’Now，wait，ma’am。Idon’tsay’twerealowsmell，mindye。’Twereahighsmell，asortofgameyflaviour，callingtomindvenisonandhare，justasyou’dexpectofagreatsquire，——notlikeapoorman’s’natomy，atall;andthatwaswhatstrengthenedmyfaiththat’twasSirBlount。’
　　（’Theskinsthatoldcoatwasmadeof，’ruminatedSwithin。）
　　’Well，well;I’venotheldoutagainstthefigureo’starvationthesefive—and—twentyyear，onnineshillingsaweek，tobeafeardofawalkingvapour，sweetorsavoury，’saidHezzy。’Sohere’shome—along。’
　　’Bideabitlonger，andI’mgoingtoo，’continuedFry。’Well，whenIfound’twasSirBlountmyspetdriedupwithinmymouth;forneitherhedgenorbushwerethereforrefugeagainstanyfoulspring’amighthavemadeatus。’
　　’’Twasverycurious;butwehadlikewisea—mentionedhisnamejustafore，intalkingoftheconfirmationthat’sshortlycomingon，’
　　saidHezzy。
　　’Istheresoontobeaconfirmation？’
　　’Yes。Inthisparish——thefirsttimeinWellandchurchfortwentyyears。AsIsay，Ihadtold’emthathewasconfirmedthesameyearthatIwentuptohaveitdone，asIhaveverygoodcausetomind。
　　Whenwewenttobeexamined，thepa’sonsaidtome，"Rehearsethearticlesofthybelief。"Mr。Blount（ashewasthen）wasnighestme，andhewhispered，"Womenandwine。""Womenandwine，"saysItothepa’son:andforthatIwassentbacktillnextconfirmation，SirBlountneverowningthathewastherascal。’
　　’Confirmationwasasightdifferentatthattime，’musedBiles。
　　’TheBishopsdidn’tlayitonsostrongthenastheydonow。Now—a—
　　days，yerBishopgiesbothhandstoeveryJack—ragandTom—strawthatdropsthekneeaforehim;but’twassixchapstooneblessingwhenwewasboys。TheBishopo’thattimewouldstretchouthispalmsandrunhisfingersoverourrowofcrownsasoff—handasabankgentlemantellingmoney。ThegreatlordsoftheChurchinthemdayswasn’tparticulartoasoulortwomoreorless;and，formypart，Ithinklivingwaseasierfor’t。’
　　’ThenewBishop，Ihear，isabachelor—man;orawidowgentlemanisit？’askedMrs。Martin。
　　’Bachelor，Ibelieve，ma’am。Mr。SanCleeve，makingsobold，you’veneverfacedhimyet，Ithink？’
　　Mrs。Martinshookherhead。
　　’No;itwasapieceofneglect。Ihardlyknowhowithappened，’shesaid。
　　’Iamgoingto，thistime，’saidSwithin，andturnedthechattoothermatters。
　　XXIII
　　SwithincouldnotsleepthatnightforthinkingofhisViviette。
　　Nothingtoldsosignificantlyoftheconductofherfirsthusbandtowardsthepoorladyastheabidingdreadofhimwhichwasrevealedinherbyanysuddenrevivalofhisimageormemory。ButforthatconsiderationheralmostchildliketerroratSwithin’sinadvertentdisguisewouldhavebeenludicrous。
　　Hewaitedanxiouslythroughseveralfollowingdaysforanopportunityofseeingher，butnonewasafforded。Herbrother’spresenceinthehousesufficientlyaccountedforthis。Atlengthheventuredtowriteanote，requestinghertosignaltohiminawayshehaddoneonceortwicebefore，——bypullingdownablindinaparticularwindowofthehouse，oneofthefewvisiblefromthetopoftheRings—Hillcolumn;thistobedoneonanyeveningwhenshecouldseehimafterdinnerontheterrace。
　　Whenhehadlevelledtheglassatthatwindowforfivesuccessivenightshebeheldtheblindinthepositionsuggested。Threehourslater，quiteinthedusk，herepairedtotheplaceofappointment。
　　’Mybrotherisawaythisevening，’sheexplained，’andthat’swhyI
　　cancomeout。Heisonlygoneforafewhours，norishelikelytogoforlongerjustyet。Hekeepshimselfagooddealinmycompany，whichhasmadeitunsafeformetoventurenearyou。’
　　’Hasheanysuspicion？’
　　’None，apparently。Butheratherdepressesme。’
　　’How，Viviette？’Swithinfeared，fromhermanner，thatthiswassomethingserious。
　　’Iwouldrathernottell。’
　　’But——Well，nevermind。’
　　’Yes，Swithin，Iwilltellyou。Thereshouldbenosecretsbetweenus。Heurgesuponmethenecessityofmarrying，dayafterday。’
　　’Formoneyandposition，ofcourse。’
　　’Yes。ButItakenonotice。Ilethimgoon。’
　　’Really，thisissad！’saidtheyoungman。’Imustworkharderthanever，oryouwillneverbeabletoownme。’
　　’Oyes，ingoodtime！’shecheeringlyreplied。
　　’Ishallbeverygladtohaveyoualwaysnearme。IfeltthegloomofourpositionkeenlywhenIwasobligedtodisappearthatnight，withoutassuringyouitwasonlyIwhostoodthere。WhywereyousofrightenedatthoseoldclothesIborrowed？’
　　’Don’task，——don’task！’shesaid，buryingherfaceonhisshoulder。
　　’Idon’twanttospeakofthat。TherewassomethingsoghastlyandsouncannyinyourputtingonsuchgarmentsthatIwishyouhadbeenmorethoughtful，andhadleftthemalone。’
　　Heassuredherthathedidnotstoptoconsiderwhosetheywere。
　　’Bytheway，theymustbesentback，’hesaid。
　　’No;Ineverwishtoseethemagain！Icannothelpfeelingthatyourputtingthemonwasominous。’
　　’Nothingisominousinserenephilosophy，’hesaid，kissingher。
　　’Thingsareeithercauses，ortheyarenotcauses。Whencanyouseemeagain？’
　　Insuchwisethehourpassedaway。Theeveningwastypicalofotherswhichfolloweditatirregularintervalsthroughthewinter。
　　Andduringtheintensermonthsoftheseasonfrequentfallsofsnowlengthened，evenmorethanotherdifficultieshaddone，theperiodsofisolationbetweenthepair。Swithinadheredwithallthemorestrictnesstotheletterofhispromisenottointrudeintothehouse，fromhissenseofherpowerlessnesstocompelhimtokeepoutshouldhechoosetorebel。Astudentofthegreatestforcesinnature，hehad，likemanyothersofhissort，nopersonalforcetospeakofinasocialpointofview，mainlybecausehetooknointerestinhumanranksandformulas;andhencehewasasdocileasachildinherhandswherevermattersofthatkindwereconcerned。
　　HerbrotherwinteredatWelland;butwhetherbecausehisexperienceoftropicclimeshadunfittedhimforthebrumalrigoursofBritain，orforsomeotherreason，heseldomshowedhimselfoutofdoors，andSwithincaughtbutpassingglimpsesofhim。NowandthenViviette’simpulsiveaffectionwouldovercomehersenseofrisk，andshewouldpressSwithintocallonheratallcosts。Thishewouldbynomeansdo。Itwasobvioustohismorelogicalmindthatthesecrecytowhichtheyhadboundthemselvesmustbekeptinitsfulness，ormightaswellbeabandonedaltogether。
　　Hewasnowsadlyexercisedonthesubjectofhisuncle’swill。
　　Therehadasyetbeennopressingreasonsforafullandcandidreplytothesolicitorwhohadcommunicatedwithhim，owingtothefactthatthepaymentswerenottobegintillSwithinwasone—and—
　　twenty;buttimewasgoingon，andsomethingdefinitewouldhavetobedonesoon。Toowntohismarriageandconsequentdisqualificationforthebequestwaseasyinitself;butitinvolvedtellingatleastonemanwhatbothVivietteandhimselfhadgreatreluctanceintellinganybody。MoreoverhewishedViviettetoknownothingofhislossinmakingherhiswife。Allhecouldthinkofdoingforthepresentwastowriteapostponinglettertohisuncle’slawyer，andwaitevents。
　　Theonecomfortofthisdrearywinter—timewashisperceptionofareturningabilitytoworkwiththeregularityandmuchofthespiritofearlierdays。
　　OnebrightnightinApriltherewasaneclipseofthemoon，andMr。
　　Torkingham，byarrangement，broughttotheobservatoryseverallabouringmenandboys，towhomhehadpromisedasightofthephenomenonthroughthetelescope。Thecomingconfirmation，fixedforMay，wasagaintalkedof;andSt。CleevelearntfromtheparsonthattheBishophadarrangedtostaythenightatthevicarage，andwastobeinvitedtoagrandluncheonatWellandHouseimmediatelyaftertheordinance。
　　Thisseemedlikeagoingbackintolifeagainasregardedthemistressofthathouse;andSt。Cleevewasalittlesurprisedthat，inhiscommunicationswithViviette，shehadmentionednosuchprobability。Thenextdayhewalkedroundthemansion，wonderinghowinitspresentstateanyentertainmentcouldbegiventherein。
　　Hefoundthattheshuttershadbeenopened，whichhadrestoredanunexpectedlivelinesstotheaspectofthewindows。Twomenwereputtingachimney—potononeofthechimney—stacks，andtwomorewerescrapinggreenmouldfromthefrontwall。Hemadenoinquiriesonthatoccasion。Threedayslaterhestrolledthitherwardagain。
　　Nowagreatcleaningofwindow—paneswasgoingon，HezzyBilesandSammyBlorebeingtheoperators，forwhichpurposetheirservicesmusthavebeenborrowedfromtheneighbouringfarmer。Hezzydashedwaterattheglasswithaforcethatthreatenedtobreakitin，thebroadfaceofSammybeingdiscernibleinside，smilingattheonset。
　　Inadditiontothese，AnthonyGreenandanotherwereweedingthegravelwalks，andputtingfreshplantsintotheflower—beds。
　　Neitherofthesereasonableoperationswasagreatundertaking，singlylookedat;butthelifeViviettehadlatterlyledandthemoodinwhichshehadhithertoregardedthepremises，rendereditsomewhatsignificant。Swithin，however，wasrathercuriousthanconcernedattheproceedings，andreturnedtohistowerwithfeelingsofinterestnotentirelyconfinedtotheworldsoverhead。
　　LadyConstantinemayormaynothaveseenhimfromthehouse;butthesameevening，whichwasfineanddry，whilehewasoccupyinghimselfintheobservatorywithcleaningtheeye—piecesoftheequatorial，skull—caponhead，observing—jacketon，andinotherwaysprimedforsweeping，thecustomarystealthysteponthewindingstaircasebroughtherforminduecourseintotheraysofthebull’s—eyelantern。Themeetingwasallthemorepleasanttohimfrombeingunexpected，andheatoncelitupalargerlampinhonouroftheoccasion。
　　’Itisbutahastyvisit，’shesaidwhen，afterputtinguphermouthtobekissed，shehadseatedherselfinthelowchairusedforobservations，pantingalittlewiththelabourofascent。’ButI
　　hopetobeabletocomemorefreelysoon。Mybrotherisstilllivingonwithme。Yes，heisgoingtostayuntiltheconfirmationisover。Aftertheconfirmationhewillcertainlyleave。Sogooditisofyou，dear，topleasemebyagreeingtotheceremony。TheBishop，youknow，isgoingtolunchwithus。Itisawonderhehaspromisedtocome，forheisamanaversetosociety，andmostlykeepsentirelywiththeclergyontheseconfirmationtours，orcircuits，orwhatevertheycallthem。ButMr。Torkingham’shouseissoverysmall，andmineissocloseathand，thatthisarrangementtorelievehimofthefussofonemeal，atleast，naturallysuggesteditself;andtheBishophasfalleninwithitveryreadily。
　　Howareyougettingonwithyourobservations？Haveyounotwantedmedreadfully，towritedownnotes？’
　　’Well，Ihavebeenobligedtodowithoutyou，whetherorno。Seehere，——howmuchIhavedone。’Andheshowedherabookruledincolumns，headed’Object，’’RightAscension，’’Declination，’
　　’Features，’’Remarks，’andsoon。
　　Shelookedoverthisandotherthings，buthermindspeedilywingeditswaybacktotheconfirmation。’Itissonewtome，’shesaid，’tohavepersonscomingtothehouse，thatIfeelratheranxious。I
　　hopetheluncheonwillbeasuccess。’
　　’YouknowtheBishop？’saidSwithin。
　　’Ihavenotseenhimformanyyears。IknewhimwhenIwasquiteagirl，andheheldthelittlelivingofPuddle—sub—Mixen，nearus;
　　butafterthattime，andeversinceIhavelivedhere，Ihaveseennothingofhim。Therehasbeennoconfirmationinthisvillage，theysay，fortwentyyears。TheotherbishopusedtomaketheyoungmenandwomengotoWarborne;hewouldn’ttakethetroubletocometosuchanout—of—the—wayparishasours。’
　　’ThiscleaningandpreparationthatIobservegoingonmustberatherataxuponyou？’
　　’MybrotherLouisseestoit，and，whatismore，bearstheexpense。’
　　’Yourbrother？’saidSwithin，withsurprise。
　　’Well，heinsistedondoingso，’shereplied，inahesitating，despondenttone。’Hehasbeenactiveinthewholematter，andwasthefirsttosuggesttheinvitation。Ishouldnothavethoughtofit。’
　　’Well，Iwillholdalooftillitisallover。’
　　’Thanks，dearest，foryourconsiderateness。Iwishitwasnotstilladvisable！ButIshallseeyouontheday，andwatchmyownphilosopherallthroughtheservicefromthecornerofmypew！……
　　Ihopeyouarewellpreparedfortherite，Swithin？’sheadded，turningtenderlytohim。’Itwouldperhapsbeadvisableforyoutogiveupthisastronomytilltheconfirmationisover，inordertodevoteyourattentionexclusivelytothatmoreseriousmatter。’
　　’Moreserious！Well，IwilldothebestIcan。Iamsorrytoseethatyouarelessinterestedinastronomythanyouusedtobe，Viviette。’
　　’No;itisonlythatthesepreparationsfortheBishopunsettlemymindfromstudy。Nowputonyourothercoatandhat，andcomewithmealittleway。’
　　XXIV
　　Themorningoftheconfirmationwascome。Itwasmid—Maytime，bringingwithitweathernot，perhaps，quitesobloomingasthatassumedtobenaturaltothemonthbythejoyouspoetsofthreehundredyearsago;butaverytolerable，well—wearingMay，thattheaveragerusticwouldwillinglyhavecompoundedforinlieuofMaysoccasionallyfairer，butusuallymorefoul。
　　AmongthelargershrubsandflowerswhichcomposedtheoutworksoftheWellandgardens，thelilac，thelaburnum，andtheguelder—rosehungouttheirrespectivecoloursofpurple，yellow，andwhite;
　　whilstwithinthese，beltedroundfromeverydisturbinggale，rosethecolumbine，thepeony，thelarkspur，andtheSolomon’sseal。Theanimatethingsthatmovedamidthissceneofcolourwereploddingbees，gaddingbutterflies，andnumeroussaunteringyoungfemininecandidatesfortheimpendingconfirmation，who，havinggailybedeckedthemselvesfortheceremony，wereenjoyingtheirownappearancebywalkingaboutintwosandthreestillitwastimetostart。
　　SwithinSt。Cleeve，whosepreparationsweresomewhatsimplerthanthoseofthevillagebelles，waitedtillhisgrandmotherandHannahhadsetout，andthen，lockingthedoor，followedtowardsthedistantchurch。OnreachingthechurchyardgatehemetMr。
　　Torkingham，whoshookhandswithhiminthemannerofamanwithseveralironsinthefire，andtellingSwithinwheretosit，disappearedtohuntupsomecandidateswhohadnotyetmadethemselvesvisible。
　　CastinghiseyesroundforViviette，andseeingnothingofher，Swithinwentontothechurchporch，andlookedin。Fromthenorthsideofthenavesmiledahostofgirls，gailyuniformindress，age，andatemporaryrepressionoftheirnaturaltendencyto’skiplikeahareoverthemeshesofgoodcounsel。’Theirwhitemuslindresses，theirroundwhitecaps，frombeneathwhosebordershair—
　　knotsandcurlsofvariousshadesofbrownescapedupontheirlowshoulders，asifagainsttheirwill，lightedupthedarkpewsandgreystone—worktoanunwontedwarmthandlife。Onthesouthsideweretheyoungmenandboys，——heavy，angular，andmassive，asindeedwasrathernecessary，consideringwhattheywouldhavetobearatthehandsofwindandweatherbeforetheyreturnedtothatmouldynaveforthelasttime。
　　Overtheheadsofallthesehecouldseeintothechanceltothesquarepewonthenorthside，whichwasattachedtoWellandHouse。
　　TherehediscernedLadyConstantinealreadyarrived，herbrotherLouissittingbyherside。
　　Swithinenteredandseatedhimselfattheendofabench，andshe，whohadbeenonthewatch，atonceshowedbysubtlesignsherconsciousnessofthepresenceoftheyoungmanwhohadreversedtheordainedsequenceoftheChurchservicesonheraccount。Sheappearedinblackattire，thoughnotstrictlyinmourning，atouchofredinherbonnetsettingofftherichnessofhercomplexionwithoutmakinghergay。Handsomestwomaninthechurchshedecidedlywas;andyetadisinterestedspectatorwhohadknownallthecircumstanceswouldprobablyhavefeltthat，thefutureconsidered，Swithin’smorenaturalmatewouldhavebeenoneofthemuslin—cladmaidenswhoweretobepresentedtotheBishopwithhimthatday。
　　WhentheBishophadarrivedandgoneintothechancel，andblownhisnose，thecongregationweresufficientlyimpressedbyhispresencetoleaveofflookingatoneanother。
　　TheRightReverendCuthbertHelmsdale，D。D。，ninety—fourthoccupantoftheepiscopalthroneofthediocese，revealedhimselftobeapersonageofdarkcomplexion，whosedarknesswasthrownstillfurtherintoprominencebythelawnprotuberancesthatnowroseuponhistwoshouldersliketheEasternandWesternhemispheres。Instatureheseemedtobetallandimposing，butsomethingofthisaspectmayhavebeenderivedfromhisrobes。
　　Theservicewas，asusual，ofalengthwhichseverelytriedthetarryingpowersoftheyoungpeopleassembled;anditwasnottilltheyouthofalltheotherparisheshadgoneupthattheturncamefortheWellandbevy。Swithinandsomeolderoneswerenearlythelast。When，attheheelsofMr。Torkingham，hepassedLadyConstantine’spew，heliftedhiseyesfromtheredliningofthatgentleman’shoodsufficientlyhightocatchhers。Shewasabstracted，tearful，regardinghimwithalltheraptminglingofreligion，love，fervour，andhopewhichsuchwomencanfeelatsuchtimes，andwhichmenknownothingof。HowfervidlyshewatchedtheBishopplacehishandonherbelovedyouth’shead;howshesawthegreatepiscopalringglisteninginthesunamongSwithin’sbrowncurls;howshewaitedtohearifDr。Helmsdaleutteredtheform’thisthychild’whichheusedfortheyoungerones，or’thisthyservant’whichheusedforthoseolder;andhow，whenhesaid，’thisthyCHILD，’shefeltaprickofconscience，likeapersonwhohadentrappedaninnocentyouthintomarriageforherowngratification，tillsherememberedthatshehadraisedhissocialpositionthereby，——allthiscouldonlyhavebeentoldinitsentiretybyherself。
　　AsforSwithin，hefeltashamedofhisownutterlackofthehighenthusiasmwhichbeamedsoeloquentlyfromhereyes。Whenhepassedheragain，onthereturnjourneyfromtheBishoptohisseat，herfacewaswarmwithablushwhichherbrothermighthaveobservedhadheregardedher。
　　Whetherhehadobserveditornot，assoonasSt。CleevehadsathimselfdownagainLouisGlanvilleturnedandlookedhardattheyoungastronomer。ThiswasthefirsttimethatSt。CleeveandViviette’sbrotherhadbeenfacetofaceinadistinctlight，theirfirstmeetinghavingoccurredintheduskofarailway—station。
　　Swithinwasnotinthehabitofnoticingpeople’sfeatures;hescarcelyeverobservedanydetailofphysiognomyinhisfriends，ageneralizationfromtheirwholeaspectforminghisideaofthem;andhenowonlynotedayoungmanofperhapsthirty，whololledagooddeal，andinwhosesmalldarkeyesseemedtobeconcentratedtheactivitythattherestofhisframedecidedlylacked。Thisgentleman’seyeswerehenceforward，totheendoftheservice，continuallyfixeduponSwithin;butasthiswastheirnaturaldirection，fromthepositionofhisseat，therewasnogreatstrangenessinthecircumstance。
　　SwithinwantedtosaytoViviette，’NowIhopeyouarepleased;I
　　haveconformedtoyourideasofmyduty，leavingmyfitnessoutofconsideration;’butashecouldonlyseeherbonnetandforeheaditwasnotpossibleeventolooktheintelligence。Heturnedtohislefthand，wheretheorganstood，withMissTabithaLarkseatedbehindit。
　　Itbeingnowsermon—timetheyouthfulblowerhadfallenasleepoverthehandleofhisbellows，andTabithapulledoutherhandkerchiefintendingtoflaphimawakewithit。Withthehandkerchieftumbledoutawholefamilyofunexpectedarticles:asilverthimble;aphotograph;alittlepurse;ascent—bottle;someloosehalfpence;
　　ninegreengooseberries;akey。TheyrolledtoSwithin’sfeet，and，passivelyobeyinghisfirstinstinct，hepickedupasmanyofthearticlesashecouldfind，andhandedthemtoheramidthesmilesoftheneighbours。
　　Tabithawashalf—deadwithhumiliationatsuchanevent，happeningundertheveryeyesoftheBishoponthisgloriousoccasion;sheturnedpaleasasheet，andcouldhardlykeepherseat。Fearingshemightfaint，Swithin，whohadgenuinelysympathized，bentoverandwhisperedencouragingly，’Don’tmindit，Tabitha。ShallItakeyououtintotheair？’Shedeclinedhisoffer，andpresentlythesermoncametoanend。
　　SwithinlingeredbehindtherestofthecongregationsufficientlylongtoseeLadyConstantine，accompaniedbyherbrother，theBishop，theBishop’schaplain，Mr。Torkingham，andseveralotherclergyandladies，entertothegrandluncheonbythedoorwhichadmittedfromthechurchyardtothelawnofWellandHouse;thewholegrouptalkingwithavivacityallthemoreintense，asitseemed，fromtherecenttwohours’enforcedrepressionoftheirsocialqualitieswithintheadjoiningbuilding。
　　Theyoungmanstoodtillhewasleftquitealoneinthechurchyard，andthenwentslowlyhomewardoverthehill，perhapsatrifledepressedattheimpossibilityofbeingnearVivietteinthisheronedayofgaiety，andjoiningintheconversationofthosewhosurroundedher。
　　Notthathefeltmuchjealousyofhersituation，ashiswife，incomparisonwithhisown。Hehadsoclearlyunderstoodfromthebeginningthat，intheeventofmarriage，theiroutwardlivesweretorunonasbefore，thattorebelnowwouldhavebeenunmanlyinhimselfandcrueltoher，byaddingtoembarrassmentsthatweregreatenoughalready。Hismomentarydoubtwasofhisownstrengthtoachievesufficientlyhighthingstorenderhim，inrelationtoher，otherthanapatronizedyoungfavourite，whomshehadmarriedatanimmensesacrificeofposition。Now，attwenty，hewasdoomedtoisolationevenfromawife;coulditbethatat，saythirty，hewouldbewelcomedeverywhere？
　　Butwithmotionthroughthesunandairhismoodassumedalightercomplexion，andonreachinghomeherememberedwithinterestthatVenuswasinafavourableaspectforobservationthatafternoon。
　　XXV
　　MeanwhiletheinteriorofWellandHousewasrattlingwiththeprogressoftheecclesiasticalluncheon。
　　TheBishop，whosatatLadyConstantine’sside，seemedenchantedwithhercompany，andfromthebeginningsheengrossedhisattentionalmostentirely。ThetruthwasthatthecircumstanceofhernothavingherwholesoulcentredonthesuccessoftherepastandthepleasureofBishopHelmsdale，impartedtoher，inagreatmeasure，themoodtoensureboth。HerbrotherLouisitwaswhohadlaidouttheplanofentertainingtheBishop，towhichshehadassentedbutindifferently。Shewassecretlyboundtoanother，onwhosecareershehadstakedallherhappiness。Havingthusotherinterestssheevincedto—daytheeaseofonewhohazardsnothing，andtherewasnosignofthatpreoccupationwithhousewifelycontingencieswhichsooftenmakesthehostesshardlyrecognizableasthecharmingwomanwhogracedafriend’shomethedaybefore。InmarryingSwithinLadyConstantinehadplayedhercard，——recklessly，impulsively，ruinously，perhaps;butshehadplayedit;itcouldnotbewithdrawn;andshetookthismorning’sluncheonasanepisodethatcouldresultinnothingtoherbeyondtheday’sentertainment。
　　Hence，bythatpowerofindirectnesstoaccomplishinanhourwhatstrenuousaimingwillnoteffectinalife—time，shefascinatedtheBishoptoanunprecedenteddegree。Abachelor，herejoicedinthecommandingperiodoflifethatstretchesbetweenthetimeofwaningimpulseandthetimeofincipientdotage，whenawomancanreachthemaleheartneitherbyawakeningayoungman’spassionnoranoldman’sinfatuation。Hemustbemadetoadmire，orhecanbemadetodonothing。UnintentionallythatishowVivietteoperatedonherguest。
　　LadyConstantine，toexternalview，wasinapositiontodesiremanythings，andofasorttodesirethem。Shewasobviously，bynature，impulsivetoindiscretion。Butinsteadofexhibitingactivitiestocorrespond，recentlygratifiedaffectionlenttohermannerjustnowasweetserenity，atrulyChristiancontentment，whichitpuzzledthelearnedBishopexceedinglytofindinawarmyoungwidow，andincreasedhisinterestinhereverymoment。Thusmattersstoodwhentheconversationveeredroundtothemorning’sconfirmation。
　　’ThatwasasingularlyengagingyoungmanwhocameupamongMr。
　　Torkingham’scandidates，’saidtheBishoptohersomewhatabruptly。
　　Butabruptnessdoesnotcatchawomanwithoutherwit。’Whichone？’
　　shesaidinnocently。
　　’Thatyouthwiththe"corn—coloured"hair，asapoetofthenewschoolwouldcallit，whosatjustatthesideoftheorgan。Doyouknowwhoheis？’
　　InansweringVivietteshowedalittlenervousness，forthefirsttimethatday。
　　’Oyes。Heisthesonofanunfortunategentlemanwhowasformerlycuratehere，——aMr。St。Cleeve。’
　　’Ineversawahandsomeryoungmaninmylife，’saidtheBishop。
　　LadyConstantineblushed。’Therewasalackofself—consciousness，too，inhismannerofpresentinghimself，whichverymuchwonme。A
　　Mr。St。Cleeve，doyousay？Acurate’sson？HisfathermusthavebeenSt。CleeveofAllAngels，whomIknew。Howcomeshetobestayingonhere？Whatishedoing？’
　　Mr。Torkingham，whokeptoneearontheBishopallthelunch—time，findingthatLadyConstantinewasnotreadywithananswer，hastenedtoreply:’Yourlordshipisright。HisfatherwasanAllAngels’
　　man。Theyouthisrathertobepitied。’
　　’Hewasamanoftalent，’affirmedtheBishop。’ButIquitelostsightofhim。’
　　’Hewascuratetothelatevicar，’resumedtheparson，’andwasmuchlikedbytheparish:but，beingerraticinhistastesandtendencies，herashlycontractedamarriagewiththedaughterofafarmer，andthenquarrelledwiththelocalgentryfornottakinguphiswife。Thisladwasanonlychild。Therewasenoughmoneytoeducatehim，andheissufficientlywellprovidedfortobeindependentoftheworldsolongasheiscontenttoliveherewithgreateconomy。Butofcoursethisgiveshimfewopportunitiesofbetteringhimself。’
　　’Yes，naturally，’repliedtheBishopofMelchester。’Betterhavebeenleftentirelydependentonhimself。Thesehalf—incomesdomenlittlegood，unlesstheyhappentobeeitherweaklingsorgeniuses。’
　　LadyConstantinewouldhavegiventheworldtosay，’Heisagenius，andthehopeofmylife;’butitwouldhavebeendecidedlyrisky，andinanothermomentwasunnecessary，forMr。Torkinghamsaid，’Thereisacertaingeniusinthisyoungman，Isometimesthink。’
　　’Well，hereallylooksquiteoutofthecommon，’saidtheBishop。
　　’Youthfulgeniusissometimesdisappointing，’observedViviette，notbelievingitintheleast。
　　’Yes，’saidtheBishop。’Thoughitdepends，LadyConstantine，onwhatyouunderstandbydisappointing。Itmayproducenothingvisibletotheworld’seye，andyetmaycompleteitsdevelopmentwithintoaveryperfectdegree。Objectiveachievements，thoughtheonlyoneswhicharecounted，arenottheonlyonesthatexistandhavevalue;andIforoneshouldbesorrytoassertthat，becauseamanofgeniusdiesasunknowntotheworldaswhenhewasborn，hethereforewasaninstanceofwastedmaterial。’
　　Objectiveachievementswere，however，thosethatLadyConstantinehadaweaknessforinthepresentcase，andsheaskedhermoreexperiencedguestifhethoughtearlydevelopmentofaspecialtalentagoodsigninyouth。
　　TheBishopthoughtitwellthataparticularbentshouldnotshowitselftooearly，lestdisgustshouldresult。