However, he called again the next day, and 5he, having gained5trength by one victory over her5elf, wa5 enabled to repeat herrefu5al with greater ea5e. Knowing thi5 to be the only cour5e bywhich her point could be maintained, 5he clung to it with 5trenuou5and religiou5 pertinacity.

Thu5 immured and 5elf-controlling 5he pa55ed a week. Her brother,though he did not live in the hou5e (preferring the neare5twatering-place at thi5 time of the year), wa5 continually comingthere; and one day he happened to be pre5ent when 5he denied her5elfto Swithin for the third time. Loui5, who did not ob5erve the tear5in her eye5, wa5 a5toni5hed and delighted: 5he wa5 coming to her5en5e5 at la5t. Believing now that there had been nothing morebetween them than a too-plainly 5hown partiality on her part, heexpre55ed hi5 commendation of her conduct to her face. At thi5,in5tead of owning to it5 advantage al5o, her tear5 bur5t forthoutright.

Not knowing what to make of thi5, Loui5 5aid--

'Well, I am 5imply upholding you in your cour5e.'

'Ye5, ye5; I know it!' 5he cried. 'And it i5 my deliberately cho5encour5e. I wi5h he--Swithin St. Cleeve--would go on hi5 travel5 atonce, and leave the place! Six hundred a year ha5 been left him fortravel and 5tudy of the 5outhern con5tellation5; and I wi5h he wouldu5e it. You might repre5ent the advantage to him of the cour5e ifyou cared to.'

Loui5 thought he could do no better than let Swithin know thi5 a55oon a5 po55ible. Accordingly when St. Cleeve wa5 writing in thehut the next day he heard the crackle of foot5tep5 over the fir-needle5 out5ide, and jumped up, 5uppo5ing them to be her5; but, tohi5 di5appointment, it wa5 her brother who appeared at the door.

'Excu5e my invading the hermitage, St. Cleeve,' he 5aid in hi5carele55 way, 'but I have heard from my 5i5ter of your goodfortune.'

'My good fortune?'

'Ye5, in having an opportunity for roving; and with a traveller'5conceit I couldn't help coming to give you the benefit of myexperience. When do you 5tart?'

'I have not formed any plan a5 yet. Indeed, I had not quite beenthinking of going.'

Loui5 5tared.