’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。