第10章

SuddenlyElfridebecameconsciousofwhatshewasdoing，andwaspainfullyconfused。

"Whatwereyousointentuponinme？"heinquired。

"AsfarasIwasthinkingofyouatall，Iwasthinkinghowcleveryouare，"shesaid，withawantofpremeditationthatwasstartlinginitshonestyandsimplicity。

Feelingrestlessnowthatshehadsounwittinglyspoken，shearoseandsteppedtothewindow，havingheardthevoicesofherfatherandMrs。Swancourtcomingupbelowtheterrace。"Heretheyare，"

shesaid，goingout。Knightwalkedoutuponthelawnbehindher。

Shestoodupontheedgeoftheterrace，closetothestonebalustrade，andlookedtowardsthesun，hangingoveragladejustnowfairasTempe"svale，upwhichherfatherwaswalking。

Knightcouldnothelplookingather。Thesunwaswithintendegreesofthehorizon，anditswarmlightfloodedherfaceandheightenedthebrightrosecolourofhercheekstoavermilionred，theirmoderatepinkhuebeingonlyseeninitsnaturaltonewherethecheekcurvedroundintoshadow。Theendsofherhanginghairsoftlydraggedthemselvesbackwardsandforwardsuponhershoulderaseachfaintbreezethrustagainstorrelinquishedit。

Fringesandribbonsofherdress，movedbythesamebreeze，lickedliketonguesuponthepartsaroundthem，andflutteringforwardfromshadyfoldscaughtlikewisetheirshareofthelustrousorangeglow。

Mr。SwancourtshoutedoutawelcometoKnightfromadistanceofaboutthirtyyards，andafterafewpreliminarywordsproceededtoaconversationofdeepearnestnessonKnight"sfineoldfamilyname，andtheoriesastolineageandintermarriageconnectedtherewith。Knight"sportmanteauhavinginthemeantimearrived，theysoonretiredtopreparefordinner，whichhadbeenpostponedtwohourslaterthantheusualtimeofthatmeal。

AnarrivalwasaneventinthelifeofElfride，nowthattheywereagaininthecountry，andthatofKnightnecessarilyanengrossingone。AndthateveningshewenttobedforthefirsttimewithoutthinkingofStephenatall。

ChapterXVIII

"Heheardhermusicalpants。"

TheoldtowerofWestEndelstowChurchhadreachedthelastweeksofitsexistence。ItwastobereplacedbyanewonefromthedesignsofMr。Hewby，thearchitectwhohadsentdownStephen。

Planksandpoleshadarrivedinthechurchyard，ironbarshadbeenthrustintothevenerablecrackextendingdownthebelfrywalltothefoundation，thebellshadbeentakendown，theowlshadforsakenthishomeoftheirforefathers，andsixiconoclastsinwhitefustian，towhomacrackededificewasaspeciesofMumboJumbo，hadtakenlodgingsinthevillageprevioustobeginningtheactualremovalofthestones。

ThiswasthedayafterKnight"sarrival。Toenjoyforthelasttimetheprospectseawardfromthesummit，thevicar，Mrs。

Swancourt，Knight，andElfride，allascendedthewindingturret——

Mr。Swancourtsteppingforwardwithmanyloudbreaths，hiswifestrugglingalongsilently，butsufferingnonetheless。Theyhadhardlyreachedthetopwhenalargeluridcloud，palpablyareservoirofrain，thunder，andlightning，wasseentobeadvancingoverheadfromthenorth。

Thetwocautiouselderssuggestedanimmediatereturn，andproceededtoputitinpracticeasregardedthemselves。

"Dearme，IwishIhadnotcomeup，"exclaimedMrs。Swancourt。

"Weshallbeslowerthanyoutwoingoingdown，"thevicarsaidoverhisshoulder，"andso，don"tyoustarttillwearenearlyatthebottom，oryouwillrunoverusandbreakourneckssomewhereinthedarknessoftheturret。"

AccordinglyElfrideandKnightwaitedontheleadstillthestaircaseshouldbeclear。Knightwasnotinatalkativemoodthatmorning。Elfridewasratherwilful，byreasonofhisinattention，whichsheprivatelysetdowntohisthinkinghernotworthtalkingto。WhilstKnightstoodwatchingtheriseofthecloud，shesaunteredtotheothersideofthetower，andthererememberedagiddyfeatshehadperformedtheyearbefore。Itwastowalkroundupontheparapetofthetower——whichwasquitewithoutbattlementorpinnacle，andpresentedasmoothflatsurfaceabouttwofeetwide，formingapathwayonallthefoursides。Withoutreflectingintheleastuponwhatshewasdoingshenowsteppedupontheparapetintheoldway，andbeganwalkingalong。

"Wearedown，cousinHenry，"criedMrs。Swancourtuptheturret。

"Followuswhenyoulike。"

KnightturnedandsawElfridebeginningherelevatedpromenade。

Hisfaceflushedwithmingledconcernandangeratherrashness。

"Icertainlygaveyoucreditformorecommonsense，"hesaid。

Shereddenedalittleandwalkedon。

"MissSwancourt，Iinsistuponyourcomingdown，"heexclaimed。

"Iwillinaminute。Iamsafeenough。Ihavedoneitoften。"

Atthatmoment，byreasonofaslightperturbationhiswordshadcausedinher，Elfride"sfootcaughtitselfinalittletuftofgrassgrowinginajointofthestone-work，andshealmostlostherbalance。Knightsprangforwardwithafaceofhorror。BywhatseemedthespecialinterpositionofaconsiderateProvidenceshetotteredtotheinneredgeoftheparapetinsteadoftotheouter，andreeledoverupontheleadrooftwoorthreefeetbelowthewall。

Knightseizedherasinavice，andhesaid，panting，"ThateverI

shouldhavemetawomanfoolenoughtodoathingofthatkind!

GoodGod，yououghttobeashamedofyourself!"

ThecloseproximityoftheShadowofDeathhadmadehersickandpaleasacorpsebeforehespoke。Alreadyloweredtothatstate，hiswordscompletelyover-poweredher，andsheswoonedawayasheheldher。

Elfride"seyeswerenotclosedformorethanfortyseconds。Sheopenedthem，andrememberedthepositioninstantly。Hisfacehadaltereditsexpressionfromsternangertopity。Buthissevereremarkshadratherfrightenedher，andshestruggledtobefree。

"Ifyoucanstand，ofcourseyoumay，"hesaid，andloosenedhisarms。"Ihardlyknowwhethermosttolaughatyourfreakortochideyouforitsfolly。"

Sheimmediatelysankuponthelead-work。Knightliftedheragain。

"Areyouhurt？"hesaid。

Shemurmuredanincoherentexpression，andtriedtosmile；saying，withafitfulaversionofherface，"Iamonlyfrightened。Putmedown，doputmedown!"

"Butyoucan"twalk，"saidKnight。

"Youdon"tknowthat；howcanyou？Iamonlyfrightened，Itellyou，"sheansweredpetulantly，andraisedherhandtoherforehead。Knightthensawthatshewasbleedingfromaseverecutinherwrist，apparentlywhereithaddescendeduponasalientcornerofthelead-work。Elfride，too，seemedtoperceiveandfeelthisnowforthefirsttime，andforaminutenearlylostconsciousnessagain。Knightrapidlyboundhishandkerchiefroundtheplace，andtoaddtothecomplication，thethundercloudhehadbeenwatchingbegantoshedsomeheavydropsofrain。Knightlookedupandsawthevicarstridingtowardsthehouse，andMrs。

Swancourtwaddlingbesidehimlikeahard-drivenduck。

"Asyouaresofaint，itwillbemuchbettertoletmecarryyoudown，"saidKnight；"oratanyrateinsideoutoftherain。"Butherobjectiontobeliftedmadeitimpossibleforhimtosupportherformorethanfivesteps。

"Thisisfolly，greatfolly，"heexclaimed，settingherdown。

"Indeed!"shemurmured，withtearsinhereyes。"IsayIwillnotbecarried，andyousaythisisfolly!"

"Soitis。"

"No，itisn"t!"

"Itisfolly，Ithink。Atanyrate，theoriginofitallis。"

"Idon"tagreetoit。Andyouneedn"tgetsoangrywithme；Iamnotworthit。"

"Indeedyouare。Youareworththeenmityofprinces，aswassaidofsuchanother。Now，then，willyouclaspyourhandsbehindmyneck，thatImaycarryyoudownwithouthurtingyou？"

"No，no。"

"Youhadbetter，orIshallforeclose。"

"What"sthat!"

"Depriveyouofyourchance。"

Elfridegavealittletoss。

"Now，don"twrithesowhenIattempttocarryyou。"

"Ican"thelpit。"

"Thensubmitquietly。"

"Idon"tcare。Idon"tcare，"shemurmuredinlanguidtonesandwithclosedeyes。

Hetookherintohisarms，enteredtheturret，andwithslowandcautiousstepsdescendedroundandround。Then，withthegentlenessofanursingmother，heattendedtothecutonherarm。

Duringhisprogressthroughtheoperationsofwipingitandbindingitupanew，herfacechangeditsaspectfrompainedindifferencetosomethinglikebashfulinterest，interspersedwithsmalltremorsandshuddersofatriflingkind。

Inthecentreofeachpalecheekasmallredspotthesizeofawaferhadnowmadeitsappearance，andcontinuedtogrowlarger。

Elfridemomentarilyexpectedarecurrencetothelectureonherfoolishness，butKnightsaidnomorethanthis——

"PromisemeNEVERtowalkonthatparapetagain。"

"Itwillbepulleddownsoon:soIdo。"Inafewminutesshecontinuedinalowertone，andseriously，"Youarefamiliarofcourse，aseverybodyis，withthosestrangesensationswesometimeshave，thatourlifeforthemomentexistsinduplicate。"

"Thatwehavelivedthroughthatmomentbefore？"

"Orshallagain。Well，Ifeltonthetowerthatsomethingsimilartothatsceneisagaintobecommontousboth。"

"Godforbid!"saidKnight。"Promisemethatyouwillneveragainwalkonanysuchplaceonanyconsideration。"

"Ido。"

"Thatsuchathinghasnotbeenbefore，weknow。Thatitshallnotbeagain，youvow。Thereforethinknomoreofsuchafoolishfancy。"

Therehadfallenagreatdealofrain，butunaccompaniedbylightning。Afewminuteslonger，andthestormhadceased。

"Now，takemyarm，please。"

"Ohno，itisnotnecessary。"Thisrelapseintowilfulnesswasbecausehehadagainconnectedtheepithetfoolishwithher。

"Nonsense:itisquitenecessary；itwillrainagaindirectly，andyouarenothalfrecovered。"AndwithoutmoreadoKnighttookherhand，drewitunderhisarm，andheldittheresofirmlythatshecouldnothaveremoveditwithoutastruggle。Feelinglikeacoltinahalterforthefirsttime，atthusbeingledalong，yetafraidtobeangry，itwastohergreatreliefthatshesawthecarriagecomingroundthecornertofetchthem。

Herfallupontheroofwasnecessarilyexplainedtosomeextentupontheirenteringthehouse；butbothforboretomentionawordofwhatshehadbeendoingtocausesuchanaccident。DuringtheremainderoftheafternoonElfridewasinvisible；butatdinner-

timesheappearedasbrightasever。

Inthedrawing-room，afterhavingbeenexclusivelyengagedwithMr。andMrs。Swancourtthroughtheinterveninghour，KnightagainfoundhimselfthrownwithElfride。Shehadbeenlookingoverachessprobleminoneoftheillustratedperiodicals。

"Youlikechess，MissSwancourt？"

"Yes。Itismyfavouritescientificgame；indeed，excludeseveryother。Doyouplay？"

"Ihaveplayed；thoughnotlately。"

"Challengehim，Elfride，"saidthevicarheartily。"Sheplaysverywellforalady，Mr。Knight。"

"Shallweplay？"askedElfridetentatively。

"Oh，certainly。Ishallbedelighted。"

Thegamebegan。Mr。SwancourthadforgottenasimilarperformancewithStephenSmiththeyearbefore。Elfridehadnot；butshehadbeguntotakeforhermaximtheundoubtedtruththatthenecessityofcontinuingfaithfultoStephen，withoutsuspicion，dictatedaficklebehaviouralmostasimperativelyasficklenessitself；afact，however，whichwouldgiveastartlingadvantagetothelatterqualityshoulditeverappear。

Knight，byoneofthoseinexcusableoversightswhichwillsometimesafflictthebestofplayers，placedhisrookinthearmsofoneofherpawns。Itwasherfirstadvantage。Shelookedtriumphant——evenruthless。

"ByGeorge!whatwasIthinkingof？"saidKnightquietly；andthendismissedallconcernathisaccident。

"Clublawswe"llhave，won"twe，Mr。Knight？"saidElfridesuasively。

"Ohyes，certainly，"saidMr。Knight，athought，however，justoccurringtohismind，thathehadtwoorthreetimesallowedhertoreplaceamanonherreligiouslyassuringhimthatsuchamovewasanabsoluteblunder。

Sheimmediatelytookuptheunfortunaterookandthecontestproceeded，Elfridehavingnowratherthebetterofthegame。Thenhewontheexchange，regainedhisposition，andbegantopressherhard。Elfridegrewflurried，andplacedherqueenonhisremainingrook"sfile。

"There——howstupid!Uponmyword，Ididnotseeyourrook。Ofcoursenobodybutafoolwouldhaveputaqueenthereknowingly!"

Shespokeexcitedly，halfexpectingherantagonisttogiveherbackthemove。

"Nobody，ofcourse，"saidKnightserenely，andstretchedouthishandtowardshisroyalvictim。

"Itisnotverypleasanttohaveittakenadvantageof，then，"shesaidwithsomevexation。

"Clublaws，Ithinkyousaid？"returnedKnightblandly，andmercilesslyappropriatingthequeen。

Shewasonthebrinkofpouting，butwasashamedtoshowit；tearsalmoststoodinhereyes。Shehadbeentryingsohard——soveryhard——thinkingandthinkingtillherbrainwasinawhirl；anditseemedsoheartlessofhimtotreatherso，afterall。

"Ithinkitis——"shebegan。

"What？"——

"UnkindtotakeadvantageofapuremistakeImakeinthatway。"

"Ilostmyrookbyevenapurermistake，"saidtheenemyinaninexorabletone，withoutliftinghiseyes。

"Yes，but——"However，ashislogicwasabsolutelyunanswerable，shemerelyregisteredaprotest。"Icannotendurethosecold-

bloodedwaysofclubsandprofessionalplayers，likeStauntonandMorphy。Justasifitreallymatteredwhetheryouhaveraisedyourfingersfromamanorno!"

Knightsmiledaspitilesslyasbefore，andtheywentoninsilence。

"Checkmate，"saidKnight。

"Anothergame，"saidElfrideperemptorily，andlookingverywarm。

"Withallmyheart，"saidKnight。

"Checkmate，"saidKnightagainattheendoffortyminutes。

"Anothergame，"shereturnedresolutely。

"I"llgiveyoutheoddsofabishop，"Knightsaidtoherkindly。

"No，thankyou，"Elfriderepliedinatoneintendedforcourteousindifference；but，asafact，verycavalierindeed。

"Checkmate，"saidheropponentwithouttheleastemotion。

Oh，thedifferencebetweenElfride"sconditionofmindnow，andwhenshepurposelymadeblundersthatStephenSmithmightwin!

Itwasbedtime。Hermindasdistractedasifitwouldthrobitselfoutofherhead，shewentofftoherchamber，fullofmortificationatbeingbeatentimeaftertimewhensheherselfwastheaggressor。Havingfortwoorthreeyearsenjoyedthereputationthroughouttheglobeofherfather"sbrain——whichalmostconstitutedherentireworld——ofbeinganexcellentplayer，thisfiascowasintolerable；forunfortunatelythepersonmostdoggedinthebeliefinafalsereputationisalwaysthatone，thepossessor，whohasthebestmeansofknowingthatitisnottrue。

Inbednosleepcametosootheher；thatgentlethingbeingtheverymiddle-of-summerfriendinthisrespectofflyingawayatthemeresttroublouscloud。Afterlyingawaketilltwoo"clockanideaseemedtostrikeher。Shesoftlyarose，gotalight，andfetchedaChessPraxisfromthelibrary。Returningandsittingupinbed，shediligentlystudiedthevolumetilltheclockstruckfive，andhereyelidsfeltthickandheavy。Shethenextinguishedthelightandlaydownagain。

"Youlookpale，Elfride，"saidMrs。Swancourtthenextmorningatbreakfast。"Isn"tshe，cousinHarry？"

Ayounggirlwhoisscarcelyillatallcanhardlyhelpbecomingsowhenregardedassuchbyalleyesturninguponheratthetableinobediencetosomeremark。EverybodylookedatElfride。Shecertainlywaspale。

"AmIpale？"shesaidwithafaintsmile。"Ididnotsleepmuch。

Icouldnotgetridofarmiesofbishopsandknights，tryhowI

would。"

"Chessisabadthingjustbeforebedtime；especiallyforexcitablepeoplelikeyourself，dear。Don"teverplaylateagain。"

"I"llplayearlyinstead。CousinKnight，"shesaidinimitationofMrs。Swancourt，"willyouobligemeinsomething？"

"Eventohalfmykingdom。"

"Well，itistoplayonegamemore。"

"When？"

"Now，instantly；themomentwehavebreakfasted。"

"Nonsense，Elfride，"saidherfather。"Makingyourselfaslavetothegamelikethat。"

"ButIwantto，papa!Honestly，Iamrestlessathavingbeensoignominiouslyovercome。AndMr。Knightdoesn"tmind。Sowhatharmcantherebe？"

"Letusplay，byallmeans，ifyouwishit，"saidKnight。

So，whenbreakfastwasover，thecombatantswithdrewtothequietofthelibrary，andthedoorwasclosed。Elfrideseemedtohaveanideathatherconductwasratherill-regulatedandstartlinglyfreefromconventionalrestraint。Andworse，shefancieduponKnight"sfaceaslightlyamusedlookatherproceedings。

"Youthinkmefoolish，Isuppose，"shesaidrecklessly；"butI

wanttodomyverybestjustonce，andseewhetherIcanovercomeyou。"

"Certainly:nothingmorenatural。ThoughIamafraiditisnottheplanadoptedbywomenoftheworldafteradefeat。"

"Why，pray？"

"Becausetheyknowthatasgoodasovercomingisskillineffacingrecollectionofbeingovercome，andturntheirattentiontothatentirely。"

"Iamwrongagain，ofcourse。"

"Perhapsyourwrongismorepleasingthantheirright。"

"Idon"tquiteknowwhetheryoumeanthat，orwhetheryouarelaughingatme，"shesaid，lookingdoubtinglyathim，yetincliningtoacceptthemoreflatteringinterpretation。"IamalmostsureyouthinkitvanityinmetothinkIamamatchforyou。Well，ifyoudo，Isaythatvanityisnocrimeinsuchacase。"

"Well，perhapsnot。Thoughitishardlyavirtue。"

"Ohyes，inbattle!Nelson"sbraverylayinhisvanity。"

"Indeed!Thensodidhisdeath。"

Ohno，no!ForitiswritteninthebookoftheprophetShakespeare——

"Fearandbeslain？noworsecancometofight；

Andfightanddie，isdeathdestroyingdeath!"

Anddowntheysat，andthecontestbegan，Elfridehavingthefirstmove。Thegameprogressed。Elfride"sheartbeatsoviolentlythatshecouldnotsitstill。Herdreadwaslestheshouldhearit。Andhediddiscoveritatlast——someflowersuponthetablebeingsetthrobbingbyitspulsations。

"Ithinkwehadbettergiveover，"saidKnight，lookingathergently。"Itistoomuchforyou，Iknow。Letuswritedowntheposition，andfinishanothertime。"

"No，pleasenot，"sheimplored。"IshouldnotrestifIdidnotknowtheresultatonce。Itisyourmove。"

Tenminutespassed。

Shestartedupsuddenly。"Iknowwhatyouaredoing？"shecried，anangrycolouruponhercheeks，andhereyesindignant。"Youwerethinkingoflettingmewintopleaseme!"

"Idon"tmindowningthatIwas，"Knightrespondedphlegmatically，andappearingallthemoresobycontrastwithherownturmoil。

"Butyoumustnot!Iwon"thaveit。"

"Verywell。"

"No，thatwillnotdo；Iinsistthatyoupromisenottodoanysuchabsurdthing。Itisinsultingme!"

"Verywell，madam。Iwon"tdoanysuchabsurdthing。Youshallnotwin。"

"Thatistobeproved!"shereturnedproudly；andtheplaywenton。

Nothingisnowheardbutthetickingofaquaintoldtimepieceonthesummitofabookcase。Tenminutespass；hecapturesherknight；shetakeshisknight，andlooksaveryRhadamanthus。

Moreminutestickaway；shetakeshispawnandhastheadvantage，showinghersenseofitratherprominently。

Fiveminutesmore:hetakesherbishop:shebringsthingsevenbytakinghisknight。

Threeminutes:shelooksbold，andtakeshisqueen:helooksplacid，andtakeshers。

Eightortenminutespass:hetakesapawn；sheuttersalittlepooh!butnottheghostofapawncanshetakeinretaliation。

Tenminutespass:hetakesanotherpawnandsays，"Check!"Sheflushes，extricatesherselfbycapturinghisbishop，andlookstriumphant。Heimmediatelytakesherbishop:shelookssurprised。

Fiveminuteslonger:shemakesadashandtakeshisonlyremainingbishop；herepliesbytakingheronlyremainingknight。

Twominutes:hegivescheck；hermindisnowinapainfulstateoftension，andsheshadesherfacewithherhand。

Yetafewminutesmore:hetakesherrookandchecksagain。Sheliterallytremblesnowlestanartfulsurpriseshehasinstoreforhimshallbeanticipatedbytheartfulsurpriseheevidentlyhasinstoreforher。

Fiveminutes:"Checkmateintwomoves!"exclaimsElfride。

"Ifyoucan，"saysKnight。

"Oh，Ihavemiscalculated；thatiscruel!"

"Checkmate，"saysKnight；andthevictoryiswon。

Elfridearoseandturnedawaywithoutlettinghimseeherface。

Onceinthehallsheranupstairsandintoherroom，andflungherselfdownuponherbed，weepingbitterly。

"WhereisElfride？"saidherfatheratluncheon。

Knightlistenedanxiouslyfortheanswer。Hehadbeenhopingtoseeheragainbeforethistime。

"Sheisn"twell，sir，"wasthereply。

Mrs。Swancourtroseandlefttheroom，goingupstairstoElfride"sapartment。

AtthedoorwasUnity，whooccupiedinthenewestablishmentapositionbetweenyounglady"smaidandmiddle-housemaid。

"Sheissoundasleep，ma"am，"Unitywhispered。

Mrs。Swancourtopenedthedoor。Elfridewaslyingfull-dressedonthebed，herfacehotandred，herarmsthrownabroad。Atintervalsofaminuteshetossedrestlesslyfromsidetoside，andindistinctlymoanedwordsusedinthegameofchess。

Mrs。Swancourthadaturnfordoctoring，andfeltherpulse。Itwastwanginglikeaharp-string，attherateofnearlyahundredandfiftyaminute。Softlymovingthesleepinggirltoalittlelesscrampedposition，shewentdownstairsagain。

"Sheisasleepnow，"saidMrs。Swancourt。"Shedoesnotseemverywell。CousinKnight，whatwereyouthinkingof？hertenderbrainwon"tbearcudgellinglikeyourgreathead。Youshouldhavestrictlyforbiddenhertoplayagain。"

Intruth，theessayist"sexperienceofthenatureofyoungwomenwasfarlessextensivethanhisabstractknowledgeofthemledhimselfandotherstobelieve。Hecouldpackthemintosentenceslikeaworkman，butpracticallywasnowhere。

"Iamindeedsorry，"saidKnight，feelingevenmorethanheexpressed。"Butsurely，theyoungladyknowsbestwhatisgoodforher!"

"Blessyou，that"sjustwhatshedoesn"tknow。Sheneverthinksofsuchthings，doesshe，Christopher？HerfatherandIhavetocommandherandkeepherinorder，asyouwouldachild。ShewillsaythingsworthyofaFrenchepigrammatist，andactlikearobininagreenhouse。ButIthinkwewillsendforDr。Granson——therecanbenoharm。"

AmanwasstraightwaydespatchedonhorsebacktoCastleBoterel，andthegentlemanknownasDr。Gransoncameinthecourseoftheafternoon。Hepronouncedhernervoussystemtobeinadecidedstateofdisorder；forwardedsomesoothingdraught，andgaveordersthatonnoaccountwhateverwasshetoplaychessagain。

ThenextmorningKnight，muchvexedwithhimself，waitedwithacuriouslycompoundedfeelingforherentrytobreakfast。Thewomenservantscameintoprayersatirregularintervals，andaseachentered，hecouldnot，tosavehislife，avoidturninghisheadwiththehopethatshemightbeElfride。Mr。Swancourtbeganreadingwithoutwaitingforher。Thensomebodyglidedinnoiselessly；Knightsoftlyglancedup:itwasonlythelittlekitchen-maid。Knightthoughtreadingprayersabore。

Hewentoutalone，andforalmostthefirsttimefailedtorecognizethatholdingconversewithNature"scharmswasnotsolitude。Onnearingthehouseagainheperceivedhisyoungfriendcrossingaslopebyapathwhichranintotheonehewasfollowingintheangleofthefield。Heretheymet。Elfridewasatonceexultantandabashed:comingintohispresencehaduponhertheeffectofenteringacathedral。

Knighthadhisnote-bookinhishand，andhad，infact，beenintheveryactofwritingthereinwhentheycameinviewofeachother。Heleftoffinthemidstofasentence，andproceededtoinquirewarmlyconcerningherstateofhealth。Shesaidshewasperfectlywell，andindeedhadneverlookedbetter。Herhealthwasasinconsequentasheractions。Herlipswerered，WITHOUT

thepolishthatcherrieshave，andtheirrednessmarginedwiththewhiteskininaclearlydefinedline，whichhadnothingofjaggedconfusioninit。Altogethershestoodasthelastpersonintheworldtobeknockedoverbyagameofchess，becausetooephemeral-lookingtoplayone。

"Areyoutakingnotes？"sheinquiredwithanalacrityplainlyarisinglessfrominterestinthesubjectthanfromawishtodiverthisthoughtsfromherself。

"Yes；Iwasmakinganentry。AndwithyourpermissionIwillcompleteit。"Knightthenstoodstillandwrote。Elfrideremainedbesidehimamoment，andafterwardswalkedon。

"Ishouldliketoseeallthesecretsthatareinthatbook，"shegailyflungbacktohimoverhershoulder。

"Idon"tthinkyouwouldfindmuchtointerestyou。"

"IknowIshould。"

"ThenofcourseIhavenomoretosay。"

"ButIwouldaskthisquestionfirst。Isitabookofmerefactsconcerningjourneysandexpenditure，andsoon，orabookofthoughts？"

"Well，totellthetruth，itisnotexactlyeither。Itconsistsforthemostpartofjottingsforarticlesandessays，disjointedanddisconnected，ofnopossibleinteresttoanybodybutmyself。"

"Itcontains，Isuppose，yourdevelopedthoughtsinembryo？"

"Yes。"

"Iftheyareinterestingwhenenlargedtothesizeofanarticle，whatmusttheybeintheirconcentratedform？Purerectifiedspirit，aboveproof；beforeitisloweredtobefitforhumanconsumption:"wordsthatburn"indeed。"

"Ratherlikeaballoonbeforeitisinflated:flabby，shapeless，dead。Youcouldhardlyreadthem。"

"MayItry？"shesaidcoaxingly。"Iwrotemypoorromanceinthatway——Imeaninbits，outofdoors——andIshouldliketoseewhetheryourwayofenteringthingsisthesameasmine。"

"Really，that"sratheranawkwardrequest。IsupposeIcanhardlyrefusenowyouhaveaskedsodirectly；but——"

"Youthinkmeill-manneredinasking。Butdoesnotthisjustifyme——yourwritinginmypresence，Mr。Knight？IfIhadlighteduponyourbookbychance，itwouldhavebeendifferent；butyoustandbeforeme，andsay，"Excuseme，"withoutcaringwhetherIdoornot，andwriteon，andthentellmetheyarenotprivatefactsbutpublicideas。"

"Verywell，MissSwancourt。Ifyoureallymustsee，theconsequencesbeuponyourownhead。Remember，myadvicetoyouistoleavemybookalone。"

"ButwiththatcautionIhaveyourpermission？"

"Yes。"

Shehesitatedamoment，lookedathishandcontainingthebook，thenlaughed，andsaying，"Imustseeit，"withdrewitfromhisfingers。

Knightrambledontowardsthehouse，leavingherstandinginthepathturningovertheleaves。Bythetimehehadreachedthewicket-gatehesawthatshehadmoved，andwaitedtillshecameup。

Elfridehadclosedthenote-book，andwascarryingitdisdainfullybythecornerbetweenherfingerandthumb；herfaceworeanettledlook。Shesilentlyextendedthevolumetowardshim，raisinghereyesnohigherthanherhandwaslifted。

"Takeit，"saidElfridequickly。"Idon"twanttoreadit。"

"Couldyouunderstandit？"saidKnight。

"AsfarasIlooked。ButIdidn"tcaretoreadmuch。"

"Why，MissSwancourt？"

"OnlybecauseIdidn"twishto——that"sall。"

"Iwarnedyouthatyoumightnot。"

"Yes，butIneversupposedyouwouldhaveputmethere。"

"Yournameisnotmentionedoncewithinthefourcorners。"

"Notmyname——Iknowthat。"

"Noryourdescription，noranythingbywhichanybodywouldrecognizeyou。"

"Exceptmyself。Forwhatisthis？"sheexclaimed，takingitfromhimandopeningapage。"August7。That"sthedaybeforeyesterday。ButIwon"treadit，"Elfridesaid，closingthebookagainwithprettyhauteur。"WhyshouldI？Ihadnobusinesstoasktoseeyourhook，anditservesmeright。"

Knighthardlyrecollectedwhathehadwritten，andturnedoverthebooktosee。Hecametothis:

"Aug。7。Girlgetsintoherteens，andherself-consciousnessisborn。Afteracertainintervalpassedininfantinehelplessnessitbeginstoact。Simple，young，andinexperiencedatfirst。

Personsofobservationcantelltoanicetyhowoldthisconsciousnessisbytheskillithasacquiredintheartnecessarytoitssuccess——theartofhidingitself。Generallybeginscareerbyactionswhicharepopularlytermedshowing-off。Methodadopteddependsineachcaseuponthedisposition，rank，residence，oftheyoungladyattemptingit。Town-bredgirlwilluttersomemoralparadoxonfastmen，orlove。Countrymissadoptsthemorematerialmediaoftakingaghastlyfence，whistling，ormakingyourbloodruncoldbyappearingtoriskherneck。(MEM。OnEndelstowTower。)

"Aninnocentvanityisofcoursetheoriginofthesedisplays。

"Lookatme，"saytheseyouthfulbeginnersinwomanlyartifice，withoutreflectingwhetherornotitbetotheiradvantagetoshowsoverymuchofthemselves。(AmplifyandcorrectforpaperonArtlessArts。)"

"Yes，Iremembernow，"saidKnight。"Thenoteswerecertainlysuggestedbyyourmanoeuvreonthechurchtower。Butyoumustnotthinktoomuchofsuchrandomobservations，"hecontinuedencouragingly，ashenoticedherinjuredlooks。"Amerefancypassingthroughmyheadassumesafactitiousimportancetoyou，becauseithasbeenmadepermanentbybeingwrittendown。Allmankindthinkthoughtsasbadasthoseofpeopletheymostloveonearth，butsuchthoughtsnevergettingembodiedonpaper，itbecomesassumedthattheyneverexisted。Idaresaythatyouyourselfhavethoughtsomedisagreeablethingorotherofme，whichwouldseemjustasbadasthisifwritten。Ichallengeyou，now，totellme。"

"TheworstthingIhavethoughtofyou？"

"Yes。"

"Imustnot。"

"Ohyes。"

"Ithoughtyouwereratherround-shouldered。"

Knightlookedslightlyredder。

"Andthattherewasalittlebaldspotonthetopofyourhead。"

"Heh-heh!Twoineradicabledefects，"saidKnight，therebeingafaintghastlinessdiscernibleinhislaugh。"Theyaremuchworseinalady"seyethanbeingthoughtself-conscious，Isuppose。"

"Ah，that"sveryfine，"shesaid，tooinexperiencedtoperceiveherhit，andhencenotquitedisposedtoforgivehisnotes。"YoualludedtomeinthatentryasifIweresuchachild，too。

Everybodydoesthat。Icannotunderstandit。Iamquiteawoman，youknow。HowolddoyouthinkIam？"

"Howold？Why，seventeen，Ishouldsay。Allgirlsareseventeen。"

"Youarewrong。Iamnearlynineteen。Whichclassofwomendoyoulikebest，thosewhoseemyounger，orthosewhoseemolderthantheyare？"

"Off-handIshouldbeinclinedtosaythosewhoseemolder。"

SoitwasnotElfride"sclass。

"Butitiswellknown，"shesaideagerly，andtherewassomethingtouchingintheartlessanxietytobethoughtmuchofwhichsherevealedbyherwords，"thatthesloweranatureistodevelop，thericherthenature。Youthsandgirlswhoaremenandwomenbeforetheycomeofagearenobodiesbythetimethatbackwardpeoplehaveshowntheirfullcompass。"

"Yes，"saidKnightthoughtfully。"Thereisreallysomethinginthatremark。ButattheriskofoffenceImustremindyouthatyoutheretakeitforgrantedthatthewomanbehindhertimeatagivenagehasnotreachedtheendofhertether。Herbackwardnessmaybenotbecausesheisslowtodevelop，butbecauseshesoonexhaustedhercapacityfordeveloping。"

Elfridelookeddisappointed。Bythistimetheywereindoors。

Mrs。Swancourt，towhommatch-makingbyanyhonestmeanswasmeatanddrink，hadnowalittleschemeofthatnatureconcerningthispair。Themorning-room，inwhichtheybothexpectedtofindher，wasempty；theoldladyhaving，fortheabovereason，vacateditbytheseconddoorastheyenteredbythefirst。

Knightwenttothechimney-piece，andcarelesslysurveyedtwoportraitsonivory。

"Thoughthesepinkladieshadveryrudimentaryfeatures，judgingbywhatIseehere，"heobserved，"theyhadunquestionablybeautifulheadsofhair。"

"Yes；andthatiseverything，"saidElfride，possiblyconsciousofherown，possiblynot。

"Noteverything；thoughagreatdeal，certainly。"

"Whichcolourdoyoulikebest？"sheventuredtoask。

"Moredependsonitsabundancethanonitscolour。"

"Abundancesbeingequal，mayIinquireyourfavouritecolour？"

"Dark。"

"Imeanforwomen，"shesaid，withtheminutestfallofcountenance，andahopethatshehadbeenmisunderstood。

"SodoI，"Knightreplied。

ItwasimpossibleforanymannottoknowthecolourofElfride"shair。Inwomenwhowearitplainlysuchafeaturemaybeoverlookedbymennotgiventoocularintentness。Butherswasalwaysintheway。Yousawherhairasfarasyoucouldseehersex，andknewthatitwasthepalestbrown。SheknewinstantlythatKnight，beingperfectlyawareofthis，hadanindependentstandardofadmirationinthematter。

Elfridewasthoroughlyvexed。Shecouldnotbutbestruckwiththehonestyofhisopinions，andtheworstofitwas，thatthemoretheywentagainsther，themoresherespectedthem。Andnow，likearecklessgambler，shehazardedherlastandbesttreasure。

Hereyes:theywereherallnow。

"Whatcolouredeyesdoyoulikebest，Mr。Knight？"shesaidslowly。

"Honestly，orasacompliment？"

"Ofcoursehonestly；Idon"twantanybody"scompliment!"

AndyetElfrideknewotherwise:thatacomplimentorwordofapprovalfromthatmanthenwouldhavebeenlikeawelltoafamishedArab。

"Ipreferhazel，"hesaidserenely。

Shehadplayedandlostagain。

ChapterXIX

"Lovewasinthenextdegree。"

Knighthadnoneofthoselightfamiliaritiesofspeechwhich，byjudicioustouchesofepigrammaticflattery，obliterateawoman"srecollectionofthespeaker"sabstractopinions。Sonomorewassaidbyeitheronthesubjectofhair，eyes，ordevelopment。

Elfride"smindhadbeenimpregnatedwithsentimentsofherownsmallnesstoanuncomfortabledegreeofdistinctness，andherdiscomfortwasvisibleinherface。Thewholetendencyoftheconversationlatterlyhadbeentoquietlybutsurelydisparageher；andshewasfaintotakeStephenintofavourinself-defence。

Hewouldnothavebeensounloving，shesaid，astoadmireanidiosyncrasyandfeaturesdifferentfromherown。True，Stephenhaddeclaredhelovedher:Mr。Knighthadneverdoneanythingofthesort。Somehowthisdidnotmendmatters，andthesensationofhersmallnessinKnight"seyesstillremained。Hadthepositionbeenreversed——hadStephenlovedherinspiteofadifferingtaste，andhadKnightbeenindifferentinspiteofherresemblancetohisideal，itwouldhaveengenderedfarhappierthoughts。Asmattersstood，Stephen"sadmirationmighthaveitsrootinablindnesstheresultofpassion。Perhapsanykeenman"sjudgmentwascondemnatoryofher。

DuringtheremainderofSaturdaytheyweremoreorlessthrownwiththeirseniors，andnoconversationarosewhichwasexclusivelytheirown。WhenElfridewasinbedthatnightherthoughtsrecurredtothesamesubject。Atonemomentsheinsistedthatitwasill-naturedofhimtospeaksodecisivelyashehaddone；thenext，thatitwassterlinghonesty。

"Ah，whatapoornobodyIam!"shesaid，sighing。"Peoplelikehim，whogoaboutthegreatworld，don"tcareintheleastwhatI

amlikeeitherinmoodorfeature。"

Perhapsamanwhohasgotthoroughlyintoawoman"smindinthismanner，ishalfwaytoherheart；thedistancebetweenthosetwostationsisproverbiallyshort。

"Andareyoureallygoingawaythisweek？"saidMrs。SwancourttoKnightonthefollowingevening，whichwasSunday。

Theywereallleisurelyclimbingthehilltothechurch，wherealastservicewasnowtobeheldattheratherexceptionaltimeofeveninginsteadofintheafternoon，previoustothedemolitionoftheruinousportions。