Shebecamemuchabsorbedintheseverywomanlyreflections;andatlastLadyConstantinesighed，perhapssheherselfdidnotexactlyknowwhy。Thenaverysoftexpressionlightedonherlipsandeyes，andshelookedatonejumptenyearsmoreyouthfulthanbefore——
　　quiteagirlinaspect，youngerthanhe。Onthetablelayhisimplements;amongthemapairofscissors，which，tojudgefromtheshredsaround，hadbeenusedincuttingcurvesinthickpaperforsomecalculatingprocess。
　　Whatwhim，agitation，orattractionpromptedtheimpulse，nobodyknows;butshetookthescissors，and，bendingoverthesleepingyouth，cutoffoneofthecurls，orrathercrooks，——fortheyhardlyreachedacurl，——intowhicheachlockofhishairchosetotwistitselfinthelastinchofitslength。Thehairfellupontherug。
　　Shepickeditupquickly，returnedthescissorstothetable，and，asifherdignityhadsuddenlybecomeashamedofherfantasies，hastenedthroughthedoor，anddescendedthestaircase。
　　VI
　　WhenhisnaphadnaturallyexhausteditselfSwithinawoke。Heawokewithoutanysurprise，forhenotunfrequentlygavetosleepintheday—timewhathehadstolenfromitinthenightwatches。Thefirstobjectthatmethiseyeswastheparcelonthetable，and，seeinghisnameinscribedthereon，hemadenoscrupletoopenit。
　　Thesunflasheduponalensofsurprisingmagnitude，polishedtosuchasmoothnessthattheeyecouldscarcelymeetitsreflections。
　　HerewasacrystalinwhosedepthsweretobeseenmorewondersthanhadbeenrevealedbythecrystalsofalltheCagliostros。
　　Swithin，hotwithjoyousness，tookthistreasuretohistelescopemanufactoryatthehomestead;thenhestartedofffortheGreatHouse。
　　Ongainingitsprecinctshefeltshyofcalling，neverhavingreceivedanyhintorpermissiontodoso;whileLadyConstantine’smysteriousmannerofleavingtheparcelseemedtodemandalikemysteriousnessinhisapproachestoher。Alltheafternoonhelingeredaboutuncertainly，inthehopeofinterceptingheronherreturnfromadrive，occasionallywalkingwithanindifferentloungeacrossgladescommandedbythewindows，thatifshewerein—doorsshemightknowhewasnear。Butshedidnotshowherselfduringthedaylight。Stillimpressedbyherplayfulsecrecyhecarriedonthesameideaafterdark，byreturningtothehouseandpassingthroughthegardendoorontothelawnfront，wherehesatontheparapetthatbreastedtheterrace。
　　Nowshefrequentlycameouthereforamelancholysaunterafterdinner，andto—nightwassuchanoccasion。Swithinwentforward，andmetheratnearlythespotwherehehaddroppedthelenssomenightsearlier。
　　’Ihavecometoseeyou，LadyConstantine。Howdidtheglassgetonmytable？’
　　Shelaughedaslightlyasagirl;thathehadcometoherinthiswaywasplainlynooffencethusfar。
　　’Perhapsitwasdroppedfromthecloudsbyabird，’shesaid。
　　’Whyshouldyoubesogoodtome？’hecried。
　　’Onegoodturndeservesanother，’answeredshe。
　　’DearLadyConstantine！Whateverdiscoveriesresultfromthisshallbeascribedtoyouasmuchastome。WhereshouldIhavebeenwithoutyourgift？’
　　’Youwouldpossiblyhaveaccomplishedyourpurposejustthesame，andhavebeensomuchthenoblerforyourstruggleagainstill—luck。
　　Ihopethatnowyouwillbeabletoproceedwithyourlargetelescopeasifnothinghadhappened。’
　　’Oyes，Iwill，certainly。IamafraidIshowedtoomuchfeeling，thereverseofstoical，whentheaccidentoccurred。Thatwasnotverynobleofme。’
　　’Thereisnothingunnaturalinsuchfeelingatyourage。Whenyouareolderyouwillsmileatsuchmoods，andatthemishapsthatgaverisetothem。’
　　’Ah，Iperceiveyouthinkmeweakintheextreme，’hesaid，withjustashadeofpique。’Butyouwillneverrealizethatanincidentwhichfilledbutadegreeinthecircleofyourthoughtscoveredthewholecircumferenceofmine。Nopersoncanseeexactlywhatandwhereanother’shorizonis。’
　　Theysoonparted，andshere—enteredthehouse，whereshesatreflectingforsometime，tillsheseemedtofearthatshehadwoundedhisfeelings。Sheawokeinthenight，andthoughtandthoughtonthesamething，tillshehadworkedherselfintoafeverishfretaboutit。Whenitwasmorningshelookedacrossatthetower，andsittingdown，impulsivelywrotethefollowingnote:——
　　’DEARMR。ST。CLEEVE，——IcannotallowyoutoremainundertheimpressionthatIdespisedyourscientificendeavoursinspeakingasIdidlastnight。Ithinkyouweretoosensitivetomyremark。Butperhapsyouwereagitatedwiththelaboursoftheday，andIfearthatwatchingsolateatnightmustmakeyouveryweary。IfIcanhelpyouagain，pleaseletmeknow。Ineverrealizedthegrandeurofastronomytillyoushowedmehowtodoso。Alsoletmeknowaboutthenewtelescope。Comeandseemeatanytime。AfteryourgreatkindnessinbeingmymessengerIcanneverdoenoughforyou。
　　Iwishyouhadamotherorsister，andpityyourloneliness！Iamlonelytoo。——Yourstruly，VIVIETTE
　　CONSTANTINE。’
　　Shewassoanxiousthatheshouldgetthisletterthesamedaythatsheranacrosstothecolumnwithitduringthemorning，preferringtobeherownemissaryinsocuriousacase。Thedoor，asshehadexpected，waslocked;and，slippingtheletterunderit，shewenthomeagain。DuringlunchherardourinthecauseofSwithin’shurtfeelingscooleddown，tillsheexclaimedtoherself，asshesatatherlonelytable，’Whatcouldhavepossessedmetowriteinthatway！’
　　Afterlunchshewentfastertothetowerthanshehadgoneintheearlymorning，andpeepedeagerlyintothechinkunderthedoor。
　　Shecoulddiscernnoletter，and，ontryingthelatch，foundthatthedoorwouldopen。Theletterwasgone，Swithinhavingobviouslyarrivedintheinterval。
　　Sheblushedablushwhichseemedtosay，’Iamgettingfoolishlyinterestedinthisyoungman。’Shehad，inshort，inherownopinion，somewhatoversteppedtheboundsofdignity。Herinstinctsdidnotsquarewellwiththeformalitiesofherexistence，andshewalkedhomedespondently。
　　Hadaconcert，bazaar，lecture，orDorcasmeetingrequiredthepatronageandsupportofLadyConstantineatthisjuncture，thecircumstancewouldprobablyhavebeensufficienttodiverthermindfromSwithinSt。Cleeveandastronomyforsomelittletime。Butasnoneoftheseincidentswerewithintherangeofexpectation——
　　WellandHouseandparishlyingfarfromlargetownsandwatering—
　　places——thevoidinherouterlifecontinued，andwithitthevoidinherlifewithin。
　　Theyouthhadnotansweredherletter;neitherhadhecalleduponherinresponsetotheinvitationshehadregretted，withtherestoftheepistle，asbeingsomewhattoowarmlyinformalforblackandwhite。Tospeaktenderlytohimwasonething，towriteanother——
　　thatwasherfeelingimmediatelyaftertheevent;buthiscounter—
　　moveofsilenceandavoidance，thoughprobablytheresultofpureunconsciousnessonhispart，completelydispersedsuchself—
　　considerationsnow。HereyesneverfellupontheRings—Hillcolumnwithoutasolicitouswonderarisingastowhathewasdoing。Atruewoman，shewouldassumetheremotestpossibilitytobethemostlikelycontingency，ifthepossibilityhadtherecommendationofbeingtragical;andshenowfearedthatsomethingwaswrongwithSwithinSt。Cleeve。Yettherewasnottheleastdoubtthathehadbecomesoimmersedinthebusinessofthenewtelescopeastoforgeteverythingelse。
　　OnSunday，betweentheservices，shewalkedtoLittleWelland，chieflyforthesakeofgivingaruntoahouse—dog，alargeSt。
　　Bernard，ofwhomshewasfond。Thedistancewasbutshort;andshereturnedalonganarrowlane，dividedfromtheriverbyahedge，throughwhoseleaflesstwigstheripplesflashedsilverlightsintohereyes。HereshediscoveredSwithin，leaningoveragate，hiseyesbentuponthestream。
　　Thedogfirstattractedhisattention;thenheheardher，andturnedround。Shehadneverseenhimlookingsodespondent。
　　’Youhavenevercalled，thoughIinvitedyou，’saidLadyConstantine。
　　’Mygreattelescopewon’twork！’herepliedlugubriously。
　　’Iamsorryforthat。Soithasmadeyouquiteforgetme？’
　　’Ah，yes;youwrotemeaverykindletter，whichIoughttohaveanswered。Well，Ididforget，LadyConstantine。Mynewtelescopewon’twork，andIdon’tknowwhattodoaboutitatall！’
　　’CanIassistyouanyfurther？’
　　’No，Ifearnot。Besides，youhaveassistedmealready。’
　　’Whatwouldreallyhelpyououtofallyourdifficulties？Somethingwould，surely？’
　　Heshookhishead。
　　’Theremustbesomesolutiontothem？’
　　’Oyes，’hereplied，withahypotheticalgazeintothestream;’SOME
　　solutionofcourse——anequatorial，forinstance。’
　　’What’sthat？’
　　’Briefly，animpossibility。Itisasplendidinstrument，withanobjectlensof，say，eightornineinchesaperture，mountedwithitsaxisparalleltotheearth’saxis，andfittedupwithgraduatedcirclesfordenotingrightascensionsanddeclinations;besideshavingspecialeye—pieces，afinder，andallsortsofappliances——
　　clock—worktomakethetelescopefollowthemotioninrightascension——Icannottellyouhalftheconveniences。Ah，anequatorialisathingindeed！’
　　’Anequatorialistheoneinstrumentrequiredtomakeyouquitehappy？’
　　’Well，yes。’
　　’I’llseewhatIcando。’
　　’But，LadyConstantine，’criedtheamazedastronomer，’anequatorialsuchasIdescribecostsasmuchastwograndpianos！’
　　Shewasratherstaggeredatthisnews;butsheralliedgallantly，andsaid，’Nevermind。I’llmakeinquiries。’
　　’Butitcouldnotbeputonthetowerwithoutpeopleseeingit！Itwouldhavetobefixedtothemasonry。Andtheremustbeadomeofsomekindtokeepofftherain。Atarpaulinmightdo。’
　　LadyConstantinereflected。’Itwouldbeagreatbusiness，Isee，’
　　shesaid。’Thoughasfarasthefixingandroofinggo，Iwouldofcourseconsenttoyourdoingwhatyoulikedwiththeoldcolumn。Myworkmencouldfixit，couldtheynot？’
　　’Oyes。ButwhatwouldSirBlountsay，ifhecamehomeandsawthegoingson？’
　　LadyConstantineturnedasidetohideasuddendisplacementofbloodfromhercheek。’Ah——myhusband！’shewhispered……’Iamjustnowgoingtochurch，’sheaddedinarepressedandhurriedtone。’I
　　willthinkofthismatter。’
　　InchurchitwaswithLadyConstantineaswiththeLordAngeloofViennainasimilarsituation——Heavenhadheremptywordsonly，andherinventionheardnothertongue。ShesoonrecoveredfromthemomentaryconsternationintowhichshehadfallenatSwithin’sabruptquery。Thepossibilityofthatyoungastronomerbecomingarenownedscientistbyheraidwasathoughtwhichgavehersecretpleasure。Thecourseofrenderinghiminstantmaterialhelpbegantohaveagreatfascinationforher;itwasanewandunexpectedchannelforhercribbedandconfinedemotions。Withexperiencessomuchwiderthanhis，LadyConstantinesawthatthechanceswereperhapsamilliontooneagainstSwithinSt。CleeveeverbeingAstronomerRoyal，orAstronomerExtraordinaryofanysort;yettheremainingchanceinhisfavourwasoneofthosepossibilitieswhich，toawomanofboundingintellectandventuresomefancy，arepleasantertodwellonthanlikelyissuesthathavenosavourofhighspeculationinthem。Theequatorialquestionwasagreatone;
　　andshehadcaughtsuchalargesparkfromhisenthusiasmthatshecouldthinkofnothingsopiquantashowtoobtaintheimportantinstrument。
　　WhenTabithaLarkarrivedattheGreatHousenextday，insteadoffindingLadyConstantineinbed，asformerly，shediscoveredherinthelibrary，poringoverwhatastronomicalworksshehadbeenabletounearthfromtheworm—eatenshelves。Asthesepublicationswere，forascienceofsuchrapiddevelopment，somewhatvenerable，therewasnotmuchhelpofapracticalkindtobegainedfromthem。
　　Nevertheless，theequatorialretainedaholduponherfancy，tillshebecameaseagertoseeoneontheRings—HillcolumnasSwithinhimself。
　　TheupshotofitwasthatLadyConstantinesentamessengerthateveningtoWellandBottom，wherethehomesteadofSwithin’sgrandmotherwassituated，requestingtheyoungman’spresenceatthehouseattwelveo’clocknextday。
　　Hehurriedlyreturnedanobedientreply，andthepromisewasenoughtolendgreatfreshnesstohermannernextmorning，insteadoftheleadenairwhichwastoofrequentwithherbeforethesunreachedthemeridian，andsometimesafter。Swithinhad，infact，arisenasanattractivelittleinterventionbetweenherselfanddespair。
　　VII
　　Afogdefacedallthetreesoftheparkthatmorning，thewhiteatmosphereadheredtothegroundlikeafungoidgrowthfromit，andmadetheturfedundulationslookslimyandraw。ButLadyConstantinesettleddowninherchairtoawaitthecomingofthelatecurate’ssonwithaserenitywhichthevastblanksoutsidecouldneitherbafflenordestroy。
　　Attwominutestotwelvethedoor—bellrang，andalookoverspreadthelady’sfacethatwasneithermaternal，sisterly，noramorous;
　　butpartookinanindescribablemannerofallthreekinds。Thedoorwasflungopenandtheyoungmanwasusheredin，thefogstillclingingtohishair，inwhichshecoulddiscernalittlenotchwhereshehadnippedoffthecurl。
　　Aspeechlessnessthatsociallywasadefectinhimwastoherviewapiquantattributejustnow。Helookedsomewhatalarmed。
　　’LadyConstantine，haveIdoneanything，thatyouhavesent——？’hebeganbreathlessly，ashegazedinherface，withpartedlips。
　　’Ono，ofcoursenot！Ihavedecidedtodosomething，——nothingmore，’shesmilinglysaid，holdingoutherhand，whichherathergingerlytouched。’Don’tlooksoconcerned。Whomakesequatorials？’
　　Thisremarkwaslikethedrawingofaweir—hatchandshewasspeedilyinundatedwithallshewishedtoknowconcerningastronomicalopticians。Whenhehadimpartedtheparticularshewaited，manifestlyburningtoknowwhithertheseinquiriestended。
　　’Iamnotgoingtobuyyouone，’shesaidgently。
　　Helookedasifhewouldfaint。
　　’Certainlynot。Idonotwishit。I——couldnothaveacceptedit，’
　　falteredtheyoungman。
　　’ButIamgoingtobuyoneforMYSELF。Ilackahobby，andIshallchooseastronomy。Ishallfixmyequatorialonthecolumn。’
　　Swithinbrightenedup。
　　’AndIshallletyouhavetheuseofitwheneveryouchoose。Inbrief，SwithinSt。CleeveshallbeLadyConstantine’sAstronomerRoyal;andshe——andshe——’
　　’ShallbehisQueen。’Thewordscamenotmuchtheworseforbeingutteredonlyinthetoneofoneanxioustocompleteatardysentence。
　　’Well，that’swhatIhavedecidedtodo，’resumedLadyConstantine。
　　’Iwillwritetotheseopticiansatonce。’
　　Thereseemedtobenomoreforhimtodothantothankherfortheprivilege，wheneveritshouldbeavailable，whichhepromptlydid，andthenmadeasiftogo。ButLadyConstantinedetainedhimwith，’Haveyoueverseenmylibrary？’
　　’No;never。’
　　’Youdon’tsayyouwouldliketoseeit。’
　　’ButIshould。’
　　’Itisthethirddoorontheright。Youcanfindyourwayin，andyoucanstaythereaslongasyoulike。’
　　Swithinthenleftthemorning—roomfortheapartmentdesignated，andamusedhimselfinthat’soulofthehouse，’asCicerodefinedit，tillheheardthelunchbellsoundingfromtheturret，whenhecamedownfromthelibrarysteps，andthoughtittimetogohome。Butatthatmomentaservantenteredtoinquirewhetherhewouldorwouldnotprefertohavehislunchbroughtintohimthere;uponhisreplyingintheaffirmativealargetrayarrivedonthestomachofafootman，andSwithinwasgreatlysurprisedtoseeawholepheasantplacedathisdisposal。
　　Havingbreakfastedateightthatmorning，andhavingbeenmuchintheopenairafterwards，theAdonis—astronomer’sappetiteassumedgrandproportions。HowmuchofthatpheasanthemightconsistentlyeatwithouthurtinghisdearpatronessLadyConstantine’sfeelings，whenhecouldreadilyeatitall，wasaprobleminwhichthereasonablenessofalargerandlargerquantityargueditselfinverselyasasmallerandsmallerquantityremained。When，atlength，hehadfinallydecidedonaterminalpointinthebodyofthebird，thedoorwasgentlyopened。
　　’Oh，youhavenotfinished？’cametohimoverhisshoulder，inaconsideratevoice。
　　’Oyes，thankyou，LadyConstantine，’hesaid，jumpingup。
　　’Whydidyouprefertolunchinthisawkward，dustyplace？’
　　’Ithought——itwouldbebetter，’saidSwithinsimply。
　　’Thereisfruitintheotherroom，ifyouliketocome。Butperhapsyouwouldrathernot？’
　　’Oyes，Ishouldmuchliketo，’saidSwithin，walkingoverhisnapkin，andfollowingherassheledthewaytotheadjoiningapartment。
　　Here，whilesheaskedhimwhathehadbeenreading，hemodestlyventuredonanapple，inwhoseflavourherecognizedthefamiliartasteofoldfriendsrobbedfromherhusband’sorchardsinhischildhood，longbeforeLadyConstantine’sadventonthescene。Shesupposedhehadconfinedhissearchtohisownsublimesubject，astronomy？
　　Swithinsuddenlybecameoldertotheeye，ashisthoughtsrevertedtothetopicthusreintroduced。’Yes，’heinformedher。’Iseldomreadanyothersubject。Inthesedaysthesecretofproductivestudyistoavoidwell。’
　　’Didyoufindanygoodtreatises？’
　　’None。ThetheoriesinyourbooksarealmostasobsoleteasthePtolemaicSystem。Onlyfancy，thatmagnificentCyclopaedia，leather—bound，andstamped，andgilt，andwidemargined，andbearingtheblazonofyourhouseinmagnificentcolours，saysthatthetwinklingofthestarsisprobablycausedbyheavenlybodiespassinginfrontofthemintheirrevolutions。’
　　’Andisitnotso？ThatwaswhatIlearnedwhenIwasagirl。’
　　ThemodernEudoxusnowroseabovetheembarrassinghorizonofLadyConstantine’sgreathouse，magnificentfurniture，andawe—inspiringfootman。Hebecamequitenatural，allhisself—consciousnessfled，andhiseyespokeintohersnolessthanhislipstoherears，ashesaid，’Howsuchatheorycanhavelingeredontothisdaybeatsconjecture！FrancoisArago，aslongasfortyorfiftyyearsago，conclusivelyestablishedthefactthatscintillationisthesimplestthingintheworld，——merelyamatterofatmosphere。ButIwon’tspeakofthistoyounow。ThecomparativeabsenceofscintillationinwarmcountrieswasnoticedbyHumboldt。Then，again，thescintillationsvary。NostarflapshiswingslikeSiriuswhenhelieslow！Heflashesoutemeraldsandrubies，amethystineflamesandsapphirinecolours，inamannerquitemarvelloustobehold，andthisisonlyONEstar！So，too，doArcturus，andCapella，andlesserluminaries……ButItireyouwiththissubject？’
　　’Onthecontrary，youspeaksobeautifullythatIcouldlistenallday。’
　　Theastronomerthrewasearchingglanceuponherforamoment;buttherewasnosatireinthewarmsofteyeswhichmethisownwithaluxuriouscontemplativeinterest。’Saysomemoreofittome，’shecontinued，inavoicenotfarremovedfromcoaxing。
　　Aftersomehesitationthesubjectreturnedagaintohislips，andhesaidsomemore——indeed，muchmore;LadyConstantineoftenthrowinginanappreciativeremarkorquestion，oftenmeditativelyregardinghim，inpursuanceofideasnotexactlybasedonhiswords，andlettinghimgoonashewould。
　　Beforeheleftthehousethenewastronomicalprojectwassetintrain。Thetopofthecolumnwastoberoofedin，toformaproperobservatory;andonthegroundthatheknewbetterthananyoneelsehowthiswastobecarriedout，sherequestedhimtogiveprecisedirectionsonthepoint，andtosuperintendthewhole。Awoodencabinwastobeerectedatthefootofthetower，toprovidebetteraccommodationforcasualvisitorstotheobservatorythanthespiralstaircaseandlead—flatafforded。Asthiscabinwouldbecompletelyburiedinthedensefirfoliagewhichenvelopedthelowerpartofthecolumnanditspedestal，itwouldbenodisfigurementtothegeneralappearance。Finally，apathwastobemadeacrossthesurroundingfallow，bywhichshemighteasilyapproachthesceneofhernewstudy。
　　Whenhewasgoneshewrotetothefirmofopticiansconcerningtheequatorialforwhosereceptionallthiswasdesigned。
　　Theundertakingwassooninfullprogress;andbydegreesitbecamethetalkofthehamletsroundthatLadyConstantinehadgivenupmelancholyforastronomy，tothegreatadvantageofallwhocameincontactwithher。Onemorning，whenTabithaLarkhadcomeasusualtoread，LadyConstantinechancedtobeinaquarterofthehousetowhichsheseldomwandered;andwhileheresheheardhermaidtalkingconfidentiallytoTabithaintheadjoiningroomonthecuriousandsuddeninterestwhichLadyConstantinehadacquiredinthemoonandstars。
　　’Theydosayallsortsoftrumpery，’observedthehandmaid。’Theysay——though’tislittlebetterthanmischief，tobesure——thatitisn’tthemoon，anditisn’tthestars，anditisn’ttheplannards，thatmyladycaresfor，butfortheprettyladwhodraws’emdownfromtheskytopleaseher;andbeingamarriedexample，andwhatwithsinandshameknockingateverypoormaid’sdooraforeyoucansay，"Handsoff，mydear，"tothecivilestyoungman，sheoughttosetabetterpattern。’
　　LadyConstantine’sfaceflamedupvividly。
　　’IfSirBlountweretocomebackallofasudden——oh，my！’
　　LadyConstantinegrewcoldasice。
　　’There’snothinginit，’saidTabithascornfully。’Icouldproveitanyday。’
　　’Well，IwishIhadhalfherchance！’sighedthelady’smaid。Andnomorewassaidonthesubjectthen。
　　Tabitha’sremarkshowedthatthesuspicionwasquiteinembryoasyet。Nevertheless，sayingnothingtorevealwhatshehadoverheard，immediatelyafterthereadingLadyConstantineflewlikeabirdtowheresheknewthatSwithinmightbefound。
　　Hewasintheplantation，settinguplittlestickstomarkwherethewoodencabinwastostand。Shecalledhimtoaremoteplaceunderthefunerealtrees。
　　’Ihavealteredmymind，’shesaid。’Icanhavenothingtodowiththismatter。’
　　’Indeed？’saidSwithin，surprised。
　　’Astronomyisnotmyhobbyanylonger。AndyouarenotmyAstronomerRoyal。’
　　’OLadyConstantine！’criedtheyouth，aghast。’Why，theworkisbegun！Ithoughttheequatorialwasordered。’
　　Shedroppedhervoice，thoughaJerichoshoutwouldnothavebeenoverheard:’Ofcourseastronomyismyhobbyprivately，andyouaretobemyAstronomerRoyal，andIstillfurnishtheobservatory;butnottotheouterworld。Thereisareasonagainstmyindulgenceinsuchscientificfanciesopenly;andtheprojectmustbearrangedinthiswise。Thewholeenterpriseisyours:yourentthetowerofme:youbuildthecabin:yougettheequatorial。Isimplygivepermission，sinceyoudesireit。Thepaththatwastobemadefromthehilltotheparkisnottobethoughtof。Thereistobenocommunicationbetweenthehouseandthecolumn。Theequatorialwillarriveaddressedtoyou，anditscostIwillpaythroughyou。Mynamemustnotappear，andIvanishentirelyfromtheundertaking……Thisblindisnecessary，’sheadded，sighing。’Good—bye！’
　　’ButyouDOtakeasmuchinterestasbefore，anditWILLbeyoursjustthesame？’hesaid，walkingafterher。Hescarcelycomprehendedthesubterfuge，andwasabsolutelyblindastoitsreason。
　　’Canyoudoubtit？ButIdarenotdoitopenly。’
　　Withthisshewentaway;andinduetimetherecirculatedthroughtheparishanassertionthatitwasamistaketosupposeLadyConstantinehadanythingtodowithSwithinSt。Cleeveorhisstar—
　　gazingschemes。Shehadmerelyallowedhimtorentthetowerofherforuseashisobservatory，andtoputsometemporaryfixturesonitforthatpurpose。
　　AfterthisLadyConstantinelapsedintoherformerlifeofloneliness;andbythesepromptmeasurestheghostofarumourwhichhadbarelystartedintoexistencewasspeedilylaidtorest。Ithadprobablyoriginatedinherowndwelling，andhadgonebutlittlefurther。Yet，despiteherself—control，acertainnorthwindowoftheGreatHouse，thatcommandedanuninterruptedviewoftheuppertenfeetofthecolumn，revealedhertobesomewhatfrequentlygazingfromitatarotunditywhichhadbeguntoappearonthesummit。Tothosewithwhomshecameincontactshesometimesaddressedsuchremarksas，’IsyoungMr。St。Cleevegettingonwithhisobservatory？Ihopehewillfixhisinstrumentswithoutdamagingthecolumn，whichissointerestingtousasbeinginmemoryofmydearhusband’sgreat—grandfather——atrulybraveman。’
　　Ononeoccasionherbuilding—stewardventuredtosuggesttoherthat，SirBlounthavingdeputedtoherthepowertograntshortleasesinhisabsence，sheshouldhaveadistinctiveagreementwithSwithin，asbetweenlandlordandtenant，withastringentclauseagainsthisdrivingnailsintothestoneworkofsuchanhistoricalmemorial。SherepliedthatshedidnotwishtobesevereonthelastrepresentativeofsucholdandrespectedparishionersasSt。
　　Cleeve’smother’sfamilyhadbeen，andofsuchawell—descendedfamilyashisfather’s;sothatitwouldonlybenecessaryforthestewardtokeepaneyeonMr。St。Cleeve’sdoings。
　　Further，whenaletterarrivedattheGreatHousefromHiltonandPimm’s，theopticians，withinformationthattheequatorialwasreadyandpacked，andthatamanwouldbesentwithittofixit，sherepliedtothatfirmtotheeffectthattheirlettershouldhavebeenaddressedtoMr。St。Cleeve，thelocalastronomer，onwhosebehalfshehadmadetheinquiries;thatshehadnothingmoretodowiththematter;thathewouldreceivetheinstrumentandpaythebill，——herguaranteebeinggivenforthelatterperformance。
　　VIII
　　LadyConstantinethenhadthepleasureofbeholdingawaggon，ladenwithpacking—cases，movingacrossthefieldtowardsthepillar;andnotmanydayslaterSwithin，whohadnevercometotheGreatHousesincetheluncheon，metherinapathwhichheknewtobeoneofherpromenades。
　　’Theequatorialisfixed，andthemangone，’hesaid，halfindoubtastohisspeech，forhercommandstohimnottorecognizeheragencyorpatronagestillpuzzledhim。’Irespectfullywish——youcouldcomeandseeit，LadyConstantine。’
　　’Iwouldrathernot;Icannot。’
　　’Saturnislovely;Jupiterissimplysublime;IcanseedoublestarsintheLionandintheVirgin，whereIhadseenonlyasingleonebefore。ItisallIrequiredtosetmegoing！’