Swithinenteredquietly，andlookedroundtheroom。Seeingwithunexpectedpleasurethatshewastherealone，hecameoverandkissedher。Herdiscomposureatsomeforegoneeventwassoonobvious。
　　’Hasmystayingcausedyouanytrouble？’heaskedinawhisper。
　　’Whereisyourbrotherthismorning？’
　　Shesmiledthroughherperplexityasshetookhishand。’Theoddestthingshappentome，dearSwithin，’shesaid。’Doyouwishparticularlytoknowwhathashappenednow？’
　　’Yes，ifyoudon’tmindtellingme。’
　　’Idomindtellingyou。ButImust。AmongotherthingsIamresolvingtogivewaytoyourrepresentations，——inpart，atleast。
　　ItwillbebesttotelltheBishopeverything，andmybrother，ifnototherpeople。’
　　’Iamtrulygladtohearit，Viviette，’saidhecheerfully。’Ihavefeltforalongtimethathonestyisthebestpolicy。’
　　’Iatanyratefeelitnow。Butitisapolicythatrequiresagreatdealofcourage！’
　　’Itcertainlyrequiressomecourage，——Ishouldnotsayagreatdeal;
　　andindeed，asfarasIamconcerned，itdemandslesscouragetospeakoutthantoholdmytongue。’
　　’But，yousillyboy，youdon’tknowwhathashappened。TheBishophasmademeanofferofmarriage。’
　　’Goodgracious，whatanimpertinentoldman！Whathaveyoudoneaboutit，dearest？’
　　’Well，Ihavehardlyacceptedhim，’shereplied，laughing。’ItisthiseventwhichhassuggestedtomethatIshouldmakemyrefusalareasonforconfidingoursituationtohim。’
　　’Whatwouldyouhavedoneifyouhadnotbeenalreadyappropriated？’
　　’That’saninscrutablemystery。Heisaworthyman;buthehasverypronouncedviewsabouthisownposition，andsomeotherundesirablequalities。Still，whoknows？Youmustblessyourstarsthatyouhavesecuredme。Nowletusconsiderhowtodrawupourconfessiontohim。IwishIhadlistenedtoyouatfirst，andallowedyoutotakehimintoourconfidencebeforehisdeclarationarrived。Hemaypossiblyresenttheconcealmentnow。However，thiscannotbehelped。’
　　’Itellyouwhat，Viviette，’saidSwithin，afterathoughtfulpause，’iftheBishopissuchanearthlysortofmanasthis，amanwhogoesfallinginlove，andwantingtomarryyou，andsoon，Iamnotdisposedtoconfessanythingtohimatall。Ifanciedhimaltogetherdifferentfromthat。’
　　’Buthe’snonetheworseforit，dear。’
　　’Ithinkheis——tolecturemeandloveyou，allinonebreath！’
　　’Still，that’sonlyapassingphase;andyoufirstproposedmakingaconfidantofhim。’
　　’Idid……Verywell。ThenwearetotellnobodybuttheBishop？’
　　’AndmybrotherLouis。Imusttellhim;itisunavoidable。HesuspectsmeinawayIcouldneverhavecreditedofhim！’
　　Swithin，aswasbeforestated，hadarrangedtostartforGreenwichthatmorning，permissionhavingbeenaccordedhimbytheAstronomer—
　　RoyaltoviewtheObservatory;andtheirfinaldecisionwasthat，ashecouldnotaffordtimetositdownwithher，andwritetotheBishopincollaboration，eachshould，duringtheday，composeawell—consideredletter，disclosingtheirpositionfromhisandherownpointofview;LadyConstantineleadinguptoherconfessionbyherrefusaloftheBishop’shand。ItwasnecessarythatsheshouldknowwhatSwithincontemplatedsaying，thatherstatementsmightpreciselyharmonize。Heultimatelyagreedtosendherhisletterbythenextmorning’spost，when，havingreadit，shewouldinduecoursedespatchitwithherown。
　　AssoonashehadbreakfastedSwithinwenthisway，promisingtoreturnfromGreenwichbytheendoftheweek。
　　Viviettepassedtheremainderofthatlongsummerday，duringwhichheryounghusbandwasrecedingtowardsthecapital，inanalmostmotionlessstate。Atsomeinstantsshefeltexultantattheideaofannouncinghermarriageanddefyinggeneralopinion。Atanotherherheartmisgaveher，andshewastormentedbyafearlestSwithinshouldsomedayaccuseherofhavinghamperedhisdeliberately—
　　shapedplanoflifebyherintrusiveromanticism。Thatwasoftenthetrickofmenwhohadsealedbymarriage，intheirinexperiencedyouth，aloveforthosewhomtheirmaturerjudgmentwouldhaverejectedastooobviouslydisproportionateinyears。
　　However，itwasnowtoolatefortheselugubriousthoughts;and，bracingherself，shebegantoframethenewreplytoBishopHelmsdale——theplain，unvarnishedtalethatwastosupplanttheundivulginganswerfirstwritten。Shewasengagedonthisdifficultproblemtilldaylightfadedinthewest，andthebroad—facedmoonedgedupwards，likeaplateofoldgold，overtheelmstowardsthevillage。BythattimeSwithinhadreachedGreenwich;herbrotherhadgonesheknewnotwhither;andsheandlonelinessdweltsolely，asbefore，withinthewallsofWellandHouse。
　　Atthishourofsunsetandmoonrisethenewparlourmaidentered，toinformherthatMr。Cecil’sheadclerk，fromWarborne，particularlywishedtoseeher。
　　Mr。Cecilwashersolicitor，andsheknewofnothingwhateverthatrequiredhisinterventionjustatpresent。Buthewouldnothavesentatthistimeofdaywithoutexcellentreasons，andshedirectedthattheyoungmanmightbeshowninwhereshewas。Onhisentrythefirstthingshenoticedwasthatinhishandhecarriedanewspaper。
　　’Incaseyoushouldnothaveseenthisevening’spaper，LadyConstantine，Mr。Cecilhasdirectedmetobringittoyouatonce，onaccountofwhatappearsthereinrelationtoyourladyship。Hehasonlyjustseenithimself。’
　　’Whatisit？Howdoesitconcernme？’
　　’Iwillpointitout。’
　　’Readityourselftome。ThoughIamafraidthere’snotenoughlight。’
　　’Icanseeverywellhere，’saidthelawyer’sclerksteppingtothewindow。Foldingbackthepaperheread:——
　　’"NEWSFROMSOUTHAFRICA。
　　’"CAPETOWN，May17（viaPlymouth）。——AcorrespondentoftheCapeChroniclestatesthathehasinterviewedanEnglishmanjustarrivedfromtheinterior，andlearnsfromhimthataconsiderablemisapprehensionexistsinEnglandconcerningthedeathofthetravellerandhunter，SirBlountConstantine——"’
　　’O，he’sliving！Myhusbandisalive，’shecried，sinkingdowninnearlyafaintingcondition。
　　’No，mylady。SirBlountisdeadenough，Iamsorrytosay。’
　　’Dead，didyousay？’
　　’Certainly，LadyConstantine;thereisnodoubtofit。’
　　Shesatup，andherintensereliefalmostmadeitselfperceptiblelikeafreshatmosphereintheroom。’Yes。Thenwhatdidyoucomefor？’sheaskedcalmly。
　　’ThatSirBlounthasdiedisunquestionable，’repliedthelawyer’sclerkgently。’Buttherehasbeensomemistakeaboutthedateofhisdeath。’
　　’HediedofmalariousfeveronthebanksoftheZouga，October24，18——。’
　　’No;heonlylayilltherealongtimeitseems。Itwasacompanionwhodiedatthatdate。ButI’llreadtheaccounttoyourladyship，withyourpermission:——
　　’"Thedeceaseofthissomewhateccentricwandererdidnotoccuratthetimehithertosupposed，butonlyinlastDecember。ThefollowingistheaccountoftheEnglishmanalludedto，givenasnearlyaspossibleinhisownwords:DuringtheillnessofSirBlountandhisfriendbytheZouga，threeoftheservantswentaway，takingwiththemaportionofhisclothingandeffects;anditmustbetheywhospreadthereportofhisdeathatthistime。Afterhiscompanion’sdeathhemended，andwhenhewasstrongenoughheandI
　　travelledontoahealthierdistrict。IurgedhimnottodelayhisreturntoEngland;buthewasmuchagainstgoingbackthereagain，andbecamesoroughinhismannertowardsmethatwepartedcompanyatthefirstopportunityIcouldfind。IjoinedapartyofwhitetradersreturningtotheWestCoast。IstayedhereamongthePortugueseformanymonths。IthenfoundthatanEnglishtravellingpartyweregoingtoexploreadistrictadjoiningthatwhichIhadformerlytraversedwithSirBlount。Theysaidtheywouldbegladofmyservices，andIjoinedthem。WhenwehadcrossedtheterritorytotheSouthofUlunda，anddrewneartoMarzambo，IheardtidingsofamanlivingtherewhomIsuspectedtobeSirBlount，althoughhewasnotknownbythatname。BeingsonearIwasinducedtoseekhimout，andfoundthathewasindeedthesame。Hehaddroppedhisoldnamealtogether，andhadmarriedanativeprincess——"’
　　’Marriedanativeprincess！’saidLadyConstantine。
　　’That’swhatitsays，mylady，——"marriedanativeprincessaccordingtotheritesofthetribe，andwaslivingveryhappilywithher。HetoldmeheshouldneverreturntoEnglandagain。HealsotoldmethathavingseenthisprincessjustafterIhadlefthim，hehadbeenattractedbyher，andhadthereupondecidedtoresidewithherinthatcountry，asbeingalandwhichaffordedhimgreaterhappinessthanhecouldhopetoattainelsewhere。Heaskedmetostaywithhim，insteadofgoingonwithmyparty，andnotrevealhisrealtitletoanyofthem。AftersomehesitationIdidstay，andwasnotuncomfortableatfirst。ButIsoonfoundthatSirBlountdrankmuchhardernowthanwhenIhadknownhim，andthathewasattimesverygreatlydepressedinmindathisposition。OnemorninginthemiddleofDecemberlastIheardashotfromhisdwelling。
　　HiswiferushedfranticallypastmeasIhastenedtothespot，andwhenIenteredIfoundthathehadputanendtohimselfwithhisrevolver。Hisprincesswasbroken—heartedallthatday。WhenwehadburiedhimIdiscoveredinhishousealittleboxdirectedtohissolicitorsatWarborne，inEngland，andanoteformyself，sayingthatIhadbettergetthefirstchanceofreturningthatoffered，andrequestingmetotaketheboxwithme。ItissupposedtocontainpapersandarticlesforfriendsinEnglandwhohavedeemedhimdeadforsometime。"’
　　Theclerkstoppedhisreading，andtherewasasilence。’ThemiddleoflastDecember，’sheatlengthsaid，inawhisper。’Hastheboxarrivedyet？’
　　’Notyet，mylady。Wehavenofurtherproofofanything。Assoonasthepackagecomestohandyoushallknowofitimmediately。’
　　Suchwastheclerk’smission;and，leavingthepaperwithher，hewithdrew。Theintelligenceamountedtothusmuch:that，SirBlounthavingbeenalivetillatleastsixweeksafterhermarriagewithSwithinSt。Cleeve，SwithinSt。Cleevewasnotherhusbandintheeyeofthelaw;thatshewouldhavetoconsiderhowhermarriagewiththelattermightbeinstantlyrepeated，toestablishherselflegallyasthatyoungman’swife。
　　XXXIII
　　NextmorningViviettereceivedavisitfromMr。Cecilhimself。Heinformedherthattheboxspokenofbytheservanthadarrivedquiteunexpectedlyjustafterthedepartureofhisclerkonthepreviousevening。Therehadnotbeensufficienttimeforhimtothoroughlyexamineitasyet，buthehadseenenoughtoenablehimtostatethatitcontainedletters，datedmemorandainSirBlount’shandwriting，notesreferringtoeventswhichhadhappenedlaterthanhissupposeddeath，andotherirrefragableproofsthattheaccountinthenewspaperswascorrectastothemainfact——thecomparativelyrecentdateofSirBlount’sdecease。
　　Shelookedup，andspokewiththeirresponsiblehelplessnessofachild。
　　’Onreviewingthecircumstances，IcannotthinkhowIcouldhaveallowedmyselftobelievethefirsttidings！’shesaid。
　　’Everybodyelsebelievedthem，andwhyshouldyounothavedoneso？’
　　saidthelawyer。
　　’Howcamethewilltobepermittedtobeproved，astherecould，afterall，havebeennocompleteevidence？’sheasked。’IfIhadbeentheexecutrixIwouldnothaveattemptedit！AsIwasnot，I
　　knowverylittleabouthowthebusinesswaspushedthrough。Inaveryunseemlyway，Ithink。’
　　’Well，no，’saidMr。Cecil，feelinghimselfmorallycalledupontodefendlegalprocedurefromsuchimputations。’Itwasdoneintheusualwayinallcaseswheretheproofofdeathisonlypresumptive。
　　Theevidence，suchasitwas，waslaidbeforethecourtbytheapplicants，yourhusband’scousins;andtheservantswhohadbeenwithhimdeposedtohisdeathwithaparticularitythatwasdeemedsufficient。Theirerrorwas，notthatsomebodydied——forsomebodydiddieatthetimeaffirmed——butthattheymistookonepersonforanother;thepersonwhodiedbeingnotSirBlountConstantine。ThecourtwasofopinionthattheevidenceleduptoareasonableinferencethatthedeceasedwasactuallySirBlount，andprobatewasgrantedonthestrengthofit。Astherewasadoubtabouttheexactdayofthemonth，theapplicantswereallowedtoswearthathediedonorafterthedatelastgivenofhisexistence——which，inspiteoftheirerrorthen，hasreallycometrue，now，ofcourse。’
　　’Theylittlethinkwhattheyhavedonetomebybeingsoreadytoswear！’shemurmured。
　　Mr。Cecil，supposinghertoalludeonlytothepecuniarystraitsinwhichshehadbeenprematurelyplacedbythewilltakingeffectayearbeforeitsduetime，said，’True。Ithasbeentoyourladyship’sloss，andtotheirgain。Buttheywillmakeamplerestitution，nodoubt:andallwillbewoundupsatisfactorily。’
　　LadyConstantinewasfarfromexplainingthatthiswasnothermeaning;and，aftersomefurtherconversationofapurelytechnicalnature，Mr。Cecilleftherpresence。
　　Whenshewasagainunencumberedwiththenecessityofexhibitingaproperbearing，thesensethatshehadgreatlysufferedinpocketbytheunduehasteoftheexecutorsweigheduponhermindwithapressurequiteinappreciablebesidethegreatergravityofherpersonalposition。Whatwasherpositionaslegateetohersituationasawoman？Herfacecrimsonedwithaflushwhichshewasalmostashamedtoshowtothedaylight，asshehastilypennedthefollowingnotetoSwithinatGreenwich——certainlyoneofthemostinformaldocumentsshehadeverwritten。
　　’WELLAND，Thursday。
　　’OSwithin，mydearSwithin，whatIhavetotellyouissosadandsohumiliatingthatIcanhardlywriteit——andyetImust。Thoughwearedearertoeachotherthanalltheworldbesides，andasfirmlyunitedasifwewereone，Iamnotlegallyyourwife！SirBlountdidnotdietillsometimeafterweinEnglandsupposed。Theservicemustberepeatedinstantly。Ihavenotbeenabletosleepallnight。IfeelsofrightenedandashamedthatIcanscarcelyarrangemythoughts。Thenewspaperssentwiththiswillexplain，ifyouhavenotseenparticulars。Docometomeassoonasyoucan，thatwemayconsultonwhattodo。Burnthisatonce。
　　’YourVIVIETTE。’
　　Whenthenotewasdespatchedsherememberedthattherewasanotherhardlylessimportantquestiontobeanswered——theproposaloftheBishopforherhand。Hiscommunicationhadsunkintonothingnessbesidethemomentousnewsthathadsogreatlydistressedher。Thetworeplieslaybeforeher——theoneshehadfirstwritten，simplydecliningtobecomeDr。Helmsdale’swife，withoutgivingreasons;
　　thesecond，whichshehadelaboratedwithsomuchcareonthepreviousday，relatinginconfidentialdetailthehistoryofherloveforSwithin，theirsecretmarriage，andtheirhopesforthefuture;askinghisadviceonwhattheirprocedureshouldbetoescapethestricturesofacensoriousworld。ItwasthelettershehadbarelyfinishedwritingwhenMr。Cecil’sclerkannouncednewstantamounttoadeclarationthatshewasnowifeatall。
　　Thisepistleshenowdestroyed——andwiththelessreluctanceinknowingthatSwithinhadbeensomewhataversetotheconfessionassoonashefoundthatBishopHelmsdalewasalsoavictimtotendersentimentconcerningher。Thefirst，inwhich，atthetimeofwriting，thesuppressioveriwastoostrongforherconscience，hadnowbecomeanhonestletter，andsadlyfoldingitshesentthemissiveonitsway。
　　Thesenseofherundefinablepositionkeptherfrommuchreposeonthesecondnightalso;butthefollowingmorningbroughtanunexpectedletterfromSwithin，writtenaboutthesamehourasherstohim，anditcomfortedhermuch。
　　Hehadseentheaccountinthepapersalmostassoonasithadcometoherknowledge，andsentthislinetoreassureherintheperturbationshemustnaturallyfeel。Shewasnottobealarmedatall。Theytwowerehusbandandwifeinmoralintentandantecedentbelief，andthelegalflawwhichaccidenthadsocuriouslyuncoveredcouldbemendedinhalf—an—hour。HewouldreturnonSaturdaynightatlatest，butasthehourwouldprobablybefaradvanced，hewouldaskhertomeethimbyslippingoutofthehousetothetoweranytimeduringserviceonSundaymorning，whentherewouldbefewpersonsaboutlikelytoobservethem。Meanwhilehemightprovisionallystatethattheirbestcourseintheemergencywouldbe，insteadofconfessingtoanybodythattherehadalreadybeenasolemnizationofmarriagebetweenthem，toarrangetheirre—marriageinasopenamanneraspossible——asifitwerethejust—reachedclimaxofasuddenaffection，insteadofaharkingbacktoanolddeparture——prefacingitbyapublicannouncementintheusualway。
　　Thisplanofapproachingtheirsecondunionwithalltheshowandcircumstanceofanewthing，recommendeditselftoherstrongly，butforoneobjection——thatbysuchacoursetheweddingcouldnot，withoutappearinglikeanactofunseemlyhaste，takeplacesoquicklyasshedesiredforherownmoralsatisfaction。Itmighttakeplacesomewhatearly，sayinthecourseofamonthortwo，withoutbringingdownuponherthechargeoflevity;forSirBlount，anotoriouslyunkindhusband，hadbeenoutofhersightfouryears，andinhisgravenearlyone。Butwhatshenaturallydesiredwasthatthereshouldbenomoredelaythanwaspositivelynecessaryforobtaininganewlicense——twoorthreedaysatlongest;andinviewofthiscelerityitwasnexttoimpossibletomakeduepreparationforaweddingofordinarypublicity，performedinherownchurch，fromherownhouse，withafeastandamusementsforthevillagers，ateafortheschoolchildren，abonfire，andotherofthoseproclamatoryaccessorieswhich，bymeetingwonderhalf—way，depriveitofmuchofitsintensity。Itmustbeadmitted，too，thatsheevennowshrankfromtheshockofsurprisethatwouldinevitablybecausedbyheropenlytakingforhusbandsuchamereyouthofnopositionasSwithinstillappeared，notwithstandingthatinyearshewasbythistimewithinatrifleofone—and—twenty。
　　Thestraightforwardcoursehad，nevertheless，somuchtorecommendit，sowellavoidedthedisadvantageoffuturerevelationwhichaprivaterepetitionoftheceremonywouldentail，thatassumingshecoulddependuponSwithin，assheknewshecoulddo，goodsensecounselleditsseriousconsideration。
　　Shebecamemorecomposedatherqueersituation:hourafterhourpassed，andthefirstspasmodicimpulseofwomanlydecorum——nottoletthesungodownuponherpresentimproperstate——wasquitecontrollable。Shecouldregardthestrangecontingencythathadarisenwithsomethinglikephilosophy。Thedayslippedby:shethoughtoftheawkwardnessoftheaccidentratherthanofitshumiliation;and，lovingSwithinnowinafarcalmerspiritthanatthatpastdatewhentheyhadrushedintoeachother’sarmsandvowedtobeoneforthefirsttime，sheeverandanoncaughtherselfreflecting，’Wereitnotthatformyhonour’ssakeImustre—marryhim，Ishouldperhapsbeanoblerwomaninnotallowinghimtoencumberhisbrightfuturebyaunionwithmeatall。’
　　Thisthought，atfirstartificiallyraised，aslittlemorethanamentalexercise，becamebystagesagenuineconviction;andwhileherheartenforced，herreasonregrettedthenecessityofabstainingfromself—sacrifice——thebeingobliged，despitehiscuriousescapefromthefirstattempt，tolimeSwithin’syoungwingsagainsolelyforhercredit’ssake。
　　However，thedeedhadtobedone;Swithinwastobemadelegallyhers。Selfishnessinaconjunctureofthissortwasexcusable，andevenobligatory。Takingbrighterviews，shehopedthatuponthewholethisyokingoftheyoungfellowwithher，aportionlesswomanandhissenior，wouldnotgreatlyendangerhiscareer。Insuchamoodnightovertookher，andshewenttobedconjecturingthatSwithinhadbythistimearrivedintheparish，wasperhapsevenatthatmomentpassinghomewardbeneathherwalls，andthatinlessthantwelvehoursshewouldhavemethim，haveventilatedthesecretwhichoppressedher，andhavesatisfactorilyarrangedwithhimthedetailsoftheirreunion。
　　XXXIV
　　Sundaymorningcame，andcomplicatedherpreviousemotionsbybringinganewandunexpectedshocktominglewiththem。Thepostmanhaddeliveredamongotherthingsanillustratednewspaper，sentbyahandshedidnotrecognize;andonopeningthecoverthesheetthatmethereyesfilledherwithahorrorwhichshecouldnotexpress。Theprintwasonewhichdrewlargelyonitsimaginationforitsengravings，anditalreadycontainedanillustrationofthedeathofSirBlountConstantine。Inthisworkofarthewasrepresentedasstandingwithhispistoltohismouth，hisbrainsbeinginprocessofflyinguptotheroofofhischamber，andhisnativeprincessrushingterror—strickenawaytoaremotepositioninthethicketofpalmswhichneighbouredthedwelling。
　　Thecruderealismofthepicture，possiblyharmlessenoughinitseffectuponothers，overpoweredandsickenedher。Byacuriousfascinationshewouldlookatitagainandagain，tilleverylineoftheengraver’sperformanceseemedreallyatranscriptfromwhathadhappenedbeforehiseyes。Withsuchdetailsfreshinherthoughtsshewasgoingoutofthedoortomakearrangementsforconfirming，byrepetition，hermarriagewithanother。Nointervalwasavailableforseriousreflectiononthetragedy，orforallowingthesofteningeffectsoftimetooperateinhermind。Itwasasthoughherfirsthusbandhaddiedthatmoment，andshewaskeepinganappointmentwithanotherinthepresenceofhiscorpse。
　　SorevivedwastheactualityofSirBlount’srecentlifeanddeathbythisincident，thatthedistressofherpersonalrelationswithSwithinwasthesingleforceintheworldwhichcouldhavecoercedherintoabandoningtohimtheintervalshewouldfainhavesetapartforgettingoverthesenewandpainfulimpressions。Self—pityforill—usageaffordedhergoodreasonsforceasingtoloveSirBlount;buthewasyettoocloselyintertwinedwithherpastlifetobedestructibleontheinstantasamemory。
　　Buttherewasnochoiceofoccasionsforhernow，andshesteadilywaitedforthechurchbellstoceasechiming。Atlastallwassilent;thesurroundingcottagershadgatheredthemselveswithinthewallsoftheadjacentbuilding。TabithaLark’sfirstvoluntarythendronedfromthetowerwindow，andLadyConstantineleftthegardeninwhichshehadbeenloitering，andwenttowardsRings—HillSpeer。
　　Thesenseofhersituationobscuredthemorningprospect。Thecountrywasunusuallysilentundertheintensifyingsun，thesonglessseasonofbirdshavingjustsetin。Choosingherpathamidtheeftsthatwerebaskingupontheouterslopesoftheplantationshewoundherwayupthetree—shroudedcamptothewoodencabininthecentre。
　　Thedoorwasajar，butonenteringshefoundtheplaceempty。Thetowerdoorwasalsopartlyopen;andlisteningatthefootofthestairssheheardSwithinabove，shiftingthetelescopeandwheelingroundtherumblingdome，apparentlyinpreparationforthenextnocturnalreconnoitre。Therewasnodoubtthathewoulddescendinaminuteortwotolookforher，andnotwishingtointerrupthimtillhewasreadyshere—enteredthecabin，whereshepatientlyseatedherselfamongthebooksandpapersthatlayscatteredabout。
　　Shedidasshehadoftendonebeforewhenwaitingthereforhim;
　　thatis，sheoccupiedhermomentsinturningoverthepapersandexaminingtheprogressofhislabours。Thenotesweremostlyastronomical，ofcourse，andshehadmanagedtokeepsufficientlyabreastofhimtocatchthemeaningofagoodmanyofthese。Thelitteronthetable，however，wassomewhatmoremarkedthismorningthanusual，asifithadbeenhurriedlyoverhauled。Amongtherestofthesheetslayanopennote，and，intheentireconfidencethatexistedbetweenthem，sheglancedoverandreaditasamatterofcourse。
　　Itwasamostbusiness—likecommunication，andbeyondtheaddressanddatecontainedonlythefollowingwords:——
　　’DEARSIR，——Webegleavetodrawyourattentiontoaletterweaddressedtoyouonthe26thult。，towhichwehavenotyetbeenfavouredwithareply。Asthetimeforpaymentofthefirstmoietyofthesixhundredpoundsperannumsettledonyoubyyourlateuncleisnowathand，weshouldbeobligedbyyourgivingdirectionsastowhereandinwhatmannerthemoneyistobehandedovertoyou，andshallalsobegladtoreceiveanyotherdefiniteinstructionsfromyouwithregardtothefuture。——Weare，dearSir，yoursfaithfully，HANNERANDRAWLES。’
　　’SWITHINST。CLEEVE，Esq。’
　　AnincomeofsixhundredayearforSwithin，whomshehadhithertounderstoodtobepossessedofanannuityofeightypoundsattheoutside，withnoprospectofincreasingthesumbutbyhardwork！
　　Whatcouldthiscommunicationmean？Hewhosecustomanddelightitwastotellherallhisheart，hadbreathednotasyllableofthismattertoher，thoughitmettheverydifficultytowardswhichtheirdiscussionsinvariablytended——howtosecureforhimacompetencythatshouldenablehimtoestablishhispursuitsonawiderbasis，andthrowhimselfintomoredirectcommunionwiththescientificworld。Quitebewilderedbythelackofanyexplanationsherosefromherseat，andwiththenoteinherhandascendedthewindingtower—steps。
　　Reachingtheupperaperturesheperceivedhimunderthedome，movingmusinglyaboutasifhehadneverbeenabsentanhour，hislighthairfrillingoutfromundertheedgeofhisvelvetskull—capasitwasalwayswonttodo。Noquestionofmarriageseemedtobedisturbingthemindofthisjuvenilehusbandofhers。Theprimummobileofhisgravitationwasapparentlytheequatorialtelescopewhichshehadgivenhim，andwhichhewascarefullyadjustingbymeansofscrewsandclamps。Hearinghermovementsheturnedhishead。
　　’Ohereyouare，mydearViviette！Iwasjustbeginningtoexpectyou，’heexclaimed，comingforward。’Ioughttohavebeenlookingoutforyou，butIhavefoundalittledefecthereintheinstrument，andIwantedtosetitrightbeforeeveningcomeson。
　　Asaruleitisnotagoodthingtotinkeryourglasses;butIhavefoundthatthediffraction—ringsarenotperfectcircles。IlearntatGreenwichhowtocorrectthem——sokindtheyhavebeentomethere！——andsoIhavebeenlooseningthescrewsandgentlyshiftingtheglass，tillIthinkthatIhaveatlastmadetheilluminationequalallround。Ihavesomuchtotellyouaboutmyvisit;onethingis，thattheastronomicalworldisgettingquiteexcitedaboutthecomingTransitofVenus。Thereistobearegularexpeditionfittedout。HowIshouldliketojoinit！’
　　Hespokeenthusiastically，andwitheyessparklingatthementalimageofthesaidexpedition;andasitwasrathergloomyinthedomeherolleditroundonitsaxis，tilltheshutteredslitforthetelescopedirectlyfacedthemorningsun，whichthereuponfloodedtheconcaveinterior，touchingthebrightmetal—workoftheequatorial，andlightingupherpale，troubledface。
　　’ButSwithin！’shefaltered;’mylettertoyou——ourmarriage！’
　　’Oyes，thismarriagequestion，’headded。’Ihadnotforgottenit，dearViviette——oratleastonlyforafewminutes。’
　　’Canyouforgetit，Swithin，foramoment？Ohowcanyou！’shesaidreproachfully。’Itissuchadistressingthing。Itdrivesawayallmyrest！’
　　’ForgottenisnotthewordIshouldhaveused，’heapologized。
　　’Temporarilydismisseditfrommymind，isallImeant。Thesimplefactis，thatthevastnessofthefieldofastronomyreduceseveryterrestrialthingtoatomicdimensions。Donottrouble，dearest。
　　Theremedyisquiteeasy，asIstatedinmyletter。Wecannowbemarriedinaprosypublicway。Yes，earlyorlate——nextweek，nextmonth，sixmonthshence——justasyouchoose。Saythewordwhen，andIwillobey。’
　　Theabsenceofallanxietyorconsternationfromhisfacecontrastedstrangelywithhers，whichatlasthesaw，and，lookingatthewritingsheheld，inquired——
　　’Butwhatpaperhaveyouinyourhand？’
　　’Aletterwhichtomeisactuallyinexplicable，’saidshe，hercuriosityreturningtotheletter，andoverridingfortheinstantherimmediateconcerns。’Whatdoesthisincomeofsixhundredayearmean？Whyhaveyounevertoldmeaboutit，dearSwithin？ordoesitnotrefertoyou？’
　　Helookedatthenote，flushedslightly，andwasabsolutelyunabletobeginhisreplyatonce。
　　’Ididnotmeanyoutoseethat，Viviette，’hemurmured。