第3章

"Yes；quiteso，"saidStephen。

"Totellyouthetruth，"hecontinuedinthesameundertone，"wedon"tmakearegularthingofit；butwhenwehavestrangersvisitingus，Iamstronglyofopinionthatitistheproperthingtodo，andIalwaysdoit。Iamverystrictonthatpoint。Butyou，Smith，thereissomethinginyourfacewhichmakesmefeelquiteathome；nononsenseaboutyou，inshort。Ah，itremindsmeofasplendidstoryIusedtohearwhenIwasahelter-skelteryoungfellow——suchastory!But"——herethevicarshookhisheadself-forbiddingly，andgrimlylaughed。

"Wasitagoodstory？"saidyoungSmith，smilingtoo。

"Ohyes；but"tistoobad——toobad!Couldn"ttellittoyoufortheworld!"

Stephenwentacrossthelawn，hearingthevicarchucklingprivatelyattherecollectionashewithdrew。

Theystartedatthreeo"clock。Thegraymorninghadresolveditselfintoanafternoonbrightwithapalepervasivesunlight，withoutthesunitselfbeingvisible。Lightlytheytrottedalong——

thewheelsnearlysilent，thehorse"shoofsclapping，almostringing，uponthehard，white，turnpikeroadasitfollowedthelevelridgeinaperfectlystraightline，seemingtobeabsorbedultimatelybythewhiteofthesky。

TarganBay——whichhadthemeritofbeingeasilygotat——wasdulyvisited。Theythensweptroundbyinnumerablelanes，inwhichnottwentyconsecutiveyardswereeitherstraightorlevel，tothedomainofLordLuxellian。Awomanwithadoublechinandthickneck，likeQueenAnnebyDahl，threwopenthelodgegate，alittleboystandingbehindher。

"I"llgivehimsomething，poorlittlefellow，"saidElfride，pullingoutherpurseandhastilyopeningit。Fromtheinteriorofherpurseahostofbitsofpaper，likeaflockofwhitebirds，floatedintotheair，andwereblownaboutinalldirections。

"Well，tobesure!"saidStephenwithaslightlaugh。

"Whatthedickensisallthat？"saidMr。Swancourt。"Nothalvesofbank-notes，Elfride？"

Elfridelookedannoyedandguilty。"Theyareonlysomethingofmine，papa，"shefaltered，whilstStephenleaptout，and，assistedbythelodge-keeper"slittleboy，creptaboutroundthewheelsandhorse"shoofstillthepaperswereallgatheredtogetheragain。

Hehandedthembacktoher，andremounted。

"Isupposeyouarewonderingwhatthosescrapswere？"shesaid，astheybowledalongupthesycamoreavenue。"AndsoImayaswelltellyou。TheyarenotesforaromanceIamwriting。"

Shecouldnothelpcolouringattheconfession，muchasshetriedtoavoidit。

"Astory，doyoumean？"saidStephen，Mr。Swancourthalflistening，andcatchingawordoftheconversationnowandthen。

"Yes；THECOURTOFKELLYONCASTLE；aromanceofthefifteenthcentury。Suchwritingisoutofdatenow，Iknow；butIlikedoingit。"

"Aromancecarriedinapurse!Ifahighwaymanweretorobyou，hewouldbetakenin。"

"Yes；that"smywayofcarryingmanuscript。Therealreasonis，thatImostlywritebitsofitonscrapsofpaperwhenIamonhorseback；andIputthemthereforconvenience。"

"Whatareyougoingtodowithyourromancewhenyouhavewrittenit？"saidStephen。

"Idon"tknow，"shereplied，andturnedherheadtolookattheprospect。

ForbythistimetheyhadreachedtheprecinctsofEndelstowHouse。Drivingthroughanancientgate-wayofdun-colouredstone，spannedbythehigh-shoulderedTudorarch，theyfoundthemselvesinaspaciouscourt，closedbyafacadeoneachofitsthreesides。ThesubstantialportionsoftheexistingbuildingdatedfromthereignofHenryVIII。；butthepicturesqueandshelteredspothadbeenthesiteofanerectionofamuchearlierdate。A

licencetocrenellatemansuminframaneriumsuumwasgrantedbyEdwardII。to"HugoLuxellenchivaler；"butthoughthefaintoutlineoftheditchandmoundwasvisibleatpoints，nosignoftheoriginalbuildingremained。

Thewindowsonallsideswerelongandmany-mullioned；therooflinesbrokenupbydormerlightsofthesamepattern。Theapexstonesofthesedormers，togetherwiththoseofthegables，weresurmountedbygrotesquefiguresinrampant，passant，andcouchantvariety。Talloctagonalandtwistedchimneysthrustthemselveshighupintothesky，surpassedinheight，however，bysomepoplarsandsycamoresattheback，whichshowedtheirgentlyrockingsummitsoverridgeandparapet。Inthecornersofthecourtpolygonalbays，whosesurfaceswereentirelyoccupiedbybuttressesandwindows，brokeintothesquarenessoftheenclosure；andafar-projectingoriel，springingfromafantasticseriesofmouldings，overhungthearchwayofthechiefentrancetothehouse。

AsMr。Swancourthadremarked，hehadthefreedomofthemansionintheabsenceofitsowner。Uponastatementofhiserrandtheywerealladmittedtothelibrary，andleftentirelytothemselves。

Mr。Swancourtwassoonuptohiseyesintheexaminationofaheapofpapershehadtakenfromthecabinetdescribedbyhiscorrespondent。StephenandElfridehadnothingtodobuttowanderabouttillherfatherwasready。

Elfrideenteredthegallery，andStephenfollowedherwithoutseemingtodoso。Itwasalongsombreapartment，enrichedwithfittingsacenturyorsolaterinstylethanthewallsofthemansion。PilastersofRenaissanceworkmanshipsupportedacornicefromwhichsprangacurvedceiling，panelledintheawkwardtwistsandcurlsoftheperiod。TheoldGothicquarriesstillremainedintheupperportionofthelargewindowattheend，thoughtheyhadmadewayforamoremodernformofglazingelsewhere。

StephenwasatoneendofthegallerylookingtowardsElfride，whostoodinthemidst，beginningtofeelsomewhatdepressedbythesocietyofLuxellianshadesofcadaverouscomplexionfixedbyHolbein，Kneller，andLely，andseemingtogazeatandthroughherinamoralizingmood。Thesilence，whichcastalmostaspelluponthem，wasbrokenbythesuddenopeningofadooratthefarend。

Outboundedapairoflittlegirls，lightlyyetwarmlydressed。

Theireyesweresparkling；theirhairswingingaboutandaround；

theirredmouthslaughingwithunalloyedgladness。

"Ah，MissSwancourt:dearestElfie!weheardyou。Areyougoingtostayhere？Youareourlittlemamma，areyounot——ourbigmammaisgonetoLondon，"saidone。

"Letmetissyou，"saidtheother，inappearanceverymuchlikethefirst，buttoasmallerpattern。

TheirpinkcheeksandyellowhairwerespeedilyintermingledwiththefoldsofElfride"sdress；shethenstoopedandtenderlyembracedthemboth。

"Suchanoddthing，"saidElfride，smiling，andturningtoStephen。"Theyhavetakenitintotheirheadslatelytocallme"littlemamma，"becauseIamveryfondofthem，andworeadresstheotherdaysomethinglikeoneofLadyLuxellian"s。"

ThesetwoyoungcreaturesweretheHonourableMaryandtheHonourableKate——scarcelyappearinglargeenoughasyettobeartheweightofsuchponderousprefixes。TheyweretheonlytwochildrenofLordandLadyLuxellian，and，asitproved，hadbeenleftathomeduringtheirparents"temporaryabsence，inthecustodyofnurseandgoverness。LordLuxellianwasdotinglyfondofthechildren；ratherindifferenttowardshiswife，sinceshehadbeguntoshowaninclinationnottopleasehimbygivinghimaboy。

AllchildreninstinctivelyranafterElfride，lookinguponhermoreasanunusuallynicelargespecimenoftheirowntribethanasagrown-upelder。Ithadnowbecomeanestablishedrule，thatwhenevershemetthem——indoorsorout-of-doors，weekdaysorSundays——theyweretobeseverallypressedagainstherfaceandbosomforthespaceofaquarterofaminute，andother——wisemademuchofonthedelightfulsystemofcumulativeepithetandcaresstowhichunpractisedgirlswilloccasionallyabandonthemselves。

Alookofmisgivingbytheyoungsterstowardsthedoorbywhichtheyhadentereddirectedattentiontoamaid-servantappearingfromthesamequarter，toputanendtothissweetfreedomofthepoorHonourablesMaryandKate。

"Iwishyoulivedhere，MissSwancourt，"pipedonelikeamelancholybullfinch。

"SodoI，"pipedtheotherlikearathermoremelancholybullfinch。"Mammacan"tplaywithussonicelyasyoudo。I

don"tthinksheeverlearntplayingwhenshewaslittle。Whenshallwecometoseeyou？"

"Assoonasyoulike，dears。"

"Andsleepatyourhouseallnight？That"swhatImeanbycomingtoseeyou。Idon"tcaretoseepeoplewithhatsandbonnetson，andallstandingupandwalkingabout。"

"Assoonaswecangetmamma"spermissionyoushallcomeandstayaslongaseveryoulike。Good-bye!"

Theprisonerswerethenledoff，Elfrideagainturningherattentiontoherguest，whomshehadleftstandingattheremoteendofthegallery。Onlookingaroundforhimhewasnowheretobeseen。Elfridesteppeddowntothelibrary，thinkinghemighthaverejoinedherfatherthere。ButMr。Swancourt，nowcheerfullyilluminatedbyapairofcandles，wasstillalone，untyingpacketsoflettersandpapers，andtyingthemupagain。

AsElfridedidnotstandonasufficientlyintimatefootingwiththeobjectofherinteresttojustifyher，asaproperyounglady，tocommencetheactivesearchforhimthatyouthfulimpulsivenessprompted，andas，nevertheless，foranascentreasonconnectedwiththosedivinelycutlipsofhis，shedidnotlikehimtobeabsentfromherside，shewandereddesultorilybacktotheoakstaircase，poutingandcastinghereyesaboutinhopeofdiscerninghisboyishfigure。

Thoughdaylightstillprevailedintherooms，thecorridorswereinadepthofshadow——chill，sad，andsilent；anditwasonlybylookingalongthemtowardslightspacesbeyondthatanythingoranybodycouldbediscernedtherein。Oneoftheselightspotsshefoundtobecausedbyaside-doorwithglasspanelsintheupperpart。Elfrideopenedit，andfoundherselfconfrontingasecondaryorinnerlawn，separatedfromtheprincipallawnfrontbyashrubbery。

Andnowshesawaperplexingsight。Atrightanglestothefaceofthewingshehademergedfrom，andwithinafewfeetofthedoor，juttedoutanotherwingofthemansion，lowerandwithlessarchitecturalcharacter。Immediatelyoppositetoher，inthewallofthiswing，wasalargebroadwindow，havingitsblinddrawndown，andilluminatedbyalightintheroomitscreened。

Ontheblindwasashadowfromsomebodycloseinsideit——apersoninprofile。TheprofilewasunmistakablythatofStephen。Itwasjustpossibletoseethathisarmswereuplifted，andthathishandsheldanarticleofsomekind。Thenanothershadowappeared——

alsoinprofile——andcameclosetohim。Thiswastheshadowofawoman。SheturnedherbacktowardsStephen:heliftedandheldoutwhatnowprovedtobeashawlormantle——placeditcarefully——

socarefully——roundthelady；disappeared；reappearedinherfront——fastenedthemantle。Didhethenkissher？Surelynot。

Yetthemotionmighthavebeenakiss。Thenbothshadowsswelledtocolossaldimensions——grewdistorted——vanished。

Twominuteselapsed。

"Ah，MissSwancourt!Iamsogladtofindyou。Iwaslookingforyou，"saidavoiceatherelbow——Stephen"svoice。Shesteppedintothepassage。

"Doyouknowanyofthemembersofthisestablishment？"saidshe。

"Notasingleone:howshouldI？"hereplied。

ChapterVI

"Faretheeweelawhile!"

SimultaneouslywiththeconclusionofStephen"sremark，thesoundoftheclosingofanexternaldoorintheirimmediateneighbourhoodreachedElfride"sears。Itcamefromthefurthersideofthewingcontainingtheilluminatedroom。Shethendiscerned，bytheaidoftheduskydepartinglight，afigure，whosesexwasundistinguishable，walkingdownthegravelledpathbytheparterretowardstheriver。Thefiguregrewfainter，andvanishedunderthetrees。

Mr。Swancourt"svoicewasheardcallingouttheirnamesfromadistantcorridorinthebodyofthebuilding。Theyretracedtheirsteps，andfoundhimwithhiscoatbuttonedupandhishaton，awaitingtheiradventinamoodofself-satisfactionathavingbroughthissearchtoasuccessfulclose。Thecarriagewasbroughtround，andwithoutfurtherdelaythetriodroveawayfromthemansion，undertheechoinggatewayarch，andalongbytheleaflesssycamores，asthestarsbegantokindletheirtremblinglightsbehindthemazeofbranchesandtwigs。

Nowordswerespokeneitherbyyouthormaiden。Herunpractisedmindwascompletelyoccupiedinfathomingitsrecentacquisition。

Theyoungmanwhohadinspiredherwithsuchnoveltyoffeeling，whohadcomedirectlyfromLondononbusinesstoherfather，havingbeenbroughtbychancetoEndelstowHousehad，bysomemeansorother，acquiredtheprivilegeofapproachingsomeladyhehadfoundtherein，andofhonouringherbypetitssoinsofamarkedkind，——allinthespaceofhalfanhour。

Whatroomweretheystandingin？thoughtElfride。Asnearlyasshecouldguess，itwasLordLuxellian"sbusiness-room，oroffice。

Whatpeoplewereinthehouse？Nonebutthegovernessandservants，asfarassheknew，andofthesehehadprofessedatotalignorance。Hadthepersonshehadindistinctlyseenleavingthehouseanythingtodowiththeperformance？Itwasimpossibletosaywithoutappealingtotheculprithimself，andthatshewouldneverdo。ThemoreElfridereflected，themorecertaindiditappearthatthemeetingwasachancerencounter，andnotanappointment。Ontheultimateinquiryastotheindividualityofthewoman，Elfrideatonceassumedthatshecouldnotbeaninferior。StephenSmithwasnotthemantocareaboutpassages-

at-lovewithwomenbeneathhim。Thoughgentle，ambitionwasvisibleinhiskindlingeyes；heevidentlyhopedformuch；hopedindefinitely，butextensively。Elfridewaspuzzled，andbeingpuzzled，was，byanaturalsequenceofgirlishsensations，vexedwithhim。Nomorepleasurecameinrecognizingthatfromlikingtoattracthimshewasgettingontolovehim，boyishashewasandinnocentashehadseemed。

Theyreachedthebridgewhichformedalinkbetweentheeasternandwesternhalvesoftheparish。Situatedinavalleythatwasboundedoutwardlybythesea，itformedapointofdepressionfromwhichtheroadascendedwithgreatsteepnesstoWestEndelstowandtheVicarage。Therewasnoabsolutenecessityforeitherofthemtoalight，butasitwasthevicar"scustomafteralongjourneytohumourthehorseinmakingthiswindingascent，Elfride，movedbyanimitativeinstinct，suddenlyjumpedoutwhenPleasanthadjustbeguntoadoptthedeliberatestalkheassociatedwiththisportionoftheroad。

Theyoungmanseemedgladofanyexcuseforbreakingthesilence。

"Why，MissSwancourt，whatariskythingtodo!"heexclaimed，immediatelyfollowingherexamplebyjumpingdownontheotherside。

"Ohno，notatall，"repliedshecoldly；theshadowphenomenonatEndelstowHousestillparamountwithinher。

Stephenwalkedalongbyhimselffortwoorthreeminutes，wrappedintherigidreservedictatedbyhertone。Thenapparentlythinkingthatitwasonlyforgirlstopout，hecameserenelyroundtoherside，andofferedhisarmwithCastiliangallantry，toassistherinascendingtheremainingthree-quartersofthesteep。

Herewasatemptation:itwasthefirsttimeinherlifethatElfridehadbeentreatedasagrown-upwomaninthisway——offeredanarminamannerimplyingthatshehadarighttorefuseit。

Tillto-nightshehadneverreceivedmasculineattentionsbeyondthosewhichmightbecontainedinsuchhomelyremarksas"Elfride，givemeyourhand；""Elfride，takeholdofmyarm，"fromherfather。Hercallowheartmadeanepochoftheincident；sheconsideredherarrayoffeelings，forandagainst。Collectivelytheywerefortakingthisofferedarm；thesingleoneofpiquedeterminedhertopunishStephenbyrefusing。

"No，thankyou，Mr。Smith；Icangetalongbetterbymyself"

ItwasElfride"sfirstfragileattemptatbrowbeatingalover。

Fearingmoretheissueofsuchanundertakingthanwhatagentleyoungmanmightthinkofherwaywardness，sheimmediatelyafterwardsdeterminedtopleaseherselfbyreversingherstatement。

"Onsecondthoughts，Iwilltakeit，"shesaid。

Theyslowlywenttheirwayupthehill，afewyardsbehindthecarriage。

"Howsilentyouare，MissSwancourt!"Stephenobserved。

"PerhapsIthinkyousilenttoo，"shereturned。

"Imayhavereasontobe。"

"Scarcely；itissadnessthatmakespeoplesilent，andyoucanhavenone。"

"Youdon"tknow:Ihaveatrouble；thoughsomemightthinkitlessatroublethanadilemma。"

"Whatisit？"sheaskedimpulsively。

Stephenhesitated。"Imighttell，"hesaid；"atthesametime，perhaps，itisaswell——"

Sheletgohisarmandimperativelypusheditfromher，tossingherhead。Shehadjustlearntthatagooddealofdignityislostbyaskingaquestiontowhichananswerisrefused，eveneversopolitely；forthoughpolitenessdoesgoodserviceincasesofrequisitionandcompromise，itbutlittlehelpsadirectrefusal。

"Idon"twishtoknowanythingofit；Idon"twishit，"shewenton。"Thecarriageiswaitingforusatthetopofthehill；wemustgetin；"andElfrideflittedtothefront。"Papa，hereisyourElfride!"sheexclaimedtotheduskyfigureoftheoldgentleman，asshesprangupandsankbyhissidewithoutdeigningtoacceptaidfromStephen。

"Ah，yes!"utteredthevicarinartificiallyalerttones，awakingfromamostprofoundsleep，andsuddenlypreparingtoalight。

"Why，whatareyoudoing，papa？Wearenothomeyet。"

"Ohno，no；ofcoursenot；wearenotathomeyet，"Mr。Swancourtsaidveryhastily，endeavouringtododgebacktohisoriginalpositionwiththeairofamanwhohadnotmovedatall。"ThefactisIwassolostindeepmeditationthatIforgotwhereaboutswewere。"Andinaminutethevicarwassnoringagain。

Thatevening，beingthelast，seemedtothrowanexceptionalshadeofsadnessoverStephenSmith，andtherepeatedinjunctionsofthevicar，thathewastocomeandrevisittheminthesummer，apparentlytendedlesstoraisehisspiritsthantounearthsomemisgiving。

Helefttheminthegraylightofdawn，whilstthecoloursofearthweresombre，andthesunwasyethiddenintheeast。Elfridehadfidgetedallnightinherlittlebedlestnoneofthehouseholdshouldbeawakesoonenoughtostarthim，andalsolestshemightmissseeingagainthebrighteyesandcurlyhair，towhichtheirowner"spossessionofahiddenmysteryaddedadeepertingeofromance。Tosomeextent——sosoondoeswomanlyinteresttakeasolicitousturn——shefeltherselfresponsibleforhissafeconduct。Theybreakfastedbeforedaylight；Mr。Swancourt，beingmoreandmoretakenwithhisguest"singenuousappearance，havingdeterminedtoriseearlyandbidhimafriendlyfarewell。Itwas，however，rathertothevicar"sastonishment，thathesawElfridewalkintothebreakfast-table，candleinhand。

WhilstWilliamWormperformedhistoilet(duringwhichperformancetheinmatesofthevicaragewerealwaysinthehabitofwaitingwithexemplarypatience)，Elfridewandereddesultorilytothesummerhouse。Stephenfollowedherthither。Thecopse-coveredvalleywasvisiblefromthisposition，amistnowlyingallalongitslength，hidingthestreamwhichtrickledthroughit，thoughtheobserversthemselveswereinclearair。

Theystoodclosetogether，leaningovertherusticbalustradingwhichboundedthearbourontheoutwardside，andformedthecrestofasteepslopebeneathElfrideconstrainedlypointedoutsomefeaturesofthedistantuplandsrisingirregularlyopposite。Buttheartisticeyewas，eitherfromnatureorcircumstance，veryfaintinStephennow，andheonlyhalfattendedtoherdescription，asifhesparedtimefromsomeotherthoughtgoingonwithinhim。

"Well，good-bye，"hesaidsuddenly；"Imustneverseeyouagain，I

suppose，MissSwancourt，inspiteofinvitations。"

Hisgenuinetribulationplayeddirectlyuponthedelicatechordsofhernature。Shecouldaffordtoforgivehimforaconcealmentortwo。Moreover，theshynesswhichwouldnotallowhimtolookherinthefacelentbraverytoherowneyesandtongue。

"Oh，DOcomeagain，Mr。Smith!"shesaidprettily。

"Ishoulddelightinit；butitwillbebetterifIdonot。"

"Why？"

"Certaincircumstancesinconnectionwithmemakeitundesirable。

Notonmyaccount；onyours。"

"Goodness!Asifanythinginconnectionwithyoucouldhurtme，"

shesaidwithserenesupremacy；butseeingthatthisplanoftreatmentwasinappropriate，shetunedasmallernote。"Ah，I

knowwhyyouwillnotcome。Youdon"twantto。You"llgohometoLondonandtoallthestirringpeoplethere，andwillneverwanttoseeusanymore!"

"YouknowIhavenosuchreason。"

"Andgoonwritingletterstotheladyyouareengagedto，justasbefore。"

"Whatdoesthatmean？Iamnotengaged。"

"YouwrotealettertoaMissSomebody；Isawitintheletter-

rack。"

"Pooh!anelderlywomanwhokeepsastationer"sshop；anditwastotellhertokeepmynewspaperstillIgetback。"

"Youneedn"thaveexplained:itwasnotmybusinessatall。"MissElfridewasratherrelievedtohearthatstatement，nevertheless。

"Andyouwon"tcomeagaintoseemyfather？"sheinsisted。

"Ishouldliketo——andtoseeyouagain，but——"

"Willyourevealtomethatmatteryouhide？"sheinterruptedpetulantly。

"No；notnow。"

Shecouldnotbutgoon，gracelessasitmightseem。

"Tellmethis，"sheimportunedwithatremblingmouth。"DoesanymeetingofyourswithaladyatEndelstowVicarageclashwith——anyinterestyoumaytakeinme？"

Hestartedalittle。"Itdoesnot，"hesaidemphatically；andlookedintothepupilsofhereyeswiththeconfidencethatonlyhonestycangive，andeventhattoyouthalone。

Theexplanationhadnotcome，butagloomlefther。Shecouldnotbutbelievethatutterance。Whateverenigmamightlieintheshadowontheblind，itwasnotanenigmaofunderhandpassion。

Sheturnedtowardsthehouse，enteringitthroughtheconservatory。Stephenwentroundtothefrontdoor。Mr。

Swancourtwasstandingonthestepinhisslippers。Wormwasadjustingabuckleintheharness，andmurmuringabouthispoorhead；andeverythingwasreadyforStephen"sdeparture。

"YounamedAugustforyourvisit。Augustitshallbe；thatis，ifyoucareforthesocietyofsuchafossilizedTory，"saidMr。

Swancourt。

Mr。Smithonlyrespondedhesitatingly，thatheshouldliketocomeagain。

"Yousaidyouwould，andyoumust，"insistedElfride，comingtothedoorandspeakingunderherfather"sarm。

Whateverreasontheyouthmayhavehadfornotwishingtoenterthehouseasaguest，itnolongerpredominated。Hepromised，andbadethemadieu，andgotintothepony-carriage，whichcreptuptheslope，andborehimoutoftheirsight。

"IneverwassomuchtakenwithanybodyinmylifeasIamwiththatyoungfellow——never!Icannotunderstandit——can"tunderstanditanyhow，"saidMr。Swancourtquiteenergeticallytohimself；andwentindoors。

ChapterVII

"Nomoreofmeyouknew，mylove!"

StephenSmithrevisitedEndelstowVicarage，agreeablytohispromise。Hehadagenuineartisticreasonforcoming，thoughnosuchreasonseemedtoberequired。Six-and-thirtyoldseatends，ofexquisitefifteenth-centuryworkmanship，wererapidlydecayinginanaisleofthechurch；anditbecamepolitictomakedrawingsoftheirworm-eatencontourseretheywerebatteredpastrecognitionintheturmoiloftheso-calledrestoration。

Heenteredthehouseatsunset，andtheworldwaspleasantagaintothetwofair-hairedones。Amomentarypangofdisappointmenthad，nevertheless，passedthroughElfridewhenshecasuallydiscoveredthathehadnotcomethatminutepost-hastefromLondon，buthadreachedtheneighbourhoodthepreviousevening。

Surprisewouldhaveaccompaniedthefeeling，hadshenotrememberedthatseveraltouristswerehauntingthecoastatthisseason，andthatStephenmighthavechosentodolikewise。

Theydidlittlebesideschatthatevening，Mr。Swancourtbeginningtoquestionhisvisitor，closelyyetpaternally，andingoodpart，onhishopesandprospectsfromtheprofessionhehadembraced。

Stephengavevagueanswers。Thenextdayitrained。Intheevening，whentwenty-fourhoursofElfridehadcompletelyrekindledheradmirer"sardour，agameofchesswasproposedbetweenthem。

Thegamehaditsvalueinhelpingonthedevelopmentsoftheirfuture。

Elfridesoonperceivedthatheropponentwasbutalearner。Shenextnoticedthathehadaveryoddwayofhandlingthepieceswhencastlingortakingaman。Antecedentlyshewouldhavesupposedthatthesameperformancemustbegonethroughbyallplayersinthesamemanner；shewastaughtbyhisdifferingactionthatallordinaryplayers，wholearnthegamebysight，unconsciouslytouchthemeninastereotypedway。ThisimpressionofindescribableoddnessinStephen"stouchculminatedinspeechwhenshesawhim，atthetakingofoneofherbishops，pushitasidewiththetakingmaninsteadofliftingitasapreliminarytothemove。

"Howstrangelyyouhandlethemen，Mr。Smith!"

"DoI？Iamsorryforthat。"

"Ohno——don"tbesorry；itisnotamattergreatenoughforsorrow。Butwhotaughtyoutoplay？"

"Nobody，MissSwancourt，"hesaid。"IlearntfromabooklentmebymyfriendMr。Knight，thenoblestmanintheworld。"

"Butyouhaveseenpeopleplay？"

"Ihaveneverseentheplayingofasinglegame。ThisisthefirsttimeIeverhadtheopportunityofplayingwithalivingopponent。Ihaveworkedoutmanygamesfrombooks，andstudiedthereasonsofthedifferentmoves，butthatisall。"

Thiswasafullexplanationofhismannerism；butthefactthatamanwiththedesireforchessshouldhavegrownupwithoutbeingabletoseeorengageinagameastonishedhernotalittle。Sheponderedonthecircumstanceforsometime，lookingintovacancyandhinderingtheplay。

Mr。Swancourtwassittingwithhiseyesfixedontheboard，butapparentlythinkingofotherthings。Halftohimselfhesaid，pendingthemoveofElfride:

""Quaefinisautquodmemanetstipendium？""

Stephenrepliedinstantly:

""Effare:jussascumfidepoenasluam。”"

"Excellent——prompt——gratifying!"saidMr。Swancourtwithfeeling，bringingdownhishanduponthetable，andmakingthreepawnsandaknightdanceovertheirbordersbytheshaking。"IwasmusingonthosewordsasapplicabletoastrangecourseIamsteering——

butenoughofthat。Iamdelightedwithyou，Mr。Smith，foritissoseldominthisdesertthatImeetwithamanwhoisgentlemanandscholarenoughtocontinueaquotation，howevertriteitmaybe。"

"Ialsoapplythewordstomyself，"saidStephenquietly。

"You？Thelastmanintheworldtodothat，Ishouldhavethought。"

"Come，"murmuredElfridepoutingly，andinsinuatingherselfbetweenthem，"tellmeallaboutit。Come，construe，construe!"

Stephenlookedsteadfastlyintoherface，andsaidslowly，andinavoicefullofafar-offmeaningthatseemedquaintlyprematureinonesoyoung:

"QuaefinisWHATWILLBETHEEND，autOR，quodstipendiumWHAT

FINE，manetmeAWAITSME？EffareSPEAKOUT；luamIWILLPAY，cumfideWITHFAITH，jussaspoenasTHEPENALTYREQUIRED。"

Thevicar，whohadlistenedwithacriticalcompressionofthelipstothisschool-boyrecitation，andbyreasonofhisimperfecthearinghadmissedthemarkedrealismofStephen"stoneintheEnglishwords，nowsaidhesitatingly:"Bythebye，Mr。Smith(I

knowyou"llexcusemycuriosity)，thoughyourtranslationwasunexceptionablycorrectandclose，youhaveawayofpronouncingyourLatinwhichtomeseemsmostpeculiar。Notthatthepronunciationofadeadlanguageisofmuchimportance；yetyouraccentsandquantitieshaveagrotesquesoundtomyears。I

thoughtfirstthatyouhadacquiredyourwayofbreathingthevowelsfromsomeofthenortherncolleges；butitcannotbesowiththequantities。WhatIwasgoingtoaskwas，ifyourinstructorintheclassicscouldpossiblyhavebeenanOxfordorCambridgeman？"

"Yes；hewasanOxfordman——FellowofSt。Cyprian"s。"

"Really？"

"Ohyes；there"snodoubtaboutit。

"TheoddestthingeverIheardof!"saidMr。Swancourt，startingwithastonishment。"Thatthepupilofsuchaman——"

"ThebestandcleverestmaninEngland!"criedStephenenthusiastically。

"ThatthepupilofsuchamanshouldpronounceLatininthewayyoupronounceitbeatsallIeverheard。Howlongdidheinstructyou？"

"Fouryears。"

"Fouryears!"

"ItisnotsostrangewhenIexplain，"Stephenhastenedtosay。

"Itwasdoneinthisway——byletter。Isenthimexercisesandconstruingtwiceaweek，andtwiceaweekhesentthembacktomecorrected，withmarginalnotesofinstruction。ThatishowI

learntmyLatinandGreek，suchasitis。Heisnotresponsibleformyscanning。Hehasneverheardmescanaline。"

"Anovelcase，andasingularinstanceofpatience!"criedthevicar。

"Onhispart，notonmine。Ah，HenryKnightisoneinathousand!

Irememberhisspeakingtomeonthisverysubjectofpronunciation。Hesaysthat，muchtohisregret，heseesatimecomingwheneverymanwillpronounceeventhecommonwordsofhisowntongueasseemsrightinhisownears，andbethoughtnonetheworseforit；thatthespeakingageispassingaway，tomakeroomforthewritingage。"

BothElfrideandherfatherhadwaitedattentivelytohearStephengoontowhatwouldhavebeenthemostinterestingpartofthestory，namely，whatcircumstancescouldhavenecessitatedsuchanunusualmethodofeducation。Butnofurtherexplanationwasvolunteered；andtheysaw，bytheyoungman"smannerofconcentratinghimselfuponthechess-board，thathewasanxioustodropthesubject。

Thegameproceeded。Elfrideplayedbyrote；Stephenbythought。

Itwasthecruellestthingtocheckmatehimaftersomuchlabour，sheconsidered。Whatwasshedishonestenoughtodoinhercompassion？Tolethimcheckmateher。Asecondgamefollowed；andbeingherselfabsolutelyindifferentastotheresult(herplayingwasabovetheaverageamongwomen，andsheknewit)，sheallowedhimtogivecheckmateagain。Afinalgame，inwhichsheadoptedtheMuziogambitasheropening，wasterminatedbyElfride"svictoryatthetwelfthmove。

Stephenlookedupsuspiciously。Hisheartwasthrobbingevenmoreexcitedlythanwashers，whichitselfhadquickenedwhensheseriouslysettoworkonthislastoccasion。Mr。Swancourthadlefttheroom。

"Youhavebeentriflingwithmetillnow!"heexclaimed，hisfaceflushing。"Youdidnotplayyourbestinthefirsttwogames？"

Elfride"sguiltshowedinherface。Stephenbecamethepictureofvexationandsadness，which，relishableforamoment，causedherthenextinstanttoregretthemistakeshehadmade。

"Mr。Smith，forgiveme!"shesaidsweetly。"Iseenow，thoughI

didnotatfirst，thatwhatIhavedoneseemslikecontemptforyourskill。But，indeed，Ididnotmeanitinthatsense。I

couldnot，uponmyconscience，winavictoryinthosefirstandsecondgamesoveronewhofoughtatsuchadisadvantageandsomanfully。"

Hedrewalongbreath，andmurmuredbitterly，"Ah，youareclevererthanI。Youcandoeverything——Icandonothing!OMissSwancourt!"heburstoutwildly，hisheartswellinginhisthroat，"ImusttellyouhowIloveyou!AllthesemonthsofmyabsenceI

haveworshippedyou。"

Heleaptfromhisseatliketheimpulsiveladthathewas，slidroundtoherside，andalmostbeforeshesuspectedithisarmwasroundherwaist，andthetwosetsofcurlsintermingled。

Soentirelynewwasfull-blownlovetoElfride，thatshetrembledasmuchfromthenoveltyoftheemotionasfromtheemotionitself。Thenshesuddenlywithdrewherselfandstoodupright，vexedthatshehadsubmittedunresistinglyeventohismomentarypressure。Sheresolvedtoconsiderthisdemonstrationaspremature。

"Youmustnotbeginsuchthingsasthose，"shesaidwithcoquettishhauteurofaverytransparentnature"And——youmustnotdosoagain——andpapaiscoming。"

"Letmekissyou——onlyalittleone，"hesaidwithhisusualdelicacy，andwithoutreadingthefactitiousnessofhermanner。

"No；notone。"

"Onlyonyourcheek？"

"No。"

"Forehead？"

"Certainlynot。"

"Youcareforsomebodyelse，then？Ah，Ithoughtso!"

"IamsureIdonot。"

"Norformeeither？"

"HowcanItell？"shesaidsimply，thesimplicitylyingmerelyinthebroadoutlinesofhermannerandspeech。Therewerethesemitoneofvoiceandhalf-hiddenexpressionofeyeswhichtelltheinitiatedhowveryfragileistheiceofreserveatthesetimes。

Footstepswereheard。Mr。Swancourtthenenteredtheroom，andtheirprivatecolloquyended。

Thedayafterthispartialrevelation，Mr。SwancourtproposedadrivetothecliffsbeyondTarganBay，adistanceofthreeorfourmiles。

Halfanhourbeforethetimeofdepartureacrashwasheardinthebackyard，andpresentlyWormcamein，sayingpartlytotheworldingeneral，part]ytohimself，andslightlytohisauditors:

"Ay，ay，sure!ThatfryingoffishwillbetheendofWilliamWorm。Theybeatitagainthismorning——sameasever——fizz，fizz，fizz!"