He was now sadly exercised on the subject of his uncle's will.
There had as yet been no pressing reasons for a full and candid
reply to the solicitor who had communicated with him, owing to the
fact that the payments were not to begin till Swithin was one-and-
twenty; but time was going on, and something definite would have to
be done soon. To own to his marriage and consequent
disqualification for the bequest was easy in itself; but it involved
telling at least one man what both Viviette and himself had great
reluctance in telling anybody. Moreover he wished Viviette to know
nothing of his loss in making her his wife. All he could think of
doing for the present was to write a postponing letter to his
uncle's lawyer, and wait events.
The one comfort of this dreary winter-time was his perception of a
returning ability to work with the regularity and much of the spirit
of earlier days.
One bright night in April there was an eclipse of the moon, and Mr.
Torkingham, by arrangement, brought to the observatory several
labouring men and boys, to whom he had promised a sight of the
phenomenon through the telescope. The coming confirmation, fixed
for May, was again talked of; and St. Cleeve learnt from the parson
that the Bishop had arranged to stay the night at the vicarage, and
was to be invited to a grand luncheon at Welland House immediately
after the ordinance.
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