’AndwhatdoIfindthem？’
　　’Yousayreprehensible。Butyoumightatleastletmeheartheproof！’
　　’Icandomore，sir。Icanletyouseeit！’
　　Therewasapause。LouisGlanvillewassohighlyinterestedthathestoodupontheseatofthearbour，andlookedthroughtheleafageoverthewall。TheBishophadproducedanarticlefromhispocket。
　　’Whatisit？’saidSwithin，laboriouslyscrutinizingthething。
　　’Why，don’tyousee？’saidtheBishop，holdingitoutbetweenhisfingerandthumbinSwithin’sface。’Abracelet，——acoralbracelet。
　　Ifoundthewantonobjectonthebedinyourcabin！Andofthesexoftheownertherecanbenodoubt。Morethanthat，shewasconcealedbehindthecurtains，forIsawthemmove。’InthedecisionofhisopiniontheBishopthrewthecoralbraceletdownonatombstone。
　　’Nobodywasinmyroom，mylord，whohadnotaperfectrighttobethere，’saidtheyoungerman。
　　’Well，well，that’samatterofassertion。Nowdon’tgetintoapassion，andsaytomeinyourhastewhatyou’llrepentofsayingafterwards。’
　　’Iamnotinapassion，Iassureyourlordship。Iamtoosadforpassion。’
　　’Verywell;that’sahopefulsign。NowIwouldaskyou，asonemanofanother，doyouthinkthattocometome，theBishopofthislargeandimportantdiocese，asyoucameyesterday，andpretendtobesomethingthatyouarenot，isquiteuprightconduct，leavealonereligious？Thinkitover。Wemaynevermeetagain。ButbearinmindwhatyourBishopandspiritualheadsaystoyou，andseeifyoucannotmendbeforeitistoolate。’
　　SwithinwasmeekasMoses，buthetriedtoappearsturdy。’Mylord，Iaminadifficultposition，’hesaidmournfully;’howdifficult，nobodybutmyselfcantell。Icannotexplain;thereareinsuperablereasonsagainstit。ButwillyoutakemywordofassurancethatI
　　amnotsobadasIseem？SomedayIwillproveit。TillthenI
　　onlyaskyoutosuspendyourjudgmentonme。’
　　TheBishopshookhisheadincredulouslyandwenttowardsthevicarage，asifhehadlosthishearing。Swithinfollowedhimwithhiseyes，andLouisfollowedthedirectionofSwithin’s。BeforetheBishophadreachedthevicarageentranceLadyConstantinecrossedinfrontofhim。Shehadabasketonherarm，andwas，infact，goingtovisitsomeofthepoorercottages。WhocouldbelievetheBishopnowtobethesamemanthathehadbeenamomentbefore？Thedarknesslefthisfaceasifhehadcomeoutofacave;hislookwasallsweetness，andshine，andgaiety，asheagaingreetedViviette。
　　XXVIII
　　TheconversationwhicharosebetweentheBishopandLadyConstantinewasofthatlivelyandreproductivekindwhichcannotbeendedduringanyreasonablehaltoftwopeoplegoinginoppositedirections。Heturned，andwalkedwithheralongthelaurel—
　　screenedlanethatborderedthechurchyard，tilltheirvoicesdiedawayinthedistance。Swithinthenarousedhimselffromhisthoughtfulregardofthem，andwentoutofthechurchyardbyanothergate。
　　Seeinghimselfnowtobeleftaloneonthescene，LouisGlanvilledescendedfromhispostofobservationinthearbour。Hecamethroughtheprivatedoorway，andontothatspotamongthegraveswheretheBishopandSt。Cleevehadconversed。OnthetombstonestilllaythecoralbraceletwhichDr。Helmsdalehadflungdownthereinhisindignation;fortheagitated，introspectivemoodintowhichSwithinhadbeenthrownhadbanishedfromhismindallthoughtofsecuringthetrinketandputtingitinhispocket。
　　Louispickedupthelittleredscandal—breedingthing，andwhilewalkingonwithitinhishandheobservedTabithaLarkapproachingthechurch，incompanywiththeyoungblowerwhomshehadgoneinsearchoftoinspireherorgan—practisingwithin。Louisimmediatelyputtogether，withthatrarediplomatickeennessofwhichhewasproud，thelittlescenehehadwitnessedbetweenTabithaandSwithinduringtheconfirmation，andtheBishop’ssternstatementastowherehehadfoundthebracelet。Hehadnolongeranydoubtthatitbelongedtoher。
　　’Poorgirl！’hesaidtohimself，andsanginanundertone——
　　’Traderi，dera，L’histoiren’estpasnouvelle！’
　　WhenshedrewnearerLouiscalledherbyname。Shesenttheboyintothechurch，andcameforward，blushingathavingbeencalledbysofineagentleman。Louisheldoutthebracelet。
　　’HereissomethingIhavefound，orsomebodyelsehasfound，’hesaidtoher。’Iwon’tstatewhere。Putitaway，andsaynomoreaboutit。Iwillnotmentioniteither。Nowgoonintothechurchwhereyouaregoing，andmayHeavenhavemercyonyoursoul，mydear。’
　　’Thankyou，sir，’saidTabitha，withsomeperplexity，yetinclinedtobepleased，andonlyrecognizinginthesituationthefactthatLadyConstantine’shumorousbrotherwasmakingherapresent。
　　’Youaremuchobligedtome？’
　　’Oyes！’
　　’Well，MissLark，I’vediscoveredasecret，yousee。’
　　’Whatmaythatbe，Mr。Glanville？’
　　’Thatyouareinlove。’
　　’Idon’tadmitit，sir。Whotoldyouso？’
　　’Nobody。OnlyIputtwoandtwotogether。Nowtakemyadvice。
　　Bewareoflovers！Theyareabadlot，andbringyoungwomentotears。’
　　’Somedo，Idaresay。Butsomedon’t。’
　　’Andyouthinkthatinyourparticularcasethelatteralternativewillholdgood？Wegenerallythinkweshallbeluckyourselves，thoughalltheworldbeforeus，inthesamesituation，havebeenotherwise。’
　　’Oyes，orweshoulddieoutrightofdespair。’
　　’Well，Idon’tthinkyouwillbeluckyinyourcase。’
　　’Pleasehowdoyouknowsomuch，sincemycasehasnotyetarrived？’
　　askedTabitha，tossingherheadalittledisdainfully，butlessthanshemighthavedoneifhehadnotobtainedacharterforhisdiscoursebygivingherthebracelet。
　　’Fie，Tabitha！’
　　’Itellyouithasnotarrived！’shesaid，withsomeanger。’Ihavenotgotalover，andeverybodyknowsIhaven’t，andit’saninsinuatingthingforyoutosayso！’
　　Louislaughed，thinkinghownaturalitwasthatagirlshouldsoemphaticallydenycircumstancesthatwouldnotbearcuriousinquiry。
　　’Why，ofcourseImeantmyself，’hesaidsoothingly。’So，then，youwillnotacceptme？’
　　’Ididn’tknowyoumeantyourself，’shereplied。’ButIwon’tacceptyou。AndIthinkyououghtnottojestonsuchsubjects。’
　　’Well，perhapsnot。However，don’tlettheBishopseeyourbracelet，andallwillbewell。Butmind，loversaredeceivers。’
　　Tabithalaughed，andtheyparted，thegirlenteringthechurch。Shehadbeenfeelingalmostcertainthat，havingaccidentallyfoundthebraceletsomewhere，hehadpresenteditinawhimtoherasthefirstgirlhemet。Yetnowshebegantohavemomentarydoubtswhetherhehadnotbeenlabouringunderamistake，andhadimaginedhertobetheowner。Thebraceletwasnotvaluable;itwas，infact，ameretoy，——thepairofwhichthiswasonebeingalittlepresentmadetoLadyConstantinebySwithinonthedayoftheirmarriage;andshehadnotwornthemwithsufficientfrequencyoutofdoorsforTabithatorecognizeeitheraspositivelyherladyship’s。
　　Butwhen，outofsightoftheblower，thegirlmomentarilytriediton，inacornerbytheorgan，itseemedtoherthattheornamentwaspossiblyLadyConstantine’s。NowthatthepinkbeadsshonebeforehereyesonherownarmsherememberedhavingseenabraceletwithjustsuchaneffectgracingthewristofLadyConstantineupononeoccasion。Atemporaryself—surrendertothesophismthatifMr。
　　LouisGlanvillechosetogiveawayanythingbelongingtohissister，she，Tabitha，hadarighttotakeitwithoutquestion，wassooncheckedbyaresolvetocarrythetemptingstringsofcoraltoherladyshipthatevening，andinquirethetruthaboutthem。Thisdecidedonsheslippedthebraceletintoherpocket，andplayedhervoluntarieswithalightheart。
　　BishopHelmsdaledidnottearhimselfawayfromWellandtillabouttwoo’clockthatafternoon，whichwasthreehourslaterthanhehadintendedtoleave。ItwaswithafeelingofreliefthatSwithin，lookingfromthetopofthetower，sawthecarriagedriveoutfromthevicarageintotheturnpikeroad，andwhirltherightreverendgentlemanagaintowardsWarborne。ThecoastbeingnowclearofhimSwithinmeditatedhowtoseeViviette，andexplainwhathadhappened。Withthisinviewhewaitedwherehewastilleveningcameon。
　　MeanwhileLadyConstantineandherbrotherdinedbythemselvesatWellandHouse。Theyhadnotmetsincethemorning，andassoonastheywereleftaloneLouissaid，’Youhavedoneverywellsofar;
　　butyoumighthavebeenalittlewarmer。’
　　’Donewell？’sheasked，withsurprise。
　　’Yes，withtheBishop。Thedifficultquestionishowtofollowupouradvantage。Howareyoutokeepyourselfinsightofhim？’
　　’Heavens，Louis！Youdon’tseriouslymeanthattheBishopofMelchesterhasanyfeelingsformeotherthanfriendly？’
　　’Viviette，thisisaffectation。YouknowhehasaswellasIdo。’
　　Shesighed。’Yes，’shesaid。’IownIhadasuspicionofthesamething。Whatamisfortune！’
　　’Amisfortune？Surelytheworldisturnedupsidedown！Youwilldrivemetodespairaboutourfutureifyouseethingssoawry。
　　Exertyourselftodosomething，soastomakeofthisaccidentastepping—stonetohigherthings。Thegentlemanwillgiveustheslipifwedon’tpursuethefriendshipatonce。’
　　’Icannothaveyoutalklikethis，’shecriedimpatiently。’IhavenomorethoughtoftheBishopthanIhaveofthePope。Iwouldmuchrathernothavehadhimheretolunchatall。Yousaiditwouldbenecessarytodoit，andanopportunity，andIthoughtitmydutytoshowsomehospitalitywhenhewascomingsonear，Mr。Torkingham’shousebeingsosmall。ButofcourseIunderstoodthattheopportunitywouldbeoneforyouingettingtoknowhim，yourprospectsbeingsoindefiniteatpresent;notoneforme。’
　　’Ifyoudon’tfollowupthischanceofbeingspiritualqueenofMelchester，youwillneverhaveanotherofbeinganything。Mindthis，Viviette:youarenotsoyoungasyouwere。Youaregettingontobeamiddle—agedwoman，andyourblackhairispreciselyofthesortwhichtimequicklyturnsgrey。Youmustmakeupyourmindtogrizzledbachelorsorwidowers。Youngmarriageablemenwon’tlookatyou;oriftheydojustnow，inayearortwomorethey’lldespiseyouasanantiquatedparty。’
　　LadyConstantineperceptiblypaled。’Youngmenwhat？’sheasked。
　　’Saythatagain。’
　　’Isaiditwasnousetothinkofyoungmen;theywon’tlookatyoumuchlonger;oriftheydo，itwillbetolookawayagainveryquickly。’
　　’YouimplythatifIweretomarryamanyoungerthanmyselfhewouldspeedilyacquireacontemptforme？Howmuchyoungermustamanbethanhiswife——togetthatfeelingforher？’Shewasrestingherelbowonthechairasshefaintlyspokethewords，andcoveredhereyeswithherhand。
　　’Anexceedinglysmallnumberofyears，’saidLouisdrily。’NowtheBishopisatleastfifteenyearsolderthanyou，andonthataccount，nolessthanonothers，isanexcellentmatch。Youwouldbeheadofthechurchinthisdiocese:whatmorecanyourequireaftertheseyearsofmiserableobscurity？Inaddition，youwouldescapethatminorthorninthefleshofbishops’wives，ofbeingonly"Mrs。"whiletheirhusbandsarepeers。’
　　Shewasnotlistening;hispreviousobservationstilldetainedherthoughts。
　　’Louis，’shesaid，’inthecaseofawomanmarryingamanmuchyoungerthanherself，doeshegettodislikeher，eveniftherehasbeenasocialadvantagetohimintheunion？’
　　’Yes，——notawhitless。Askanypersonofexperience。Butwhatofthat？Let’stalkofourownaffairs。YousayyouhavenothoughtoftheBishop。Andyetifhehadstayedhereanotherdayortwohewouldhaveproposedtoyoustraightoff。’
　　’Seriously，Louis，Icouldnotaccepthim。’
　　’Whynot？’
　　’Idon’tlovehim。’
　　’Oh，oh，Ilikethosewords！’criedLouis，throwinghimselfbackinhischairandlookingattheceilinginsatiricalenjoyment。’A
　　womanwhoattwo—and—twentymarriedforconvenience，atthirtytalksofnotmarryingwithoutlove;theruleofinverse，thatis，inwhichmorerequiresless，andlessrequiresmore。Asyouronlybrother，olderthanyourself，andmoreexperienced，IinsistthatyouencouragetheBishop。’
　　’Don’tquarrelwithme，Louis！’shesaidpiteously。’Wedon’tknowthathethinksanythingofme，——weonlyguess。’
　　’Iknowit，——andyoushallhearhowIknow。Iamofacuriousandconjecturalnature，asyouareaware。Lastnight，wheneverybodyhadgonetobed，Isteppedoutforafiveminutes’smokeonthelawn，andwalkeddowntowhereyougetnearthevicaragewindows。
　　WhileIwasthereinthedarkoneofthemopened，andBishopHelmsdaleleantout。Theilluminatedoblongofyourwindowshonehimfullinthefacebetweenthetrees，andpresentlyyourshadowcrossedit。Hewavedhishand，andmurmuredsometenderwords，thoughwhattheywereexactlyIcouldnothear。’
　　’Whatavague，imaginarystory，——asifhecouldknowmyshadow！
　　Besides，amanoftheBishop’sdignitywouldn’thavedonesuchathing。WhenIknewhimasayoungermanhewasnotatallromantic，andhe’snotlikelytohavegrownsonow。’
　　’That’sjustwhatheislikelytohavedone。Noloverissoextremeaspecimenofthespeciesasanoldlover。Come，Viviette，nomoreofthisfencing。Ihaveenteredintotheprojectheartandsoul——somuchthatIhavepostponedmydeparturetillthematteriswellunderway。’
　　’Louis——mydearLouis——youwillbringmeintosomedisagreeableposition！’saidshe，claspingherhands。’Idoentreatyounottointerfereordoanythingrashaboutme。Thestepisimpossible。I
　　havesomethingtotellyousomeday。Imustliveon，andendure——’
　　’Everythingexceptthispenury，’repliedLouis，unmoved。’Come，I
　　havebegunthecampaignbyinvitingBishopHelmsdale，andI’lltaketheresponsibilityofcarryingiton。AllIaskofyouisnottomakeaninnyofyourself。Come，givemeyourpromise！’
　　’No，Icannot，——Idon’tknowhowto！Ionlyknowonething，——thatI
　　aminnohurry——’
　　’"Nohurry"behanged！Agree，likeagoodsister，tocharmtheBishop。’
　　’Imustconsider！’shereplied，withperturbedevasiveness。
　　ItbeingafineeveningLouiswentoutofthehousetoenjoyhiscigarintheshrubbery。Onreachinghisfavouriteseathefoundhehadlefthiscigar—casebehindhim;heimmediatelyreturnedforit。
　　WhenheapproachedthewindowbywhichhehademergedhesawSwithinSt。Cleevestandingthereinthedusk，talkingtoVivietteinside。
　　St。Cleeve’sbackwastowardsLouis，but，whetheratasignalfromherorbyaccident，hequicklyturnedandrecognizedGlanville;
　　whereuponraisinghishattoLadyConstantinetheyoungmanpassedalongtheterrace—walkandoutbythechurchyarddoor。
　　Louisrejoinedhissister。’Ididn’tknowyouallowedyourlawntobeapublicthoroughfarefortheparish，’hesaid。
　　’Iamnotexclusive，especiallysinceIhavebeensopoor，’repliedshe。
　　’Thendoyouleteverybodypassthisway，oronlythatillustriousyouthbecauseheissogood—looking？’
　　’Ihavenostrictruleinthecase。Mr。St。Cleeveisanacquaintanceofmine，andhecancertainlycomehereifhechooses。’
　　Hercolourrosesomewhat，andshespokewarmly。
　　Louiswastoocautiousabirdtorevealtoherwhathadsuddenlydawneduponhismind——thathissister，incommonwiththe（tohisthinking）unhappyTabithaLark，hadbeenfoolishenoughtogetinterestedinthisphenomenonoftheparish，thisscientificAdonis。
　　Butheresolvedtocureatoncehertenderfeeling，ifitexisted，bylettingoutasecretwhichwouldinflameherdignityagainsttheweakness。
　　’Agood—lookingyoungman，’hesaid，withhiseyeswhereSwithinhadvanished。’Butnotsogoodashelooks。Infactaregularyoungsinner。’
　　’Whatdoyoumean？’
　　’Oh，onlyalittlefeatureIdiscoveredinSt。Cleeve’shistory。
　　ButIsupposehehasarighttosowhiswildoatsaswellasotheryoungmen。’
　　’Tellmewhatyoualludeto，——do，Louis。’
　　’ItishardlyfitthatIshould。However，thecaseisamusingenough。Iwassittinginthearbourto—day，andwasanunwillinglistenertotheoddestinterviewIeverheardof。OurfriendtheBishopdiscovered，whenwevisitedtheobservatorylastnight，thatourastronomerwasnotaloneinhisseclusion。Aladysharedhisromanticcabinwithhim;andfindingthis，theBishopnaturallyenoughfeltthattheordinanceofconfirmationhadbeenprofaned。
　　SohislordshipsentforMasterSwithinthismorning，andmeetinghiminthechurchyardreadhimsuchanexcommunicatinglectureasI
　　warranthewon’tforgetinhislifetime。Ha—ha—ha！’Twasverygood，——very。’
　　Hewatchedherfacenarrowlywhilehespokewithsuchseemingcarelessness。Insteadoftheagitationofjealousythathehadexpectedtobearousedbythishintofanotherwomaninthecase，therewasacuriousexpression，morelikeembarrassmentthananythingelsewhichmighthavebeenfairlyattributedtothesubject。’CanitbethatIammistaken？’heaskedhimself。
　　ThepossibilitythathemightbemistakenrestoredLouistogood—
　　humour，andlightshavingbeenbroughthesatwithhissisterforsometime，talkingwithpurposeofSwithin’slowrankononeside，andthesordidstrugglesthatmightbeinstoreforhim。St。Cleevebeingintheunhappycaseofderivinghisexistencethroughtwochannelsofsociety，itresultedthatheseemedtobelongtoeitherthisorthataccordingtothealtitudeofthebeholder。LouisthrewthelightentirelyonSwithin’sagriculturalside，bringingoutoldMrs。Martinandherconnexionsandherwaysoflifewithluminousdistinctness，tillLadyConstantinebecamegreatlydepressed。She，inherhopefulness，hadalmostforgotten，latterly，thatthebucolicelement，soincisivelyrepresentedbyMessrs。HezzyBiles，HaymossFry，SammyBlore，andtherestenteredintohisconditionatall;toherhehadbeenthesonofhisacademicfatheralone。
　　ButshewouldnotrevealthedepressiontowhichshehadbeensubjectedbythisresuscitationofthehomelyhalfofpoorSwithin，presentlyputtinganendtothesubjectbywalkinghitherandthitherabouttheroom。
　　’Whathaveyoulost？’saidLouis，observinghermovements。
　　’Nothingofconsequence，——abracelet。’
　　’Coral？’heinquiredcalmly。
　　’Yes。Howdidyouknowitwascoral？Youhaveneverseenit，haveyou？’
　　Hewasabouttomakeanswer;buttheamazedenlightenmentwhichherannouncementhadproducedinhimthroughknowingwheretheBishophadfoundsuchanarticle，ledhimtoreconsiderhimself。Then，likeanastuteman，bynomeanssureofthedimensionsoftheintriguehemightbeuncovering，hesaidcarelessly，’Ifoundsuchaoneinthechurchyardto—day。ButIthoughtitappearedtobeofnogreatrarity，andIgaveittooneofthevillagegirlswhowaspassingby。’
　　’Didshetakeit？Whowasshe？’saidtheunsuspectingViviette。
　　’Really，Idon’tremember。Isupposeitisofnoconsequence？’
　　’Ono;itsvalueisnothing，comparatively。Itwasonlyoneofapairsuchasyounggirlswear。’LadyConstantinecouldnotaddthat，inspiteofthis，sheherselfvalueditasbeingSwithin’spresent，andthebesthecouldafford。
　　Panic—struckbyhisruminations，althoughrevealingnothingbyhismanner，Louissoonafterwentuptohisroom，professedlytowriteletters。Hegaveventtoalowwhistlewhenhewasoutofhearing。
　　Heofcourserememberedperfectlywelltowhomhehadgiventhecorals，andresolvedtoseekoutTabithathenextmorningtoascertainwhethershecouldpossiblyhaveownedsuchatrinketaswellashissister，——whichatpresentheverygreatlydoubted，thoughferventlyhopingthatshemight。
　　XXIX
　　TheeffectuponSwithinoftheinterviewwiththeBishophadbeenaverymarkedone。Hefeltthathehadgoodgroundforresentingthatdignitary’stoneinhaughtilyassumingthatallmustbesinfulwhichatthefirstblushappearedtobeso，andinnarrowlyrefusingayoungmanthebenefitofasingledoubt。Swithin’sassurancethathewouldbeabletoexplainallsomedayhadbeentakenincontemptuousincredulity。
　　’HemaybeasvirtuousashisprototypeTimothy;buthe’sanopinionatedoldfogeyallthesame，’saidSt。Cleevepetulantly。
　　Yet，ontheotherhand，Swithin’snaturewassofreshandingenuous，notwithstandingthatrecentaffairshadsomewhatdenaturalizedhim，thatforamanintheBishop’spositiontothinkhimimmoralwasalmostasoverwhelmingasifhehadactuallybeenso，andatmomentshecouldscarcelybearexistenceundersogrossasuspicion。WhatwashisunionwithLadyConstantineworthtohimwhen，byreasonofit，hewasthoughtareprobatebyalmosttheonlymanwhohadprofessedtotakeaninterestinhim？
　　Certainly，bycontrastwithhisair—builtimageofhimselfasaworthyastronomer，receivedbyalltheworld，andtheenviedhusbandofViviette，thepresentimputationwashumiliating。Thegloriouslightofthistenderandrefinedpassionseemedtohavebecomedebasedtoburlesquehuesbypureaccident，andhisaestheticnolessthanhisethictastewasoffendedbysuchananti—climax。Hewhohadsoaredamidtheremotestgrandeursofnaturehadbeentakentotaskonarudimentaryquestionofmorals，whichhadneverbeenaquestionwithhimatall。Thiswaswhattheexigenciesofanawkwardattachmenthadbroughthimto;butheblamedthecircumstances，andnotforonemomentLadyConstantine。
　　HavingnowsethisheartagainstalongerconcealmenthewasdisposedtothinkthatanexcellentwayofbeginningarevelationoftheirmarriagewouldbebywritingaconfidentiallettertotheBishop，detailingthewholecase。Butitwasimpossibletodothisonhisownresponsibility。HestillrecognizedtheunderstandingenteredintowithViviette，beforethemarriage，tobeasbindingasever，——thattheinitiativeindisclosingtheirunionshouldcomefromher。Yethehardlydoubtedthatshewouldtakethatinitiativewhenhetoldherofhisextraordinaryreprimandinthechurchyard。
　　ThiswaswhathehadcometodowhenLouissawhimstandingatthewindow。Butbeforehehadsaidhalf—a—dozenwordstoVivietteshemotionedhimtogoon，whichhemechanicallydid，erehecouldsufficientlycollecthisthoughtsonitsadvisabilityorotherwise。
　　Hedidnot，however，gofar。WhileLouisandhissisterwerediscussinghiminthedrawing—roomhelingeredmusinginthechurchyard，hopingthatshemightbeabletoescapeandjoinhimintheconsultationhesoearnestlydesired。
　　Sheatlastfoundopportunitytodothis。AssoonasLouishadlefttheroomandshuthimselfinupstairssheranoutbythewindowinthedirectionSwithinhadtaken。Whenherfootstepsbegancrunchingonthegravelhecameforwardfromthechurchyarddoor。
　　Theyembracedeachotherinhaste，andthen，inafewshortpantingwords，sheexplainedtohimthatherbrotherhadheardandwitnessedtheinterviewonthatspotbetweenhimselfandtheBishop，andhadtoldherthesubstanceoftheBishop’saccusation，notknowingshewasthewomaninthecabin。
　　’AndwhatIcannotunderstandisthis，’sheadded;’howdidtheBishopdiscoverthatthepersonbehindthebed—curtainswasawomanandnotaman？’
　　SwithinexplainedthattheBishophadfoundthebraceletonthebed，andhadbroughtittohiminthechurchyard。
　　’OSwithin，whatdoyousay？Foundthecoralbracelet？Whatdidyoudowithit？’
　　Swithinclappedhishandtohispocket。
　　’Dearme！Irecollect——IleftitwhereitlayonReubenHeath’stombstone。’
　　’Oh，mydear，dearSwithin！’shecriedmiserably。’Youhavecompromisedmebyyourforgetfulness。Ihaveclaimedthearticleasmine。MybrotherdidnottellmethattheBishopbroughtitfromthecabin。WhatcanI，canIdo，thatneithertheBishopnormybrothermayconclude_I_wasthewomanthere？’
　　’Butifweannounceourmarriage——’
　　’Evenasyourwife，thepositionwastooundignified——tooIdon’tknowwhat——formeevertoadmitthatIwasthere！Rightorwrong，I
　　mustdeclarethebraceletwasnotmine。Suchanescapade——why，itwouldmakemeridiculousinthecounty;andanythingratherthanthat！’
　　’Iwasinhopethatyouwouldagreetoletourmarriagebeknown，’
　　saidSwithin，withsomedisappointment。’Ithoughtthatthesecircumstanceswouldmakethereasonfordoingsodoublystrong。’
　　’Yes。Butthereare，alas，reasonsagainstitstillstronger！Letmehavemyway。’
　　’Certainly，dearest。Ipromisedthatbeforeyouagreedtobemine。
　　Myreputation——whatisit！PerhapsIshallbedeadandforgottenbeforethenexttransitofVenus！’
　　Shesoothedhimtenderly，butcouldnottellhimwhyshefeltthereasonsagainstanyannouncementasyettobestrongerthanthoseinfavourofit。Howcouldshe，whenherfeelinghadbeencautiouslyfedanddevelopedbyherbrotherLouis’sunvarnishedexhibitionofSwithin’smaterialpositionintheeyesoftheworld？——thatofayoungman，thescionofafamilyoffarmersrecentlyhertenants，livingatthehomesteadwithhisgrandmother，Mrs。Martin。