’Oh，nothing，sir，’Hannahreplied，lookingoutofthewindowwithsadapathy，’onlythatthere’sacomet，theysay。’
　　’AWHAT？’saidthedyingastronomer，startinguponhiselbow。
　　’Acomet——that’sall，MasterSwithin，’repeatedHannah，inalowervoice，fearingshehaddoneharminsomeway。
　　’Well，tellme，tellme！’criedSwithin。’IsitGambart’s？IsitCharlestheFifth’s，orHalley’s，orFaye’s，orwhose？’
　　’Hush！’saidshe，thinkingSt。Cleeveslightlydeliriousagain。
　　’’TisGodA’mighty’s，ofcourse。Ihaven’tseedenmyself，buttheysayhe’sgettingbiggereverynight，andthathe’llbethebiggestoneknownforfiftyyearswhenhe’sfullgrowed。There，youmustnottalkanymorenow，orI’llgoaway。’
　　Herewasanamazingevent，littlenoiseasithadmadeinthehappening。Ofallphenomenathathehadlongedtowitnessduringhisshortastronomicalcareer，thoseappertainingtocometshadexcitedhimmost。Thatthemagnificentcometof1811wouldnotreturnagainforthirtycenturieshadbeenquiteapermanentregretwithhim。Andnow，whenthebottomlessabyssofdeathseemedyawningbeneathhisfeet，oneofthesemuch—desiredapparitions，aslarge，apparently，asanyofitstribe，hadchosentoshowitself。
　　’O，ifIcouldbutlivetoseethatcometthroughmyequatorial！’hecried。
　　Comparedwithcomets，variablestars，whichhehadhithertomadehisstudy，were，fromtheirremoteness，uninteresting。TheyweretotheformerasthecelebritiesofUjijiorUnyamwesitothecelebritiesofhisowncountry。Membersofthesolarsystem，thesedazzlingandperplexingrangers，thefascinationofallastronomers，renderedthemselvesstillmorefascinatingbythesinistersuspicionattachingtothemofbeingpossiblytheultimatedestroyersofthehumanrace。InhisphysicalprostrationSt。Cleeveweptbitterlyatnotbeinghaleandstrongenoughtowelcomewithproperhonourthepresentspecimenofthesedesirablevisitors。
　　Thestrenuouswishtoliveandbeholdthenewphenomenon，supplantingtheutterwearinessofexistencethathehadheretoforeexperienced，gavehimanewvitality。Thecrisispassed;therewasaturnforthebetter;andafterthatherapidlymended。Thecomethadinallprobabilitysavedhislife。Thelimitlessandcomplexwondersoftheskyresumedtheiroldpoweroverhisimagination;thepossibilitiesofthatunfathomableblueoceanwereendless。Finerfeatsthaneverhewouldperformweretobeachievedinitsinvestigation。WhatLadyConstantinehadsaid，thatforonediscoverymadetenawaitedmaking，wasstrikinglyverifiedbythesuddenappearanceofthissplendidmarvel。
　　ThewindowsofSt。Cleeve’sbedroomfacedthewest，andnothingwouldsatisfyhimbutthathisbedshouldbesopulledroundastogivehimaviewofthelowsky，inwhichtheasyetminutetadpoleoffirewasrecognizable。Themeresightofitseemedtolendhimsufficientresolutiontocompletehisowncureforthwith。Hisonlyfearnowwaslest，fromsomeunexpectedcauseorother，thecometwouldvanishbeforehecouldgettotheobservatoryonRings—HillSpeer。
　　Inhisfervourtobeginobservinghedirectedthatanoldtelescope，whichhehadusedinhisfirstcelestialattempts，shouldbetiedatoneendtothebed—post，andattheotherfixednearhiseyeashereclined。Equippedonlywiththisroughimprovisationhebegantotakenotes。LadyConstantinewasforgotten，tilloneday，suddenly，wonderingifsheknewoftheimportantphenomenon，herevolvedinhismindwhetherasafellow—studentandsincerefriendofhissheoughtnottobesentfor，andinstructedintheuseoftheequatorial。
　　ButthoughtheimageofLadyConstantine，inspiteofherkindnessandunmistakablywarmheart，hadbeenobscuredinhismindbytheheavenlybody，shehadnotsoreadilyforgottenhim。Tooshytorepeathervisitaftersonearlybetrayinghersecret，sheyet，everyday，bythemostingeniousandsubtlemeansthatcouldbedevisedbyawomanwhofearedforherself，butcouldnotrefrainfromtamperingwithdanger，ascertainedthestateofheryoungfriend’shealth。Onhearingoftheturninhisconditionsherejoicedonhisaccount，andbecameyetmoredespondentonherown。
　　Ifhehaddiedshemighthavemusedonhimasherdeardepartedsaintwithoutmuchsin:buthisreturntolifewasadelightthatbewilderedanddismayed。
　　Oneeveningalittlelateronhewassittingathisbedroomwindowasusual，waitingforasufficientdeclineoflighttorevealthecomet’sform，whenhebeheld，crossingthefieldcontiguoustothehouse，afigurewhichheknewtobehers。Hethoughtshemustbecomingtoseehimonthegreatcometquestion，todiscusswhichwithsodelightfulandkindacomradewasanexpectationfullofpleasure。Hencehekeenlyobservedherapproach，tillsomethinghappenedthatsurprisedhim。
　　When，atthedescentofthehill，shehadreachedthestilethatadmittedtoMrs。Martin’sgarden，LadyConstantinestoodquitestillforaminuteormore，hergazebentontheground。Insteadofcomingontothehouseshewentheavilyandslowlyback，almostasifinpain;andthenatlength，quickeningherpace，shewassoonoutofsight。Sheappearedinthepathnomorethatday。
　　XI
　　WhyhadLadyConstantinestoppedandturned？
　　Amisgivinghadtakensuddenpossessionofher。HertruesentimenttowardsSt。Cleevewastoorecognizablebyherselftobetolerated。
　　Thatshehadalegitimateinterestinhimasayoungastronomerwastrue;thathersympathyonaccountofhissevereillnesshadbeennaturalandcommendablewasalsotrue。Butthesuperfluousfeelingwaswhatfilledherwithtrepidation。
　　Superfluitieshavebeendefinedasthingsyoucannotdowithout，andthisparticularemotion，thatcamenotwithinherrightfulmeasure，wasindangerofbecomingjustsuchasuperfluitywithher。Inshort，shefeltthereandthenthattoseeSt。Cleeveagainwouldbeanimpropriety;andbyaviolenteffortsheretreatedfromhisprecincts，ashehadobserved。
　　Sheresolvedtoennobleherconductfromthatmomentofherlifeonwards。ShewouldexercisekindpatronagetowardsSwithinwithoutonceindulgingherselfwithhiscompany。Inexpressiblydeartoherdesertedhearthewasbecoming，butforthefutureheshouldatleastbehiddenfromhereyes。Tospeakplainly，itwasgrowingaseriousquestionwhether，ifhewerenothiddenfromhereyes，shewouldnotsoonbeplungingacrosstheraggedboundarywhichdividesthepermissiblefromtheforbidden。
　　Bythetimethatshehaddrawnnearhomethesunwasgoingdown。
　　Theheavy，many—chevronedchurch，nowsubduedbyvioletshadowexceptwhereitsuppercoursescaughtthewesternstrokeofflame—
　　colour，stoodclosetohergrounds，asinmanyotherparishes，thoughthevillageofwhichitformerlywasthenucleushadbecomequitedepopulated:itscottageshadbeendemolishedtoenlargethepark，leavingtheoldbuildingtostandtherealone，likeastandardwithoutanarmy。
　　ItwasFridaynight，andsheheardtheorganistpractisingvoluntarieswithin。Thehour，thenotes，theeven—songofthebirds，andherownpreviousemotions，combinedtoinfluenceherdevotionally。Sheentered，turningtotherightandpassingunderthechancelarch，whereshesatdownandviewedthewholeemptylength，eastandwest。Thesemi—Normanarchesofthenave，withtheirmultitudinousnotchings，werestillvisiblebythelightfromthetowerwindow，butthelowerportionofthebuildingwasinobscurity，exceptwherethefeebleglimmerfromthecandleoftheorganistspreadaglow—wormradiancearound。Theplayer，whowasMissTabithaLark，continuedwithoutintermissiontoproduceherwanderingsounds，unconsciousofanyone’spresenceexceptthatoftheyouthfulbloweratherside。
　　Theraysfromtheorganist’scandleilluminatedbutonesmallfragmentofthechanceloutsidetheprecinctsoftheinstrument，andthatwastheportionoftheeasternwallwhereonthetencommandmentswereinscribed。ThegiltlettersshonesternlyintoLadyConstantine’seyes;andshe，beingasimpressionableasaturtle—dove，watchedacertainoneofthosecommandmentsonthesecondtable，tillitsthunderbrokeherspiritwithblankcontrition。
　　Shekneltdown，anddidherutmosttoeradicatethoseimpulsestowardsSt。Cleevewhichwereinconsistentwithherpositionasthewifeofanabsentman，thoughnotunnaturalinherashisvictim。
　　Sheknelttillsheseemedscarcelytobelongtothetimeshelivedin，whichlostthemagnitudethatthenearnessofitsperspectivelentitonordinaryoccasions，andtookitsactualrankinthelonglineofothercenturies。Havingoncegotoutofherself，seenherselffromafaroff，shewascalmer，andwentontoregisteramagnanimousvow。ShewouldlookaboutforsomemaidenfitandlikelytomakeSt。Cleevehappy;andthisgirlshewouldendowwithwhatmoneyshecouldafford，thatthenaturalresultoftheirappositionshoulddohimnoworldlyharm。Theinterestofher，LadyConstantine’s，lifeshouldbeinwatchingthedevelopmentoflovebetweenSwithinandtheidealmaiden。Theverypainfulnessoftheschemetohersusceptibleheartmadeitpleasingtoherconscience;
　　andshewonderedthatshehadnotbeforethistimethoughtofastratagemwhichunitedthepossibilityofbenefitingtheastronomerwiththeadvantageofguardingagainstperiltobothSwithinandherself。Byprovidingforhimasuitablehelpmateshewouldprecludethedangerousawakeninginhimofsentimentsreciprocatingherown。
　　Arrivedatapointofexquisitemiserythroughthisheroicintention，LadyConstantine’stearsmoistenedthebooksuponwhichherforeheadwasbowed。Andassheheardherfeverishheartthrobagainstthedesk，shefirmlybelievedthewearingimpulsesofthatheartwouldputanendtohersadlife，andmomentarilyrecalledthebanishedimageofSt。CleevetoapostrophisehiminthoughtsthatparaphrasedthequaintlinesofHeine’sLieb’Liebchen:——
　　’Dearmylove，pressthyhandtomybreast，andtellIfthoutracesttheknocksinthatnarrowcell;
　　Acarpenterdwellsthere;cunningishe，Andslylyhe’sshapingacoffinforme！’
　　LadyConstantinewasdisturbedbyabreakintheorganist’smeanderingpractice，andraisingherheadshesawapersonstandingbytheplayer。ItwasMr。Torkingham，andwhathesaidwasdistinctlyaudible。Hewasinquiringforherself。
　　’IthoughtIsawLadyConstantinewalkthisway，’herejoinedtoTabitha’snegative。’Iamveryanxiousindeedtomeetwithher。’
　　Shewentforward。’Iamhere，’shesaid。’Don’tstopplaying，MissLark。Whatisit，Mr。Torkingham？’
　　Tabithathereuponresumedherplaying，andMr。TorkinghamjoinedLadyConstantine。
　　’Ihavesomeveryseriousintelligencetobreaktoyourladyship，’
　　hesaid。’But——Iwillnotinterruptyouhere。’（Hehadseenherrisefromherkneestocometohim。）’IwillcallattheHousethefirstmomentyoucanreceivemeafterreachinghome。’
　　’No，tellmehere，’shesaid，seatingherself。
　　Hecameclose，andplacedhishandonthepoppy—headoftheseat。
　　’Ihavereceivedacommunication，’heresumedhaltingly，’inwhichI
　　amrequestedtoprepareyouforthecontentsofaletterthatyouwillreceiveto—morrowmorning。’
　　’Iamquiteready。’
　　’Thesubjectisbrieflythis，LadyConstantine:thatyouhavebeenawidowformorethaneighteenmonths。’
　　’Dead！’
　　’Yes。SirBlountwasattackedbydysenteryandmalariousfever，onthebanksoftheZougainSouthAfrica，solongagoaslastOctobertwelvemonths，anditcarriedhimoff。Ofthethreemenwhowerewithhim，twosuccumbedtothesameillness，ahundredmilesfurtheron;whilethethird，retracinghisstepsintoahealthierdistrict，remainedtherewithanativetribe，andtooknopainstomakethecircumstancesknown。Itseemstobeonlybythemereaccidentofhishavingtoldsomethirdpartythatweknowofthematternow。
　　ThisisallIcantellyouatpresent。’
　　Shewasgreatlyagitatedforafewmoments;andtheTableoftheLawopposite，whichnowseemedtoappertaintoanotherdispensation，glistenedindistinctlyuponavisionstillobscuredbytheoldtears。
　　’ShallIconductyouhome？’askedtheparson。
　　’Nothankyou，’saidLadyConstantine。’Iwouldrathergoalone。’
　　XII
　　OntheafternoonofthenextdayMr。Torkingham，whooccasionallydroppedintoseeSt。Cleeve，calledagainasusual;afterdulyremarkingonthestateoftheweather，congratulatinghimonhissurethoughslowimprovement，andansweringhisinquiriesaboutthecomet，hesaid，’Youhaveheard，Isuppose，ofwhathashappenedtoLadyConstantine？’
　　’No！Nothingserious？’
　　’Yes，itisserious。’TheparsoninformedhimofthedeathofSirBlount，andoftheaccidentswhichhadhinderedallknowledgeofthesame，——accidentsfavouredbytheestrangementofthepairandthecessationofcorrespondencebetweenthemforsometime。
　　Hislistenerreceivedthenewswiththeconcernofafriend，LadyConstantine’saspectinhiseyesdependingbutlittleonherconditionmatrimonially。
　　’Therewasnoattempttobringhimhomewhenhedied？’
　　’Ono。Theclimatenecessitatesinstantburial。Weshallhavemoreparticularsinadayortwo，doubtless。’
　　’PoorLadyConstantine，——sogoodandsosensitiveassheis！I
　　supposesheisquiteprostratedbythebadnews。’
　　’Well，sheisratherserious，——notprostrated。Thehouseholdisgoingintomourning。’
　　’Ah，no，shewouldnotbequiteprostrated，’murmuredSwithin，recollectinghimself。’Hewasunkindtoherinmanyways。DoyouthinkshewillgoawayfromWelland？’
　　Thatthevicarcouldnottell。ButhefearedthatSirBlount’saffairshadbeeninaseriouslyinvolvedcondition，whichmightnecessitatemanyandunexpectedchanges。
　　TimeshowedthatMr。Torkingham’ssurmiseswerecorrect。
　　Duringthelongweeksofearlysummer，throughwhichtheyoungmanstilllayimprisoned，ifnotwithinhisownchamber，withinthelimitsofthehouseandgarden，newsreachedhimthatSirBlount’smismanagementandeccentricbehaviourwereresultinginseriousconsequencestoLadyConstantine;nothingless，indeed，thanheralmostcompleteimpoverishment。Hispersonaltywasswallowedupinpayinghisdebts，andtheWellandestatewassoheavilychargedwithannuitiestohisdistantrelativesthatonlyamerepittancewasleftforher。Shewasreducingtheestablishmenttothenarrowestcompasscompatiblewithdecentgentility。Thehorsesweresoldonebyone;thecarriagesalso;thegreaterpartofthehousewasshutup，andsheresidedinthesmallestrooms。Allthatwasallowedtoremainofherformercontingentofmaleservantswereanoddmanandaboy。Insteadofusingacarriageshenowdroveaboutinadonkey—
　　chair，thesaidboywalkinginfronttoclearthewayandkeeptheanimalinmotion;whileshewore，sohisinformantsreported，notanordinarywidow’scaporbonnet，butsomethingevenplainer，theblackmaterialbeingdrawntightlyroundherface，givingherfeaturesasmall，demure，devoutcast，verypleasingtotheeye。
　　’Now，what’sthemostcuriousthinginthis，Mr。SanCleeve，’saidSammyBlore，who，incallingtoinquireafterSwithin’shealth，hadimpartedsomeoftheaboveparticulars，’isthatmyladyseemsnottomindbeingaporewomanhalfsomuchaswedoatseeingherso。
　　’Tisawonderfulgift，Mr。SanCleeve，wonderful，tobeabletoguideyerself，andnotletlooseyersoulinblastingatsuchamisfortune。Ishouldgoanddrinkneatregular，assoonasIhadswalleredmybreakfast，tillmyinnerdswasburntoutlikea’oldcopper，ifithadhappenedtome;butmylady’splanisbest。
　　ThoughIonlyguesshowonefeelsinsuchlosses，tobesure，forI
　　neverhadnothingtolose。’
　　Meanwhiletheobservatorywasnotforgotten;northatvisitantofsingularshapeandhabitswhichhadappearedintheskyfromnooneknewwhence，trailingitsluminousstreamer，andproceedingonitswayinthefaceofawonderingworld，tillitshouldchoosetovanishassuddenlyasithadcome。
　　When，aboutamonthaftertheabovedialoguetookplace，Swithinwasallowedtogoaboutasusual，hisfirstpilgrimagewastotheRings—
　　HillSpeer。Herehestudiedatleisurewhathehadcometosee。
　　Onhisreturntothehomestead，justaftersunset，hefoundhisgrandmotherandHannahinastateofgreatconcern。Theformerwaslookingoutforhimagainsttheeveninglight，herfaceshowingitselfwornandrutted，likeanoldhighway，bythepassingofmanydays。HerinformationwasthatinhisabsenceLadyConstantinehadcalledinherdriving—chair，toinquireforhim。Herladyshiphadwishedtoobservethecometthroughthegreattelescope，buthadfoundthedoorlockedwhensheappliedatthetower。Wouldhekindlyleavethedoorunfastenedto—morrow，shehadasked，thatshemightbeabletogotothecolumnonthefollowingeveningforthesamepurpose？Shedidnotrequirehimtoattend。
　　DuringthenextdayhesentHannahwiththekeytoWellandHouse，notcaringtoleavethetoweropen。Aseveningadvancedandthecometgrewdistinct，hedoubtedifLadyConstantinecouldhandlethetelescopealonewithanypleasureorprofittoherself。Unable，asadevoteetoscience，torestunderthismisgiving，hecrossedthefieldinthefurrowthathehadusedeversincethecornwassown，andenteredtheplantation。Hisunpractisedmindneveronceguessedthatherstipulationsagainsthiscomingmighthaveexistedalongwithaperversehopethathewouldcome。
　　Onascendinghefoundheralreadythere。Shesatintheobserving—
　　chair:thewarmlightfromthewest，whichflowedinthroughtheopeningofthedome，brightenedherface，andherfaceonly，herrobesofsablelawnrenderingtheremainderofherfigurealmostinvisible。
　　’Youhavecome！’shesaidwithshypleasure。’Ididnotrequireyou。Butnevermind。’Sheextendedherhandcordiallytohim。
　　Beforespeakinghelookedatherwithagreatnewinterestinhiseye。Itwasthefirsttimethathehadseenherthus，andshewasalteredinmorethandress。Asoberly—sweetexpressionsatonherface。Itwasofarareandpeculiarshade——somethingthathehadneverseenbeforeinwoman。
　　’Haveyounothingtosay？’shecontinued。’Yourfootstepswereaudibletomefromtheverybottom，andIknewtheywereyours。Youlookalmostrestored。’
　　’Iamalmostrestored，’hereplied，respectfullypressingherhand。
　　’Areasonforlivingarose，andIlived。’
　　’Whatreason？’sheinquired，witharapidblush。
　　Hepointedtotherocket—likeobjectinthewesternsky。
　　’Oh，youmeanthecomet。Well，youwillnevermakeacourtier！Youknow，ofcourse，whathashappenedtome;thatIhavenolongerahusband——havehadnoneforayearandahalf。HaveyoualsoheardthatIamnowquiteapoorwoman？Tellmewhatyouthinkofit。’
　　’IhavethoughtverylittleofitsinceIheardthatyouseemedtomindpovertybutlittle。Thereiseventhisgoodinit，thatImaynowbeabletoshowyousomelittlekindnessforallthoseyouhavedoneme，mydearlady。’
　　’Unlessforeconomy’ssake，Igoandliveabroad，atDinan，Versailles，orBoulogne。’
　　Swithin，whohadneverthoughtofsuchacontingency，wasearnestinhisregrets;without，however，showingmorethanasincerefriend’sdisappointment。
　　’Ididnotsayitwasabsolutelynecessary，’shecontinued。’I
　　have，infact，grownsohomelyandhome—loving，Iamsointerestedintheplaceandthepeoplehere，that，inspiteofadvice，Ihavealmostdeterminednottoletthehouse;buttocontinuethelessbusiness—likebutpleasanteralternativeoflivinghumblyinapartofit，andshuttinguptherest。’
　　’Yourloveofastronomyisgettingasstrongasmine！’hesaidardently。’Youcouldnottearyourselfawayfromtheobservatory！’
　　’Youmighthavesupposedmecapableofalittlehumanfeelingaswellasscientific，inconnectionwiththeobservatory。’
　　’DearLadyConstantine，byadmittingthatyourastronomerhasalsoapartofyourinterest——’
　　’Ah，youdidnotfinditoutwithoutmytelling！’shesaid，withaplayfulnesswhichwasscarcelyplayful，anewaccessionofpinknessbeingvisibleinherface。’Idiminishmyselfinyouresteembyremindingyou。’
　　’Youmightdoanythinginthisworldwithoutdiminishingyourselfinmyesteem，afterthegoodnessyouhaveshown。Andmorethanthat，nomisrepresentation，norumour，nodamningappearancewhateverwouldevershakemyloyaltytoyou。’
　　’Butyouputaverymatter—of—factconstructiononmymotivessometimes。YouseemeinsuchahardlightthatIhavetodrophintsinquiteamanoeuvringmannertoletyouknowIamassympatheticasotherpeople。Isometimesthinkyouwouldratherhavemediethanhaveyourequatorialstolen。Confessthatyouradmirationformewasbasedonmyhouseandpositioninthecounty！
　　NowIamshornofallthatglory，suchasitwas，andamawidow，andampoorerthanmytenants，andcannolongerbuytelescopes，andamunable，fromthenarrownessofmycircumstances，tomixincirclesthatpeopleformerlysaidIadorned，IfearIhavelostthelittleholdIoncehadoveryou。’
　　’Youareasunjustnowasyouhavebeengeneroushitherto，’saidSt。
　　Cleeve，withtearsinhiseyesatthegentlebanterofthelady，whichhe，poorinnocent，readasherrealopinions。Seizingherhandhecontinued，intonesbetweenreproachandanger，’IsweartoyouthatIhavebuttwodevotions，twothoughts，twohopes，andtwoblessingsinthisworld，andthatoneofthemisyourself！’
　　’Andtheother？’
　　’Thepursuitofastronomy。’
　　’Andastronomystandsfirst。’
　　’Ihaveneverordinatedtwosuchdissimilarideas。Andwhyshouldyoudeploreyouralteredcircumstances，mydearlady？Yourwidowhood，ifImaytakethelibertytospeakonsuchasubject，is，thoughIsupposeasadness，notperhapsanunmixedevil。Forthoughyourpecuniarytroubleshavebeendiscoveredtotheworldandyourselfbyit，yourhappinessinmarriagewas，asyouhaveconfidedtome，notgreat;andyouarenowleftfreeasabirdtofollowyourownhobbies。’
　　’Iwonderyourecognizethat。’
　　’Butperhaps，’headded，withasighofregret，’youwillagainfallapreytosomeman，someuninterestingcountrysquireorother，andbelosttothescientificworldafterall。’
　　’IfIfallapreytoanyman，itwillnotbetoacountrysquire。
　　Butdon’tgoonwiththis，forheaven’ssake！Youmaythinkwhatyoulikeinsilence。’
　　’Weareforgettingthecomet，’saidSt。Cleeve。Heturned，andsettheinstrumentinorderforobservation，andwheeledroundthedome。
　　Whileshewaslookingatthenucleusofthefieryplume，thatnowfilledsolargeaspaceoftheskyascompletelytodominateit，Swithindroppedhisgazeuponthefield，andbeheldinthedyinglightanumberoflabourerscrossingdirectlytowardsthecolumn。
　　’Whatdoyousee？’LadyConstantineasked，withoutceasingtoobservethecomet。
　　’Someofthework—folkarecomingthisway。Iknowwhattheyarecomingfor，——Ipromisedtoletthemlookatthecometthroughtheglass。’
　　’Theymustnotcomeuphere，’shesaiddecisively。
　　’Theyshallawaityourtime。’
　　’Ihaveaspecialreasonforwishingthemnottoseemehere。Ifyouaskwhy，Icantellyou。Theymistakenlysuspectmyinteresttobelessinastronomythanintheastronomer，andtheymusthavenoshowingforsuchawildnotion。Whatcanyoudotokeepthemout？’
　　’I’lllockthedoor，’saidSwithin。’TheywillthenthinkIamaway。’Herandownthestaircase，andshecouldhearhimhastilyturningthekey。LadyConstantinesighed。
　　’Whatweakness，whatweakness！’shesaidtoherself。’Thatenviedpowerofself—control，whereisit？Thatpowerofconcealmentwhichawomanshouldhave——where？Torunsuchrisks，tocomeherealone，—
　　—oh，ifitwereknown！ButIwasalwaysso，——always！’
　　Shejumpedup，andfollowedhimdownstairs。
　　XIII
　　Hewasstandingimmediatelyinsidethedooratthebottom，thoughitwassodarkshecouldhardlyseehim。Thevillagerswereaudiblytalkingjustwithout。
　　’He’ssuretocome，ratheorlate，’resoundedupthespiralinthevocalnoteofHezzyBiles。’Hewouldn’tletsuchafineshowasthecometmakesto—nightgobywithoutpeepingatit，——notMasterCleeve！Didyebringalongtheflagon，Haymoss？Thenwe’llsitdowninsidehislittleboard—househere，andwait。He’llcomeaforebed—time。Why，hisspy—glasswillstretchoutthattherecometaslongasWellandLane！’
　　’I’dassoonmissthegreatpeep—showthatcomeseveryyeartoGreenhillFairasasightofsuchaimmortalspectacleasthis！’
　　saidAmosFry。
　　’"Immortalspectacle，"——wheredidyegetthatchoicemossel，Haymoss？’inquiredSammyBlore。’Well，well，theLordsavegoodscholars——andtakejustabito’careofthemthatbain’t！As’tissodarkinthehut，supposewedrawoutthebenchintothefronthere，souls？’
　　Thebenchwasaccordinglybroughtforth，andinordertohaveabacktoleanagainst，theyplaceditexactlyacrossthedoorintothespiralstaircase。
　　’Now，haveyegotanybacky？Ifyehaven’t，Ihave，’continuedSammyBlore。Astrikingofmatchesfollowed，andthespeakerconcludedcomfortably，’Nowweshalldoverywell。’
　　’Andwhatdothiscometmean？’askedHaymoss。’Thatsomegreattumultisgoingtohappen，orthatweshalldieofafamine？’
　　’Famine——no！’saidNatChapman。’Thatonlytouchessuchaswe，andtheLordonlyconsarnshimselfwithborngentlemen。Itisn’ttobesupposedthatastrangefierylanternlikethatwouldbelightedupforfolkswithtenoradozenshillingsaweekandtheirgristing，andaloado’thornfaggotswhenwecanget’em。If’tisatokenthathe’sgettinghotaboutthewaysofanybodyinthisparish，’tisaboutmyLadyConstantine’s，sincesheistheonlyoneofafigureworthsuchahint。’
　　’Asforherincome，——thatshe’snowlost。’
　　’Ah，well;Idon’ttakeinallIhear。’
　　LadyConstantinedrewclosetoSt。Cleeve’sside，andwhispered，trembling，’Doyouthinktheywillwaitlong？Orcanwegetout？’
　　Swithinfelttheawkwardnessofthesituation。Themenhadplacedthebenchclosetothedoor，which，owingtothestairswithin，openedoutwards;sothatatthefirstpushbythepairinsidetoreleasethemselvesthebenchmusthavegoneover，andsentthesmokerssprawlingontheirfaces。Hewhisperedtohertoascendthecolumnandwaittillhecame。
　　’Andhavethedeadmanlefthernothing？Hey？Andhavehecarriedhisinheritanceinto’sgrave？Andwillhisskeletonliewarmonaccounto’t？Hee—hee！’saidHaymoss。
　　’’Tisallswalleredup，’observedHezzyBiles。’Hisgoings—onmadehermiserabletill’adied，andifIwerethewomanI’dhavemyrandysnow。Heoughttohavebequeathedtoherouryounggent，Mr。
　　St。Cleeve，assomesortofamends。I’dupandmarryen，ifIwereshe;sinceherdownfallhasbrought’emquiteneartogether，andmadehimasgoodassheinrank，ashewasaforeinboneandbreeding。’
　　’D’yethinkshewill？’askedSammyBlore。’Orisshemeaningtoenteruponavirginlifefortherestofherdays？’
　　’Idon’twanttobeunreverenttoherladyship;butIreallydon’tthinksheismeaninganysuchwasteofaChristiancarcase。Isayshe’srathermeaningtocommitflatmatrimonywi’somebodyorother，andoneyounggentlemaninparticular。’
　　’Buttheyoungmanhimself？’
　　’Planned，cutout，andfinishedforthedelightof’ooman！’
　　’Yethemustbewilling。’
　　’Thatwouldsooncome。Iftheygetupthistowerrulingplannardstogethermuchlonger，theirplannardswillsoonrulethemtogether，inmywayo’thinking。Ifshe’veadispositiontowardstheknot，shecansoonteachhim。’
　　’True，true，andlawfully。Whatbeforemidha’beenawrongdesireisnowaholywish！’
　　ThescalesfellfromSwithinSt。Cleeve’seyesasheheardthewordsofhisneighbours。Howsuddenlythetruthdawneduponhim;howitbewilderedhim，tillhescarcelyknewwherehewas;howherecalledthefullforceofwhathehadonlyhalfapprehendedatearliertimes，particularlyofthatsweetkissshehadimpressedonhislipswhenshesupposedhimdying，——thesevividrealizationsaredifficulttotellinslowverbiage。Hecouldremaintherenolonger，andwithanelectrifiedheartheretreatedupthespiral。
　　HefoundLadyConstantinehalfwaytothetop，standingbyaloop—
　　hole;andwhenshespokehediscoveredthatshewasalmostintears。
　　’Aretheygone？’sheasked。
　　’Ifeartheywillnotgoyet，’hereplied，withanervousfluctuationofmannerthathadneverbeforeappearedinhisbearingtowardsher。
　　’WhatshallIdo？’sheasked。’Ioughtnottobehere;nobodyknowsthatIamoutofthehouse。Oh，thisisamistake！Imustgohomesomehow。’
　　’Didyouhearwhattheyweresaying？’
　　’No，’saidshe。’Whatisthematter？Surelyyouaredisturbed？
　　Whatdidtheysay？’
　　’Itwouldbetheexaggerationoffranknessinmetotellyou。’
　　’Isitwhatawomanoughtnottobemadeacquaintedwith？’
　　’Itis，inthiscase。Itissonewandsoindescribableanideatome——that’——heleantagainsttheconcavewall，quitetremulouswithstrangeincipientsentiments。
　　’Whatsortofanidea？’sheaskedgently。