'What sort of an idea?' she asked gently.
'It is--an awakening. In thinking of the heaven above, I did not
perceive--the--' 'Earth beneath?' 'The better heaven beneath. Pray, dear Lady Constantine, give me your hand for a moment.' She seemed startled, and the hand was not given.
'I am so anxious to get home,' she repeated. 'I did not mean to stay
here more than five minutes!' 'I fear I am much to blame for this accident,' he said. 'I ought not to
have intruded here. But don't grieve! I will arrange for your escape,
somehow. Be good enough to follow me down.' They redescended, and, whispering to Lady Constantine to remain a few stairs behind, he began to rattle and unlock the door.
The men precipitately removed their bench, and Swithin stepped out, the
light of the summer night being still enough to enable them to
distinguish him.
'Well, Hezekiah, and Samuel, and Nat, how are you?' he said boldly.
'Well, sir, 'tis much as before wi' me,' replied Nat. 'One hour a week
wi' God A'mighty and the rest with the devil, as a chap may say. And
really, now yer poor father's gone, I'd as lief that that Sunday hour
should pass like the rest; for Pa'son Tarkenham do tease a feller's
conscience that much, that church is no hollerday at all to the limbs, as
it was in yer reverent father's time! But we've been waiting here, Mr.
San Cleeve, supposing ye had not come.' 'I have been staying at the top, and fastened the door not to be disturbed. Now I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have another
engagement this evening, so that it would be inconvenient to admit you.
To-morrow evening, or any evening but this, I will show you the comet and
any stars you like.' They readily agreed to come the next night, and prepared to depart.
But what with the flagon, and the pipes, and the final observations, getting
away was a matter of time. Meanwhile a cloud, which nobody had noticed,
arose from the north overhead, and large drops of rain began to fall so
rapidly that the conclave entered the hut till it should be over. St.
Cleeve strolled off under the firs.
The next moment there was a rustling through the trees at another point,
and a man and woman appeared. The woman took shelter under a tree, and
the man, bearing wraps and umbrellas, came forward.
'My lady's man and maid,' said Sammy.
'Is her ladyship here?' asked the man.
'No. I reckon her ladyship keeps more kissable company,' replied Nat
Chapman.