thenheblanchedwithahorrifiedsenseofwhatshehaddone,andathisownrelationtothedeed。Hefeltlikeanawakenedsomnambulistwhoshouldfindthathehadbeenaccessorytoatragedyduringhisunconsciousness。Shehadloosenedtheknotofherdifficultiesbycuttingitunscrupulouslythroughandthrough。
  Thebigtidingsratherdazedthancrushedhim,hispredominantfeelingbeingsoonagainoneofkeenestsorrowandsympathy。Yetonethingwasobvious;hecoulddonothing——absolutelynothing。Theeventwhichhenowheardofforthefirsttimehadtakenplacefivelongmonthsago。Hereflected,andregretted——andmechanicallywentonwithhispreparationsforsettlingdowntoworkundertheshadowofTableMountain。Hewasasonewhosuddenlyfindstheworldastrangerplacethanhethought;butisexcludedbyage,temperament,andsituationfrombeingmuchmorethananastonishedspectatorofitsstrangeness。
  TheRoyalObservatorywasaboutamileoutofthetown,andhitherherepairedassoonashehadestablishedhimselfinlodgings。Hehaddecided,onhisfirstvisittotheCape,thatitwouldbehighlyadvantageoustohimifhecouldsupplementtheoccasionaluseofthelargeinstrumentsherebytheuseathisownhouseofhisownequatorial,andhadaccordinglygivendirectionsthatitmightbesentoverfromEngland。Thepreciouspossessionnowarrived;andalthoughthesightofit——ofthebrassesonwhichherhandhadoftenrested,oftheeyepiecethroughwhichherdarkeyeshadbeamed——
  engenderedsomedecidedlybitterregretsinhimforatime,hecouldnotlongaffordtogivetothepastthedaysthatweremeantforthefuture。
  Unabletogetaroomconvenientforaprivateobservatoryheresolvedatlasttofixtheinstrumentonasolidpillarinthegarden;andseveraldayswerespentinaccommodatingittoitsnewposition。InthislatitudetherewasnonecessityforeconomizingclearnightsashehadbeenobligedtodoontheoldtoweratWelland。Thereithadhappenedmorethanonce,thatafterwaitingidlethroughdaysandnightsofcloudyweather,Viviettewouldfixhertimeformeetinghimatanhourwhenatlasthehadanopportunityofseeingthesky;sothatingivingtoherthegoldenmomentsofcloudlessnesshewaslosinghischancewiththeorbsabove。
  Thosefeatureswhichusuallyattracttheeyeofthevisitortoanewlatitudearethenovelformsofhumanandvegetablelife,andothersuchsublunarythings。Buttheyoungmanglancedslightinglyatthese;thechangesoverheadhadallhisattention。Theoldsubjectwasimprintedthere,butinanewtype。Herewasaheaven,fixedandancientasthenorthern;yetithadneverappearedabovetheWellandhillssincetheywereheavedupfrombeneath。Herewasanunalterablecircumpolarregion;butthepolarpatternsstereotypedinhistoryandlegend——withoutwhichithadalmostseemedthatapolarskycouldnotexist——hadneverbeenseentherein。
  St。Cleeve,aswasnatural,beganbycursorysurveys,whichwerenotlikelytobeofmuchutilitytotheworldortohimself。Hewastedseveralweeks——indeedabovetwomonths——inacomparativelyidlesurveyofsouthernnovelties;inthemereluxuryoflookingatstellarobjectswhosewonderswereknown,recounted,andclassified,longbeforehisownpersonalityhadbeenheardof。Withachild’ssimpledelightheallowedhisinstrumenttorove,eveningafterevening,fromthegorgeousglitterofCanopustothehazycloudsofMagellan。BeforehehadwellfinishedthisopticalpreludetherefloatedovertohimfromtheothersideoftheEquatorthepostscripttotheepistleofhislostViviette。Itcameinthevehicleofacommonnewspaper,undertheheadof’Births:’——
  ’April10th,18——,atthePalace,Melchester,thewifeoftheBishopofMelchester,ofason。’
  XLI
  Threeyearspassedaway,andSwithinstillremainedattheCape,quietlypursuingtheworkthathadbroughthimthere。Hismemorandaofobservationshadaccumulatedtoawheelbarrowload,andhewasbeginningtoshapethemintoatreatisewhichshouldpossesssomescientificutility。
  Hehadgaugedthesouthernskieswithgreaterresultsthanevenhehimselfhadanticipated。Thoseunfamiliarconstellationswhich,tothecasualbeholder,areatmostanewarrangementofordinarypointsoflight,weretothisprofessedastronomer,astohisbrethren,afargreatermatter。
  Itwasbelowthesurfacethathismateriallay。There,inregionsrevealedonlytotheinstrumentalobserver,weresunsofhybridkind——fire—fogs,floatingnuclei,globesthatflewingroupslikeswarmsofbees,andotherextraordinarysights——which,whendecomposedbySwithin’sequatorial,turnedouttobethebeginningofanewseriesofphenomenainsteadoftheendofanoldone。
  Thereweregloomydesertsinthosesouthernskiessuchasthenorthshowsscarcelyanexampleof;sitessetapartforthepositionofsunswhichforsomeunfathomablereasonwereleftuncreated,theirplacesremainingeversinceconspicuousbytheiremptiness。
  TheinspectionofthesechasmsbroughthimasecondpulsationofthatoldhorrorwhichhehadusedtodescribetoVivietteasproducedinhimbybottomlessnessinthenorthheaven。Theghostlyfingeroflimitlessvacancytouchedhimnowontheotherside。
  Infinitedeepsinthenorthstellarregionhadahomelyfamiliarityaboutthem,whencomparedwithinfinitedeepsintheregionofthesouthpole。Thiswasanevenmoreunknowntractoftheunknown。
  Spacehere,beinglessthehistorichauntofhumanthoughtthanoverheadathome,seemedtobepervadedwithamorelonelyloneliness。
  WeretheregivenonpapertotheseastronomicalexercitationsofSt。
  CleeveaspaceproportionabletothatoccupiedbyhisyearwithVivietteatWelland,thisnarrativewouldtrebleitslength;butnotasingleadditionalglimpsewouldbeaffordedofSwithininhisrelationswitholdemotions。Intheseexperimentswithtubesandglasses,importantastheyweretohumanintellect,therewaslittlefoodforthesympatheticinstinctswhichcreatethechangesinalife。Thatwhichistheforegroundandmeasuringbaseofoneperspectivedraughtmaybethevanishing—pointofanotherperspectivedraught,whileyettheyarebothdraughtsofthesamething。Swithin’sdoingsanddiscoveriesinthesouthernsiderealsystemwere,nodoubt,incidentsofthehighestimportancetohim;
  andyetfromanintersocialpointofviewtheyservedbutthehumblepurposeofkillingtime,whileotherdoings,morenearlyalliedtohisheartthantohisunderstanding,developedthemselvesathome。
  Intheintervalsbetweenhisprofessionaloccupationshetookwalksoverthesand—flatsnear,oramongthefarmswhichweregraduallyoverspreadingthecountryinthevicinityofCapeTown。HegrewfamiliarwiththeoutlineofTableMountain,andthefleecy’Devil’sTable—Cloth’whichusedtosettleonitstopwhenthewindwassouth—east。OnthesepromenadeshewouldmoreparticularlythinkofViviette,andofthatcuriouspatheticchapterinhislifewithherwhichseemedtohavewounditselfupandendedforever。Thosesceneswererapidlyrecedingintodistance,andtheintensityofhissentimentregardingthemhadproportionatelyabated。Hefeltthattherehadbeensomethingwrongtherein,andyethecouldnotexactlydefinetheboundaryofthewrong。Viviette’ssadandamazingsequeltothatchapterhadstillafearful,catastrophicaspectinhiseyes;butinsteadofmusingoveritanditsbearingsheshunnedthesubject,asweshunbynighttheshadysceneofadisaster,andkeeptotheopenroad。
  Hesometimescontemplatedherapartfromthepast——leadingherlifeintheCathedralCloseatMelchester;andwonderedhowoftenshelookedsouthandthoughtofwherehewas。
  OnoneoftheseafternoonwalksintheneighbourhoodoftheRoyalObservatoryheturnedandgazedtowardsthesignal—postontheLion’sRump。Thiswasahighpromontorytothenorth—westofTableMountain,andoverlookedTableBay。Beforehiseyeshadleftthescenethesignalwassuddenlyhoistedonthestaff。Itannouncedthatamailsteamerhadappearedinviewoverthesea。Inthecourseofanhourheretracedhissteps,ashehadoftendoneonsuchoccasions,andstrolledleisurelyacrosstheinterveningmileandahalftillhearrivedatthepost—officedoor。
  TherewasnoletterfromEnglandforhim;buttherewasanewspaper,addressedintheseventeenthcenturyhandwritingofhisgrandmother,who,inspiteofhergreatage,stillretainedasteadyholdonlife。Heturnedawaydisappointed,andresumedhiswalkintothecountry,openingthepaperashewentalong。
  Acrossinblackinkattractedhisattention;anditwasoppositeanameamongthe’Deaths。’Hisbloodranicilyashediscernedthewords’ThePalace,Melchester。’Butitwasnotshe。Herhusband,theBishopofMelchester,had,afterashortillness,departedthislifeatthecomparativelyearlyageoffiftyyears。
  AlltheenactmentsofthebygonedaysatWellandnowstarteduplikeanawakenedarmyfromtheground。Butafewmonthswerewantingtothetimewhenhewouldbeofanagetomarrywithoutsacrificingtheannuitywhichformedhismeansofsubsistence。ItwasapointinhislifethathadhadnomeaningorinterestforhimsincehisseparationfromViviette,forwomenwerenownomoretohimthantheinhabitantsofJupiter。ButthewhirligigoftimehavingagainsetViviettefree,theaspectofhomealtered,andconjectureastoherfuturefoundroomtoworkanew。
  Butbeyondthesimplefactthatshewasawidowheforsometimegainednotanatomofintelligenceconcerningher。Therewasnooneofwhomhecouldinquirebuthisgrandmother,andshecouldtellhimnothingaboutaladywhodweltfarawayatMelchester。
  Severalmonthsslippedbythus;andnofeelingwithinhimrosetosufficientstrengthtoforcehimoutofapassiveattitude。ThenbythemerestchancehisgrannystatedinoneofherramblingepistlesthatLadyConstantinewascomingtoliveagainatWellandintheoldhouse,withherchild,nowalittleboybetweenthreeandfouryearsofage。
  Swithin,however,livedonasbefore。
  Butbythefollowingautumnachangebecamenecessaryfortheyoungmanhimself。HisworkattheCapewasdone。Hisuncle’swishesthatheshouldstudytherehadbeenmorethanobserved。Thematerialsforhisgreattreatisewerecollected,anditnowonlyremainedforhimtoarrange,digest,andpublishthem,forwhichpurposeareturntoEnglandwasindispensable。
  Sotheequatorialwasunscrewed,andthestandtakendown;theastronomer’sbarrow—loadofpreciousmemoranda,androllsuponrollsofdiagrams,representingthreeyearsofcontinuouslabour,weresafelypacked;andSwithindepartedforgoodandallfromtheshoresofCapeTown。
  Hehadlongbeforeinformedhisgrandmotherofthedateatwhichshemightexpecthim;andinareplyfromher,whichreachedhimjustprevioustosailing,shecasuallymentionedthatshefrequentlysawLadyConstantine;thatonthelastoccasionherladyshiphadshowngreatinterestintheinformationthatSwithinwascominghome,andhadinquiredthetimeofhisreturn。
  OnalatesummerdaySwithinsteppedfromthetrainatWarborne,and,directinghisbaggagetobesentonafterhim,setoutonfootforoldWellandonceagain。
  Itseemedbutthedayafterhisdeparture,solittlehadthescenechanged。True,therewasthatchangewhichisalwaysthefirsttoarrestattentioninplacesthatareconventionallycalledunchanging——ahigherandbroadervegetationateveryfamiliarcornerthanattheformertime。
  Hehadnotgoneamilewhenhesawwalkingbeforehimaclergymanwhoseform,afterconsideration,herecognized,inspiteofanovelwhitenessinthatpartofhishairthatshowedbelowthebrimofhishat。Swithinwalkedmuchfasterthanthisgentleman,andsoonwasathisside。
  ’Mr。Torkingham!Iknewitwas,’saidSwithin。
  Mr。Torkinghamwasslowerinrecognizingtheastronomer,butinamomenthadgreetedhimwithawarmshakeofthehand。
  ’Ihavebeentothestationonpurposetomeetyou!’criedMr。
  Torkingham,’andwasreturningwiththeideathatyouhadnotcome。
  Iamyourgrandmother’semissary。Shecouldnotcomeherself,andasshewasanxious,andnobodyelsecouldbespared,Icameforher。’
  Thentheywalkedontogether。TheparsontoldSwithinallabouthisgrandmother,theparish,andhisendeavourstoenlightenit;andinduecoursesaid,’YouarenodoubtawarethatLadyConstantineislivingagainatWelland?’
  Swithinsaidhehadheardasmuch,andadded,whatwasfarwithinthetruth,thatthenewsoftheBishop’sdeathhadbeenagreatsurprisetohim。
  ’Yes,’saidMr。Torkingham,withninethoughtstooneword。’Onemighthaveprophesied,tolookathim,thatMelchesterwouldnotlackabishopforthenextfortyyears。Yes;paledeathknocksatthecottagesofthepoorandthepalacesofkingswithanimpartialfoot!’
  ’Washeaparticularlygoodman?’askedSwithin。
  ’HewasnotaKenoraHeber。Tospeakcandidly,hehadhisfaults,ofwhicharrogancewasnottheleast。Butwhoisperfect?’
  Swithin,somehow,feltrelievedtohearthattheBishopwasnotaperfectman。
  ’Hispoorwife,Ifear,hadnotagreatdealmorehappinesswithhimthanwithherfirsthusband。Butonemightalmosthaveforeseenit;
  themarriagewashasty——theresultofared—hotcaprice,hardlybecominginamanofhisposition;anditbetokenedawantoftemperatediscretionwhichsoonshoweditselfinotherways。That’salltherewastobesaidagainsthim,andnowit’sallover,andthingshavesettledagainintotheiroldcourse。ButtheBishop’swidowisnottheLadyConstantineofformerdays。No;putitasyouwill,sheisnotthesame。Thereseemstobeanamelesssomethingonhermind——atrouble——arootedmelancholy,whichnoman’sministrycanreach。Formerlyshewasawomanwhoseconfidenceitwaseasytogain;butneitherreligionnorphilosophyavailswithhernow。
  Beyondthat,herlifeisstrangelylikewhatitwaswhenyouwerewithus。’
  Conversingthustheypursuedtheturnpikeroadtilltheirconversationwasinterruptedbyacryingvoiceontheirleft。Theylooked,andperceivedthatachild,ingettingoveranadjoiningstile,hadfallenonhisface。
  Mr。TorkinghamandSwithinbothhasteneduptohelpthesufferer,whowasalovelylittlefellowwithflaxenhair,whichspreadoutinafrillofcurlsfrombeneathaquaint,close—fittingvelvetcapthathewore。Swithinpickedhimup,whileMr。Torkinghamwipedthesandfromhislipsandnose,andadministeredafewwordsofconsolation,togetherwithafewsweet—meats,which,somewhattoSwithin’ssurprise,theparsonproducedasifbymagicfromhispocket。Onehalfthecomfortrenderedwouldhavesufficedtosoothesuchadispositionasthechild’s。Heceasedcryingandranawayindelighttohisunconsciousnurse,whowasreachingupforblackberriesatahedgesomewayoff。
  ’Youknowwhoheis,ofcourse?’saidMr。Torkingham,astheyresumedtheirjourney。
  ’No,’saidSwithin。
  ’Oh,Ithoughtyoudid。Yethowshouldyou?ItisLadyConstantine’sboy——heronlychild。Hisfondmotherlittlethinksheissofarawayfromhome。’
  ’Dearme!——LadyConstantine’s——ah,howinteresting!’Swithinpausedabstractedlyforamoment,thensteppedbackagaintothestile,whilehestoodwatchingthelittleboyoutofsight。
  ’Icanneverventureoutofdoorsnowwithoutsweetsinmypocket,’
  continuedthegood—naturedvicar:’andtheresultisthatImeetthatyoungmanmorefrequentlyonmyroundsthananyotherofmyparishioners。’
  St。Cleevewassilent,andtheyturnedintoWellandLane,wheretheirpathspresentlydiverged,andSwithinwaslefttopursuehiswayalone。Hemighthaveaccompaniedthevicaryetfurther,andgonestraighttoWellandHouse;butitwouldhavebeendifficulttodosothenwithoutprovokinginquiry。Itwaseasytogotherenow:
  byacrosspathhecouldbeatthemansionalmostassoonasbythedirectroad。AndyetSwithindidnotturn;hefeltanindescribablereluctancetoseeViviette。Hecouldnotexactlysaywhy。True,beforeheknewhowthelandlayitmightbeawkwardtoattempttocall:andthiswasasufficientexcuseforpostponement。
  Inthismoodhewenton,followingthedirectwaytohisgrandmother’shomestead。Hereachedthegarden—gate,and,lookingintotheboskybasinwheretheoldhousestood,sawagracefulfemaleformmovingbeforetheporch,biddingadieutosomeonewithinthedoor。
  Hewonderedwhatcreatureofthatmouldhisgrandmothercouldknow,andwentforwardwithsomehesitation。Athisapproachtheapparitionturned,andhebeheld,developedintoblushingwomanhood,onewhohadoncebeenknowntohimasthevillagemaidenTabithaLark。SeeingSwithin,andapparentlyfromaninstinctthatherpresencewouldnotbedesirablejustthen,shemovedquicklyroundintothegarden。
  Thereturnedtravellerenteredthehouse,wherehefoundawaitinghimpooroldMrs。Martin,towhoseearthlycoursedeathstoodratherastheasymptotethanastheend。Shewasperceptiblysmallerinformthanwhenhehadlefther,andshecouldseelessdistinctly。
  Aratheraffectinggreetingfollowed,inwhichhisgrandmothermurmuredthewordsofIsrael:’"Nowletmedie,sinceIhaveseenthyface,becausethouartyetalive。"’
  TheformofHannahhaddisappearedfromthekitchen,thatancientservanthavingbeengatheredtoherfathersaboutsixmonthsbefore,herplacebeingfilledbyayounggirlwhoknewnotJoseph。Theypresentlychattedwithmuchcheerfulness,andhisgrandmothersaid,’HaveyouheardwhatawonderfulyoungwomanMissLarkhasbecome?——
  amerefleet—footed,slitteringmaidwhenyouwerelasthome。’
  St。Cleevehadnotheard,buthehadpartlyseen,andhewasinformedthatTabithahadleftWellandshortlyafterhisowndeparture,andhadstudiedmusicwithgreatsuccessinLondon,whereshehadresidedeversincetillquiterecently;thatsheplayedatconcerts,oratorios——had,inshort,joinedthephalanxofWonderfulWomenwhohadresolvedtoeclipsemasculinegeniusaltogether,andhumiliatethebrutalsextothedust。
  ’Sheisonlyinthegarden,’addedhisgrandmother。’Whydon’tyegooutandspeaktoher?’
  Swithinwasnothingloth,andstrolledoutundertheapple—trees,wherehearrivedjustintimetopreventMissLarkfromgoingoffbythebackgate。Therewasnotmuchdifficultyinbreakingtheicebetweenthem,andtheybegantochatwithvivacity。
  Nowalltheseproceedingsoccupiedtime,forsomehowitwasverycharmingtotalktoMissLark;andbydegreesSt。CleeveinformedTabithaofhisgreatundertaking,andofthevoluminousnoteshehadamassed,whichwouldrequiresomuchrearrangementandrecopyingbyanamanuensisastoabsolutelyappalhim。Hegreatlyfearedheshouldnotgetonecarefulenoughforsuchscientificmatter;
  whereuponTabithasaidshewouldbedelightedtodoitforhim。
  Thenblushing,anddeclaringsuddenlythatithadgrownquitelate,shelefthimandthegardenforherrelation’shousehardby。
  Swithin,nolessthanTabitha,hadbeensurprisedbythedisappearanceofthesunbehindthehill;andthequestionnowarosewhetheritwouldbeadvisabletocalluponViviettethatnight。
  Therewaslittledoubtthatsheknewofhiscoming;butmorethanthathecouldnotpredicate;andbeingentirelyignorantofwhomshehadaroundher,entirelyinthedarkastoherpresentfeelingstowardshim,hethoughtitwouldbebettertodeferhisvisituntilthenextday。
  Walkingroundtothefrontofthehousehebeheldthewell—knownagriculturistsHezzyBiles,HaymossFry,andsomeothersofthesameoldschool,passingthegatehomewardfromtheirworkwithbundlesofwoodattheirbacks。Swithinsalutedthemoverthetoprail。
  ’Well!domyeyesandears——’beganHezzy;andthen,balancinghisfaggotonendagainstthehedge,hecameforward,theothersfollowing。
  ’SaysItomyselfassoonasIheerdhisvoice,’Hezzycontinued(addressingSwithinasifhewereadisinterestedspectatorandnothimself),’pleaseGodI’llpitchmynitch,andgoacrossandspeaktoen。’
  ’Iknowedinawinking’twassomegreatnavigatorthatIseeastandingthere,’saidHaymoss。’Butwhe’r’twereasortofnabob,oradiment—digger,oralion—hunter,Icouldn’tsomuchasguesstillIheerdenspeak。’
  ’AndwhatchangeshavecomeoverWellandsinceIwaslastathome?’
  askedSwithin。
  ’Well,Mr。SanCleeve,’Hezzyreplied,’whenyou’vesaidthatafewstriplingboysandmaidenshavebustedintoblooth,andafewmarriedwomenhaveplimmedandchimped(myladyamong’em),why,you’vesaidanighstall,Mr。SanCleeve。’
  Theconversationthusbeganwascontinuedondiversmatterstilltheywereallenvelopedintotaldarkness,whenhisoldacquaintancesshoulderedtheirfaggotsagainandproceededontheirway。
  NowthathewasactuallywithinhercoastsagainSwithinfeltalittlemorestronglytheinfluenceofthepastandViviettethanhehadbeenaccustomedtodoforthelasttwoorthreeyears。DuringthenighthefelthalfsorrythathehadnotmarchedofftotheGreatHousetoseeher,regardlessofthetimeofday。Ifshereallynourishedforhimanyparticleofheroldaffectionithadbeenthecruellestthingnottocall。AfewquestionsthatheputconcerninghertohisgrandmotherelicitedthatLadyConstantinehadnofriendsabouther——notevenherbrother——andthatherhealthhadnotbeensogoodsinceherreturnfromMelchesterasformerly。
  Still,thisprovednothingastothestateofherheart,andasshehadkeptadeadsilencesincetheBishop’sdeathitwasquitepossiblethatshewouldmeethimwiththatcoldrepressivetoneandmannerwhichexperiencedwomenknowsowellhowtoputonwhentheywishtointimatetothelong—lostloverthatoldepisodesaretobetakenasforgotten。
  Thenextmorninghepreparedtocall,ifonlyonthegroundofoldacquaintance,forSwithinwastoostraightforwardtoascertainanythingindirectly。Itwasrathertooearlyforthispurposewhenhewentoutfromhisgrandmother’sgarden—gate,afterbreakfast,andhewaitedinthegarden。WhilehelingeredhiseyefellonRings—
  HillSpeer。
  Itappeareddark,foramoment,againsttheblueskybehindit;thenthefleetingcloudwhichshadoweditpassedon,andthefaceofthecolumnbrightenedintosuchluminousnessthattheskybehindsanktothecomplexionofadarkfoil。
  ’Surelysomebodyisonthecolumn,’hesaidtohimself,aftergazingatitawhile。
  InsteadofgoingstraighttotheGreatHousehedeviatedthroughtheinsulatingfield,nowsownwithturnips,whichsurroundedtheplantationonRings—Hill。Bythetimethatheplungedunderthetreeshewasstillmorecertainthatsomebodywasonthetower。Hecreptuptothebasewithproprietarycuriosity,forthespotseemedagainlikehisown。
  Thepathstillremainedmuchasformerly,butthenookinwhichthecabinhadstoodwascoveredwithundergrowth。Swithinenteredthedoorofthetower,ascendedthestaircaseabouthalf—wayontip—toe,andlistened,forhedidnotwishtointrudeonthetopifanystrangerwerethere。Thehollowspiral,asheknewfromoldexperience,wouldbringdowntohisearstheslightestsoundfromabove;anditnowrevealedtohimthewordsofaduologueinprogressatthesummitofthetower。
  ’Mother,whatshallIdo?’achild’svoicesaid。’ShallIsing?’
  Themotherseemedtoassent,forthechildbegan——
  ’TherobinhasfledfromthewoodTothesnughabitationofman。’
  Thisperformanceapparentlyattractedbutlittleattentionfromthechild’scompanion,fortheyoungvoicesuggested,asanewformofentertainment,’ShallIsaymyprayers?’
  ’Yes,’repliedonewhomSwithinhadbeguntorecognize。
  ’WhoshallIprayfor?’
  Noanswer。
  ’WhoshallIprayfor?’
  ’Prayforfather。’
  ’Butheisgonetoheaven?’
  AsighfromViviettewasdistinctlyaudible。
  ’Youmadeamistake,didn’tyou,mother?’continuedthelittleone。
  ’Imusthave。Thestrangestmistakeawomanevermade!’
  Nothingmorewassaid,andSwithinascended,wordsfromaboveindicatingtohimthathisfootstepswereheard。Inanotherhalf—
  minuteherosethroughthehatchway。Aladyinblackwassittinginthesun,andtheboywiththeflaxenhairwhomhehadseenyesterdaywasatherfeet。
  ’Viviette!’hesaid。
  ’Swithin!——atlast!’shecried。
  Thewordsdieduponherlips,andfromveryfaintnessshebentherhead。Forinsteadofrushingforwardtoherhehadstoodstill;andthereappeareduponhisfacealookwhichtherewasnomistaking。
  Yes;hewasshockedatherwornandfadedaspect。TheimagehehadmentallycarriedoutwithhimtotheCapehehadbroughthomeagainasthatofthewomanhewasnowtorejoin。Butanotherwomansatbeforehim,andnottheoriginalViviette。Hercheekshadlostforeverthatfirmcontourwhichhadbeendrawnbythevigoroushandofyouth,andthemassesofhairthatwereoncedarknessvisiblehadbecometouchedhereandtherebyafaintgreyhaze,liketheViaLacteainamidnightsky。
  Yettothosewhohadeyestounderstandaswellastosee,thechastenedpensivenessofheroncehandsomefeaturesrevealedmorepromisingmaterialbeneaththaneverheryouthhaddone。ButSwithinwashopelesslyherjunior。Unhappilyforherhehadnowjustarrivedatanagewhosecanonoffaithitisthatthesillyperiodofwoman’slifeisheronlyperiodofbeauty。Viviettesawitall,andknewthatTimehadatlastbroughtabouthisrevenges。
  Shehadtremblinglywatchedandwaitedwithoutsleep,eversinceSwithinhadre—enteredWelland,anditwasforthis。
  Swithincameforward,andtookherbythehand,whichshepassivelyallowedhimtodo。
  ’Swithin,youdon’tloveme,’shesaidsimply。
  ’OViviette!’
  ’Youdon’tloveme,’sherepeated。
  ’Don’tsayit!’
  ’Yes,butIwill!youhavearightnottoloveme。Youdidonce。
  ButnowIamanoldwoman,andyouarestillayoungman;sohowcanyouloveme?Idonotexpectit。Itiskindandcharitableofyoutocomeandseemehere。’
  ’IhavecomeallthewayfromtheCape,’hefaltered,forherinsistencetookallpoweroutofhimtodenyinmerepolitenesswhatshesaid。
  ’Yes;youhavecomefromtheCape;butnotforme,’sheanswered。
  ’Itwouldbeabsurdifyouhadcomeforme。Youhavecomebecauseyourworkthereisfinished……Iliketositherewithmylittleboy——itisapleasantspot。Itwasoncesomethingtous,wasitnot?butthatwaslongago。Youscarcelyknewmeforthesamewoman,didyou?’
  ’Knewyou——yes,ofcourseIknewyou!’
  ’Youlookedasifyoudidnot。Butyoumustnotbesurprisedatme。
  Ibelongtoanearliergenerationthanyou,remember。’
  Thus,insheerbitternessofspiritdidsheinflictwoundsonherselfbyexaggeratingthedifferenceintheiryears。Butshehadneverthelessspokentruly。Sympathizewithherashemight,andasheunquestionablydid,helovedhernolonger。Butwhyhadsheexpectedotherwise?’Owoman,’mightaprophethavesaidtoher,’greatisthyfaithifthoubelievestajuniorlover’slovewilllastfiveyears!’
  ’Ishallbegladtoknowthroughyourgrandmotherhowyouaregettingon,’shesaidmeekly。’ButnowIwouldmuchratherthatwepart。Yes;donotquestionme。Iwouldratherthatwepart。Good—
  bye。’
  Hardlyknowingwhathedidhetouchedherhand,andobeyed。Hewasascientist,andtookwordsliterally。Thereissomethingintheinexorablysimplelogicofsuchmenwhichpartakesofthecrueltyofthenaturallawsthataretheirstudy。Heenteredthetower—steps,andmechanicallydescended;anditwasnottillhegothalf—waydownthathethoughtshecouldnotmeanwhatshehadsaid。
  BeforeleavingCapeTownhehadmadeuphismindonthisonepoint;
  thatifshewerewillingtomarryhim,marryherhewouldwithoutletorhindrance。Thatmuchhemorallyowedher,andwasnotthemantodemur。AndthoughtheSwithinwhohadreturnedwasnotquitetheSwithinwhohadgoneaway,thoughhecouldnotnowloveherwiththesortoflovehehadoncebestowed;hebelievedthatallherconducthadbeendictatedbythepurestbenevolencetohim,bythatcharitywhich’seekethnotherown。’Hencehedidnotflinchfromawishtodealwithloving—kindnesstowardsher——asentimentperhapsinthelong—runmoretobeprizedthanlover’slove。
  Hermannerhadcaughthimunawares;butnowrecoveringhimselfheturnedbackdeterminedly。Burstingoutupontheroofheclaspedherinhisarms,andkissedherseveraltimes。
  ’Viviette,Viviette,’hesaid,’Ihavecometomarryyou!’
  Sheutteredashriek——ashriekofamazedjoy——suchasneverwasheardonthattowerbeforeorsince——andfellinhisarms,claspinghisneck。
  Thereshelayheavily。Nottodisturbherhesatdowninherseat,stillholdingherfast。Theirlittleson,whohadstoodwithroundconjecturaleyesthroughoutthemeeting,nowcameclose;andpresentlylookinguptoSwithinsaid——
  ’Motherhasgonetosleep。’
  Swithinlookeddown,andstarted。Hertightclasphadloosened。A
  waveofwhiteness,likethatofmarblewhichhadneverseenthesun,creptupfromherneck,andtravelledupwardsandonwardsoverhercheek,lips,eyelids,forehead,temples,itsmarginbanishingbackthelivepinktillthelatterhadentirelydisappeared。
  Seeingthatsomethingwaswrong,yetnotunderstandingwhat,thelittleboybegantocry;butinhisconcentrationSwithinhardlyheardit。’Viviette——Viviette!’hesaid。
  Thechildcriedwithstilldeepergrief,and,afteramomentaryhesitation,pushedhishandintoSwithin’sforprotection。
  ’Hush,hush!mychild,’saidSwithindistractedly。’I’lltakecareofyou!OViviette!’heexclaimedagain,pressingherfacetohis。
  Butshedidnotreply。
  ’Whatcanthisbe?’heaskedhimself。Hewouldnotthenansweraccordingtohisfear。
  Helookedupforhelp。NobodyappearedinsightbutTabithaLark,whowasskirtingthefieldwithaboundingtread——thesinglebrightspotofcolourandanimationwithinthewidehorizon。Whenhelookeddownagainhisfeardeepenedtocertainty。Itwasnolongerameresurmisethathelpwasvain。Suddenjoyafterdespairhadtouchedanover—strainedhearttoosmartly。Viviettewasdead。TheBishopwasavenged。