In his fervour to begin observing he directed that an old telescope,

which he had used in his first celestial attempts, should be tied at one

end to the bed-post, and at the other fixed near his eye as he reclined.

Equipped only with this rough improvisation he began to take notes.

Lady Constantine was forgotten, till one day, suddenly, wondering if she knew

of the important phenomenon, he revolved in his mind whether as a fellow-

student and sincere friend of his she ought not to be sent for, and

instructed in the use of the equatorial.

But though the image of Lady Constantine, in spite of her kindness and

unmistakably warm heart, had been obscured in his mind by the heavenly

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body, she had not so readily forgotten him. Too shy to repeat her visit

after so nearly betraying her secret, she yet, every day, by the most

ingenious and subtle means that could be devised by a woman who feared

for herself, but could not refrain from tampering with danger,

ascertained the state of her young friend's health. On hearing of the

turn in his condition she rejoiced on his account, and became yet more

despondent on her own. If he had died she might have mused on him as her

dear departed saint without much sin: but his return to life was a

delight that bewildered and dismayed.

One evening a little later on he was sitting at his bedroom window as

usual, waiting for a sufficient decline of light to reveal the comet's

form, when he beheld, crossing the field contiguous to the house, a

figure which he knew to be hers. He thought she must be coming to see

him on the great comet question, to discuss which with so delightful and

kind a comrade was an expectation full of pleasure. Hence he keenly

observed her approach, till something happened that surprised him.

When, at the descent of the hill, she had reached the stile that admitted

to Mrs. Martin's garden, Lady Constantine stood quite still for a minute

or more, her gaze bent on the ground. Instead of coming on to the house

she went heavily and slowly back, almost as if in pain; and then at

length, quickening her pace, she was soon out of sight. She appeared in

the path no more that day.




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