Thereshehandedinhermessage，addressingittotheportofarrivaloftheOccidental，andagainreturnedhome。
Shewaited;andtherebeingnoreturntelegram，theinferencewasthathehadsomehowmissedhers。Forananswertoeitherofherlettersshewouldhavetowaitlongenoughtoallowhimtimetoreachoneoftheobservatories——atediouswhile。
Thensheconsideredtheweakness，thestultifyingnatureofherattemptatrecall。
Eventsmockedheronallsides。Bythefavourofanaccident，andbyherownimmenseexertionsagainstherinstincts，Swithinhadbeenrestoredtotherightfulheritagethathehadnearlyforfeitedonheraccount。Hehadjuststartedofftoutilizeit;whenshe，withoutamoment’swarning，wasaskinghimagaintocastitaway。
Shehadsetacertainmachineryinmotion——tostopitbeforeithadrevolvedonce。
Ahorridapprehensionpossessedher。IthadbeeneasyforSwithintogiveupwhathehadneverknowntheadvantagesofkeeping;buthavingoncebeguntoenjoyhispossessionwouldhegiveitupnow？
Couldhebedependedonforsuchself—sacrifice？Beforeleaving，hewouldhavedoneanythingatherrequest;butthemolliatemporafandihadnowpassed。Supposetherearrivednoreplyfromhimforthenextthreemonths;andthatwhenhisanswercameheweretoinformherthat，havingnowfullyacquiescedinheroriginaldecision，hefoundthelifehewasleadingsoprofitableastobeunabletoabandonit，eventopleaseher;thathewasverysorry，buthavingembarkedonthiscoursebyheradvicehemeanttoadheretoitbyhisown。
Therewas，indeed，everyprobabilitythat，movingaboutashewasdoing，andcautionedashehadbeenbyherveryselfagainstlisteningtohertooreadily，shewouldreceivenoreplyofanysortfromhimforthreeorperhapsfourmonths。ThiswouldbeontheeveoftheTransit;andwhatlikelihoodwastherethatayoungman，fullofardourforthatspectacle，wouldforegoitatthelastmomenttoreturntoahumdrumdomesticitywithawomanwhowasnolongeranovelty？
Ifshecouldonlyleavehimtohiscareer，andsaveherownsituationalso！Butatthatmomentthepropositionseemedasimpossibleastoconstructatriangleoftwostraightlines。
Inherwalkhome，pervadedbythesehopelessviews，shepassednearthedarkanddesertedtower。Nightinthatsolitaryplace，whichwouldhavecausedhersomeuneasinessinheryearsofblitheness，hadnoterrorsforhernow。Shewentupthewindingpath，and，thedoorbeingunlocked，feltherwaytothetop。Theopenskygreetedherasintimesprevioustothedome—and—equatorialperiod;buttherewasnotastartosuggesttoherinwhichdirectionSwithinhadgone。Theabsenceofthedomesuggestedawayoutofherdifficulties。Aleapinthedark，andallwouldbeover。Butshehadnotreachedthatstageofactionasyet，andthethoughtwasdismissedasquicklyasithadcome。
ThenewconsiderationwhichatpresentoccupiedhermindwaswhethershecouldhavethecouragetoleaveSwithintohimself，asintheoriginalplan，andsinglymeetherimpendingtrial，despisingtheshame，tillheshouldreturnatfive—and—twentyandclaimher？Yetwasthisassumptionofhisreturnsoverysafe？Howalteredthingswouldbeatthattime！Attwenty—fivehewouldstillbeyoungandhandsome;shewouldbethree—and—thirty，fadingtomiddle—ageandhomeliness，fromajunior’spointofview。Afearsharpasafrostsettleddownuponher，thatinanysuchschemeasthisshewouldbebuildinguponthesand。
Shehardlyknewhowshereachedhomethatnight。Enteringbythelawndoorshesawaredcoalinthedirectionofthearbour。Louiswassmokingthere，andhecameforward。
Hehadnotseenhersincethemorningandwasnaturallyanxiousabouther。Sheblessedthechancewhichenvelopedherinnightandlessenedtheweightoftheencounteronehalfbydeprivinghimofvision。
’Didyouaccomplishyourobject？’heasked。
’No，’saidshe。
’Howwasthat？’
’Hehassailed。’
’Averygoodthingforboth，Isay。Ibelieveyouwouldhavemarriedhim，ifyoucouldhaveovertakenhim。’
’ThatwouldI！’shesaid。
’GoodGod！’
’Iwouldmarryatinkerforthatmatter;Ihavereasonsforbeinganyman’swife，’shesaidrecklessly，’onlyIshouldprefertodrownmyself。’
Louisheldhisbreath，andstoodrigidatthemeaningherwordsconveyed。
’ButLouis，youdon’tknowall！’criedViviette。’Iamnotsobadasyouthink;minehasbeenfolly——notvice。IthoughtIhadmarriedhim——andthenIfoundIhadnot;themarriagewasinvalid——
SirBlountwasalive！AndnowSwithinhasgoneaway，andwillnotcomebackformycalling！Howcanhe？Hisfortuneislefthimonconditionthatheformsnolegaltie。Owillhe——willhe，comeagain？’
’Never，ifthat’sthepositionofaffairs，’saidLouisfirmly，afterapause。
’WhatthenshallIdo？’saidViviette。
LouisescapedtheformidabledifficultyofreplyingbypretendingtocontinuehisHavannah;andshe，boweddowntodustbywhatshehadrevealed，creptfromhimintothehouse。Louis’scigarwentoutinhishandashestoodlookingintentlyattheground。
XXXIX
Louisgotupthenextmorningwithanideainhishead。Hehaddressedforajourney，andbreakfastedhastily。
BeforehehadstartedViviettecamedownstairs。Louis，whowasnowgreatlydisturbedabouther，wentuptohissisterandtookherhand。
’Auxgrandsmauxlesgrandsremedes，’hesaid，gravely。’Ihaveaplan。’
’Ihaveadozen！’saidshe。
’Youhave？’
’Yes。Butwhataretheyworth？Andyettheremust——thereMUSTbeaway！’
’Viviette，’saidLouis，’promisethatyouwillwaittillIcomehometo—night，beforeyoudoanything。’
Herdistractedeyesshowedslightcomprehensionofhisrequestasshesaid’Yes。’
AnhourafterthattimeLouisenteredthetrainatWarborne，andwasspeedilycrossingacountryofraggedwoodland，which，thoughintrudedonbytheploughatplaces，remainedlargelyintactfromprehistorictimes，andstillaboundedwithyewsofgiganticgrowthandoakstuftedwithmistletoe。ItwastheroutetoMelchester。
Onsettingfootinthatcityhetookthecathedralspireashisguide，theplacebeingstrangetohim;andwentontillhereachedthearchwaydividingMelchestersacredfromMelchestersecular。
ThencehethreadedhiscourseintotheprecinctsofthedampandvenerableClose，levelasabowling—green，andbelovedofrooks，whofromtheirelmperchesonhighthreatenedanyunwarygazerwiththemishapofTobit。Atthecornerofthisreposefulspotstoodtheepiscopalpalace。
Louisenteredthegates，rangthebell，andlookedaround。Herethetreesandrooksseemedolder，ifpossible，thanthoseintheClosebehindhim。Everythingwasdignified，andhefelthimselflikePunchinellointheking’schambers。VerilyinthepresentcaseGlanvillewasnotamantostickattriflesanymorethanhisillustriousprototype;andontheservantbringingamessagethathislordshipwouldseehimatonce，Louismarchedboldlyin。
Throughanolddarkcorridor，roofedwitholddarkbeams，theservantledthewaytotheheavily—mouldeddooroftheBishop’sroom。Dr。Helmsdalewasthere，andwelcomedLouiswithconsiderablestateliness。Buthiscondescensionwastemperedwithacuriousanxiety，andevenwithnervousness。
HeaskedinpointedtonesafterthehealthofLadyConstantine;ifLouishadbroughtananswertotheletterhehadaddressedtoheradayortwoearlier;andifthecontentsoftheletter，orofthepreviousone，wereknowntohim。
’Ihavebroughtnoanswerfromher，’saidLouis。’Butthecontentsofyourletterhavebeenmadeknowntome。’
SinceenteringthebuildingLouishadmorethanoncefeltsomehesitation，anditmightnow，withafavouringmannerfromhisentertainer，haveoperatedtodeterhimfromgoingfurtherwithhisintention。ButtheBishophadpersonalweaknessesthatwerefataltosympathyformorethanamoment。
’ThenImayspeakinconfidencetoyouashernearestrelative，’
saidtheprelate，’andexplainthatIamnowinapositionwithregardtoLadyConstantinewhich，inviewoftheimportantofficeI
hold，IshouldnothavecaredtoplacemyselfinunlessIhadfeltquitesureofnotbeingrefusedbyher。Andhenceitisagreatgrief，andsomemortificationtome，thatIwasrefused——owing，ofcourse，tothefactthatIunwittinglyriskedmakingmyproposalattheverymomentwhenshewasundertheinfluenceofthosestrangetidings，andthereforenotherself，andscarcelyabletojudgewhatwasbestforher。’
TheBishop’swordsdisclosedamindwhosesensitivefearofdangertoitsowndignityhindereditfromcriticismelsewhere。ThingsmighthavebeenworseforLouis’sPuck—likeideaofmis—matinghisHermiawiththisDemetrius。
Throwingastrongcolourofearnestnessintohismienhereplied:
’Bishop，Vivietteismyonlysister;Iamheronlybrotherandfriend。Iamalarmedforherhealthandstateofmind。HenceI
havecometoconsultyouonthisverymatterthatyouhavebroached。
Icomeabsolutelywithoutherknowledge，andIhopeunconventionalitymaybeexcusedinmeonthescoreofmyanxietyforher。’
’Certainly。Itrustthattheprospectopenedupbymyproposal，combinedwiththisothernews，hasnotprovedtoomuchforher？’
’Mysisterisdistractedanddistressed，BishopHelmsdale。Shewantscomfort。’
’Notdistressedbymyletter？’saidtheBishop，turningred。’Hasitloweredmeinherestimation？’
’Onthecontrary;whileyourdisinterestedofferwasuppermostinhermindshewasadifferentwoman。Itisthisothermatterthatoppressesher。TheresultuponheroftherecentdiscoverywithregardtothelateSirBlountConstantineispeculiar。Tosaythatheill—usedherinhislifetimeistounderstateatruth。Hehasbeendeadnowaconsiderableperiod;butthisrevivalofhismemoryoperatesasasortofterroruponher。ImagesofthemannerofSirBlount’sdeatharewithhernightandday，intensifiedbyahideouspictureofthesupposedscene，whichwascruellysenther。Shedreadsbeingalone。NothingwillrestoremypoorViviettetoherformercheerfulnessbutadistraction——ahope——anewprospect。’
’Thatispreciselywhatacceptanceofmyofferwouldafford。’
’Precisely，’saidLouis，withgreatrespect。’Buthowtogethertoavailherselfofit，afteroncerefusingyou，isthedifficulty，andmyearnestproblem。’
’Thenwearequiteatone。’
’Weare。AnditistopromoteourwishesthatIamcome;sinceshewilldonothingofherself。’
’Thenyoucangivemenohopeofareplytomysecondcommunication？’
’Nonewhatever——byletter，’saidLouis。’Herimpressionplainlyisthatshecannotencourageyourlordship。Yet，inthefaceofallthisreticence，thesecretisthatshelovesyouwarmly。’
’Canyouindeedassuremeofthat？Indeed，indeed！’saidthegoodBishopmusingly。’ThenImusttrytoseeher。Ibegintofeel——tofeelstrongly——thatacoursewhichwouldseemprematureandunbecominginothercaseswouldbetrueandproperconductinthis。
Herunhappydilemmas——herunwontedposition——yes，yes——Iseeitall！
Icanaffordtohavesomelittlemisconstructionputuponmymotives。Iwillgoandseeherimmediately。Herpasthasbeenacruelone;shewantssympathy;andwithHeaven’shelpI’llgiveit。’
’Ithinktheremedyliesthatway，’saidLouisgently。’Somewordscamefromheronenightwhichseemedtoshowit。Iwasstandingontheterrace:Iheardsomebodysighinthedark，andfoundthatitwasshe。Iaskedherwhatwasthematter，andgentlypressedheronthissubjectofboldlyandpromptlycontractinganewmarriageasameansofdispersingthehorrorsoftheold。Heranswerimpliedthatshewouldhavenoobjectiontodoit，andtodoitatonce，providedshecouldremainexternallypassiveinthematter，thatshewouldtacitlyyield，infact，topressure，butwouldnotmeetsolicitationhalf—way。Now，BishopHelmsdale，youseewhathaspromptedme。Ontheonehandisadignitaryofhighpositionandintegrity，tosaynomore，whoisanxioustosaveherfromthegloomofhersituation;
ontheotheristhissister，whowillnotmakeknowntoyouherwillingnesstobesaved——partlyfromapathy，partlyfromafearthatshemaybethoughtforwardinrespondingfavourablyatsoearlyamoment，partlyalso，perhaps，fromamodestsensethattherewouldbesomesacrificeonyourpartinallyingyourselfwithawomanofhersecludedandsadexperience。’
’O，thereisnosacrifice！Quiteotherwise。Icaregreatlyforthisalliance，Mr。Glanville。Yoursisterisverydeartome。
Moreover，theadvantageshermindwouldderivefromtheenlargedfieldofactivitythatthepositionofabishop’swifewouldafford，arepalpable。Iaminducedtothinkthatanearlysettlementofthequestion——animmediatecomingtothepoint——whichmightbecalledtooearlyinthemajorityofcases，wouldbearightandconsideratetendernesshere。Myonlydreadisthatsheshouldthinkanimmediatefollowingupofthesubjectpremature。Andtheriskofarebuffasecondtimeisonewhich，asyoumustperceive，itwouldbehighlyunbecominginmetorun。’
’Ithinktheriskwouldbesmall，ifyourlordshipwouldapproachherfrankly。Writeshewillnot，Iamassured;andknowingthat，andhavingherinterestatheart，Iwasinducedtocometoyouandmakethiscandidstatementinreplytoyourcommunication。Herlatehusbandhavingbeenvirtuallydeadthesefourorfiveyears，believeddeadtwoyears，andactuallydeadnearlyone，noreproachcouldattachtoherifsheweretocontractanotherunionto—
morrow。’
’Iagreewithyou，Mr。Glanville，’saidtheBishopwarmly。’Iwillthinkthisover。HermotiveinnotreplyingIcanquiteunderstand:
yourmotiveincomingIcanalsounderstandandappreciateinabrother。IfIfeelconvincedthatitwouldbeaseemlyandexpedientthingIwillcometoWellandto—morrow。’
ThepointtowhichLouishadbroughttheBishopbeingsosatisfactory，hefearedtoendangeritbyanotherword。Hewentawayalmosthurriedly，andatoncelefttheprecinctsofthecathedral，lestanotherencounterwithDr。HelmsdaleshouldleadthelattertotakeanewandslowerviewofhisdutiesasViviette’ssuitor。
HereachedWellandbydinner—time，andcameuponVivietteinthesamepensivemoodinwhichhehadlefther。Itseemedshehadhardlymovedsince。
’HaveyoudiscoveredSwithinSt。Cleeve’saddress？’shesaid，withoutlookingupathim。
’No，’saidLouis。
Thenshebrokeoutwithindescribableanguish:’Butyouaskedmetowaittillthisevening;andIhavewaitedthroughthelongday，inthebeliefthatyourwordsmeantsomething，andthatyouwouldbringgoodtidings！AndnowIfindyourwordsmeantnothing，andyouhaveNOTbroughtgoodtidings！’
Louiscouldnotdecideforamomentwhattosaytothis。Shouldheventuretogiveherthoughtsanewcoursebyarevelationofhisdesign？No:itwouldbebettertoprolongherdespairyetanothernight，andspringreliefuponhersuddenly，thatshemightjumpatitandcommitherselfwithoutanintervalforreflectiononcertainaspectsoftheproceeding。
Nothing，accordingly，didhesay;andconjecturingthatshewouldbehardlylikelytotakeanydesperatestepthatnight，helefthertoherself。
Hisanxietyatthiscrisiscontinuedtobegreat。EverythingdependedontheresultoftheBishop’sself—communion。Wouldheorwouldhenotcomethenextday？Perhapsinsteadofhisimportantpresencetherewouldappearaletterpostponingthevisitindefinitely。Ifso，allwouldbelost。
Louis’ssuspensekepthimawake，andhewasnotaloneinhissleeplessness。Throughthenightheheardhissisterwalkingupanddown，inastatewhichbetokenedthatforeverypangofgriefshehaddisclosed，twiceasmanyhadremainedunspoken。Healmostfearedthatshemightseektoendherexistencebyviolence，sounreasonablysuddenwerehermoods;andhelayandlongedfortheday。
Itwasmorning。Shecamedownthesameasusual，andaskediftherehadarrivedanytelegramorletter;buttherewasneither。Louisavoidedher，knowingthatnothinghecouldsayjustthenwoulddoheranygood。
NocommunicationhadreachedhimfromtheBishop，andthatlookedwell。Byoneruseandanother，asthedaywenton，heledherawayfromcontemplatingtheremotepossibilityofhearingfromSwithin，andinducedhertolookattheworstcontingencyasherprobablefate。Itseemedasifshereallymadeuphermindtothis，forbytheafternoonshewasapathetic，likeawomanwhoneitherhopednorfeared。
Andthenaflydroveuptothedoor。
Louis，whohadbeenstandinginthehallthegreaterpartofthatday，glancedoutthroughaprivatewindow，andwenttoViviette。
’TheBishophascalled，’hesaid。’Bereadytoseehim。’
’TheBishopofMelchester？’saidViviette，bewildered。
’Yes。Iaskedhimtocome。Hecomesforananswertohisletters。’
’Ananswer——to——his——letters？’shemurmured。
’Animmediatereplyofyesorno。’
Herfaceshowedtheworkingsofhermind。Howentirelyananswerofassent，atonceactedonforbetterorforworse，wouldclearthespectrefromherpath，thereneedednotonguetotell。Itwould，moreover，accomplishthatendwithoutinvolvingtheimpoverishmentofSwithin——theinevitableresultifshehadadoptedthelegitimateroadoutofhertrouble。Hithertotherehadseemedtoherdismayedmind，unenlightenedastoanycoursesaveoneofhonesty，nopossibleachievementofBOTHherdesires——thesavingofSwithinandthesavingofherself。Butbehold，herewasaway！Atempterhadshownittoher。Itinvolvedagreatwrong，whichtoherhadquiteobscureditsfeasibility。Butsheperceivednowthatitwasindeedaway。Naturewasforcingherhandatthisgame;andtowhatwillnotnaturecompelherweakervictims，inextremes？
Louislefthertothinkitout。Whenhereachedthedrawing—roomDr。Helmsdalewasstandingtherewiththeairofamantoogoodforhisdestiny——which，tobejusttohim，wasnotfarfromthetruththistime。
’Haveyoubrokenmymessagetoher？’askedtheBishopsonorously。
’Notyourmessage;yourvisit，’saidLouis。’IleavetherestinyourLordship’shands。IhavedoneallIcanforher。’
Shewasinherownsmallroomto—day;and，feelingthatitmustbeaboldstrokeornone，heledtheBishopacrossthehalltillhereachedherapartmentandopenedthedoor;butinsteadoffollowingheshutitbehindhisvisitor。
ThenGlanvillepassedananxioustime。Hewalkedfromthefootofthestaircasetothestarofoldswordsandpikesonthewall;fromthesetothestags’horns;thencedownthecorridorasfarasthedoor，wherehecouldhearmurmuringinside，butnotitsimport。Thelongertheyremainedclosetedthemoreexciteddidhebecome。Thatshehadnotperemptorilynegativedtheproposalattheoutsetwasastrongsignofitssuccess。Itshowedthatshehadadmittedargument;andtheworthyBishophadapleaderonhissidewhomheknewlittleof。TheveryweatherseemedtofavourDr。Helmsdaleinhissuit。Ablusterouswindhadblownupfromthewest，howlinginthesmokelesschimneys，andsuggestingtothefemininemindstormsatsea，atossingocean，andthehopelessinaccessibilityofallastronomersandmenontheothersideofthesame。
TheBishophadenteredViviette’sroomattenminutespastthree。
Thelonghandofthehallclocklaylevelatforty—fiveminutespastwhentheknobofthedoormoved，andhecameout。Louismethimwherethepassagejoinedthehall。
Dr。Helmsdalewasdecidedlyinanemotionalstate，hisfacebeingslightlyflushed。Louislookedhisanxiousinquirywithoutspeakingit。
’Sheacceptsme，’saidtheBishopinalowvoice。’Andtheweddingistobesoon。Herlongsolitudeandsufferingsjustifyhaste。
Whatyousaidwastrue。Sheerwearinessanddistractionhavedrivenhertome。Shewasquitepassiveatlast，andagreedtoanythingI
proposed——suchisthepersuasiveforceoftrainedlogicalreasoning！
Agoodandwisewoman，sheperceivedwhatatrueshelterfromsadnesswasofferedinme，andwasnottheonetodespiseHeaven’sgift。’
XL
ThesilenceofSwithinwastobeaccountedforbythecircumstancethatneithertotheMediterraneannortoAmericahadheinthefirstplacedirectedhissteps。Feelinghimselfabsolutelyfreehehad，onarrivingatSouthampton，decidedtomakestraightfortheCape，andhencehadnotgoneaboardtheOccidentalatall。Hisobjectwastoleavehisheavierluggagethere，examinethecapabilitiesofthespotforhispurpose，findoutthenecessityorotherwiseofshippingoverhisownequatorial，andthencrosstoAmericaassoonastherewasagoodopportunity。HerehemightinquirethemovementsoftheTransitexpeditiontotheSouthPacific，andjoinitatsuchapointasmightbeconvenient。
Thus，thoughwronginherpremisses，Viviettehadintuitivelydecidedwithsadprecision。Therewas，asamatteroffact，agreatpossibilityofhernotbeingabletocommunicatewithhimforseveralmonths，notwithstandingthathemightpossiblycommunicatewithher。
ThisexcursivetimewasanawakeningforSwithin。Toalteredcircumstancesinevitablyfollowedalteredviews。Thatsuchchangesshouldhaveamarkedeffectuponayoungmanwhohadmadeneithergrandtournorpettyone——whohad，inshort，scarcelybeenawayfromhomeinhislife——wasnothingmorethannatural。Newideasstruggledtodisclosethemselvesandwiththeadditionofstrangetwinklerstohissouthernhorizoncameanabsorbedattentionthatway，andacorrespondingforgetfulnessofwhatlaytothenorthbehindhisback，whetherhumanorcelestial。WhoevermaydeploreitfewwillwonderthatViviette，whotillthenhadstoodhighinhisheaven，ifshehadnotdominatedit，sank，liketheNorthStar，lowerandlowerwithhisretreatsouthward。Masterofalargeadvanceofhisfirstyear’sincomeincircularnotes，heperhapstooreadilyforgotthatthemereactofhonour，butforherself—
suppression，wouldhaverenderedhimpenniless。
Meanwhile，tocomebackandclaimheratthespecifiedtime，fouryearsthence，ifsheshouldnotobjecttobeclaimed，wasasmuchapartofhisprogrammeasweretheexploitsabroadandelsewherethatweretopreludeit。Theverythoroughnessofhisintentionforthatadvanceddateinclinedhimallthemorereadilytoshelvethesubjectnow。Herunhappycautiontohimnottowritetoosoonwasacomfortablelicenseinhispresentstateoftensionaboutsublimescientificthings，whichknewnotwoman，norhersacrifices，norherfears。Intruthhewasnotonlytooyounginyears，buttooliteral，direct，anduncompromisinginnaturetounderstandsuchawomanasLadyConstantine;andshesufferedforthatlimitationinhimasithadbeenantecedentlyprobablethatshewoulddo。
HestayedbutalittletimeatCapeTownonthishisfirstreconnoitringjourney;andonthataccountwrotetonoonefromtheplace。OnleavinghefoundthereremainedsomeweeksonhishandsbeforehewishedtocrosstoAmerica;andfeelinganirrepressibledesireforfurtherstudiesinnavigationonshipboard，andunderclearskies，hetookthesteamerforMelbourne;returningthenceinduetime，andpursuinghisjourneytoAmerica，wherehelandedatBoston。
Havingatlasthadenoughofgreatcirclesandothernauticalreckonings，andtakingnointerestinmenorcities，thisindefatigablescrutineeroftheuniversewentimmediatelyontoCambridge;andthere，bythehelpofanintroductionhehadbroughtfromEngland，herevelledforatimeinthegloriesofthegiganticrefractor（whichhewaspermittedtouseonoccasion），andinthepleasuresofintercoursewiththescientificgrouparound。ThisbroughthimontothetimeofstartingwiththeTransitexpedition，whenheandhiskindbecamelosttotheeyeofcivilizationbehindthehorizonofthePacificOcean。
Tospeakoftheirdoingsonthispilgrimage，ofingressandegress，oftangentandparallax，ofexternalandinternalcontact，wouldavailnothing。IsitnotallwritteninthechroniclesoftheAstronomicalSociety？MoretothepointwillitbetomentionthatViviette’slettertoCambridgehadbeenreturnedlongbeforehereachedthatplace，whilehermissivetoMarseilleswas，ofcourse，misdirectedaltogether。OnarrivinginAmerica，uncertainofanaddressinthatcountryatwhichhewouldstaylong，Swithinwrotehisfirstlettertohisgrandmother;andinthisheorderedthatallcommunicationsshouldbesenttoawaithimatCapeTown，astheonlysafespotforfindinghim，soonerorlater。Theequatorialhealsodirectedtobeforwardedtothesameplace。Atthistime，too，heventuredtobreakViviette’scommands，andaddressalettertoher，notknowingofthestrangeresultsthathadfollowedhisabsencefromhome。
ItwasFebruary。TheTransitwasover，thescientificcompanyhadbrokenup，andSwithinhadsteamedtowardstheCapetotakeuphispermanentabodethere，withaviewtohisgreattaskofsurveying，chartingandtheorizingonthoseexceptionalfeaturesinthesouthernskieswhichhadbeenbutpartiallytreatedbytheyoungerHerschel。HavingenteredTableBayandlandedonthequay，hecalledatonceatthepost—office。
Twoletterswerehandedhim，andhefoundfromthedatethattheyhadbeenwaitingthereforsometime。Oneoftheseepistles，whichhadaweather—wornlookasregardedtheink，andwasinold—
fashionedpenmanship，heknewtobefromhisgrandmother。Heopeneditbeforehehadasmuchasglancedatthesuperscriptionofthesecond。
Besidesimmaterialportions，itcontainedthefollowing:——
’Jreckonyouknowbynowofourmainnewsthisfall，butlestyoushouldnothaveheardofitJsendtheexactthingsnippedoutofthenewspaper。Nobodyexpectedhertodoitquitesosoon;butitissaidhereaboutthatmylordbishopandmyladyhadbeendrawingnightoanunderstandingbeforetheglumtidingsofSirBlount’stakingofhisownlifereachedher;andtheaccountofthiswickeddeedwassosoreafflictingtohermind，andmadeherpoorheartsotimidandlow，thatincharitytomyladyherfewfriendsagreedonurginghertoletthebishopgoonpayinghiscourtasbefore，notwithstandingshehadnotbeenawidow—womannearsolongaswasthought。This，asitturnedout，shewaswillingtodo;andwhenmylordaskedhershetoldhimshewouldmarryhimatonceornever。
That’sasJwastold，andJhaditfromthosethatknow。’
ThecuttingfromthenewspaperwasanordinaryannouncementofmarriagebetweentheBishopofMelchesterandLadyConstantine。
SwithinwassoastoundedattheintelligenceofwhatforthenonceseemedViviette’swantonficklenessthathequiteomittedtolookatthesecondletter;andrememberednothingaboutittillanhourafterwards，whensittinginhisownroomatthehotel。
Itwasinherhandwriting，butsoalteredthatitssuperscriptionhadnotarrestedhiseye。Ithadnobeginning，ordate;butitscontentssoonacquaintedhimwithhermotivefortheprecipitateact。Thefewconcludingsentencesareallthatitwillbenecessarytoquotehere:——
’Therewasnowayoutofit，evenifIcouldhavefoundyou，withoutinfringingoneoftheconditionsIhadpreviouslylaiddown。Thelongdesireofmyhearthasbeennottoimpoverishyouormaryourcareer。Thenewdesirewastosavemyselfand，stillmore，anotheryetunborn……Ihavedoneadesperatething。YetformyselfI
coulddonobetter，andforyounoless。Iwouldhavesacrificedmysingleselftohonesty，butIwasnotaloneconcerned。Whatwomanhasarighttoblightacominglifetopreserveherpersonalintegrity？……Theonebrightspotisthatitsavesyouandyourendowmentfromfurthercatastrophes，andpreservesyoutothepleasantpathsofscientificfame。Inolongerlielikealogacrossyourpath，whichisnowasopenasonthedaybeforeyousawme，andereIencouragedyoutowinme。Alas，Swithin，Ioughttohaveknownbetter。Thefollywasgreat，andthesufferingbeuponmyhead！Ioughtnottohaveconsentedtothatlastinterview:allwaswelltillthen！……Well，Ihavebornemuch，andamnotunprepared。Asforyou，Swithin，bysimplypressingstraightonyourtriumphisassured。Donotcommunicatewithmeinanyway——noteveninanswertothis。Donotthinkofme。Donotseemeeveranymore。——YourunhappyVIVIETTE。’
Swithin’sheartswelledwithinhiminsuddenpityforher，first;