thenheblanchedwithahorrifiedsenseofwhatshehaddone，andathisownrelationtothedeed。Hefeltlikeanawakenedsomnambulistwhoshouldfindthathehadbeenaccessorytoatragedyduringhisunconsciousness。Shehadloosenedtheknotofherdifficultiesbycuttingitunscrupulouslythroughandthrough。
　　Thebigtidingsratherdazedthancrushedhim，hispredominantfeelingbeingsoonagainoneofkeenestsorrowandsympathy。Yetonethingwasobvious;hecoulddonothing——absolutelynothing。Theeventwhichhenowheardofforthefirsttimehadtakenplacefivelongmonthsago。Hereflected，andregretted——andmechanicallywentonwithhispreparationsforsettlingdowntoworkundertheshadowofTableMountain。Hewasasonewhosuddenlyfindstheworldastrangerplacethanhethought;butisexcludedbyage，temperament，andsituationfrombeingmuchmorethananastonishedspectatorofitsstrangeness。
　　TheRoyalObservatorywasaboutamileoutofthetown，andhitherherepairedassoonashehadestablishedhimselfinlodgings。Hehaddecided，onhisfirstvisittotheCape，thatitwouldbehighlyadvantageoustohimifhecouldsupplementtheoccasionaluseofthelargeinstrumentsherebytheuseathisownhouseofhisownequatorial，andhadaccordinglygivendirectionsthatitmightbesentoverfromEngland。Thepreciouspossessionnowarrived;andalthoughthesightofit——ofthebrassesonwhichherhandhadoftenrested，oftheeyepiecethroughwhichherdarkeyeshadbeamed——
　　engenderedsomedecidedlybitterregretsinhimforatime，hecouldnotlongaffordtogivetothepastthedaysthatweremeantforthefuture。
　　Unabletogetaroomconvenientforaprivateobservatoryheresolvedatlasttofixtheinstrumentonasolidpillarinthegarden;andseveraldayswerespentinaccommodatingittoitsnewposition。InthislatitudetherewasnonecessityforeconomizingclearnightsashehadbeenobligedtodoontheoldtoweratWelland。Thereithadhappenedmorethanonce，thatafterwaitingidlethroughdaysandnightsofcloudyweather，Viviettewouldfixhertimeformeetinghimatanhourwhenatlasthehadanopportunityofseeingthesky;sothatingivingtoherthegoldenmomentsofcloudlessnesshewaslosinghischancewiththeorbsabove。
　　Thosefeatureswhichusuallyattracttheeyeofthevisitortoanewlatitudearethenovelformsofhumanandvegetablelife，andothersuchsublunarythings。Buttheyoungmanglancedslightinglyatthese;thechangesoverheadhadallhisattention。Theoldsubjectwasimprintedthere，butinanewtype。Herewasaheaven，fixedandancientasthenorthern;yetithadneverappearedabovetheWellandhillssincetheywereheavedupfrombeneath。Herewasanunalterablecircumpolarregion;butthepolarpatternsstereotypedinhistoryandlegend——withoutwhichithadalmostseemedthatapolarskycouldnotexist——hadneverbeenseentherein。
　　St。Cleeve，aswasnatural，beganbycursorysurveys，whichwerenotlikelytobeofmuchutilitytotheworldortohimself。Hewastedseveralweeks——indeedabovetwomonths——inacomparativelyidlesurveyofsouthernnovelties;inthemereluxuryoflookingatstellarobjectswhosewonderswereknown，recounted，andclassified，longbeforehisownpersonalityhadbeenheardof。Withachild’ssimpledelightheallowedhisinstrumenttorove，eveningafterevening，fromthegorgeousglitterofCanopustothehazycloudsofMagellan。BeforehehadwellfinishedthisopticalpreludetherefloatedovertohimfromtheothersideoftheEquatorthepostscripttotheepistleofhislostViviette。Itcameinthevehicleofacommonnewspaper，undertheheadof’Births:’——
　　’April10th，18——，atthePalace，Melchester，thewifeoftheBishopofMelchester，ofason。’
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　　Threeyearspassedaway，andSwithinstillremainedattheCape，quietlypursuingtheworkthathadbroughthimthere。Hismemorandaofobservationshadaccumulatedtoawheelbarrowload，andhewasbeginningtoshapethemintoatreatisewhichshouldpossesssomescientificutility。
　　Hehadgaugedthesouthernskieswithgreaterresultsthanevenhehimselfhadanticipated。Thoseunfamiliarconstellationswhich，tothecasualbeholder，areatmostanewarrangementofordinarypointsoflight，weretothisprofessedastronomer，astohisbrethren，afargreatermatter。
　　Itwasbelowthesurfacethathismateriallay。There，inregionsrevealedonlytotheinstrumentalobserver，weresunsofhybridkind——fire—fogs，floatingnuclei，globesthatflewingroupslikeswarmsofbees，andotherextraordinarysights——which，whendecomposedbySwithin’sequatorial，turnedouttobethebeginningofanewseriesofphenomenainsteadoftheendofanoldone。
　　Thereweregloomydesertsinthosesouthernskiessuchasthenorthshowsscarcelyanexampleof;sitessetapartforthepositionofsunswhichforsomeunfathomablereasonwereleftuncreated，theirplacesremainingeversinceconspicuousbytheiremptiness。
　　TheinspectionofthesechasmsbroughthimasecondpulsationofthatoldhorrorwhichhehadusedtodescribetoVivietteasproducedinhimbybottomlessnessinthenorthheaven。Theghostlyfingeroflimitlessvacancytouchedhimnowontheotherside。
　　Infinitedeepsinthenorthstellarregionhadahomelyfamiliarityaboutthem，whencomparedwithinfinitedeepsintheregionofthesouthpole。Thiswasanevenmoreunknowntractoftheunknown。
　　Spacehere，beinglessthehistorichauntofhumanthoughtthanoverheadathome，seemedtobepervadedwithamorelonelyloneliness。
　　WeretheregivenonpapertotheseastronomicalexercitationsofSt。
　　CleeveaspaceproportionabletothatoccupiedbyhisyearwithVivietteatWelland，thisnarrativewouldtrebleitslength;butnotasingleadditionalglimpsewouldbeaffordedofSwithininhisrelationswitholdemotions。Intheseexperimentswithtubesandglasses，importantastheyweretohumanintellect，therewaslittlefoodforthesympatheticinstinctswhichcreatethechangesinalife。Thatwhichistheforegroundandmeasuringbaseofoneperspectivedraughtmaybethevanishing—pointofanotherperspectivedraught，whileyettheyarebothdraughtsofthesamething。Swithin’sdoingsanddiscoveriesinthesouthernsiderealsystemwere，nodoubt，incidentsofthehighestimportancetohim;
　　andyetfromanintersocialpointofviewtheyservedbutthehumblepurposeofkillingtime，whileotherdoings，morenearlyalliedtohisheartthantohisunderstanding，developedthemselvesathome。
　　Intheintervalsbetweenhisprofessionaloccupationshetookwalksoverthesand—flatsnear，oramongthefarmswhichweregraduallyoverspreadingthecountryinthevicinityofCapeTown。HegrewfamiliarwiththeoutlineofTableMountain，andthefleecy’Devil’sTable—Cloth’whichusedtosettleonitstopwhenthewindwassouth—east。OnthesepromenadeshewouldmoreparticularlythinkofViviette，andofthatcuriouspatheticchapterinhislifewithherwhichseemedtohavewounditselfupandendedforever。Thosesceneswererapidlyrecedingintodistance，andtheintensityofhissentimentregardingthemhadproportionatelyabated。Hefeltthattherehadbeensomethingwrongtherein，andyethecouldnotexactlydefinetheboundaryofthewrong。Viviette’ssadandamazingsequeltothatchapterhadstillafearful，catastrophicaspectinhiseyes;butinsteadofmusingoveritanditsbearingsheshunnedthesubject，asweshunbynighttheshadysceneofadisaster，andkeeptotheopenroad。
　　Hesometimescontemplatedherapartfromthepast——leadingherlifeintheCathedralCloseatMelchester;andwonderedhowoftenshelookedsouthandthoughtofwherehewas。
　　OnoneoftheseafternoonwalksintheneighbourhoodoftheRoyalObservatoryheturnedandgazedtowardsthesignal—postontheLion’sRump。Thiswasahighpromontorytothenorth—westofTableMountain，andoverlookedTableBay。Beforehiseyeshadleftthescenethesignalwassuddenlyhoistedonthestaff。Itannouncedthatamailsteamerhadappearedinviewoverthesea。Inthecourseofanhourheretracedhissteps，ashehadoftendoneonsuchoccasions，andstrolledleisurelyacrosstheinterveningmileandahalftillhearrivedatthepost—officedoor。
　　TherewasnoletterfromEnglandforhim;buttherewasanewspaper，addressedintheseventeenthcenturyhandwritingofhisgrandmother，who，inspiteofhergreatage，stillretainedasteadyholdonlife。Heturnedawaydisappointed，andresumedhiswalkintothecountry，openingthepaperashewentalong。
　　Acrossinblackinkattractedhisattention;anditwasoppositeanameamongthe’Deaths。’Hisbloodranicilyashediscernedthewords’ThePalace，Melchester。’Butitwasnotshe。Herhusband，theBishopofMelchester，had，afterashortillness，departedthislifeatthecomparativelyearlyageoffiftyyears。
　　AlltheenactmentsofthebygonedaysatWellandnowstarteduplikeanawakenedarmyfromtheground。Butafewmonthswerewantingtothetimewhenhewouldbeofanagetomarrywithoutsacrificingtheannuitywhichformedhismeansofsubsistence。ItwasapointinhislifethathadhadnomeaningorinterestforhimsincehisseparationfromViviette，forwomenwerenownomoretohimthantheinhabitantsofJupiter。ButthewhirligigoftimehavingagainsetViviettefree，theaspectofhomealtered，andconjectureastoherfuturefoundroomtoworkanew。
　　Butbeyondthesimplefactthatshewasawidowheforsometimegainednotanatomofintelligenceconcerningher。Therewasnooneofwhomhecouldinquirebuthisgrandmother，andshecouldtellhimnothingaboutaladywhodweltfarawayatMelchester。
　　Severalmonthsslippedbythus;andnofeelingwithinhimrosetosufficientstrengthtoforcehimoutofapassiveattitude。ThenbythemerestchancehisgrannystatedinoneofherramblingepistlesthatLadyConstantinewascomingtoliveagainatWellandintheoldhouse，withherchild，nowalittleboybetweenthreeandfouryearsofage。
　　Swithin，however，livedonasbefore。
　　Butbythefollowingautumnachangebecamenecessaryfortheyoungmanhimself。HisworkattheCapewasdone。Hisuncle’swishesthatheshouldstudytherehadbeenmorethanobserved。Thematerialsforhisgreattreatisewerecollected，anditnowonlyremainedforhimtoarrange，digest，andpublishthem，forwhichpurposeareturntoEnglandwasindispensable。
　　Sotheequatorialwasunscrewed，andthestandtakendown;theastronomer’sbarrow—loadofpreciousmemoranda，androllsuponrollsofdiagrams，representingthreeyearsofcontinuouslabour，weresafelypacked;andSwithindepartedforgoodandallfromtheshoresofCapeTown。
　　Hehadlongbeforeinformedhisgrandmotherofthedateatwhichshemightexpecthim;andinareplyfromher，whichreachedhimjustprevioustosailing，shecasuallymentionedthatshefrequentlysawLadyConstantine;thatonthelastoccasionherladyshiphadshowngreatinterestintheinformationthatSwithinwascominghome，andhadinquiredthetimeofhisreturn。
　　OnalatesummerdaySwithinsteppedfromthetrainatWarborne，and，directinghisbaggagetobesentonafterhim，setoutonfootforoldWellandonceagain。
　　Itseemedbutthedayafterhisdeparture，solittlehadthescenechanged。True，therewasthatchangewhichisalwaysthefirsttoarrestattentioninplacesthatareconventionallycalledunchanging——ahigherandbroadervegetationateveryfamiliarcornerthanattheformertime。
　　Hehadnotgoneamilewhenhesawwalkingbeforehimaclergymanwhoseform，afterconsideration，herecognized，inspiteofanovelwhitenessinthatpartofhishairthatshowedbelowthebrimofhishat。Swithinwalkedmuchfasterthanthisgentleman，andsoonwasathisside。
　　’Mr。Torkingham！Iknewitwas，’saidSwithin。
　　Mr。Torkinghamwasslowerinrecognizingtheastronomer，butinamomenthadgreetedhimwithawarmshakeofthehand。
　　’Ihavebeentothestationonpurposetomeetyou！’criedMr。
　　Torkingham，’andwasreturningwiththeideathatyouhadnotcome。
　　Iamyourgrandmother’semissary。Shecouldnotcomeherself，andasshewasanxious，andnobodyelsecouldbespared，Icameforher。’
　　Thentheywalkedontogether。TheparsontoldSwithinallabouthisgrandmother，theparish，andhisendeavourstoenlightenit;andinduecoursesaid，’YouarenodoubtawarethatLadyConstantineislivingagainatWelland？’
　　Swithinsaidhehadheardasmuch，andadded，whatwasfarwithinthetruth，thatthenewsoftheBishop’sdeathhadbeenagreatsurprisetohim。
　　’Yes，’saidMr。Torkingham，withninethoughtstooneword。’Onemighthaveprophesied，tolookathim，thatMelchesterwouldnotlackabishopforthenextfortyyears。Yes;paledeathknocksatthecottagesofthepoorandthepalacesofkingswithanimpartialfoot！’
　　’Washeaparticularlygoodman？’askedSwithin。
　　’HewasnotaKenoraHeber。Tospeakcandidly，hehadhisfaults，ofwhicharrogancewasnottheleast。Butwhoisperfect？’
　　Swithin，somehow，feltrelievedtohearthattheBishopwasnotaperfectman。
　　’Hispoorwife，Ifear，hadnotagreatdealmorehappinesswithhimthanwithherfirsthusband。Butonemightalmosthaveforeseenit;
　　themarriagewashasty——theresultofared—hotcaprice，hardlybecominginamanofhisposition;anditbetokenedawantoftemperatediscretionwhichsoonshoweditselfinotherways。That’salltherewastobesaidagainsthim，andnowit’sallover，andthingshavesettledagainintotheiroldcourse。ButtheBishop’swidowisnottheLadyConstantineofformerdays。No;putitasyouwill，sheisnotthesame。Thereseemstobeanamelesssomethingonhermind——atrouble——arootedmelancholy，whichnoman’sministrycanreach。Formerlyshewasawomanwhoseconfidenceitwaseasytogain;butneitherreligionnorphilosophyavailswithhernow。
　　Beyondthat，herlifeisstrangelylikewhatitwaswhenyouwerewithus。’
　　Conversingthustheypursuedtheturnpikeroadtilltheirconversationwasinterruptedbyacryingvoiceontheirleft。Theylooked，andperceivedthatachild，ingettingoveranadjoiningstile，hadfallenonhisface。
　　Mr。TorkinghamandSwithinbothhasteneduptohelpthesufferer，whowasalovelylittlefellowwithflaxenhair，whichspreadoutinafrillofcurlsfrombeneathaquaint，close—fittingvelvetcapthathewore。Swithinpickedhimup，whileMr。Torkinghamwipedthesandfromhislipsandnose，andadministeredafewwordsofconsolation，togetherwithafewsweet—meats，which，somewhattoSwithin’ssurprise，theparsonproducedasifbymagicfromhispocket。Onehalfthecomfortrenderedwouldhavesufficedtosoothesuchadispositionasthechild’s。Heceasedcryingandranawayindelighttohisunconsciousnurse，whowasreachingupforblackberriesatahedgesomewayoff。
　　’Youknowwhoheis，ofcourse？’saidMr。Torkingham，astheyresumedtheirjourney。
　　’No，’saidSwithin。
　　’Oh，Ithoughtyoudid。Yethowshouldyou？ItisLadyConstantine’sboy——heronlychild。Hisfondmotherlittlethinksheissofarawayfromhome。’
　　’Dearme！——LadyConstantine’s——ah，howinteresting！’Swithinpausedabstractedlyforamoment，thensteppedbackagaintothestile，whilehestoodwatchingthelittleboyoutofsight。
　　’Icanneverventureoutofdoorsnowwithoutsweetsinmypocket，’
　　continuedthegood—naturedvicar:’andtheresultisthatImeetthatyoungmanmorefrequentlyonmyroundsthananyotherofmyparishioners。’
　　St。Cleevewassilent，andtheyturnedintoWellandLane，wheretheirpathspresentlydiverged，andSwithinwaslefttopursuehiswayalone。Hemighthaveaccompaniedthevicaryetfurther，andgonestraighttoWellandHouse;butitwouldhavebeendifficulttodosothenwithoutprovokinginquiry。Itwaseasytogotherenow:
　　byacrosspathhecouldbeatthemansionalmostassoonasbythedirectroad。AndyetSwithindidnotturn;hefeltanindescribablereluctancetoseeViviette。Hecouldnotexactlysaywhy。True，beforeheknewhowthelandlayitmightbeawkwardtoattempttocall:andthiswasasufficientexcuseforpostponement。
　　Inthismoodhewenton，followingthedirectwaytohisgrandmother’shomestead。Hereachedthegarden—gate，and，lookingintotheboskybasinwheretheoldhousestood，sawagracefulfemaleformmovingbeforetheporch，biddingadieutosomeonewithinthedoor。
　　Hewonderedwhatcreatureofthatmouldhisgrandmothercouldknow，andwentforwardwithsomehesitation。Athisapproachtheapparitionturned，andhebeheld，developedintoblushingwomanhood，onewhohadoncebeenknowntohimasthevillagemaidenTabithaLark。SeeingSwithin，andapparentlyfromaninstinctthatherpresencewouldnotbedesirablejustthen，shemovedquicklyroundintothegarden。
　　Thereturnedtravellerenteredthehouse，wherehefoundawaitinghimpooroldMrs。Martin，towhoseearthlycoursedeathstoodratherastheasymptotethanastheend。Shewasperceptiblysmallerinformthanwhenhehadlefther，andshecouldseelessdistinctly。
　　Aratheraffectinggreetingfollowed，inwhichhisgrandmothermurmuredthewordsofIsrael:’"Nowletmedie，sinceIhaveseenthyface，becausethouartyetalive。"’
　　TheformofHannahhaddisappearedfromthekitchen，thatancientservanthavingbeengatheredtoherfathersaboutsixmonthsbefore，herplacebeingfilledbyayounggirlwhoknewnotJoseph。Theypresentlychattedwithmuchcheerfulness，andhisgrandmothersaid，’HaveyouheardwhatawonderfulyoungwomanMissLarkhasbecome？——
　　amerefleet—footed，slitteringmaidwhenyouwerelasthome。’
　　St。Cleevehadnotheard，buthehadpartlyseen，andhewasinformedthatTabithahadleftWellandshortlyafterhisowndeparture，andhadstudiedmusicwithgreatsuccessinLondon，whereshehadresidedeversincetillquiterecently;thatsheplayedatconcerts，oratorios——had，inshort，joinedthephalanxofWonderfulWomenwhohadresolvedtoeclipsemasculinegeniusaltogether，andhumiliatethebrutalsextothedust。
　　’Sheisonlyinthegarden，’addedhisgrandmother。’Whydon’tyegooutandspeaktoher？’
　　Swithinwasnothingloth，andstrolledoutundertheapple—trees，wherehearrivedjustintimetopreventMissLarkfromgoingoffbythebackgate。Therewasnotmuchdifficultyinbreakingtheicebetweenthem，andtheybegantochatwithvivacity。
　　Nowalltheseproceedingsoccupiedtime，forsomehowitwasverycharmingtotalktoMissLark;andbydegreesSt。CleeveinformedTabithaofhisgreatundertaking，andofthevoluminousnoteshehadamassed，whichwouldrequiresomuchrearrangementandrecopyingbyanamanuensisastoabsolutelyappalhim。Hegreatlyfearedheshouldnotgetonecarefulenoughforsuchscientificmatter;
　　whereuponTabithasaidshewouldbedelightedtodoitforhim。
　　Thenblushing，anddeclaringsuddenlythatithadgrownquitelate，shelefthimandthegardenforherrelation’shousehardby。
　　Swithin，nolessthanTabitha，hadbeensurprisedbythedisappearanceofthesunbehindthehill;andthequestionnowarosewhetheritwouldbeadvisabletocalluponViviettethatnight。
　　Therewaslittledoubtthatsheknewofhiscoming;butmorethanthathecouldnotpredicate;andbeingentirelyignorantofwhomshehadaroundher，entirelyinthedarkastoherpresentfeelingstowardshim，hethoughtitwouldbebettertodeferhisvisituntilthenextday。
　　Walkingroundtothefrontofthehousehebeheldthewell—knownagriculturistsHezzyBiles，HaymossFry，andsomeothersofthesameoldschool，passingthegatehomewardfromtheirworkwithbundlesofwoodattheirbacks。Swithinsalutedthemoverthetoprail。
　　’Well！domyeyesandears——’beganHezzy;andthen，balancinghisfaggotonendagainstthehedge，hecameforward，theothersfollowing。
　　’SaysItomyselfassoonasIheerdhisvoice，’Hezzycontinued（addressingSwithinasifhewereadisinterestedspectatorandnothimself），’pleaseGodI’llpitchmynitch，andgoacrossandspeaktoen。’
　　’Iknowedinawinking’twassomegreatnavigatorthatIseeastandingthere，’saidHaymoss。’Butwhe’r’twereasortofnabob，oradiment—digger，oralion—hunter，Icouldn’tsomuchasguesstillIheerdenspeak。’
　　’AndwhatchangeshavecomeoverWellandsinceIwaslastathome？’
　　askedSwithin。
　　’Well，Mr。SanCleeve，’Hezzyreplied，’whenyou’vesaidthatafewstriplingboysandmaidenshavebustedintoblooth，andafewmarriedwomenhaveplimmedandchimped（myladyamong’em），why，you’vesaidanighstall，Mr。SanCleeve。’
　　Theconversationthusbeganwascontinuedondiversmatterstilltheywereallenvelopedintotaldarkness，whenhisoldacquaintancesshoulderedtheirfaggotsagainandproceededontheirway。
　　NowthathewasactuallywithinhercoastsagainSwithinfeltalittlemorestronglytheinfluenceofthepastandViviettethanhehadbeenaccustomedtodoforthelasttwoorthreeyears。DuringthenighthefelthalfsorrythathehadnotmarchedofftotheGreatHousetoseeher，regardlessofthetimeofday。Ifshereallynourishedforhimanyparticleofheroldaffectionithadbeenthecruellestthingnottocall。AfewquestionsthatheputconcerninghertohisgrandmotherelicitedthatLadyConstantinehadnofriendsabouther——notevenherbrother——andthatherhealthhadnotbeensogoodsinceherreturnfromMelchesterasformerly。
　　Still，thisprovednothingastothestateofherheart，andasshehadkeptadeadsilencesincetheBishop’sdeathitwasquitepossiblethatshewouldmeethimwiththatcoldrepressivetoneandmannerwhichexperiencedwomenknowsowellhowtoputonwhentheywishtointimatetothelong—lostloverthatoldepisodesaretobetakenasforgotten。
　　Thenextmorninghepreparedtocall，ifonlyonthegroundofoldacquaintance，forSwithinwastoostraightforwardtoascertainanythingindirectly。Itwasrathertooearlyforthispurposewhenhewentoutfromhisgrandmother’sgarden—gate，afterbreakfast，andhewaitedinthegarden。WhilehelingeredhiseyefellonRings—
　　HillSpeer。
　　Itappeareddark，foramoment，againsttheblueskybehindit;thenthefleetingcloudwhichshadoweditpassedon，andthefaceofthecolumnbrightenedintosuchluminousnessthattheskybehindsanktothecomplexionofadarkfoil。
　　’Surelysomebodyisonthecolumn，’hesaidtohimself，aftergazingatitawhile。
　　InsteadofgoingstraighttotheGreatHousehedeviatedthroughtheinsulatingfield，nowsownwithturnips，whichsurroundedtheplantationonRings—Hill。Bythetimethatheplungedunderthetreeshewasstillmorecertainthatsomebodywasonthetower。Hecreptuptothebasewithproprietarycuriosity，forthespotseemedagainlikehisown。
　　Thepathstillremainedmuchasformerly，butthenookinwhichthecabinhadstoodwascoveredwithundergrowth。Swithinenteredthedoorofthetower，ascendedthestaircaseabouthalf—wayontip—toe，andlistened，forhedidnotwishtointrudeonthetopifanystrangerwerethere。Thehollowspiral，asheknewfromoldexperience，wouldbringdowntohisearstheslightestsoundfromabove;anditnowrevealedtohimthewordsofaduologueinprogressatthesummitofthetower。
　　’Mother，whatshallIdo？’achild’svoicesaid。’ShallIsing？’
　　Themotherseemedtoassent，forthechildbegan——
　　’TherobinhasfledfromthewoodTothesnughabitationofman。’
　　Thisperformanceapparentlyattractedbutlittleattentionfromthechild’scompanion，fortheyoungvoicesuggested，asanewformofentertainment，’ShallIsaymyprayers？’
　　’Yes，’repliedonewhomSwithinhadbeguntorecognize。
　　’WhoshallIprayfor？’
　　Noanswer。
　　’WhoshallIprayfor？’
　　’Prayforfather。’
　　’Butheisgonetoheaven？’
　　AsighfromViviettewasdistinctlyaudible。
　　’Youmadeamistake，didn’tyou，mother？’continuedthelittleone。
　　’Imusthave。Thestrangestmistakeawomanevermade！’
　　Nothingmorewassaid，andSwithinascended，wordsfromaboveindicatingtohimthathisfootstepswereheard。Inanotherhalf—
　　minuteherosethroughthehatchway。Aladyinblackwassittinginthesun，andtheboywiththeflaxenhairwhomhehadseenyesterdaywasatherfeet。
　　’Viviette！’hesaid。
　　’Swithin！——atlast！’shecried。
　　Thewordsdieduponherlips，andfromveryfaintnessshebentherhead。Forinsteadofrushingforwardtoherhehadstoodstill;andthereappeareduponhisfacealookwhichtherewasnomistaking。
　　Yes;hewasshockedatherwornandfadedaspect。TheimagehehadmentallycarriedoutwithhimtotheCapehehadbroughthomeagainasthatofthewomanhewasnowtorejoin。Butanotherwomansatbeforehim，andnottheoriginalViviette。Hercheekshadlostforeverthatfirmcontourwhichhadbeendrawnbythevigoroushandofyouth，andthemassesofhairthatwereoncedarknessvisiblehadbecometouchedhereandtherebyafaintgreyhaze，liketheViaLacteainamidnightsky。
　　Yettothosewhohadeyestounderstandaswellastosee，thechastenedpensivenessofheroncehandsomefeaturesrevealedmorepromisingmaterialbeneaththaneverheryouthhaddone。ButSwithinwashopelesslyherjunior。Unhappilyforherhehadnowjustarrivedatanagewhosecanonoffaithitisthatthesillyperiodofwoman’slifeisheronlyperiodofbeauty。Viviettesawitall，andknewthatTimehadatlastbroughtabouthisrevenges。
　　Shehadtremblinglywatchedandwaitedwithoutsleep，eversinceSwithinhadre—enteredWelland，anditwasforthis。
　　Swithincameforward，andtookherbythehand，whichshepassivelyallowedhimtodo。
　　’Swithin，youdon’tloveme，’shesaidsimply。
　　’OViviette！’
　　’Youdon’tloveme，’sherepeated。
　　’Don’tsayit！’
　　’Yes，butIwill！youhavearightnottoloveme。Youdidonce。
　　ButnowIamanoldwoman，andyouarestillayoungman;sohowcanyouloveme？Idonotexpectit。Itiskindandcharitableofyoutocomeandseemehere。’
　　’IhavecomeallthewayfromtheCape，’hefaltered，forherinsistencetookallpoweroutofhimtodenyinmerepolitenesswhatshesaid。
　　’Yes;youhavecomefromtheCape;butnotforme，’sheanswered。
　　’Itwouldbeabsurdifyouhadcomeforme。Youhavecomebecauseyourworkthereisfinished……Iliketositherewithmylittleboy——itisapleasantspot。Itwasoncesomethingtous，wasitnot？butthatwaslongago。Youscarcelyknewmeforthesamewoman，didyou？’
　　’Knewyou——yes，ofcourseIknewyou！’
　　’Youlookedasifyoudidnot。Butyoumustnotbesurprisedatme。
　　Ibelongtoanearliergenerationthanyou，remember。’
　　Thus，insheerbitternessofspiritdidsheinflictwoundsonherselfbyexaggeratingthedifferenceintheiryears。Butshehadneverthelessspokentruly。Sympathizewithherashemight，andasheunquestionablydid，helovedhernolonger。Butwhyhadsheexpectedotherwise？’Owoman，’mightaprophethavesaidtoher，’greatisthyfaithifthoubelievestajuniorlover’slovewilllastfiveyears！’
　　’Ishallbegladtoknowthroughyourgrandmotherhowyouaregettingon，’shesaidmeekly。’ButnowIwouldmuchratherthatwepart。Yes;donotquestionme。Iwouldratherthatwepart。Good—
　　bye。’
　　Hardlyknowingwhathedidhetouchedherhand，andobeyed。Hewasascientist，andtookwordsliterally。Thereissomethingintheinexorablysimplelogicofsuchmenwhichpartakesofthecrueltyofthenaturallawsthataretheirstudy。Heenteredthetower—steps，andmechanicallydescended;anditwasnottillhegothalf—waydownthathethoughtshecouldnotmeanwhatshehadsaid。
　　BeforeleavingCapeTownhehadmadeuphismindonthisonepoint;
　　thatifshewerewillingtomarryhim，marryherhewouldwithoutletorhindrance。Thatmuchhemorallyowedher，andwasnotthemantodemur。AndthoughtheSwithinwhohadreturnedwasnotquitetheSwithinwhohadgoneaway，thoughhecouldnotnowloveherwiththesortoflovehehadoncebestowed;hebelievedthatallherconducthadbeendictatedbythepurestbenevolencetohim，bythatcharitywhich’seekethnotherown。’Hencehedidnotflinchfromawishtodealwithloving—kindnesstowardsher——asentimentperhapsinthelong—runmoretobeprizedthanlover’slove。
　　Hermannerhadcaughthimunawares;butnowrecoveringhimselfheturnedbackdeterminedly。Burstingoutupontheroofheclaspedherinhisarms，andkissedherseveraltimes。
　　’Viviette，Viviette，’hesaid，’Ihavecometomarryyou！’
　　Sheutteredashriek——ashriekofamazedjoy——suchasneverwasheardonthattowerbeforeorsince——andfellinhisarms，claspinghisneck。
　　Thereshelayheavily。Nottodisturbherhesatdowninherseat，stillholdingherfast。Theirlittleson，whohadstoodwithroundconjecturaleyesthroughoutthemeeting，nowcameclose;andpresentlylookinguptoSwithinsaid——
　　’Motherhasgonetosleep。’
　　Swithinlookeddown，andstarted。Hertightclasphadloosened。A
　　waveofwhiteness，likethatofmarblewhichhadneverseenthesun，creptupfromherneck，andtravelledupwardsandonwardsoverhercheek，lips，eyelids，forehead，temples，itsmarginbanishingbackthelivepinktillthelatterhadentirelydisappeared。
　　Seeingthatsomethingwaswrong，yetnotunderstandingwhat，thelittleboybegantocry;butinhisconcentrationSwithinhardlyheardit。’Viviette——Viviette！’hesaid。
　　Thechildcriedwithstilldeepergrief，and，afteramomentaryhesitation，pushedhishandintoSwithin’sforprotection。
　　’Hush，hush！mychild，’saidSwithindistractedly。’I’lltakecareofyou！OViviette！’heexclaimedagain，pressingherfacetohis。
　　Butshedidnotreply。
　　’Whatcanthisbe？’heaskedhimself。Hewouldnotthenansweraccordingtohisfear。
　　Helookedupforhelp。NobodyappearedinsightbutTabithaLark，whowasskirtingthefieldwithaboundingtread——thesinglebrightspotofcolourandanimationwithinthewidehorizon。Whenhelookeddownagainhisfeardeepenedtocertainty。Itwasnolongerameresurmisethathelpwasvain。Suddenjoyafterdespairhadtouchedanover—strainedhearttoosmartly。Viviettewasdead。TheBishopwasavenged。