Swithinenteredquietly，andlookedroundtheroom。Seeingwithunexpectedpleasurethatshewastherealone，hecameoverandkissedher。Herdiscomposureatsomeforegoneeventwassoonobvious。
’Hasmystayingcausedyouanytrouble？’heaskedinawhisper。
’Whereisyourbrotherthismorning？’
Shesmiledthroughherperplexityasshetookhishand。’Theoddestthingshappentome，dearSwithin，’shesaid。’Doyouwishparticularlytoknowwhathashappenednow？’
’Yes，ifyoudon’tmindtellingme。’
’Idomindtellingyou。ButImust。AmongotherthingsIamresolvingtogivewaytoyourrepresentations，——inpart，atleast。
ItwillbebesttotelltheBishopeverything，andmybrother，ifnototherpeople。’
’Iamtrulygladtohearit，Viviette，’saidhecheerfully。’Ihavefeltforalongtimethathonestyisthebestpolicy。’
’Iatanyratefeelitnow。Butitisapolicythatrequiresagreatdealofcourage！’
’Itcertainlyrequiressomecourage，——Ishouldnotsayagreatdeal;
andindeed，asfarasIamconcerned，itdemandslesscouragetospeakoutthantoholdmytongue。’
’But，yousillyboy，youdon’tknowwhathashappened。TheBishophasmademeanofferofmarriage。’
’Goodgracious，whatanimpertinentoldman！Whathaveyoudoneaboutit，dearest？’
’Well，Ihavehardlyacceptedhim，’shereplied，laughing。’ItisthiseventwhichhassuggestedtomethatIshouldmakemyrefusalareasonforconfidingoursituationtohim。’
’Whatwouldyouhavedoneifyouhadnotbeenalreadyappropriated？’
’That’saninscrutablemystery。Heisaworthyman;buthehasverypronouncedviewsabouthisownposition，andsomeotherundesirablequalities。Still，whoknows？Youmustblessyourstarsthatyouhavesecuredme。Nowletusconsiderhowtodrawupourconfessiontohim。IwishIhadlistenedtoyouatfirst，andallowedyoutotakehimintoourconfidencebeforehisdeclarationarrived。Hemaypossiblyresenttheconcealmentnow。However，thiscannotbehelped。’
’Itellyouwhat，Viviette，’saidSwithin，afterathoughtfulpause，’iftheBishopissuchanearthlysortofmanasthis，amanwhogoesfallinginlove，andwantingtomarryyou，andsoon，Iamnotdisposedtoconfessanythingtohimatall。Ifanciedhimaltogetherdifferentfromthat。’
’Buthe’snonetheworseforit，dear。’
’Ithinkheis——tolecturemeandloveyou，allinonebreath！’
’Still，that’sonlyapassingphase;andyoufirstproposedmakingaconfidantofhim。’
’Idid……Verywell。ThenwearetotellnobodybuttheBishop？’
’AndmybrotherLouis。Imusttellhim;itisunavoidable。HesuspectsmeinawayIcouldneverhavecreditedofhim！’
Swithin，aswasbeforestated，hadarrangedtostartforGreenwichthatmorning，permissionhavingbeenaccordedhimbytheAstronomer—
RoyaltoviewtheObservatory;andtheirfinaldecisionwasthat，ashecouldnotaffordtimetositdownwithher，andwritetotheBishopincollaboration，eachshould，duringtheday，composeawell—consideredletter，disclosingtheirpositionfromhisandherownpointofview;LadyConstantineleadinguptoherconfessionbyherrefusaloftheBishop’shand。ItwasnecessarythatsheshouldknowwhatSwithincontemplatedsaying，thatherstatementsmightpreciselyharmonize。Heultimatelyagreedtosendherhisletterbythenextmorning’spost，when，havingreadit，shewouldinduecoursedespatchitwithherown。
AssoonashehadbreakfastedSwithinwenthisway，promisingtoreturnfromGreenwichbytheendoftheweek。
Viviettepassedtheremainderofthatlongsummerday，duringwhichheryounghusbandwasrecedingtowardsthecapital，inanalmostmotionlessstate。Atsomeinstantsshefeltexultantattheideaofannouncinghermarriageanddefyinggeneralopinion。Atanotherherheartmisgaveher，andshewastormentedbyafearlestSwithinshouldsomedayaccuseherofhavinghamperedhisdeliberately—
shapedplanoflifebyherintrusiveromanticism。Thatwasoftenthetrickofmenwhohadsealedbymarriage，intheirinexperiencedyouth，aloveforthosewhomtheirmaturerjudgmentwouldhaverejectedastooobviouslydisproportionateinyears。
However，itwasnowtoolatefortheselugubriousthoughts;and，bracingherself，shebegantoframethenewreplytoBishopHelmsdale——theplain，unvarnishedtalethatwastosupplanttheundivulginganswerfirstwritten。Shewasengagedonthisdifficultproblemtilldaylightfadedinthewest，andthebroad—facedmoonedgedupwards，likeaplateofoldgold，overtheelmstowardsthevillage。BythattimeSwithinhadreachedGreenwich;herbrotherhadgonesheknewnotwhither;andsheandlonelinessdweltsolely，asbefore，withinthewallsofWellandHouse。
Atthishourofsunsetandmoonrisethenewparlourmaidentered，toinformherthatMr。Cecil’sheadclerk，fromWarborne，particularlywishedtoseeher。
Mr。Cecilwashersolicitor，andsheknewofnothingwhateverthatrequiredhisinterventionjustatpresent。Buthewouldnothavesentatthistimeofdaywithoutexcellentreasons，andshedirectedthattheyoungmanmightbeshowninwhereshewas。Onhisentrythefirstthingshenoticedwasthatinhishandhecarriedanewspaper。
’Incaseyoushouldnothaveseenthisevening’spaper，LadyConstantine，Mr。Cecilhasdirectedmetobringittoyouatonce，onaccountofwhatappearsthereinrelationtoyourladyship。Hehasonlyjustseenithimself。’
’Whatisit？Howdoesitconcernme？’
’Iwillpointitout。’
’Readityourselftome。ThoughIamafraidthere’snotenoughlight。’
’Icanseeverywellhere，’saidthelawyer’sclerksteppingtothewindow。Foldingbackthepaperheread:——
’\"NEWSFROMSOUTHAFRICA。
’\"CAPETOWN，May17（viaPlymouth）。——AcorrespondentoftheCapeChroniclestatesthathehasinterviewedanEnglishmanjustarrivedfromtheinterior，andlearnsfromhimthataconsiderablemisapprehensionexistsinEnglandconcerningthedeathofthetravellerandhunter，SirBlountConstantine——\"’
’O，he’sliving！Myhusbandisalive，’shecried，sinkingdowninnearlyafaintingcondition。
’No，mylady。SirBlountisdeadenough，Iamsorrytosay。’
’Dead，didyousay？’
’Certainly，LadyConstantine;thereisnodoubtofit。’
Shesatup，andherintensereliefalmostmadeitselfperceptiblelikeafreshatmosphereintheroom。’Yes。Thenwhatdidyoucomefor？’sheaskedcalmly。
’ThatSirBlounthasdiedisunquestionable，’repliedthelawyer’sclerkgently。’Buttherehasbeensomemistakeaboutthedateofhisdeath。’
’HediedofmalariousfeveronthebanksoftheZouga，October24，18——。’
’No;heonlylayilltherealongtimeitseems。Itwasacompanionwhodiedatthatdate。ButI’llreadtheaccounttoyourladyship，withyourpermission:——
’\"Thedeceaseofthissomewhateccentricwandererdidnotoccuratthetimehithertosupposed，butonlyinlastDecember。ThefollowingistheaccountoftheEnglishmanalludedto，givenasnearlyaspossibleinhisownwords:DuringtheillnessofSirBlountandhisfriendbytheZouga，threeoftheservantswentaway，takingwiththemaportionofhisclothingandeffects;anditmustbetheywhospreadthereportofhisdeathatthistime。Afterhiscompanion’sdeathhemended，andwhenhewasstrongenoughheandI
travelledontoahealthierdistrict。IurgedhimnottodelayhisreturntoEngland;buthewasmuchagainstgoingbackthereagain，andbecamesoroughinhismannertowardsmethatwepartedcompanyatthefirstopportunityIcouldfind。IjoinedapartyofwhitetradersreturningtotheWestCoast。IstayedhereamongthePortugueseformanymonths。IthenfoundthatanEnglishtravellingpartyweregoingtoexploreadistrictadjoiningthatwhichIhadformerlytraversedwithSirBlount。Theysaidtheywouldbegladofmyservices，andIjoinedthem。WhenwehadcrossedtheterritorytotheSouthofUlunda，anddrewneartoMarzambo，IheardtidingsofamanlivingtherewhomIsuspectedtobeSirBlount，althoughhewasnotknownbythatname。BeingsonearIwasinducedtoseekhimout，andfoundthathewasindeedthesame。Hehaddroppedhisoldnamealtogether，andhadmarriedanativeprincess——\"’
’Marriedanativeprincess！’saidLadyConstantine。
’That’swhatitsays，mylady，——\"marriedanativeprincessaccordingtotheritesofthetribe，andwaslivingveryhappilywithher。HetoldmeheshouldneverreturntoEnglandagain。HealsotoldmethathavingseenthisprincessjustafterIhadlefthim，hehadbeenattractedbyher，andhadthereupondecidedtoresidewithherinthatcountry，asbeingalandwhichaffordedhimgreaterhappinessthanhecouldhopetoattainelsewhere。Heaskedmetostaywithhim，insteadofgoingonwithmyparty，andnotrevealhisrealtitletoanyofthem。AftersomehesitationIdidstay，andwasnotuncomfortableatfirst。ButIsoonfoundthatSirBlountdrankmuchhardernowthanwhenIhadknownhim，andthathewasattimesverygreatlydepressedinmindathisposition。OnemorninginthemiddleofDecemberlastIheardashotfromhisdwelling。
HiswiferushedfranticallypastmeasIhastenedtothespot，andwhenIenteredIfoundthathehadputanendtohimselfwithhisrevolver。Hisprincesswasbroken—heartedallthatday。WhenwehadburiedhimIdiscoveredinhishousealittleboxdirectedtohissolicitorsatWarborne，inEngland，andanoteformyself，sayingthatIhadbettergetthefirstchanceofreturningthatoffered，andrequestingmetotaketheboxwithme。ItissupposedtocontainpapersandarticlesforfriendsinEnglandwhohavedeemedhimdeadforsometime。\"’
Theclerkstoppedhisreading，andtherewasasilence。’ThemiddleoflastDecember，’sheatlengthsaid，inawhisper。’Hastheboxarrivedyet？’
’Notyet，mylady。Wehavenofurtherproofofanything。Assoonasthepackagecomestohandyoushallknowofitimmediately。’
Suchwastheclerk’smission;and，leavingthepaperwithher，hewithdrew。Theintelligenceamountedtothusmuch:that，SirBlounthavingbeenalivetillatleastsixweeksafterhermarriagewithSwithinSt。Cleeve，SwithinSt。Cleevewasnotherhusbandintheeyeofthelaw;thatshewouldhavetoconsiderhowhermarriagewiththelattermightbeinstantlyrepeated，toestablishherselflegallyasthatyoungman’swife。
XXXIII
NextmorningViviettereceivedavisitfromMr。Cecilhimself。Heinformedherthattheboxspokenofbytheservanthadarrivedquiteunexpectedlyjustafterthedepartureofhisclerkonthepreviousevening。Therehadnotbeensufficienttimeforhimtothoroughlyexamineitasyet，buthehadseenenoughtoenablehimtostatethatitcontainedletters，datedmemorandainSirBlount’shandwriting，notesreferringtoeventswhichhadhappenedlaterthanhissupposeddeath，andotherirrefragableproofsthattheaccountinthenewspaperswascorrectastothemainfact——thecomparativelyrecentdateofSirBlount’sdecease。
Shelookedup，andspokewiththeirresponsiblehelplessnessofachild。
’Onreviewingthecircumstances，IcannotthinkhowIcouldhaveallowedmyselftobelievethefirsttidings！’shesaid。
’Everybodyelsebelievedthem，andwhyshouldyounothavedoneso？’
saidthelawyer。
’Howcamethewilltobepermittedtobeproved，astherecould，afterall，havebeennocompleteevidence？’sheasked。’IfIhadbeentheexecutrixIwouldnothaveattemptedit！AsIwasnot，I
knowverylittleabouthowthebusinesswaspushedthrough。Inaveryunseemlyway，Ithink。’
’Well，no，’saidMr。Cecil，feelinghimselfmorallycalledupontodefendlegalprocedurefromsuchimputations。’Itwasdoneintheusualwayinallcaseswheretheproofofdeathisonlypresumptive。
Theevidence，suchasitwas，waslaidbeforethecourtbytheapplicants，yourhusband’scousins;andtheservantswhohadbeenwithhimdeposedtohisdeathwithaparticularitythatwasdeemedsufficient。Theirerrorwas，notthatsomebodydied——forsomebodydiddieatthetimeaffirmed——butthattheymistookonepersonforanother;thepersonwhodiedbeingnotSirBlountConstantine。ThecourtwasofopinionthattheevidenceleduptoareasonableinferencethatthedeceasedwasactuallySirBlount，andprobatewasgrantedonthestrengthofit。Astherewasadoubtabouttheexactdayofthemonth，theapplicantswereallowedtoswearthathediedonorafterthedatelastgivenofhisexistence——which，inspiteoftheirerrorthen，hasreallycometrue，now，ofcourse。’
’Theylittlethinkwhattheyhavedonetomebybeingsoreadytoswear！’shemurmured。
Mr。Cecil，supposinghertoalludeonlytothepecuniarystraitsinwhichshehadbeenprematurelyplacedbythewilltakingeffectayearbeforeitsduetime，said，’True。Ithasbeentoyourladyship’sloss，andtotheirgain。Buttheywillmakeamplerestitution，nodoubt:andallwillbewoundupsatisfactorily。’
LadyConstantinewasfarfromexplainingthatthiswasnothermeaning;and，aftersomefurtherconversationofapurelytechnicalnature，Mr。Cecilleftherpresence。
Whenshewasagainunencumberedwiththenecessityofexhibitingaproperbearing，thesensethatshehadgreatlysufferedinpocketbytheunduehasteoftheexecutorsweigheduponhermindwithapressurequiteinappreciablebesidethegreatergravityofherpersonalposition。Whatwasherpositionaslegateetohersituationasawoman？Herfacecrimsonedwithaflushwhichshewasalmostashamedtoshowtothedaylight，asshehastilypennedthefollowingnotetoSwithinatGreenwich——certainlyoneofthemostinformaldocumentsshehadeverwritten。
’WELLAND，Thursday。
’OSwithin，mydearSwithin，whatIhavetotellyouissosadandsohumiliatingthatIcanhardlywriteit——andyetImust。Thoughwearedearertoeachotherthanalltheworldbesides，andasfirmlyunitedasifwewereone，Iamnotlegallyyourwife！SirBlountdidnotdietillsometimeafterweinEnglandsupposed。Theservicemustberepeatedinstantly。Ihavenotbeenabletosleepallnight。IfeelsofrightenedandashamedthatIcanscarcelyarrangemythoughts。Thenewspaperssentwiththiswillexplain，ifyouhavenotseenparticulars。Docometomeassoonasyoucan，thatwemayconsultonwhattodo。Burnthisatonce。
’YourVIVIETTE。’
Whenthenotewasdespatchedsherememberedthattherewasanotherhardlylessimportantquestiontobeanswered——theproposaloftheBishopforherhand。Hiscommunicationhadsunkintonothingnessbesidethemomentousnewsthathadsogreatlydistressedher。Thetworeplieslaybeforeher——theoneshehadfirstwritten，simplydecliningtobecomeDr。Helmsdale’swife，withoutgivingreasons;
thesecond，whichshehadelaboratedwithsomuchcareonthepreviousday，relatinginconfidentialdetailthehistoryofherloveforSwithin，theirsecretmarriage，andtheirhopesforthefuture;askinghisadviceonwhattheirprocedureshouldbetoescapethestricturesofacensoriousworld。ItwasthelettershehadbarelyfinishedwritingwhenMr。Cecil’sclerkannouncednewstantamounttoadeclarationthatshewasnowifeatall。
Thisepistleshenowdestroyed——andwiththelessreluctanceinknowingthatSwithinhadbeensomewhataversetotheconfessionassoonashefoundthatBishopHelmsdalewasalsoavictimtotendersentimentconcerningher。Thefirst，inwhich，atthetimeofwriting，thesuppressioveriwastoostrongforherconscience，hadnowbecomeanhonestletter，andsadlyfoldingitshesentthemissiveonitsway。
Thesenseofherundefinablepositionkeptherfrommuchreposeonthesecondnightalso;butthefollowingmorningbroughtanunexpectedletterfromSwithin，writtenaboutthesamehourasherstohim，anditcomfortedhermuch。
Hehadseentheaccountinthepapersalmostassoonasithadcometoherknowledge，andsentthislinetoreassureherintheperturbationshemustnaturallyfeel。Shewasnottobealarmedatall。Theytwowerehusbandandwifeinmoralintentandantecedentbelief，andthelegalflawwhichaccidenthadsocuriouslyuncoveredcouldbemendedinhalf—an—hour。HewouldreturnonSaturdaynightatlatest，butasthehourwouldprobablybefaradvanced，hewouldaskhertomeethimbyslippingoutofthehousetothetoweranytimeduringserviceonSundaymorning，whentherewouldbefewpersonsaboutlikelytoobservethem。Meanwhilehemightprovisionallystatethattheirbestcourseintheemergencywouldbe，insteadofconfessingtoanybodythattherehadalreadybeenasolemnizationofmarriagebetweenthem，toarrangetheirre—marriageinasopenamanneraspossible——asifitwerethejust—reachedclimaxofasuddenaffection，insteadofaharkingbacktoanolddeparture——prefacingitbyapublicannouncementintheusualway。
Thisplanofapproachingtheirsecondunionwithalltheshowandcircumstanceofanewthing，recommendeditselftoherstrongly，butforoneobjection——thatbysuchacoursetheweddingcouldnot，withoutappearinglikeanactofunseemlyhaste，takeplacesoquicklyasshedesiredforherownmoralsatisfaction。Itmighttakeplacesomewhatearly，sayinthecourseofamonthortwo，withoutbringingdownuponherthechargeoflevity;forSirBlount，anotoriouslyunkindhusband，hadbeenoutofhersightfouryears，andinhisgravenearlyone。Butwhatshenaturallydesiredwasthatthereshouldbenomoredelaythanwaspositivelynecessaryforobtaininganewlicense——twoorthreedaysatlongest;andinviewofthiscelerityitwasnexttoimpossibletomakeduepreparationforaweddingofordinarypublicity，performedinherownchurch，fromherownhouse，withafeastandamusementsforthevillagers，ateafortheschoolchildren，abonfire，andotherofthoseproclamatoryaccessorieswhich，bymeetingwonderhalf—way，depriveitofmuchofitsintensity。Itmustbeadmitted，too，thatsheevennowshrankfromtheshockofsurprisethatwouldinevitablybecausedbyheropenlytakingforhusbandsuchamereyouthofnopositionasSwithinstillappeared，notwithstandingthatinyearshewasbythistimewithinatrifleofone—and—twenty。
Thestraightforwardcoursehad，nevertheless，somuchtorecommendit，sowellavoidedthedisadvantageoffuturerevelationwhichaprivaterepetitionoftheceremonywouldentail，thatassumingshecoulddependuponSwithin，assheknewshecoulddo，goodsensecounselleditsseriousconsideration。
Shebecamemorecomposedatherqueersituation:hourafterhourpassed，andthefirstspasmodicimpulseofwomanlydecorum——nottoletthesungodownuponherpresentimproperstate——wasquitecontrollable。Shecouldregardthestrangecontingencythathadarisenwithsomethinglikephilosophy。Thedayslippedby:shethoughtoftheawkwardnessoftheaccidentratherthanofitshumiliation;and，lovingSwithinnowinafarcalmerspiritthanatthatpastdatewhentheyhadrushedintoeachother’sarmsandvowedtobeoneforthefirsttime，sheeverandanoncaughtherselfreflecting，’Wereitnotthatformyhonour’ssakeImustre—marryhim，Ishouldperhapsbeanoblerwomaninnotallowinghimtoencumberhisbrightfuturebyaunionwithmeatall。’
Thisthought，atfirstartificiallyraised，aslittlemorethanamentalexercise，becamebystagesagenuineconviction;andwhileherheartenforced，herreasonregrettedthenecessityofabstainingfromself—sacrifice——thebeingobliged，despitehiscuriousescapefromthefirstattempt，tolimeSwithin’syoungwingsagainsolelyforhercredit’ssake。
However，thedeedhadtobedone;Swithinwastobemadelegallyhers。Selfishnessinaconjunctureofthissortwasexcusable，andevenobligatory。Takingbrighterviews，shehopedthatuponthewholethisyokingoftheyoungfellowwithher，aportionlesswomanandhissenior，wouldnotgreatlyendangerhiscareer。Insuchamoodnightovertookher，andshewenttobedconjecturingthatSwithinhadbythistimearrivedintheparish，wasperhapsevenatthatmomentpassinghomewardbeneathherwalls，andthatinlessthantwelvehoursshewouldhavemethim，haveventilatedthesecretwhichoppressedher，andhavesatisfactorilyarrangedwithhimthedetailsoftheirreunion。
XXXIV
Sundaymorningcame，andcomplicatedherpreviousemotionsbybringinganewandunexpectedshocktominglewiththem。Thepostmanhaddeliveredamongotherthingsanillustratednewspaper，sentbyahandshedidnotrecognize;andonopeningthecoverthesheetthatmethereyesfilledherwithahorrorwhichshecouldnotexpress。Theprintwasonewhichdrewlargelyonitsimaginationforitsengravings，anditalreadycontainedanillustrationofthedeathofSirBlountConstantine。Inthisworkofarthewasrepresentedasstandingwithhispistoltohismouth，hisbrainsbeinginprocessofflyinguptotheroofofhischamber，andhisnativeprincessrushingterror—strickenawaytoaremotepositioninthethicketofpalmswhichneighbouredthedwelling。
Thecruderealismofthepicture，possiblyharmlessenoughinitseffectuponothers，overpoweredandsickenedher。Byacuriousfascinationshewouldlookatitagainandagain，tilleverylineoftheengraver’sperformanceseemedreallyatranscriptfromwhathadhappenedbeforehiseyes。Withsuchdetailsfreshinherthoughtsshewasgoingoutofthedoortomakearrangementsforconfirming，byrepetition，hermarriagewithanother。Nointervalwasavailableforseriousreflectiononthetragedy，orforallowingthesofteningeffectsoftimetooperateinhermind。Itwasasthoughherfirsthusbandhaddiedthatmoment，andshewaskeepinganappointmentwithanotherinthepresenceofhiscorpse。
SorevivedwastheactualityofSirBlount’srecentlifeanddeathbythisincident，thatthedistressofherpersonalrelationswithSwithinwasthesingleforceintheworldwhichcouldhavecoercedherintoabandoningtohimtheintervalshewouldfainhavesetapartforgettingoverthesenewandpainfulimpressions。Self—pityforill—usageaffordedhergoodreasonsforceasingtoloveSirBlount;buthewasyettoocloselyintertwinedwithherpastlifetobedestructibleontheinstantasamemory。
Buttherewasnochoiceofoccasionsforhernow，andshesteadilywaitedforthechurchbellstoceasechiming。Atlastallwassilent;thesurroundingcottagershadgatheredthemselveswithinthewallsoftheadjacentbuilding。TabithaLark’sfirstvoluntarythendronedfromthetowerwindow，andLadyConstantineleftthegardeninwhichshehadbeenloitering，andwenttowardsRings—HillSpeer。
Thesenseofhersituationobscuredthemorningprospect。Thecountrywasunusuallysilentundertheintensifyingsun，thesonglessseasonofbirdshavingjustsetin。Choosingherpathamidtheeftsthatwerebaskingupontheouterslopesoftheplantationshewoundherwayupthetree—shroudedcamptothewoodencabininthecentre。
Thedoorwasajar，butonenteringshefoundtheplaceempty。Thetowerdoorwasalsopartlyopen;andlisteningatthefootofthestairssheheardSwithinabove，shiftingthetelescopeandwheelingroundtherumblingdome，apparentlyinpreparationforthenextnocturnalreconnoitre。Therewasnodoubtthathewoulddescendinaminuteortwotolookforher，andnotwishingtointerrupthimtillhewasreadyshere—enteredthecabin，whereshepatientlyseatedherselfamongthebooksandpapersthatlayscatteredabout。
Shedidasshehadoftendonebeforewhenwaitingthereforhim;
thatis，sheoccupiedhermomentsinturningoverthepapersandexaminingtheprogressofhislabours。Thenotesweremostlyastronomical，ofcourse，andshehadmanagedtokeepsufficientlyabreastofhimtocatchthemeaningofagoodmanyofthese。Thelitteronthetable，however，wassomewhatmoremarkedthismorningthanusual，asifithadbeenhurriedlyoverhauled。Amongtherestofthesheetslayanopennote，and，intheentireconfidencethatexistedbetweenthem，sheglancedoverandreaditasamatterofcourse。
Itwasamostbusiness—likecommunication，andbeyondtheaddressanddatecontainedonlythefollowingwords:——
’DEARSIR，——Webegleavetodrawyourattentiontoaletterweaddressedtoyouonthe26thult。，towhichwehavenotyetbeenfavouredwithareply。Asthetimeforpaymentofthefirstmoietyofthesixhundredpoundsperannumsettledonyoubyyourlateuncleisnowathand，weshouldbeobligedbyyourgivingdirectionsastowhereandinwhatmannerthemoneyistobehandedovertoyou，andshallalsobegladtoreceiveanyotherdefiniteinstructionsfromyouwithregardtothefuture。——Weare，dearSir，yoursfaithfully，HANNERANDRAWLES。’
’SWITHINST。CLEEVE，Esq。’
AnincomeofsixhundredayearforSwithin，whomshehadhithertounderstoodtobepossessedofanannuityofeightypoundsattheoutside，withnoprospectofincreasingthesumbutbyhardwork！
Whatcouldthiscommunicationmean？Hewhosecustomanddelightitwastotellherallhisheart，hadbreathednotasyllableofthismattertoher，thoughitmettheverydifficultytowardswhichtheirdiscussionsinvariablytended——howtosecureforhimacompetencythatshouldenablehimtoestablishhispursuitsonawiderbasis，andthrowhimselfintomoredirectcommunionwiththescientificworld。Quitebewilderedbythelackofanyexplanationsherosefromherseat，andwiththenoteinherhandascendedthewindingtower—steps。
Reachingtheupperaperturesheperceivedhimunderthedome，movingmusinglyaboutasifhehadneverbeenabsentanhour，hislighthairfrillingoutfromundertheedgeofhisvelvetskull—capasitwasalwayswonttodo。Noquestionofmarriageseemedtobedisturbingthemindofthisjuvenilehusbandofhers。Theprimummobileofhisgravitationwasapparentlytheequatorialtelescopewhichshehadgivenhim，andwhichhewascarefullyadjustingbymeansofscrewsandclamps。Hearinghermovementsheturnedhishead。
’Ohereyouare，mydearViviette！Iwasjustbeginningtoexpectyou，’heexclaimed，comingforward。’Ioughttohavebeenlookingoutforyou，butIhavefoundalittledefecthereintheinstrument，andIwantedtosetitrightbeforeeveningcomeson。
Asaruleitisnotagoodthingtotinkeryourglasses;butIhavefoundthatthediffraction—ringsarenotperfectcircles。IlearntatGreenwichhowtocorrectthem——sokindtheyhavebeentomethere！——andsoIhavebeenlooseningthescrewsandgentlyshiftingtheglass，tillIthinkthatIhaveatlastmadetheilluminationequalallround。Ihavesomuchtotellyouaboutmyvisit;onethingis，thattheastronomicalworldisgettingquiteexcitedaboutthecomingTransitofVenus。Thereistobearegularexpeditionfittedout。HowIshouldliketojoinit！’
Hespokeenthusiastically，andwitheyessparklingatthementalimageofthesaidexpedition;andasitwasrathergloomyinthedomeherolleditroundonitsaxis，tilltheshutteredslitforthetelescopedirectlyfacedthemorningsun，whichthereuponfloodedtheconcaveinterior，touchingthebrightmetal—workoftheequatorial，andlightingupherpale，troubledface。
’ButSwithin！’shefaltered;’mylettertoyou——ourmarriage！’
’Oyes，thismarriagequestion，’headded。’Ihadnotforgottenit，dearViviette——oratleastonlyforafewminutes。’
’Canyouforgetit，Swithin，foramoment？Ohowcanyou！’shesaidreproachfully。’Itissuchadistressingthing。Itdrivesawayallmyrest！’
’ForgottenisnotthewordIshouldhaveused，’heapologized。
’Temporarilydismisseditfrommymind，isallImeant。Thesimplefactis，thatthevastnessofthefieldofastronomyreduceseveryterrestrialthingtoatomicdimensions。Donottrouble，dearest。
Theremedyisquiteeasy，asIstatedinmyletter。Wecannowbemarriedinaprosypublicway。Yes，earlyorlate——nextweek，nextmonth，sixmonthshence——justasyouchoose。Saythewordwhen，andIwillobey。’
Theabsenceofallanxietyorconsternationfromhisfacecontrastedstrangelywithhers，whichatlasthesaw，and，lookingatthewritingsheheld，inquired——
’Butwhatpaperhaveyouinyourhand？’
’Aletterwhichtomeisactuallyinexplicable，’saidshe，hercuriosityreturningtotheletter，andoverridingfortheinstantherimmediateconcerns。’Whatdoesthisincomeofsixhundredayearmean？Whyhaveyounevertoldmeaboutit，dearSwithin？ordoesitnotrefertoyou？’
Helookedatthenote，flushedslightly，andwasabsolutelyunabletobeginhisreplyatonce。
’Ididnotmeanyoutoseethat，Viviette，’hemurmured。