’Shouldwelive……justasweare，exactly，……supposingI
　　agreed？’shefaintlyinquired。
　　’Yes，thatismyidea。’
　　’Quiteprivately，yousay。Howcould——themarriagebequiteprivate？’
　　’IwouldgoawaytoLondonandgetalicense。Thenyoucouldcometome，andreturnagainimmediatelyaftertheceremony。Icouldreturnatleisureandnotasoulintheworldwouldknowwhathadtakenplace。Think，dearest，withwhatafreeconscienceyoucouldthenassistmeinmyeffortstoplumbthesedeepsaboveus！Anyfeelingthatyoumaynowhaveagainstclandestinemeetingsassuchwouldthenberemoved，andourheartswouldbeatrest。’
　　Therewasacertainscientificpracticabilityeveninhislove—
　　making，anditherecameoutexcellently。Butshesatonwithsuspendedbreath，herheartwildlybeating，whilehewaitedinopen—
　　mouthedexpectation。Eachwasswayedbytheemotionwithinthem，muchasthecandle—flamewasswayedbythetempestwithout。Itwasthemostcriticaleveningoftheirlives。
　　Thepaleraysofthelittlelanternfelluponherbeautifulface，snuglyandneatlyboundinbyherblackbonnet;butnotabeamofthelanternleakedoutintothenighttosuggesttoanywatchfuleyethathumanlifeatitshighestexcitementwasbeatingwithinthedarkandisolatedtower;forthedomehadnowindows，andeveryshutterthataffordedanopeningforthetelescopewashermeticallyclosed。Predilectionsandmisgivingssoequallystrovewithinherstillyouthfulbreastthatshecouldnotutteraword;herintentionwheeledthiswayandthatlikethebalanceofawatch。Hisunexpectedpropositionhadbroughtaboutthesmartestencounterofinclinationwithprudence，ofimpulsewithreserve，thatshehadeverknown。
　　Ofallthereasonsthatshehadexpectedhimtogiveforhisurgentrequesttoseeherthisevening，anofferofmarriagewasprobablythelast。Whetherornotshehadeveramusedherselfwithhypotheticalfanciesonsuchasubject，——anditwasonlynaturalthatsheshouldvaguelyhavedoneso，——thecourageinherprotegecoollytoadvanceit，withoutahintfromherselfthatsuchaproposalwouldbetolerated，showedherthattherewasmoreinhischaracterthanshehadreckonedon:andthediscoveryalmostfrightenedher。Thehumour，attitude，andtenorofherattachmenthadbeenofquiteanunpremeditatedquality，unsuggestiveofanysuchaudacioussolutiontotheirdistressesasthis。
　　’Irepeatmyquestion，dearest，’hesaid，afterherlongpause。
　　’Shallitbedone？OrshallIexilemyself，andstudyasbestI
　　can，insomedistantcountry，outofsightandsound？’
　　’Arethosetheonlyalternatives？Yes，yes;Isupposetheyare！’
　　Shewaitedyetanothermoment，bentoverhiskneelingfigure，andkissedhisforehead。’Yes;itshallbedone，’shewhispered。’I
　　willmarryyou。’
　　’Myangel，Iamcontent！’
　　Hedrewheryieldingformtohisheart，andherheadsankuponhisshoulder，ashepressedhistwolipscontinuouslyuponhers。Tosuchhadthestudyofcelestialphysicsbroughttheminthespaceofeightmonths，oneweek，andafewodddays。
　　’Iamweakerthanyou，——fartheweaker，’shewenton，hertearsfalling。’RatherthanloseyououtofmysightIwillmarrywithoutstipulationorcondition。But——Iputittoyourkindness——grantmeonelittlerequest。’
　　Heinstantlyassented。
　　’Itisthat，inconsiderationofmypeculiarpositioninthiscounty，——O，youcan’tunderstandit！——youwillnotputanendtotheabsolutesecrecyofourrelationshipwithoutmyfullassent。Also，thatyouwillnevercometoWellandHousewithoutfirstdiscussingwithmetheadvisabilityofthevisit，acceptingmyopiniononthepoint。There，seehowatimidwomantriestofenceherselfin！’
　　’Mydearlady—love，neitherofthosetwohigh—handedcoursesshouldIhavetaken，evenhadyounotstipulatedagainstthem。Theveryessenceofourmarriageplanisthatthosetwoconditionsarekept。
　　Iseeaswellasyoudo，evenmorethanyoudo，howimportantitisthatforthepresent，——ay，foralongtimehence——Ishouldstillbebutthecurate’slonelyson，unattachedtoanybodyoranything，withnoobjectofinterestbuthisscience;andyoutherecluseladyofthemanor，towhomheisonlyanacquaintance。’
　　’Seewhatdeceitslovesowsinhonestminds！’
　　’ItwouldbeahumiliationtoyouatpresentthatIcouldnotbearifamarriagebetweenusweremadepublic;aninconveniencewithoutanycompensatingadvantage。’
　　’Iamsogladyouassumeitwithoutmysettingitbeforeyou！NowI
　　knowyouarenotonlygoodandtrue，butpoliticandtrustworthy。’
　　’Well，then，hereisourcovenant。Myladyswearstomarryme;I，inreturnforsuchgreatcourtesy，swearnevertocompromiseherbyintrudingatWellandHouse，andtokeepthemarriageconcealedtillIhavewonapositionworthyofher。’
　　’OrtillIrequestittobemadeknown，’sheadded，possiblyforeseeingacontingencywhichhadnotoccurredtohim。
　　’Ortillyourequestit，’herepeated。
　　’Itisagreed，’murmuredLadyConstantine，XVI
　　Afterthisthereonlyremainedtobesettledbetweenthemthepracticaldetailsoftheproject。
　　Thesewerethatheshouldleavehomeinacoupleofdays，andtakelodgingseitherinthedistantcityofBathorinaconvenientsuburbofLondon，tillasufficienttimeshouldhaveelapsedtosatisfylegalrequirements;thatonafinemorningattheendofthistimesheshouldhieawaytothesameplace，andbemetatthestationbySt。Cleeve，armedwiththemarriagelicense;whencetheyshouldatonceproceedtothechurchfixeduponfortheceremony;
　　returninghomeindependentlyinthecourseofthenexttwoorthreedays。
　　Whilethesetacticswereunderdiscussionthetwo—and—thirtywindsofheavencontinued，asbefore，tobeataboutthetower，thoughtheironsetsappearedtobesomewhatlesseninginforce。Himselfnowcalmedandsatisfied，Swithin，asisthewontofhumanity，tookserenerviewsofNature’scrushingmechanicswithout，andsaid，’Thewinddoesn’tseemdisposedtoputthetragicperiodtoourhopesandfearsthatIspokeofinmymomentarydespair。’
　　’Thedispositionofthewindisasviciousasever，’sheanswered，lookingintohisfacewithpausingthoughtson，perhaps，othersubjectsthanthatdiscussed。’Itisyourmoodofviewingitthathaschanged。"Thereisnothingeithergoodorbad，butthinkingmakesitso。"’
　　And，asifflatlytostultifySwithin’sassumption，acircularhurricane，exceedinginviolenceanythathadprecededit，seizedholduponRings—HillSpeeratthatmomentwiththedeterminationofaconsciousagent。Thefirstsensationofaresultingcatastrophewasconveyedtotheirintelligencebytheflappingofthecandle—
　　flameagainstthelantern—glass;thenthewind，whichhithertotheyhadheardratherthanfelt，rubbedpastthemlikeafugitive。
　　Swithinbeheldaroundandabovehim，inplaceoftheconcavityofthedome，theopenheaven，withitsracingclouds，remotehorizon，andintermittentgleamofstars。Thedomethathadcoveredthetowerhadbeenwhirledoffbodily;andtheyhearditdescendcrashinguponthetrees。
　　FindinghimselfuntouchedSwithinstretchedouthisarmstowardsLadyConstantine，whoseapparelhadbeenseizedbythespinningair，nearlyliftingheroffherlegs。She，too，wasasyetunharmed。
　　Eachheldtheotherforamoment，when，fearingthatsomethingfurtherwouldhappen，theytookshelterinthestaircase。
　　’Dearest，whatanescape！’hesaid，stillholdingher。
　　’Whatistheaccident？’sheasked。’Hasthewholetopreallygone？’
　　’Thedomehasbeenblownofftheroof。’
　　Assoonasitwaspracticableherelittheextinguishedlantern，andtheyemergedagainupontheleads，wheretheextentofthedisasterbecameatonceapparent。Savingtheabsenceoftheenclosinghemisphereallremainedthesame。Thedome，beingconstructedofwood，waslightbycomparisonwiththerestofthestructure，andthewheelswhichallowedithorizontal，or，asSwithinexpressedit，azimuthmotion，denieditafirmholduponthewalls;sothatithadbeenliftedoffthemlikeacoverfromapot。Theequatorialstoodinthemidstasithadstoodbefore。
　　Havingexecuteditsgrotesquepurposethewindsanktocomparativemildness。Swithintookadvantageofthislullbycoveringuptheinstrumentswithcloths，afterwhichthebetrothedcouplepreparedtogodownstairs。
　　Buttheeventsofthenighthadnotyetfullydisclosedthemselves。
　　Atthismomenttherewasasoundoffootstepsandaknockingatthedoorbelow。
　　’Itcan’tbeforme！’saidLadyConstantine。’Iretiredtomyroombeforeleavingthehouse，andtoldthemonnoaccounttodisturbme。’
　　SheremainedatthetopwhileSwithinwentdownthespiral。InthegloomhebeheldHannah。
　　’OMasterSwithin，canyecomehome！Thewindhavebloweddownthechimleythatdon’tsmoke，andthepinning—endwithit;andtheoldancienthouse，thathavebeeninyourfamilysolongasthememoryofman，isnakedtotheworld！Itisamercythatyourgrammerwerenotkilled，sittingbythehearth，pooroldsoul，andsoontowalkwi’God，——for’a’sgettingwamblingonherpins，Mr。Swithin，asagedfolksdo。AsIsay，’awasallbutmurderedbytheelements，anddoingnomoreharmthanthebabesinthewood，norspeakingoneharmfulword。AndthefireandsmokewereblowedallacrosshouselikeachapterinRevelation;andyourpoorreverentfather’sfeaturesscorchedtoflakes，lookinglikethevilestruffian，andthegiltframespoiled！Everyflitch，everyeye—piece，andeverychineisburiedunderthewalling;andIfedthempigswithmyownhands，MasterSwithin，littlethinkingtheywouldcometothisend。
　　Doyecollectyourself，Mr。Swithin，andcomeatonce！’
　　’Iwill，——Iwill。I’llfollowyouinamoment。Doyouhastenbackagainandassist。’
　　WhenHannahhaddepartedtheyoungmanranuptoLadyConstantine，towhomheexplainedtheaccident。AftersympathizingwitholdMrs。
　　MartinLadyConstantineadded，’Ithoughtsomethingwouldoccurtomarourscheme！’
　　’Iamnotquitesureofthatyet。’
　　Onashortconsiderationwithhim，sheagreedtowaitatthetopofthetowertillhecouldcomebackandinformheriftheaccidentwerereallysoseriousastointerferewithhisplanfordeparture。
　　Hethenlefther，andthereshesatinthedark，alone，lookingovertheparapet，andstraininghereyesinthedirectionofthehomestead。
　　Atfirstallwasobscurity;butwhenhehadbeengoneabouttenminuteslightsbegantomovetoandfrointhehollowwherethehousestood，andshoutsoccasionallymingledwiththewind，whichretainedsomeviolenceyet，playingoverthetreesbeneathherasonthestringsofalyre。Butnotaboughofthemwasvisible，acloakofblacknesscoveringeverythingnetherward;whileoverheadthewindyskylookeddownwithastrangeanddisguisedface，thethreeorfourstarsthatalonewerevisiblebeingsodissociatedbycloudsthatsheknewnotwhichtheywere。UnderanyothercircumstancesLadyConstantinemighthavefeltanamelessfearinthussittingaloftonalonelycolumn，withaforestgroaningunderherfeet，andpalaeolithicdeadmenfeedingitsroots;buttherecentpassionatedecisionstirredherpulsestoanintensitybesidewhichtheordinarytremorsoffeminineexistenceassertedthemselvesinvain。
　　Theapocalypticeffectofthescenesurroundingherwas，indeed，notinharmonious，andaffordedanappropriatebackgroundtoherintentions。
　　Afterwhatseemedtoheraninterminablespaceoftime，quickstepsinthestaircasebecameaudibleabovetheroarofthefirs，andinafewinstantsSt。Cleeveagainstoodbesideher。
　　Thecaseofthehomesteadwasserious。Hannah’saccounthadnotbeenexaggeratedinsubstance:thegableendofthehousewasopentothegarden;thejoists，leftwithoutsupport，haddropped，andwiththemtheupperfloor。Bythehelpofsomelabourers，wholivednear，andLadyConstantine’smanAnthony，whowaspassingatthetime，thehomesteadhadbeenproppedup，andprotectedforthenightbysomerickcloths;butSwithinfeltthatitwouldbeselfishinthehighestdegreetoleavetwolonelyoldwomentothemselvesatthisjuncture。’Inshort，’heconcludeddespondently，’IcannotgotostayinBathorLondonjustnow;perhapsnotforanotherfortnight！’
　　’Nevermind，’shesaid。’Afortnighthencewilldoaswell。’
　　’AndIhavetheseforyou，’hecontinued。’YourmanGreenwaspassingmygrandmother’sonhiswaybackfromWarborne，wherehehadbeen，hesays，foranylettersthathadcomeforyoubytheeveningpost。AshestayedtoassisttheothermenItoldhimIwouldgoontoyourhousewiththelettershehadbrought。OfcourseIdidnottellhimIshouldseeyouhere。’
　　’Thankyou。Ofcoursenot。NowI’llreturnatonce。’
　　Indescendingthecolumnhereyefelluponthesuperscriptionofoneoftheletters，andsheopenedandglancedoveritbythelanternlight。Sheseemedstartled，and，musing，said，’Thepostponementofour——intentionmustbe，Ifear，foralongtime。IfindthataftertheendofthismonthIcannotleavehomesafely，evenforaday。’
　　Perceivingthathewasabouttoaskwhy，sheadded，’Iwillnottroubleyouwiththereasonnow;itwouldonlyharassyou。Itisonlyafamilybusiness，andcannotbehelped。’
　　’Thenwecannotbemarriedtill——Godknowswhen！’saidSwithinblankly。’Icannotleavehometillafterthenextweekortwo;youcannotleavehomeunlesswithinthattime。Sowhatarewetodo？’
　　’Idonotknow。’
　　’Mydear，dearone，don’tletusbebeatenlikethis！Don’tletawell—consideredplanbeoverthrownbyamereaccident！Here’saremedy。DoYOUgoandstaytherequisitetimeintheparishwearetobemarriedin，insteadofme。WhenmygrandmotherisagainwellhousedIcancometoyou，insteadofyoutome，aswefirstsaid。
　　Thenitcanbedonewithinthetime。’
　　Reluctantly，shyly，andyetwithacertaingladnessofheart，shegavewaytohisproposalthattheyshouldchangeplacesintheprogramme。Therewasmuchthatshedidnotlikeinit，shesaid。
　　Itseemedtoherasifsheweretakingtheinitiativebygoingandattendingtothepreliminaries。Itwastheman’sparttodothat，inheropinion，andwasusuallyundertakenbyhim。
　　’But，’arguedSwithin，’therearecasesinwhichthewomandoesgivethenotices，andsoon;thatistosay，whenthemanisabsolutelyhinderedfromdoingso;andoursissuchacase。Theseemingisnothing;Iknowthetruth，andwhatdoesitmatter？Youdonotrefuse——retractyourwordtobemywife，because，toavoidasickeningdelay，theformalitiesrequireyoutoattendtotheminplaceofme？’
　　Shedidnotrefuse，shesaid。Inshortsheagreedtohisentreaty。
　　Theyhad，intruth，gonesofarintheirdreamofunionthattherewasnodrawingbacknow。Whicheverofthemwasforcedbycircumstancestobetheprotagonistintheenterprise，thethingmustbedone。Theirintentiontobecomehusbandandwife，atfirsthaltingandtimorous，hadaccumulatedmomentumwiththelapseofhours，tillitnowboredowneveryobstacleinitscourse。
　　’Sinceyoubegmeto，——sincethereisnoalternativebetweenmygoingandalongpostponement，’shesaid，astheystoodinthedarkporchofWellandHousebeforeparting，——’sinceIamtogofirst，andseemtobethepioneerinthisadventure，promiseme，Swithin，promiseyourViviette，thatinyearstocome，whenperhapsyoumaynotlovemesowarmlyasyoudonow——’
　　’Thatwillneverbe。’
　　’Well，hopingitwillnot，butsupposingitshould，promisemethatyouwillneverreproachmeastheonewhotooktheinitiativewhenitshouldhavebeenyourself，forgettingthatitwasatyourrequest;promisethatyouwillneversayIshowedimmodestreadinesstodoso，oranythingwhichmayimplyyourobliviousnessofthefactthatIactinobediencetonecessityandyourearnestprayer。’
　　Needitbesaidthathepromisednevertoreproachherwiththatoranyotherthingaslongastheyshouldlive？Thefewdetailsofthereversedarrangementweresoonsettled，Bathbeingtheplacefinallydecidedon。Then，withawarmaudacitywhicheventshadencouraged，hepressedhertohisbreast，andshesilentlyenteredthehouse。
　　Hereturnedtothehomestead，theretoattendtotheunexpecteddutiesofrepairingthehavocwroughtbythegale。
　　Thatnight，inthesolitudeofherchamber，LadyConstantinereopenedandreadthesubjoinedletter——oneofthosehandedtoherbySt。Cleeve:——
　　"—————STREET，PICCADILLY，October15，18——。
　　’DEARVIVIETTE，——YouwillbesurprisedtolearnthatIaminEngland，andthatIamagainoutofharness——unlessyoushouldhaveseenthelatterinthepapers。RioJaneiromaydoformonkeys，butitwon’tdoforme。HavingresignedtheappointmentIhavereturnedhere，asapreliminarysteptofindinganotherventformyenergies;
　　inotherwords，anothermilchcowformysustenance。Iknewnothingwhateverofyourhusband’sdeathtilltwodaysago;sothatanyletterfromyouonthesubject，atthetimeitbecameknown，musthavemiscarried。Hypocrisyatsuchamomentisworsethanuseless，andIthereforedonotcondolewithyou，particularlyastheevent，thoughnewtoabanishedmanlikeme，occurredsolongsince。Youarebetterwithouthim，Viviette，andarenowjustthelimbfordoingsomethingforyourself，notwithstandingthethreadbarestateinwhichyouseemtohavebeencastupontheworld。Youarestillyoung，and，asIimagine（unlessyouhavevastlyalteredsinceI
　　beheldyou），good—looking:thereforemakeupyourmindtoretrieveyourpositionbyamatchwithoneofthelocalcelebrities;andyouwoulddowelltobegindrawingneighbouringcoversatonce。A
　　genialsquire，withmoreweightthanwit，morerealtythanweight，andmorepersonaltythanrealty（consideringthecircumstances），wouldbebestforyou。Youmightmakeapositionforusbothbysomesuchalliance;for，totellthetruth，Ihavehadbutin—and—
　　outlucksofar。Ishallbewithyouinlittlemorethanafortnight，whenwewilltalkoverthematterseriously，ifyoudon’tobject。——Youraffectionatebrother，LOUIS。’
　　Itwasthisallusiontoherbrother’scomingvisitwhichhadcaughthereyeinthetowerstaircase，andledtoamodificationintheweddingarrangement。
　　HavingreadtheletterthroughonceLadyConstantineflungitasidewithanimpatientlittlestampthatshookthedecayingoldfloorandcasement。Itscontentsproducedperturbation，misgiving，butnotretreat。Thedeepglowofenchantmentshedbytheideaofaprivateunionwithherbeautifulyoungloverkilledthepalelightofcoldreasoningfromanindifferentlygoodrelative。
　　’Oh，no，’shemurmured，asshesat，coveringherfacewithherhand。
　　’NotforwealthuntoldcouldIgivehimupnow！’
　　Noargument，shortofApolloinpersonfromtheclouds，wouldhaveinfluencedher。Shemadeherpreparationsfordepartureasifnothinghadintervened。
　　XVII
　　InherdaysofprosperityLadyConstantinehadoftengonetothecityofBath，eitherfrivolously，forshoppingpurposes，ormusico—
　　religiously，toattendchoirfestivalsintheabbey;sotherewasnothingsurprisinginherrevertingtoanoldpractice。Thatthejourneymightappeartobeofasomewhatsimilarnatureshetookwithhertheservantwhohadbeenaccustomedtoaccompanyheronformeroccasions，thoughthewoman，havingnowleftherservice，andsettledinthevillageasthewifeofAnthonyGreen，withayoungchildonherhands，couldwithsomedifficultyleavehome。LadyConstantineovercametheanxiousmother’sscruplesbyprovidingthatyoungGreenshouldbewellcaredfor;andknowingthatshecouldcountuponthiswoman’sfidelity，ifuponanybody’s，incaseofanaccident（foritwaschieflyLadyConstantine’sexertionsthathadmadeanhonestwifeofMrs。Green），shedepartedforafortnight’sabsence。
　　Thenextdayfoundmistressandmaidsettledinlodgingsinanoldplum—colouredbrickstreet，whichahundredyearsagocouldboastofrankandfashionamongitsresidents，thoughnowthebroadfan—lightovereachbroaddooradmittedthesuntothehallsofalodging—
　　housekeeperonly。Thelamp—postswerestillthosethathaddonedutywithoillights;andrheumaticoldcoachmenandpostilions，thatoncehaddrivenandriddengloriouslyfromLondontoLand’sEnd，ornamentedwiththeirbentpersonsandbowlegsthepavementinfrontofthechiefinn，inthesorryhopeofearningsixpencetokeepbodyandsoultogether。
　　’Wearekeptwellinformedonthetimeo’day，mylady，’saidMrs。
　　Green，asshepulleddowntheblindsinLadyConstantine’sroomontheeveningoftheirarrival。’There’sachurchexactlyatthebackofus，andIheareveryhourstrike。’
　　LadyConstantinesaidshehadnoticedthattherewasachurchquitenear。
　　’Well，itisbettertohavethatatthebackthanotherfolks’
　　winders。Andifyourladyshipwantstogothereitwon’tbefartowalk。’
　　’That’swhatoccurredtome，’saidLadyConstantine，’IFIshouldwanttogo。’
　　Duringtheensuingdaysshefelttotheutmostthetediousnessofwaitingmerelythattimemightpass。Notasoulknewherthere，andsheknewnotasoul，acircumstancewhich，whileitaddedtohersenseofsecrecy，intensifiedhersolitude。Occasionallyshewenttoashop，withGreenashercompanion。Thoughtherewerepurchasestobemade，theywerebynomeansofapressingnature，andbutpoorlyfilledupthevacanciesofthosestrange，speculativedays，——
　　dayssurroundedbyashadeoffear，yetpoetizedbysweetexpectation。
　　OnthethirteenthdayshetoldGreenthatshewasgoingtotakeawalk，andleavingthehouseshepassedbytheobscureststreetstotheAbbey。Afterwanderingaboutbeneaththeaislestillhercouragewasscrewedtoitshighest，shewentoutattheotherside，and，lookingtimidlyroundtoseeifanybodyfollowed，walkedontillshecametoacertaindoor，whichshereachedjustatthemomentwhenherheartbegantosinktoitsverylowest，renderingallthescrewingupinvain。
　　WhetheritwasbecausethemonthwasOctober，orfromanyotherreason，thedesertedaspectofthequarteringeneralsatespeciallyonthisbuilding。Moreoverthepavementwasup，andheapsofstoneandgravelobstructedthefootway。Nobodywascoming，nobodywasgoing，inthatthoroughfare;sheappearedtobethesingleoneofthehumanracebentuponmarriagebusiness，whichseemedtohavebeenunanimouslyabandonedbyalltherestoftheworldasprovenfolly。ButshethoughtofSwithin，hisblondehair，ardenteyes，andeloquentlips，andwascarriedonwardbytheveryreflection。
　　Enteringthesurrogate’sroomLadyConstantinemanaged，atthelastjuncture，tostatehererrandintonessocollectedastostartleevenherselftowhichherlistenerrepliedalsoasifthewholethingwerethemostnaturalintheworld。Whenitcametotheaffirmationthatshehadlivedfifteendaysintheparish，shesaidwithdismay——
　　’Ono！Ithoughtthefifteendaysmeanttheintervalofresidencebeforethemarriagetakesplace。Ihavelivedhereonlythirteendaysandahalf。NowImustcomeagain！’
　　’Ah——well——Ithinkyouneednotbesoparticular，’saidthesurrogate。’Asamatteroffact，thoughtheletterofthelawrequiresfifteendays’residence，manypeoplemakefivesufficient。
　　Theprovisionisinserted，asyoudoubtlessareaware，tohinderrunawaymarriagesasmuchaspossible，andsecretunions，andothersuchobjectionablepractices。Youneednotcomeagain。’
　　ThateveningLadyConstantinewrotetoSwithinSt。Cleevethelastletterofthefortnight:——
　　’MYDEAREST，——Docometomeassoonasyoucan。ByasortoffavouringblunderIhavebeenabletoshortenthetimeofwaitingbyaday。Comeatonce，forIamalmostbrokendownwithapprehension。
　　Itseemsratherrashatmoments，allthis，andIwishyouwereheretoreassureme。IdidnotknowIshouldfeelsoalarmed。Iamfrightenedateveryfootstep，anddreadlestanybodywhoknowsmeshouldaccostme，andfindoutwhyIamhere。IsometimeswonderhowIcouldhaveagreedtocomeandenactyourpart，butIdidnotrealizehowtryingitwouldbe。Yououghtnottohaveaskedme，Swithin;uponmyword，itwastoocruelofyou，andIwillpunishyouforitwhenyoucome！ButIwon’tupbraid。Ihopethehomesteadisrepairedthathascostmeallthissacrificeofmodesty。IfitwereanybodyintheworldbutYOUinquestionI
　　wouldrushhome，withoutwaitingherefortheendofit，——IreallythinkIwould！But，dearest，no。Imustshowmystrengthnow，orletitbeforeverhid。Thebarriersofceremonyarebrokendownbetweenus，anditisforthebestthatIamhere。’
　　Andyet，atnopointofthistryingpreludeneedLadyConstantinehavefearedforherstrength。Deedsinthisconnexiondemandtheparticularkindofcouragethatsuchperfervidwomenareendowedwith，thecourageoftheiremotions，inwhichyoungmenareoftenlamentablydeficient。Herfearwas，intruth，thefearofbeingdiscoveredinanunwontedposition;notoftheactitself。Andthoughherletterwasinitswayatrueexpositionofherfeeling，haditbeennecessarytogothroughthewholelegalprocessoveragainshewouldhavebeenfoundequaltotheemergency。
　　IthadbeenforsomedaysapointofanxietywithherwhattodowithGreenduringthemorningofthewedding。Chanceunexpectedlyhelpedherinthisdifficulty。ThedaybeforethepurchaseofthelicenseGreencametoLadyConstantinewithaletterinherhandfromherhusbandAnthony，herfaceaslongasafiddle。
　　’Ihopethere’snothingthematter？’saidLadyConstantine。
　　’Thechild’stookbad，mylady！’saidMrs。Green，withsuspendedfloodsofwaterinhereyes。’IlovethechildbetterthanIshallloveallthemthat’scomingputtogether;forhe’sbeenagoodboytohismothereversincetwelveweeksaforehewasborn！’Twashe，atenderdeary，thatmadeAnthonymarryme，andtherebyturnedhisselffromalittlecalamitytoalittleblessing！For，asyouknow，themanwereabackwardmaninthechurchparto’matrimony，mylady;thoughhe’lldoanythingwhenhe’sforcedabitbyhismanlyfeelings。Andnowtolosethechild——hoo—hoo—hoo！WhatshallIdoo！’
　　’Well，youwanttogohomeatonce，Isuppose？’
　　Mrs。Greenexplained，betweenhersobs，thatsuchwasherdesire;
　　andthoughthiswasadayortwosoonerthanhermistresshadwishedtobeleftalonesheconsentedtoGreen’sdeparture。Soduringtheafternoonherwomanwentoff，withdirectionstoprepareforLadyConstantine’sreturnintwoorthreedays。Butastheexactdayofherreturnwasuncertainnocarriagewastobesenttothestationtomeether，herintentionbeingtohireonefromthehotel。
　　LadyConstantinewasnowleftinuttersolitudetoawaitherlover’sarrival。
　　XVIII
　　AmorebeautifulOctobermorningthanthatofthenextdayneverbeamedintotheWellandvalleys。Theyearlydissolutionofleafagewassettinginapace。Thefoliageoftheparktreesrapidlyresolveditselfintothemultitudeofcomplexionswhichmarkthesubtlegradesofdecay，reflectingwetlightsofsuchinnumerablehuesthatitwasawondertothinktheirbeautiesonlyarepetitionofscenesthathadbeenexhibitedthereonscoresofpreviousOctobers，andhadbeenallowedtopassawaywithoutasingledirgefromtheimperturbablebeingswhowalkedamongthem。Farintheshadowssemi—opaquescreensofbluehazemademysteriesofthecommonestgravel—pit，dingle，orrecess。
　　ThewoodencabinatthefootofRings—HillSpeerhadbeenfurnishedbySwithinasasittingandsleepingapartment，somelittlewhilebeforethistime;forhehadfoundithighlyconvenient，duringnightobservationsatthetopofthecolumn，toremainonthespotallnight，nottodisturbhisgrandmotherbypassinginandoutofthehouse，andtosavehimselfthelabourofincessantlycrossingthefield。
　　Hewouldmuchhavelikedtotellherthesecret，and，haditbeenhisowntotell，wouldprobablyhavedoneso;butsharingitwithanobjectorwhoknewnothisgrandmother’saffectionsowellashedidhimself，therewasnoalternativetoholdinghistongue。Themoreeffectuallytoguardithedecidedtosleepatthecabinduringthetwoorthreenightsprevioustohisdeparture，leavingwordatthehomesteadthatinadayortwohewasgoingonanexcursion。