'I can stay only five minutes,' she said, without sitting down. 'You

said it was important that you should see me, and I have come. I assure

you it is at a great risk. If I am seen here at this time I am ruined

for ever. But what would I not do for you? O Swithin, your remedy--is

it to go away? There is no other; and yet I dread that like death!' 'I can tell you in a moment, but I must begin at the beginning. All this ruinous idleness and distraction is caused by the misery of our not being able to meet with freedom. The fear that something may snatch you from

me keeps me in a state of perpetual apprehension.' 'It is too true also of me! I dread that some accident may happen, and waste my days in meeting the trouble half-way.' 'So our lives go on, and our labours stand still. Now for the remedy. Dear Lady Constantine, allow me to marry you.' She started, and the wind without shook the building, sending up a yet intenser moan from the firs.

'I mean, marry you quite privately. Let it make no difference whatever

to our outward lives for years, for I know that in my present position

you could not possibly acknowledge me as husband publicly. But by

marrying at once we secure the certainty that we cannot be divided by

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accident, coaxing, or artifice; and, at ease on that point, I shall

embrace my studies with the old vigour, and you yours.' Lady Constantine was so agitated at the unexpected boldness of such a proposal from one hitherto so boyish and deferential that she sank into the observing-chair, her intention to remain for only a few minutes being

quite forgotten.

She covered her face with her hands. 'No, no, I dare not!' she whispered.

'But is there a single thing else left to do?' he pleaded, kneeling down

beside her, less in supplication than in abandonment. 'What else can we

do?' 'Wait till you are famous.' 'But I cannot be famous unless I strive, and this distracting condition

prevents all striving!' 'Could you not strive on if I--gave you a promise, a solemn promise, to

be yours when your name is fairly well known?' St. Cleeve breathed heavily. 'It will be a long, weary time,' he said.

'And even with your promise I shall work but half-heartedly. Every hour

of study will be interrupted with "Suppose this or this happens;"

"Suppose somebody persuades her to break her promise;" worse still,

"Suppose some rival maligns me, and so seduces her away." No, Lady

Constantine, dearest, best as you are, that element of distraction would

still remain, and where that is, no sustained energy is possible. Many

erroneous things have been written and said by the sages, but never did

they float a greater fallacy than that love serves as a stimulus to win

the loved one by patient toil.' 'I cannot argue with you,' she said weakly.




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