’Still，’arguedLadyConstantineratherfirmly（forshefeltthisopinionoftheBishop’stobeonethrowingdoubtonSwithin），’sustainedfruitioniscompatiblewithearlybias。TychoBraheshowedquiteapassionforthesolarsystemwhenhewasbutayouth，andsodidKepler;andJamesFergusonhadasurprisingknowledgeofthestarsbythetimehewaselevenortwelve。’
’Yes;sustainedfruition，’concededtheBishop（ratherlikingthewords），’iscertainlycompatiblewithearlybias。Fenelonpreachedatfourteen。’
’He——Mr。St。Cleeve——isnotinthechurch，’saidLadyConstantine。
’Heisascientificyoungman，mylord，’explainedMr。Torkingham。
’Anastronomer，’sheadded，withsuppressedpride。
’Anastronomer！Really，thatmakeshimstillmoreinterestingthanbeinghandsomeandthesonofamanIknew。Howandwheredoeshestudyastronomy？’
’Hehasabeautifulobservatory。HehasmadeuseofanoldcolumnthatwaserectedonthismanortothememoryofoneoftheConstantines。Ithasbeenveryingeniouslyadaptedforhispurpose，andhedoesverygoodworkthere。IbelieveheoccasionallysendsupapapertotheRoyalSociety，orGreenwich，orsomewhere，andtoastronomicalperiodicals。’
’Ishouldhavehadnoidea，fromhisboyishlook，thathehadadvancedsofar，’theBishopanswered。’AndyetIsawonhisfacethatwithintherewasabookworthstudying。HisisacareerI
shouldverymuchliketowatch。’
AthrillofpleasurechasedthroughLadyConstantine’sheartatthispraiseofherchosenone。Itwasanunwittingcomplimenttohertasteanddiscernmentinsinglinghimoutforherown，despiteitstemporaryinexpediency。
HerbrotherLouisnowspoke。’Ifancyheisasinterestedinoneofhisfellow—creaturesasinthescienceofastronomy，’observedthecynicdryly。
’Inwhom？’saidLadyConstantinequickly。
’Inthefairmaidenwhosatattheorgan，——aprettygirl，rather。I
noticedasortofby—playgoingonbetweenthemoccasionally，duringthesermon，whichmeantmating，ifIamnotmistaken。’
’She！’saidLadyConstantine。’Sheisonlyavillagegirl，adairyman’sdaughter，——TabithaLark，whousedtocometoreadtome。’
’Shemaybeasavage，forallthatIknow:butthereissomethingbetweenthosetwoyoungpeople，nevertheless。’
TheBishoplookedasifhehadallowedhisinterestinastrangertocarryhimtoofar，andMr。TorkinghamwashorrifiedattheirreverentandeasyfamiliarityofLouisGlanville’stalkinthepresenceofaconsecratedbishop。AsforViviette，hertonguelostallitsvolubility。Shefeltquitefaintatheart，andhardlyknewhowtocontrolherself。
’Ihavenevernoticedanythingofthesort，’saidMr。Torkingham。
’Itwouldbeamatterforregret，’saidtheBishop，’ifheshouldfollowhisfatherinforminganattachmentthatwouldbeahindrancetohiminanyhonourablecareer;thoughperhapsanearlymarriage，intrinsicallyconsidered，wouldnotbebadforhim。AyouthwholooksasifhehadcomestraightfromoldGreecemaybeexposedtomanytemptations，shouldhegooutintotheworldwithoutafriendorcounsellortoguidehim。’
DespitehersuddenjealousyViviette’seyesgrewmoistatthepictureofherinnocentSwithingoingintotheworldwithoutafriendorcounsellor。ButshewassickinsoulanddisquietedstillbyLouis’sdreadfulremarks，who，unbelieverashewasinhumanvirtue，couldhavenoreasonwhateverforrepresentingSwithinasengagedinaprivateloveaffairifsuchwerenothishonestimpression。
Shewassoabsorbedduringtheremainderoftheluncheonthatshedidnotevenobservethekindlylightthatherpresencewassheddingontherightreverendecclesiasticbyherside。Hereflecteditbackintonesdulymellowedbyhisposition;theminorclergycaughtuptheraysthereof，andsothegentleinfluenceplayeddownthetable。
Thecompanysoondepartedwhenluncheonwasover，andtheremainderofthedaypassedinquietness，theBishopbeingoccupiedinhisroomatthevicaragewithwritinglettersorasermon。Havingalongjourneybeforehimthenextdayhehadexpressedawishtobehousedforthenightwithoutceremony，andwouldhavedinedalonewithMr。Torkinghambutthat，byahappythought，LadyConstantineandherbrotherwereaskedtojointhem。
However，whenLouiscrossedthechurchyardandenteredthevicaragedrawing—roomatseveno’clock，hissisterwasnotinhiscompany。
Shewas，hesaid，sufferingfromaslightheadache，andmuchregrettedthatshewasonthataccountunabletocome。AtthisintelligencethesocialsparkledisappearedfromtheBishop’seye，andhesatdowntotable，endeavouringtomouldintotheformofepiscopalserenityanexpressionwhichwasreallyoneofcommonhumandisappointment。
InhissimplestatementLouisGlanvillehadbynomeansexpressedallthecircumstanceswhichaccompaniedhissister’srefusal，atthelastmoment，todineatherneighbour’shouse。Louishadstronglyurgedhertobearupagainstherslightindisposition——ifitwerethat，andnotdisinclination——andcomealongwithhimonjustthisoneoccasion，perhapsamoreimportantepisodeinherlifethanshewasawareof。ViviettethereuponknewquitewellthathealludedtothefavourableimpressionshewasproducingontheBishop，notwithstandingthatneitherofthemmentionedtheBishop’sname。
Butshedidnotgiveway，thoughtheargumentwaxedstrongbetweenthem;andLouisleftherinnoveryamiablemood，saying，’Idon’tbelieveyouhaveanymoreheadachethanIhave，Viviette。Itissomeprovokingwhimofyours——nothingmore。’
Inthistherewasasubstratumoftruth。Whenherbrotherhadlefther，andshehadseenhimfromthewindowenteringthevicaragegate，Vivietteseemedtobemuchrelieved，andsatdowninherbedroomtilltheeveninggrewdark，andonlythelightsshiningthroughthetreesfromtheparsonagedining—roomrevealedtotheeyewherethatdwellingstood。Thenshearose，andputtingonthecloakshehadusedsomanytimesbeforeforthesamepurpose，shelockedherbedroomdoor（tobesupposedwithin，incaseoftheaccidentalapproachofaservant），andletherselfprivatelyoutofthehouse。
LadyConstantinepausedforamomentunderthevicaragewindows，tillshecouldsufficientlywellhearthevoicesofthedinerstobesurethattheywereactuallywithin，andthenwentonherway，whichwastowardstheRings—Hillcolumn。Sheappearedamerespot，hardlydistinguishablefromthegrass，asshecrossedtheopenground，andsoonbecameabsorbedintheblackmassofthefirplantation。
MeanwhiletheconversationatMr。Torkingham’sdinner—tablewasnotofahighlyexhilaratingquality。Theparson，inlongself—
communingduringtheafternoon，haddecidedthattheDiocesanSynod，whoseannualsessionatMelchesterhadoccurredinthemonthprevious，wouldaffordasolidandunimpeachablesubjecttolaunchduringthemeal，wheneverconversationflagged;andthatitwouldbeonelikelytowintherespectofhisspiritualchieftainforhimselfastheintroducer。Accordingly，inthefurtherbeliefthatyoucouldnothavetoomuchofagoodthing，Mr。Torkinghamnotonlyacteduponhisidea，butateverypauseralliedtothesynodpointwithunbrokenfirmness。Everythingwhichhadbeendiscussedatthatlastsession——suchastheintroductionofthelayelementintothecouncilsofthechurch，thereconstitutionoftheecclesiasticalcourts，churchpatronage，thetithequestion——wasrevivedbyMr。
Torkingham，andtheexcellentremarkswhichtheBishophadmadeinhisaddressesonthosesubjectswerequotedbacktohim。
AsforBishopHelmsdalehimself，hisinstinctsseemedtobetoalludeinadebonairspirittotheincidentsofthepastday——totheflowersinLadyConstantine’sbeds，thedateofherhouse——perhapswithaviewofhearingalittlemoreabouttheirownerfromLouis，whowouldveryreadilyhavefollowedtheBishop’sleadhadtheparsonallowedhimroom。ButthisMr。Torkinghamseldomdid，andabouthalf—pastninetheypreparedtoseparate。
LouisGlanvillehadrisenfromthetable，andwasstandingbythewindow，lookingoutuponthesky，andprivatelyyawning，thetopicsdiscussedhavingbeenhardlyinhisline。
’Afinenight，’hesaidatlast。
’Isupposeouryoungastronomerishardatworknow，’saidtheBishop，followingthedirectionofLouis’sglancetowardstheclearsky。
’Yes，’saidtheparson;’heisveryassiduouswheneverthenightsaregoodforobservation。Ihaveoccasionallyjoinedhiminhistower，andlookedthroughhistelescopewithgreatbenefittomyideasofcelestialphenomena。Ihavenotseenwhathehasbeendoinglately。’
’Supposewestrollthatway？’saidLouis。’Wouldyoubeinterestedinseeingtheobservatory，Bishop？’
’Iamquitewillingtogo，’saidtheBishop，’ifthedistanceisnottoogreat。IshouldnotbeatallaversetomakingtheacquaintanceofsoexceptionalayoungmanasthisMr。St。Cleeveseemstobe;
andIhaveneverseentheinsideofanobservatoryinmylife。’
Theintentionwasnosoonerformedthanitwascarriedout，Mr。
Torkinghamleadingtheway。
XXVI
HalfanhourbeforethistimeSwithinSt。Cleevehadbeensittinginhiscabinatthebaseofthecolumn，workingoutsomefiguresfromobservationstakenonprecedingnights，withaviewtoatheorythathehadinhisheadonthemotionsofcertainso—calledfixedstars。
Theeveningbeingalittlechillyasmallfirewasburninginthestove，andthisandtheshadedlampbeforehimlentaremarkablycosyairtothechamber。Hewasawakenedfromhisreveriesbyascratchingatthewindow—panelikethatofthepointofanivyleaf，whichheknewtobereallycausedbythetipofhissweetheart—
wife’sforefinger。Heroseandopenedthedoortoadmither，notwithoutastonishmentastohowshehadbeenabletogetawayfromherfriends。
’DearestViv，why，what’sthematter？’hesaid，perceivingthatherface，asthelamplightfellonit，wassad，andevenstormy。
’IthoughtIwouldrunacrosstoseeyou。Ihaveheardsomethingso——so——toyourdiscredit，andIknowitcan’tbetrue！Iknowyouareconstancyitself;butyourconstancyproducesstrangeeffectsinpeople’seyes！’
’Goodheavens！Nobodyhasfoundusout——’
’No，no——itisnotthat。Youknow，Swithin，thatIamalwayssincere，andwillingtoownifIamtoblameinanything。Nowwillyouprovetomethatyouarethesamebyowningsomefaulttome？’
’Yes，dear，indeed;directlyIcanthinkofoneworthowning。’
’Iwonderonedoesnotrushuponyourtongueinamoment！’
’IconfessthatIamsufficientlyaPhariseenottoexperiencethatspontaneity。’
’Swithin，don’tspeaksoaffectedly，whenyouknowsowellwhatI
mean！Isitnothingtoyouthat，afterallourvowsforlife，youhavethoughtitrightto——flirtwithavillagegirl？’
’OViviette！’interruptedSwithin，takingherhand，whichwashotandtrembling。’Youwhoarefullofnobleandgenerousfeelings，andregardmewithdevotedtendernessthathasneverbeensurpassedbywoman，——howcanyoubesogreatlyatfault？_I_flirt，Viviette？
Bythinkingthatyouinjureyourselfinmyeyes。Why，IamsofarfromdoingsothatIcontinuallypullmyselfupforwatchingyoutoojealously，asto—day，whenIhavebeendreadingtheeffectuponyouofothercompanyinmyabsence，andthinkingthatyourathershutthegatesagainstmewhenyouhavebig—wigstoentertain。’
’Doyou，Swithin？’shecried。Itwasevidentthatthehonesttoneofhiswordswashavingagreateffectinclearingawaytheclouds。
Sheaddedwithanuncertainsmile，’ButhowcanIbelievethat，afterwhatwasseento—day？Mybrother，notknowingintheleastthatIhadaniotaofinterestinyou，toldmethathewitnessedthesignsofanattachmentbetweenyouandTabithaLarkinchurch，thismorning。’
’Ah！’criedSwithin，withaburstoflaughter。’NowIknowwhatyoumean，andwhathascausedthismisunderstanding！Howgoodofyou，Viviette，tocomeatonceandhaveitoutwithme，insteadofbroodingoveritwithdarkimaginings，andthinkingbitterthingsofme，asmanywomenwouldhavedone！’HesuccinctlytoldthewholestoryofhislittleadventurewithTabithathatmorning;andtheskywasclearonbothsides。’WhenshallIbeabletoclaimyou，’headded，’andputanendtoallsuchpainfulaccidentsasthese？’
Shepartiallysighed。Herperceptionofwhattheoutsideworldwasmadeof，latterlysomewhatobscuredbysolitudeandherlover’scompany，hadbeenrevivedto—daybyherentertainmentoftheBishop，clergymen，and，moreparticularly，clergymen’swives;anditdidnotdiminishhersenseofthedifficultiesinSwithin’spathtoseeanewhowlittlewasthoughtofthegreatestgifts，mentalandspiritual，iftheywerenotbackedupbysubstantialtemporalities。However，thepairmadethebestoftheirfuturethatcircumstancespermitted，andtheinterviewwasatlengthdrawingtoaclosewhentherecame，withouttheslightestforewarning，asmartrat—tat—tatuponthelittledoor。
’OIamlost！’saidViviette，seizinghisarm。’WhywasIsoincautious？’
’Itisnobodyofconsequence，’whisperedSwithinassuringly。
’Somebodyfrommygrandmother，probably，toknowwhenIamcominghome。’
Theywereunperceivedsofar，fortheonlywindowwhichgavelighttothehutwasscreenedbyacurtain。Atthatmomenttheyheardthesoundoftheirvisitors’voices，and，withaconsternationasgreatasherown，SwithindiscernedthetonesofMr。TorkinghamandtheBishopofMelchester。
’WhereshallIget？WhatshallIdo？’saidthepoorlady，claspingherhands。
Swithinlookedaroundthecabin，andaverylittlelookwasrequiredtotakeinallitsresources。Atoneend，aspreviouslyexplained，wereatable，stove，chair，cupboard，andsoon;whiletheotherwascompletelyoccupiedbyadiminutiveArabianbedstead，hungwithcurtainsofpink—and—whitechintz。Ontheinsideofthebedtherewasanarrowchannel，aboutafootwide，betweenitandthewallofthehut。IntothiscrampedretreatVivietteslidherself，andstoodtremblingbehindthecurtains。
Bythistimetheknockhadbeenrepeatedmoreloudly，thelightthroughthewindow—blindunhappilyrevealingthepresenceofsomeinmate。Swithinthrewopenthedoor，andMr。Torkinghamintroducedhisvisitors。
TheBishopshookhandswiththeyoungman，toldhimhehadknownhisfather，andatSwithin’sinvitation，weakasitwas，enteredthecabin，thevicarandLouisGlanvilleremainingonthethreshold，nottoinconvenientlycrowdthelimitedspacewithin。
BishopHelmsdalelookedbenignantlyaroundtheapartment，andsaid，’Quiteasettlementinthebackwoods——quite:farenoughfromtheworldtoaffordthevotaryofsciencetheseclusionheneeds，andnotsofarastolimithisresources。Ahermitmightapparentlylivehereinasmuchsolitudeasinaprimevalforest。’
’Hislordshiphasbeengoodenoughtoexpressaninterestinyourstudies，’saidMr。TorkinghamtoSt。Cleeve。’Andwehavecometoaskyoutoletusseetheobservatory。’
’Withgreatpleasure，’stammeredSwithin。
’Whereistheobservatory？’inquiredtheBishop，peeringroundagain。
’Thestaircaseisjustoutsidethisdoor，’Swithinanswered。’Iamatyourlordship’sservice，andwillshowyouupatonce。’
’Andthisisyourlittlebed，forusewhenyouworklate，’saidtheBishop。
’Yes;Iamafraiditisratheruntidy，’Swithinapologized。
’Andhereareyourbooks，’theBishopcontinued，turningtothetableandtheshadedlamp。’Youtakeanobservationatthetop，I
presume，andcomedownheretorecordyourobservations。’
Theyoungmanexplainedhispreciseprocessesaswellashisstateofmindwouldlethim，andwhilehewasdoingsoMr。TorkinghamandLouiswaitedpatientlywithout，lookingsometimesintothenight，andsometimesthroughthedoorattheinterlocutors，andlisteningtotheirscientificconverse。Whenallhadbeenexhibitedherebelow，Swithinlithislantern，and，invitinghisvisitorstofollow，ledthewayupthecolumn，experiencingnosmallsenseofreliefassoonasheheardthefootstepsofallthreetrampingonthestairsbehindhim。Heknewverywellthat，oncetheywereinsidethespiral，Viviettewasoutofdanger，herknowledgeofthelocalityenablinghertofindherwaywithperfectsafetythroughtheplantation，andintotheparkhome。
Atthetopheuncoveredhisequatorial，and，forthefirsttimeatease，explainedtothemitsbeauties，andrevealedbyitshelpthegloriesofthosestarsthatwereeligibleforinspection。TheBishopspokeasintelligentlyascouldbeexpectedonatopicnotpeculiarlyhisown;but，somehow，heseemedrathermoreabstractedinmannernowthanwhenhehadarrived。Swithinthoughtthatperhapsthelongclamberupthestairs，comingafterahardday’swork，hadtakenhisspontaneityoutofhim，andMr。Torkinghamwasafraidthathislordshipwasgettingbored。Butthisdidnotappeartobethecase;forthoughhesaidlittlehestayedonsometimelonger，examiningtheconstructionofthedomeafterrelinquishingthetelescope;whileoccasionallySwithincaughttheeyesoftheBishopfixedhardonhim。
’Perhapsheseessomelikenessofmyfatherinme，’theyoungmanthought;andthepartymakingreadytoleaveatthistimeheconductedthemtothebottomofthetower。
Swithinwasnotpreparedforwhatfollowedtheirdescent。Allwerestandingatthefootofthestaircase。Theastronomer，lanterninhand，offeredtoshowthemthewayoutoftheplantation，towhichMr。Torkinghamrepliedthatheknewthewayverywell，andwouldnottroublehisyoungfriend。Hestrodeforwardwiththewords，andLouisfollowedhim，afterwaitingamomentandfindingthattheBishopwouldnottaketheprecedence。ThelatterandSwithinwerethuslefttogetherforonemoment，whereupontheBishopturned。
’Mr。St。Cleeve，’hesaidinastrangevoice，’Ishouldliketospeaktoyouprivately，beforeIleave，to—morrowmorning。Canyoumeetme——letmesee——inthechurchyard，athalf—pastteno’clock？’
’Oyes，mylord，certainly，’saidSwithin。AndbeforehehadrecoveredfromhissurprisetheBishophadjoinedtheothersintheshadesoftheplantation。
Swithinimmediatelyopenedthedoorofthehut，andscannedthenookbehindthebed。Ashehadexpectedhisbirdhadflown。
XXVII
Allnighttheastronomer’smindwasonthestretchwithcuriosityastowhattheBishopcouldwishtosaytohim。Adozenconjecturesenteredhisbrain，tobeabandonedinturnasunlikely。ThatwhichfinallyseemedthemostplausiblewasthattheBishop，havingbecomeinterestedinhispursuits，andentertainingfriendlyrecollectionsofhisfather，wasgoingtoaskifhecoulddoanythingtohelphimonintheprofessionhehadchosen。Shouldthisbethecase，thoughtthesuddenlysanguineyouth，itwouldseemlikeanencouragementtothatspiritoffirmnesswhichhadledhimtorejecthislateuncle’sofferbecauseitinvolvedtherenunciationofLadyConstantine。
Atlasthefellasleep;andwhenheawokeitwassolatethatthehourwasreadytosolvewhatconjecturecouldnot。Afterahurriedbreakfasthepacedacrossthefields，enteringthechurchyardbythesouthgatepreciselyattheappointedminute。
Theinclosurewaswelladaptedforaprivateinterview，beingboundedbybushesoflaurelandaldernearlyonallsides。Helookedround;theBishopwasnotthere，noranylivingcreaturesavehimself。SwithinsatdownuponatombstonetoawaitBishopHelmsdale’sarrival。
Whilehesathefanciedhecouldhearvoicesinconversationnotfaroff，andfurtherattentionconvincedhimthattheycamefromLadyConstantine’slawn，whichwasdividedfromthechurchyardbyahighwallandshrubberyonly。AstheBishopstilldelayedhiscoming，thoughthetimewasnearlyeleven，andastheladywhosesweetvoicemingledwiththoseheardfromthelawnwashispersonalproperty，Swithinbecameexceedinglycurioustolearnwhatwasgoingonwithinthatscreenedpromenade。Awayofdoingsooccurredtohim。Thekeywasinthechurchdoor;heopenedit，entered，andascendedtotheringers’loftinthewesttower。AtthebackofthiswasawindowcommandingafullviewofViviette’sgardenfront。
Theflowerswereallingayestbloom，andthecreepersonthewallsofthehousewereburstingintotuftsofyounggreen。Abroadgravel—walkranfromendtoendofthefacade，terminatinginalargeconservatory。Inthewalkwerethreepeoplepacingupanddown。LadyConstantine’swasthecentralfigure，herbrotherbeingononesideofher，andontheotherastatelyforminacordedshovel—hatofglossybeaverandblackbreeches。ThiswastheBishop。Viviettecarriedoverhershoulderasunshadelinedwithred，whichshetwirledidly。Theywerelaughingandchattinggaily，andwhenthegroupapproachedthechurchyardmanyoftheirremarksenteredthesilenceofthechurchtowerthroughtheventilatorofthewindow。
Theconversationwasgeneral，yetinterestingenoughtoSwithin。AtlengthLouissteppeduponthegrassandpickedupsomethingthathadlainthere，whichturnedouttobeabowl:throwingitforwardhetookasecond，andbowledittowardsthefirst，orjack。TheBishop，whoseemedtobeinasprightlymood，followedsuit，andbowledoneinacurvetowardsthejack，turningandspeakingtoLadyConstantineasheconcludedthefeat。Asshehadnotleftthegravelledterraceheraisedhisvoice，sothatthewordsreachedSwithindistinctly。
’Doyoufollowus？’heaskedgaily。
’Iamnotskilful，’shesaid。’Ialwaysbowlnarrow。’
TheBishopmeditativelypaused。
’ThismomentremindsoneofthesceneinRichardtheSecond，’hesaid。’ImeantheDukeofYork’sgarden，wherethequeenandhertwoladiesplay，andthequeensays——
"Whatsportshallwedevisehereinthisgarden，Todriveawaytheheavythoughtofcare？"
Towhichherladyanswers，"Madam，we’llplayatbowls。"’
’That’sanunfortunatequotationforyou，’saidLadyConstantine;
’forifIdon’tforget，thequeendeclines，saying，"Twillmakemethinktheworldisfullofrubs，andthatmyfortunerunsagainstthebias。"’
’ThenIcitemalapropos。Butitisaninterestingoldgame，andmighthavebeenplayedatthatverydateonthisverygreen。’
TheBishoplazilybowledanother，andwhilehewasdoingitViviette’sglancerosebyaccidenttothechurchtowerwindow，wheresherecognizedSwithin’sface。Hersurprisewasonlymomentary;andwaitingtillbothhercompanions’backswereturnedshesmiledandblewhimakiss。Inanotherminuteshehadanotheropportunity，andblewhimanother;afterwardsblowinghimoneathirdtime。
HerblowingswereputastoptobytheBishopandLouisthrowingdownthebowlsandrejoiningherinthepath，thehouseclockatthemomentstrikinghalf—pasteleven。
’Thisisafinewayofkeepinganengagement，’saidSwithintohimself。’Ihavewaitedanhourwhileyouindulgeinthosetrifles！’
Hefumed，turned，andbeholdsomebodywasathiselbow:TabithaLark。Swithinstarted，andsaid，’Howdidyoucomehere，Tabitha？’
’Inthecourseofmycalling，Mr。St。Cleeve，’saidthesmilinggirl。’Icometopractiseontheorgan。WhenIenteredIsawyouupherethroughthetowerarch，andIcreptuptoseewhatyouwerelookingat。TheBishopisastrikingman，ishenot？’
’Yes，rather，’saidSwithin。
’IthinkheismuchdevotedtoLadyConstantine，andIamgladofit。Aren’tyou？’
’Oyes——very，’saidSwithin，wonderingifTabithahadseenthetenderlittlesalutesbetweenLadyConstantineandhimself。
’Idon’tthinkshecaresmuchforhim，’addedTabithajudicially。
’Or，evenifshedoes，shecouldbegotawayfromhiminnotimebyayoungerman。’
’Pooh，that’snothing，’saidSwithinimpatiently。
Tabithathenremarkedthatherblowerhadnotcometotime，andthatshemustgotolookforhim;uponwhichshedescendedthestairs，andleftSwithinagainalone。
AfewminuteslatertheBishopsuddenlylookedathiswatch，LadyConstantinehavingwithdrawntowardsthehouse。ApparentlyapologizingtoLouistheBishopcamedowntheterrace，andthroughthedoorintothechurchyard。Swithinhasteneddownstairsandjoinedhiminthepathunderthesunnywalloftheaisle。
Theirglancesmet，anditwaswithsomeconsternationthatSwithinbeheldthechangethatafewshortminuteshadwroughtinthatepiscopalcountenance。OnthelawnwithLadyConstantinetheraysofanalmostperpetualsmilehadbrightenedhisdarkaspectlikeflowersinashadyplace:nowthesmilewasgoneascompletelyasyesterday;thelinesofhisfacewerefirm;hisdarkeyesandwhiskerswereoverspreadwithgravity;and，ashegazeduponSwithinfromthereposeofhisstablefigureitwaslikeanevangelizedKingofSpadescometohaveitoutwiththeKnaveofHearts。
ToreturnforamomenttoLouisGlanville。HehadbeensomewhatstruckwiththeabruptnessoftheBishop’sdeparture，andmoreparticularlybythecircumstancethathehadgoneawaybytheprivatedoorintothechurchyardinsteadofbytheregularexitontheotherside。True，greatmenwereknowntosufferfromabsenceofmind，andBishopHelmsdale，havingadimsensethathehadenteredbythatdooryesterday，mighthaveunconsciouslyturnedthitherwardnow。Louis，uponthewhole，thoughtlittleofthematter，andbeingnowleftquitealoneonthelawn，heseatedhimselfinanarbourandbegansmoking。
Thearbourwassituatedagainstthechurchyardwall。Theatmospherewasasstillastheairofahot—house;onlyfourteeninchesofbrickworkdividedLouisfromthesceneoftheBishop’sinterviewwithSt。Cleeve，andasvoicesonthelawnhadbeenaudibletoSwithininthechurchyard，voicesinthechurchyardcouldbeheardwithoutdifficultyfromthatclosecornerofthelawn。NosoonerhadLouislitacigarthanthedialoguebegan。
’Ah，youarehere，St。Cleeve，’saidtheBishop，hardlyreplyingtoSwithin’sgoodmorning。’IfearIamalittlelate。Well，myrequesttoyoutomeetmemayhaveseemedsomewhatunusual，seeingthatwewerestrangerstillafewhoursago。’
’Idon’tmindthat，ifyourlordshipwishestoseeme。’
’Ithoughtitbesttoseeyouregardingyourconfirmationyesterday;
andmyreasonfortakingamoreactivestepwithyouthanIshouldotherwisehavedoneisthatIhavesomeinterestinyouthroughhavingknownyourfatherwhenwewereundergraduates。HisroomswereonthesamestaircasewithmineatAllAngels，andwewerefriendlytilltimeandaffairsseparatedusevenmorecompletelythanusuallyhappens。However，aboutyourpresentingyourselfforconfirmation。’（TheBishop’svoicegrewstern。）’IfIhadknownyesterdaymorningwhatIknewtwelvehourslater，Iwouldn’thaveconfirmedyouatall。’
’Indeed，mylord！"
’Yes，Isayit，andImeanit。Ivisitedyourobservatorylastnight。’
’Youdid，mylord。’
’IninspectingitInoticedsomethingwhichImaytrulydescribeasextraordinary。Ihavehadyoungmenpresentthemselvestomewhoturnedouttobenotoriouslyunfit，eitherfromgiddiness，frombeingprofaneorintemperate，orfromsomebadqualityorother。
ButIneverrememberacasewhichequalledthecoolculpabilityofthis。Whileinfringingthefirstprinciplesofsocialdecorumyoumightatleasthaverespectedtheordinancesufficientlytohavestayedawayfromitaltogether。NowIhavesentforyouheretoseeifalastentreatyandadirectappealtoyoursenseofmanlyuprightnesswillhaveanyeffectininducingyoutochangeyourcourseoflife。’
ThevoiceofSwithininhisnextremarkshowedhowtremendouslythisattackoftheBishophadtolduponhisfeelings。Louis，ofcourse，didnotknowthereasonwhythewordsshouldhaveaffectedhimpreciselyastheydid;toanyoneinthesecretthedoubleembarrassmentarisingfrommisapprehendedethicsandinabilitytosetmattersright，becausehiswordofsecrecytoanotherwasinviolable，wouldhaveaccountedfortheyoungman’semotionsufficientlywell。
’Iamverysorryyourlordshipshouldhaveseenanythingobjectionable，’saidSwithin。’MayIaskwhatitwas？’
’Youknowwhatitwas。Somethinginyourchamber，whichforcedmetotheaboveconclusions。Idisguisedmyfeelingsofsorrowatthetimeforobviousreasons，butIneverinmywholelifewassoshocked！’
’Atwhat，mylord？’
’AtwhatIsaw。’
’Pardonme，BishopHelmsdale，butyousaidjustnowthatwearestrangers;sowhatyousawinmycabinconcernsmeonly。’
’ThereIcontradictyou。Twenty—fourhoursagothatremarkwouldhavebeenplausibleenough;butbypresentingyourselfforconfirmationatmyhandsyouhaveinvitedmyinvestigationintoyourprinciples。’
Swithinsighed。’Iadmitit，’hesaid。
第12章