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
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.