第5章

"Ohno；andIhavenotfoundit。"

"Nevermind。ThoughIammuchvexed；theyaremyprettiest。But，Stephen，whateverhaveyoubeendoing——wherehaveyoubeen？I

havebeensouneasy。Ifearedforyou，knowingnotaninchofthecountry。Ithought，supposehehasfallenoverthecliff!ButnowIaminclinedtoscoldyouforfrighteningmeso。"

"Imustspeaktoyourfathernow，"hesaidratherabruptly；"I

havesomuchtosaytohim——andtoyou，Elfride。"

"Willwhatyouhavetosayendangerthisnicetimeofours，andisitthatsameshadowysecretyoualludetosofrequently，andwillitmakemeunhappy？"

"Possibly。"

Shebreathedheavily，andlookedaroundasifforaprompter。

"Putitofftillto-morrow，"shesaid。

Heinvoluntarilysighedtoo。

"No；itmustcometo-night。Whereisyourfather，Elfride？"

"Somewhereinthekitchengarden，Ithink，"shereplied。"Thatishisfavouriteeveningretreat。Iwillleaveyounow。Sayallthat"stobesaid——doallthereistobedone。Thinkofmewaitinganxiouslyfortheend。"Andshere-enteredthehouse。

Shewaitedinthedrawing-room，watchingthelightssinktoshadows，theshadowssinktodarkness，untilherimpatiencetoknowwhathadoccurredinthegardencouldnolongerbecontrolled。Shepassedroundtheshrubbery，unlatchedthegardendoor，andskimmedwithherkeeneyesthewholetwilightedspacethatthefourwallsenclosedandsheltered:theywerenotthere。

Shemountedalittleladder，whichhadbeenusedforgatheringfruit，andlookedoverthewallintothefield。Thisfieldextendedtothelimitsoftheglebe，whichwasenclosedonthatsidebyaprivet-hedge。UnderthehedgewasMr。Swancourt，walkingupanddown，andtalkingaloud——tohimself，asitsoundedatfirst。No:anothervoiceshoutedoccasionalreplies；andthisinterlocutorseemedtobeontheothersideofthehedge。Thevoice，thoughsoftinquality，wasnotStephen"s。

Thesecondspeakermusthavebeeninthelong-neglectedgardenofanoldmanor-househardby，which，togetherwithasmallestateattached，hadlatelybeenpurchasedbyapersonnamedTroyton，whomElfridehadneverseen。Herfathermighthavestruckupanacquaintanceshipwithsomememberofthatfamilythroughtheprivet-hedge，orastrangertotheneighbourhoodmighthavewanderedthither。

Well，therewasnonecessityfordisturbinghim。

Anditseemedthat，afterall，Stephenhadnotyetmadehisdesiredcommunicationtoherfather。Againshewentindoors，wonderingwhereStephencouldbe。Forwantofsomethingbettertodo，shewentupstairstoherownlittleroom。Hereshesatdownattheopenwindow，and，leaningwithherelbowonthetableandhercheekuponherhand，shefellintomeditation。

ItwasahotandstillAugustnight。Everydisturbanceofthesilencewhichrosetothedignityofanoisecouldbeheardformiles，andthemerestsoundforalongdistance。Sosheremained，thinkingofStephen，andwishinghehadnotdeprivedherofhiscompanytonopurpose，asitappeared。Howdelicateandsensitivehewas，shereflected；andyethewasmanenoughtohaveaprivatemystery，whichconsiderablyelevatedhiminhereyes。Thus，lookingatthingswithaninwardvision，shelostconsciousnessoftheflightoftime。

Strangeconjunctionsofcircumstances，particularlythoseofatrivialeverydaykind，aresofrequentinanordinarylife，thatwegrowusedtotheirunaccountableness，andforgetthequestionwhethertheverylongoddsagainstsuchjuxtapositionisnotalmostadisproofofitbeingamatterofchanceatall。WhatoccurredtoElfrideatthismomentwasacaseinpoint。Shewasvividlyimagining，forthetwentiethtime，thekissofthemorning，andputtingherlipstogetherinthepositionanothersuchaonewoulddemand，whensheheardtheidenticaloperationperformedonthelawn，immediatelybeneathherwindow。

Akiss——notofthequietandstealthykind，butdecisive，loud，andsmart。

Herfaceflushedandshelookedout，buttonopurpose。Thedarkrimoftheuplanddrewakeensadlineagainstthepaleglowofthesky，unbrokenexceptwhereayoungcedaronthelawn，thathadoutgrownitsfellowtrees，shotitspointedheadacrossthehorizon，piercingthefirmamentallustrelikeasting。

Itwasjustpossiblethat，hadanypersonsbeenstandingonthegrassyportionsofthelawn，Elfridemighthaveseentheirduskyforms。Buttheshrubs，whichoncehadmerelydottedtheglade，hadnowgrownbushyandlarge，tilltheyhidatleasthalftheenclosurecontainingthem。Thekissingpairmighthavebeenbehindsomeofthese；atanyrate，nobodywasinsight。

Hadnoenigmaeverbeenconnectedwithherloverbyhishintsandabsences，Elfridewouldneverhavethoughtofadmittingintohermindasuspicionthathemightbeconcernedintheforegoingenactment。Butthereservationsheatpresentinsistedon，whiletheyaddedtothemysterywithoutwhichperhapsshewouldneverhaveseriouslylovedhimatall，werecalculatedtonourishdoubtsofallkinds，andwithaslowflushofjealousysheaskedherself，mighthenotbetheculprit？

Elfrideglideddownstairsontiptoe，andouttotheprecisespotonwhichshehadpartedfromStephentoenablehimtospeakprivatelytoherfather。Thenceshewanderedintoallthenooksaroundtheplacefromwhichthesoundseemedtoproceed——amongthehugelaurestines，aboutthetuftsofpampasgrasses，amidthevariegatedhollies，undertheweepingwych-elm——nobodywasthere。

Returningindoorsshecalled"Unity!"

"Sheisgonetoheraunt"s，tospendtheevening，"saidMr。

Swancourt，thrustinghisheadoutofhisstudydoor，andlettingthelightofhiscandlesstreamuponElfride"sface——lessrevealingthan，asitseemedtoherself，creatingtheblushofuneasyperplexitythatwasburninguponhercheek。

"Ididn"tknowyouwereindoors，papa，"shesaidwithsurprise。

"SurelynolightwasshiningfromthewindowwhenIwasonthelawn？"andshelookedandsawthattheshutterswerestillopen。

"Ohyes，Iamin，"hesaidindifferently。"WhatdidyouwantUnityfor？Ithinkshelaidsupperbeforeshewentout。"

"Didshe？——Ihavenotbeentosee——Ididn"twantherforthat。"

Elfridescarcelyknew，nowthatadefinitereasonwasrequired，whatthatreasonwas。Hermindforamomentstrayedtoanothersubject，unimportantasitseemed。Theredemberofamatchwaslyinginsidethefender，whichexplainedthatwhyshehadseennoraysfromthewindowwasbecausethecandleshadonlyjustbeenlighted。

"I"llcomedirectly，"saidthevicar。"IthoughtyouwereoutsomewherewithMr。Smith。"

EventheinexperiencedElfridecouldnothelpthinkingthatherfathermustbewonderfullyblindifhefailedtoperceivewhatwasthenascentconsequenceofherselfandStephenbeingsounceremoniouslylefttogether；wonderfullycareless，ifhesawitanddidnotthinkaboutit；wonderfullygood，if，asseemedtoherbyfarthemostprobablesupposition，hesawitandthoughtaboutitandapprovedofit。ThesereflectionswerecutshortbytheappearanceofStephenjustoutsidetheporch，silveredabouttheheadandshoulderswithtouchesofmoonlight，thathadbeguntocreepthroughthetrees。

"Hasyourtroubleanythingtodowithakissonthelawn？"sheaskedabruptly，almostpassionately。

"Kissonthelawn？"

"Yes!"shesaid，imperiouslynow。

"Ididn"tcomprehendyourmeaning，nordoInowexactly。I

certainlyhavekissednobodyonthelawn，ifthatisreallywhatyouwanttoknow，Elfride。"

"Youknownothingaboutsuchaperformance？"

"Nothingwhatever。Whatmakesyouask？"

"Don"tpressmetotell；itisnothingofimportance。And，Stephen，youhavenotyetspokentopapaaboutourengagement？"

"No，"hesaidregretfully，"Icouldnotfindhimdirectly；andthenIwentonthinkingsomuchofwhatyousaidaboutobjections，refusals——bitterwordspossibly——endingourhappiness，thatI

resolvedtoputitofftillto-morrow；thatgivesusonemoredayofdelight——delightofatremulouskind。"

"Yes；butitwouldbeimpropertobesilenttoolong，Ithink，"

shesaidinadelicatevoice，whichimpliedthatherfacehadgrownwarm。"Iwanthimtoknowwelove，Stephen。Whydidyouadoptasyourownmythoughtofdelay？"

"Iwillexplain；butIwanttotellyouofmysecretfirst——totellyounow。Itistwoorthreehoursyettobedtime。Letuswalkupthehilltothechurch。"

Elfridepassivelyassented，andtheywentfromthelawnbyasidewicket，andascendedintotheopenexpanseofmoonlightwhichstreamedaroundthelonelyedificeonthesummitofthehill。

Thedoorwaslocked。Theyturnedfromtheporch，andwalkedhandinhandtofindaresting-placeinthechurchyard。Stephenchoseaflattomb，showingitselftobenewerandwhiterthanthosearoundit，andsittingdownhimself，gentlydrewherhandtowardshim。

"No，notthere，"shesaid。

"Whynothere？"

"Amerefancy；butnevermind。"Andshesatdown。

"Elfie，willyouloveme，inspiteofeverythingthatmaybesaidagainstme？"

"OStephen，whatmakesyourepeatthatsocontinuallyandsosadly？YouknowIwill。Yes，indeed，"shesaid，drawingcloser，"whatevermaybesaidofyou——andnothingbadcanbe——Iwillclingtoyoujustthesame。YourwaysshallbemywaysuntilIdie。"

"Didyoueverthinkwhatmyparentsmightbe，orwhatsocietyI

originallymovedin？"

"No，notparticularly。Ihaveobservedoneortwolittlepointsinyourmannerswhichareratherquaint——nomore。Isupposeyouhavemovedintheordinarysocietyofprofessionalpeople。"

"SupposingIhavenot——thatnoneofmyfamilyhaveaprofessionexceptme？"

"Idon"tmind。Whatyouareonlyconcernsme。"

"WheredoyouthinkIwenttoschool——Imean，towhatkindofschool？"

"Dr。Somebody"sacademy，"shesaidsimply。

"No。Toadameschooloriginally，thentoanationalschool。"

"Onlytothose!Well，Iloveyoujustasmuch，Stephen，dearStephen，"shemurmuredtenderly，"Idoindeed。Andwhyshouldyoutellmethesethingssoimpressively？Whatdotheymattertome？"

Heheldhercloserandproceeded:

"Whatdoyouthinkmyfatheris——doesforhisliving，thatistosay？"

"Hepractisessomeprofessionorcalling，Isuppose。"

"No；heisamason。"

"AFreemason？"

"No；acottagerandjourneymanmason。"

Elfridesaidnothingatfirst。Afterawhileshewhispered:

"Thatisastrangeideatome。Butnevermind；whatdoesitmatter？"

"Butaren"tyouangrywithmefornottellingyoubefore？"

"No，notatall。Isyourmotheralive？"

"Yes。"

"Issheanicelady？"

"Very——thebestmotherintheworld。Herpeoplehadbeenwell-to-

doyeomenforcenturies，butshewasonlyadairymaid。"

"OStephen!"camefromherinwhisperedexclamation。

"Shecontinuedtoattendtoadairylongaftermyfathermarriedher，"pursuedStephen，withoutfurtherhesitation。"AndI

rememberverywellhow，whenIwasveryyoung，Iusedtogotothemilking，lookonattheskimming，sleepthroughthechurning，andmakebelieveIhelpedher。Ah，thatwasahappytimeenough!"

"No，never——nothappy。"

"Yes，itwas。"

"Idon"tseehowhappinesscouldbewherethedrudgeryofdairy-

workhadtobedoneforaliving——thehandsredandchapped，andtheshoesclogged……Stephen，Idoownthatitseemsoddtoregardyouinthelightof——of——havingbeensoroughinyouryouth，anddonemenialthingsofthatkind。"(Stephenwithdrewaninchortwofromherside。)"ButIDOLOVEYOUjustthesame，"shecontinued，gettingcloserunderhisshoulderagain，"andIdon"tcareanythingaboutthepast；andIseethatyouarealltheworthierforhavingpushedonintheworldinsuchaway。"

"Itisnotmyworthiness；itisKnight"s，whopushedme。"

"Ah，alwayshe——alwayshe!"

"Yes，andproperlyso。Now，Elfride，youseethereasonofhisteachingmebyletter。IknewhimyearsbeforehewenttoOxford，butIhadnotgotfarenoughinmyreadingforhimtoentertaintheideaofhelpingmeinclassicstillhelefthome。ThenIwassentawayfromthevillage，andweveryseldommet；buthekeptupthissystemoftuitionbycorrespondencewiththegreatestregularity。Iwilltellyouallthestory，butnotnow。Thereisnothingmoretosaynow，beyondgivingplaces，persons，anddates。"Hisvoicebecametimidlyslowatthispoint。

"No；don"ttaketroubletosaymore。Youareadearhonestfellowtosaysomuchasyouhave；anditisnotsodreadfuleither。IthasbecomeanormalthingthatmillionairescommencebygoinguptoLondonwiththeirtoolsattheirback，andhalf-a-crownintheirpockets。Thatsortoforiginisgettingsorespected，"shecontinuedcheerfully，"thatitisacquiringsomeoftheodourofNormanancestry。"

"Ah，ifIhadMADEmyfortune，Ishouldn"tmind。ButIamonlyapossiblemakerofitasyet。"

"Itisquiteenough。AndsoTHISiswhatyourtroublewas？"

"IthoughtIwasdoingwronginlettingyoulovemewithouttellingyoumystory；andyetIfearedtodoso，Elfie。Idreadedtoloseyou，andIwascowardlyonthataccount。"

"Howplaineverythingaboutyouseemsafterthisexplanation!Yourpeculiaritiesinchess-playing，thepronunciationpapanoticedinyourLatin，youroddmixtureofbook-knowledgewithignoranceofordinarysocialaccomplishments，areaccountedforinamoment。

AndhasthisanythingtodowithwhatIsawatLordLuxellian"s？"

"Whatdidyousee？"

"Isawtheshadowofyourselfputtingacloakroundalady。Iwasatthesidedoor；youtwowereinaroomwiththewindowtowardsme。Youcametomeamomentlater。"

"Shewasmymother。"

"YourmotherTHERE!"Shewithdrewherselftolookathimsilentlyinherinterest。

"Elfride，"saidStephen，"Iwasgoingtotellyoutheremainderto-morrow——Ihavebeenkeepingitback——Imusttellitnow，afterall。Theremainderofmyrevelationreferstowheremyparentsare。Wheredoyouthinktheylive？Youknowthem——bysightatanyrate。"

"Iknowthem!"shesaidinsuspendedamazement。

"Yes。MyfatherisJohnSmith，LordLuxellian"smaster-mason，wholivesundertheparkwallbytheriver。"

"OStephen!canitbe？"

"Hebuilt——orassistedatthebuildingofthehouseyoulivein，yearsago。HeputupthosestonegatepiersatthelodgeentrancetoLordLuxellian"spark。Mygrandfatherplantedthetreesthatbeltinyourlawn；mygrandmother——whoworkedinthefieldswithhim——heldeachtreeuprightwhilsthefilledintheearth:theytoldmesowhenIwasachild。Hewasthesexton，too，anddugmanyofthegravesaroundus。"

"Andwasyourunaccountablevanishingonthefirstmorningofyourarrival，andagainthisafternoon，aruntoseeyourfatherandmother？……Iunderstandnow；nowonderyouseemedtoknowyourwayaboutthevillage!"

"Nowonder。Butremember，IhavenotlivedheresinceIwasnineyearsold。Ithenwenttolivewithmyuncle，ablacksmith，nearExonbury，inordertobeabletoattendanationalschoolasadayscholar；therewasnoneonthisremotecoastthen。ItwasthereI

metwithmyfriendKnight。AndwhenIwasfifteenandhadbeenfairlyeducatedbytheschool-master——andmoreparticularlybyKnight——Iwasputasapupilinanarchitect"sofficeinthattown，becauseIwasskilfulintheuseofthepencil。Afullpremiumwaspaidbytheeffortsofmymotherandfather，ratheragainstthewishesofLordLuxellian，wholikesmyfather，however，andthinksagreatdealofhim。ThereIstayedtillsixmonthsago，whenIobtainedasituationasimprover，asitiscalled，inaLondonoffice。That"sallofme。"

"TothinkYOU，theLondonvisitor，thetownman，shouldhavebeenbornhere，andhaveknownthisvillagesomanyyearsbeforeIdid。

Howstrange——howverystrangeitseemstome!"shemurmured。

"MymothercurtseyedtoyouandyourfatherlastSunday，"saidStephen，withapainedsmileatthethoughtoftheincongruity。

"Andyourpapasaidtoher，"Iamgladtoseeyousoregularatchurch，JANE。”"

"Irememberit，butIhaveneverspokentoher。Wehaveonlybeenhereeighteenmonths，andtheparishissolarge。"

"Contrastwiththis，"saidStephen，withamiserablelaugh，"yourfather"sbeliefinmy"blueblood，"whichisstillprevalentinhismind。ThefirstnightIcame，heinsisteduponprovingmydescentfromoneofthemostancientwest-countyfamilies，onaccountofmysecondChristianname；whenthetruthis，itwasgivenmebecausemygrandfatherwasassistantgardenerintheFitzmaurice-Smithfamilyforthirtyyears。Havingseenyourface，mydarling，Ihadnothearttocontradicthim，andtellhimwhatwouldhavecutmeofffromafriendlyknowledgeofyou。"

Shesigheddeeply。"Yes，Iseenowhowthisinequalitymaybemadetotroubleus，"shemurmured，andcontinuedinalow，sadwhisper，"Iwouldn"thavemindediftheyhadlivedfaraway。Papamighthaveconsentedtoanengagementbetweenusifyourconnectionhadbeenwithvillagersahundredmilesoff；remotenesssoftensfamilycontrasts。Buthewillnotlike——OStephen，Stephen!whatcanIdo？"

"Do？"hesaidtentatively，yetwithheaviness。"Givemeup；letmegobacktoLondon，andthinknomoreofme。"

"No，no；Icannotgiveyouup!Thishopelessnessinouraffairsmakesmecaremoreforyou……Iseewhatdidnotstrikemeatfirst。Stephen，whydowetrouble？Whyshouldpapaobject？AnarchitectinLondonisanarchitectinLondon。Whoinquiresthere？Nobody。Weshalllivethere，shallwenot？Whyneedwebesoalarmed？"

"AndElfie，"saidStephen，hishopeskindlingwithhers，"Knightthinksnothingofmybeingonlyacottager"sson；hesaysIamasworthyofhisfriendshipasifIwerealord"s；andifIamworthyofhisfriendship，Iamworthyofyou，amInot，Elfride？"

"Inotonlyhaveneverlovedanybodybutyou，"shesaid，insteadofgivingananswer，"butIhavenotevenformedastrongfriendship，suchasyouhaveforKnight。Iwishyouhadn"t。Itdiminishesme。"

"Now，Elfride，youknowbetter，"hesaidwooingly。"Andhadyoureallyneveranysweetheartatall？"

"Nonethatwaseverrecognizedbymeassuch。"

"Butdidnobodyeverloveyou？"

"Yes——amandidonce；verymuch，hesaid。"

"Howlongago？"

"Oh，alongtime。"

"Howlong，dearest？

"Atwelvemonth。"

"That"snotVERYlong"(ratherdisappointedly)。

"Isaidlong，notverylong。"

"Anddidhewanttomarryyou？"

"Ibelievehedid。ButIdidn"tseeanythinginhim。Hewasnotgoodenough，evenifIhadlovedhim。"

"MayIaskwhathewas？"

"Afarmer。"

"Afarmernotgoodenough——howmuchbetterthanmyfamily!"

Stephenmurmured。

"Whereishenow？"hecontinuedtoElfride。

"HERE。"

"Here!whatdoyoumeanbythat？"

"Imeanthatheishere。"

"Wherehere？"

"Underus。Heisunderthistomb。Heisdead，andwearesittingonhisgrave。"

"Elfie，"saidtheyoungman，standingupandlookingatthetomb，"howoddandsadthatrevelationseems!Itquitedepressesmeforthemoment。"

"Stephen!Ididn"twishtosithere；butyouwoulddoso。"

"Youneverencouragedhim？"

"Neverbylook，word，orsign，"shesaidsolemnly。"Hediedofconsumption，andwasburiedthedayyoufirstcame。"

"Letusgoaway。Idon"tlikestandingbyHIM，evenifyouneverlovedhim。HewasBEFOREme。"

"Worriesmakeyouunreasonable，"shehalfpouted，followingStephenatthedistanceofafewsteps。"PerhapsIoughttohavetoldyoubeforewesatdown。Yes；letusgo。"

ChapterIX

"Herfatherdidfume"

Oppressed，inspiteofthemselves，byaforesightofimpendingcomplications，ElfrideandStephenreturneddownthehillhandinhand。Atthedoortheypausedwistfully，likechildrenlateatschool。

Womenaccepttheirdestinymorereadilythanmen。Elfridehadnowresignedherselftotheoverwhelmingideaofherlover"ssorryantecedents；StephenhadnotforgottenthetriflinggrievancethatElfridehadknownearlieradmirationthanhisown。

"Whatwasthatyoungman"sname？"heinquired。

"FelixJethway；awidow"sonlyson。"

"Irememberthefamily。"

"Shehatesmenow。ShesaysIkilledhim。"

Stephenmused，andtheyenteredtheporch。

"Stephen，Iloveonlyyou，"shetremulouslywhispered。Hepressedherfingers，andthetriflingshadowpassedaway，toadmitagainthemutualandmoretangibletrouble。

Thestudyappearedtobetheonlyroomlightedup。Theyentered，eachwithademeanourintendedtoconcealtheinconcealablefactthatreciprocallovewastheirdominantchord。Elfrideperceivedaman，sittingwithhisbacktowardsherself，talkingtoherfather。Shewouldhaveretired，butMr。Swancourthadseenher。

"Comein，"hesaid；"itisonlyMartinCannister，comeforacopyoftheregisterforpoorMrs。Jethway。"

MartinCannister，thesexton，wasratherafavouritewithElfride。

Heusedtoabsorbherattentionbytellingherofhisstrangeexperiencesindiggingupafterlongyearsthebodiesofpersonshehadknown，andrecognizingthembysomelittlesign(thoughinrealityhehadneverrecognizedany)。Hehadshrewdsmalleyesandagreatwealthofdoublechin，whichcompensatedinsomemeasureforconsiderablepovertyofnose。

TheappearanceofaslipofpaperinCannister"shand，andafewshillingslyingonthetableinfrontofhim，denotedthatthebusinesshadbeentransacted，andthetenoroftheirconversationwenttoshowthatasummaryofvillagenewswasnowengagingtheattentionofparishionerandparson。

Mr。Cannisterstoodupandtouchedhisforeheadoverhiseyewithhisfinger，inrespectfulsalutationofElfride，gavehalfasmuchsalutetoStephen(whomhe，incommonwithothervillagers，hadneverforamomentrecognized)，thensatdownagainandresumedhisdiscourse。

"WherehadIgotonto，sir？"

"Todrivingthepile，"saidMr。Swancourt。

"Thepile"twas。So，asIwassaying，Natwasdrivingthepileinthismanner，asImightsay。"HereMr。Cannisterheldhiswalking-

stickscrupulouslyverticalwithhislefthand，andstruckablowwithgreatforceontheknobofthestickwithhisright。"Johnwassteadyingthepileso，asImightsay。"Herehegavethestickaslightshake，andlookedfirmlyinthevariouseyesaroundtoseethatbeforeproceedingfurtherhislistenerswellgraspedthesubjectatthatstage。"Well，whenNathadstrucksomehalf-dozenblowsmoreuponthepile，"astoppedforasecondortwo。John，thinkinghehaddonestriking，puthishanduponthetopo"thepiletogieenapull，andseeif"awerefirmintheground。"Mr。

Cannisterspreadhishandoverthetopofthestick，completelycoveringitwithhispalm。"Well，sotospeak，Nathadn"tmanedtostopstriking，andwhenJohnhadputhishanduponthepile，thebeetle——"

"Ohdreadful!"saidElfride。

"Thebeetlewasalreadycomingdown，yousee，sir。Natjustcaughtsightofhishand，butcouldn"tstoptheblowintime。

DowncamethebeetleuponpoorJohnSmith"shand，andsquashedentoapummy。"

"Dearme，dearme!poorfellow!"saidthevicar，withanintonationlikethegroansofthewoundedinapianoforteperformanceofthe"BattleofPrague。"

"JohnSmith，themaster-mason？"criedStephenhurriedly。

"Ay，noother；andabetter-heartedmanGodA"mightynevermade。"

"Ishesomuchhurt？"

"Ihaveheard，"saidMr。Swancourt，notnoticingStephen，"thathehasasoninLondon，averypromisingyoungfellow。"

"Oh，howhemustbehurt!"repeatedStephen。

"Abeetlecouldn"thurtverylittle。Well，sir，good-nightt"ye；

andye，sir；andyou，miss，I"msure。"

Mr。Cannisterhadbeenmakingunnoticeablemotionsofwithdrawal，andbythetimethisfarewellremarkcamefromhislipshewasjustoutsidethedooroftheroom。Hetrampedalongthehall，stayedmorethanaminuteendeavouringtoclosethedoorproperly，andthenwaslosttotheirhearing。

Stephenhadmeanwhileturnedandsaidtothevicar:

"Pleaseexcusemethisevening!Imustleave。JohnSmithismyfather。"

Thevicardidnotcomprehendatfirst。

"Whatdidyousay？"heinquired。

"JohnSmithismyfather，"saidStephendeliberately。

AsurplustingeofrednessrosefromMr。Swancourt"sneck，andcameroundoverhisface，thelinesofhisfeaturesbecamemorefirmlydefined，andhislipsseemedtogetthinner。Itwasevidentthataseriesoflittlecircumstances，hithertounheeded，werenowfittingthemselvestogether，andformingalucidpictureinMr。Swancourt"smindinsuchamannerastorenderuselessfurtherexplanationonStephen"spart。

"Indeed，"thevicarsaid，inavoicedryandwithoutinflection。

Thisbeingawordwhichdependsentirelyuponitstoneforitsmeaning，Mr。Swancourt"senunciationwasequivalenttonoexpressionatall。

"Ihavetogonow，"saidStephen，withanagitatedbearing，andamovementasifhescarcelyknewwhetherheoughttorunofforstaylonger。"Onmyreturn，sir，willyoukindlygrantmeafewminutes"privateconversation？"

"Certainly。Thoughantecedentlyitdoesnotseempossiblethattherecanbeanythingofthenatureofprivatebusinessbetweenus。"

Mr。Swancourtputonhisstrawhat，crossedthedrawing-room，intowhichthemoonlightwasshining，andsteppedoutoftheFrenchwindowintotheverandah。Itrequirednofurtherefforttoperceivewhat，indeed，reasoningmighthaveforetoldasthenaturalcolourofamindwhosepleasuresweretakenamidgenealogies，gooddinners，andpatricianreminiscences，thatMr。

Swancourt"sprejudicesweretoostrongforhisgenerosity，andthatStephen"smomentsashisfriendandequalwerenumbered，orhadevennowceased。

Stephenmovedforwardasifhewouldfollowthevicar，thenasifhewouldnot，andinabsoluteperplexitywhithertoturnhimself，wentawkwardlytothedoor。Elfridefollowedlingeringlybehindhim。Beforehehadrecededtwoyardsfromthedoorstep，UnityandAnnthehousemaidcamehomefromtheirvisittothevillage。

"HaveyouheardanythingaboutJohnSmith？Theaccidentisnotsobadaswasreported，isit？"saidElfrideintuitively。

"Ohno；thedoctorsaysitisonlyabadbruise。"

"Ithoughtso!"criedElfridegladly。

"Hesaysthat，althoughNatbelieveshedidnotcheckthebeetleasitcamedown，hemusthavedonesowithoutknowingit——checkeditveryconsiderablytoo；forthefullblowwouldhaveknockedhishandabroad，andinrealityitisonlymadeblack-and-bluelike。"

"HowthankfulIam!"saidStephen。

TheperplexedUnitylookedathimwithhermouthratherthanwithhereyes。

"Thatwilldo，Unity，"saidElfridemagisterially；andthetwomaidspassedon。

"Elfride，doyouforgiveme？"saidStephenwithafaintsmile。

"Nomanisfairinlove；"andhetookherfingerslightlyinhisown。

WithherheadthrownsidewaysintheGreuzeattitude，shelookedatenderreproachathisdoubtandpressedhishand。Stephenreturnedthepressurethreefold，thenhastilywentofftohisfather"scottagebythewallofEndelstowPark。

"Elfride，whathaveyoutosaytothis？"inquiredherfather，comingupimmediatelyStephenhadretired。

Withfemininequicknessshegraspedatanystrawthatwouldenablehertopleadhiscause。"Hehadtoldmeofit，"shefaltered；"sothatitisnotadiscoveryinspiteofhim。Hewasjustcomingintotellyou。"

"COMINGtotell!Whyhadn"thealreadytold？Iobjectasmuch，ifnotmore，tohisunderhandconcealmentofthis，thanIdotothefactitself。Itlooksverymuchlikehismakingafoolofme，andofyoutoo。Youandhehavebeenabouttogether，andcorrespondingtogether，inawayIdon"tatallapproveof——inamostunseemlyway。Youshouldhaveknownhowimpropersuchconductis。Awomancan"tbetoocarefulnottobeseenalonewithI-don"t-know-whom。"

"Yousawus，papa，andhaveneversaidaword。"

"Myfault，ofcourse；myfault。WhatthedeucecouldIbethinkingof!He，avillager"sson；andwe，Swancourts，connectionsoftheLuxellians。Wehavebeencomingtonothingforcenturies，andnowIbelievewehavegotthere。WhatshallInextinvitehere，Iwonder!"

Elfridebegantocryatthisveryunpropitiousaspectofaffairs。

"Opapa，papa，forgivemeandhim!Wecaresomuchforoneanother，papa——O，somuch!Andwhathewasgoingtoaskyouis，ifyouwillallowofanengagementbetweenustillheisagentlemanasgoodasyou。Wearenotinahurry，dearpapa；wedon"twantintheleasttomarrynow；notuntilheisricher。Onlywillyouletusbeengaged，becauseIlovehimso，andhelovesme？"

Mr。Swancourt"sfeelingswerealittletouchedbythisappeal，andhewasannoyedthatsuchshouldbethecase。"Certainlynot!"hereplied。Hepronouncedtheinhibitionlengthilyandsonorously，sothatthe"not"soundedlike"n-o-o-o-t!"

"No，no，no；don"tsayit!"

"Foh!Afinestory。ItisnotenoughthatIhavebeendeludedanddisgracedbyhavinghimhere，——thesonofoneofmyvillagepeasants，——butnowIamtomakehimmyson-in-law!Heavensaboveus，areyoumad，Elfride？"