第1章

Thefollowingchapterswerewrittenatatimewhenthecrazeforindiscriminatechurch-restorationhadjustreachedtheremotestnooksofwesternEngland，wherethewildandtragicfeaturesofthecoasthadlongcombinedinperfectharmonywiththecrudeGothicArtoftheecclesiasticalbuildingsscatteredalongit，throwingintoextraordinarydiscordallarchitecturalattemptsatnewnessthere。Torestorethegreycarcasesofamediaevalismwhosespirithadfled，seemedanotlessincongruousactthantosetaboutrenovatingtheadjoiningcragsthemselves。

Henceithappenedthatanimaginaryhistoryofthreehumanhearts，whoseemotionswerenotwithoutcorrespondencewiththesematerialcircumstances，foundintheordinaryincidentsofsuchchurch-

renovationsafittingframeforitspresentation。

Theshoreandcountryabout"CastleBoterel"isnowgettingwellknown，andwillbereadilyrecognized。Thespotis，Imayadd，thefurthestwestwardofallthoseconvenientcornerswhereinI

haveventuredtoerectmytheatrefortheseimperfectlittledramasofcountrylifeandpassions；anditliesnearto，ornogreatwaybeyond，thevagueborderoftheWessexkingdomonthatside，which，likethewesteringvergeofmodernAmericansettlements，wasprogressiveanduncertain。

This，however，isoflittleimportance。Theplaceispre-

eminently(foronepersonatleast)theregionofdreamandmystery。Theghostlybirds，thepall-likesea，thefrothywind，theeternalsoliloquyofthewaters，thebloomofdarkpurplecast，thatseemstoexhalefromtheshorewardprecipices，inthemselveslendtothesceneanatmospherelikethetwilightofanightvision。

Oneenormoussea-bordcliffinparticularfiguresinthenarrative；andforsomeforgottenreasonorotherthiscliffwasdescribedinthestoryasbeingwithoutaname。Accuracywouldrequirethestatementtobethataremarkablecliffwhichresemblesinmanypointsthecliffofthedescriptionbearsanamethatnoeventhasmadefamous。

T。H。

March1899

THEPERSONS

ELFRIDESWANCOURTayoungLadyCHRISTOPHERSWANCOURTaClergymanSTEPHENSMITHanArchitectHENRYKNIGHTaReviewerandEssayistCHARLOTTETROYTONarichWidowGERTRUDEJETHWAYapoorWidowSPENSERHUGOLUXELLIANaPeerLADYLUXELLIANhisWifeMARYANDKATEtwolittleGirlsWILLIAMWORMadazedFactotumJOHNSMITHaMaster-masonJANESMITHhisWifeMARTINCANNISTERaSextonUNITYaMaid-servantOtherservants，masons，labourers，grooms，nondescripts，etc。，etc。

THESCENE

MostlyontheoutskirtsofLowerWessex。

ChapterI

"Afairvestal，thronedinthewest"

ElfrideSwancourtwasagirlwhoseemotionslayverynearthesurface。Theirnaturemoreprecisely，andasmodifiedbythecreepinghoursoftime，wasknownonlytothosewhowatchedthecircumstancesofherhistory。

Personally，shewasthecombinationofveryinterestingparticulars，whoserarity，however，layinthecombinationitselfratherthanintheindividualelementscombined。Asamatteroffact，youdidnotseetheformandsubstanceofherfeatureswhenconversingwithher；andthischarmingpowerofpreventingamaterialstudyofherlineamentsbyaninterlocutor，originatednotinthecloakingeffectofawell-formedmanner(forhermannerwaschildishandscarcelyformed)，butintheattractivecrudenessoftheremarksthemselves。Shehadlivedallherlifeinretirement——themonstrarigigitoofidlemenhadnotflatteredher，andattheageofnineteenortwentyshewasnofurtheroninsocialconsciousnessthananurbanyoungladyoffifteen。

Onepointinher，however，youdidnotice:thatwashereyes。Inthemwasseenasublimationofallofher；itwasnotnecessarytolookfurther:thereshelived。

Theseeyeswereblue；blueasautumndistance——blueastheblueweseebetweentheretreatingmouldingsofhillsandwoodyslopesonasunnySeptembermorning。Amistyandshadyblue，thathadnobeginningorsurface，andwaslookedINTOratherthanAT。

Astoherpresence，itwasnotpowerful；itwasweak。Somewomencanmaketheirpersonalitypervadetheatmosphereofawholebanquetinghall；Elfride"swasnomorepervasivethanthatofakitten。

ElfridehadasherownthethoughtfulnesswhichappearsinthefaceoftheMadonnadellaSedia，withoutitsrapture:thewarmthandspiritofthetypeofwoman"sfeaturemostcommontothebeauties——mortalandimmortal——ofRubens，withouttheirinsistentfleshiness。ThecharacteristicexpressionofthefemalefacesofCorreggio——thatoftheyearninghumanthoughtsthatlietoodeepfortears——washerssometimes，butseldomunderordinaryconditions。

ThepointinElfrideSwancourt"slifeatwhichadeepercurrentmaybesaidtohavepermanentlysetin，wasonewinterafternoonwhenshefoundherselfstanding，inthecharacterofhostess，facetofacewithamanshehadneverseenbefore——moreover，lookingathimwithaMiranda-likecuriosityandinterestthatshehadneveryetbestowedonamortal。

Onthisparticulardayherfather，thevicarofaparishonthesea-sweptoutskirtsofLowerWessex，andawidower，wassufferingfromanattackofgout。AfterfinishingherhouseholdsupervisionsElfridebecamerestless，andseveraltimeslefttheroom，ascendedthestaircase，andknockedatherfather"schamber-

door。

"Comein!"wasalwaysansweredinaheartyout-of-doorvoicefromtheinside。

"Papa，"shesaidononeoccasiontothefine，red-faced，handsomemanofforty，who，puffingandfizzinglikeaburstingbottle，layonthebedwrappedinadressing-gown，andeverynowandthenenunciating，inspiteofhimself，aboutoneletterofsomewordorwordsthatwerealmostoaths；"papa，willyounotcomedownstairsthisevening？"Shespokedistinctly:hewasratherdeaf。

"Afraidnot——eh-hh!——verymuchafraidIshallnot，Elfride。

Piph-ph-ph!Ican"tbearevenahandkerchiefuponthisdeucedtoeofmine，muchlessastockingorslipper——piph-ph-ph!There"tisagain!No，Ishan"tgetuptillto-morrow。"

"ThenIhopethisLondonmanwon"tcome；forIdon"tknowwhatI

shoulddo，papa。"

"Well，itwouldbeawkward，certainly。"

"Ishouldhardlythinkhewouldcometo-day。"

"Why？"

"Becausethewindblowsso。"

"Wind!Whatideasyouhave，Elfride!Whoeverheardofwindstoppingamanfromdoinghisbusiness？Theideaofthistoeofminecomingonsosuddenly!……Ifheshouldcome，youmustsendhimuptome，Isuppose，andthengivehimsomefoodandputhimtobedinsomeway。Dearme，whatanuisanceallthisis!"

"Musthehavedinner？"

"Tooheavyforatiredmanattheendofatediousjourney。"

"Tea，then？"

"Notsubstantialenough。"

"Hightea，then？Thereiscoldfowl，rabbit-pie，somepasties，andthingsofthatkind。"

"Yes，hightea。"

"MustIpourouthistea，papa？"

"Ofcourse；youarethemistressofthehouse。"

"What!sitthereallthetimewithastranger，justasifIknewhim，andnotanybodytointroduceus？"

"Nonsense，child，aboutintroducing；youknowbetterthanthat。A

practicalprofessionalman，tiredandhungry，whohasbeentravellingeversincedaylightthismorning，willhardlybeinclinedtotalkandaircourtesiesto-night。Hewantsfoodandshelter，andyoumustseethathehasit，simplybecauseIamsuddenlylaidupandcannot。Thereisnothingsodreadfulinthat，Ihope？Yougetallkindsofstuffintoyourheadfromreadingsomanyofthosenovels。"

"Ohno；thereisnothingdreadfulinitwhenitbecomesplainlyacaseofnecessitylikethis。But，yousee，youarealwaystherewhenpeoplecometodinner，evenifweknowthem；andthisissomestrangeLondonmanoftheworld，whowillthinkitodd，perhaps。"

"Verywell；lethim。"

"IsheMr。Hewby"spartner？"

"Ishouldscarcelythinkso:hemaybe。"

"Howoldishe，Iwonder？"

"ThatIcannottell。YouwillfindthecopyofmylettertoMr。

Hewby，andhisanswer，uponthetableinthestudy。Youmayreadthem，andthenyou"llknowasmuchasIdoaboutourvisitor。"

"Ihavereadthem。"

"Well，what"stheuseofaskingquestions，then？TheycontainallIknow。Ugh-h-h!……Odplagueyou，youyoungscamp!don"tputanythingthere!Ican"tbeartheweightofafly。"

"Oh，Iamsorry，papa。Iforgot；Ithoughtyoumightbecold，"

shesaid，hastilyremovingtherugshehadthrownuponthefeetofthesufferer；andwaitingtillshesawthatconsciousnessofheroffencehadpassedfromhisface，shewithdrewfromtheroom，andretiredagaindownstairs。

ChapterII

"Twasontheeveningofawinter"sday。"

Whentwoorthreeadditionalhourshadmergedthesameafternooninevening，somemovingoutlinesmighthavebeenobservedagainsttheskyonthesummitofawildlonehillinthatdistrict。Theycircumscribedtwomen，havingatpresenttheaspectofsilhouettes，sittinginadog-cartandpushingalongintheteethofthewind。Scarcelyasolitaryhouseormanhadbeenvisiblealongthewholedrearydistanceofopencountrytheyweretraversing；andnowthatnighthadbeguntofall，thefainttwilight，whichstillgaveanideaofthelandscapetotheirobservation，wasenlivenedbythequietappearanceoftheplanetJupiter，momentarilygleaminginintenserbrilliancyinfrontofthem，andbySiriussheddinghisraysinrivalryfromhispositionovertheirshoulders。

Theonlylightsapparentonearthweresomespotsofdullred，glowinghereandthereuponthedistanthills，which，asthedriverofthevehiclegratuitouslyremarkedtothehirer，weresmoulderingfiresfortheconsumptionofpeatandgorse-roots，wherethecommonwasbeingbrokenupforagriculturalpurposes。Thewindprevailedwithbutlittleabatementfromitsdaytimeboisterousness，threeorfoursmallclouds，delicateandpale，creepingalongundertheskysouthwardtotheChannel。

Fourteenofthesixteenmilesinterveningbetweentherailwayterminusandtheendoftheirjourneyhadbeengoneover，whentheybegantopassalongthebrinkofavalleysomemilesinextent，whereinthewintryskeletonsofamoreluxuriantvegetationthanhadhithertosurroundedthemproclaimedanincreasedrichnessofsoil，whichshowedsignsoffarmorecarefulenclosureandmanagementthanhadanyslopestheyhadyetpassed。

Alittlefarther，andanopeningintheelmsstretchingupfromthisfertilevalleyrevealedamansion。

"That"sEndelstowHouse，LordLuxellian"s，"saidthedriver。

"EndelstowHouse，LordLuxellian"s，"repeatedtheothermechanically。Hethenturnedhimselfsideways，andkeenlyscrutinizedthealmostinvisiblehousewithaninterestwhichtheindistinctpictureitselfseemedfarfromadequatetocreate。

"Yes，that"sLordLuxellian"s，"hesaidyetagainafterawhile，ashestilllookedinthesamedirection。

"What，bewegoingthere？"

"No；EndelstowVicarage，asIhavetoldyou。"

"Ithoughtyoum"thavealteredyourmind，sir，asyehavestaredthatwayatnothingsolong。"

"Ohno；Iaminterestedinthehouse，that"sall。"

"Mostpeoplebe，asthesayingis。"

"NotinthesensethatIam。"

"Oh!……Well，hisfamilyisnobetterthanmyown，"ab"lieve。"

"Howisthat？"

"Hedgersandditchersbyrights。Butonceinancienttimesoneof"em，whenhewasatwork，changedclotheswithKingCharlestheSecond，andsavedtheking"slife。KingCharlescameuptohimlikeacommonman，andsaidoff-hand，"Maninthesmock-frock，mynameisCharlestheSecond，andthat"sthetruthon"t。Willyoulendmeyourclothes？""Idon"tmindifIdo，"saidHedgerLuxellian；andtheychangedthereandthen。"Nowmindye，"KingCharlestheSecondsaid，likeacommonman，asherodeaway，"ifeverIcometothecrown，youcometocourt，knockatthedoor，andsayoutbold，"IsKingCharlestheSecondathome？"Tellyourname，andtheyshallletyouin，andyoushallbemadealord。”

Now，thatwasveryniceofMasterCharley？"

"Veryniceindeed。"

"Well，asthestoryis，thekingcametothethrone；andsomeyearsafterthat，awaywentHedgerLuxellian，knockedattheking"sdoor，andaskedifKingCharlestheSecondwasin。"No，heisn"t，"theysaid。"Then，isCharlestheThird？"saidHedgerLuxellian。"Yes，"saidayoungfellerstandingbylikeacommonman，onlyhehadacrownon，"mynameisCharlestheThird。”And——"

"Ireallyfancythatmustbeamistake。Idon"trecollectanythinginEnglishhistoryaboutCharlestheThird，"saidtheotherinatoneofmildremonstrance。

"Oh，that"srighthistoryenough，only"twasn"tprented；hewasratheraqueer-temperedman，ifyouremember。"

"Verywell；goon。"

"And，byhookorbycrook，HedgerLuxellianwasmadealord，andeverythingwentonwelltillsometimeafter，whenhegotintoamostterriblerowwithKingCharlestheFourth"Ican"tstandCharlestheFourth。Uponmyword，that"stoomuch。"

"Why？TherewasaGeorgetheFourth，wasn"tthere？"

"Certainly。"

"Well，CharlesesbeascommonasGeorges。HoweverI"llsaynomoreaboutit……Ah，well!"tisthefunniestworldeverIlivedin——uponmylife"tis。Ah，thatsuchshouldbe!"

Theduskhadthickenedintodarknesswhiletheythusconversed，andtheoutlineandsurfaceofthemansiongraduallydisappeared。

Thewindows，whichhadbeforebeenasblackblotsonalighterexpanseofwall，becameilluminated，andweretransfiguredtosquaresoflightonthegeneraldarkbodyofthenightlandscapeasitabsorbedtheoutlinesoftheedificeintoitsgloomymonochrome。

Notanotherwordwasspokenforsometime，andtheyclimbedahill，thenanotherhillpiledonthesummitofthefirst。Anadditionalmileofplateaufollowed，fromwhichcouldbediscernedtwolight-housesonthecoasttheywerenearing，reposingonthehorizonwithacalmlustreofbenignity。Anotheroasiswasreached；alittledelllaylikeanestattheirfeet，towardswhichthedriverpulledthehorseatasharpangle，anddescendedasteepslopewhichdivedunderthetreeslikearabbit"sburrow。

Theysanklowerandlower。

"EndelstowVicarageisinsidehere，"continuedthemanwiththereins。"ThispartabouthereisWestEndelstow；LordLuxellian"sisEastEndelstow，andhasachurchtoitself。Pa"sonSwancourtisthepa"sonofboth，andbobsbackwardandforward。Ah，well!

"tisafunnyworld。"Ab"lievetherewasonceaquarrywherethishousestands。Themanwhobuiltitinpasttimescrapedalltheglebeforearthtoputroundthevicarage，andlaidoutalittleparadiseofflowersandtreesinthesoilhehadgottogetherinthisway，whilstthefieldshescrapedhavebeengoodfornothingeversince。"

"Howlonghasthepresentincumbentbeenhere？"

"Maybeaboutayear，orayearandhalf:"tisn"ttwoyears；fortheydon"tscandalizehimyet；and，asarule，aparishbeginstoscandalizethepa"sonattheendoftwoyearsamong"emfamiliar。

Buthe"saveryniceparty。Ay，Pa"sonSwancourtknowsmeprettywellfromoftendrivingover；andIknowPa"sonSwancourt。"

Theyemergedfromthebower，sweptroundinacurve，andthechimneysandgablesofthevicaragebecamedarklyvisible。Notalightshowedanywhere。Theyalighted；themanfelthiswayintotheporch，andrangthebell。

Attheendofthreeorfourminutes，spentinpatientwaitingwithouthearinganysoundsofaresponse，thestrangeradvancedandrepeatedthecallinamoredecidedmanner。Hethenfanciedheheardfootstepsinthehall，andsundrymovementsofthedoor-

knob，butnobodyappeared。

"Perhapstheybeantathome，"sighedthedriver。"AndIpromisedmyselfabitofsupperinPa"sonSwancourt"skitchen。Sichlovelymate-pizeandfiggedkeakes，andcider，anddropso"cordialthattheydokeephere!"

"Allright，naibours!Beyerichmenorbeyepoormen，thatyemustneedscometotheworld"sendatthistimeo"night？"

exclaimedavoiceatthisinstant；and，turningtheirheads，theysawaricketyindividualshamblingroundfromthebackdoorwithahornlanterndanglingfromhishand。

"Timeo"night，"ab"lieve!andtheclockonlygonesevenof"em。

Showalight，andletusin，WilliamWorm。"

"Oh，thatyou，RobertLickpan？"

"Nobodyelse，WilliamWorm。"

"Andisthevisitingmana-come？"

"Yes，"saidthestranger。"IsMr。Swancourtathome？"

"That"ais，sir。Andwouldyemindcomingroundbythebackway？

Thefrontdoorisgotstuckwi"thewet，ashewilldosometimes；

andtheTurkcan"topenen。IknowIamonlyapoorwamblingmanthat"illneverpaytheLordformymaking，sir；butIcanshowthewayin，sir。"

Thenewarrivalfollowedhisguidethroughalittledoorinawall，andthenpromenadedasculleryandakitchen，alongwhichhepassedwitheyesrigidlyfixedinadvance，aninbredhorrorofpryingforbiddinghimtogazearoundapartmentsthatformedthebacksideofthehouseholdtapestry。Enteringthehall，hewasabouttobeshowntohisroom，whenfromtheinnerlobbyofthefrontentrance，whithershehadgonetolearnthecauseofthedelay，sailedforththeformofElfride。Herstartofamazementatthesightofthevisitorcomingforthfromunderthestairsprovedthatshehadnotbeenexpectingthissurprisingflankmovement，whichhadbeenoriginatedentirelybytheingenuityofWilliamWorm。

Sheappearedintheprettiestofallfeminineguises，thatistosay，indemi-toilette，withplentyofloosecurlyhairtumblingdownabouthershoulders。Anexpressionofuneasinesspervadedhercountenance；andaltogethershescarcelyappearedwomanenoughforthesituation。Thevisitorremovedhishat，andthefirstwordswerespoken；Elfrideprelusivelylookingwithadealofinterest，notunmixedwithsurprise，atthepersontowardswhomshewastodothedutiesofhospitality。

"IamMr。Smith，"saidthestrangerinamusicalvoice。

"IamMissSwancourt，"saidElfride。

Herconstraintwasover。Thegreatcontrastbetweentherealityshebeheldbeforeher，andthedark，taciturn，sharp，elderlymanofbusinesswhohadlurkedinherimagination——amanwithclothessmellingofcitysmoke，skinsallowfromwantofsun，andtalkflavouredwithepigram——wassucharelieftoherthatElfridesmiled，almostlaughed，inthenew-comer"sface。

StephenSmith，whohashithertobeenhiddenfromusbythedarkness，wasatthistimeofhislifebutayouthinappearance，andbarelyamaninyears。Judgingfromhislook，Londonwasthelastplaceintheworldthatonewouldhaveimaginedtobethesceneofhisactivities:

suchafacesurelycouldnotbenourishedamidsmokeandmudandfoganddust；suchanopencountenancecouldneverevenhaveseenanythingof"theweariness，thefever，andthefret"ofBabylontheSecond。

HiscomplexionwasasfineasElfride"sown；thepinkofhischeeksasdelicate。HismouthasperfectasCupid"sbowinform，andascherry-redincolourashers。Brightcurlyhair；brightsparklingblue-grayeyes；aboy"sblushandmanner；neitherwhiskernormoustache，unlessalittlelight-brownfuronhisupperlipdeservedthelattertitle:thiscomposedtheLondonprofessionalman，theprospectofwhoseadventhadsotroubledElfride。

ElfridehastenedtosayshewassorrytotellhimthatMr。

Swancourtwasnotabletoreceivehimthatevening，andgavethereasonwhy。Mr。Smithreplied，inavoiceboyishbynatureandmanlybyart，thathewasverysorrytohearthisnews；butthatasfarashisreceptionwasconcerned，itdidnotmatterintheleast。

Stephenwasshownuptohisroom。InhisabsenceElfridestealthilyglidedintoherfather"s。

"He"scome，papa。Suchayoungmanforabusinessman!"

"Oh，indeed!"

"Hisfaceis——well——PRETTY；justlikemine。"

"H"m!whatnext？"

"Nothing；that"sallIknowofhimyet。Itisrathernice，isitnot？"

"Well，weshallseethatwhenweknowhimbetter。Godownandgivethepoorfellowsomethingtoeatanddrink，forHeaven"ssake。Andwhenhehasdoneeating，sayIshouldliketohaveafewwordswithhim，ifhedoesn"tmindcominguphere。"

Theyoungladyglideddownstairsagain，andwhilstsheawaitsyoungSmith"sentry，thelettersreferringtohisvisithadbetterbegiven。

1——MR。SWANCOURTTOMR。HEWBY。

"ENDELSTOWVICARAGE，Feb。18，18。

"SIR，——Wearethinkingofrestoringthetowerandaisleofthechurchinthisparish；andLordLuxellian，thepatronoftheliving，hasmentionedyournameasthatofatrustworthyarchitectwhomitwouldbedesirabletoasktosuperintendthework。

"Iamexceedinglyignorantofthenecessarypreliminarysteps。

Probably，however，thefirstisthat(shouldyoube，asLordLuxelliansaysyouare，disposedtoassistus)yourselforsomememberofyourstaffcomeandseethebuilding，andreportthereuponforthesatisfactionofparishionersandothers。

"Thespotisaveryremoteone:wehavenorailwaywithinfourteenmiles；andthenearestplaceforputtingupat——calledatown，thoughmerelyalargevillage——isCastleBoterel，twomilesfurtheron；sothatitwouldbemostconvenientforyoutostayatthevicarage——whichIamgladtoplaceatyourdisposal——insteadofpushingontothehotelatCastleBoterel，andcomingbackagaininthemorning。

"Anydayofthenextweekthatyouliketonameforthevisitwillfindusquitereadytoreceiveyou——Yoursverytruly，CHRISTOPHER

SWANCOURT。

2——MR。HEWBYTOMR。SWANCOURT。

"PERCYPLACE，CHARINGCROSS，Feb。20，18。

"DEARSIR，——Agreeablytoyourrequestofthe18thinstant，Ihavearrangedtosurveyandmakedrawingsoftheaisleandtowerofyourparishchurch，andofthedilapidationswhichhavebeensufferedtoaccruethereto，withaviewtoitsrestoration。

"Myassistant，Mr。StephenSmith，willleaveLondonbytheearlytrainto-morrowmorningforthepurpose。Manythanksforyourproposaltoaccommodatehim。Hewilltakeadvantageofyouroffer，andwillprobablyreachyourhouseatsomehouroftheevening。Youmayputeveryconfidenceinhim，andmayrelyuponhisdiscernmentinthematterofchurcharchitecture。

"Trustingthattheplansfortherestoration，whichIshallpreparefromthedetailsofhissurvey，willprovesatisfactorytoyourselfandLordLuxellian，Iam，dearsir，yoursfaithfully，WALTERHEWBY。"

ChapterIII

"Melodiousbirdssingmadrigals"

ThatfirstrepastinEndelstowVicaragewasaveryagreeableonetoyoungStephenSmith。Thetablewasspread，asElfridehadsuggestedtoherfather，withthematerialsfortheheterogeneousmealcalledhightea——aclassofrefectionwelcometoallwhenawayfrommenandtowns，andparticularlyattractivetoyouthfulpalates。Thetablewasprettilydeckedwithwinterflowersandleaves，amidwhichtheeyewasgreetedbychops，chicken，pie，&c。，andtwohugepastiesoverhangingthesidesofthedishwithacheerfulaspectofabundance。

Attheend，towardsthefireplace，appearedthetea-service，ofold-fashionedWorcesterporcelain，andbehindthisarosetheslightformofElfride，attemptingtoaddmatronlydignitytothemovementofpouringouttea，andtohaveaweightyandconcernedlookinmattersofmarmalade，honey，andclottedcream。Havingmadeherownmealbeforehearrived，shefoundtoherembarrassmentthattherewasnothingleftforhertodobuttalkwhennotassistinghim。Sheaskedhimifhewouldexcuseherfinishingalettershehadbeenwritingataside-table，and，aftersittingdowntoit，tingledwithasenseofbeinggrosslyrude。However，seeingthathenoticednothingpersonallywronginher，andthathetoowasembarrassedwhensheattentivelywatchedhiscuptorefillit，Elfridebecamebetteratease；

andwhenfurthermoreheaccidentallykickedthelegofthetable，andthennearlyupsethistea-cup，justasschoolboysdid，shefeltherselfmistressofthesituation，andcouldtalkverywell。Inafewminutesingenuousnessandacommontermofyearsobliteratedallrecollectionthattheywerestrangersjustmet。Stephenbegantowaxeloquentonextremelyslightexperiencesconnectedwithhisprofessionalpursuits；andshe，havingnoexperiencestofallbackupon，recountedwithmuchanimationstoriesthathadbeenrelatedtoherbyherfather，whichwouldhaveastonishedhimhadheheardwithwhatfidelityofactionandtonetheywererendered。Uponthewhole，averyinterestingpictureofSweet-and-TwentywasonviewthateveninginMr。Swancourt"shouse。

UltimatelyStephenhadtogoupstairsandtalkloudtothevicar，receivingfromhimbetweenhispuffsagreatmanyapologiesforcallinghimsounceremoniouslytoastranger"sbedroom。"But，"

continuedMr。Swancourt，"IfeltthatIwantedtosayafewwordstoyoubeforethemorning，onthebusinessofyourvisit。One"spatiencegetsexhaustedbystayingaprisonerinbedalldaythroughasuddenfreakofone"senemy——newtome，though——forI

haveknownverylittleofgoutasyet。However，he"sgonetomyothertoeinaverymildmanner，andIexpecthe"llslinkoffaltogetherbythemorning。Ihopeyouhavebeenwellattendedtodownstairs？"

"Perfectly。Andthoughitisunfortunate，andIamsorrytoseeyoulaidup，Ibegyouwillnottaketheslightestnoticeofmybeinginthehousethewhile。"

"Iwillnot。ButIshallbedownto-morrow。Mydaughterisanexcellentdoctor。Adoseortwoofhermildmixtureswillfetchmeroundquickerthanallthedrugstuffintheworld。Well，nowaboutthechurchbusiness。Takeaseat，do。Wecan"taffordtostanduponceremonyinthesepartsasyousee，andforthisreason，thatacivilizedhumanbeingseldomstayslongwithus；

andsowecannotwastetimeinapproachinghim，orhewillbegonebeforewehavehadthepleasureofcloseacquaintance。Thistowerofoursis，asyouwillnotice，entirelygonebeyondthepossibilityofrestoration；butthechurchitselfiswellenough。

Youshouldseesomeofthechurchesinthiscounty。Floorsrotten:ivyliningthewalls。"

"Dearme!"

"Oh，that"snothing。Thecongregationofaneighbourofmine，wheneverastormofraincomesonduringservice，opentheirumbrellasandholdthemuptillthedrippingceasesfromtheroof。

Now，ifyouwillkindlybringmethosepapersandlettersyouseelyingonthetable，Iwillshowyouhowfarwehavegot。"

Stephencrossedtheroomtofetchthem，andthevicarseemedtonoticemoreparticularlytheslimfigureofhisvisitor。

"Isupposeyouarequitecompetent？"hesaid。

"Quite，"saidtheyoungman，colouringslightly。

"Youareveryyoung，Ifancy——Ishouldsayyouarenotmorethannineteen？"

Iamnearlytwenty-one。"

"Exactlyhalfmyage；Iamforty-two。"

"Bytheway，"saidMr。Swancourt，aftersomeconversation，"yousaidyourwholenamewasStephenFitzmaurice，andthatyourgrandfathercameoriginallyfromCaxbury。SinceIhavebeenspeaking，ithasoccurredtomethatIknowsomethingofyou。Youbelongtoawell-knownancientcountyfamily——notordinarySmithsintheleast。"

"Idon"tthinkwehaveanyoftheirbloodinourveins。"

"Nonsense!youmust。Handmethe"LandedGentry。”Now，letmesee。There，StephenFitzmauriceSmith——heliesinSt。Mary"sChurch，doesn"the？Well，outofthatfamilySprangtheLeaseworthySmiths，andcollaterallycameGeneralSirStephenFitzmauriceSmithofCaxbury——"

"Yes；Ihaveseenhismonumentthere，"shoutedStephen。"Butthereisnoconnectionbetweenhisfamilyandmine:therecannotbe。"

"Thereisnone，possibly，toyourknowledge。Butlookatthis，mydearsir，"saidthevicar，strikinghisfistuponthebedpostforemphasis。"Hereareyou，StephenFitzmauriceSmith，livinginLondon，butspringingfromCaxbury。HereinthisbookisagenealogicaltreeoftheStephenFitzmauriceSmithsofCaxburyManor。Youmaybeonlyafamilyofprofessionalmennow——Iamnotinquisitive:Idon"taskquestionsofthatkind；itisnotinmetodoso——butitisasplainasthenoseinyourfacethatthere"syourorigin!And，Mr。Smith，Icongratulateyouuponyourblood；

blueblood，sir；and，uponmylife，averydesirablecolour，astheworldgoes。"

"Iwishyoucouldcongratulatemeuponsomemoretangiblequality，"saidtheyoungerman，sadlynolessthanmodestly。

"Nonsense!thatwillcomewithtime。Youareyoung:allyourlifeisbeforeyou。Nowlook——seehowfarbackinthemistsofantiquitymyownfamilyofSwancourthavearoot。Here，yousee，"

hecontinued，turningtothepage，"isGeoffrey，theoneamongmyancestorswholostabaronybecausehewouldcuthisjoke。Ah，it"sthesortofus!Butthestoryistoolongtotellnow。Ay，I"mapoorman——apoorgentleman，infact:thoseIwouldbefriendswith，won"tbefriendswithme；thosewhoarewillingtobefriendswithme，Iamabovebeingfriendswith。Beyonddiningwithaneighbouringincumbentortwo。andanoccasionalchat——

sometimesdinner——withLordLuxellian，aconnectionofmine，Iaminabsolutesolitude——absolute。"

"Youhaveyourstudies，yourbooks，andyour——daughter。"

"Ohyes，yes；andIdon"tcomplainofpoverty。Cantocoramlatrone。Well，Mr。Smith，don"tletmedetainyouanylongerinasickroom。Ha!thatremindsmeofastoryIonceheardinmyyoungerdays。"Herethevicarbeganaseriesofsmallprivatelaughs，andStephenlookedinquiry。"Oh，no，no!itistoobad——

toobadtotell!"continuedMr。Swancourtinundertonesofgrimmirth。"Well，godownstairs；mydaughtermustdothebestshecanwithyouthisevening。Askhertosingtoyou——sheplaysandsingsverynicely。Good-night；IfeelasifIhadknownyouforfiveorsixyears。I"llringforsomebodytoshowyoudown。"

"Nevermind，"saidStephen，"Icanfindtheway。"Andhewentdownstairs，thinkingofthedelightfulfreedomofmannerintheremotercountiesincomparisonwiththereserveofLondon。

"Iforgottotellyouthatmyfatherwasratherdeaf，"saidElfrideanxiously，whenStephenenteredthelittledrawing-room。

"Nevermind；Iknowallaboutit，andwearegreatfriends，"themanofbusinessrepliedenthusiastically。"And，MissSwancourt，willyoukindlysingtome？"

ToMissSwancourtthisrequestseemed，whatinfactitwas，exceptionallypoint-blank；thoughsheguessedthatherfatherhadsomehandinframingit，knowing，rathertohercost，ofhisunceremoniouswayofutilizingherforthebenefitofdullsojourners。Atthesametime，asMr。Smith"smannerwastoofranktoprovokecriticism，andhisagetoolittletoinspirefear，shewasready——nottosaypleased——toaccede。Selectingfromthecanterburysomeoldfamilyditties，thatinyearsgonebyhadbeenplayedandsungbyhermother，Elfridesatdowntothepianoforte，andbegan，"Twasontheeveningofawinter"sday，"inaprettycontraltovoice。

"Doyoulikethatoldthing，Mr。Smith？"shesaidattheend。

"Yes，Idomuch，"saidStephen——wordshewouldhaveuttered，andsincerely，toanythingonearth，fromgleetorequiem，thatshemighthavechosen。

"YoushallhavealittleonebyDeLeyre，thatwasgivenmebyayoungFrenchladywhowasstayingatEndelstowHouse:

""Jel"aiplante，jel"aivunaitre，Cebeaurosieroulesoiseaux，"&c。；

andthenIshallwanttogiveyoumyownfavouritefortheverylast，Shelley"s"Whenthelampisshattered，"assettomusicbymypoormother。IsomuchlikesingingtoanybodywhoREALLY