sdueactivities;butconstantobservationhasconvincedmethat，farfromthisbeingthetruth，ameetconsortinfuseslifeintoepiscopalinfluenceandteaching。
’ShouldyoureplyintheaffirmativeIwillatoncecometoseeyou，andwithyourpermissionwill，amongotherthings，showyouafewplain，practicalruleswhichIhaveinterestedmyselfindrawingupforourfutureguidance。Shouldyourefusetochangeyourconditiononmyaccount，yourdecisionwill，asIneedhardlysay，beagreatblowtome。Inanyevent，IcouldnotdolessthanIhavedone，aftergivingthesubjectmyfullconsideration。Eveniftherebeaslightdeficiencyofwarmthonyourpart，myearnesthopeisthatamindcomprehensiveasyourswillperceivetheimmensepowerforgoodthatyoumightexerciseinthepositioninwhichaunionwithmewouldplaceyou，andallowthatperceptiontoweighindeterminingyouranswer。
’Iremain，mydearLadyConstantine，withthehighestrespectandaffection，——Yoursalways，’C。MELCHESTER。’
’Well，youwillnothavethefoolhardinesstodecline，nowthatthequestionhasactuallybeenpopped，Ishouldhope，’saidLouis，whenhehaddonereading。
’CertainlyIshall，’shereplied。
’Youwillreallybesuchaflat，Viviette？’
’Youspeakwithoutmuchcompliment。Ihavenottheleastideaofacceptinghim。’
’Surelyyouwillnotletyourinfatuationforthatyoungfellowcarryyousofar，aftermyacquaintingyouwiththeshadysideofhischaracter？Youcallyourselfareligiouswoman，sayyourprayersoutloud，followuptherevivedmethodsinchurchpractice，andwhatnot;andyetyoucanthinkwithpartialityofapersonwho，farfromhavinganyreligioninhim，breaksthemostelementarycommandmentsinthedecalogue。’
’Icannotagreewithyou，’shesaid，turningherfaceaskance，forsheknewnothowmuchofherbrother’slanguagewassincere，andhowmuchassumed，theextentofhisdiscoverieswithregardtohersecrettiesbeingamystery。Atmomentsshewasdisposedtodeclarethewholetruth，andhavedonewithit。Butshehesitated，andleftthewordsunsaid;andLouiscontinuedhisbreakfastinsilence。
Whenhehadfinished，andshehadeatenlittleornothing，heaskedoncemore，’Howdoyouintendtoanswerthatletter？Hereyouare，thepoorestwomaninthecounty，abandonedbypeoplewhousedtobegladtoknowyou，andleadingalifeasdismalanddrearyasanun’s，whenanopportunityisofferedyouofleapingatonceintoaleadingpositioninthispartofEngland。Bishopsaregiventohospitality;youwouldbewelcomedeverywhere。Inshort，youranswermustbeyes。’
’Andyetitwillbeno，’shesaid，inalowvoice。Shehadatlengthlearnt，fromthetoneofherbrother’slatterremarks，thatatanyratehehadnoknowledgeofheractualmarriage，whateverindirecttieshemightsuspectherguiltyof。
Louiscouldrestrainhimselfnolongeratheranswer。’Thenconductyouraffairsyourownway。Iknowyoutobeleadingalifethatwon’tbearinvestigation，andI’mhangedifI’llstayhereanylonger！’
Sayingwhich，Glanvillejerkedbackhischair，andstrodeoutoftheroom。Inlessthanaquarterofanhour，andbeforeshehadmovedastepfromthetable，sheheardhimleavingthehouse。
XXXII
Whattodoshecouldnottell。ThestepwhichSwithinhadentreatedhertotake，objectionableandprematureasithadseemedinacountyaspect，wouldatalleventshavesavedherfromthisdilemma。
HadsheallowedhimtotelltheBishophissimplestoryinitsfulness，whocouldsaybutthatthatdivinemighthavegenerouslybridledhisownimpulses，enteredintothecasewithsympathy，andforwardedwithzesttheirdesignsforthefuture，owingtohisinterestofoldinSwithin’sfather，andinthenaturallyattractivefeaturesoftheyoungman’scareer。
Apuffofwindfromtheopenwindow，waftingtheBishop’slettertothefloor，arousedherfromherreverie。Withasighshestoopedandpickeditup，glancedatitagain;thenarose，andwiththedeliberatenessofinevitableactionwroteherreply:——
’WELLANDHOUSE，June29，18——。
’MYDEARBISHOPOFMELCHESTER，——Iconfesstoyouthatyourletter，sograciousandflatteringasitis，hastakenyourfriendsomewhatunawares。TheleastIcandoinreturnforitscontentsistoreplyasquicklyaspossible。
’Thereisnooneintheworldwhoesteemsyourhighqualitiesmorethanmyself，orwhohasgreaterfaithinyourabilitytoadorntheepiscopalseatthatyouhavebeencalledontofill。ButtoyourquestionIcangiveonlyonereply，andthatisanunqualifiednegative。Tostatethisunavoidabledecisiondistressesme，withoutaffectation;andItrustyouwillbelievethat，thoughIdeclinethedistinctionofbecomingyourwife，Ishallneverceasetointerestmyselfinallthatpertainstoyouandyouroffice;andshallfeelthekeenestregretifthisrefusalshouldoperatetopreventalifelongfriendshipbetweenus。——Iam，mydearBishopofMelchester，eversincerelyyours，’VIVIETTECONSTANTINE。’
Asuddenrevulsionfromthesubterfugeofwritingasifshewerestillawidow，wroughtinhermindafeelingofdissatisfactionwiththewholeschemeofconcealment;andpushingasidethelettersheallowedittoremainunfoldedandunaddressed。InafewminutessheheardSwithinapproaching，whensheputtheletteroutofthewayandturnedtoreceivehim。