’I’llcome。But——youneedsaynothingaboutmyvisit。Icannotcometo—night，butIwillsometimethisweek。Yetonlythisonce，totrytheinstrument。Afterwardsyoumustbecontenttopursueyourstudiesalone。’
　　Swithinseemedbutlittleaffectedatthisannouncement。’HiltonandPimm’smanhandedmethebill，’hecontinued。
　　’Howmuchisit？’
　　Hetoldher。’Andthemanwhohasbuiltthehutanddome，anddonetheotherfixing，hassentinhis。’Henamedthisamountalso。
　　’Verywell。Theyshallbesettledwith。Mydebtsmustbepaidwithmymoney，whichyoushallhaveatonce，——incash，sinceachequewouldhardlydo。Cometothehouseforitthisevening。Butno，no——youmustnotcomeopenly;suchistheworld。Cometothewindow——thewindowthatisexactlyinalinewiththelongsnowdropbed，inthesouthfront——ateightto—night，andIwillgiveyouwhatisnecessary。’
　　’Certainly，LadyConstantine，’saidtheyoungman。
　　Ateightthateveningaccordingly，Swithinenteredlikeaspectreupontheterracetoseekoutthespotshehaddesignated。Theequatorialhadsoentirelyabsorbedhisthoughtsthathedidnottroublehimselfseriouslytoconjecturethewhyandwhereforeofhersecrecy。Ifhecasuallythoughtofit，hesetitdowninageneralwaytoanintenselygenerouswishonherpartnottolessenhisinfluenceamongthepoorerinhabitantsbymakinghimappeartheobjectofpatronage。
　　Whilehestoodbythelongsnowdropbed，whichlookedupathimlikeanetherMilkyWay，theFrenchcasementofthewindowoppositesoftlyopened，andahandborderedbyaglimmeroflacewasstretchedforth，fromwhichhereceivedacrisplittleparcel，——
　　bank—notes，apparently。Heknewthehand，andhelditlongenoughtopressittohislips，theonlyformwhichhadeveroccurredtohimofexpressinghisgratitudetoherwithouttheincumbranceofclumsywords，avehicleatthebestoftimesbutrudelysuitedtosuchdelicatemerchandise。Thehandwashastilywithdrawn，asifthetreatmenthadbeenunexpected。Thenseeminglymovedbysecondthoughtsshebentforwardandsaid，’Isthenightgoodforobservations？’
　　’Perfect。’
　　Shepaused。’ThenI’llcometo—night，’sheatlastsaid。’Itmakesnodifferencetome，afterall。Waitjustonemoment。’
　　Hewaited，andshepresentlyemerged，muffleduplikeanun;
　　whereupontheylefttheterraceandstruckacrosstheparktogether。
　　Verylittlewassaidbyeithertilltheywerecrossingthefallow，whenheaskedifhisarmwouldhelpher。Shedidnottaketheofferedsupportjustthen;butwhentheywereascendingtheprehistoricearthwork，undertheheavygloomofthefir—trees，sheseizedit，asifratherinfluencedbytheoppressivesolitudethanbyfatigue。
　　Thustheyreachedthefootofthecolumn，tenthousandspiritsinprisonseemingtogasptheirgriefsfromthefunerealboughsoverhead，andafewtwigsscratchingthepillarwiththedragofimpishclawsastenaciousasthosefiguringinSt。Anthony’stemptation。
　　’Howintenselydarkitisjusthere！’shewhispered。’Iwonderyoucankeepinthepath。ManyancientBritonslieburiedtheredoubtless。’
　　Heledherroundtotheotherside，where，feelinghiswaywithhishands，hesuddenlylefther，appearingamomentafterwithalight。
　　’Whatplaceisthis？’sheexclaimed。
　　’Thisisthenewwoodcabin，’saidhe。
　　Shecouldjustdiscerntheoutlineofalittlehouse，notunlikeabathing—machinewithoutwheels。
　　’Ihavekeptlightsreadyhere，’hewenton，’asIthoughtyoumightcomeanyevening，andpossiblybringcompany。’
　　’Don’tcriticizemeforcomingalone，’sheexclaimedwithsensitivepromptness。’TherearesocialreasonsforwhatIdoofwhichyouknownothing。’
　　’PerhapsitismuchtomydiscreditthatIdon’tknow。’
　　’Notatall。Youareallthebetterforit。HeavenforbidthatI
　　shouldenlightenyou。Well，Iseethisisthehut。ButIammorecurioustogotothetopofthetower，andmakediscoveries。’
　　Hebroughtalittlelanternfromthecabin，andlightedherupthewindingstaircasetothetempleofthatsublimemysteryonwhosethresholdhestoodaspriest。
　　Thetopofthecolumnwasquitechanged。Thetub—shapedspacewithintheparapet，formerlyopentotheairandsun，wasnowarchedoverbyalightdomeoflath—workcoveredwithfelt。Butthisdomewasnotfixed。Atthelinewhereitsbasedescendedtotheparapettherewerehalfadozenironballs，preciselylikecannon—shot，standinglooselyinagroove，andonthesethedomeresteditswholeweight。Inthesideofthedomewasaslit，throughwhichthewindblewandtheNorthStarbeamed，andtowardsittheendofthegreattelescopewasdirected。Thislattermagnificentobject，withitscircles，axes，andhandlescomplete，wassecurelyfixedinthemiddleofthefloor。
　　’Butyoucanonlyseeonepartoftheskythroughthatslit，’saidshe。
　　Theastronomerstretchedouthisarm，andthewholedometurnedhorizontallyround，runningontheballswitharumblelikethunder。
　　InsteadofthestarPolaris，whichhadfirstbeenpeepinginthroughtheslit，therenowappearedthecountenancesofCastorandPollux。
　　Swithinthenmanipulatedtheequatorial，andputitthroughitscapabilitiesinlikemanner。
　　Shewasenchanted;beingratherexcitablesheevenclappedherhandsjustonce。Sheturnedtohim:’Nowareyouhappy？’
　　’ButitisallYOURS，LadyConstantine。’
　　’Atthismoment。Butthat’sadefectwhichcansoonberemedied。
　　Whenisyourbirthday？’
　　’Nextmonth，——theseventh。’
　　’Thenitshallallbeyours，——abirthdaypresent。’
　　Theyoungmanprotested;itwastoomuch。
　　’No，youmustacceptitall，——equatorial，domestand，hut，andeverythingthathasbeenputhereforthisastronomicalpurpose。
　　Thepossessionoftheseapparatuswouldonlycompromiseme。Alreadytheyarereputedtobeyours，andtheymustbemadeyours。Thereisnohelpforit。Ifever’（herehervoicelostsomefirmness），——’ifeveryougoawayfromme，——fromthisplace，Imean，——andmarry，andsettleinanewhomeelsewhereforgood，andforgetme，youmusttakethesethings，equatorialandall，andnevertellyourwifeoranybodyhowtheycametobeyours。’
　　’IwishIcoulddosomethingmoreforyou！’exclaimedthemuch—movedastronomer。’Ifyoucouldbutsharemyfame，——supposingIgetany，whichImaydiebeforedoing，——itwouldbealittlecompensation。
　　Astomygoingawayandmarrying，Icertainlyshallnot。Imaygoaway，butIshallnevermarry。’
　　’Whynot？’
　　’Abelovedscienceisenoughwifeforme，——combined，perhaps，withalittlewarmfriendshipwithoneofkindredpursuits。’
　　’Whoisthefriendofkindredpursuits？’
　　’YourselfIshouldlikeittobe。’
　　’YouwouldhavetobecomeawomanbeforeIcouldbethat，publicly;
　　orIaman，’shereplied，withdrymelancholy。
　　’WhyIawoman，oryouaman，dearLadyConstantine？’
　　’Icannotexplain。No;youmustkeepyourfameandyoursciencealltoyourself，andImustkeepmy——troubles。’
　　Swithin，todivertherfrommelancholy——notknowingthatintheexpressionofhermelancholythusandnowshefoundmuchpleasure，——
　　changedthesubjectbyaskingiftheyshouldtakesomeobservations。
　　’Yes;thesceneryiswellhungto—night，’shesaidlookingoutupontheheavens。
　　Thentheyproceededtoscanthesky，rovingfromplanettostar，fromsinglestarstodoublestars，fromdoubletocolouredstars，inthecursorymannerofthemerelycurious。Theyplungeddowntothatatothertimesinvisiblemultitudeinthebackrowsofthecelestialtheatre:remotelayersofconstellationswhoseshapeswerenewandsingular;prettytwinklerswhichforinfiniteageshadspenttheirbeamswithoutcallingforthfromasingleearthlypoetasingleline，orbeingabletobestowarayofcomfortonasinglebenightedtraveller。
　　’Andtothink，’saidLadyConstantine，’thatthewholeraceofshepherds，sincethebeginningoftheworld，——eventhoseimmortalshepherdswhowatchednearBethlehem，——shouldhavegoneintotheirgraveswithoutknowingthatforonestarthatlightedthemintheirlabours，therewereahundredasgoodbehindtryingtodoso！……
　　IhaveafeelingforthisinstrumentnotunliketheaweIshouldfeelinthepresenceofagreatmagicianinwhomIreallybelieved。
　　Itspowersaresoenormous，andweird，andfantastical，thatI
　　shouldhaveapersonalfearinbeingwithitalone。Musicdrewanangeldown，saidthepoet:butwhatisthattodrawingdownworlds！’
　　’Ioftenexperienceakindoffearoftheskyaftersittingintheobserving—chairalongtime，’heanswered。’AndwhenIwalkhomeafterwardsIalsofearit，forwhatIknowisthere，butcannotsee，asonenaturallyfearsthepresenceofavastformlesssomethingthatonlyrevealsaverylittleofitself。That’spartlywhatI
　　meantbysayingthatmagnitude，whichuptoacertainpointhasgrandeur，hasbeyonditghastliness。’
　　Thustheinterestoftheirsiderealobservationsledthemon，tilltheknowledgethatscarceanyotherhumanvisionwastravellingwithinahundredmillionmilesoftheirowngavethemsuchasenseoftheisolationofthatfacultyasalmosttobeasenseofisolationinrespectoftheirwholepersonality，causingashudderatitsabsoluteness。Atnight，whenhumandiscordsandharmoniesarehushed，inageneralsense，forthegreaterpartoftwelvehours，thereisnothingtomoderatetheblowwithwhichtheinfinitelygreat，thestellaruniverse，strikesdownupontheinfinitelylittle，themindofthebeholder;andthiswasthecasenow。Havinggotclosertoimmensitythantheirfellow—creatures，theysawatonceitsbeautyanditsfrightfulness。Theymoreandmorefeltthecontrastbetweentheirowntinymagnitudesandthoseamongwhichtheyhadrecklesslyplunged，tilltheywereoppressedwiththepresenceofavastnesstheycouldnotcopewithevenasanidea，andwhichhungaboutthemlikeanightmare。
　　Hestoodbyherwhilesheobserved;shebyhimwhentheychangedplaces。OncethatSwithin’semancipationfromatrammellingbodyhadbeeneffectedbythetelescope，andhewaswellawayinspace，shefeltherinfluenceoverhimdiminishingtonothing。Hewasquiteunconsciousofhisterrestrialneighbourings，andofherselfasoneofthem。Itstillfurtherreducedhertowardsunvarnishedsimplicityinhermannertohim。
　　Thesilencewasbrokenonlybythetickingoftheclock—workwhichgavediurnalmotiontotheinstrument。Thestarsmovedon，theendofthetelescopefollowed，buttheirtonguesstoodstill。Toexpectthathewasevervoluntarilygoingtoendthepausebyspeechwasapparentlyfutile。Shelaidherhanduponhisarm。
　　Hestarted，withdrewhiseyefromthetelescope，andbroughthimselfbacktotheearthbyavisible——almostpainful——effort。
　　’Docomeoutofit，’shecoaxed，withasoftnessinhervoicewhichanymanbutunpractisedSwithinwouldhavefelttobeexquisite。’I
　　feelthatIhavebeensofoolishastoputinyourhandsaninstrumenttoeffectmyownannihilation。Notawordhaveyouspokenforthelasttenminutes。’
　　’Ihavebeenmentallygettingonwithmygreattheory。Ihopesoontobeabletopublishittotheworld。What，areyougoing？Iwillwalkwithyou，LadyConstantine。Whenwillyoucomeagain？’
　　’Whenyourgreattheoryispublishedtotheworld。’
　　IX
　　LadyConstantine，ifnarrowlyobservedatthistime，wouldhaveseemedtobedeeplytroubledinconscience，andparticularlyaftertheinterviewabovedescribed。AshWednesdayoccurredinthecalendarafewdayslater，andshewenttomorningservicewithalookofgenuinecontritiononheremotionalandyearningcountenance。
　　Besidesherselfthecongregationconsistedonlyoftheparson，clerk，school—children，andthreeoldpeoplelivingonalms，whosatunderthereading—desk;andthus，whenMr。TorkinghamblazedforththedenunciatorysentencesoftheCommination，nearlythewholeforceofthemseemedtodescenduponherownshoulders。Lookingacrosstheemptypewsshesawthroughtheoneortwoclearpanesofthewindowoppositeayouthfulfigureinthechurchyard，andtheveryfeelingagainstwhichshehadtriedtoprayreturnedagainirresistibly。
　　Whenshecameoutandhadcrossedintotheprivatewalk，Swithincameforwardtospeaktoher。Thiswasamostunusualcircumstance，andarguedamatterofimportance。
　　’Ihavemadeanamazingdiscoveryinconnexionwiththevariablestars，’heexclaimed。’Itwillexcitethewholeastronomicalworld，andtheworldoutsidebutlittleless。Ihadlongsuspectedthetruesecretoftheirvariability;butitwasbythemerestchanceonearththatIhituponaproofofmyguess。Yourequatorialhasdoneit，mygood，kindLadyConstantine，andourfameisestablishedforever！’
　　Hesprangintotheair，andwavedhishatinhistriumph。
　　’Oh，Iamsoglad——sorejoiced！’shecried。’Whatisit？Butdon’tstoptotellme。Publishitatonceinsomepaper;nailyournametoit，orsomebodywillseizetheideaandappropriateit，——
　　forestallyouinsomeway。ItwillbeAdamsandLeverrieroveragain。’
　　’IfImaywalkwithyouIwillexplainthenatureofthediscovery。
　　ItaccountsfortheoccasionalgreentintofCastor，andeverydifficulty。IsaidIwouldbetheCopernicusofthestellarsystem，andIhavebeguntobe。Yetwhoknows？’
　　’Nowdon’tbesoupanddown！Ishallnotunderstandyourexplanation，andIwouldrathernotknowit。Ishallrevealitifitisverygrand。Women，youknow，arenotsafedepositariesofsuchvaluablesecrets。Youmaywalkwithmealittleway，withgreatpleasure。Thengoandwriteyouraccount，soastoinsureyourownershipofthediscovery……Buthowyouhavewatched！’
　　shecried，inasuddenaccessionofanxiety，assheturnedtolookmorecloselyathim。’Theorbitsofyoureyesareleaden，andyoureyelidsareredandheavy。Don’tdoit——praydon’t。Youwillbeill，andbreakdown。’
　　’Ihave，itistrue，beenupalittlelatethislastweek，’hesaidcheerfully。’Infact，Icouldn’ttearmyselfawayfromtheequatorial;itissuchawonderfulpossessionthatitkeepsmetheretilldaylight。Butwhatdoesthatmatter，nowIhavemadethediscovery？’
　　’Ah，itDOESmatter！Now，promiseme——Iinsist——thatyouwillnotcommitsuchimprudencesagain;forwhatshouldIdoifmyAstronomerRoyalweretodie？’
　　Shelaughed，butfartooapprehensivelytobeeffectiveasadisplayoflevity。
　　Theyparted，andhewenthometowriteouthispaper。Hepromisedtocallassoonashisdiscoverywasinprint。Thentheywaitedfortheresult。
　　ItisimpossibletodescribethetremulousstateofLadyConstantineduringtheinterval。ThewarminterestshetookinSwithinSt。
　　Cleeve——manywouldhavesaiddangerouslywarminterest——madehishopesherhopes;andthoughshesometimesadmittedtoherselfthatgreatallowancewasrequisitefortheoverweeningconfidenceofyouthinthefuture，shepermittedherselftobeblindedtoprobabilitiesforthepleasureofsharinghisdreams。Itseemednotunreasonabletosupposethepresenthourtobethebeginningofrealizationtoherdarlingwishthatthisyoungmanshouldbecomefamous。Hehadworkedhard，andwhyshouldhenotbefamousearly？
　　Hisverysimplicityinmundaneaffairsaffordedastrongpresumptionthatinthingscelestialhemightbewise。Toobtainsupportforthishypothesisshehadonlytothinkoverthelivesofmanyeminentastronomers。
　　Shewaitedfeverishlyfortheflourishoftrumpetsfromafar，bywhichsheexpectedtheannouncementofhisdiscoverytobegreeted。
　　Knowingthatimmediateintelligenceoftheoutburstwouldbebroughttoherbyhimself，shewatchedfromthewindowsoftheGreatHouseeachmorningforasightofhisfigurehasteningdowntheglade。
　　Buthedidnotcome。
　　Alongarrayofwetdayspassedtheirdrearyshapesbeforeher，andmadethewaitingstillmoretedious。Ononeoftheseoccasionssheranacrosstothetower，attheriskofaseverecold。Thedoorwaslocked。
　　Twodaysaftershewentagain。Thedoorwaslockedstill。Butthiswasonlytobeexpectedinsuchweather。Yetshewouldhavegoneontohishouse，hadtherenotbeenonereasontoomanyagainstsuchprecipitancy。Asastronomerandastronomertherewasnoharmintheirmeetings;butaswomanandmanshefearedthem。
　　Tendayspassedwithoutasightofhim;tenblurredanddrearydays，duringwhichthewholelandscapedrippedlikeamop;theparktreesswabbedthegravelfromthedrive，whiletheskywasazinc—colouredarchi—vaultofimmovablecloud。Itseemedasifthewholescienceofastronomyhadneverbeenreal，andthattheheavenlybodies，withtheirmotions，wereastheoreticalasthelinesandcirclesofabygonemathematicalproblem。
　　Shecouldcontentherselfnolongerwithfruitlessvisitstothecolumn，andwhentherainhadalittleabatedshewalkedtothenearesthamlet，andinaconversationwiththefirstoldwomanshemetcontrivedtoleaduptothesubjectofSwithinSt。Cleevebytalkingabouthisgrandmother。
　　’Ah，pooroldheart;’tisabadtimeforher，mylady！’exclaimedthedame。
　　’What？’
　　’Hergrandsonisdying;andsuchagentlemanthroughandthrough！’
　　’What！……Oh，ithassomethingtodowiththatdreadfuldiscovery！’
　　’Discovery，mylady？’
　　Shelefttheoldwomanwithanevasiveanswer，andwithabreakingheartcreptalongtheroad。Tearsbrimmedintohereyesasshewalked，andbythetimethatshewasoutofsightsobsburstforthtumultuously。
　　’Iamtoofondofhim！’shemoaned;’butIcan’thelpit;andI
　　don’tcareifit’swrong，——Idon’tcare！’
　　WithoutfurtherconsiderationsastowhobeheldherdoingssheinstinctivelywentstraighttowardsMrs。Martin’s。SeeingamancomingshecalmedherselfsufficientlytoaskhimthroughherdroppedveilhowpoorMr。St。Cleevewasthatday。Butsheonlygotthesamereply:’Theysayheisdying，mylady。’
　　WhenSwithinhadpartedfromLadyConstantine，onthepreviousAsh—
　　Wednesday，hehadgonestraighttothehomesteadandpreparedhisaccountof’ANewAstronomicalDiscovery。’Itwaswrittenperhapsintooglowingarhetoricforthetruescientifictoneofmind;buttherewasnodoubtthathisassertionmetwithamoststartlingaptnessallthedifficultieswhichhadaccompaniedthereceivedtheoriesonthephenomenaattendingthosechangeablesunsofmarvelloussystemssofaraway。Itaccountedforthenebulousmistthatsurroundssomeofthemattheirweakesttime;inshort，tookupapositionofprobabilitywhichhasneveryetbeensuccessfullyassailed。
　　Thepaperswerewrittenintriplicate，andcarefullysealedupwithbluewax。OnecopywasdirectedtoGreenwich，anothertotheRoyalSociety，anothertoaprominentastronomer。Abriefstatementoftheessenceofthediscoverywasalsopreparedfortheleadingdailypaper。
　　Heconsideredthesedocuments，embodyingastheydidtwoyearsofhisconstantthought，reading，andobservation，tooimportanttobeentrustedforpostingtothehandsofamessenger;tooimportanttobesenttothesub—post—officeathand。Thoughthedaywaswet，drippingwet，hewentonfootwiththemtoachiefoffice，fivemilesoff，andregisteredthem。Quiteexhaustedbythewalk，afterhislongnight—work，wetthrough，yetsustainedbythesenseofagreatachievement，hecalledatabookseller’sfortheastronomicalperiodicalstowhichhesubscribed;then，restingforashorttimeataninn，heploddedhiswayhomewards，readinghispapersashewent，andplanninghowtoenjoyareposeonhislaurelsofaweekormore。
　　Onhestrolledthroughtherain，holdingtheumbrellaverticallyovertheexposedpagetokeepitdrywhileheread。Suddenlyhiseyewasstruckbyanarticle。ItwasthereviewofapamphletbyanAmericanastronomer，inwhichtheauthorannouncedaconclusivediscoverywithregardtovariablestars。
　　ThediscoverywaspreciselythediscoveryofSwithinSt。Cleeve。
　　Anothermanhadforestalledhisfamebyaperiodofaboutsixweeks。
　　ThentheyouthfoundthatthegoddessPhilosophy，towhomhehadvowedtodedicatehiswholelife，wouldnotinreturnsupporthimthroughasinglehourofdespair。Intruth，theimpishnessofcircumstancewasnewertohimthanitwouldhavebeentoaphilosopherofthreescore—and—ten。Inawildwishforannihilationheflunghimselfdownonapatchofheatherthatlayalittleremovedfromtheroad，andinthishumidbedremainedmotionless，whiletimepassedbyunheeded。
　　Atlast，fromsheermiseryandweariness，hefellasleep。
　　TheMarchrainpeltedhimmercilessly，thebeadedmoisturefromtheheavilychargedlocksofheathpenetratedhimthroughbackandsides，andclottedhishairtounsightlytagsandtufts。Whenheawokeitwasdark。Hethoughtofhisgrandmother，andofherpossiblealarmatmissinghim。Onattemptingtorise，hefoundthathecouldhardlybendhisjoints，andthathisclotheswereasheavyasleadfromsaturation。Histeethchatteringandhiskneestremblinghepursuedhiswayhome，wherehisappearanceexcitedgreatconcern。Hewasobligedatoncetoretiretobed，andthenextdayhewasdeliriousfromthechill。
　　ItwasabouttendaysafterthisunhappyoccurrencethatLadyConstantinelearntthenews，asabovedescribed，andhastenedalongtothehomesteadinthatstateofanguishinwhichtheheartisnolongerunderthecontrolofthejudgment，andself—abandonmenteventoerror，vergesonheroism。
　　OnreachingthehouseinWellandBottomthedoorwasopenedtoherbyoldHannah，whoworeanassiduouslysorrowfullook;andLadyConstantinewasshownintothelargeroom，——sowidethatthebeamsbentinthemiddle，——whereshetookherseatinoneofamethodicrangeofchairs，beneathaportraitoftheReverendMr。St。Cleeve，herastronomer’serraticfather。
　　Theeightunwatereddyingplants，intherowofeightflower—pots，denotedthattherewassomethingwronginthehouse。Mrs。Martincamedownstairsfretting，herwonderatbeholdingLadyConstantinenotaltogetherdisplacingthepreviousmoodofgrief。
　　’Here’saprettykettleoffish，mylady！’sheexclaimed。
　　LadyConstantinesaid，’Hush！’andpointedinquiringlyupward。
　　’Heisnotoverhead，mylady，’repliedSwithin’sgrandmother。’Hisbedroomisatthebackofthehouse。’
　　’Howishenow？’
　　’Heisbetter，justatthismoment;andwearemorehopeful。Buthechangesso。’
　　’MayIgoup？Iknowhewouldliketoseeme。’
　　Herpresencehavingbeenmadeknowntothesufferer，shewasconductedupstairstoSwithin’sroom。Thewaythitherwasthroughthelargechamberhehadusedasastudyandforthemanufactureofopticalinstruments。Therelaythelargepasteboardtelescope，thathadbeenjustsuchafailureasCrusoe’slargeboat;therewerehisdiagrams，maps，globes，andcelestialapparatusofvarioussorts。
　　Theabsenceoftheworker，throughillnessordeathissufficienttotouchtheprosiestworkshopandtoolswiththehuesofpathos，anditwaswithaswellingbosomthatLadyConstantinepassedthroughthisarenaofhisyouthfulactivitiestothelittlechamberwherehelay。
　　OldMrs。Martinsatdownbythewindow，andLadyConstantinebentoverSwithin。
　　’Don’tspeaktome！’shewhispered。’Itwillweakenyou;itwillexciteyou。Ifyoudospeak，itmustbeverysoftly。’
　　Shetookhishand，andoneirrepressibletearfelluponit。
　　’Nothingwillexcitemenow，LadyConstantine，’hesaid;’notevenyourgoodnessincoming。MylastexcitementwaswhenIlostthebattle……Doyouknowthatmydiscoveryhasbeenforestalled？
　　Itisthatthat’skillingme。’
　　’Butyouaregoingtorecover;youarebetter，theysay。Isitso？’
　　’IthinkIam，to—day。Butwhocanbesure？’
　　’Thepoorboywassoupsetatfindingthathislabourhadbeenthrownaway，’saidhisgrandmother，’thathelaydownintherain，andchilledhislifeout。’
　　’Howcouldyoudoit？’LadyConstantinewhispered。’O，howcouldyouthinksomuchofrenown，andsolittleofme？Why，foreverydiscoverymadetherearetenbehindthatawaitmaking。Tocommitsuicidelikethis，asiftherewerenobodyintheworldtocareforyou！’
　　’Itwasdoneinmyhaste，andIamvery，verysorryforit！Ibegbothyouandallmyfewfriendsnever，nevertoforgiveme！Itwouldkillmewithself—reproachifyouweretopardonmyrashness！’
　　Atthismomentthedoctorwasannounced，andMrs。Martinwentdownstairstoreceivehim。LadyConstantinethoughtshewouldremaintohearhisreport，andforthispurposewithdrew，andsatdowninanookoftheadjoiningwork—roomofSwithin，thedoctormeetingherashepassedthroughitintothesickchamber。
　　Hewasthereatorturinglylongtime;butatlengthhecameouttotheroomshewaitedin，andcrosseditonhiswaydownstairs。Sheroseandfollowedhimtothestairhead。
　　’Howishe？’sheanxiouslyasked。’Willhegetoverit？’
　　Thedoctor，notknowingthedepthofherinterestinthepatient，spokewiththebluntcandournaturaltowardsacomparativelyindifferentinquirer。
　　’No，LadyConstantine，’hereplied;’there’sachangefortheworse。’
　　Andheretireddownthestairs。
　　ScarcelyknowingwhatshedidLadyConstantineranbacktoSwithin’sside，flungherselfuponthebedandinaparoxysmofsorrowkissedhim。
　　X
　　TheplacidinhabitantsoftheparishofWelland，includingwarblingwaggoners，loneshepherds，ploughmen，theblacksmith，thecarpenter，thegardenerattheGreatHouse，thestewardandagent，theparson，clerk，andsoon，werehourlyexpectingtheannouncementofSt。
　　Cleeve’sdeath。Thesextonhadbeengoingtoseehisbrother—in—
　　law，ninemilesdistant，butpromptlypostponedthevisitforafewdays，thattheremightbetheregularprofessionalhandpresenttotollthebellinanoteofduefulnessandsolemnity;anattemptbyadeputy，onapreviousoccasionofhisabsence，havingdegeneratedintoamiserablestammeringclangthatwasadisgracetotheparish。
　　ButSwithinSt。Cleevedidnotdecease，afactofwhich，indeed，thehabituatedreaderwillhavebeenwellawareeversincetheraincamedownupontheyoungmanintheninthchapter，andledtohisalarmingillness。Though，forthatmatter，somanymaimedhistoriesarehourlyenactingthemselvesinthisdun—colouredworldastolendalmostapriorityofinteresttonarrativesconcerningthose’WholaygreatbasesforeternityWhichprovemoreshortthanwasteorruining。’
　　Howitarosethathedidnotdiewasinthiswise;andhisexampleaffordsanotherinstanceofthatreflexruleofthevassalsouloverthesovereignbody，which，operatingsowonderfullyinelasticnatures，andmoreorlessinall，originallygaverisetothelegendthatsupremacylayontheotherside。
　　Theeveningofthedayafterthetender，despairing，farewellkissofLadyConstantine，whenhewasalittlelessweakthanduringhervisit，helaywithhisfacetothewindow。Helayalone，quietandresigned。Hehadbeenthinking，sometimesofherandotherfriends，butchieflyofhislostdiscovery。Althoughnearlyunconsciousatthetime，hehadyetbeenawareofthatkiss，asthedelicateflushwhichfollowedituponhischeekwouldhavetold;buthehadattachedlittleimportancetoitasbetweenwomanandman。Hadhebeendyingofloveinsteadofwetweather，perhapstheimpulsiveactofthathandsomeladywouldhavebeenseizedonasaproofthathislovewasreturned。Asitwasherkissseemedbuttheevidenceofanaturallydemonstrativekindliness，felttowardshimchieflybecausehewasbelievedtobeleavingherforever。
　　Theredsofsunsetpassed，andduskdrewon。OldHannahcameupstairstopulldowntheblindsandassheadvancedtothewindowhesaidtoher，inafaintvoice，’Well，Hannah，whatnewsto—day？’