At eight o'clock she insisted upon his ascending the tower for

observations, in strict pursuance of the idea on which their marriage had

been based, namely, that of restoring regularity to his studies.

The sky had a new and startling beauty that night. A broad, fluctuating,

semicircular arch of vivid white light spanned the northern quarter of

the heavens, reaching from the horizon to the star Eta in the Greater

Bear. It was the Aurora Borealis, just risen up for the winter season

out of the freezing seas of the north, where every autumn vapour was now

undergoing rapid congelation.

'O, let us sit and look at it!' she said; and they turned their backs

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upon the equatorial and the southern glories of the heavens to this new

beauty in a quarter which they seldom contemplated.

The lustre of the fixed stars was diminished to a sort of blueness.

Little by little the arch grew higher against the dark void, like the

form of the Spirit-maiden in the shades of Glenfinlas, till its crown

drew near the zenith, and threw a tissue over the whole waggon and horses

of the great northern constellation. Brilliant shafts radiated from the

convexity of the arch, coming and going silently. The temperature fell,

and Lady Constantine drew her wrap more closely around her.

'We'll go down,' said Swithin. 'The cabin is beautifully warm. Why

should we try to observe to-night? Indeed, we cannot; the Aurora light

overpowers everything.' 'Very well. To-morrow night there will be no interruption. I shall be

gone.' 'You leave me to-morrow, Viviette?' 'Yes; to-morrow morning.' The truth was that, with the progress of the hours and days, the

conviction had been borne in upon Viviette more and more forcibly that

not for kingdoms and principalities could she afford to risk the

discovery of her presence here by any living soul.

'But let me see your face, dearest,' he said. 'I don't think it will be

safe for you to meet your brother yet.' As it was too dark to see her face on the summit where they sat they

descended the winding staircase, and in the cabin Swithin examined the

damaged cheek. The line, though so far attenuated as not to be

observable by any one but a close observer, had not quite disappeared.

But in consequence of her reiterated and almost tearful anxiety to go,

and as there was a strong probability that her brother had left the

house, Swithin decided to call at Welland next morning, and reconnoitre

with a view to her return.

Locking her in he crossed the dewy stubble into the park. The house was

silent and deserted; and only one tall stalk of smoke ascended from the

chimneys. Notwithstanding that the hour was nearly nine he knocked at

the door.




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