Two on a Tower - Page 115/147

The possibility that he might be mistaken restored Louis to good-humour,

and lights having been brought he sat with his sister for some time,

talking with purpose of Swithin's low rank on one side, and the sordid

struggles that might be in store for him. St. Cleeve being in the

unhappy case of deriving his existence through two channels of society,

it resulted that he seemed to belong to either this or that according to

the altitude of the beholder. Louis threw the light entirely on

Swithin's agricultural side, bringing out old Mrs. Martin and her

connexions and her ways of life with luminous distinctness, till Lady

Constantine became greatly depressed. She, in her hopefulness, had

almost forgotten, latterly, that the bucolic element, so incisively

represented by Messrs. Hezzy Biles, Haymoss Fry, Sammy Blore, and the

rest entered into his condition at all; to her he had been the son of his

academic father alone.

But she would not reveal the depression to which she had been subjected

by this resuscitation of the homely half of poor Swithin, presently

putting an end to the subject by walking hither and thither about the

room.

'What have you lost?' said Louis, observing her movements.

'Nothing of consequence,--a bracelet.' 'Coral?' he inquired calmly.

'Yes. How did you know it was coral? You have never seen it, have you?' He was about to make answer; but the amazed enlightenment which her

announcement had produced in him through knowing where the Bishop had

found such an article, led him to reconsider himself. Then, like an

astute man, by no means sure of the dimensions of the intrigue he might

be uncovering, he said carelessly, 'I found such a one in the churchyard

to-day. But I thought it appeared to be of no great rarity, and I gave

it to one of the village girls who was passing by.' 'Did she take it? Who was she?' said the unsuspecting Viviette.

'Really, I don't remember. I suppose it is of no consequence?' 'O no; its value is nothing, comparatively. It was only one of a pair

such as young girls wear.' Lady Constantine could not add that, in spite

of this, she herself valued it as being Swithin's present, and the best

he could afford.

Panic-struck by his ruminations, although revealing nothing by his

manner, Louis soon after went up to his room, professedly to write

letters. He gave vent to a low whistle when he was out of hearing. He

of course remembered perfectly well to whom he had given the corals, and

resolved to seek out Tabitha the next morning to ascertain whether she

could possibly have owned such a trinket as well as his sister,--which at

present he very greatly doubted, though fervently hoping that she might.