r three times. When it
was shut it caught the object-glass inside. I remedied that defect,
but only to create a worse, for then the instrument shook about. So it
is, when once a thing is badly done, you had better get rid of it; it
is of no use to bother with it. You may depend upon it, it is not bad
just here or there, but is bad all through, and the attempt to mend it
serves no other purpose than to bring to light hidden weakness. On the
other hand, if you are fortunate enough to have work done like Mr.
Farrow's, it is perfect all through. You can never surprise it, so to
speak. Just look at it. Look at that green baize rest. There is not
the thirty-second part of an inch to spare on either side, and the lid
comes down so evenly that you can hardly see where the edge is. Shake
the box, and you will not feel a single movement. You have never seen
my big telescope at Marston?"

"No."

"Well, if you like, you can come over with your husband any bright
night, and I shall be happy to show it to you."

Miriam thanked him, and they parted.

A few days afterwards Mrs. and Mr. Farrow presented themselves at the
vicarage. It was a lovely evening, and so clear that the outline of
the constellations was obscured by the multitude of small stars, which
usually are not seen, or seen but imperfectly. In the south was
Jupiter, mild, magnificent, like a god amongst the crowd of lesser
divinities.

Mr. Armstrong, with all the ardour of an enthusiast for his science,
began a little preliminary lecture.

"I am not going to let you peep simply in order to astonish you. I
abominate what are called popular lectures for that very reason. If
you can be made to understand the apparent revolution of the heavens,
that is better than all speculation. To understand is the great thing,
not to gape. Now I assume you know that the earth goes round on its
axis, and that consequently the stars seem to revolve round the earth.
But the great difficulty is to realise _how_ they go round, because the
axis is not upright, nor yet horizontal, but inclined, and points to
that star up there, the pole-star. Consequently the stars describe
circles which are not at right angles with the horizon, nor yet
parallel to it. That is my first lesson."

Mr. Farrow comprehended without the slightest difficulty, but Miriam
could not. She had noticed that some of the stars appear in the east
and disappear in the west, but beyond that she had not