’I’llcome。But——youneedsaynothingaboutmyvisit。Icannotcometo—night，butIwillsometimethisweek。Yetonlythisonce，totrytheinstrument。Afterwardsyoumustbecontenttopursueyourstudiesalone。’
Swithinseemedbutlittleaffectedatthisannouncement。’HiltonandPimm’smanhandedmethebill，’hecontinued。
’Howmuchisit？’
Hetoldher。’Andthemanwhohasbuiltthehutanddome，anddonetheotherfixing，hassentinhis。’Henamedthisamountalso。
’Verywell。Theyshallbesettledwith。Mydebtsmustbepaidwithmymoney，whichyoushallhaveatonce，——incash，sinceachequewouldhardlydo。Cometothehouseforitthisevening。Butno，no——youmustnotcomeopenly;suchistheworld。Cometothewindow——thewindowthatisexactlyinalinewiththelongsnowdropbed，inthesouthfront——ateightto—night，andIwillgiveyouwhatisnecessary。’
’Certainly，LadyConstantine，’saidtheyoungman。
Ateightthateveningaccordingly，Swithinenteredlikeaspectreupontheterracetoseekoutthespotshehaddesignated。Theequatorialhadsoentirelyabsorbedhisthoughtsthathedidnottroublehimselfseriouslytoconjecturethewhyandwhereforeofhersecrecy。Ifhecasuallythoughtofit，hesetitdowninageneralwaytoanintenselygenerouswishonherpartnottolessenhisinfluenceamongthepoorerinhabitantsbymakinghimappeartheobjectofpatronage。
Whilehestoodbythelongsnowdropbed，whichlookedupathimlikeanetherMilkyWay，theFrenchcasementofthewindowoppositesoftlyopened，andahandborderedbyaglimmeroflacewasstretchedforth，fromwhichhereceivedacrisplittleparcel，——
bank—notes，apparently。Heknewthehand，andhelditlongenoughtopressittohislips，theonlyformwhichhadeveroccurredtohimofexpressinghisgratitudetoherwithouttheincumbranceofclumsywords，avehicleatthebestoftimesbutrudelysuitedtosuchdelicatemerchandise。Thehandwashastilywithdrawn，asifthetreatmenthadbeenunexpected。Thenseeminglymovedbysecondthoughtsshebentforwardandsaid，’Isthenightgoodforobservations？’
’Perfect。’
Shepaused。’ThenI’llcometo—night，’sheatlastsaid。’Itmakesnodifferencetome，afterall。Waitjustonemoment。’
Hewaited，andshepresentlyemerged，muffleduplikeanun;
whereupontheylefttheterraceandstruckacrosstheparktogether。
Verylittlewassaidbyeithertilltheywerecrossingthefallow，whenheaskedifhisarmwouldhelpher。Shedidnottaketheofferedsupportjustthen;butwhentheywereascendingtheprehistoricearthwork，undertheheavygloomofthefir—trees，sheseizedit，asifratherinfluencedbytheoppressivesolitudethanbyfatigue。
Thustheyreachedthefootofthecolumn，tenthousandspiritsinprisonseemingtogasptheirgriefsfromthefunerealboughsoverhead，andafewtwigsscratchingthepillarwiththedragofimpishclawsastenaciousasthosefiguringinSt。Anthony’stemptation。
’Howintenselydarkitisjusthere！’shewhispered。’Iwonderyoucankeepinthepath。ManyancientBritonslieburiedtheredoubtless。’
Heledherroundtotheotherside，where，feelinghiswaywithhishands，hesuddenlylefther，appearingamomentafterwithalight。
’Whatplaceisthis？’sheexclaimed。
’Thisisthenewwoodcabin，’saidhe。
Shecouldjustdiscerntheoutlineofalittlehouse，notunlikeabathing—machinewithoutwheels。
’Ihavekeptlightsreadyhere，’hewenton，’asIthoughtyoumightcomeanyevening，andpossiblybringcompany。’
’Don’tcriticizemeforcomingalone，’sheexclaimedwithsensitivepromptness。’TherearesocialreasonsforwhatIdoofwhichyouknownothing。’
’PerhapsitismuchtomydiscreditthatIdon’tknow。’
’Notatall。Youareallthebetterforit。HeavenforbidthatI
shouldenlightenyou。Well，Iseethisisthehut。ButIammorecurioustogotothetopofthetower，andmakediscoveries。’
Hebroughtalittlelanternfromthecabin，andlightedherupthewindingstaircasetothetempleofthatsublimemysteryonwhosethresholdhestoodaspriest。
Thetopofthecolumnwasquitechanged。Thetub—shapedspacewithintheparapet，formerlyopentotheairandsun，wasnowarchedoverbyalightdomeoflath—workcoveredwithfelt。Butthisdomewasnotfixed。Atthelinewhereitsbasedescendedtotheparapettherewerehalfadozenironballs，preciselylikecannon—shot，standinglooselyinagroove，andonthesethedomeresteditswholeweight。Inthesideofthedomewasaslit，throughwhichthewindblewandtheNorthStarbeamed，andtowardsittheendofthegreattelescopewasdirected。Thislattermagnificentobject，withitscircles，axes，andhandlescomplete，wassecurelyfixedinthemiddleofthefloor。
’Butyoucanonlyseeonepartoftheskythroughthatslit，’saidshe。
Theastronomerstretchedouthisarm，andthewholedometurnedhorizontallyround，runningontheballswitharumblelikethunder。
InsteadofthestarPolaris，whichhadfirstbeenpeepinginthroughtheslit，therenowappearedthecountenancesofCastorandPollux。
Swithinthenmanipulatedtheequatorial，andputitthroughitscapabilitiesinlikemanner。
Shewasenchanted;beingratherexcitablesheevenclappedherhandsjustonce。Sheturnedtohim:’Nowareyouhappy？’
’ButitisallYOURS，LadyConstantine。’
’Atthismoment。Butthat’sadefectwhichcansoonberemedied。
Whenisyourbirthday？’
’Nextmonth，——theseventh。’
’Thenitshallallbeyours，——abirthdaypresent。’
Theyoungmanprotested;itwastoomuch。
’No，youmustacceptitall，——equatorial，domestand，hut，andeverythingthathasbeenputhereforthisastronomicalpurpose。
Thepossessionoftheseapparatuswouldonlycompromiseme。Alreadytheyarereputedtobeyours，andtheymustbemadeyours。Thereisnohelpforit。Ifever’（herehervoicelostsomefirmness），——’ifeveryougoawayfromme，——fromthisplace，Imean，——andmarry，andsettleinanewhomeelsewhereforgood，andforgetme，youmusttakethesethings，equatorialandall，andnevertellyourwifeoranybodyhowtheycametobeyours。’
’IwishIcoulddosomethingmoreforyou！’exclaimedthemuch—movedastronomer。’Ifyoucouldbutsharemyfame，——supposingIgetany，whichImaydiebeforedoing，——itwouldbealittlecompensation。
Astomygoingawayandmarrying，Icertainlyshallnot。Imaygoaway，butIshallnevermarry。’
’Whynot？’
’Abelovedscienceisenoughwifeforme，——combined，perhaps，withalittlewarmfriendshipwithoneofkindredpursuits。’
’Whoisthefriendofkindredpursuits？’
’YourselfIshouldlikeittobe。’
’YouwouldhavetobecomeawomanbeforeIcouldbethat，publicly;
orIaman，’shereplied，withdrymelancholy。
’WhyIawoman，oryouaman，dearLadyConstantine？’
’Icannotexplain。No;youmustkeepyourfameandyoursciencealltoyourself，andImustkeepmy——troubles。’
Swithin，todivertherfrommelancholy——notknowingthatintheexpressionofhermelancholythusandnowshefoundmuchpleasure，——
changedthesubjectbyaskingiftheyshouldtakesomeobservations。
’Yes;thesceneryiswellhungto—night，’shesaidlookingoutupontheheavens。
Thentheyproceededtoscanthesky，rovingfromplanettostar，fromsinglestarstodoublestars，fromdoubletocolouredstars，inthecursorymannerofthemerelycurious。Theyplungeddowntothatatothertimesinvisiblemultitudeinthebackrowsofthecelestialtheatre:remotelayersofconstellationswhoseshapeswerenewandsingular;prettytwinklerswhichforinfiniteageshadspenttheirbeamswithoutcallingforthfromasingleearthlypoetasingleline，orbeingabletobestowarayofcomfortonasinglebenightedtraveller。
’Andtothink，’saidLadyConstantine，’thatthewholeraceofshepherds，sincethebeginningoftheworld，——eventhoseimmortalshepherdswhowatchednearBethlehem，——shouldhavegoneintotheirgraveswithoutknowingthatforonestarthatlightedthemintheirlabours，therewereahundredasgoodbehindtryingtodoso！……
IhaveafeelingforthisinstrumentnotunliketheaweIshouldfeelinthepresenceofagreatmagicianinwhomIreallybelieved。
Itspowersaresoenormous，andweird，andfantastical，thatI
shouldhaveapersonalfearinbeingwithitalone。Musicdrewanangeldown，saidthepoet:butwhatisthattodrawingdownworlds！’
’Ioftenexperienceakindoffearoftheskyaftersittingintheobserving—chairalongtime，’heanswered。’AndwhenIwalkhomeafterwardsIalsofearit，forwhatIknowisthere，butcannotsee，asonenaturallyfearsthepresenceofavastformlesssomethingthatonlyrevealsaverylittleofitself。That’spartlywhatI
meantbysayingthatmagnitude，whichuptoacertainpointhasgrandeur，hasbeyonditghastliness。’
Thustheinterestoftheirsiderealobservationsledthemon，tilltheknowledgethatscarceanyotherhumanvisionwastravellingwithinahundredmillionmilesoftheirowngavethemsuchasenseoftheisolationofthatfacultyasalmosttobeasenseofisolationinrespectoftheirwholepersonality，causingashudderatitsabsoluteness。Atnight，whenhumandiscordsandharmoniesarehushed，inageneralsense，forthegreaterpartoftwelvehours，thereisnothingtomoderatetheblowwithwhichtheinfinitelygreat，thestellaruniverse，strikesdownupontheinfinitelylittle，themindofthebeholder;andthiswasthecasenow。Havinggotclosertoimmensitythantheirfellow—creatures，theysawatonceitsbeautyanditsfrightfulness。Theymoreandmorefeltthecontrastbetweentheirowntinymagnitudesandthoseamongwhichtheyhadrecklesslyplunged，tilltheywereoppressedwiththepresenceofavastnesstheycouldnotcopewithevenasanidea，andwhichhungaboutthemlikeanightmare。
Hestoodbyherwhilesheobserved;shebyhimwhentheychangedplaces。OncethatSwithin’semancipationfromatrammellingbodyhadbeeneffectedbythetelescope，andhewaswellawayinspace，shefeltherinfluenceoverhimdiminishingtonothing。Hewasquiteunconsciousofhisterrestrialneighbourings，andofherselfasoneofthem。Itstillfurtherreducedhertowardsunvarnishedsimplicityinhermannertohim。
Thesilencewasbrokenonlybythetickingoftheclock—workwhichgavediurnalmotiontotheinstrument。Thestarsmovedon，theendofthetelescopefollowed，buttheirtonguesstoodstill。Toexpectthathewasevervoluntarilygoingtoendthepausebyspeechwasapparentlyfutile。Shelaidherhanduponhisarm。
Hestarted，withdrewhiseyefromthetelescope，andbroughthimselfbacktotheearthbyavisible——almostpainful——effort。
’Docomeoutofit，’shecoaxed，withasoftnessinhervoicewhichanymanbutunpractisedSwithinwouldhavefelttobeexquisite。’I
feelthatIhavebeensofoolishastoputinyourhandsaninstrumenttoeffectmyownannihilation。Notawordhaveyouspokenforthelasttenminutes。’
’Ihavebeenmentallygettingonwithmygreattheory。Ihopesoontobeabletopublishittotheworld。What，areyougoing？Iwillwalkwithyou，LadyConstantine。Whenwillyoucomeagain？’
’Whenyourgreattheoryispublishedtotheworld。’
IX
LadyConstantine，ifnarrowlyobservedatthistime，wouldhaveseemedtobedeeplytroubledinconscience，andparticularlyaftertheinterviewabovedescribed。AshWednesdayoccurredinthecalendarafewdayslater，andshewenttomorningservicewithalookofgenuinecontritiononheremotionalandyearningcountenance。
Besidesherselfthecongregationconsistedonlyoftheparson，clerk，school—children，andthreeoldpeoplelivingonalms，whosatunderthereading—desk;andthus，whenMr。TorkinghamblazedforththedenunciatorysentencesoftheCommination，nearlythewholeforceofthemseemedtodescenduponherownshoulders。Lookingacrosstheemptypewsshesawthroughtheoneortwoclearpanesofthewindowoppositeayouthfulfigureinthechurchyard，andtheveryfeelingagainstwhichshehadtriedtoprayreturnedagainirresistibly。
Whenshecameoutandhadcrossedintotheprivatewalk，Swithincameforwardtospeaktoher。Thiswasamostunusualcircumstance，andarguedamatterofimportance。
’Ihavemadeanamazingdiscoveryinconnexionwiththevariablestars，’heexclaimed。’Itwillexcitethewholeastronomicalworld，andtheworldoutsidebutlittleless。Ihadlongsuspectedthetruesecretoftheirvariability;butitwasbythemerestchanceonearththatIhituponaproofofmyguess。Yourequatorialhasdoneit，mygood，kindLadyConstantine，andourfameisestablishedforever！’
Hesprangintotheair，andwavedhishatinhistriumph。
’Oh，Iamsoglad——sorejoiced！’shecried。’Whatisit？Butdon’tstoptotellme。Publishitatonceinsomepaper;nailyournametoit，orsomebodywillseizetheideaandappropriateit，——
forestallyouinsomeway。ItwillbeAdamsandLeverrieroveragain。’
’IfImaywalkwithyouIwillexplainthenatureofthediscovery。
ItaccountsfortheoccasionalgreentintofCastor，andeverydifficulty。IsaidIwouldbetheCopernicusofthestellarsystem，andIhavebeguntobe。Yetwhoknows？’
’Nowdon’tbesoupanddown！Ishallnotunderstandyourexplanation，andIwouldrathernotknowit。Ishallrevealitifitisverygrand。Women，youknow，arenotsafedepositariesofsuchvaluablesecrets。Youmaywalkwithmealittleway，withgreatpleasure。Thengoandwriteyouraccount，soastoinsureyourownershipofthediscovery……Buthowyouhavewatched！’
shecried，inasuddenaccessionofanxiety，assheturnedtolookmorecloselyathim。’Theorbitsofyoureyesareleaden，andyoureyelidsareredandheavy。Don’tdoit——praydon’t。Youwillbeill，andbreakdown。’
’Ihave，itistrue，beenupalittlelatethislastweek，’hesaidcheerfully。’Infact，Icouldn’ttearmyselfawayfromtheequatorial;itissuchawonderfulpossessionthatitkeepsmetheretilldaylight。Butwhatdoesthatmatter，nowIhavemadethediscovery？’
’Ah，itDOESmatter！Now，promiseme——Iinsist——thatyouwillnotcommitsuchimprudencesagain;forwhatshouldIdoifmyAstronomerRoyalweretodie？’
Shelaughed，butfartooapprehensivelytobeeffectiveasadisplayoflevity。
Theyparted，andhewenthometowriteouthispaper。Hepromisedtocallassoonashisdiscoverywasinprint。Thentheywaitedfortheresult。
ItisimpossibletodescribethetremulousstateofLadyConstantineduringtheinterval。ThewarminterestshetookinSwithinSt。
Cleeve——manywouldhavesaiddangerouslywarminterest——madehishopesherhopes;andthoughshesometimesadmittedtoherselfthatgreatallowancewasrequisitefortheoverweeningconfidenceofyouthinthefuture，shepermittedherselftobeblindedtoprobabilitiesforthepleasureofsharinghisdreams。Itseemednotunreasonabletosupposethepresenthourtobethebeginningofrealizationtoherdarlingwishthatthisyoungmanshouldbecomefamous。Hehadworkedhard，andwhyshouldhenotbefamousearly？
Hisverysimplicityinmundaneaffairsaffordedastrongpresumptionthatinthingscelestialhemightbewise。Toobtainsupportforthishypothesisshehadonlytothinkoverthelivesofmanyeminentastronomers。
Shewaitedfeverishlyfortheflourishoftrumpetsfromafar，bywhichsheexpectedtheannouncementofhisdiscoverytobegreeted。
Knowingthatimmediateintelligenceoftheoutburstwouldbebroughttoherbyhimself，shewatchedfromthewindowsoftheGreatHouseeachmorningforasightofhisfigurehasteningdowntheglade。
Buthedidnotcome。
Alongarrayofwetdayspassedtheirdrearyshapesbeforeher，andmadethewaitingstillmoretedious。Ononeoftheseoccasionssheranacrosstothetower，attheriskofaseverecold。Thedoorwaslocked。
Twodaysaftershewentagain。Thedoorwaslockedstill。Butthiswasonlytobeexpectedinsuchweather。Yetshewouldhavegoneontohishouse，hadtherenotbeenonereasontoomanyagainstsuchprecipitancy。Asastronomerandastronomertherewasnoharmintheirmeetings;butaswomanandmanshefearedthem。
Tendayspassedwithoutasightofhim;tenblurredanddrearydays，duringwhichthewholelandscapedrippedlikeamop;theparktreesswabbedthegravelfromthedrive，whiletheskywasazinc—colouredarchi—vaultofimmovablecloud。Itseemedasifthewholescienceofastronomyhadneverbeenreal，andthattheheavenlybodies，withtheirmotions，wereastheoreticalasthelinesandcirclesofabygonemathematicalproblem。
Shecouldcontentherselfnolongerwithfruitlessvisitstothecolumn，andwhentherainhadalittleabatedshewalkedtothenearesthamlet，andinaconversationwiththefirstoldwomanshemetcontrivedtoleaduptothesubjectofSwithinSt。Cleevebytalkingabouthisgrandmother。
’Ah，pooroldheart;’tisabadtimeforher，mylady！’exclaimedthedame。
’What？’
’Hergrandsonisdying;andsuchagentlemanthroughandthrough！’
’What！……Oh，ithassomethingtodowiththatdreadfuldiscovery！’
’Discovery，mylady？’
Shelefttheoldwomanwithanevasiveanswer，andwithabreakingheartcreptalongtheroad。Tearsbrimmedintohereyesasshewalked，andbythetimethatshewasoutofsightsobsburstforthtumultuously。
’Iamtoofondofhim！’shemoaned;’butIcan’thelpit;andI
don’tcareifit’swrong，——Idon’tcare！’
WithoutfurtherconsiderationsastowhobeheldherdoingssheinstinctivelywentstraighttowardsMrs。Martin’s。SeeingamancomingshecalmedherselfsufficientlytoaskhimthroughherdroppedveilhowpoorMr。St。Cleevewasthatday。Butsheonlygotthesamereply:’Theysayheisdying，mylady。’
WhenSwithinhadpartedfromLadyConstantine，onthepreviousAsh—
Wednesday，hehadgonestraighttothehomesteadandpreparedhisaccountof’ANewAstronomicalDiscovery。’Itwaswrittenperhapsintooglowingarhetoricforthetruescientifictoneofmind;buttherewasnodoubtthathisassertionmetwithamoststartlingaptnessallthedifficultieswhichhadaccompaniedthereceivedtheoriesonthephenomenaattendingthosechangeablesunsofmarvelloussystemssofaraway。Itaccountedforthenebulousmistthatsurroundssomeofthemattheirweakesttime;inshort，tookupapositionofprobabilitywhichhasneveryetbeensuccessfullyassailed。
Thepaperswerewrittenintriplicate，andcarefullysealedupwithbluewax。OnecopywasdirectedtoGreenwich，anothertotheRoyalSociety，anothertoaprominentastronomer。Abriefstatementoftheessenceofthediscoverywasalsopreparedfortheleadingdailypaper。
Heconsideredthesedocuments，embodyingastheydidtwoyearsofhisconstantthought，reading，andobservation，tooimportanttobeentrustedforpostingtothehandsofamessenger;tooimportanttobesenttothesub—post—officeathand。Thoughthedaywaswet，drippingwet，hewentonfootwiththemtoachiefoffice，fivemilesoff，andregisteredthem。Quiteexhaustedbythewalk，afterhislongnight—work，wetthrough，yetsustainedbythesenseofagreatachievement，hecalledatabookseller’sfortheastronomicalperiodicalstowhichhesubscribed;then，restingforashorttimeataninn，heploddedhiswayhomewards，readinghispapersashewent，andplanninghowtoenjoyareposeonhislaurelsofaweekormore。
Onhestrolledthroughtherain，holdingtheumbrellaverticallyovertheexposedpagetokeepitdrywhileheread。Suddenlyhiseyewasstruckbyanarticle。ItwasthereviewofapamphletbyanAmericanastronomer，inwhichtheauthorannouncedaconclusivediscoverywithregardtovariablestars。
ThediscoverywaspreciselythediscoveryofSwithinSt。Cleeve。
Anothermanhadforestalledhisfamebyaperiodofaboutsixweeks。
ThentheyouthfoundthatthegoddessPhilosophy，towhomhehadvowedtodedicatehiswholelife，wouldnotinreturnsupporthimthroughasinglehourofdespair。Intruth，theimpishnessofcircumstancewasnewertohimthanitwouldhavebeentoaphilosopherofthreescore—and—ten。Inawildwishforannihilationheflunghimselfdownonapatchofheatherthatlayalittleremovedfromtheroad，andinthishumidbedremainedmotionless，whiletimepassedbyunheeded。
Atlast，fromsheermiseryandweariness，hefellasleep。
TheMarchrainpeltedhimmercilessly，thebeadedmoisturefromtheheavilychargedlocksofheathpenetratedhimthroughbackandsides，andclottedhishairtounsightlytagsandtufts。Whenheawokeitwasdark。Hethoughtofhisgrandmother，andofherpossiblealarmatmissinghim。Onattemptingtorise，hefoundthathecouldhardlybendhisjoints，andthathisclotheswereasheavyasleadfromsaturation。Histeethchatteringandhiskneestremblinghepursuedhiswayhome，wherehisappearanceexcitedgreatconcern。Hewasobligedatoncetoretiretobed，andthenextdayhewasdeliriousfromthechill。
ItwasabouttendaysafterthisunhappyoccurrencethatLadyConstantinelearntthenews，asabovedescribed，andhastenedalongtothehomesteadinthatstateofanguishinwhichtheheartisnolongerunderthecontrolofthejudgment，andself—abandonmenteventoerror，vergesonheroism。
OnreachingthehouseinWellandBottomthedoorwasopenedtoherbyoldHannah，whoworeanassiduouslysorrowfullook;andLadyConstantinewasshownintothelargeroom，——sowidethatthebeamsbentinthemiddle，——whereshetookherseatinoneofamethodicrangeofchairs，beneathaportraitoftheReverendMr。St。Cleeve，herastronomer’serraticfather。
Theeightunwatereddyingplants，intherowofeightflower—pots，denotedthattherewassomethingwronginthehouse。Mrs。Martincamedownstairsfretting，herwonderatbeholdingLadyConstantinenotaltogetherdisplacingthepreviousmoodofgrief。
’Here’saprettykettleoffish，mylady！’sheexclaimed。
LadyConstantinesaid，’Hush！’andpointedinquiringlyupward。
’Heisnotoverhead，mylady，’repliedSwithin’sgrandmother。’Hisbedroomisatthebackofthehouse。’
’Howishenow？’
’Heisbetter，justatthismoment;andwearemorehopeful。Buthechangesso。’
’MayIgoup？Iknowhewouldliketoseeme。’
Herpresencehavingbeenmadeknowntothesufferer，shewasconductedupstairstoSwithin’sroom。Thewaythitherwasthroughthelargechamberhehadusedasastudyandforthemanufactureofopticalinstruments。Therelaythelargepasteboardtelescope，thathadbeenjustsuchafailureasCrusoe’slargeboat;therewerehisdiagrams，maps，globes，andcelestialapparatusofvarioussorts。
Theabsenceoftheworker，throughillnessordeathissufficienttotouchtheprosiestworkshopandtoolswiththehuesofpathos，anditwaswithaswellingbosomthatLadyConstantinepassedthroughthisarenaofhisyouthfulactivitiestothelittlechamberwherehelay。
OldMrs。Martinsatdownbythewindow，andLadyConstantinebentoverSwithin。
’Don’tspeaktome！’shewhispered。’Itwillweakenyou;itwillexciteyou。Ifyoudospeak，itmustbeverysoftly。’
Shetookhishand，andoneirrepressibletearfelluponit。
’Nothingwillexcitemenow，LadyConstantine，’hesaid;’notevenyourgoodnessincoming。MylastexcitementwaswhenIlostthebattle……Doyouknowthatmydiscoveryhasbeenforestalled？
Itisthatthat’skillingme。’
’Butyouaregoingtorecover;youarebetter，theysay。Isitso？’
’IthinkIam，to—day。Butwhocanbesure？’
’Thepoorboywassoupsetatfindingthathislabourhadbeenthrownaway，’saidhisgrandmother，’thathelaydownintherain，andchilledhislifeout。’
’Howcouldyoudoit？’LadyConstantinewhispered。’O，howcouldyouthinksomuchofrenown，andsolittleofme？Why，foreverydiscoverymadetherearetenbehindthatawaitmaking。Tocommitsuicidelikethis，asiftherewerenobodyintheworldtocareforyou！’
’Itwasdoneinmyhaste，andIamvery，verysorryforit！Ibegbothyouandallmyfewfriendsnever，nevertoforgiveme！Itwouldkillmewithself—reproachifyouweretopardonmyrashness！’
Atthismomentthedoctorwasannounced，andMrs。Martinwentdownstairstoreceivehim。LadyConstantinethoughtshewouldremaintohearhisreport，andforthispurposewithdrew，andsatdowninanookoftheadjoiningwork—roomofSwithin，thedoctormeetingherashepassedthroughitintothesickchamber。
Hewasthereatorturinglylongtime;butatlengthhecameouttotheroomshewaitedin，andcrosseditonhiswaydownstairs。Sheroseandfollowedhimtothestairhead。
’Howishe？’sheanxiouslyasked。’Willhegetoverit？’
Thedoctor，notknowingthedepthofherinterestinthepatient，spokewiththebluntcandournaturaltowardsacomparativelyindifferentinquirer。
’No，LadyConstantine，’hereplied;’there’sachangefortheworse。’
Andheretireddownthestairs。
ScarcelyknowingwhatshedidLadyConstantineranbacktoSwithin’sside，flungherselfuponthebedandinaparoxysmofsorrowkissedhim。
X
TheplacidinhabitantsoftheparishofWelland，includingwarblingwaggoners，loneshepherds，ploughmen，theblacksmith，thecarpenter，thegardenerattheGreatHouse，thestewardandagent，theparson，clerk，andsoon，werehourlyexpectingtheannouncementofSt。
Cleeve’sdeath。Thesextonhadbeengoingtoseehisbrother—in—
law，ninemilesdistant，butpromptlypostponedthevisitforafewdays，thattheremightbetheregularprofessionalhandpresenttotollthebellinanoteofduefulnessandsolemnity;anattemptbyadeputy，onapreviousoccasionofhisabsence，havingdegeneratedintoamiserablestammeringclangthatwasadisgracetotheparish。
ButSwithinSt。Cleevedidnotdecease，afactofwhich，indeed，thehabituatedreaderwillhavebeenwellawareeversincetheraincamedownupontheyoungmanintheninthchapter，andledtohisalarmingillness。Though，forthatmatter，somanymaimedhistoriesarehourlyenactingthemselvesinthisdun—colouredworldastolendalmostapriorityofinteresttonarrativesconcerningthose’WholaygreatbasesforeternityWhichprovemoreshortthanwasteorruining。’
Howitarosethathedidnotdiewasinthiswise;andhisexampleaffordsanotherinstanceofthatreflexruleofthevassalsouloverthesovereignbody，which，operatingsowonderfullyinelasticnatures，andmoreorlessinall，originallygaverisetothelegendthatsupremacylayontheotherside。
Theeveningofthedayafterthetender，despairing，farewellkissofLadyConstantine，whenhewasalittlelessweakthanduringhervisit，helaywithhisfacetothewindow。Helayalone，quietandresigned。Hehadbeenthinking，sometimesofherandotherfriends，butchieflyofhislostdiscovery。Althoughnearlyunconsciousatthetime，hehadyetbeenawareofthatkiss，asthedelicateflushwhichfollowedituponhischeekwouldhavetold;buthehadattachedlittleimportancetoitasbetweenwomanandman。Hadhebeendyingofloveinsteadofwetweather，perhapstheimpulsiveactofthathandsomeladywouldhavebeenseizedonasaproofthathislovewasreturned。Asitwasherkissseemedbuttheevidenceofanaturallydemonstrativekindliness，felttowardshimchieflybecausehewasbelievedtobeleavingherforever。
Theredsofsunsetpassed，andduskdrewon。OldHannahcameupstairstopulldowntheblindsandassheadvancedtothewindowhesaidtoher，inafaintvoice，’Well，Hannah，whatnewsto—day？’