'But the servants?' 'My meagre staff consists of only two women and the boy; and they are
away in the other wing. I thought you would like to see the inside of my
house, after showing me the inside of yours. So we will walk through it
instead of staying out here.' She let him in through the casement, and they strolled forward softly,
Swithin with some curiosity, never before having gone beyond the library
and adjoining room. The whole western side of the house was at this time
shut up, her life being confined to two or three small rooms in the south-
east corner. The great apartments through which they now whisperingly
walked wore already that funereal aspect that comes from disuse and
inattention. Triangular cobwebs already formed little hammocks for the
dust in corners of the wainscot, and a close smell of wood and leather,
seasoned with mouse-droppings, pervaded the atmosphere. So seldom was
the solitude of these chambers intruded on by human feet that more than
once a mouse stood and looked the twain in the face from the arm of a
sofa, or the top of a cabinet, without any great fear.
Swithin had no residential ambition whatever, but he was interested in
the place. 'Will the house ever be thrown open to gaiety, as it was in
old times?' said he.
'Not unless you make a fortune,' she replied laughingly. 'It is mine for
my life, as you know; but the estate is so terribly saddled with
annuities to Sir Blount's distant relatives, one of whom will succeed me
here, that I have practically no more than my own little private income
to exist on.' 'And are you bound to occupy the house?' 'Not bound to. But I must not let it on lease.' 'And was there any stipulation in the event of your re-marriage?' 'It was not mentioned.' 'It is satisfactory to find that you lose nothing by marrying me, at all
events, dear Viviette.' 'I hope you lose nothing either--at least, of consequence.' 'What have I to lose?' 'I meant your liberty. Suppose you become a popular physicist
(popularity seems cooling towards art and coquetting with science now-a-
days), and a better chance offers, and one who would make you a newer and
brighter wife than I am comes in your way. Will you never regret this?
Will you never despise me?' Swithin answered by a kiss, and they again went on; proceeding like a
couple of burglars, lest they should draw the attention of the cook or
Green.