Thereshehandedinhermessage，addressingittotheportofarrivaloftheOccidental，andagainreturnedhome。
　　Shewaited;andtherebeingnoreturntelegram，theinferencewasthathehadsomehowmissedhers。Forananswertoeitherofherlettersshewouldhavetowaitlongenoughtoallowhimtimetoreachoneoftheobservatories——atediouswhile。
　　Thensheconsideredtheweakness，thestultifyingnatureofherattemptatrecall。
　　Eventsmockedheronallsides。Bythefavourofanaccident，andbyherownimmenseexertionsagainstherinstincts，Swithinhadbeenrestoredtotherightfulheritagethathehadnearlyforfeitedonheraccount。Hehadjuststartedofftoutilizeit;whenshe，withoutamoment’swarning，wasaskinghimagaintocastitaway。
　　Shehadsetacertainmachineryinmotion——tostopitbeforeithadrevolvedonce。
　　Ahorridapprehensionpossessedher。IthadbeeneasyforSwithintogiveupwhathehadneverknowntheadvantagesofkeeping;buthavingoncebeguntoenjoyhispossessionwouldhegiveitupnow？
　　Couldhebedependedonforsuchself—sacrifice？Beforeleaving，hewouldhavedoneanythingatherrequest;butthemolliatemporafandihadnowpassed。Supposetherearrivednoreplyfromhimforthenextthreemonths;andthatwhenhisanswercameheweretoinformherthat，havingnowfullyacquiescedinheroriginaldecision，hefoundthelifehewasleadingsoprofitableastobeunabletoabandonit，eventopleaseher;thathewasverysorry，buthavingembarkedonthiscoursebyheradvicehemeanttoadheretoitbyhisown。
　　Therewas，indeed，everyprobabilitythat，movingaboutashewasdoing，andcautionedashehadbeenbyherveryselfagainstlisteningtohertooreadily，shewouldreceivenoreplyofanysortfromhimforthreeorperhapsfourmonths。ThiswouldbeontheeveoftheTransit;andwhatlikelihoodwastherethatayoungman，fullofardourforthatspectacle，wouldforegoitatthelastmomenttoreturntoahumdrumdomesticitywithawomanwhowasnolongeranovelty？
　　Ifshecouldonlyleavehimtohiscareer，andsaveherownsituationalso！Butatthatmomentthepropositionseemedasimpossibleastoconstructatriangleoftwostraightlines。
　　Inherwalkhome，pervadedbythesehopelessviews，shepassednearthedarkanddesertedtower。Nightinthatsolitaryplace，whichwouldhavecausedhersomeuneasinessinheryearsofblitheness，hadnoterrorsforhernow。Shewentupthewindingpath，and，thedoorbeingunlocked，feltherwaytothetop。Theopenskygreetedherasintimesprevioustothedome—and—equatorialperiod;buttherewasnotastartosuggesttoherinwhichdirectionSwithinhadgone。Theabsenceofthedomesuggestedawayoutofherdifficulties。Aleapinthedark，andallwouldbeover。Butshehadnotreachedthatstageofactionasyet，andthethoughtwasdismissedasquicklyasithadcome。
　　ThenewconsiderationwhichatpresentoccupiedhermindwaswhethershecouldhavethecouragetoleaveSwithintohimself，asintheoriginalplan，andsinglymeetherimpendingtrial，despisingtheshame，tillheshouldreturnatfive—and—twentyandclaimher？Yetwasthisassumptionofhisreturnsoverysafe？Howalteredthingswouldbeatthattime！Attwenty—fivehewouldstillbeyoungandhandsome;shewouldbethree—and—thirty，fadingtomiddle—ageandhomeliness，fromajunior’spointofview。Afearsharpasafrostsettleddownuponher，thatinanysuchschemeasthisshewouldbebuildinguponthesand。
　　Shehardlyknewhowshereachedhomethatnight。Enteringbythelawndoorshesawaredcoalinthedirectionofthearbour。Louiswassmokingthere，andhecameforward。
　　Hehadnotseenhersincethemorningandwasnaturallyanxiousabouther。Sheblessedthechancewhichenvelopedherinnightandlessenedtheweightoftheencounteronehalfbydeprivinghimofvision。
　　’Didyouaccomplishyourobject？’heasked。
　　’No，’saidshe。
　　’Howwasthat？’
　　’Hehassailed。’
　　’Averygoodthingforboth，Isay。Ibelieveyouwouldhavemarriedhim，ifyoucouldhaveovertakenhim。’
　　’ThatwouldI！’shesaid。
　　’GoodGod！’
　　’Iwouldmarryatinkerforthatmatter;Ihavereasonsforbeinganyman’swife，’shesaidrecklessly，’onlyIshouldprefertodrownmyself。’
　　Louisheldhisbreath，andstoodrigidatthemeaningherwordsconveyed。
　　’ButLouis，youdon’tknowall！’criedViviette。’Iamnotsobadasyouthink;minehasbeenfolly——notvice。IthoughtIhadmarriedhim——andthenIfoundIhadnot;themarriagewasinvalid——
　　SirBlountwasalive！AndnowSwithinhasgoneaway，andwillnotcomebackformycalling！Howcanhe？Hisfortuneislefthimonconditionthatheformsnolegaltie。Owillhe——willhe，comeagain？’
　　’Never，ifthat’sthepositionofaffairs，’saidLouisfirmly，afterapause。
　　’WhatthenshallIdo？’saidViviette。
　　LouisescapedtheformidabledifficultyofreplyingbypretendingtocontinuehisHavannah;andshe，boweddowntodustbywhatshehadrevealed，creptfromhimintothehouse。Louis’scigarwentoutinhishandashestoodlookingintentlyattheground。
　　XXXIX
　　Louisgotupthenextmorningwithanideainhishead。Hehaddressedforajourney，andbreakfastedhastily。
　　BeforehehadstartedViviettecamedownstairs。Louis，whowasnowgreatlydisturbedabouther，wentuptohissisterandtookherhand。
　　’Auxgrandsmauxlesgrandsremedes，’hesaid，gravely。’Ihaveaplan。’
　　’Ihaveadozen！’saidshe。
　　’Youhave？’
　　’Yes。Butwhataretheyworth？Andyettheremust——thereMUSTbeaway！’
　　’Viviette，’saidLouis，’promisethatyouwillwaittillIcomehometo—night，beforeyoudoanything。’
　　Herdistractedeyesshowedslightcomprehensionofhisrequestasshesaid’Yes。’
　　AnhourafterthattimeLouisenteredthetrainatWarborne，andwasspeedilycrossingacountryofraggedwoodland，which，thoughintrudedonbytheploughatplaces，remainedlargelyintactfromprehistorictimes，andstillaboundedwithyewsofgiganticgrowthandoakstuftedwithmistletoe。ItwastheroutetoMelchester。
　　Onsettingfootinthatcityhetookthecathedralspireashisguide，theplacebeingstrangetohim;andwentontillhereachedthearchwaydividingMelchestersacredfromMelchestersecular。
　　ThencehethreadedhiscourseintotheprecinctsofthedampandvenerableClose，levelasabowling—green，andbelovedofrooks，whofromtheirelmperchesonhighthreatenedanyunwarygazerwiththemishapofTobit。Atthecornerofthisreposefulspotstoodtheepiscopalpalace。
　　Louisenteredthegates，rangthebell，andlookedaround。Herethetreesandrooksseemedolder，ifpossible，thanthoseintheClosebehindhim。Everythingwasdignified，andhefelthimselflikePunchinellointheking’schambers。VerilyinthepresentcaseGlanvillewasnotamantostickattriflesanymorethanhisillustriousprototype;andontheservantbringingamessagethathislordshipwouldseehimatonce，Louismarchedboldlyin。
　　Throughanolddarkcorridor，roofedwitholddarkbeams，theservantledthewaytotheheavily—mouldeddooroftheBishop’sroom。Dr。Helmsdalewasthere，andwelcomedLouiswithconsiderablestateliness。Buthiscondescensionwastemperedwithacuriousanxiety，andevenwithnervousness。
　　HeaskedinpointedtonesafterthehealthofLadyConstantine;ifLouishadbroughtananswertotheletterhehadaddressedtoheradayortwoearlier;andifthecontentsoftheletter，orofthepreviousone，wereknowntohim。
　　’Ihavebroughtnoanswerfromher，’saidLouis。’Butthecontentsofyourletterhavebeenmadeknowntome。’
　　SinceenteringthebuildingLouishadmorethanoncefeltsomehesitation，anditmightnow，withafavouringmannerfromhisentertainer，haveoperatedtodeterhimfromgoingfurtherwithhisintention。ButtheBishophadpersonalweaknessesthatwerefataltosympathyformorethanamoment。
　　’ThenImayspeakinconfidencetoyouashernearestrelative，’
　　saidtheprelate，’andexplainthatIamnowinapositionwithregardtoLadyConstantinewhich，inviewoftheimportantofficeI
　　hold，IshouldnothavecaredtoplacemyselfinunlessIhadfeltquitesureofnotbeingrefusedbyher。Andhenceitisagreatgrief，andsomemortificationtome，thatIwasrefused——owing，ofcourse，tothefactthatIunwittinglyriskedmakingmyproposalattheverymomentwhenshewasundertheinfluenceofthosestrangetidings，andthereforenotherself，andscarcelyabletojudgewhatwasbestforher。’
　　TheBishop’swordsdisclosedamindwhosesensitivefearofdangertoitsowndignityhindereditfromcriticismelsewhere。ThingsmighthavebeenworseforLouis’sPuck—likeideaofmis—matinghisHermiawiththisDemetrius。
　　Throwingastrongcolourofearnestnessintohismienhereplied:
　　’Bishop，Vivietteismyonlysister;Iamheronlybrotherandfriend。Iamalarmedforherhealthandstateofmind。HenceI
　　havecometoconsultyouonthisverymatterthatyouhavebroached。
　　Icomeabsolutelywithoutherknowledge，andIhopeunconventionalitymaybeexcusedinmeonthescoreofmyanxietyforher。’
　　’Certainly。Itrustthattheprospectopenedupbymyproposal，combinedwiththisothernews，hasnotprovedtoomuchforher？’
　　’Mysisterisdistractedanddistressed，BishopHelmsdale。Shewantscomfort。’
　　’Notdistressedbymyletter？’saidtheBishop，turningred。’Hasitloweredmeinherestimation？’
　　’Onthecontrary;whileyourdisinterestedofferwasuppermostinhermindshewasadifferentwoman。Itisthisothermatterthatoppressesher。TheresultuponheroftherecentdiscoverywithregardtothelateSirBlountConstantineispeculiar。Tosaythatheill—usedherinhislifetimeistounderstateatruth。Hehasbeendeadnowaconsiderableperiod;butthisrevivalofhismemoryoperatesasasortofterroruponher。ImagesofthemannerofSirBlount’sdeatharewithhernightandday，intensifiedbyahideouspictureofthesupposedscene，whichwascruellysenther。Shedreadsbeingalone。NothingwillrestoremypoorViviettetoherformercheerfulnessbutadistraction——ahope——anewprospect。’
　　’Thatispreciselywhatacceptanceofmyofferwouldafford。’
　　’Precisely，’saidLouis，withgreatrespect。’Buthowtogethertoavailherselfofit，afteroncerefusingyou，isthedifficulty，andmyearnestproblem。’
　　’Thenwearequiteatone。’
　　’Weare。AnditistopromoteourwishesthatIamcome;sinceshewilldonothingofherself。’
　　’Thenyoucangivemenohopeofareplytomysecondcommunication？’
　　’Nonewhatever——byletter，’saidLouis。’Herimpressionplainlyisthatshecannotencourageyourlordship。Yet，inthefaceofallthisreticence，thesecretisthatshelovesyouwarmly。’
　　’Canyouindeedassuremeofthat？Indeed，indeed！’saidthegoodBishopmusingly。’ThenImusttrytoseeher。Ibegintofeel——tofeelstrongly——thatacoursewhichwouldseemprematureandunbecominginothercaseswouldbetrueandproperconductinthis。
　　Herunhappydilemmas——herunwontedposition——yes，yes——Iseeitall！
　　Icanaffordtohavesomelittlemisconstructionputuponmymotives。Iwillgoandseeherimmediately。Herpasthasbeenacruelone;shewantssympathy;andwithHeaven’shelpI’llgiveit。’
　　’Ithinktheremedyliesthatway，’saidLouisgently。’Somewordscamefromheronenightwhichseemedtoshowit。Iwasstandingontheterrace:Iheardsomebodysighinthedark，andfoundthatitwasshe。Iaskedherwhatwasthematter，andgentlypressedheronthissubjectofboldlyandpromptlycontractinganewmarriageasameansofdispersingthehorrorsoftheold。Heranswerimpliedthatshewouldhavenoobjectiontodoit，andtodoitatonce，providedshecouldremainexternallypassiveinthematter，thatshewouldtacitlyyield，infact，topressure，butwouldnotmeetsolicitationhalf—way。Now，BishopHelmsdale，youseewhathaspromptedme。Ontheonehandisadignitaryofhighpositionandintegrity，tosaynomore，whoisanxioustosaveherfromthegloomofhersituation;
　　ontheotheristhissister，whowillnotmakeknowntoyouherwillingnesstobesaved——partlyfromapathy，partlyfromafearthatshemaybethoughtforwardinrespondingfavourablyatsoearlyamoment，partlyalso，perhaps，fromamodestsensethattherewouldbesomesacrificeonyourpartinallyingyourselfwithawomanofhersecludedandsadexperience。’
　　’O，thereisnosacrifice！Quiteotherwise。Icaregreatlyforthisalliance，Mr。Glanville。Yoursisterisverydeartome。
　　Moreover，theadvantageshermindwouldderivefromtheenlargedfieldofactivitythatthepositionofabishop’swifewouldafford，arepalpable。Iaminducedtothinkthatanearlysettlementofthequestion——animmediatecomingtothepoint——whichmightbecalledtooearlyinthemajorityofcases，wouldbearightandconsideratetendernesshere。Myonlydreadisthatsheshouldthinkanimmediatefollowingupofthesubjectpremature。Andtheriskofarebuffasecondtimeisonewhich，asyoumustperceive，itwouldbehighlyunbecominginmetorun。’
　　’Ithinktheriskwouldbesmall，ifyourlordshipwouldapproachherfrankly。Writeshewillnot，Iamassured;andknowingthat，andhavingherinterestatheart，Iwasinducedtocometoyouandmakethiscandidstatementinreplytoyourcommunication。Herlatehusbandhavingbeenvirtuallydeadthesefourorfiveyears，believeddeadtwoyears，andactuallydeadnearlyone，noreproachcouldattachtoherifsheweretocontractanotherunionto—
　　morrow。’
　　’Iagreewithyou，Mr。Glanville，’saidtheBishopwarmly。’Iwillthinkthisover。HermotiveinnotreplyingIcanquiteunderstand:
　　yourmotiveincomingIcanalsounderstandandappreciateinabrother。IfIfeelconvincedthatitwouldbeaseemlyandexpedientthingIwillcometoWellandto—morrow。’
　　ThepointtowhichLouishadbroughttheBishopbeingsosatisfactory，hefearedtoendangeritbyanotherword。Hewentawayalmosthurriedly，andatoncelefttheprecinctsofthecathedral，lestanotherencounterwithDr。HelmsdaleshouldleadthelattertotakeanewandslowerviewofhisdutiesasViviette’ssuitor。
　　HereachedWellandbydinner—time，andcameuponVivietteinthesamepensivemoodinwhichhehadlefther。Itseemedshehadhardlymovedsince。
　　’HaveyoudiscoveredSwithinSt。Cleeve’saddress？’shesaid，withoutlookingupathim。
　　’No，’saidLouis。
　　Thenshebrokeoutwithindescribableanguish:’Butyouaskedmetowaittillthisevening;andIhavewaitedthroughthelongday，inthebeliefthatyourwordsmeantsomething，andthatyouwouldbringgoodtidings！AndnowIfindyourwordsmeantnothing，andyouhaveNOTbroughtgoodtidings！’
　　Louiscouldnotdecideforamomentwhattosaytothis。Shouldheventuretogiveherthoughtsanewcoursebyarevelationofhisdesign？No:itwouldbebettertoprolongherdespairyetanothernight，andspringreliefuponhersuddenly，thatshemightjumpatitandcommitherselfwithoutanintervalforreflectiononcertainaspectsoftheproceeding。
　　Nothing，accordingly，didhesay;andconjecturingthatshewouldbehardlylikelytotakeanydesperatestepthatnight，helefthertoherself。
　　Hisanxietyatthiscrisiscontinuedtobegreat。EverythingdependedontheresultoftheBishop’sself—communion。Wouldheorwouldhenotcomethenextday？Perhapsinsteadofhisimportantpresencetherewouldappearaletterpostponingthevisitindefinitely。Ifso，allwouldbelost。
　　Louis’ssuspensekepthimawake，andhewasnotaloneinhissleeplessness。Throughthenightheheardhissisterwalkingupanddown，inastatewhichbetokenedthatforeverypangofgriefshehaddisclosed，twiceasmanyhadremainedunspoken。Healmostfearedthatshemightseektoendherexistencebyviolence，sounreasonablysuddenwerehermoods;andhelayandlongedfortheday。
　　Itwasmorning。Shecamedownthesameasusual，andaskediftherehadarrivedanytelegramorletter;buttherewasneither。Louisavoidedher，knowingthatnothinghecouldsayjustthenwoulddoheranygood。
　　NocommunicationhadreachedhimfromtheBishop，andthatlookedwell。Byoneruseandanother，asthedaywenton，heledherawayfromcontemplatingtheremotepossibilityofhearingfromSwithin，andinducedhertolookattheworstcontingencyasherprobablefate。Itseemedasifshereallymadeuphermindtothis，forbytheafternoonshewasapathetic，likeawomanwhoneitherhopednorfeared。
　　Andthenaflydroveuptothedoor。
　　Louis，whohadbeenstandinginthehallthegreaterpartofthatday，glancedoutthroughaprivatewindow，andwenttoViviette。
　　’TheBishophascalled，’hesaid。’Bereadytoseehim。’
　　’TheBishopofMelchester？’saidViviette，bewildered。
　　’Yes。Iaskedhimtocome。Hecomesforananswertohisletters。’
　　’Ananswer——to——his——letters？’shemurmured。
　　’Animmediatereplyofyesorno。’
　　Herfaceshowedtheworkingsofhermind。Howentirelyananswerofassent，atonceactedonforbetterorforworse，wouldclearthespectrefromherpath，thereneedednotonguetotell。Itwould，moreover，accomplishthatendwithoutinvolvingtheimpoverishmentofSwithin——theinevitableresultifshehadadoptedthelegitimateroadoutofhertrouble。Hithertotherehadseemedtoherdismayedmind，unenlightenedastoanycoursesaveoneofhonesty，nopossibleachievementofBOTHherdesires——thesavingofSwithinandthesavingofherself。Butbehold，herewasaway！Atempterhadshownittoher。Itinvolvedagreatwrong，whichtoherhadquiteobscureditsfeasibility。Butsheperceivednowthatitwasindeedaway。Naturewasforcingherhandatthisgame;andtowhatwillnotnaturecompelherweakervictims，inextremes？
　　Louislefthertothinkitout。Whenhereachedthedrawing—roomDr。Helmsdalewasstandingtherewiththeairofamantoogoodforhisdestiny——which，tobejusttohim，wasnotfarfromthetruththistime。
　　’Haveyoubrokenmymessagetoher？’askedtheBishopsonorously。
　　’Notyourmessage;yourvisit，’saidLouis。’IleavetherestinyourLordship’shands。IhavedoneallIcanforher。’
　　Shewasinherownsmallroomto—day;and，feelingthatitmustbeaboldstrokeornone，heledtheBishopacrossthehalltillhereachedherapartmentandopenedthedoor;butinsteadoffollowingheshutitbehindhisvisitor。
　　ThenGlanvillepassedananxioustime。Hewalkedfromthefootofthestaircasetothestarofoldswordsandpikesonthewall;fromthesetothestags’horns;thencedownthecorridorasfarasthedoor，wherehecouldhearmurmuringinside，butnotitsimport。Thelongertheyremainedclosetedthemoreexciteddidhebecome。Thatshehadnotperemptorilynegativedtheproposalattheoutsetwasastrongsignofitssuccess。Itshowedthatshehadadmittedargument;andtheworthyBishophadapleaderonhissidewhomheknewlittleof。TheveryweatherseemedtofavourDr。Helmsdaleinhissuit。Ablusterouswindhadblownupfromthewest，howlinginthesmokelesschimneys，andsuggestingtothefemininemindstormsatsea，atossingocean，andthehopelessinaccessibilityofallastronomersandmenontheothersideofthesame。
　　TheBishophadenteredViviette’sroomattenminutespastthree。
　　Thelonghandofthehallclocklaylevelatforty—fiveminutespastwhentheknobofthedoormoved，andhecameout。Louismethimwherethepassagejoinedthehall。
　　Dr。Helmsdalewasdecidedlyinanemotionalstate，hisfacebeingslightlyflushed。Louislookedhisanxiousinquirywithoutspeakingit。
　　’Sheacceptsme，’saidtheBishopinalowvoice。’Andtheweddingistobesoon。Herlongsolitudeandsufferingsjustifyhaste。
　　Whatyousaidwastrue。Sheerwearinessanddistractionhavedrivenhertome。Shewasquitepassiveatlast，andagreedtoanythingI
　　proposed——suchisthepersuasiveforceoftrainedlogicalreasoning！
　　Agoodandwisewoman，sheperceivedwhatatrueshelterfromsadnesswasofferedinme，andwasnottheonetodespiseHeaven’sgift。’
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　　ThesilenceofSwithinwastobeaccountedforbythecircumstancethatneithertotheMediterraneannortoAmericahadheinthefirstplacedirectedhissteps。Feelinghimselfabsolutelyfreehehad，onarrivingatSouthampton，decidedtomakestraightfortheCape，andhencehadnotgoneaboardtheOccidentalatall。Hisobjectwastoleavehisheavierluggagethere，examinethecapabilitiesofthespotforhispurpose，findoutthenecessityorotherwiseofshippingoverhisownequatorial，andthencrosstoAmericaassoonastherewasagoodopportunity。HerehemightinquirethemovementsoftheTransitexpeditiontotheSouthPacific，andjoinitatsuchapointasmightbeconvenient。
　　Thus，thoughwronginherpremisses，Viviettehadintuitivelydecidedwithsadprecision。Therewas，asamatteroffact，agreatpossibilityofhernotbeingabletocommunicatewithhimforseveralmonths，notwithstandingthathemightpossiblycommunicatewithher。
　　ThisexcursivetimewasanawakeningforSwithin。Toalteredcircumstancesinevitablyfollowedalteredviews。Thatsuchchangesshouldhaveamarkedeffectuponayoungmanwhohadmadeneithergrandtournorpettyone——whohad，inshort，scarcelybeenawayfromhomeinhislife——wasnothingmorethannatural。Newideasstruggledtodisclosethemselvesandwiththeadditionofstrangetwinklerstohissouthernhorizoncameanabsorbedattentionthatway，andacorrespondingforgetfulnessofwhatlaytothenorthbehindhisback，whetherhumanorcelestial。WhoevermaydeploreitfewwillwonderthatViviette，whotillthenhadstoodhighinhisheaven，ifshehadnotdominatedit，sank，liketheNorthStar，lowerandlowerwithhisretreatsouthward。Masterofalargeadvanceofhisfirstyear’sincomeincircularnotes，heperhapstooreadilyforgotthatthemereactofhonour，butforherself—
　　suppression，wouldhaverenderedhimpenniless。
　　Meanwhile，tocomebackandclaimheratthespecifiedtime，fouryearsthence，ifsheshouldnotobjecttobeclaimed，wasasmuchapartofhisprogrammeasweretheexploitsabroadandelsewherethatweretopreludeit。Theverythoroughnessofhisintentionforthatadvanceddateinclinedhimallthemorereadilytoshelvethesubjectnow。Herunhappycautiontohimnottowritetoosoonwasacomfortablelicenseinhispresentstateoftensionaboutsublimescientificthings，whichknewnotwoman，norhersacrifices，norherfears。Intruthhewasnotonlytooyounginyears，buttooliteral，direct，anduncompromisinginnaturetounderstandsuchawomanasLadyConstantine;andshesufferedforthatlimitationinhimasithadbeenantecedentlyprobablethatshewoulddo。
　　HestayedbutalittletimeatCapeTownonthishisfirstreconnoitringjourney;andonthataccountwrotetonoonefromtheplace。OnleavinghefoundthereremainedsomeweeksonhishandsbeforehewishedtocrosstoAmerica;andfeelinganirrepressibledesireforfurtherstudiesinnavigationonshipboard，andunderclearskies，hetookthesteamerforMelbourne;returningthenceinduetime，andpursuinghisjourneytoAmerica，wherehelandedatBoston。
　　Havingatlasthadenoughofgreatcirclesandothernauticalreckonings，andtakingnointerestinmenorcities，thisindefatigablescrutineeroftheuniversewentimmediatelyontoCambridge;andthere，bythehelpofanintroductionhehadbroughtfromEngland，herevelledforatimeinthegloriesofthegiganticrefractor（whichhewaspermittedtouseonoccasion），andinthepleasuresofintercoursewiththescientificgrouparound。ThisbroughthimontothetimeofstartingwiththeTransitexpedition，whenheandhiskindbecamelosttotheeyeofcivilizationbehindthehorizonofthePacificOcean。
　　Tospeakoftheirdoingsonthispilgrimage，ofingressandegress，oftangentandparallax，ofexternalandinternalcontact，wouldavailnothing。IsitnotallwritteninthechroniclesoftheAstronomicalSociety？MoretothepointwillitbetomentionthatViviette’slettertoCambridgehadbeenreturnedlongbeforehereachedthatplace，whilehermissivetoMarseilleswas，ofcourse，misdirectedaltogether。OnarrivinginAmerica，uncertainofanaddressinthatcountryatwhichhewouldstaylong，Swithinwrotehisfirstlettertohisgrandmother;andinthisheorderedthatallcommunicationsshouldbesenttoawaithimatCapeTown，astheonlysafespotforfindinghim，soonerorlater。Theequatorialhealsodirectedtobeforwardedtothesameplace。Atthistime，too，heventuredtobreakViviette’scommands，andaddressalettertoher，notknowingofthestrangeresultsthathadfollowedhisabsencefromhome。
　　ItwasFebruary。TheTransitwasover，thescientificcompanyhadbrokenup，andSwithinhadsteamedtowardstheCapetotakeuphispermanentabodethere，withaviewtohisgreattaskofsurveying，chartingandtheorizingonthoseexceptionalfeaturesinthesouthernskieswhichhadbeenbutpartiallytreatedbytheyoungerHerschel。HavingenteredTableBayandlandedonthequay，hecalledatonceatthepost—office。
　　Twoletterswerehandedhim，andhefoundfromthedatethattheyhadbeenwaitingthereforsometime。Oneoftheseepistles，whichhadaweather—wornlookasregardedtheink，andwasinold—
　　fashionedpenmanship，heknewtobefromhisgrandmother。Heopeneditbeforehehadasmuchasglancedatthesuperscriptionofthesecond。
　　Besidesimmaterialportions，itcontainedthefollowing:——
　　’Jreckonyouknowbynowofourmainnewsthisfall，butlestyoushouldnothaveheardofitJsendtheexactthingsnippedoutofthenewspaper。Nobodyexpectedhertodoitquitesosoon;butitissaidhereaboutthatmylordbishopandmyladyhadbeendrawingnightoanunderstandingbeforetheglumtidingsofSirBlount’stakingofhisownlifereachedher;andtheaccountofthiswickeddeedwassosoreafflictingtohermind，andmadeherpoorheartsotimidandlow，thatincharitytomyladyherfewfriendsagreedonurginghertoletthebishopgoonpayinghiscourtasbefore，notwithstandingshehadnotbeenawidow—womannearsolongaswasthought。This，asitturnedout，shewaswillingtodo;andwhenmylordaskedhershetoldhimshewouldmarryhimatonceornever。
　　That’sasJwastold，andJhaditfromthosethatknow。’
　　ThecuttingfromthenewspaperwasanordinaryannouncementofmarriagebetweentheBishopofMelchesterandLadyConstantine。
　　SwithinwassoastoundedattheintelligenceofwhatforthenonceseemedViviette’swantonficklenessthathequiteomittedtolookatthesecondletter;andrememberednothingaboutittillanhourafterwards，whensittinginhisownroomatthehotel。
　　Itwasinherhandwriting，butsoalteredthatitssuperscriptionhadnotarrestedhiseye。Ithadnobeginning，ordate;butitscontentssoonacquaintedhimwithhermotivefortheprecipitateact。Thefewconcludingsentencesareallthatitwillbenecessarytoquotehere:——
　　’Therewasnowayoutofit，evenifIcouldhavefoundyou，withoutinfringingoneoftheconditionsIhadpreviouslylaiddown。Thelongdesireofmyhearthasbeennottoimpoverishyouormaryourcareer。Thenewdesirewastosavemyselfand，stillmore，anotheryetunborn……Ihavedoneadesperatething。YetformyselfI
　　coulddonobetter，andforyounoless。Iwouldhavesacrificedmysingleselftohonesty，butIwasnotaloneconcerned。Whatwomanhasarighttoblightacominglifetopreserveherpersonalintegrity？……Theonebrightspotisthatitsavesyouandyourendowmentfromfurthercatastrophes，andpreservesyoutothepleasantpathsofscientificfame。Inolongerlielikealogacrossyourpath，whichisnowasopenasonthedaybeforeyousawme，andereIencouragedyoutowinme。Alas，Swithin，Ioughttohaveknownbetter。Thefollywasgreat，andthesufferingbeuponmyhead！Ioughtnottohaveconsentedtothatlastinterview:allwaswelltillthen！……Well，Ihavebornemuch，andamnotunprepared。Asforyou，Swithin，bysimplypressingstraightonyourtriumphisassured。Donotcommunicatewithmeinanyway——noteveninanswertothis。Donotthinkofme。Donotseemeeveranymore。——YourunhappyVIVIETTE。’
　　Swithin’sheartswelledwithinhiminsuddenpityforher，first;