Thehutwassmallastheprophet’schamberprovidedbytheShunammite:inonecornerstoodthestove，withalittletableandchair，asmallcupboardhardby，apitcherofwater，arackoverhead，withvariousarticles，includingakettleandagridiron;
　　whiletheremainingthreeorfourfeetattheotherendoftheroomwasfittedoutasadormitory，forSwithin’suseduringlateobservationsinthetoweroverhead。
　　’Itisnotmuchofapalacetoofferyou，’heremarked，smiling。
　　’Butatanyrate，itisarefuge。’
　　ThecheerfulfirelightdispersedinsomemeasureLadyConstantine’sanxieties。’Ifweonlyhadsomethingtoeat！’shesaid。
　　’Dearme，’criedSt。Cleeve，blankly。’That’sathingIneverthoughtof。’
　　’NorI，tillnow，’shereplied。
　　Hereflectedwithmisgiving。
　　’BeyondasmallloafofbreadinthecupboardIhavenothing。
　　However，justoutsidethedoortherearelotsofthoselittlerabbits，aboutthesizeofrats，thatthekeeperscallrunners。Andtheyareastameaspossible。ButIfearIcouldnotcatchonenow。
　　Yet，dearViviette，waitaminute;I’lltry。Youmustnotbestarved。’
　　Hesoftlylethimselfout，andwasgonesometime。Whenhereappeared，heproduced，notarabbit，butfoursparrowsandathrush。
　　’Icoulddonothinginthewayofarabbitwithoutsettingawire，’
　　hesaid。’ButIhavemanagedtogetthesebyknowingwheretheyroost。’
　　Heshowedherhowtopreparethebirds，and，havingsethertoroastthembythefire，departedwiththepitcher，toreplenishitatthebrookwhichflowednearthehomesteadintheneighbouringBottom。
　　’Theyareallasleepatmygrandmother’s，’heinformedherwhenhere—entered，panting，withthedrippingpitcher。’Theyimaginemetobeahundredmilesoff。’
　　Thebirdswerenowready，andthetablewasspread。Withthisfare，ekedoutbydrytoastfromtheloaf，andmoistenedwithcupsofwaterfromthepitcher，towhichSwithinaddedalittlewinefromtheflaskhehadcarriedonhisjourney，theywereforcedtobecontentfortheirsupper。
　　XX
　　WhenLadyConstantineawokethenextmorningSwithinwasnowheretobeseen。Beforeshewasquitereadyforbreakfastsheheardthekeyturninthedoor，andfeltstartled，tillsherememberedthatthecomercouldhardlybeanybodybuthe。Hebroughtabasketwithprovisions，anextracup—and—saucer，andsoon。Inashortspaceoftimethekettlebegansingingonthestove，andthemorningmealwasready。
　　Thesweetresinousairfromthefirsblewinuponthemastheysatatbreakfast;thebirdshoppedroundthedoor（which，somewhatriskily，theyventuredtokeepopen）;andattheirelbowrosethelankcolumnintoanupperrealmofsunlight，whichonlyreachedthecabininfitfuldartsandflashesthroughthetrees。
　　’Icouldbehappyhereforever，’saidshe，claspinghishand。’I
　　wishIcouldneverseemygreatgloomyhouseagain，sinceIamnotrichenoughtothrowitopen，andlivethereasIoughttodo。
　　Povertyofthissortisnotunpleasantatanyrate。Whatareyouthinkingof？’
　　’Iamthinkingaboutmyoutingthismorning。Onreachingmygrandmother’sshewasonlyalittlesurprisedtoseeme。Iwasobligedtobreakfastthere，orappeartodoso，todivertsuspicion;
　　andthisfoodissupposedtobewantedformydinnerandsupper。
　　Therewillofcoursebenodifficultyinmyobtaininganamplesupplyforanylengthoftime，asIcantakewhatIlikefromthebutterywithoutobservation。ButasIlookedinmygrandmother’sfacethismorning，andsawherlookingaffectionatelyinmine，andthoughthowshehadneverconcealedanythingfromme，andhadalwayshadmywelfareatheart，Ifelt——thatIshouldliketotellherwhatwehavedone。’
　　’Ono，——pleasenot，Swithin！’sheexclaimedpiteously。
　　’Verywell，’heanswered。’OnnoconsiderationwillIdosowithoutyourconsent。’Andnomorewassaidonthematter。
　　ThemorningwaspassedinapplyingwetragandotherremediestothepurplelineonViviette’scheek;andintheafternoontheysetuptheequatorialunderthereplaceddome，tohaveitinorderfornightobservations。
　　Theeveningwasclear，dry，andremarkablycoldbycomparisonwiththedaytimeweather。Afterafrugalsuppertheyreplenishedthestovewithcharcoalfromthehomestead，whichtheyalsoburntduringtheday，——anideaofViviette’s，thatthesmokefromawoodfiremightnotbeseenmorefrequentlythanwasconsistentwiththeoccasionaloccupationofthecabinbySwithin，asheretofore。
　　Ateighto’clocksheinsisteduponhisascendingthetowerforobservations，instrictpursuanceoftheideaonwhichtheirmarriagehadbeenbased，namely，thatofrestoringregularitytohisstudies。
　　Theskyhadanewandstartlingbeautythatnight。Abroad，fluctuating，semicirculararchofvividwhitelightspannedthenorthernquarteroftheheavens，reachingfromthehorizontothestarEtaintheGreaterBear。ItwastheAuroraBorealis，justrisenupforthewinterseasonoutofthefreezingseasofthenorth，whereeveryautumnvapourwasnowundergoingrapidcongelation。
　　’O，letussitandlookatit！’shesaid;andtheyturnedtheirbacksupontheequatorialandthesoutherngloriesoftheheavenstothisnewbeautyinaquarterwhichtheyseldomcontemplated。
　　Thelustreofthefixedstarswasdiminishedtoasortofblueness。
　　Littlebylittlethearchgrewhigheragainstthedarkvoid，liketheformoftheSpirit—maidenintheshadesofGlenfinlas，tillitscrowndrewnearthezenith，andthrewatissueoverthewholewaggonandhorsesofthegreatnorthernconstellation。Brilliantshaftsradiatedfromtheconvexityofthearch，comingandgoingsilently。
　　Thetemperaturefell，andLadyConstantinedrewherwrapmorecloselyaroundher。
　　’We’llgodown，’saidSwithin。’Thecabinisbeautifullywarm。Whyshouldwetrytoobservetonight？Indeed，wecannot;theAuroralightoverpowerseverything。’
　　’Verywell。To—morrownighttherewillbenointerruption。Ishallbegone。’
　　’Youleavemeto—morrow，Viviette？’
　　’Yes;to—morrowmorning。’
　　Thetruthwasthat，withtheprogressofthehoursanddays，theconvictionhadbeenborneinuponViviettemoreandmoreforciblythatnotforkingdomsandprincipalitiescouldsheaffordtoriskthediscoveryofherpresenceherebyanylivingsoul。
　　’Butletmeseeyourface，dearest，’hesaid。’Idon’tthinkitwillbesafeforyoutomeetyourbrotheryet。’
　　Asitwastoodarktoseeherfaceonthesummitwheretheysattheydescendedthewindingstaircase，andinthecabinSwithinexaminedthedamagedcheek。Theline，thoughsofarattenuatedasnottobeobservablebyanyonebutacloseobserver，hadnotquitedisappeared。Butinconsequenceofherreiteratedandalmosttearfulanxietytogo，andastherewasastrongprobabilitythatherbrotherhadleftthehouse，SwithindecidedtocallatWellandnextmorning，andreconnoitrewithaviewtoherreturn。
　　Lockingherinhecrossedthedewystubbleintothepark。Thehousewassilentanddeserted;andonlyonetallstalkofsmokeascendedfromthechimneys。Notwithstandingthatthehourwasnearlynineheknockedatthedoor。
　　’IsLadyConstantineathome？’askedSwithin，withadisingenuousnessnowhabitual，yetunknowntohimsixmonthsbefore。
　　’No，Mr。St。Cleeve;myladyhasnotreturnedfromBath。Weexpecthereveryday。’
　　’Nobodystayinginthehouse？’
　　’Mylady’sbrotherhasbeenhere;butheisgoneontoBudmouth。Hewillcomeagainintwoorthreeweeks，Iunderstand。’
　　Thiswasenough。Swithinsaidhewouldcallagain，andreturnedtothecabin，where，wakingViviette，whowasnotbynatureanearlyriser，hewaitedonthecolumntillshewasreadytobreakfast。
　　Whenthishadbeensharedtheypreparedtostart。
　　Alongwalkwasbeforethem。Warbornestationlayfivemilesdistant，andthenextstationabovethatninemiles。Theywereboundforthelatter;theirplanbeingthatsheshouldtheretakethetraintothejunctionwherethewhipaccidenthadoccurred，claimherluggage，andreturnwithittoWarborne，asiffromBath。
　　Themorningwascoolandthewalknotwearisome。Whenoncetheyhadleftbehindthestubble—fieldoftheirenvironmentandtheparishofWelland，theysaunteredoncomfortably，LadyConstantine’sspiritsrisingasshewithdrewfurtherfromdanger。
　　Theypartedbyalittlebrook，abouthalfamilefromthestation;
　　SwithintoreturntoWellandbythewayhehadcome。
　　LadyConstantinetelegraphedfromthejunctiontoWarborneforacarriagetobeinreadinesstomeetheronherarrival;andthen，waitingforthedowntrain，shetravelledsmoothlyhome，reachingWellandHouseaboutfiveminutessoonerthanSwithinreachedthecolumnhardby，afterfootingitallthewayfromwheretheyhadparted。
　　XXI
　　Fromthatdayforwardtheirliferesumeditsoldchannelingeneraloutwardaspect。
　　Perhapsthemostremarkablefeatureintheirexploitwasitscomparativeeffectivenessasanexpedientfortheenddesigned，——
　　thatofrestoringcalmassiduitytothestudyofastronomy。Swithintookuphisoldpositionasthelonelyphilosopheratthecolumn，andLadyConstantinelapsedbacktoimmuredexistenceatthehouse，withapparentlynotafriendintheparish。TheenforcednarrownessoflifewhichherlimitedresourcesnecessitatedwasnowanadditionalsafeguardagainstthediscoveryofherrelationswithSt。
　　Cleeve。Herneighboursseldomtroubledher;asmuch，itmustbeowned，fromatacitunderstandingthatshewasnotinapositiontoreturninvitationsasfromanyselfishcoldnessengenderedbyherwantofwealth。
　　Atthefirstmeetingofthesecretlyunitedpairaftertheirshorthoneymoontheywerecompelledtobehaveasstrangerstoeachother。
　　ItoccurredintheonlypartofWellandwhichdeservedthenameofavillagestreet，andallthelabourerswerereturningtotheirmiddaymeal，withthoseoftheirwiveswhoassistedatoutdoorwork。
　　Beforetheeyesofthisinnocentthoughquiteuntrustworthygroup，SwithinandhisViviettecouldonlyshakehandsinpassing，thoughshecontrivedtosaytohiminanundertone，’Mybrotherdoesnotreturnyetforsometime。HehasgonetoParis。Iwillbeonthelawnthisevening，ifyoucancome。’Itwasaflutteredsmilethatshebestowedonhim，andtherewasnodoubtthateveryfibreofherheartvibratedafreshatmeeting，withsuchreserve，onewhostoodinhiscloserelationtoher。
　　Theshadesofnightfellearlynow，andSwithinwasatthespotofappointmentaboutthetimethatheknewherdinnerwouldbeover。
　　Itwasjustwheretheyhadmetatthebeginningoftheyear，butmanychangeshadresultedsincethen。Theflower—bedsthathadusedtobesoneatlyedgedwerenowjaggedandleafy;blackstarsappearedonthepalesurfaceofthegravelwalks，denotingtuftsofgrassthatgrewunmolestedthere。LadyConstantine’sexternalaffairsworejustthataspectwhichsuggeststhatnewbloodmaybeadvantageouslyintroducedintotheline;andnewbloodhadbeenintroduced，ingoodsooth，——withwhatsocialresultremainedtobeseen。
　　Shesilentlyenteredonthescenefromthesamewindowwhichhadgivenherpassageinmonthsgoneby。Theymetwithaconcertedembrace，andSt。Cleevespokehisgreetinginwhispers。
　　’Wearequitesafe，dearest，’saidshe。
　　’Buttheservants？’
　　’Mymeagrestaffconsistsofonlytwowomenandtheboy;andtheyareawayintheotherwing。Ithoughtyouwouldliketoseetheinsideofmyhouse，aftershowingmetheinsideofyours。Sowewillwalkthroughitinsteadofstayingouthere。’
　　Shelethiminthroughthecasement，andtheystrolledforwardsoftly，Swithinwithsomecuriosity，neverbeforehavinggonebeyondthelibraryandadjoiningroom。Thewholewesternsideofthehousewasatthistimeshutup，herlifebeingconfinedtotwoorthreesmallroomsinthesouth—eastcorner。Thegreatapartmentsthroughwhichtheynowwhisperinglywalkedworealreadythatfunerealaspectthatcomesfromdisuseandinattention。Triangularcobwebsalreadyformedlittlehammocksforthedustincornersofthewainscot，andaclosesmellofwoodandleather，seasonedwithmouse—droppings，pervadedtheatmosphere。Soseldomwasthesolitudeofthesechambersintrudedonbyhumanfeetthatmorethanonceamousestoodandlookedthetwaininthefacefromthearmofasofa，orthetopofacabinet，withoutanygreatfear。
　　Swithinhadnoresidentialambitionwhatever，buthewasinterestedintheplace。’Willthehouseeverbethrownopentogaiety，asitwasinoldtimes？’saidhe。
　　’Notunlessyoumakeafortune，’sherepliedlaughingly。’Itismineformylife，asyouknow;buttheestateissoterriblysaddledwithannuitiestoSirBlount’sdistantrelatives，oneofwhomwillsucceedmehere，thatIhavepracticallynomorethanmyownlittleprivateincometoexiston。’
　　’Andareyouboundtooccupythehouse？’
　　’Notboundto。ButImustnotletitonlease。’
　　’Andwasthereanystipulationintheeventofyourre—marriage？’
　　’Itwasnotmentioned。’
　　’Itissatisfactorytofindthatyoulosenothingbymarryingme，atallevents，dearViviette。’
　　’Ihopeyoulosenothingeither——atleast，ofconsequence。’
　　’WhathaveItolose？’
　　’Imeantyourliberty。Supposeyoubecomeapopularphysicist（popularityseemscoolingtowardsartandcoquettingwithsciencenow—a—days），andabetterchanceoffers，andonewhowouldmakeyouanewerandbrighterwifethanIamcomesinyourway。Willyouneverregretthis？Willyouneverdespiseme？’
　　Swithinansweredbyakiss，andtheyagainwenton;proceedinglikeacoupleofburglars，lesttheyshoulddrawtheattentionofthecookorGreen。
　　Inoneoftheupperroomshiseyeswereattractedbyanoldchamberorgan，whichhadoncebeenlentforuseinthechurch。Hementionedhisrecollectionofthesame，whichledhertosay，’Thatremindsmeofsomething。Thereistobeaconfirmationinourparishinthespring，andyouoncetoldmethatyouhadneverbeenconfirmed。
　　Whatshockingneglect！Whywasit？’
　　’Ihardlyknow。Theconfusionresultingfrommyfather’sdeathcausedittobeforgotten，Isuppose。’
　　’Now，dearSwithin，youwilldothistopleaseme，——beconfirmedonthepresentoccasion？’
　　’SinceIhavedonewithoutthevirtueofitsolong，mightInotdowithoutitaltogether？’
　　’No，no！’shesaidearnestly。’Idowishit，indeed。IammadeunhappywhenIthinkyoudon’tcareaboutsuchseriousmatters。
　　WithouttheChurchtoclingto，whathavewe？’
　　’Eachother。Butseriously，Ishouldbeinvertingtheestablishedorderofspiritualthings;peopleoughttobeconfirmedbeforetheyaremarried。’
　　’That’sreallyofminorconsequence。Now，don’tthinkslightinglyofwhatsomanygoodmenhavelaiddownasnecessarytobedone。
　　And，dearSwithin，Isomehowfeelthatacertainlevitywhichhasperhapsshownitselfinourtreatmentofthesacramentofmarriage——
　　bymakingaclandestineadventureofwhatis，afterall，asolemnrite——wouldbewellatonedforbyadueseriousnessinotherpointsofreligiousobservance。Thisopportunityshouldthereforenotbepassedover。Ithoughtofitalllastnight;andyouareaparson’sson，remember，andhewouldhaveinsistedonitifhehadbeenalive。Inshort，Swithin，dobeagoodboy，andobservetheChurch’sordinances。’
　　LadyConstantine，byvirtueofhertemperament，wasnecessarilyeitherloverordevote，andshevibratedsogracefullybetweenthesetwoconditionsthatnobodywhohadknownthecircumstancescouldhavecondemnedherinconsistencies。Tobeledintodifficultiesbythosemasteringemotionsofhers，toaimatescapebyturningroundandseizingtheapparatusofreligion——whichcouldonlyrightlybeworkedbytheveryemotionsalreadybestowedelsewhere——itwas，afterall，butNature’swell—meaningattempttopreservethehonourofherdaughter’sconscienceinthetryingquandarytowhichtheconditionsofsexhadgivenrise。AsViviettecouldnotbeconfirmedherself，andasCommunionSundaywasalongwayoff，sheurgedSwithinthus。
　　’Andthenewbishopissuchagoodman，’shecontinued。’Iusedtohaveaslightacquaintancewithhimwhenhewasaparishpriest。’
　　’Verywell，dearest。TopleaseyouI’llbeconfirmed。Mygrandmother，too，willbedelighted，nodoubt。’
　　Theycontinuedtheirramble:LadyConstantinefirstadvancingintoroomswiththecandle，toassureherselfthatallwasempty，andthencallinghimforwardinawhisper。Thestillnesswasbrokenonlybythesewhispers，orbytheoccasionalcrackofafloor—boardbeneaththeirtread。Atlasttheysatdown，and，shadingthecandlewithascreen，sheshowedhimthefadedcontentsofthisandthatdrawerorcabinet，orthewardrobeofsomememberofthefamilywhohaddiedyoungearlyinthecentury，whenmuslinreignedsupreme，whenwaistswereclosetoarm—pits，andmuffsaslargeassmugglers’
　　tubs。Theseresearchesamonghabilimentalhullsandhusks，whosehumankernelshadlongagoperished，wentonforabouthalfanhour;
　　whenthecompanionswerestartledbyaloudringingatthefront—
　　doorbell。
　　XXII
　　LadyConstantineflungdowntheold—fashionedlacework，whosebeautiesshehadbeenpointingouttoSwithin，andexclaimed，’Whocanitbe？NotLouis，surely？’
　　Theylistened。Anarrivalwassuchaphenomenonatthisunfrequentedmansion，andparticularlyalatearrival，thatnoservantwasonthealerttorespondtothecall;andthevisitorrangagain，moreloudlythanbefore。Soundsofthetardyopeningandshuttingofapassage—doorfromthekitchenquarterthenreachedtheirears，andViviettewentintothecorridortohearkenmoreattentively。Inafewminutesshereturnedtothewardrobe—roominwhichshehadleftSwithin。
　　’Yes;itismybrother！’shesaidwithdifficultcomposure。’Ijustcaughthisvoice。HehasnodoubtcomebackfromParistostay。
　　Thisisarathervexatious，indolentwayhehas，nevertowritetoprepareme！’
　　’Icaneasilygoaway，’saidSwithin。
　　Bythistime，however，herbrotherhadbeenshownintothehouse，andthefootstepsofthepagewereaudible，cominginsearchofLadyConstantine。
　　’Ifyouwillwaitthereamoment，’shesaid，directingSt。Cleeveintoabedchamberwhichadjoined;’youwillbequitesafefrominterruption，andIwillquicklycomeback。’Takingthelightshelefthim。
　　Swithinwaitedindarkness。Notmorethantenminuteshadpassedwhenawhisperinhervoicecamethroughthekeyhole。Heopenedthedoor。
　　’Yes;heiscometostay！’shesaid。’Heisatsuppernow。’
　　’Verywell;don’tbeflurried，dearest。ShallIstaytoo，asweplanned？’
　　’O，Swithin，Ifearnot！’sherepliedanxiously。’Youseehowitis。To—nightwehavebrokenthearrangementthatyoushouldnevercomehere;andthisistheresult。Willitoffendyouif——Iaskyoutoleave？’
　　’Notintheleast。Uponthewhole，Ipreferthecomfortofmylittlecabinandhomesteadtothegauntnessandalarmsofthisplace。’
　　’There，now，Ifearyouareoffended！’shesaid，atearcollectinginhereye。’IwishIwasgoingbackwithyoutothecabin！Howhappywewere，thosethreedaysofourstaythere！Butitisbetter，perhaps，justnow，thatyoushouldleaveme。Yes，theseroomsareoppressive。Theyrequirealargehouseholdtomakethemcheerful……Yet，Swithin，’sheadded，afterreflection，’Iwillnotrequestyoutogo。Doasyouthinkbest。Iwilllightanight—
　　light，andleaveyouheretoconsider。Formyself，Imustgodownstairstomybrotheratonce，orhe’llwonderwhatIamdoing。’
　　Shekindledthelittlelight，andagainretreated，closingthedooruponhim。
　　Swithinstoodandwaitedsometime;tillheconsideredthatuponthewholeitwouldbepreferabletoleave。Withthisintentionheemergedandwentsoftlyalongthedarkpassagetowardstheextremeend，wheretherewasalittlecrookedstaircasethatwouldconducthimdowntoadisusedsidedoor。Descendingthisstairhedulyarrivedattheothersideofthehouse，facingthequarterwhencethewindblew，andherehewassurprisedtocatchthenoiseofrainbeatingagainstthewindows。Itwasastateofweatherwhichfullyaccountedforthevisitor’simpatientringing。
　　St。Cleevewasinaminorkindofdilemma。Therainremindedhimthathishatandgreat—coathadbeenleftdownstairs，inthefrontpartofthehouse;andthoughhemighthavegonehomewithouteitherinordinaryweatheritwasnotapleasantfeatinthepeltingwinterrain。RetracinghisstepstoViviette’sroomhetookthelight，andopenedacloset—doorthathehadseenajaronhiswaydown。Withintheclosethungvariousarticlesofapparel，upholsterylumberofallkindsfillingthebackpart。Swithinthoughthemightfindhereacloakofherstothrowroundhim，butfinallytookdownfromapegamoresuitablegarment，theonlyoneofthesortthatwasthere。
　　Itwasanoldmoth—eatengreat—coat，heavilytrimmedwithfur;andinremovingitacompanioncapofsealskinwasdisclosed。
　　’Whosecantheybe？’hethought，andagloomyanswersuggesteditself。’Pooh，’hethensaid（summoningthescientificsideofhisnature），’matterismatter，andmentalassociationonlyadelusion。’
　　PuttingonthegarmentshereturnedthelighttoLadyConstantine’sbedroom，andagainpreparedtodepartasbefore。
　　Scarcely，however，hadheregainedthecorridorasecondtime，whenheheardalightfootstep——seeminglyViviette’s——againonthefrontlanding。Wonderingwhatshewantedwithhimfurtherhewaited，takingtheprecautiontostepintotheclosettillsureitwasshe。
　　Thefigurecameonward，benttothekeyholeofthebedroomdoor，andwhispered（supposinghimstillinside），’Swithin，onsecondthoughtsIthinkyoumaystaywithsafety。’
　　Havingnofurtherdoubtofherpersonalityhecameoutwiththoughtlessabruptnessfromtheclosetbehindher，andlookingroundsuddenlyshebeheldhisshadowyfur—cladoutline。Atoncesheraisedherhandsinhorror，asiftoprotectherselffromhim;sheutteredashriek，andturnedshudderinglytothewall，coveringherface。
　　Swithinwouldhavepickedherupinamoment，butbythistimehecouldhearfootstepsrushingupstairs，inresponsetohercry。Inconsternation，andwithaviewofnotcompromisingher，heeffectedhisretreatasfastaspossible，reachingthebendofthecorridorjustasherbrotherLouisappearedwithalightattheotherextremity。
　　’What’sthematter，forheaven’ssake，Viviette？’saidLouis。
　　’Myhusband！’sheinvoluntarilyexclaimed。
　　’Whatnonsense！’
　　’Oyes，itisnonsense，’sheadded，withaneffort。’Itwasnothing。’
　　’Butwhatwasthecauseofyourcry？’
　　Shehadbythistimerecoveredherreasonandjudgment。’O，itwasatrickoftheimagination，’shesaid，withafaintlaugh。’IlivesomuchalonethatIgetsuperstitious——and——IthoughtforthemomentIsawanapparition。’
　　’Ofyourlatehusband？’
　　’Yes。Butitwasnothing;itwastheoutlineofthe——tallclockandthechairbehind。Wouldyoumindgoingdown，andleavingmetogointomyroomforamoment？’
　　Sheenteredthebedroom，andherbrotherwentdownstairs。Swithinthoughtitbesttoleavewellalone，andgoingnoiselesslyoutofthehouseploddedthroughtherainhomeward。ItwasplainthatagitationsofonesortandanotherhadsoweakenedViviette’snervesastolayheropentoeveryimpression。Thattheclotheshehadborrowedweresomecast—offgarmentsofthelateSirBlounthadoccurredtoSt。Cleeveintakingthem;butinthemomentofreturningtohersidehehadforgottenthis，andtheshapetheygavetohisfigurehadobviouslybeenareminderoftoosuddenasortforher。Musingthushewalkedalongasifhewerestill，asbefore，thelonelystudent，dissociatedfromallmankind，andwithnoshadowofrightorinterestinWellandHouseoritsmistress。
　　Thegreat—coatandcapwereunpleasantcompanions;butSwithinhavingbeenreared，orhavingrearedhimself，inthescientificschoolofthought，wouldnotgivewaytohissenseoftheirweirdness。Todosowouldhavebeentreasontohisownbeliefsandaims。
　　Whennearlyhome，atapointwherehistrackconvergedonanotherpath，thereapproachedhimfromthelatteragroupofindistinctforms。ThetonesoftheirspeechrevealedthemtobeHezzyBiles，NatChapman，Fry，andotherlabourers。Swithinwasabouttosayawordtothem，tillrecollectinghisdisguisehedeemeditadvisabletoholdhistongue，lesthisattireshouldtellatoodangeroustaleastowherehehadcomefrom。Bydegreestheydrewcloser，theirwalkbeinginthesamedirection。
　　’Good—night，strainger，’saidNat。
　　Thestrangerdidnotreply。
　　Allofthempacedonabreastofhim，andhecouldperceiveinthegloomthattheirfaceswereturnedinquiringlyuponhisform。Thenawhisperpassedfromonetoanotherofthem;thenChapman，whowastheboldest，droppedimmediatelybehindhisheels，andfollowedthereforsomedistance，takingcloseobservationsofhisoutline，afterwhichthemengroupedagainandwhispered。ThinkingitbesttoletthempassonSwithinslackenedhispace，andtheywentaheadofhim，apparentlywithoutmuchreluctance。
　　Therewasnodoubtthattheyhadbeenimpressedbytheclotheshewore;andhavingnowishtoprovokesimilarcommentsfromhisgrandmotherandHannah，Swithintooktheprecaution，onarrivingatWellandBottom，toenterthehomesteadbytheouthouse。Herehedepositedthecapandcoatinsecurehiding，afterwardsgoingroundtothefrontandopeningthedoorintheusualway。
　　IntheentryhemetHannah，whosaid——
　　’Onlytohearwhathavebeenseedto—night，Mr。Swithin！Thework—
　　folkhavedroppedintotellus！’
　　Inthekitchenwerethemenwhohadoutstrippedhimontheroad。
　　Theircountenances，insteadofwearingtheusualknottyirregularities，hadasmoothed—outexpressionofblankconcern。
　　Swithin’sentrancewasunobtrusiveandquiet，asifhehadmerelycomedownfromhisstudyupstairs，andtheyonlynoticedhimbyenlargingtheirgaze，soastoincludehimintheaudience。
　　’Wewasinadeeptalkatthemoment，’continuedBlore，’andNattyhadjustbroughtupthatstoryaboutoldJeremiahPaddock’scrossingtheparkonenightatoneo’clockinthemorning，andseeingSirBlounta—shuttingmyladyout—o’—doors;andwewassayingthatitseemedatruereturnthatheshouldperishinaforeignland;whenwehappenedtolookup，andtherewasSirBlounta—walkingalong。’
　　’Diditovertakeyou，ordidyouovertakeit？’whisperedHannahsepulchrally。
　　’Idon’tsay’twasIT，’returnedSammy。’GodforbidthatIshoulddraginaresurrectionwordaboutwhatperhapswasstillsolidmanhood，andhastodie！Buthe，orit，closedinuponus，as’twere。’
　　’Yes，closedinuponus！’saidHaymoss。
　　’AndIsaid"Good—night，strainger，"’addedChapman。
　　’Yes，"Good—night，strainger，"——thatwezyerwords，Natty。I
　　supportyeinit。’
　　’Andthenheclosedinuponusstillmore。’
　　’Weclosedinuponhe，rather，’saidChapman。
　　’Well，well;’tisthesamethinginsuchmatters！AndtheformwasSirBlount’s。Mynostrilstoldme，for——there，’asmelled。Yes，I
　　couldsmell’n，beingtoleeward。’
　　’Lord，lord，whatunwholesomescandal’sthisabouttheghostofarespectablegentleman？’saidMrs。Martin，whohadenteredfromthesitting—room。