’Ah，myheart！hereyesandsheHavetaughttheenewastrology。
　　Howe’erLove’snativehourswereset，Whateverstarrysynodmet，’Tisinthemercyofhereye，IfpoorLoveshallliveordie。’
　　CRASHAW:Love’sHoroscope。
　　PREFACE
　　Thisslightly—builtromancewastheoutcomeofawishtosettheemotionalhistoryoftwoinfinitesimallivesagainstthestupendousbackgroundofthestellaruniverse，andtoimparttoreadersthesentimentthatofthesecontrastingmagnitudesthesmallermightbethegreatertothemasmen。
　　But，onthepublicationofthebookpeopleseemedtobelessstruckwiththesehighaimsoftheauthorthanwiththeirownopinion，first，thatthenovelwasan’improper’oneinitsmorals，and，secondly，thatitwasintendedtobeasatireontheEstablishedChurchofthiscountry。Iwasmadetosufferinconsequencefromseveraleminentpens。
　　That，however，wasthirteenyearsago，and，inrespectofthefirstopinion，Iventuretothinkthatthosewhocaretoreadthestorynowwillbequiteastonishedatthescrupulousproprietyobservedthereinontherelationsofthesexes;forthoughtheremaybefrivolous，andevengrotesquetouchesonoccasion，thereishardlyasinglecaressinthebookoutsidelegalmatrimony，orwhatwasintendedsotobe。
　　Asforthesecondopinion，itissufficienttodrawattention，asI
　　didatthetime，tothefactthattheBishopiseveryinchagentleman，andthattheparishpriestwhofiguresinthenarrativeisoneofitsmostestimablecharacters。
　　However，thepagesmustspeakforthemselves。Somefewreaders，I
　　trust——totakeaseriousview——willberemindedbythisimperfectstory，inamannernotunprofitabletothegrowthofthesocialsympathies，ofthepathos，misery，long—suffering，anddivinetendernesswhichinreallifefrequentlyaccompanythepassionofsuchawomanasVivietteforaloverseveralyearsherjunior。
　　Thesceneoftheactionwassuggestedbytworealspotsinthepartofthecountryspecified，eachofwhichhasacolumnstandinguponit。Certainsurroundingpeculiaritieshavebeenimportedintothenarrativefrombothsites。
　　T。H。
　　July1895。
　　TWOONATOWER。
　　I
　　Onanearlywinterafternoon，clearbutnotcold，whenthevegetableworldwasaweirdmultitudeofskeletonsthroughwhoseribsthesunshonefreely，agleaminglandaucametoapauseonthecrestofahillinWessex。ThespotwaswheretheoldMelchesterRoad，whichthecarriagehadhithertofollowed，wasjoinedbyadrivethatledroundintoaparkatnogreatdistanceoff。
　　Thefootmanalighted，andwenttotheoccupantofthecarriage，aladyabouteight—ornine—and—twenty。Shewaslookingthroughtheopeningaffordedbyafield—gateattheundulatingstretchofcountrybeyond。Inpursuanceofsomeremarkfromhertheservantlookedinthesamedirection。
　　Thecentralfeatureofthemiddledistance，astheybeheldit，wasacircularisolatedhill，ofnogreatelevation，whichplaceditselfinstrongchromaticcontrastwithawideacreageofsurroundingarablebybeingcoveredwithfir—trees。Thetreeswereallofonesizeandage，sothattheirtipsassumedtheprecisecurveofthehilltheygrewupon。Thispine—cladprotuberancewasyetfurthermarkedoutfromthegenerallandscapebyhavingonitssummitatowerintheformofaclassicalcolumn，which，thoughpartlyimmersedintheplantation，roseabovethetree—topstoaconsiderableheight。Uponthisobjecttheeyesofladyandservantwerebent。
　　’Thenthereisnoroadleadingnearit？’sheasked。
　　’Nothingnearerthanwherewearenow，mylady。’
　　’Thendrivehome，’shesaidafteramoment。Andthecarriagerolledonitsway。
　　Afewdayslater，thesamelady，inthesamecarriage，passedthatspotagain。Hereyes，asbefore，turnedtothedistanttower。
　　’Nobbs，’shesaidtothecoachman，’couldyoufindyourwayhomethroughthatfield，soastogetneartheoutskirtsoftheplantationwherethecolumnis？’
　　Thecoachmanregardedthefield。’Well，mylady，’heobserved，’indryweatherwemightdriveintherebyinchingandpinching，andsogetacrossbyFive—and—TwentyAcres，allbeingwell。Butthegroundissoheavyaftertheserainsthatperhapsitwouldhardlybesafetotryitnow。’
　　’Perhapsnot，’sheassentedindifferently。’Rememberit，willyou，atadriertime？’
　　Andagainthecarriagespedalongtheroad，thelady’seyesrestingonthesegmentalhill，thebluetreesthatmuffledit，andthecolumnthatformeditsapex，tilltheywereoutofsight。
　　Alongtimeelapsedbeforethatladydroveoverthehillagain。ItwasFebruary;thesoilwasnowunquestionablydry，theweatherandscenebeinginotherrespectsmuchastheyhadbeenbefore。Thefamiliarshapeofthecolumnseemedtoremindherthatatlastanopportunityforacloseinspectionhadarrived。Givingherdirectionsshesawthegateopened，andafteralittlemanoeuvringthecarriageswayedslowlyintotheunevenfield。
　　Althoughthepillarstooduponthehereditaryestateofherhusbandtheladyhadnevervisitedit，owingtoitsinsulationbythiswell—
　　nighimpracticableground。Thedrivetothebaseofthehillwastediousandjerky，andonreachingitshealighted，directingthatthecarriageshouldbedrivenbackemptyovertheclods，towaitforheronthenearestedgeofthefield。Shethenascendedbeneaththetreesonfoot。
　　Thecolumnnowshoweditselfasamuchmoreimportanterectionthanithadappearedfromtheroad，orthepark，orthewindowsofWellandHouse，herresidencehardby，whenceshehadsurveyedithundredsoftimeswithouteverfeelingasufficientinterestinitsdetailstoinvestigatethem。Thecolumnhadbeenerectedinthelastcentury，asasubstantialmemorialofherhusband’sgreat—
　　grandfather，arespectableofficerwhohadfallenintheAmericanwar，andthereasonofherlackofinterestwaspartlyowingtoherrelationswiththishusband，ofwhichmoreanon。Itwaslittlebeyondthesheerdesireforsomethingtodo——thechronicdesireofhercuriouslylonelylife——thathadbroughtherherenow。Shewasinamoodtowelcomeanythingthatwouldinsomemeasuredisperseanalmostkillingennui。Shewouldhavewelcomedevenamisfortune。
　　Shehadheardthatfromthesummitofthepillarfourcountiescouldbeseen。Whateverpleasurableeffectwastobederivedfromlookingintofourcountiessheresolvedtoenjoyto—day。
　　Thefir—shroudedhill—topwas（accordingtosomeantiquaries）anoldRomancamp，——ifitwerenot（asothersinsisted）anoldBritishcastle，or（astherestswore）anoldSaxonfieldofWitenagemote，——
　　withremainsofanouterandaninnervallum，awindingpathleadingupbetweentheiroverlappingendsbyaneasyascent。Thespikeletsfromthetreesformedasoftcarpetovertheroute，andoccasionallyabrakeofbramblesbarredtheinterspacesofthetrunks。Soonshestoodimmediatelyatthefootofthecolumn。
　　IthadbeenbuiltintheTuscanorderofclassicarchitecture，andwasreallyatower，beinghollowwithstepsinside。Thegloomandsolitudewhichprevailedroundthebasewereremarkable。Thesoboftheenvironingtreeswashereexpressivelymanifest;andmovedbythelightbreezetheirthinstraightstemsrockedinseconds，likeinvertedpendulums;whilesomeboughsandtwigsrubbedthepillar’ssides，oroccasionallyclickedincatchingeachother。Belowtheleveloftheirsummitsthemasonrywaslichen—stainedandmildewed，forthesunneverpiercedthatmoaningcloudofblue—blackvegetation。Padsofmossgrewinthejointsofthestone—work，andhereandthereshade—lovinginsectshadengravedonthemortarpatternsofnohumanstyleormeaning;butcuriousandsuggestive。
　　Abovethetreesthecasewasdifferent:thepillarroseintotheskyabrightandcheerfulthing，unimpeded，clean，andflushedwiththesunlight。
　　Thespotwasseldomvisitedbyapedestrian，exceptperhapsintheshootingseason。Therarityofhumanintrusionwasevidencedbythemazesofrabbit—runs，thefeathersofshybirds，theexuviaeofreptiles;asalsobythewell—wornpathsofsquirrelsdownthesidesoftrunks，andthencehorizontallyaway。Thefactoftheplantationbeinganislandinthemidstofanarableplainsufficientlyaccountedforthislackofvisitors。Fewunaccustomedtosuchplacescanbeawareoftheinsulatingeffectofploughedground，whennonecessitycompelspeopletotraverseit。Thisrotundhilloftreesandbrambles，standinginthecentreofaploughedfieldofsomeninetyorahundredacres，wasprobablyvisitedlessfrequentlythanarockwouldhavebeenvisitedinalakeofequalextent。
　　Shewalkedroundthecolumntotheotherside，whereshefoundthedoorthroughwhichtheinteriorwasreached。Thepaint，ifithadeverhadany，wasallwashedfromthewood，anddownthedecayingsurfaceoftheboardsliquidrustfromthenailsandhingeshadruninredstains。Overthedoorwasastonetablet，bearing，apparently，lettersorwords;buttheinscription，whateveritwas，hadbeensmoothedoverwithaplasteroflichen。
　　Herestoodthisaspiringpieceofmasonry，erectedasthemostconspicuousandineffaceablereminderofamanthatcouldbethoughtof;andyetthewholeaspectofthememorialbetokenedforgetfulness。Probablynotadozenpeoplewithinthedistrictknewthenameofthepersoncommemorated，whileperhapsnotasoulrememberedwhetherthecolumnwereholloworsolid，whetherwithorwithoutatabletexplainingitsdateandpurpose。Sheherselfhadlivedwithinamileofitforthelastfiveyears，andhadnevercomenearittillnow。
　　Shehesitatedtoascendalone，butfindingthatthedoorwasnotfastenedshepusheditopenwithherfoot，andentered。Ascrapofwriting—paperlaywithin，andarrestedherattentionbyitsfreshness。Somehumanbeing，then，knewthespot，despitehersurmises。Butasthepaperhadnothingonitnocluewasafforded;
　　yetfeelingherselftheproprietorofthecolumnandofallarounditherself—assertivenesswassufficienttoleadheron。Thestaircasewaslightedbyslitsinthewall，andtherewasnodifficultyinreachingthetop，thestepsbeingquiteunworn。Thetrap—doorleadingontotheroofwasopen，andonlookingthroughitaninterestingspectaclemethereye。
　　Ayouthwassittingonastoolinthecentreoftheleadflatwhichformedthesummitofthecolumn，hiseyebeingappliedtotheendofalargetelescopethatstoodbeforehimonatripod。Thissortofpresencewasunexpected，andtheladystartedbackintotheshadeoftheopening。Theonlyeffectproduceduponhimbyherfootfallwasanimpatientwaveofthehand，whichhedidwithoutremovinghiseyefromtheinstrument，asiftoforbidhertointerrupthim。
　　Pausingwhereshestoodtheladyexaminedtheaspectoftheindividualwhothusmadehimselfsocompletelyathomeonabuildingwhichshedeemedherunquestionedproperty。Hewasayouthwhomightproperlyhavebeencharacterizedbyawordthejudiciouschroniclerwouldnotreadilyuseinsuchaconnexion，preferringtoreserveitforraisingimagesoftheoppositesex。Whetherbecausenodeepfelicityislikelytoarisefromthecondition，orfromanyotherreason，tosayinthesedaysthatayouthisbeautifulisnottoawardhimthatamountofcreditwhichtheexpressionwouldhavecarriedwithitifhehadlivedinthetimesoftheClassicalDictionary。Somuch，indeed，isthereversethecasethattheassertioncreatesanawkwardnessinsayinganythingmoreabouthim。
　　Thebeautifulyouthusuallyvergessoperilouslyontheincipientcoxcomb，whoisabouttobecometheLotharioorJuanamongtheneighbouringmaidens，that，forthedueunderstandingofourpresentyoungman，hissublimeinnocenceofanythoughtconcerninghisownmaterialaspect，orthatofothers，ismostferventlyasserted，andmustbeasferventlybelieved。
　　Suchashewas，theretheladsat。Thesunshonefullinhisface，andonhisheadheworeablackvelvetskull—cap，leavingtoviewbelowitacurlymarginofverylightshininghair，whichaccordedwellwiththeflushuponhischeek。
　　HehadsuchacomplexionasthatwithwhichRaffaelleenrichesthecountenanceoftheyouthfulsonofZacharias，——acomplexionwhich，thoughclear，isfarenoughremovedfromvirgindelicacy，andsuggestsplentyofsunandwindasitsaccompaniment。Hisfeaturesweresufficientlystraightinthecontourstocorrectthebeholder’sfirstimpressionthattheheadwastheheadofagirl。Besidehimstoodalittleoaktable，andinfrontwasthetelescope。
　　Hisvisitorhadampletimetomaketheseobservations;andshemayhavedonesoallthemorekeenlythroughbeingherselfofatotallyoppositetype。Herhairwasblackasmidnight，hereyeshadnolessdeepashade，andhercomplexionshowedtherichnessdemandedasasupporttothesedecidedfeatures。Asshecontinuedtolookattheprettyfellowbeforeher，apparentlysofarabstractedintosomespeculativeworldasscarcelytoknowarealone，awarmerwaveofherwarmtemperamentglowedvisiblythroughher，andaqualifiedobservermightfromthishavehazardedaguessthattherewasRomancebloodinherveins。
　　Buteventheinterestattachingtotheyouthcouldnotarrestherattentionforever，andashemadenofurthersignsofmovinghiseyefromtheinstrumentshebrokethesilencewith——
　　’Whatdoyousee？——somethinghappeningsomewhere？’
　　’Yes，quiteacatastrophe！’heautomaticallymurmured，withoutmovinground。
　　’What？’
　　’Acycloneinthesun。’
　　Theladypaused，asiftoconsidertheweightofthateventinthescaleofterrenelife。
　　’Willitmakeanydifferencetoushere？’sheasked。
　　Theyoungmanbythistimeseemedtobeawakenedtotheconsciousnessthatsomebodyunusualwastalkingtohim;heturned，andstarted。
　　’Ibegyourpardon，’hesaid。’Ithoughtitwasmyrelativecometolookafterme！Sheoftencomesaboutthistime。’
　　Hecontinuedtolookatherandforgetthesun，justsuchareciprocityofinfluenceasmighthavebeenexpectedbetweenadarkladyandaflaxen—hairedyouthmakingitselfapparentinthefacesofeach。
　　’Don’tletmeinterruptyourobservations，’saidshe。
　　’Ah，no，’saidhe，againapplyinghiseye;whereuponhisfacelosttheanimationwhichherpresencehadlentit，andbecameimmutableasthatofabust，thoughsuperaddingtotheserenityofreposethesensitivenessoflife。Theexpressionthatsettledonhimwasoneofawe。Notunaptlymightithavebeensaidthathewasworshippingthesun。Amongthevariousintensitiesofthatworshipwhichhaveprevailedsincethefirstintelligentbeingsawtheluminarydeclinewestward，astheyoungmannowbehelditdoing，hiswasnottheweakest。Hewasengagedinwhatmaybecalledaverychastenedorschooledformofthatfirstandmostnaturalofadorations。
　　’Butwouldyouliketoseeit？’herecommenced。’Itisaneventthatiswitnessedonlyaboutonceintwoorthreeyears，thoughitmayoccuroftenenough。’
　　Sheassented，andlookedthroughtheshadedeyepiece，andsawawhirlingmass，inthecentreofwhichtheblazingglobeseemedtobelaidbaretoitscore。Itwasapeepintoamaelstromoffire，takingplacewherenobodyhadeverbeenoreverwouldbe。
　　’ItisthestrangestthingIeverbeheld，’shesaid。Thenhelookedagain;tillwonderingwhohercompanioncouldbesheasked，’Areyouoftenhere？’
　　’Everynightwhenitisnotcloudy，andoftenintheday。’
　　’Ah，night，ofcourse。Theheavensmustbebeautifulfromthispoint。’
　　’Theyarerathermorethanthat。’
　　’Indeed！Haveyouentirelytakenpossessionofthiscolumn？’
　　’Entirely。’
　　’Butitismycolumn，’shesaid，withsmilingasperity。
　　’ThenareyouLadyConstantine，wifeoftheabsentSirBlountConstantine？’
　　’IamLadyConstantine。’
　　’Ah，thenIagreethatitisyourladyship’s。Butwillyouallowmetorentitofyouforatime，LadyConstantine？’
　　’Youhavetakenit，whetherIallowitornot。However，intheinterestsofscienceitisadvisablethatyoucontinueyourtenancy。
　　Nobodyknowsyouarehere，Isuppose？’
　　’Hardlyanybody。’
　　Hethentookherdownafewstepsintotheinterior，andshowedhersomeingeniouscontrivancesforstowingarticlesaway。
　　’Nobodyevercomesnearthecolumn，——or，asit’scalledhere，Rings—
　　HillSpeer，’hecontinued;’andwhenIfirstcameupitnobodyhadbeenhereforthirtyorfortyyears。Thestaircasewaschokedwithdaws’nestsandfeathers，butIclearedthemout。’
　　’Iunderstoodthecolumnwasalwayskeptlocked？’
　　’Yes，ithasbeenso。Whenitwasbuilt，in1782，thekeywasgiventomygreat—grandfather，tokeepbyhimincasevisitorsshouldhappentowantit。HelivedjustdowntherewhereIlivenow。’
　　Hedenotedbyanodalittledelllyingimmediatelybeyondtheploughedlandwhichenvironedthem。
　　’Hekeptitinhisbureau，andasthebureaudescendedtomygrandfather，mymother，andmyself，thekeydescendedwithit。
　　Afterthefirstthirtyorfortyyears，nobodyeveraskedforit。
　　OnedayIsawit，lyingrustyinitsniche，and，findingthatitbelongedtothiscolumn，Itookitandcameup。Istayedheretillitwasdark，andthestarscameout，andthatnightIresolvedtobeanastronomer。Icamebackherefromschoolseveralmonthsago，andImeantobeanastronomerstill。’
　　Heloweredhisvoice，andadded:
　　’IaimatnothinglessthanthedignityandofficeofAstronomerRoyal，ifIlive。PerhapsIshallnotlive。’
　　’Idon’tseewhyyoushouldsupposethat，’saidshe。’Howlongareyougoingtomakethisyourobservatory？’
　　’Aboutayearlonger——tillIhaveobtainedapracticalfamiliaritywiththeheavens。Ah，ifIonlyhadagoodequatorial！’
　　’Whatisthat？’
　　’Aproperinstrumentformypursuit。Buttimeisshort，andscienceisinfinite，——howinfiniteonlythosewhostudyastronomyfullyrealize，——andperhapsIshallbewornoutbeforeImakemymark。’
　　Sheseemedtobegreatlystruckbytheoddmixtureinhimofscientificearnestnessandmelancholymistrustofallthingshuman。
　　Perhapsitwasowingtothenatureofhisstudies。
　　’Youareoftenonthistoweraloneatnight？’shesaid。
　　’Yes;atthistimeoftheyearparticularly，andwhilethereisnomoon。Iobservefromsevenoreighttillabouttwointhemorning，withaviewtomygreatworkonvariablestars。Butwithsuchatelescopeasthis——well，Imustputupwithit！’
　　’CanyouseeSaturn’sringandJupiter’smoons？’
　　Hesaiddrilythathecouldmanagetodothat，notwithoutsomecontemptforthestateofherknowledge。
　　’Ihaveneverseenanyplanetorstarthroughatelescope。’
　　’Ifyouwillcomethefirstclearnight，LadyConstantine，Iwillshowyouanynumber。Imean，atyourexpresswish;nototherwise。’
　　’Ishouldliketocome，andpossiblymayatsometime。Thesestarsthatvarysomuch——sometimeseveningstars，sometimesmorningstars，sometimesintheeast，andsometimesinthewest——havealwaysinterestedme。’
　　’Ah——nowthereisareasonforyournotcoming。YourignoranceoftherealitiesofastronomyissosatisfactorythatIwillnotdisturbitexceptatyourseriousrequest。’
　　’ButIwishtobeenlightened。’
　　’Letmecautionyouagainstit。’
　　’Isenlightenmentonthesubject，then，soterrible？’
　　’Yes，indeed。’
　　Shelaughinglydeclaredthatnothingcouldhavesopiquedhercuriosityashisstatement，andturnedtodescend。Hehelpedherdownthestairsandthroughthebriers。Hewouldhavegonefurtherandcrossedtheopencorn—landwithher，butshepreferredtogoalone。Hethenretracedhiswaytothetopofthecolumn，but，insteadoflookinglongeratthesun，watchedherdiminishingtowardsthedistantfence，behindwhichwaitedthecarriage。Wheninthemidstofthefield，adarkspotonanareaofbrown，therecrossedherpathamovingfigure，whomitwasasdifficulttodistinguishfromtheearthhetrodasthecaterpillarfromitsleaf，byreasonoftheexcellentmatchbetweenhisclothesandtheclods。
　　Hewasoneofadying—outgenerationwhoretainedtheprinciple，nearlyunlearntnow，thataman’shabilimentsshouldbeinharmonywithhisenvironment。LadyConstantineandthisfigurehaltedbesideeachotherforsomeminutes;thentheywentontheirseveralways。
　　ThebrownpersonwasalabouringmanknowntotheworldofWellandasHaymoss（theencrustedformofthewordAmos，toadoptthephraseofphilologists）。ThereasonofthehalthadbeensomeinquiriesaddressedtohimbyLadyConstantine。
　　’Whoisthat——AmosFry，Ithink？’shehadasked。
　　’Yesmylady，’saidHaymoss;’ahomelybarleydriller，bornundertheeavesofyourladyship’soutbuildings，inamannerofspeaking，—
　　—thoughyourladyshipwasneitherbornnor’temptedatthattime。’
　　’Wholivesintheoldhousebehindtheplantation？’
　　’OldGammerMartin，mylady，andhergrandson。’
　　’Hehasneitherfathernormother，then？’
　　’Notasingleone，mylady。’
　　’Wherewasheeducated？’
　　’AtWarborne，——aplacewheretheydrawupyounggam’sters’brainslikerhubarbunderaninepennypan，mylady，excusingmycommonway。
　　Theyhitsomuchlarningintoenthat’acouldtalklikethedayofPentecost;whichisawonderfulthingforasimpleboy，andhismotheronlytheplainestcipheringwomanintheworld。WarborneGrammarSchool——that’swhere’twas’awentto。Hisfather，thereverentPa’sonSt。Cleeve，madeaterriblebrucklehitin’smarrying，inthesightofthehigh。Hewerethecuratehere，mylady，foralengtho’time。’
　　’Oh，curate，’saidLadyConstantine。’ItwasbeforeIknewthevillage。’
　　’Ay，longandmerryago！AndhemarriedFarmerMartin’sdaughter——
　　GilesMartin，alimberishman，whousedtogoratherbaduponhislags，ifyoucanmind。Iknowedthemanwellenough;whoshouldknowenbetter！Themaidwasapoorwindlingthing，and，thoughaplaywardpieceo’fleshwhenhemarriedher，’asockedandsighed，andwentoutlikeasnoff！Yes，mylady。Well，whenPa’sonSt。
　　Cleevemarriedthishomespunwomanthetoppermostfolkwouldn’tspeaktohiswife。Thenhedroppedacussortwo，andsaidhe’dnolongergethislivingbycuringtheirtwopennysoulso’suchd———
　　nonsenseasthat（excusingmycommonway），andhetooktofarmingstraightway，andthen’adroppeddowndeadinanor’—westthunderstorm;itbeingsaid——hee—hee！——thatMasterGodwasintantrumswi’enforleavinghisservice，——hee—hee！IgivethestoryasIheardit，mylady，butbedazedifIbelieveinsuchtrumperyaboutfolksinthesky，noranythingelsethat’ssaidon’em，goodorbad。Well，Swithin，theboy，wassenttothegrammarschool，asIsayfor;butwhatwithhavingtwostationsoflifeinhisbloodhe’sgoodfornothing，mylady。Hemopesabout——sometimeshere，andsometimesthere;nobodytroublesabouten。’
　　LadyConstantinethankedherinformant，andproceededonward。Toher，asawoman，themostcuriousfeatureintheafternoon’sincidentwasthatthislad，ofstrikingbeauty，scientificattainments，andcultivatedbearing，shouldbelinked，onthematernalside，withalocalagriculturalfamilythroughhisfather’smatrimonialeccentricity。Amoreattractivefeatureinthecasewasthatthesameyouth，socapableofbeingruinedbyflattery，blandishment，pleasure，evengrossprosperity，shouldbeatpresentlivingoninaprimitiveEdenofunconsciousness，withaimstowardswhoseaccomplishmentaCalibanshapewouldhavebeenaseffectiveashisown。
　　II
　　SwithinSt。Cleevelingeredonathispost，untilthemoresanguinebirdsoftheplantation，alreadyrecoveringfromtheirmidwinteranxieties，pipedashorteveninghymntothevanishingsun。
　　Thelandscapewasgentlyconcave;withtheexceptionoftowerandhilltherewerenopointsonwhichlateraysmightlinger;andhencethedish—shapedninetyacresoftilledlandassumedauniformhueofshadequitesuddenly。Theoneortwostarsthatappearedwerequicklycloudedover，anditwassoonobviousthattherewouldbenosweepingtheheavensthatnight。Aftertyingapieceoftarpaulin，whichhadonceseenserviceonhismaternalgrandfather’sfarm，overalltheapparatusaroundhim，hewentdownthestairsinthedark，andlockedthedoor。
　　WiththekeyinhispockethedescendedthroughtheunderwoodonthesideoftheslopeoppositetothattroddenbyLadyConstantine，andcrossedthefieldinalinemathematicallystraight，andinamannerthatleftnotraces，bykeepinginthesamefurrowallthewayontiptoe。Inafewminuteshereachedalittledell，whichoccurredquiteunexpectedlyontheothersideofthefield—fence，anddescendedtoavenerablethatchedhouse，whoseenormousroof，brokenupbydormersasbigashaycocks，couldbeseeneveninthetwilight。Overthewhitewalls，builtofchalkinthelump，outlinesofcreepersformeddarkpatterns，asifdrawnincharcoal。
　　Insidethehousehismaternalgrandmotherwassittingbyawoodfire。Beforeitstoodapipkin，inwhichsomethingwasevidentlykeptwarm。Aneight—leggedoaktableinthemiddleoftheroomwaslaidforameal。Thiswomanofeighty，inalargemobcap，underwhichsheworealittlecaptokeeptheotherclean，retainedfacultiesbutlittleblunted。Shewasgazingintotheflames，withherhandsuponherknees，quietlyre—enactinginherbraincertainofthelongchainofepisodes，pathetic，tragical，andhumorous，whichhadconstitutedtheparishhistoryforthelastsixtyyears。
　　OnSwithin’sentryshelookedupathiminasidewaydirection。
　　’Youshouldnothavewaitedforme，granny，’hesaid。
　　’’Tisofnoaccount，mychild。I’vehadanapwhilesittinghere。
　　Yes，I’vehadanap，andwentstraightupintomyoldcountryagain，asusual。TheplacewasasnaturalaswhenIleftit，——e’enjustthreescoreyearsago！Allthefolksandmyoldauntwerethere，aswhenIwasachild，——yetIsupposeifIwerereallytosetoutandgothere，hardlyasoulwouldbeleftalivetosaytome，doghowart！ButtellHannahtostirherstumpsandservesupper——thoughI’dfaindoitmyself，thepooroldsoulisgettingsounhandy！’
　　Hannahrevealedherselftobemuchnimblerandseveralyearsyoungerthangranny，thoughofthisthelatterseemedtobeoblivious。WhenthemealwasnearlyoverMrs。Martinproducedthecontentsofthemysteriousvesselbythefire，sayingthatshehadcausedittobebroughtinfromthebackkitchen，becauseHannahwashardlytobetrustedwithsuchthings，shewasbecomingsochildish。
　　’Whatisit，then？’saidSwithin。’Oh，oneofyourspecialpuddings。’Atsightofit，however，headdedreproachfully，’Now，granny！’
　　Insteadofbeinground，itwasinshapeanirregularboulderthathadbeenexposedtotheweatherforcenturies——alittlescrapparedoffhere，andalittlepiecebrokenawaythere;thegeneralaimbeing，nevertheless，toavoiddestroyingthesymmetryofthepuddingwhiletakingasmuchaspossibleofitssubstance。
　　’Thefactis，’addedSwithin，’thepuddingishalfgone！’
　　’I’veonlyslicedoffthemerestparingonceortwice，totasteifitwaswelldone！’pleadedgrannyMartin，withwoundedfeelings。’I
　　saidtoHannahwhenshetookitup，"Putitheretokeepitwarm，asthere’sabetterfirethaninthebackkitchen。"’
　　’Well，Iamnotgoingtoeatanyofit！’saidSwithindecisively，asherosefromthetable，pushedawayhischair，andwentup—stairs;
　　the’otherstationoflifethatwasinhisblood，’andwhichhadbeenbroughtoutbythegrammarschool，probablystimulatinghim。
　　’Ah，theworldisanungratefulplace！’TwasapityIdidn’ttakemypoornameoffthisearthlycalendarandcreepundergroundsixtylongyearsago，insteadofleavingmyowncountytocomehere！’