’Oh，nothing，sir，’Hannahreplied，lookingoutofthewindowwithsadapathy，’onlythatthere’sacomet，theysay。’
’AWHAT？’saidthedyingastronomer，startinguponhiselbow。
’Acomet——that’sall，MasterSwithin，’repeatedHannah，inalowervoice，fearingshehaddoneharminsomeway。
’Well，tellme，tellme！’criedSwithin。’IsitGambart’s？IsitCharlestheFifth’s，orHalley’s，orFaye’s，orwhose？’
’Hush！’saidshe，thinkingSt。Cleeveslightlydeliriousagain。
’’TisGodA’mighty’s，ofcourse。Ihaven’tseedenmyself，buttheysayhe’sgettingbiggereverynight，andthathe’llbethebiggestoneknownforfiftyyearswhenhe’sfullgrowed。There，youmustnottalkanymorenow，orI’llgoaway。’
Herewasanamazingevent，littlenoiseasithadmadeinthehappening。Ofallphenomenathathehadlongedtowitnessduringhisshortastronomicalcareer，thoseappertainingtocometshadexcitedhimmost。Thatthemagnificentcometof1811wouldnotreturnagainforthirtycenturieshadbeenquiteapermanentregretwithhim。Andnow，whenthebottomlessabyssofdeathseemedyawningbeneathhisfeet，oneofthesemuch—desiredapparitions，aslarge，apparently，asanyofitstribe，hadchosentoshowitself。
’O，ifIcouldbutlivetoseethatcometthroughmyequatorial！’hecried。
Comparedwithcomets，variablestars，whichhehadhithertomadehisstudy，were，fromtheirremoteness，uninteresting。TheyweretotheformerasthecelebritiesofUjijiorUnyamwesitothecelebritiesofhisowncountry。Membersofthesolarsystem，thesedazzlingandperplexingrangers，thefascinationofallastronomers，renderedthemselvesstillmorefascinatingbythesinistersuspicionattachingtothemofbeingpossiblytheultimatedestroyersofthehumanrace。InhisphysicalprostrationSt。Cleeveweptbitterlyatnotbeinghaleandstrongenoughtowelcomewithproperhonourthepresentspecimenofthesedesirablevisitors。
Thestrenuouswishtoliveandbeholdthenewphenomenon，supplantingtheutterwearinessofexistencethathehadheretoforeexperienced，gavehimanewvitality。Thecrisispassed;therewasaturnforthebetter;andafterthatherapidlymended。Thecomethadinallprobabilitysavedhislife。Thelimitlessandcomplexwondersoftheskyresumedtheiroldpoweroverhisimagination;thepossibilitiesofthatunfathomableblueoceanwereendless。Finerfeatsthaneverhewouldperformweretobeachievedinitsinvestigation。WhatLadyConstantinehadsaid，thatforonediscoverymadetenawaitedmaking，wasstrikinglyverifiedbythesuddenappearanceofthissplendidmarvel。
ThewindowsofSt。Cleeve’sbedroomfacedthewest，andnothingwouldsatisfyhimbutthathisbedshouldbesopulledroundastogivehimaviewofthelowsky，inwhichtheasyetminutetadpoleoffirewasrecognizable。Themeresightofitseemedtolendhimsufficientresolutiontocompletehisowncureforthwith。Hisonlyfearnowwaslest，fromsomeunexpectedcauseorother，thecometwouldvanishbeforehecouldgettotheobservatoryonRings—HillSpeer。
Inhisfervourtobeginobservinghedirectedthatanoldtelescope，whichhehadusedinhisfirstcelestialattempts，shouldbetiedatoneendtothebed—post，andattheotherfixednearhiseyeashereclined。Equippedonlywiththisroughimprovisationhebegantotakenotes。LadyConstantinewasforgotten，tilloneday，suddenly，wonderingifsheknewoftheimportantphenomenon，herevolvedinhismindwhetherasafellow—studentandsincerefriendofhissheoughtnottobesentfor，andinstructedintheuseoftheequatorial。
ButthoughtheimageofLadyConstantine，inspiteofherkindnessandunmistakablywarmheart，hadbeenobscuredinhismindbytheheavenlybody，shehadnotsoreadilyforgottenhim。Tooshytorepeathervisitaftersonearlybetrayinghersecret，sheyet，everyday，bythemostingeniousandsubtlemeansthatcouldbedevisedbyawomanwhofearedforherself，butcouldnotrefrainfromtamperingwithdanger，ascertainedthestateofheryoungfriend’shealth。Onhearingoftheturninhisconditionsherejoicedonhisaccount，andbecameyetmoredespondentonherown。
Ifhehaddiedshemighthavemusedonhimasherdeardepartedsaintwithoutmuchsin:buthisreturntolifewasadelightthatbewilderedanddismayed。
Oneeveningalittlelateronhewassittingathisbedroomwindowasusual，waitingforasufficientdeclineoflighttorevealthecomet’sform，whenhebeheld，crossingthefieldcontiguoustothehouse，afigurewhichheknewtobehers。Hethoughtshemustbecomingtoseehimonthegreatcometquestion，todiscusswhichwithsodelightfulandkindacomradewasanexpectationfullofpleasure。Hencehekeenlyobservedherapproach，tillsomethinghappenedthatsurprisedhim。
When，atthedescentofthehill，shehadreachedthestilethatadmittedtoMrs。Martin’sgarden，LadyConstantinestoodquitestillforaminuteormore，hergazebentontheground。Insteadofcomingontothehouseshewentheavilyandslowlyback，almostasifinpain;andthenatlength，quickeningherpace，shewassoonoutofsight。Sheappearedinthepathnomorethatday。
XI
WhyhadLadyConstantinestoppedandturned？
Amisgivinghadtakensuddenpossessionofher。HertruesentimenttowardsSt。Cleevewastoorecognizablebyherselftobetolerated。
Thatshehadalegitimateinterestinhimasayoungastronomerwastrue;thathersympathyonaccountofhissevereillnesshadbeennaturalandcommendablewasalsotrue。Butthesuperfluousfeelingwaswhatfilledherwithtrepidation。
Superfluitieshavebeendefinedasthingsyoucannotdowithout，andthisparticularemotion，thatcamenotwithinherrightfulmeasure，wasindangerofbecomingjustsuchasuperfluitywithher。Inshort，shefeltthereandthenthattoseeSt。Cleeveagainwouldbeanimpropriety;andbyaviolenteffortsheretreatedfromhisprecincts，ashehadobserved。
Sheresolvedtoennobleherconductfromthatmomentofherlifeonwards。ShewouldexercisekindpatronagetowardsSwithinwithoutonceindulgingherselfwithhiscompany。Inexpressiblydeartoherdesertedhearthewasbecoming，butforthefutureheshouldatleastbehiddenfromhereyes。Tospeakplainly，itwasgrowingaseriousquestionwhether，ifhewerenothiddenfromhereyes，shewouldnotsoonbeplungingacrosstheraggedboundarywhichdividesthepermissiblefromtheforbidden。
Bythetimethatshehaddrawnnearhomethesunwasgoingdown。
Theheavy，many—chevronedchurch，nowsubduedbyvioletshadowexceptwhereitsuppercoursescaughtthewesternstrokeofflame—
colour，stoodclosetohergrounds，asinmanyotherparishes，thoughthevillageofwhichitformerlywasthenucleushadbecomequitedepopulated:itscottageshadbeendemolishedtoenlargethepark，leavingtheoldbuildingtostandtherealone，likeastandardwithoutanarmy。
ItwasFridaynight，andsheheardtheorganistpractisingvoluntarieswithin。Thehour，thenotes，theeven—songofthebirds，andherownpreviousemotions，combinedtoinfluenceherdevotionally。Sheentered，turningtotherightandpassingunderthechancelarch，whereshesatdownandviewedthewholeemptylength，eastandwest。Thesemi—Normanarchesofthenave，withtheirmultitudinousnotchings，werestillvisiblebythelightfromthetowerwindow，butthelowerportionofthebuildingwasinobscurity，exceptwherethefeebleglimmerfromthecandleoftheorganistspreadaglow—wormradiancearound。Theplayer，whowasMissTabithaLark，continuedwithoutintermissiontoproduceherwanderingsounds，unconsciousofanyone’spresenceexceptthatoftheyouthfulbloweratherside。
Theraysfromtheorganist’scandleilluminatedbutonesmallfragmentofthechanceloutsidetheprecinctsoftheinstrument，andthatwastheportionoftheeasternwallwhereonthetencommandmentswereinscribed。ThegiltlettersshonesternlyintoLadyConstantine’seyes;andshe，beingasimpressionableasaturtle—dove，watchedacertainoneofthosecommandmentsonthesecondtable，tillitsthunderbrokeherspiritwithblankcontrition。
Shekneltdown，anddidherutmosttoeradicatethoseimpulsestowardsSt。Cleevewhichwereinconsistentwithherpositionasthewifeofanabsentman，thoughnotunnaturalinherashisvictim。
Sheknelttillsheseemedscarcelytobelongtothetimeshelivedin，whichlostthemagnitudethatthenearnessofitsperspectivelentitonordinaryoccasions，andtookitsactualrankinthelonglineofothercenturies。Havingoncegotoutofherself，seenherselffromafaroff，shewascalmer，andwentontoregisteramagnanimousvow。ShewouldlookaboutforsomemaidenfitandlikelytomakeSt。Cleevehappy;andthisgirlshewouldendowwithwhatmoneyshecouldafford，thatthenaturalresultoftheirappositionshoulddohimnoworldlyharm。Theinterestofher，LadyConstantine’s，lifeshouldbeinwatchingthedevelopmentoflovebetweenSwithinandtheidealmaiden。Theverypainfulnessoftheschemetohersusceptibleheartmadeitpleasingtoherconscience;
andshewonderedthatshehadnotbeforethistimethoughtofastratagemwhichunitedthepossibilityofbenefitingtheastronomerwiththeadvantageofguardingagainstperiltobothSwithinandherself。Byprovidingforhimasuitablehelpmateshewouldprecludethedangerousawakeninginhimofsentimentsreciprocatingherown。
Arrivedatapointofexquisitemiserythroughthisheroicintention，LadyConstantine’stearsmoistenedthebooksuponwhichherforeheadwasbowed。Andassheheardherfeverishheartthrobagainstthedesk，shefirmlybelievedthewearingimpulsesofthatheartwouldputanendtohersadlife，andmomentarilyrecalledthebanishedimageofSt。CleevetoapostrophisehiminthoughtsthatparaphrasedthequaintlinesofHeine’sLieb’Liebchen:——
’Dearmylove，pressthyhandtomybreast，andtellIfthoutracesttheknocksinthatnarrowcell;
Acarpenterdwellsthere;cunningishe，Andslylyhe’sshapingacoffinforme！’
LadyConstantinewasdisturbedbyabreakintheorganist’smeanderingpractice，andraisingherheadshesawapersonstandingbytheplayer。ItwasMr。Torkingham，andwhathesaidwasdistinctlyaudible。Hewasinquiringforherself。
’IthoughtIsawLadyConstantinewalkthisway，’herejoinedtoTabitha’snegative。’Iamveryanxiousindeedtomeetwithher。’
Shewentforward。’Iamhere，’shesaid。’Don’tstopplaying，MissLark。Whatisit，Mr。Torkingham？’
Tabithathereuponresumedherplaying，andMr。TorkinghamjoinedLadyConstantine。
’Ihavesomeveryseriousintelligencetobreaktoyourladyship，’
hesaid。’But——Iwillnotinterruptyouhere。’（Hehadseenherrisefromherkneestocometohim。）’IwillcallattheHousethefirstmomentyoucanreceivemeafterreachinghome。’
’No，tellmehere，’shesaid，seatingherself。
Hecameclose，andplacedhishandonthepoppy—headoftheseat。
’Ihavereceivedacommunication，’heresumedhaltingly，’inwhichI
amrequestedtoprepareyouforthecontentsofaletterthatyouwillreceiveto—morrowmorning。’
’Iamquiteready。’
’Thesubjectisbrieflythis，LadyConstantine:thatyouhavebeenawidowformorethaneighteenmonths。’
’Dead！’
’Yes。SirBlountwasattackedbydysenteryandmalariousfever，onthebanksoftheZougainSouthAfrica，solongagoaslastOctobertwelvemonths，anditcarriedhimoff。Ofthethreemenwhowerewithhim，twosuccumbedtothesameillness，ahundredmilesfurtheron;whilethethird，retracinghisstepsintoahealthierdistrict，remainedtherewithanativetribe，andtooknopainstomakethecircumstancesknown。Itseemstobeonlybythemereaccidentofhishavingtoldsomethirdpartythatweknowofthematternow。
ThisisallIcantellyouatpresent。’
Shewasgreatlyagitatedforafewmoments;andtheTableoftheLawopposite，whichnowseemedtoappertaintoanotherdispensation，glistenedindistinctlyuponavisionstillobscuredbytheoldtears。
’ShallIconductyouhome？’askedtheparson。
’Nothankyou，’saidLadyConstantine。’Iwouldrathergoalone。’
XII
OntheafternoonofthenextdayMr。Torkingham，whooccasionallydroppedintoseeSt。Cleeve，calledagainasusual;afterdulyremarkingonthestateoftheweather，congratulatinghimonhissurethoughslowimprovement，andansweringhisinquiriesaboutthecomet，hesaid，’Youhaveheard，Isuppose，ofwhathashappenedtoLadyConstantine？’
’No！Nothingserious？’
’Yes，itisserious。’TheparsoninformedhimofthedeathofSirBlount，andoftheaccidentswhichhadhinderedallknowledgeofthesame，——accidentsfavouredbytheestrangementofthepairandthecessationofcorrespondencebetweenthemforsometime。
Hislistenerreceivedthenewswiththeconcernofafriend，LadyConstantine’saspectinhiseyesdependingbutlittleonherconditionmatrimonially。
’Therewasnoattempttobringhimhomewhenhedied？’
’Ono。Theclimatenecessitatesinstantburial。Weshallhavemoreparticularsinadayortwo，doubtless。’
’PoorLadyConstantine，——sogoodandsosensitiveassheis！I
supposesheisquiteprostratedbythebadnews。’
’Well，sheisratherserious，——notprostrated。Thehouseholdisgoingintomourning。’
’Ah，no，shewouldnotbequiteprostrated，’murmuredSwithin，recollectinghimself。’Hewasunkindtoherinmanyways。DoyouthinkshewillgoawayfromWelland？’
Thatthevicarcouldnottell。ButhefearedthatSirBlount’saffairshadbeeninaseriouslyinvolvedcondition，whichmightnecessitatemanyandunexpectedchanges。
TimeshowedthatMr。Torkingham’ssurmiseswerecorrect。
Duringthelongweeksofearlysummer，throughwhichtheyoungmanstilllayimprisoned，ifnotwithinhisownchamber，withinthelimitsofthehouseandgarden，newsreachedhimthatSirBlount’smismanagementandeccentricbehaviourwereresultinginseriousconsequencestoLadyConstantine;nothingless，indeed，thanheralmostcompleteimpoverishment。Hispersonaltywasswallowedupinpayinghisdebts，andtheWellandestatewassoheavilychargedwithannuitiestohisdistantrelativesthatonlyamerepittancewasleftforher。Shewasreducingtheestablishmenttothenarrowestcompasscompatiblewithdecentgentility。Thehorsesweresoldonebyone;thecarriagesalso;thegreaterpartofthehousewasshutup，andsheresidedinthesmallestrooms。Allthatwasallowedtoremainofherformercontingentofmaleservantswereanoddmanandaboy。Insteadofusingacarriageshenowdroveaboutinadonkey—
chair，thesaidboywalkinginfronttoclearthewayandkeeptheanimalinmotion;whileshewore，sohisinformantsreported，notanordinarywidow’scaporbonnet，butsomethingevenplainer，theblackmaterialbeingdrawntightlyroundherface，givingherfeaturesasmall，demure，devoutcast，verypleasingtotheeye。
’Now，what’sthemostcuriousthinginthis，Mr。SanCleeve，’saidSammyBlore，who，incallingtoinquireafterSwithin’shealth，hadimpartedsomeoftheaboveparticulars，’isthatmyladyseemsnottomindbeingaporewomanhalfsomuchaswedoatseeingherso。
’Tisawonderfulgift，Mr。SanCleeve，wonderful，tobeabletoguideyerself，andnotletlooseyersoulinblastingatsuchamisfortune。Ishouldgoanddrinkneatregular，assoonasIhadswalleredmybreakfast，tillmyinnerdswasburntoutlikea’oldcopper，ifithadhappenedtome;butmylady’splanisbest。
ThoughIonlyguesshowonefeelsinsuchlosses，tobesure，forI
neverhadnothingtolose。’
Meanwhiletheobservatorywasnotforgotten;northatvisitantofsingularshapeandhabitswhichhadappearedintheskyfromnooneknewwhence，trailingitsluminousstreamer，andproceedingonitswayinthefaceofawonderingworld，tillitshouldchoosetovanishassuddenlyasithadcome。
When，aboutamonthaftertheabovedialoguetookplace，Swithinwasallowedtogoaboutasusual，hisfirstpilgrimagewastotheRings—
HillSpeer。Herehestudiedatleisurewhathehadcometosee。
Onhisreturntothehomestead，justaftersunset，hefoundhisgrandmotherandHannahinastateofgreatconcern。Theformerwaslookingoutforhimagainsttheeveninglight，herfaceshowingitselfwornandrutted，likeanoldhighway，bythepassingofmanydays。HerinformationwasthatinhisabsenceLadyConstantinehadcalledinherdriving—chair，toinquireforhim。Herladyshiphadwishedtoobservethecometthroughthegreattelescope，buthadfoundthedoorlockedwhensheappliedatthetower。Wouldhekindlyleavethedoorunfastenedto—morrow，shehadasked，thatshemightbeabletogotothecolumnonthefollowingeveningforthesamepurpose？Shedidnotrequirehimtoattend。
DuringthenextdayhesentHannahwiththekeytoWellandHouse，notcaringtoleavethetoweropen。Aseveningadvancedandthecometgrewdistinct，hedoubtedifLadyConstantinecouldhandlethetelescopealonewithanypleasureorprofittoherself。Unable，asadevoteetoscience，torestunderthismisgiving，hecrossedthefieldinthefurrowthathehadusedeversincethecornwassown，andenteredtheplantation。Hisunpractisedmindneveronceguessedthatherstipulationsagainsthiscomingmighthaveexistedalongwithaperversehopethathewouldcome。
Onascendinghefoundheralreadythere。Shesatintheobserving—
chair:thewarmlightfromthewest，whichflowedinthroughtheopeningofthedome，brightenedherface，andherfaceonly，herrobesofsablelawnrenderingtheremainderofherfigurealmostinvisible。
’Youhavecome！’shesaidwithshypleasure。’Ididnotrequireyou。Butnevermind。’Sheextendedherhandcordiallytohim。
Beforespeakinghelookedatherwithagreatnewinterestinhiseye。Itwasthefirsttimethathehadseenherthus，andshewasalteredinmorethandress。Asoberly—sweetexpressionsatonherface。Itwasofarareandpeculiarshade——somethingthathehadneverseenbeforeinwoman。
’Haveyounothingtosay？’shecontinued。’Yourfootstepswereaudibletomefromtheverybottom，andIknewtheywereyours。Youlookalmostrestored。’
’Iamalmostrestored，’hereplied，respectfullypressingherhand。
’Areasonforlivingarose，andIlived。’
’Whatreason？’sheinquired，witharapidblush。
Hepointedtotherocket—likeobjectinthewesternsky。
’Oh，youmeanthecomet。Well，youwillnevermakeacourtier！Youknow，ofcourse，whathashappenedtome;thatIhavenolongerahusband——havehadnoneforayearandahalf。HaveyoualsoheardthatIamnowquiteapoorwoman？Tellmewhatyouthinkofit。’
’IhavethoughtverylittleofitsinceIheardthatyouseemedtomindpovertybutlittle。Thereiseventhisgoodinit，thatImaynowbeabletoshowyousomelittlekindnessforallthoseyouhavedoneme，mydearlady。’
’Unlessforeconomy’ssake，Igoandliveabroad，atDinan，Versailles，orBoulogne。’
Swithin，whohadneverthoughtofsuchacontingency，wasearnestinhisregrets;without，however，showingmorethanasincerefriend’sdisappointment。
’Ididnotsayitwasabsolutelynecessary，’shecontinued。’I
have，infact，grownsohomelyandhome—loving，Iamsointerestedintheplaceandthepeoplehere，that，inspiteofadvice，Ihavealmostdeterminednottoletthehouse;buttocontinuethelessbusiness—likebutpleasanteralternativeoflivinghumblyinapartofit，andshuttinguptherest。’
’Yourloveofastronomyisgettingasstrongasmine！’hesaidardently。’Youcouldnottearyourselfawayfromtheobservatory！’
’Youmighthavesupposedmecapableofalittlehumanfeelingaswellasscientific，inconnectionwiththeobservatory。’
’DearLadyConstantine，byadmittingthatyourastronomerhasalsoapartofyourinterest——’
’Ah，youdidnotfinditoutwithoutmytelling！’shesaid，withaplayfulnesswhichwasscarcelyplayful，anewaccessionofpinknessbeingvisibleinherface。’Idiminishmyselfinyouresteembyremindingyou。’
’Youmightdoanythinginthisworldwithoutdiminishingyourselfinmyesteem，afterthegoodnessyouhaveshown。Andmorethanthat，nomisrepresentation，norumour，nodamningappearancewhateverwouldevershakemyloyaltytoyou。’
’Butyouputaverymatter—of—factconstructiononmymotivessometimes。YouseemeinsuchahardlightthatIhavetodrophintsinquiteamanoeuvringmannertoletyouknowIamassympatheticasotherpeople。Isometimesthinkyouwouldratherhavemediethanhaveyourequatorialstolen。Confessthatyouradmirationformewasbasedonmyhouseandpositioninthecounty！
NowIamshornofallthatglory，suchasitwas，andamawidow，andampoorerthanmytenants，andcannolongerbuytelescopes，andamunable，fromthenarrownessofmycircumstances，tomixincirclesthatpeopleformerlysaidIadorned，IfearIhavelostthelittleholdIoncehadoveryou。’
’Youareasunjustnowasyouhavebeengeneroushitherto，’saidSt。
Cleeve，withtearsinhiseyesatthegentlebanterofthelady，whichhe，poorinnocent，readasherrealopinions。Seizingherhandhecontinued，intonesbetweenreproachandanger，’IsweartoyouthatIhavebuttwodevotions，twothoughts，twohopes，andtwoblessingsinthisworld，andthatoneofthemisyourself！’
’Andtheother？’
’Thepursuitofastronomy。’
’Andastronomystandsfirst。’
’Ihaveneverordinatedtwosuchdissimilarideas。Andwhyshouldyoudeploreyouralteredcircumstances，mydearlady？Yourwidowhood，ifImaytakethelibertytospeakonsuchasubject，is，thoughIsupposeasadness，notperhapsanunmixedevil。Forthoughyourpecuniarytroubleshavebeendiscoveredtotheworldandyourselfbyit，yourhappinessinmarriagewas，asyouhaveconfidedtome，notgreat;andyouarenowleftfreeasabirdtofollowyourownhobbies。’
’Iwonderyourecognizethat。’
’Butperhaps，’headded，withasighofregret，’youwillagainfallapreytosomeman，someuninterestingcountrysquireorother，andbelosttothescientificworldafterall。’
’IfIfallapreytoanyman，itwillnotbetoacountrysquire。
Butdon’tgoonwiththis，forheaven’ssake！Youmaythinkwhatyoulikeinsilence。’
’Weareforgettingthecomet，’saidSt。Cleeve。Heturned，andsettheinstrumentinorderforobservation，andwheeledroundthedome。
Whileshewaslookingatthenucleusofthefieryplume，thatnowfilledsolargeaspaceoftheskyascompletelytodominateit，Swithindroppedhisgazeuponthefield，andbeheldinthedyinglightanumberoflabourerscrossingdirectlytowardsthecolumn。
’Whatdoyousee？’LadyConstantineasked，withoutceasingtoobservethecomet。
’Someofthework—folkarecomingthisway。Iknowwhattheyarecomingfor，——Ipromisedtoletthemlookatthecometthroughtheglass。’
’Theymustnotcomeuphere，’shesaiddecisively。
’Theyshallawaityourtime。’
’Ihaveaspecialreasonforwishingthemnottoseemehere。Ifyouaskwhy，Icantellyou。Theymistakenlysuspectmyinteresttobelessinastronomythanintheastronomer，andtheymusthavenoshowingforsuchawildnotion。Whatcanyoudotokeepthemout？’
’I’lllockthedoor，’saidSwithin。’TheywillthenthinkIamaway。’Herandownthestaircase，andshecouldhearhimhastilyturningthekey。LadyConstantinesighed。
’Whatweakness，whatweakness！’shesaidtoherself。’Thatenviedpowerofself—control，whereisit？Thatpowerofconcealmentwhichawomanshouldhave——where？Torunsuchrisks，tocomeherealone，—
—oh，ifitwereknown！ButIwasalwaysso，——always！’
Shejumpedup，andfollowedhimdownstairs。
XIII
Hewasstandingimmediatelyinsidethedooratthebottom，thoughitwassodarkshecouldhardlyseehim。Thevillagerswereaudiblytalkingjustwithout。
’He’ssuretocome，ratheorlate，’resoundedupthespiralinthevocalnoteofHezzyBiles。’Hewouldn’tletsuchafineshowasthecometmakesto—nightgobywithoutpeepingatit，——notMasterCleeve！Didyebringalongtheflagon，Haymoss？Thenwe’llsitdowninsidehislittleboard—househere，andwait。He’llcomeaforebed—time。Why，hisspy—glasswillstretchoutthattherecometaslongasWellandLane！’
’I’dassoonmissthegreatpeep—showthatcomeseveryyeartoGreenhillFairasasightofsuchaimmortalspectacleasthis！’
saidAmosFry。
’\"Immortalspectacle，\"——wheredidyegetthatchoicemossel，Haymoss？’inquiredSammyBlore。’Well，well，theLordsavegoodscholars——andtakejustabito’careofthemthatbain’t！As’tissodarkinthehut，supposewedrawoutthebenchintothefronthere，souls？’
Thebenchwasaccordinglybroughtforth，andinordertohaveabacktoleanagainst，theyplaceditexactlyacrossthedoorintothespiralstaircase。
’Now，haveyegotanybacky？Ifyehaven’t，Ihave，’continuedSammyBlore。Astrikingofmatchesfollowed，andthespeakerconcludedcomfortably，’Nowweshalldoverywell。’
’Andwhatdothiscometmean？’askedHaymoss。’Thatsomegreattumultisgoingtohappen，orthatweshalldieofafamine？’
’Famine——no！’saidNatChapman。’Thatonlytouchessuchaswe，andtheLordonlyconsarnshimselfwithborngentlemen。Itisn’ttobesupposedthatastrangefierylanternlikethatwouldbelightedupforfolkswithtenoradozenshillingsaweekandtheirgristing，andaloado’thornfaggotswhenwecanget’em。If’tisatokenthathe’sgettinghotaboutthewaysofanybodyinthisparish，’tisaboutmyLadyConstantine’s，sincesheistheonlyoneofafigureworthsuchahint。’
’Asforherincome，——thatshe’snowlost。’
’Ah，well;Idon’ttakeinallIhear。’
LadyConstantinedrewclosetoSt。Cleeve’sside，andwhispered，trembling，’Doyouthinktheywillwaitlong？Orcanwegetout？’
Swithinfelttheawkwardnessofthesituation。Themenhadplacedthebenchclosetothedoor，which，owingtothestairswithin，openedoutwards;sothatatthefirstpushbythepairinsidetoreleasethemselvesthebenchmusthavegoneover，andsentthesmokerssprawlingontheirfaces。Hewhisperedtohertoascendthecolumnandwaittillhecame。
’Andhavethedeadmanlefthernothing？Hey？Andhavehecarriedhisinheritanceinto’sgrave？Andwillhisskeletonliewarmonaccounto’t？Hee—hee！’saidHaymoss。
’’Tisallswalleredup，’observedHezzyBiles。’Hisgoings—onmadehermiserabletill’adied，andifIwerethewomanI’dhavemyrandysnow。Heoughttohavebequeathedtoherouryounggent，Mr。
St。Cleeve，assomesortofamends。I’dupandmarryen，ifIwereshe;sinceherdownfallhasbrought’emquiteneartogether，andmadehimasgoodassheinrank，ashewasaforeinboneandbreeding。’
’D’yethinkshewill？’askedSammyBlore。’Orisshemeaningtoenteruponavirginlifefortherestofherdays？’
’Idon’twanttobeunreverenttoherladyship;butIreallydon’tthinksheismeaninganysuchwasteofaChristiancarcase。Isayshe’srathermeaningtocommitflatmatrimonywi’somebodyorother，andoneyounggentlemaninparticular。’
’Buttheyoungmanhimself？’
’Planned，cutout，andfinishedforthedelightof’ooman！’
’Yethemustbewilling。’
’Thatwouldsooncome。Iftheygetupthistowerrulingplannardstogethermuchlonger，theirplannardswillsoonrulethemtogether，inmywayo’thinking。Ifshe’veadispositiontowardstheknot，shecansoonteachhim。’
’True，true，andlawfully。Whatbeforemidha’beenawrongdesireisnowaholywish！’
ThescalesfellfromSwithinSt。Cleeve’seyesasheheardthewordsofhisneighbours。Howsuddenlythetruthdawneduponhim;howitbewilderedhim，tillhescarcelyknewwherehewas;howherecalledthefullforceofwhathehadonlyhalfapprehendedatearliertimes，particularlyofthatsweetkissshehadimpressedonhislipswhenshesupposedhimdying，——thesevividrealizationsaredifficulttotellinslowverbiage。Hecouldremaintherenolonger，andwithanelectrifiedheartheretreatedupthespiral。
HefoundLadyConstantinehalfwaytothetop，standingbyaloop—
hole;andwhenshespokehediscoveredthatshewasalmostintears。
’Aretheygone？’sheasked。
’Ifeartheywillnotgoyet，’hereplied，withanervousfluctuationofmannerthathadneverbeforeappearedinhisbearingtowardsher。
’WhatshallIdo？’sheasked。’Ioughtnottobehere;nobodyknowsthatIamoutofthehouse。Oh，thisisamistake！Imustgohomesomehow。’
’Didyouhearwhattheyweresaying？’
’No，’saidshe。’Whatisthematter？Surelyyouaredisturbed？
Whatdidtheysay？’
’Itwouldbetheexaggerationoffranknessinmetotellyou。’
’Isitwhatawomanoughtnottobemadeacquaintedwith？’
’Itis，inthiscase。Itissonewandsoindescribableanideatome——that’——heleantagainsttheconcavewall，quitetremulouswithstrangeincipientsentiments。
’Whatsortofanidea？’sheaskedgently。