’Franklyandplainly，’saidSwithin，hisvoicetremblingwithacompoundofscientificandamatoryemotionthatdefiesdefinition，’doesshesayseriouslythatshewishesmetogo？’
’Shedoes。’
’ThengoIwill，’repliedSwithinfirmly。’Ihavebeenfortunateenoughtointerestsomeleadingastronomers，includingtheAstronomerRoyal;andinaletterreceivedthismorningIlearnthattheuseoftheCapeObservatoryhasbeenofferedmeforanysouthernobservationsImaywishtomake。ThisofferIwillaccept。WillyoukindlyletLadyConstantineknowthis，sincesheisinterestedinmywelfare？’
Louispromised，andwhenhewasgoneSwithinlookedblanklyathisownsituation，asifhecouldscarcelybelieveinitsreality。Herlettertohim，then，hadbeendeliberatelywritten;shemeanthimtogo。
Buthewasdeterminedthatnoneofthosemisunderstandingswhichruinthehappinessofloversshouldbeallowedtooperateinthepresentcase。Hewouldseeher，ifhesleptunderherwallsallnighttodoit，andwouldheartheordertodepartfromherownlips。Thisunexpectedstandshewasmakingforhisinterestswaswinninghisadmirationtosuchadegreeastobeindangerofdefeatingtheverycauseitwasmeanttosubserve。Awomanlikethiswasnottobeforsakeninahurry。Hewrotetwolines，andleftthenoteatthehousewithhisownhand。
’THECABIN，RINGS—HILL，July7th。
’DEARESTVIVIETTE，——Ifyouinsist，Iwillgo。Butletter—writingwillnotdo。Imusthavethecommandfromyourowntwolips，otherwiseIshallnotstir。Iamhereeveryeveningatseven。Canyoucome？——S。’
Thisnote，asfatewouldhaveit，reachedherhandsinthesinglehourofthatweekwhenshewasinamoodtocomplywithhisrequest，justwhenmovedbyareactionaryemotionafterdismissingSwithin。
Shewentupstairstothewindowthathadsolongservedpurposesofthiskind，andsignalled’Yes。’
St。Cleevesoonsawtheanswershehadgivenandwatchedherapproachfromthetowerasthesunsetdrewon。Thevividcircumstancesofhislifeatthisdateledhimevertoremembertheexternalscenesinwhichtheywereset。Itwasaneveningofexceptionalirradiations，andthewestheavengleamedlikeafoundryofallmetalscommonandrare。Thecloudswerebrokenintoathousandfragments，andthemarginofeveryfragmentshone。
Foreseeingthedisadvantageandpaintoherofmaintainingaresolveunderthepressureofameeting，hevowednottourgeherbywordorsign;toputthequestionplainlyandcalmly，andtodiscussitonareasonablebasisonly，likethephilosopherstheyassumedthemselvestobe。
Butthisintentionwasscarcelyadheredtoinallitsintegrity。
Shedulyappearedontheedgeofthefield，floodedwiththemetallicradiancethatmarkedthecloseofthisday;whereuponhequicklydescendedthesteps，andmetheratthecabindoor。Theyenteredittogether。
Astheeveninggrewdarkeranddarkerhelistenedtoherreasoning，whichwaspreciselyarepetitionofthatalreadysenthimbyletter，andbydegreesacceptedherdecision，sinceshewouldnotrevokeit。
Timecameforthemtosaygood—bye，andthen——
’Heturn’dandsawtheterrorinhereyes，Thatyearn’duponhim，shininginsuchwiseAsastarmidwayinthemidnightfix’d。’
Itwasthemiseryofherownconditionthatshowedforth，hithertoobscuredbyherardourforamelioratinghis。Theyclosedtogether，andkissedeachotherasthoughtheemotionoftheirwholeyear—and—
half’sacquaintancehadsettleddownuponthatmoment。
’Iwon’tgoawayfromyou！’saidSwithinhuskily。’Whydidyouproposeitforaninstant？’
Thusthenearlyendedinterviewwasagainprolonged，andVivietteyieldedtoallthepassionofherfirstunionwithhim。Time，however，wasmerciless，andthehourapproachedmidnight，andshewascompelledtodepart。Swithinwalkedwithhertowardsthehouse，ashehadwalkedmanytimesbefore，believingthatallwasnowsmoothagainbetweenthem，andcaring，itmustbeowned，verylittleforhisfameasanexpositorofthesouthernconstellationsjustthen。
Whentheyreachedthesilenthousehesaidwhathehadnotventuredtosaybefore，’Fixtheday——youhavedecidedthatitistobesoon，andthatIamnottogo？’
ButyouthfulSwithinwasfar，veryfar，frombeinguptothefondsubtletyofViviettethisevening。’Icannotdecidehere，’shesaidgently，releasingherselffromhisarm;’Iwillspeaktoyoufromthewindow。Waitforme。’
Shevanished;andhewaited。Itwasalongtimebeforethewindowopened，andhewasnotawarethat，withhercustomarycomplicationoffeeling，shehadkneltforsometimeinsidetheroombeforelookingout。
’Well？’saidhe。
’Itcannotbe，’sheanswered。’Icannotruinyou。Butthedayafteryouarefive—and—twentyourmarriageshallbeconfirmed，ifyouchoose。’
’O，myViviette，howisthis！’hecried。
’Swithin，Ihavenotaltered。ButIfearedformypowers，andcouldnottellyouwhilstIstoodbyyourside。IoughtnottohavegivenwayasIdidto—night。Takethebequest，andgo。Youaretooyoung——tobefettered——Ishouldhavethoughtofit！Donotcommunicatewithmeforatleastayear:itisimperative。Donottellmeyourplans。Ifwepart，wedopart。Ihavevowedavownottofurtherobstructthecourseyouhaddecidedonbeforeyouknewmeandmypulingways;andbyHeaven’shelpI’llkeepthatvow……
Nowgo。ThesearethepartingwordsofyourownViviette！’
Swithin，whowasstableasagiantinallthatappertainedtonatureandlifeoutsidehumanity，wasamerepupilindomesticmatters。Hewasquiteawedbyherfirmness，andlookedvacantlyatherforatime，tillsheclosedthewindow。Thenhemechanicallyturned，andwent，asshehadcommanded。
XXXVII
Aweekhadpassedaway。IthadbeenatimeofcloudymentalweathertoSwithinandViviette，buttheonlynoteworthyfactaboutitwasthatwhathadbeenplannedtohappenthereinhadactuallytakenplace。SwithinhadgonefromWelland，andwouldshortlygofromEngland。
ShebecameawareofitbyanotethathepostedtoheronhiswaythroughWarborne。Therewasmuchevidenceofhasteinthenote，andsomethingofreserve。Thelattershecouldnotunderstand，butitmighthavebeenobviousenoughifshehadconsidered。
Onthemorningofhisdeparturehehadsatontheedgeofhisbed，thesunlightstreamingthroughtheearlymist，thehouse—martensscratchingthebackoftheceilingoverhisheadastheyscrambledoutfromtherooffortheirday’sgnat—chasing，thethrushescrackingsnailsonthegardenstonesoutsidewiththenoisinessoflittlesmithsatworkonlittleanvils。Thesun，insendingitsrodsofyellowfireintohisroom，sent，ashesuddenlythought，mentalilluminationwithit。Forthefirsttime，ashesatthere，ithadcrossedhismindthatViviettemighthavereasonsforthisseparationwhichheknewnotof。Theremightbefamilyreasons——
mysteriousbloodnecessitieswhicharesaidtorulemembersofoldmusty—mansionedfamilies，andareunknowntootherclassesofsociety——andtheymayhavebeenjustnowbroughtbeforeherbyherbrotherLouisontheconditionthattheywerereligiouslyconcealed。
Theideathatsomefamilyskeleton，likethosehehadreadofinmemoirs，hadbeenunearthedbyLouis，andheldbeforeherterrifiedunderstandingasamatterwhichrenderedSwithin’sdeparture，andtheneutralizationofthemarriage，nolessindispensabletothemthanitwasanadvantagetohimself，seemedaveryplausibleonetoSwithinjustnow。ViviettemighthavetakenLouisintoherconfidenceatlast，forthesakeofhisbrotherlyadvice。Swithinknewthatofherownheartshewouldneverwishtogetridofhim;
butcoercedbyLouis，mightshenothavegrowntoentertainviewsofitsexpediency？EventsmadesuchasuppositiononSt。Cleeve’spartasnaturalasitwasinaccurate，and，conjoinedwithhisownexcitementatthethoughtofseeinganewheavenoverhead，influencedhimtowritebutthebriefestandmosthurriedfinalnotetoher，inwhichhefullyobeyedhersensitiverequestthathewouldomitallreferencetohisplans。Theseatthelastmomenthadbeenmodifiedtofallinwiththewinterexpeditionformerlymentioned，toobservetheTransitofVenusataremotesouthernstation。
Thebusinessbeingdone，andhimselffairlyplungedintothepreliminariesofanimportantscientificpilgrimage，Swithinacquiredthatlightnessofheartwhichmostyoungmenfeelinforsakingoldlovefornewadventure，nomatterhowcharmingmaybethegirltheyleavebehindthem。Moreover，inthepresentcase，themanwasendowedwiththatschoolboytemperamentwhichdoesnotsee，oratleastconsiderwithmuchcuriosity，theeffectofagivenschemeuponothersthanhimself。ThebearinguponLadyConstantineofwhatwasanundoubtedpredicamentforanywoman，wasforgotteninhisfeelingthatshehaddoneaveryhandsomeandnoblethingforhim，andthathewasthereforeboundinhonourtomakethemostofit。
Hisgoinghadresultedinanythingbutlightnessofheartforher。
Hersadfancycould，indeed，indulgeindreamsofheryellow—hairedladdiewithoutthatformerlybesettingfearthatthosedreamswouldprompthertoactionslikelytodistractandweighthim。Shewaswretchedonherownaccount，relievedonhis。Shenolongerstoodinthewayofhisadvancement，andthatwasenough。Forherselfshecouldliveinretirement，visitthewood，theoldcamp，thecolumn，and，likeOEnone，thinkofthelifetheyhadledthere——
’MournfulOEnone，wanderingforlornOfParis，onceherplaymateonthehills，’
leavingitentirelytohisgoodnesswhetherhewouldcomeandclaimherinthefuture，ordesertherforever。
ShewasdivertedforatimefromthesesadperformancesbyaletterwhichreachedherfromBishopHelmsdale。Toseehishandwritingagainonanenvelope，afterthinkingsoanxiouslyofmakingafather—confessorofhim，startedheroutofherequanimity。Shespeedilyregainedit，however，whenshereadhisnote。
’THEPALACE，MELCHESTER，July30，18——。
MYDEARLADYCONSTANTINE，——Iamshockedandgrievedthat，inthestrangedispensationofthingsherebelow，myofferofmarriageshouldhavereachedyoualmostsimultaneouslywiththeintelligencethatyourwidowhoodhadbeenofseveralmonthslessdurationthanyouandI，andtheworld，hadsupposed。Icanquiteunderstandthat，viewedfromanyside，thenewsmusthaveshakenanddisturbedyou;andyourunequivocalrefusaltoentertainanythoughtofanewallianceatsuchamomentwas，ofcourse，intelligible，natural，andpraiseworthy。AtpresentIwillsaynomorebeyondexpressingahopethatyouwillacceptmyassurancesthatIwasquiteignorantofthenewsatthehourofwriting，andasinceredesirethatinduetime，andassoonasyouhaverecoveredyourequanimity，Imaybeallowedtorenewmyproposal。——Iam，mydearLadyConstantine，yourseversincerely，C。MELCHESTER。’
Shelaidtheletteraside，andthoughtnomoreaboutit，beyondamomentarymeditationontheerrorsintowhichpeoplefallinreasoningfromactionstomotives。Louis，whowasnowagainwithher，becameinduecourseacquaintedwiththecontentsoftheletter，andwassatisfiedwiththepromisingpositioninwhichmattersseeminglystoodallround。
LadyConstantinewenthermournfulwaysasshehadplannedtodo，herchiefresortbeingthefamiliarcolumn，wheresheexperiencedtheunutterablemelancholyofseeingtwocarpentersdismantlethedomeofitsfeltcovering，detachitsribs，andclearawaytheenclosureatthetoptilleverythingstoodasithadstoodbeforeSwithinhadbeenknowntotheplace。Theequatorialhadalreadybeenpackedinabox，tobeinreadinessifheshouldsendforitfromabroad。Thecabin，too，wasincourseofdemolition，suchhavingbeenhisdirections，acquiescedinbyher，beforehestarted。
Yetshecouldnotbeartheideathatthesestructures，sogermanetotheeventsoftheirromance，shouldberemovedasifremovedforever。Goingtothemenshebadethemstoreupthematerialsintact，thattheymightbere—erectedifdesired。Shehadthejunctionsofthetimbersmarkedwithfigures，theboardsnumbered，andthedifferentsetsofscrewstiedupinindependentpapersforidentification。Shedidnotheartheremarksoftheworkmenwhenshehadgone，totheeffectthattheyoungmanwouldassoonthinkofbuyingahalterforhimselfascomebackandspyatthemoonfromRings—HillSpeer，afterseeingthegloriesofothernationsandthegoldandjewelsthatwerefoundthere，orshemighthavebeenmoreunhappythanshewas。
Onreturningfromoneofthesewalkstothecolumnacuriouscircumstanceoccurred。Itwasevening，andshewascomingasusualdownthroughthesighingplantation，choosingherwaybetweentherampartsofthecamptowardstheoutletgivinguponthefield，whensuddenlyinaduskyvistaamongthefir—trunksshesaw，orthoughtshesaw，agolden—haired，toddlingchild。Thechildmovedasteportwo，andvanishedbehindatree。LadyConstantine，fearingithadlostitsway，wentquicklytothespot，searched，andcalledaloud。
Butnochildcouldsheperceiveorhearanywherearound。Shereturnedtowhereshehadstoodwhenfirstbeholdingit，andlookedinthesamedirection，butnothingreappeared。Theonlyobjectatallresemblingalittleboyorgirlwastheuppertuftofabunchoffern，whichhadprematurelyyellowedtoaboutthecolourofafairchild’shair，andwavedoccasionallyinthebreeze。This，however，didnotsufficientlyexplainthephenomenon，andshereturnedtomakeinquiriesofthemanwhomshehadleftatwork，removingthelasttracesofSwithin’scabin。Buthehadgonewithherdepartureandtheapproachofnight。Feelinganindescribabledreadsheretracedhersteps，andhastenedhomewarddoubting，yethalfbelieving，whatshehadseemedtosee，andwonderingifherimaginationhadplayedhersometrick。
Thetranquilmournfulnessofhernightofsolitudeterminatedinamostunexpectedmanner。
Themorningaftertheabove—mentionedincidentLadyConstantine，aftermeditatingawhile，arosewithastrangepersonalconvictionthatborecuriouslyontheaforesaidhallucination。Sherealizedaconditionofthingsthatshehadneveranticipated，andforamomentthediscoveryofherstatesooverwhelmedherthatshethoughtshemustdieoutright。Inherterrorshesaidshehadsownthewindtoreapthewhirlwind。Thentheinstinctofself—preservationflamedupinherlikeafire。Heraltruisminsubjectingherself—lovetobenevolence，andlettingSwithingoawayfromher，wasdemolishedbythenewnecessity，asifithadbeenagossamerweb。
Therewasnoresistingorevadingthespontaneousplanofactionwhichmaturedinhermindinfiveminutes。WherewasSwithin？howcouldhebegotatinstantly？——thatwasherrulingthought。Shesearchedabouttheroomforhislastshortnote，hoping，yetdoubting，thatitscontentsweremoreexplicitonhisintendedmovementsthanthefewmeagresyllableswhichaloneshecouldcalltomind。Shecouldnotfindtheletterinherroom，andcamedownstairstoLouisaspaleasaghost。
Helookedupather，andwithsomeconcernsaid，’What’sthematter？’
’Iamsearchingeverywhereforaletter——anotefromMr。St。Cleeve—
—justafewwordstellingmewhentheOccidentalsails，thatIthinkhegoesin。’
’Whydoyouwantthatunimportantdocument？’
’ItisoftheutmostimportancethatIshouldknowwhetherhehasactuallysailedornot！’saidsheinagonizedtones。’WhereCAN
thatletterbe？’
Louisknewwherethatletterwas，forhavingseenitonherdeskhehad，withoutreadingit，tornitupandthrownitintothewaste—
paperbasket，thinkingthelessthatremainedtoremindheroftheyoungphilosopherthebetter。
’Idestroyedit，’hesaid。
’OLouis！whydidyou？’shecried。’Iamgoingtofollowhim;I
thinkitbesttodoso;andIwanttoknowifheisgone——andnowthedateislost！’
’GoingtorunafterSt。Cleeve？Absurd！’
’Yes，Iam！’shesaidwithvehementfirmness。’Imustseehim;I
wanttospeaktohimassoonaspossible。’
’GoodLord，Viviette！Areyoumad？’
’Owhatwasthedateofthatship！Butitcannotbehelped。I
startatonceforSouthampton。Ihavemadeupmymindtodoit。Hewasgoingtohisuncle’ssolicitorsintheNorthfirst;thenhewascomingbacktoSouthampton。Hecannothavesailedyet。’
’Ibelievehehassailed，’mutteredLouissullenly。
Shedidnotwaittoarguewithhim，butreturnedupstairs，wheresherangtotellGreentobereadywiththeponytodrivehertoWarbornestationinaquarterofanhour。
XXXVIII
Viviette’sdeterminationtohamperSwithinnolongerhadledher，ashasbeenshown，tobalkanyweakimpulsetoentreathisreturn，byforbiddinghimtofurnishherwithhisforeignaddress。Hisreadydisposition，hisfearthattheremightbeotherreasonsbehind，madehimobeyheronlytooliterally。Thus，toherterroranddismay，shehadplacedagratuitousdifficultyinthewayofherpresentendeavour。
ShewasreadybeforeGreen，andurgedonthatfactotumsowildlyastoleavehimnotimetochangehiscorduroysand’skitty—boots’inwhichhehadbeengardening;hethereforeturnedhimselfintoacoachmanasfardownashiswaistmerely——clappingonhispropercoat，hat，andwaistcoat，andwrappingarugoverhishorticulturalhalfbelow。Inthiscompromiseheappearedatthedoor，mounted，andreinsinhand。
SeeinghowsadanddeterminedViviettewas，Louispitiedhersofarastoputnothinginthewayofherstarting，thoughheforboretohelpher。Hethoughtherconductsentimentalfoolery，theoutcomeofmistakenpityand’suchakindofgain—givingaswouldtroubleawoman;’andhedecidedthatitwouldbebettertoletthismoodburnitselfoutthantokeepitsmoulderingbyobstruction。
’Doyourememberthedateofhissailing？’shesaidfinally，asthepony—carriageturnedtodriveoff。
’Hesailsonthe25th，thatis，to—day。Butitmaynotbetilllateintheevening。’
Withthisshestarted，andreachedWarborneintimefortheup—
train。Howmuchlongerthanitreallyisalongjourneycanseemtobe，wasfullylearntbytheunhappyViviettethatday。Thechangefulprocessionofcountryseatspastwhichshewasdragged，thenamesandmemoriesoftheirowners，hadnopointsofinterestforhernow。ShereachedSouthamptonaboutmidday，anddrovestraighttothedocks。
Onapproachingthegatesshewasmetbyacrowdofpeopleandvehiclescomingout——men，women，children，porters，police，cabs，andcarts。TheOccidentalhadjustsailed。
Theadverseintelligencecameuponherwithsuchoddsafterhermorning’stensionthatshecouldscarcelycrawlbacktothecabwhichhadbroughther。Butthiswasnotatimetosuccumb。Asshehadnoluggageshedismissedtheman，and，withoutanyrealconsciousnessofwhatshewasdoing，creptawayandsatdownonapileofmerchandise。
Afterlongthinkinghercaseassumedamorehopefulcomplexion。
Muchmightprobablybedonetowardscommunicatingwithhiminthetimeathercommand。Theobvioussteptothisend，whichsheshouldhavethoughtofsooner，wouldbetogotohisgrandmotherinWellandBottom，andthereobtainhisitineraryindetail——nodoubtwellknowntoMrs。Martin。Therewasnoleisureforhertoconsiderlongerifshewouldbehomeagainthatnight;andreturningtotherailwayshewaitedonaseatwithouteatingordrinkingtillatrainwasreadytotakeherback。
BythetimesheagainstoodinWarbornethesunrestedhischinuponthemeadows，andenvelopedthedistantoutlineoftheRings—Hillcolumninhishumidrays。HiringanemptyflythatchancedtobeatthestationshewasdriventhroughthelittletownonwardtoWelland，whichsheapproachedabouteighto’clock。Atherrequestthemansetherdownattheentrancetothepark，andwhenhewasoutofsight，insteadofpursuingherwaytotheHouse，shewentalongthehighroadinthedirectionofMrs。Martin’s。
Duskwasdrawingon，andthebatswerewheelingoverthegreenbasincalledWellandBottombythetimeshearrived;andhadanyothererrandinstigatedhercallshewouldhavepostponedittillthemorrow。Nobodyrespondedtoherknock，butshecouldhearfootstepsgoinghitherandthitherupstairs，anddullnoisesasofarticlesmovedfromtheirplaces。Sheknockedagainandagain，andultimatelythedoorwasopenedbyHannahasusual。
’Icouldmakenobodyhear，’saidLadyConstantine，whowassowearyshecouldscarcelystand。
’Iamverysorry，mylady，’saidHannah，slightlyawedonbeholdinghervisitor。’ButwewasaputtingpoorMr。Swithin’sroomtorights，nowthatheis，asawomanmaysay，deadandburiedtous;
sowedidn’thearyourladyship。I’llcallMrs。Martinatonce。
Sheisupintheroomthatusedtobehiswork—room。’
HereHannah’svoiceimpliedmoisteyes，andLadyConstantine’sinstantlyoverflowed。
’No，I’llgouptoher，’saidViviette;andalmostinadvanceofHannahshepasseduptheshrunkenashstairs。
TheebbinglightwasnotenoughtorevealtoMrs。Martin’sagedgazethepersonalityofhervisitor，tillHannahexplained。
’I’llgetalight，mylady，’saidshe。
’No，Iwouldrathernot。Whatareyoudoing，Mrs。Martin？’
’Well，thepoormisguidedboyisgone——andhe’sgoneforgoodtome！
Iamawomanofoverfour—scoreyears，myLadyConstantine;myjunkettingdaysareover，andwhether’tisfeastingorwhether’tissorrowinginthelandwillsoonbenothingtome。Buthislifemaybelongandactive，andforthesakeofhimIcareforwhatIshallneversee，andwishtomakepleasantwhatIshallneverenjoy。Iamsettinghisroominorder，astheplacewillbehisownfreeholdwhenIamgone，sothatwhenhecomesbackhemayfindallhispoorjim—cracksandtrangleysasheleft’em，andnotfeelthatIhavebetrayedhistrust。’
Mrs。Martin’svoicerevealedthatshehadburstintosuchfewtearsaswerelefther，andthenHannahbegancryinglikewise;whereuponLadyConstantine，whosehearthadbeenburstingallday（andwho，indeed，consideringhercomingtrouble，hadreasonenoughfortears），brokeintobitterersobsthaneither——sobsofabsolutepain，thatcouldnolongerbeconcealed。
HannahwasthefirsttodiscoverthatLadyConstantinewasweepingwiththem;andherfeelingsbeingprobablytheleastintenseamongthethreesheinstantlycontrolledherself。
’Refrainyourself，mydearwoman，refrain！’shesaidhastilytoMrs。
Martin;’don’tyeseehowitdoraftmylady？’AndturningtoVivietteshewhispered，’Heryearsbesogreat，yourladyship，thatperhapsye’llexcuseherforbustingoutaforeye？Weknowwhenthemindisdim，mylady，there’snotthemannersthereshouldbe;butdecayedpeoplecan’thelpit，pooroldsoul！’
’Hannah，thatwilldonow。PerhapsLadyConstantinewouldliketospeaktomealone，’saidMrs。Martin。AndwhenHannahhadretreatedMrs。Martincontinued:’Suchachargeassheis，mylady，onaccountofhergreatage！You’llpardonherbidinghereasifshewereoneofthefamily。Iputupwithsuchthingsbecauseofherlongservice，andweknowthatyearsleadtochildishness。’
’Whatareyoudoing？CanIhelpyou？’Vivietteasked，asMrs。
Martin，afterspeaking，turnedtoliftsomelargearticle。
’Oh，’tisonlytheskeletonofatelescopethat’sgotnoworksinhisinside，’saidSwithin’sgrandmother，seizingthehugepasteboardtubethatSwithinhadmade，andabandonedbecausehecouldgetnolensestosuitit。’Iamgoingtohangituptothesehooks，andthereitwillbidetillhecomesagain。’
LadyConstantinetookoneend，andthetubewashungupagainstthewhitewashedwallbystringsthattheoldwomanhadtiedroundit。
’Here’sallhisequinoctiallines，andhistopicsofCapricorn，andIdon’tknowwhatbesides，’Mrs。Martincontinued，pointingtosomecharcoalscratchesonthewall。’Ishallneverrub’emout;no，though’tissuchuntidinessasIwasneverbroughtupto，Ishallneverrub’emout。’
’WherehasSwithingonetofirst？’askedVivietteanxiously。’Wheredoeshesayyouaretowritetohim？’
’Nowhereyet，mylady。He’sgonetraipsingalloverEuropeandAmerica，andthentotheSouthPacificOceanaboutthisTransitofVenusthat’sgoingtobedonethere。Heistowritetousfirst——
Godknowswhen！——forhesaidthatifwedidn’thearfromhimforsixmonthswewerenottobegalliedatall。’
Atthisintelligence，somuchworsethanshehadexpected，LadyConstantinestoodmute，sankdown，andwouldhavefallentotheflooriftherehadnotbeenachairbehindher。Controllingherselfbyastrenuouseffort，shedisguisedherdespairandaskedvacantly:
’FromAmericatotheSouthPacific——TransitofVenus？’（Swithin’sarrangementtoaccompanytheexpeditionhadbeenmadeatthelastmoment，andthereforeshehadnotasyetbeeninformed。）
’Yes，toaloneisland，Ibelieve。’
’Yes，aloneislant，mylady！’echoedHannah，whohadcreptinandmadeherselfoneofthefamilyagain，inspiteofMrs。Martin。
’HeisgoingtomeettheEnglishandAmericanastronomersthereattheendoftheyear。AfterthathewillmostlikelygoontotheCape。’
’Butbeforetheendoftheyear——whatplacesdidhetellyouofvisiting？’
’Letmecollectmyself;heisgoingtotheobservatoryofCambridge，UnitedStates，tomeetsomegentlementhere，andspythroughthegreatrefractor。Thenthere’stheobservatoryofChicago;andI
thinkhehasalettertomakehimbeknowntoagentlemanintheobservatoryatMarseilles——andhewantstogotoVienna——andPoulkowa，too，hemeanstotakeinhisway——therebeinggreatinstrumentsandalotofastronomersateachplace。’
’DoeshetakeEuropeorAmericafirst？’sheaskedfaintly，fortheaccountseemedhopeless。
Mrs。MartincouldnottelltillshehadheardfromSwithin。ItdependeduponwhathehaddecidedtodoonthedayofhisleavingEngland。
LadyConstantinebadetheoldpeoplegood—bye，anddraggedherwearylimbshomeward。Thefatuousnessofforethoughthadseldombeenevincedmoreironically。Hadshedonenothingtohinderhim，hewouldhavekeptupanunreservedcommunicationwithher，andallmighthavebeenwell。
Forthatnightshecouldundertakenothingfurther，andshewaitedforthenextday。ThenatonceshewrotetwoletterstoSwithin，directingonetoMarseillesobservatory，onetotheobservatoryofCambridge，U。S。，asbeingtheonlytwospotsonthefaceoftheglobeatwhichtheywerelikelytointercepthim。Eachletterstatedtohimtheurgentreasonswhichexistedforhisreturn，andcontainedapassionatelyregretfulintimationthattheannuityonwhichhishopesdependedmustofnecessitybesacrificedbythecompletionoftheiroriginalcontractwithoutdelay。
Butletterconveyancewastooslowaprocesstosatisfyher。Tosendanepitomeofherepistlesbytelegraphwas，afterall，indispensable。SuchanimploringsentenceasshedesiredtoaddresstohimitwouldbehazardoustodespatchfromWarborne，andshetookadrearyjourneytoastrangetownonpurposetosenditfromanofficeatwhichshewasunknown。