Itwasverynecessarytostartearly。LongbeforethegreateyeofthesunwasliftedhighenoughtoglanceintotheWellandvalley，St。Cleevearosefromhisbedinthecabinandpreparedtodepart，cookinghisbreakfastuponalittlestoveinthecorner。Theyoungrabbits，litteredduringtheforegoingsummer，watchedhispreparationsthroughtheopendoorfromthegreydawnwithout，ashebustled，halfdressed，inandoutundertheboughs，andamongtheblackberriesandbramblesthatgrewaround。
　　Itwasastrangeplaceforabridegroomtoperformhistoiletin，but，consideringtheunconventionalnatureofthemarriage，anotinappropriateone。Whateventshadbeenenactedinthatearthencampsinceitwasfirstthrownup，nobodycouldsay;buttheprimitivesimplicityoftheyoungman’spreparationsaccordedwellwiththeprehistoricspotonwhichtheyweremade。Embeddedunderhisfeetwerepossiblyevennowrudetrinketsthathadbeenwornatbridalceremoniesoftheearlyinhabitants。Littlesignifiedthoseceremoniesto—day，orthehappinessorotherwiseofthecontractingparties。Thathisownrite，nevertheless，signifiedmuch，wastheinconsequentreasoningofSwithin，asitisofmanyanotherbridegroombesides;andhe，liketherest，wentonwithhispreparationsinthatmoodwhichseesinhisstalerepetitionthewondrouspossibilitiesofanuntriedmove。
　　Thenthroughthewetcobwebs，thathunglikemovablediaphragmsoneachbladeandbough，hepushedhiswaydowntothefurrowwhichledfromthesecludedfir—treeislandtothewideworldbeyondthefield。
　　Hewasnotastrangertoenterprise，andstilllesstothecontemplationofenterprise;butanenterprisesuchasthishehadneverevenoutlined。Thathisdearladywastroubledatthesituationhehadplacedherinbynotgoinghimselfonthaterrand，hecouldseefromherletter;but，believinganimmediatemarriagewithhertobethetruewayofrestoringtoboththatequanimitynecessarytoserenephilosophy，hehelditoflittleaccounthowthemarriagewasbroughtabout，andhappilybeganhisjourneytowardsherplaceofsojourn。
　　Hepassedthroughalittlecopsebeforeleavingtheparish，thesmokefromnewlylitfiresrisinglikethestemsofbluetreesoutofthefewcottagechimneys。Hereheheardaquick，familiarfootstepinthepathaheadofhim，and，turningthecornerofthebushes，confrontedthefoot—postonhiswaytoWelland。InanswertoSt。Cleeve’sinquiryiftherewasanythingforhimselfthepostmanhandedoutoneletter，andproceededonhisroute。
　　Swithinopenedandreadtheletterashewalked，tillitbroughthimtoastandstillbytheimportanceofitscontents。
　　Theywereenoughtoagitateamorephlegmaticyouththanhe。Heleantoverthewicketwhichcameinhispath，andendeavouredtocomprehendthesenseofthewhole。
　　Thelargelongenvelopecontained，first，aletterfromasolicitorinanortherntown，informinghimthathispaternalgreat—uncle，whohadrecentlyreturnedfromtheCape（whitherhehadgoneinanattempttorepairabrokenconstitution），wasnowdeadandburied。
　　Thisgreat—uncle’snamewaslikeanewcreationtoSwithin。Hehadheldnocommunicationwiththeyoungman’sbranchofthefamilyforinnumerableyears，——never，infact，sincethemarriageofSwithin’sfatherwiththesimpledaughterofWellandFarm。Hehadbeenabachelortotheendofhislife，andhadamassedafairlygoodprofessionalfortunebyalongandextensivemedicalpracticeinthesmoky，dreary，manufacturingtowninwhichhehadlivedanddied。
　　Swithinhadalwaysbeentaughttothinkofhimastheembodimentofallthatwasunpleasantinman。Hewasnarrow，sarcastic，andshrewdtounseemliness。Thatveryshrewdnesshadenabledhim，withoutmuchprofessionalprofundity，toestablishhislargeandlucrativeconnexion，whichlayalmostentirelyamongaclasswhoneitherlookednorcaredfordrawing—roomcourtesies。
　　However，whatDr。St。Cleevehadbeenasapractitionermatterslittle。Hewasnowdead，andthebulkofhispropertyhadbeenlefttopersonswithwhomthisstoryhasnothingtodo。ButSwithinwasinformedthatoutofittherewasabequestof600poundsayeartohimself，——paymentofwhichwastobeginwithhistwenty—firstyear，andcontinueforhislife，unlessheshouldmarrybeforereachingtheageoftwenty—five。Inthelatterprecociousandobjectionableeventhisannuitywouldbeforfeited。Theaccompanyingletter，saidthesolicitor，wouldexplainall。
　　This，thesecondletter，wasfromhisuncletohimself，writtenaboutamonthbeforetheformer’sdeath，anddepositedwithhiswill，tobeforwardedtohisnephewwhenthateventshouldhavetakenplace。Swithinread，withthesolemnitythatsuchposthumousepistlesinspire，thefollowingwordsfromonewho，duringlife，hadneveronceaddressedhim:—
　　’DEARNEPHEW，——Youwilldoubtlessexperiencesomeastonishmentatreceivingacommunicationfromonewhomyouhaveneverpersonallyknown，andwho，whenthiscomesintoyourhands，willbebeyondthereachofyourknowledge。PerhapsIamtheloserbythislife—longmutualignorance。PerhapsIammuchtoblameforit;perhapsnot。
　　Butsuchreflectionsareprofitlessatthisdate:Ihavewrittenwithquiteotherviewsthantoworkupasentimentalregretonsuchanamazinglyremotehypothesisasthatthefactofaparticularpairofpeoplenotmeeting，amongthemillionsofotherpairsofpeoplewhohavenevermet，isagreatcalamityeithertotheworldingeneralortothemselves。
　　’Theoccasionofmyaddressingyouisbrieflythis:Ninemonthsagoareportcasuallyreachedmethatyourscientificstudieswerepursuedbyyouwithgreatability，andthatyouwereayoungmanofsomepromiseasanastronomer。Myownscientificproclivitiesrenderedthereportmoreinterestingthanitmightotherwisehavebeentome;anditcameuponmequiteasasurprisethatanyissueofyourfather’smarriageshouldhavesomuchinhim，oryoumighthaveseenmoreofmeinformeryearsthanyouareeverlikelytodonow。Myhealthhadthenbeguntofail，andIwasstartingfortheCape，orIshouldhavecomemyselftoinquireintoyourconditionandprospects。Ididnotreturntillsixmonthslater，andasmyhealthhadnotimprovedIsentatrustyfriendtoexamineintoyourlife，pursuits，andcircumstances，withoutyourownknowledge，andtoreporthisobservationstome。Thishedid。ThroughhimI
　　learnt，offavourablenews:——
　　’（1）Thatyouworkedassiduouslyatthescienceofastronomy。
　　’（2）Thateverythingwasauspiciousinthecareeryouhadchosen。
　　’Ofunfavourablenews:——
　　’（1）Thatthesmallincomeatyourcommand，evenwhenekedoutbythesumtowhichyouwouldbeentitledonyourgrandmother’sdeathandthefreeholdofthehomestead，wouldbeinadequatetosupportyoubecominglyasascientificman，whoselinesofworkwereofanaturenotcalculatedtoproduceemolumentsformanyyears，ifever。
　　’（2）Thattherewassomethinginyourpathworsethannarrowmeans，andthatthatsomethingwasaWOMAN。
　　’Tosaveyou，ifpossible，fromruinontheseheads，Itakethepreventivemeasuresdetailedbelow。
　　’Thechiefstepis，asmysolicitorwillhaveinformedyou，that，attheageoftwenty—five，thesumof600poundsayearbesettledonyouforlife，providedyouhavenotmarriedbeforereachingthatage;——ayearlygiftofanequalsumtobealsoprovisionallymadetoyouintheinterim——and，viceversa，thatifyoudomarrybeforereachingtheageoftwenty—fiveyouwillreceivenothingfromthedateofthemarriage。
　　’OneobjectofmybequestisthatyoumayhaveresourcessufficienttoenableyoutotravelandstudytheSouthernconstellations。WhenattheCape，afterhearingofyourpursuits，Iwasmuchstruckwiththeimportanceofthoseconstellationstoanastronomerjustpushingintonotice。ThereismoretobemadeoftheSouthernhemispherethaneverhasbeenmadeofityet;themineisnotsothoroughlyworkedastheNorthern，andthitheryourstudiesshouldtend。
　　’Theonlyotherpreventivestepinmypoweristhatofexhortation，atwhichIamnotanadept。Nevertheless，Isaytoyou，SwithinSt。
　　Cleeve，don’tmakeafoolofyourself，asyourfatherdid。Ifyourstudiesaretobeworthanything，believeme，theymustbecarriedonwithoutthehelpofawoman。Avoidher，andeveryoneofthesex，ifyoumeantoachieveanyworthything。Eschewallofthatsortformanyayearyet。Moreover，Isay，theladyofyouracquaintanceavoidinparticular。Ihaveheardnothingagainsthermoralcharacterhitherto;Ihavenodoubtithasbeenexcellent。
　　Shemayhavemanygoodqualities，bothofheartandofmind。Butshehas，inadditiontoheroriginaldisqualificationasacompanionforyou（thatis，thatofsex），thesetwoseriousdrawbacks:sheismucholderthanyourself——’
　　’MUCHolder！’saidSwithinresentfully。
　　’——andsheissoimpoverishedthatthetitleshederivesfromherlatehusbandisapositiveobjection。Beyondthis，frankly，Idon’tthinkwellofher。Idon’tthinkwellofanywomanwhodotesuponamanyoungerthanherself。Tocaretobethefirstfancyofayoungfellowlikeyoushowsnogreatcommonsenseinher。Ifshewereworthhersaltshewouldhavetoomuchpridetobeintimatewithayouthinyourunassuredposition，tosaynoworse。Sheisoldenoughtoknowthataliaisonwithhermay，andalmostcertainlywould，beyourruin;and，ontheotherhand，thatamarriagewouldbepreposterous，——unlesssheisacompletegoose，andinthatcasethereisevenmorereasonforavoidingherthanifshewereinherfewsenses。
　　’Awomanofhonourablefeeling，nephew，wouldbecarefultodonothingtohinderyouinyourcareer，asthisputtingofherselfinyourwaymostcertainlywill。YetIhearthatsheprofessesagreatanxietyonthissamefutureofyoursasaphysicist。Thebestwayinwhichshecanshowtherealityofheranxietyisbyleavingyoutoyourself。Perhapsshepersuadesherselfthatsheisdoingyounoharm。Well，letherhavethebenefitofthepossiblebelief;butdependuponitthatintruthshegivesthelietoherconsciencebymaintainingsuchatransparentfallacy。Women’sbrainsarenotformedforassistingatanyprofoundscience:theylackthepowertoseethingsexceptintheconcrete。She’llblabyourmostsecretplansandtheoriestoeveryoneofheracquaintance——’
　　’She’sgotnone！’saidSwithin，beginningtogetwarm。
　　’——andmakethemappearridiculousbyannouncingthembeforetheyarematured。Ifyouattempttostudywithawoman，you’llberuledbyhertoentertainfanciesinsteadoftheories，air—castlesinsteadofintentions，qualmsinsteadofopinions，sicklyprepossessionsinsteadofreasonedconclusions。Yourwideheavenofstudy，youngman，willsoonreduceitselftothemiserablenarrowexpanseofherface，andyourmyriadofstarstohertwotrumperyeyes。
　　’Awomanwakingayoungman’spassionsjustatamomentwhenheisendeavouringtoshineintellectually，isdoinglittlelessthancommittingacrime。
　　’LikeacertainphilosopherIwould，uponmysoul，haveallyoungmenfromeighteentotwenty—fivekeptunderbarrels;seeinghowoften，inthelackofsomesuchsequesteringprocess，thewomansitsdownbeforeeachashisdestiny，andtoofrequentlyenervateshispurpose，tillheabandonsthemostpromisingcourseeverconceived！
　　’Butnomore。Inowleaveyourfateinyourownhands。Yourwell—
　　wishingrelative，’JOCELYNST。CLEEVE，DoctorinMedicine。’
　　Ascomingfromabachelorandhardenedmisogynistofseventy—two，theopinionshereincontainedwerenothingremarkable:buttheirpracticalresultinrestrictingthesuddenendowmentofSwithin’sresearchesbyconditionswhichturnedthefavourintoaharassmentwas，atthisuniquemoment，discomfitinganddistractinginthehighestdegree。
　　Sensational，however，astheletterwas，thepassionateintentionofthedaywasnothazardedformorethanafewminutesthereby。Thetruthwas，thecautionandbribecametoolate，toounexpectedly，tobeofinfluence。Theywerethesortofthingwhichrequiredfermentationtorenderthemeffective。HadSt。Cleevereceivedtheexhortationamonthearlier;hadhebeenabletorunoverinhismind，ateverywakefulhourofthirtyconsecutivenights，aprivatecatechismonthepossibilitiesopenedupbythisannuity，thereisnotellingwhatmighthavebeenthestressofsuchawebofperplexityuponhim，ayoungmanwhoseloveforcelestialphysicswassecondtonone。Buttohaveheldbeforehim，atthelastmoment，thepictureofafutureadvantagethathehadneveroncethoughtof，ordiscountedforpresentstayingpower，itaffectedhimaboutasmuchastheviewofhorizonsshownbysheet—lightning。Hesawanimmenseprospect;itwent，andtheworldwasasbefore。
　　HecaughtthetrainatWarborne，andmovedrapidlytowardsBath;notpreciselyinthesamekeyaswhenhehaddressedinthehutatdawn，but，asregardedthemechanicalpartofthejourney，asunhesitatinglyasbefore。
　　Andwiththechangeofsceneevenhisgloomlefthim;hisbosom’slordsatlightlyinhisthrone。St。Cleevewasnotsufficientlyinmindofpoeticalliteraturetorememberthatwisepoetsareaccustomedtoreadthatlightnessofbosominversely。Swithinthoughtitanomenofgoodfortune;andasthinkingiscausinginnotafewsuchcases，hewasperhaps，inspiteofpoets，right。
　　XIX
　　AtthestationLadyConstantineappeared，standingexpectant;hesawherfacefromthewindowofthecarriagelongbeforeshesawhim。
　　Henosoonersawherthanhewassatisfiedtohisheart’scontentwithhisprize。Ifhisgreat—unclehadofferedhimfromthegraveakingdominsteadofher，hewouldnothaveacceptedit。
　　Swithinjumpedout，andnatureneverpaintedinawoman’sfacemoredevotionthanappearedinmylady’satthatmoment。Toboththesituationseemedlikeabeautifulallegory，nottobeexaminedtooclosely，lestitsdefectsofcorrespondencewithreallifeshouldbeapparent。
　　Theyalmostfearedtoshakehandsinpublic，somuchdependedupontheirpassingthatmorningwithoutmolestation。Aflywascalledandtheydroveaway。
　　’Takethis，’shesaid，handinghimafoldedpaper。’Itbelongstoyouratherthantome。’
　　Atcrossings，andotheroccasionalpauses，pedestriansturnedtheirfacesandlookedatthepair（fornoreasonbutthat，amongsomany，therewerenaturallyafewofthesortwhohaveeyestonotewhatincidentscomeintheirwayastheyplodon）;butthetwointhevehiclecouldnotbutfearthattheseinnocentbeholdershadspecialdetectivedesignsonthem。
　　’Youlooksodreadfullyyoung！’shesaidwithhumorousfretfulness，astheydrovealong（Swithin’scheeksbeingamazinglyfreshfromthemorningair）。’Dotrytoappearalittlehaggard，thattheparsonmayn’taskusawkwardquestions！’
　　Nothingfurtherhappened，andtheyweresetdownoppositeashopaboutfiftyyardsfromthechurchdoor，atfiveminutestoeleven。
　　’Wewilldismissthefly，’shesaid。’Itwillonlyattractidlers。’
　　Onturningthecornerandreachingthechurchtheyfoundthedoorajar;butthebuildingcontainedonlytwopersons，amanandawoman，——theclerkandhiswife，astheylearnt。Swithinaskedwhentheclergymanwouldarrive。
　　Theclerklookedathiswatch，andsaid，’Atjustoneleveno’clock。’
　　’Heoughttobehere，’saidSwithin。
　　’Yes，’repliedtheclerk，asthehourstruck。’Thefactis，sir，heisadeppity，andapttoberatherwanderinginhiswitsasregardstimeandsuchlike，whichhevstoodinthewayoftheman’sgettingabenefit。Butnodoubthe’llcome。’
　　’Theregularincumbentisaway，then？’
　　’He’sgoneforhisbarepa’son’sfortnight，——that’sall;andwewasforcedtoputupwithaweak—talentedmanornone。Thebestmengoesintothebrewing，orintotheshippingnow—a—days，yousee，sir;doctrinesbeingrathershadderyatpresent，andyourmoney’sworthnotsureinourline。Sowechurchofficersbeleftpoorlyprovidedwithmenforoddjobs。I’lltellyewhat，sir;IthinkI’dbetterrunroundtothegentleman’slodgings，andtrytofindhim？’
　　’Praydo，’saidLadyConstantine。
　　Theclerkleftthechurch;hiswifebusiedherselfwithdustingatthefurtherend，andSwithinandViviettewerelefttothemselves。
　　Theimaginationtravelssorapidly，andawoman’sforethoughtissoassumptive，thattheclerk’sdeparturehadnosoonerdoomedthemtoinactionthanitwasborneinuponLadyConstantine’smindthatshewouldnotbecomethewifeofSwithinSt。Cleeve，eitherto—dayoronanyotherday。Herdivinationswerecontinuallymisleadingher，sheknew:butahitchatthemomentofmarriagesurelyhadameaninginit。
　　’Ah，——themarriageisnottobe！’shesaidtoherself。’Thisisafatality。’
　　Itwastwentyminutespast，andnoparsonhadarrived。Swithintookherhand。
　　’Ifitcannotbeto—day，itcanbeto—morrow，’hewhispered。
　　’Icannotsay，’sheanswered。’Somethingtellsmeno。’
　　ItwasalmostimpossiblethatshecouldknowanythingofthedeterrentforceexercisedonSwithinbyhisdeadunclethatmorning。
　　Yethermannertalliedsocuriouslywellwithsuchknowledgethathewasstruckbyit，andremainedsilent。
　　’Youhaveablacktie，’shecontinued，lookingathim。
　　’Yes，’repliedSwithin。’Iboughtitonmywayhere。’
　　’Whycoulditnothavebeenlesssombreincolour？’
　　’Mygreat—uncleisdead。’
　　’Youhadagreat—uncle？Younevertoldme。’
　　’Ineversawhiminmylife。Ihaveonlyheardabouthimsincehisdeath。’
　　Hespokeinasquietandmeasuredawayashecould，buthisheartwassinking。Shewouldgoonquestioning;hecouldnottellheranuntruth。Shewoulddiscoverparticularsofthatgreat—uncle’sprovisionforhim，whichhe，Swithin，wasthrowingawayforhersake，andshewouldrefusetobehisforhisownsake。Hisconclusionatthismomentwaspreciselywhathershadbeenfiveminutessooner:theywerenevertobehusbandandwife。
　　Butshedidnotcontinueherquestions，forthesimplestofallreasons:hastyfootstepswereaudibleintheentrance，andtheparsonwasseencominguptheaisle，theclerkbehindhimwipingthebeadsofperspirationfromhisface。Thesomewhatsorryclericalspecimenshookhandswiththem，andenteredthevestry;andtheclerkcameupandopenedthebook。
　　’Thepoorgentleman’smemoryisabittopsy—turvy，’whisperedthelatter。’Hehadgotitinhismindthat’twereafuneral，andI
　　foundhimwanderingaboutthecemeterya—lookingforus。However，all’swellasendswell。’Andtheclerkwipedhisforeheadagain。
　　’Howill—omened！’murmuredViviette。
　　Buttheparsoncameoutrobedatthismoment，andtheclerkputonhisecclesiasticalcountenanceandlookedinhisbook。LadyConstantine’smomentarylanguorpassed;herbloodresumeditscourseswithanewspring。Thegraveutterancesofthechurchthenrolledoutuponthepalpitatingpair，andnocoupleeverjoinedtheirwhisperstheretowithmorefervencythanthey。
　　LadyConstantine（asshecontinuedtobecalledbytheoutsideworld，thoughshelikedtothinkherselftheMrs。St。Cleevethatshelegallywas）hadtoldGreenthatshemightbeexpectedatWellandinaday，ortwo，orthree，ascircumstancesshoulddictate。
　　Thoughthetimeofreturnwasthusleftopenitwasdeemedadvisable，bybothSwithinandherself，thatherjourneybackshouldnotbedeferredafterthenextday，incaseanysuspicionsmightbearoused。AsforSt。Cleeve，hiscomingsandgoingswereofnoconsequence。Itwasseldomknownwhetherhewasathomeorabroad，byreasonofhisfrequentseclusionatthecolumn。
　　LateintheafternoonofthenextdayheaccompaniedhertotheBathstation，intendinghimselftoremaininthatcitytillthefollowingmorning。Butwhenamanoryouthhassuchatenderarticleonhishandsasathirty—hourbrideitishardlyinthepowerofhisstrongestreasontosetherdownatarailway，andsendherofflikeasuperfluousportmanteau。Hencetheexperimentofpartingsosoonaftertheirunionprovedexcruciatinglyseveretothese。Theeveningwasdull;thebreezeofautumncreptfitfullythrougheveryslitandapertureinthetown;notasoulintheworldseemedtonoticeorcareaboutanythingtheydid。LadyConstantinesighed;
　　andtherewasnoresistingit，——hecouldnotleaveherthus。Hedecidedtogetintothetrainwithher，andkeephercompanyforatleastafewstationsonherway。
　　Itdrewontobeadarknight，and，seeingthattherewasnoseriousriskafterall，heprolongedhisjourneywithhersofarastothejunctionatwhichthebranchlinetoWarborneforkedoff。Hereitwasnecessarytowaitafewminutes，beforeeitherhecouldgobackorshecouldgoon。Theywanderedoutsidethestationdoorwayintothegloomoftheroad，andthereagreedtopart。
　　Whilesheyetstoodholdinghisarmaphaetonspedtowardsthestation—entrance，where，inascendingtheslopetothedoor，thehorsesuddenlyjibbed。Thegentlemanwhowasdriving，beingeitherimpatient，orpossessedwithatheorythatalljibbersmaybestartedbyseverewhipping，appliedthelash;asaresultofit，thehorsethrustroundthecarriagetowheretheystood，andtheendofthedriver’ssweepingwhipcutacrossLadyConstantine’sfacewithsuchseverityastocauseheraninvoluntarycry。Swithinturnedherroundtothelamplight，anddiscernedastreakofbloodonhercheek。
　　Bythistimethegentlemanwhohaddonethemischief，withmanywordsofregret，hadgiventhereinstohismananddismounted。
　　’Iwillgotothewaiting—roomforamoment，’whisperedViviettehurriedly;and，loosingherhandfromhisarm，shepulleddownherveilandvanishedinsidethebuilding。
　　Thestrangercameforwardandraisedhishat。Hewasaslightlybuiltandapparentlytown—bredmanoftwenty—eightorthirty;hismannerofaddresswasatoncecarelessandconciliatory。
　　’IamgreatlyconcernedatwhatIhavedone，’hesaid。’Isincerelytrustthatyourwife’——butobservingtheyouthfulnessofSwithin，hewithdrewthewordsuggestedbythemannerofSwithintowardsLadyConstantine——’Itrusttheyoungladywasnotseriouslycut？’
　　’Itrustnot，’saidSwithin，withsomevexation。
　　’Wheredidthelashtouchher？’
　　’Straightdownhercheek。’
　　’Doletmegotoher，andlearnhowsheis，andhumblyapologize。’
　　’I’llinquire。’
　　Hewenttotheladies’room，inwhichViviettehadtakenrefuge。
　　Shemethimatthedoor，herhandkerchieftohercheek，andSwithinexplainedthatthedriverofthephaetonhadsenttomakeinquiries。
　　’Icannotseehim！’shewhispered。’HeismybrotherLouis！Heis，nodoubt，goingonbythetraintomyhouse。Don’tlethimrecognizeme！Wemustwaittillheisgone。’
　　Swithinthereuponwentoutagain，andtoldtheyoungmanthatthecutonherfacewasnotserious，butthatshecouldnotseehim;
　　afterwhichtheyparted。St。CleevethenheardhimaskforaticketforWarborne，whichconfirmedLadyConstantine’sviewthathewasgoingontoherhouse。WhenthebranchtrainhadmovedoffSwithinreturnedtohisbride，whowaitedinatremblingstatewithin。
　　Onbeinginformedthathehaddepartedsheshowedherselfmuchrelieved。
　　’Wheredoesyourbrothercomefrom？’saidSwithin。
　　’FromLondon，immediately。Riobeforethat。Hehasafriendortwointhisneighbourhood，andvisitshereoccasionally。Ihaveseldomorneverspokentoyouofhim，becauseofhislongabsence。’
　　’Ishegoingtosettlenearyou？’
　　’No，noranywhere，Ifear。Heis，orratherwas，inthediplomaticservice。HewasfirstaclerkintheForeignOffice，andwasafterwardsappointedattacheatRioJaneiro。Buthehasresignedtheappointment。Iwishhehadnot。’
　　Swithinaskedwhyheresigned。
　　’Hecomplainedofthebanishment，andtheclimate，andeverythingthatpeoplecomplainofwhoaredeterminedtobedissatisfied，——
　　though，poorfellow，thereissomegroundforhiscomplaints。
　　Perhapssomepeoplewouldsaythatheisidle。Butheisscarcelythat;heisratherrestlessthanidle，sothatheneverpersistsinanything。Yetifasubjecttakeshisfancyhewillfollowitupwithexemplarypatiencetillsomethingdivertshim。’
　　’Heisnotkindtoyou，ishe，dearest？’
　　’Whydoyouthinkthat？’
　　’Yourmannerseemstosayso。’
　　’Well，hemaynotalwaysbekind。Butlookatmyface;doesthemarkshow？’
　　Astreak，straightasameridian，wasvisibledownhercheek。Thebloodhadbeenbroughtalmosttothesurface，butwasnotquitethrough，thatwhichhadoriginallyappearedthereonhavingpossiblycomefromthehorse。Itsignifiedthatto—morrowtheredlinewouldbeablackone。
　　SwithininformedherthatherbrotherhadtakenaticketforWarborne，andsheatonceperceivedthathewasgoingontovisitheratWelland，thoughfromhislettershehadnotexpectedhimsosoonbyafewdays。’Meanwhile，’continuedSwithin，’youcannowgethomeonlybythelatetrain，havingmissedthatone。’
　　’But，Swithin，don’tyouseemynewtrouble？IfIgotoWellandHouseto—night，andfindmybrotherjustarrivedthere，andheseesthiscutonmyface，whichIsupposeyoudescribedtohim——’
　　’Idid。’
　　’HewillknowIwastheladywithyou！’
　　’Whomhecalledmywife。Iwonderwhywelookhusbandandwifealready！’
　　’ThenwhatamItodo？FortheensuingthreeorfourdaysIbearinmyfaceacluetohisdiscoveryofoursecret。’
　　’Thenyoumustnotbeseen。Wemuststayataninnhere。’
　　’Ono！’shesaidtimidly。’Itistoonearhometobequitesafe。
　　Wemightnotbeknown;butIFwewere！’
　　’Wecan’tgobacktoBathnow。I’lltellyou，dearViviette，whatwemustdo。We’llgoontoWarborneinseparatecarriages;we’llmeetoutsidethestation;thencewe’llwalktothecolumninthedark，andI’llkeepyouacaptiveinthecabintillthescarhasdisappeared。’
　　Astherewasnothingwhichbetterrecommendeditselfthiscoursewasdecidedon;andaftertakingfromhertrunkthearticlesthatmightberequiredforanincarcerationoftwoorthreedaystheyleftthesaidtrunkatthecloak—room，andwentonbythelasttrain，whichreachedWarborneaboutteno’clock。
　　ItwasonlynecessaryforLadyConstantinetocoverherfacewiththethickveilthatshehadprovidedforthisescapade，towalkoutofthestationwithoutfearofrecognition。St。Cleevecameforthfromanothercompartment，andtheydidnotrejoineachothertilltheyhadreachedashadowybendintheoldturnpikeroad，beyondtheirradiationoftheWarbornelamplight。
　　ThewalktoWellandwaslong。ItwasthewalkwhichSwithinhadtakenintherainwhenhehadlearntthefatalforestalmentofhisstellardiscovery;butnowhewasmovedbyalessdesperatemood，andblamedneitherGodnorman。Theywerenotpressedfortime，andpassedalongthesilent，lonelywaywiththatsenseratherofpredestinationthanofchoiceintheirproceedingswhichthepresenceofnightsometimesimparts。Reachingtheparkgate，theyfounditopen，andfromthistheyinferredthatherbrotherLouishadarrived。
　　Leavingthehouseandparkontheirrighttheytracedthehighwayyetalittlefurther，and，plungingthroughthestubbleoftheoppositefield，drewneartheisolatedearthworkbearingtheplantationandtower，whichtogetherroselikeaflatteneddomeandlanternfromthelighter—huedplainofstubble。Itwasfartoodarktodistinguishfirsfromothertreesbytheeyealone，butthepeculiardialectofsylvanlanguagewhichthepinymultitudeusedwouldhavebeenenoughtoproclaimtheirclassatanytime。Inthelovers’stealthyprogressuptheslopesadrystickhereandtheresnappedbeneaththeirfeet，seeminglikeashotofalarm。
　　OnbeingunlockedthehutwasfoundpreciselyasSwithinhadleftittwodaysbefore。LadyConstantinewasthoroughlywearied，andsatdown，whilehegatheredahandfuloftwigsandspikeletsfromthemassesstrewnwithoutandlitasmallfire，firsttakingtheprecautiontoblindthelittlewindowandrelockthedoor。
　　LadyConstantinelookedcuriouslyaroundbythelightoftheblaze。