’Perhapsitdoes。However，’headdedmorecheerfully，’thoughI
　　feelthestudytobeonealmosttragicinitsquality，IhopetobethenewCopernicus。WhathewastothesolarsystemIaimtobetothesystemsbeyond。’
　　Then，bymeansoftheinstrumentathand，theytravelledtogetherfromtheearthtoUranusandthemysteriousoutskirtsofthesolarsystem;fromthesolarsystemtoastarintheSwan，thenearestfixedstarinthenorthernsky;fromthestarintheSwantoremoterstars;thencetotheremotestvisible;tilltheghastlychasmwhichtheyhadbridgedbyafragilelineofsightwasrealizedbyLadyConstantine。
　　’Wearenowtraversingdistancesbesidewhichtheimmenselinestretchingfromtheearthtothesunisbutaninvisiblepoint，’
　　saidtheyouth。’When，justnow，wehadreachedaplanetwhoseremotenessisahundredtimestheremotenessofthesunfromtheearth，wewereonlyatwothousandthpartofthejourneytothespotatwhichwehaveopticallyarrivednow。’
　　’Oh，praydon’t;itoverpowersme！’shereplied，notwithoutseriousness。’Itmakesmefeelthatitisnotworthwhiletolive;
　　itquiteannihilatesme。’
　　’Ifitannihilatesyourladyshiptoroamovertheseyawningspacesjustonce，thinkhowitmustannihilatemetobe，asitwere，inconstantsuspensionamidthemnightafternight。’
　　’Yes……ItwasnotreallythissubjectthatIcametoseeyouupon，Mr。St。Cleeve，’shebeganasecondtime。’Itwasapersonalmatter。’
　　’Iamlistening，LadyConstantine。’
　　’Iwilltellityou。Yetno，——notthismoment。Letusfinishthisgrandsubjectfirst;itdwarfsmine。’
　　Itwouldhavebeendifficulttojudgefromheraccentswhethershewereafraidtobroachherownmatter，orreallyinterestedinhis。
　　Oracertainyouthfulpridethatheevidencedatbeingtheelucidatorofsuchalargetheme，andathavingdrawnhertheretohearandobserveit，mayhaveinclinedhertoindulgehimforkindness’sake。
　　Thereuponhetookexceptiontoheruseoftheword’grand’asdescriptiveoftheactualuniverse:
　　’Theimaginarypictureoftheskyastheconcavityofadomewhosebaseextendsfromhorizontohorizonofourearthisgrand，simplygrand，andIwishIhadnevergotbeyondlookingatitinthatway。
　　Buttheactualskyisahorror。’
　　’Anewviewofouroldfriends，thestars，’shesaid，smilingupatthem。
　　’Butsuchanobviouslytrueone！’saidtheyoungman。’Youwouldhardlythink，atfirst，thathorridmonsterslieuptherewaitingtobediscoveredbyanymoderatelypenetratingmind——monsterstowhichthoseoftheoceansbearnosortofcomparison。’
　　’Whatmonstersmaytheybe？’
　　’Impersonalmonsters，namely，Immensities。Untilapersonhasthoughtoutthestarsandtheirinter—spaces，hehashardlylearntthattherearethingsmuchmoreterriblethanmonstersofshape，namely，monstersofmagnitudewithoutknownshape。Suchmonstersarethevoidsandwasteplacesofthesky。Look，forinstance，atthosepiecesofdarknessintheMilkyWay，’hewenton，pointingwithhisfingertowherethegalaxystretchedacrossovertheirheadswiththeluminousnessofafrostedweb。’YouseethatdarkopeninginitneartheSwan？Thereisastillmoreremarkableonesouthoftheequator，calledtheCoalSack，asasortofnicknamethathasafarcicalforcefromitsveryinadequacy。Intheseoursightplungesquitebeyondanytwinklerwehaveyetvisited。Thosearedeepwellsforthehumanmindtoletitselfdowninto，leavealonethehumanbody！andthinkofthesidecavernsandsecondaryabyssestorightandleftasyoupasson！’
　　LadyConstantinewasheedfulandsilent。
　　Hetriedtogiveheryetanotherideaofthesizeoftheuniverse;
　　neverwasthereamoreardentendeavourtobringdowntheimmeasurabletohumancomprehension！Byfiguresofspeechandaptcomparisonshetookhermindintoleading—strings，compellinghertofollowhimintowildernessesofwhichshehadneverinherlifeevenrealizedtheexistence。
　　’Thereisasizeatwhichdignitybegins，’heexclaimed;’furtheronthereisasizeatwhichgrandeurbegins;furtheronthereisasizeatwhichsolemnitybegins;furtheron，asizeatwhichawfulnessbegins;furtheron，asizeatwhichghastlinessbegins。Thatsizefaintlyapproachesthesizeofthestellaruniverse。SoamInotrightinsayingthatthosemindswhoexerttheirimaginativepowerstoburythemselvesinthedepthsofthatuniversemerelystraintheirfacultiestogainanewhorror？’
　　Standing，asshestood，inthepresenceofthestellaruniverse，undertheveryeyesoftheconstellations，LadyConstantineapprehendedsomethingoftheearnestyouth’sargument。
　　’Andtoaddanewweirdnesstowhattheskypossessesinitssizeandformlessness，thereisinvolvedthequalityofdecay。Forallthewonderoftheseeverlastingstars，eternalspheres，andwhatnot，theyarenoteverlasting，theyarenoteternal;theyburnoutlikecandles。YouseethatdyingoneinthebodyoftheGreaterBear？Twocenturiesagoitwasasbrightastheothers。Thesensesmaybecometerrifiedbyplungingamongthemastheyare，butthereisapitifulnessevenintheirglory。Imaginethemallextinguished，andyourmindfeelingitswaythroughaheavenoftotaldarkness，occasionallystrikingagainsttheblack，invisiblecindersofthosestars……Ifyouarecheerful，andwishtoremainso，leavethestudyofastronomyalone。Ofallthesciences，italonedeservesthecharacteroftheterrible。’
　　’Iamnotaltogethercheerful。’
　　’Thenif，ontheotherhand，youarerestlessandanxiousaboutthefuture，studyastronomyatonce。Yourtroubleswillbereducedamazingly。Butyourstudywillreducetheminasingularway，byreducingtheimportanceofeverything。Sothatthescienceisstillterrible，evenasapanacea。Itisquiteimpossibletothinkatalladequatelyofthesky——ofwhattheskysubstantiallyis，withoutfeelingitasajuxtaposednightmare。Itisbetter——farbetter——formentoforgettheuniversethantobearitclearlyinmind！……
　　Butyousaytheuniversewasnotreallywhatyoucametoseemeabout。Whatwasit，mayIask，LadyConstantine？’
　　Shemused，andsighed，andturnedtohimwithsomethingpatheticinher。
　　’Theimmensityofthesubjectyouhaveengagedmeonhascompletelycrushedmysubjectoutofme！Yoursiscelestial;minelamentablyhuman！Andthelessmustgivewaytothegreater。’
　　’Butisit，inahumansense，andapartfrommacrocosmicmagnitudes，important？’heinquired，atlastattractedbyhermanner;forhebegantoperceive，inspiteofhisprepossession，thatshehadreallysomethingonhermind。
　　’Itisasimportantaspersonaltroublesusuallyare。’
　　NotwithstandingherpreconceivednotionofcomingtoSwithinasemployertodependant，aschatelainetopage，shewasfallingintoconfidentialintercoursewithhim。Hisvastandromanticendeavourslenthimapersonalforceandcharmwhichshecouldnotbutapprehend。Inthepresenceoftheimmensitiesthathisyoungmindhad，asitwere，broughtdownfromabovetohers，theybecameunconsciouslyequal。Therewas，moreover，aninbornlikinginLadyConstantinetodwelllessonherpermanentpositionasacountyladythanonherpassingemotionsasawoman。
　　’IwillpostponethematterIcametochargeyouwith，’sheresumed，smiling。’Imustreconsiderit。NowIwillreturn。’
　　’Allowmetoshowyououtthroughthetreesandacrossthefields？’
　　Shesaidneitheradistinctyesnorno;and，descendingthetower，theythreadedthefirsandcrossedtheploughedfield。Byanoddcoincidenceheremarked，whentheydrewneartheGreatHouse——
　　’Youmaypossiblybeinterestedinknowing，LadyConstantine，thatthatmedium—sizedstaryouseeoverthere，lowdowninthesouth，ispreciselyoverSirBlountConstantine’sheadinthemiddleofAfrica。’
　　’Howverystrangethatyoushouldhavesaidso！’sheanswered。’YouhavebroachedformetheverysubjectIhadcometospeakof。’
　　’Onadomesticmatter？’hesaid，withsurprise。
　　’Yes。Whatasmallmatteritseemsnow，afterourastronomicalstupendousness！andyetonmywaytoyouitsofartranscendedtheordinarymattersofmylifeasthesubjectyouhaveledmeuptotranscendsthis。But，’withalittlelaugh，’Iwillendeavourtosinkdowntosuchephemeraltrivialitiesashumantragedy，andexplain，sinceIhavecome。Thepointis，Iwantahelper:nowomaneverwantedonemore。FordaysIhavewantedatrustyfriendwhocouldgoonasecreterrandforme。Itisnecessarythatmymessengershouldbeeducated，shouldbeintelligent，shouldbesilentasthegrave。Doyougivemeyoursolemnpromiseastothelastpoint，ifIconfideinyou？’
　　’Mostemphatically，LadyConstantine。’
　　’Yourrighthanduponthecompact。’
　　Hegavehishand，andraisedherstohislips。Inadditiontohisrespectforherastheladyofthemanor，therewastheadmirationoftwentyyearsfortwenty—eightornineinsuchrelations。
　　’Itrustyou，’shesaid。’Now，beyondtheaboveconditions，itwasspeciallynecessarythatmyagentshouldhaveknownSirBlountConstantinewellbysightwhenhewasathome。Fortheerrandisconcerningmyhusband;IammuchdisturbedatwhatIhaveheardabouthim。’
　　’Iamindeedsorrytoknowit。’
　　’Thereareonlytwopeopleintheparishwhofulfilalltheconditions，——Mr。Torkingham，andyourself。IsentforMr。
　　Torkingham，andhecame。Icouldnottellhim。Ifeltatthelastmomentthathewouldn’tdo。IhavecometoyoubecauseIthinkyouwilldo。Thisisit:myhusbandhasledmeandalltheworldtobelievethatheisinAfrica，huntinglions。IhavehadamysteriousletterinformingmethathehasbeenseeninLondon，inverypeculiarcircumstances。ThetruthofthisIwantascertained。
　　Willyougoonthejourney？’
　　’Personally，Iwouldgototheendoftheworldforyou，LadyConstantine;but——’
　　’Nobuts！’
　　’HowcanIleave？’
　　’Whynot？’
　　’Iampreparingaworkonvariablestars。ThereisoneofthesewhichIhaveexceptionallyobservedforseveralmonths，andonthismygreattheoryismainlybased。Ithasbeenhithertocalledirregular;butIhavedetectedaperiodicityinitsso—calledirregularitieswhich，ifproved，wouldaddsomeveryvaluablefactstothoseknownonthissubject，oneofthemostinteresting，perplexing，andsuggestiveinthewholefieldofastronomy。Now，toclinchmytheory，thereshouldbeasuddenvariationthisweek，——oratlatestnextweek，——andIhavetowatcheverynightnottoletitpass。Youseemyreasonfordeclining，LadyConstantine。’
　　’Youngmenarealwayssoselfish！’shesaid。
　　’Itmightruinthewholeofmyyear’slabourifIleavenow！’
　　returnedtheyouth，greatlyhurt。’Couldyounotwaitafortnightlonger？’
　　’No，——no。Don’tthinkthatIhaveaskedyou，pray。Ihavenowishtoinconvenienceyou。’
　　’LadyConstantine，don’tbeangrywithme！Willyoudothis，——watchthestarformewhileIamgone？Ifyouarepreparedtodoiteffectually，Iwillgo。’
　　’Willitbemuchtrouble？’
　　’Itwillbesometrouble。Youwouldhavetocomehereeverycleareveningaboutnine。Iftheskywerenotclear，thenyouwouldhavetocomeatfourinthemorning，shouldthecloudshavedispersed。’
　　’Couldnotthetelescopebebroughttomyhouse？’
　　Swithinshookhishead。
　　’Perhapsyoudidnotobserveitsrealsize，——thatitwasfixedtoaframe—work？Icouldnotaffordtobuyanequatorial，andIhavebeenobligedtorigupanapparatusofmyowndevising，soastomakeitinsomemeasureanswerthepurposeofanequatorial。ItCOULDbemoved，butIwouldrathernottouchit。’
　　’Well，I’llgotothetelescope，’shewenton，withanemphasisthatwasnotwhollyplayful。’YouarethemostungallantyouthIevermetwith;butIsupposeImustsetthatdowntoscience。Yes，I’llgotothetoweratnineeverynight。’
　　’Andalone？Ishouldprefertokeepmypursuitsthereunknown。’
　　’Andalone，’sheanswered，quiteoverbornebyhisinflexibility。
　　’Youwillnotmissthemorningobservation，ifitshouldbenecessary？’
　　’Ihavegivenmyword。’
　　’AndIgivemine。IsupposeIoughtnottohavebeensoexacting！’
　　Hespokewiththatsuddenemotionalsenseofhisowninsignificancewhichmadethesealternationsofmoodpossible。’Iwillgoanywhere——doanythingforyou——thismoment——to—morroworatanytime。Butyoumustreturnwithmetothetower，andletmeshowyoutheobservingprocess。’
　　Theyretracedtheirsteps，thetenderhoar—frosttakingtheimprintoftheirfeet，whiletwostarsintheTwinslookeddownupontheirtwopersonsthroughthetrees，asifthosetwopersonscouldbearsomesortofcomparisonwiththem。Onthetowertheinstructionsweregiven。Whenallwasover，andhewasagainconductinghertotheGreatHouseshesaid——
　　’Whencanyoustart？’
　　’Now，’saidSwithin。
　　’Somuchthebetter。Youshallgoupbythenightmail。’
　　V
　　Onthethirdmorningaftertheyoungman’sdepartureLadyConstantineopenedthepost—baganxiously。Thoughshehadrisenbeforefouro’clock，andcrossedtothetowerthroughthegrayhalf—
　　lightwheneverybladeandtwigwerefurredwithrime，shefeltnolanguor。Expectationcouldbanishatcock—crowtheeye—heavinesswhichapathyhadbeenunabletodisperseallthedaylong。
　　Therewas，asshehadhoped，aletterfromSwithinSt。Cleeve。
　　’DEARLADYCONSTANTINE，——Ihavequitesucceededinmymission，andshallreturnto—morrowat10p。m。Ihopeyouhavenotfailedintheobservations。Watchingthestarthroughanopera—glassSundaynight，Ifanciedsomechangehadtakenplace，butIcouldnotmakemyselfsure。YourmemorandaforthatnightIawaitwithimpatience。
　　Pleasedon’tneglecttowritedownATTHEMOMENT，allremarkableappearancesbothastocolourandintensity;andbeveryexactastotime，whichcorrectinthewayIshowedyou。——Iam，dearLadyConstantine，yoursmostfaithfully，SWITHINST。
　　CLEEVE。’
　　Notanotherwordintheletterabouthiserrand;hismindranonnothingbutthisastronomicalsubject。Hehadsucceededinhismission，andyethedidnotevensayyesornotothegreatquestion，——whetherornotherhusbandwasmasqueradinginLondonattheaddressshehadgiven。
　　’Waseveranythingsoprovoking！’shecried。
　　However，thetimewasnotlongtowait。Hiswayhomewardwouldliewithinastone’s—throwofthemanor—house，andthoughforcertainreasonsshehadforbiddenhimtocallatthelatehourofhisarrival，shecouldeasilyintercepthimintheavenue。Attwentyminutespasttenshewentoutintothedrive，andstoodinthedark。
　　Sevenminuteslatersheheardhisfootstep，andsawhisoutlineintheslitoflightbetweentheavenue—trees。Hehadavaliseinonehand，agreat—coatonhisarm，andunderhisarmaparcelwhichseemedtobeveryprecious，fromthemannerinwhichheheldit。
　　’LadyConstantine？’heaskedsoftly。
　　’Yes，’shesaid，inherexcitementholdingoutbothherhands，thoughhehadplainlynotexpectedhertoofferone。
　　’Didyouwatchthestar？’
　　’I’lltellyoueverythingindetail;but，pray，yourerrandfirst！’
　　’Yes，it’sallright。Didyouwatcheverynight，notmissingone？’
　　’Iforgottogo——twice，’shemurmuredcontritely。
　　’Oh，LadyConstantine！’hecriedindismay。’Howcouldyouservemeso！whatshallIdo？’
　　’Pleaseforgiveme！Indeed，Icouldnothelpit。Ihadwatchedandwatched，andnothinghappened;andsomehowmyvigilancerelaxedwhenIfoundnothingwaslikelytotakeplaceinthestar。’
　　’Buttheverycircumstanceofitnothavinghappened，madeitallthemorelikelyeveryday。’
　　’Haveyou——seen——’shebeganimploringly。
　　Swithinsighed，loweredhisthoughtstosublunarythings，andtoldbrieflythestoryofhisjourney。SirBlountConstantinewasnotinLondonattheaddresswhichhadbeenanonymouslysenther。Itwasamistakeofidentity。ThepersonwhohadbeenseenthereSwithinhadsoughtout。HeresembledSirBlountstrongly;buthewasastranger。
　　’HowcanIrewardyou！’sheexclaimed，whenhehaddone。
　　’InnowaybutbygivingmeyourgoodwishesinwhatIamgoingtotellyouonmyownaccount。’Hespokeintonesofmysteriousexultation。’Thisparcelisgoingtomakemyfame！’
　　’Whatisit？’
　　’Ahugeobject—glassforthegreattelescopeIamsobusyabout！
　　Suchamagnificentaidtosciencehasneverenteredthiscountybefore，youmaydepend。’
　　Heproducedfromunderhisarmthecarefullycuddled—uppackage，whichwasinshapearoundflatdisk，likeadinner—plate，tiedinpaper。
　　Proceedingtoexplainhisplanstohermorefully，hewalkedwithhertowardsthedoorbywhichshehademerged。Itwasalittlesidewicketthroughawalldividingtheopenparkfromthegardenterraces。Hereforamomentheplacedhisvaliseandparcelonthecopingofthestonebalustrade，tillhehadbiddenherfarewell。
　　Thenheturned，andinlayingholdofhisbagbythedimlightpushedtheparcelovertheparapet。Itfellsmashuponthepavedwalktenoradozenfeetbeneath。
　　’Oh，goodheavens！’hecriedinanguish。
　　’What？’
　　’Myobject—glassbroken！’
　　’Isitofmuchvalue？’
　　’ItcostallIpossess！’
　　Heranroundbythestepstothelowerlawn，LadyConstantinefollowing，ashecontinued，’Itisamagnificenteight—inchfirstqualityobjectlens！ItookadvantageofmyjourneytoLondontogetit！Ihavebeensixweeksmakingthetubeofmilledboard;andasIhadnotenoughmoneybytwelvepoundsforthelens，Iborroweditofmygrandmotheroutofherlastannuitypayment。Whatcanbe，canbedone！’
　　’Perhapsitisnotbroken。’
　　Hefeltontheground，foundtheparcel，andshookit。Aclickingnoiseissuedfrominside。Swithinsmotehisforeheadwithhishand，andwalkedupanddownlikeamadfellow。
　　’Mytelescope！Ihavewaitedninemonthsforthislens。Nowthepossibilityofsettingupareallypowerfulinstrumentisover！Itistoocruel——howcouldithappen！……LadyConstantine，Iamashamedofmyself，——beforeyou。Oh，but，LadyConstantine，ifyouonlyknewwhatitistoapersonengagedinsciencetohavethemeansofclinchingatheorysnatchedawayatthelastmoment！ItisIagainsttheworld;andwhentheworldhasaccidentsonitssideinadditiontoitsnaturalstrength，whatchanceforme！’
　　Theyoungastronomerleantagainstthewall，andwassilent。HismiserywasofanintensityandkindwiththatofPalissy，inthesestruggleswithanadversefate。
　　’Don’tmindit，——praydon’t！’saidLadyConstantine。’Itisdreadfullyunfortunate！Youhavemywholesympathy。Canitbemended？’
　　’Mended，——no，no！’
　　’Cannotyoudowithyourpresentonealittlelonger？’
　　’Itisaltogetherinferior，cheap，andbad！’
　　’I’llgetyouanother，——yes，indeed，Iwill！Allowmetogetyouanotherassoonaspossible。I’lldoanythingtoassistyououtofyourtrouble;forIammostanxioustoseeyoufamous。Iknowyouwillbeagreatastronomer，inspiteofthismishap！Come，sayI
　　maygetanewone。’
　　Swithintookherhand。Hecouldnottrusthimselftospeak。
　　SomedayslateralittleboxofpeculiarkindcametotheGreatHouse。ItwasaddressedtoLadyConstantine，’withgreatcare。’
　　Shehaditpartlyopenedandtakentoherownlittlewriting—room;
　　andafterlunch，whenshehaddressedforwalking，shetookfromtheboxapaperparcelliketheonewhichhadmetwiththeaccident。
　　Thisshehidunderhermantle，asifshehadstolenit;and，goingoutslowlyacrossthelawn，passedthroughthelittledoorbeforespokenof，andwassoonhasteninginthedirectionoftheRings—Hillcolumn。
　　Therewasabrightsunoverheadonthatafternoonofearlyspring，anditsraysshedanunusualwarmthonsouth—westaspects，thoughshadyplacesstillretainedthelookandfeelofwinter。Rookswerealreadybeginningtobuildnewnestsortomendupoldones，andclamorouslycalledinneighbourstogiveopinionsondifficultiesintheirarchitecture。LadyConstantineswervedoncefromherpath，asifshehaddecidedtogotothehomesteadwhereSwithinlived;butonsecondthoughtsshebentherstepstothecolumn。
　　Drawingnearitshelookedup;butbyreasonoftheheightoftheparapetnobodycouldbeseenthereonwhodidnotstandontiptoe。
　　Shethought，however，thatheryoungfriendmightpossiblyseeher，ifhewerethere，andcomedown;andthathewasthereshesoonascertainedbyfindingthedoorunlocked，andthekeyinside。Nomovement，however，reachedherearsfromabove，andshebegantoascend。
　　Meanwhileaffairsatthetopofthecolumnhadprogressedasfollows。Theafternoonbeingexceptionallyfine，Swithinhadascendedabouttwoo’clock，and，seatinghimselfatthelittletablewhichhehadconstructedonthespot，hebeganreadingoverhisnotesandexaminingsomeastronomicaljournalsthathadreachedhiminthemorning。Thesunblazedintothehollowroof—spaceasintoatub，andthesideskeptouteverybreeze。ThoughthemonthwasFebruarybelowitwasMayintheabacusofthecolumn。Thisstateoftheatmosphere，andthefactthatonthepreviousnighthehadpursuedhisobservationstillpasttwoo’clock，producedinhimattheendofhalfanhouranoverpoweringinclinationtosleep。
　　Spreadingonthelead—workathickrugwhichhekeptupthere，heflunghimselfdownagainsttheparapet，andwassooninastateofunconsciousness。
　　Itwasabouttenminutesafterwardsthatasoftrustleofsilkenclothescameupthespiralstaircase，and，hesitatingonwards，reachedtheorifice，whereappearedtheformofLadyConstantine。
　　Shedidnotatfirstperceivethathewaspresent，andstoodstilltoreconnoitre。Hereyeglancedoverhistelescope，nowwrappedup，histableandpapers，hisobserving—chair，andhiscontrivancesformakingthebestofadeficiencyofinstruments。Allwaswarm，sunny，andsilent，exceptthatasolitarybee，whichhadsomehowgotwithinthehollowoftheabacus，wassingingroundinquiringly，unabletodiscernthatascentwastheonlymodeofescape。Inanothermomentshebeheldtheastronomer，lyinginthesunlikeasailorinthemain—top。
　　LadyConstantinecoughedslightly;hedidnotawake。Shethenentered，and，drawingtheparcelfrombeneathhercloak，placeditonthetable。Afterthisshewaited，lookingforalongtimeathissleepingface，whichhadaveryinterestingappearance。Sheseemedreluctanttoleave，yetwantedresolutiontowakehim;and，pencillinghisnameontheparcel，shewithdrewtothestaircase，wherethebrushingofherdressdecreasedtosilenceassherecededroundandroundonherwaytothebase。
　　Swithinstillslepton，andpresentlytherustlebeganagaininthefar—downinteriorofthecolumn。Thedoorcouldbeheardclosing，andtherustlecamenearer，showingthatshehadshutherselfin，——
　　nodoubttolessentheriskofanaccidentalsurprisebyanyroamingvillager。WhenLadyConstantinereappearedatthetop，andsawtheparcelstilluntouchedandSwithinasleepasbefore，sheexhibitedsomedisappointment;butshedidnotretreat。
　　Lookingagainathim，hereyesbecamesosentimentallyfixedonhisfacethatitseemedasifshecouldnotwithdrawthem。Therelay，intheshapeofanAntinous，noamoroso，nogallant，butaguilelessphilosopher。Hispartedlipswerelipswhichspoke，notoflove，butofmillionsofmiles;thosewereeyeswhichhabituallygazed，notintothedepthsofothereyes，butintootherworlds。Withinhistemplesdweltthoughts，notofwoman’slooks，butofstellaraspectsandtheconfigurationofconstellations。
　　Thus，tohisphysicalattractivenesswasaddedtheattractivenessofmentalinaccessibility。Theennoblinginfluenceofscientificpursuitswasdemonstratedbythespeculativepuritywhichexpresseditselfinhiseyeswheneverhelookedatherinspeaking，andinthechildlikefaultsofmannerwhicharosefromhisobtusenesstotheirdifferenceofsex。Hehadnever，sincebecomingaman，lookedevensolowastothelevelofaLadyConstantine。Hisheavenatpresentwastrulyintheskies，andnotinthatonlyotherplacewheretheysayitcanbefound，intheeyesofsomedaughterofEve。WouldanyCirceorCalypso——andifso，whatone？——evercheckthispale—hairedscientist’snocturnalsailingsintotheinterminablespacesoverhead，andhurlallhismightycalculationsoncosmicforceandstellarfireintoLimbo？Oh，thepityofit，ifsuchshouldbethecase！