第12章

Herfatherdidnotreply，andElfridelefttheroom。

Shebegantolookoutforthepostmanagain。ThreemorningslaterhebroughtaninlandletterfromStephen。Itcontainedverylittlematter，havingbeenwritteninhaste；butthemeaningwasbulkyenough。Stephensaidthat，havingexecutedacommissioninLiverpool，heshouldarriveathisfather"shouse，EastEndelstow，atfiveorsixo"clockthatsameevening；thathewouldafterduskwalkontothenextvillage，andmeether，ifshewould，inthechurchporch，asintheoldtime。Heproposedthisplanbecausehethoughtitunadvisabletocallformallyatherhousesolateintheevening；yethecouldnotsleepwithouthavingseenher。Theminuteswouldseemhourstillheclaspedherinhisarms。

Elfridewasstillsteadfastinheropinionthathonourcompelledhertomeethim。Probablytheverylongingtoavoidhimlentadditionalweighttotheconviction；forshewasmarkedlyoneofthosewhosighfortheunattainable——towhom，superlatively，ahopeispleasingbecausenotapossession。Andsheknewitsowellthatherintellectwasinclinedtoexaggeratethisdefectinherself。

Soduringthedayshelookedherdutysteadfastlyintheface；

readWordsworth"sastringentyetdepressingodetothatDeity；

committedherselftoherguidance；andstillfelttheweightofchancedesires。

Butshebegantotakeamelancholypleasureincontemplatingthesacrificeofherselftothemanwhomamaidenlysenseofproprietycompelledhertoregardasheronlypossiblehusband。Shewouldmeethim，anddoallthatlayinherpowertomarryhim。Toguardagainstarelapse，anotewasatoncedespatchedtohisfather"scottageforStephenonhisarrival，fixinganhourfortheinterview。

ChapterXXI

"Onthycoldgreystones，Osea!"

StephenhadsaidthatheshouldcomebywayofBristol，andthencebyasteamertoCastleBoterel，inordertoavoidthelongjourneyoverthehillsfromSt。Launce"s。HedidnotknowoftheextensionoftherailwaytoCamelton。

DuringtheafternoonathoughtoccurredtoElfride，thatfromanycliffalongtheshoreitwouldbepossibletoseethesteamersomehoursbeforeitsarrival。

Shehadaccumulatedreligiousforceenoughtodoanactofsupererogation。Theactwasthis——togotosomepointoflandandwatchfortheshipthatbroughtherfuturehusbandhome。

Itwasacloudyafternoon。Elfridewasoftendivertedfromapurposebyadullsky；andthoughsheusedtopersuadeherselfthattheweatherwasasfineaspossibleontheothersideoftheclouds，shecouldnotbringaboutanypracticalresultfromthisfancy。Now，hermoodwassuchthatthehumidskyharmonizedwithit。

Havingascendedandpassedoverahillbehindthehouse，Elfridecametoasmallstream。Sheuseditasaguidetothecoast。Itwassmallerthanthatinherownvalley，andflowedaltogetheratahigherlevel。Busheslinedtheslopesofitsshallowtrough；

butatthebottom，wherethewaterran，wasasoftgreencarpet，inastriptwoorthreeyardswide。

Inwinter，thewaterflowedoverthegrass；insummer，asnow，ittrickledalongachannelinthemidst。

Elfridehadasensationofeyesregardingherfromsomewhere。Sheturned，andtherewasMr。Knight。Hehaddroppedintothevalleyfromthesideofthehill。Shefeltathrillofpleasure，andrebelliouslyallowedittoexist。

"Whatutterlonelinesstofindyouin!"

"Iamgoingtotheshorebytrackingthestream。Ibelieveitemptiesitselfnotfaroff，inasilverthreadofwater，overacascadeofgreatheight。"

"Whydoyouloadyourselfwiththatheavytelescope？"

"Tolookovertheseawithit，"shesaidfaintly。

"I"llcarryitforyoutoyourjourney"send。"Andhetooktheglassfromherunresistinghands。"Itcannotbehalfamilefurther。See，thereisthewater。"Hepointedtoashortfragmentoflevelmuddy-graycolour，cuttingagainstthesky。

Elfridehadalreadyscannedthesmallsurfaceofoceanvisible，andhadseennoship。

Theywalkedalongincompany，sometimeswiththebrookbetweenthem——foritwasnowiderthanaman"sstride——sometimesclosetogether。Thegreencarpetgrewswampy，andtheykepthigherup。

Oneofthetworidgesbetweenwhichtheywalkeddwindledlowerandbecameinsignificant。Thatontherighthandrosewiththeiradvance，andterminatedinaclearlydefinededgeagainstthelight，asifitwereabruptlysawnoff。Alittlefurther，andthebedoftherivuletendedinthesamefashion。

Theyhadcometoabankbreast-high，andoveritthevalleywasnolongertobeseen。Itwaswithdrawncleanlyandcompletely。Initsplacewasskyandboundlessatmosphere；andperpendicularlydownbeneaththem——smallandfaroff——laythecorrugatedsurfaceoftheAtlantic。

Thesmallstreamherefounditsdeath。Runningovertheprecipiceitwasdispersedinspraybeforeitwashalf-waydown，andfallinglikerainuponprojectingledges，mademinutegrassymeadowsofthem。Atthebottomthewater-dropssoakedawayamidthedebrisofthecliff。Thiswastheingloriousendoftheriver。

"Whatareyoulookingfor？saidKnight，followingthedirectionofhereyes。

Shewasgazinghardatablackobject——nearertotheshorethantothehorizon——fromthesummitofwhichcameanebuloushaze，stretchinglikegauzeoverthesea。

"ThePuffin，alittlesummersteamboat——fromBristoltoCastleBoterel，"shesaid。"Ithinkthatisit——look。Willyougivemetheglass？"

Knightpulledopentheold-fashionedbutpowerfultelescope，andhandedittoElfride，whohadlookedonwithheavyeyes。

"Ican"tkeepitupnow，"shesaid。

"Restitonmyshoulder。"

"Itistoohigh。"

"Undermyarm。"

"Toolow。Youmaylookinstead，"shemurmuredweakly。

Knightraisedtheglasstohiseye，andswepttheseatillthePuffinentereditsfield。

"Yes，itisthePuffin——atinycraft。Icanseeherfigure-headdistinctly——abirdwithabeakasbigasitshead。"

"Canyouseethedeck？"

"Waitaminute；yes，prettyclearly。AndIcanseetheblackformsofthepassengersagainstitswhitesurface。Oneofthemhastakensomethingfromanother——aglass，Ithink——yes，itis——

andheislevellingitinthisdirection。Dependuponitweareconspicuousobjectsagainsttheskytothem。Now，itseemstorainuponthem，andtheyputonovercoatsandopenumbrellas。

Theyvanishandgobelow——allbutthatonewhohasborrowedtheglass。Heisaslimyoungfellow，andstillwatchesus。"

Elfridegrewpale，andshiftedherlittlefeetuneasily。

Knightloweredtheglass。

"Ithinkwehadbetterreturn，"hesaid。"Thatcloudwhichisrainingonthemmaysoonreachus。Why，youlookill。Howisthat？"

"Somethingintheairaffectsmyface。"

"Thosefaircheeksareveryfastidious，Ifear，"returnedKnighttenderly。"Thisairwouldmakethoserosythatwereneversobefore，onewouldthink——eh，Nature"sspoiltchild？"

Elfride"scolourreturnedagain。

"Thereismoretoseebehindus，afterall，"saidKnight。

SheturnedherbackupontheboatandStephenSmith，andsaw，toweringstillhigherthanthemselves，theverticalfaceofthehillontheright，whichdidnotprojectseawardsofarasthebedofthevalley，butformedthebackofasmallcove，andsowasvisiblelikeaconcavewall，bendingroundfromtheirpositiontowardstheleft。

Thecompositionofthehugehillwasrevealedtoitsbackboneandmarrowhereatitsrentextremity。Itconsistedofavaststratificationofblackish-grayslate，unvariedinitswholeheightbyasinglechangeofshade。

Itiswithcliffsandmountainsaswithpersons；theyhavewhatiscalledapresence，whichisnotnecessarilyproportionatetotheiractualbulk。Alittlecliffwillimpressyoupowerfully；agreatonenotatall。Itdepends，aswithman，uponthecountenanceofthecliff。

"Icannotbeartolookatthatcliff，"saidElfride。"Ithasahorridpersonality，andmakesmeshudder。Wewillgo。"

"Canyouclimb？"saidKnight。"Ifso，wewillascendbythatpathoverthegrimoldfellow"sbrow。"

"Tryme，"saidElfridedisdainfully。"Ihaveascendedsteeperslopesthanthat。"

Fromwheretheyhadbeenloitering，agrassypathwoundalonginsideabank，placedasasafeguardforunwarypedestrians，tothetopoftheprecipice，andoveritalongthehillinaninlanddirection。

"Takemyarm，MissSwancourt，"saidKnight。

"Icangetonbetterwithoutit，thankyou。"

Whentheywereonequarterofthewayup，Elfridestoppedtotakebreath。Knightstretchedouthishand。

Shetookit，andtheyascendedtheremainingslopetogether。

Reachingtheverytop，theysatdowntorestbymutualconsent。

"Heavens，whatanaltitude!"saidKnightbetweenhispants，andlookingfaroverthesea。Thecascadeatthebottomoftheslopeappearedamerespaninheightfromwheretheywerenow。

Elfridewaslookingtotheleft。Thesteamboatwasinfullviewagain，andbyreasonofthevastsurfaceofseatheirhigherpositionuncovereditseemedalmostclosetotheshore。

"Overthatedge，"saidKnight，"wherenothingbutvacancyappears，isamovingcompactmass。Thewindstrikesthefaceoftherock，runsupit，riseslikeafountaintoaheightfaraboveourheads，curlsoverusinanarch，anddispersesbehindus。Infact，aninvertedcascadeisthere——asperfectastheNiagaraFalls——butrisinginsteadoffalling，andairinsteadofwater。Nowlookhere。"

Knightthrewastoneoverthebank，aimingitasiftogoonwardoverthecliff。Reachingtheverge，ittoweredintotheairlikeabird，turnedback，andalightedonthegroundbehindthem。Theythemselveswereinadeadcalm。

"AboatcrossesNiagaraimmediatelyatthefootofthefalls，wherethewaterisquitestill，thefallenmasscurvingunderit。

Weareinpreciselythesamepositionwithregardtoouratmosphericcataracthere。Ifyourunbackfromtheclifffiftyyards，youwillbeinabriskwind。NowIdaresayoverthebankisalittlebackwardcurrent。"

Knightroseandleantoverthebank。Nosoonerwashisheadaboveitthanhishatappearedtobesuckedfromhishead——slippingoverhisforeheadinaseawarddirection。

"That"sthebackwardeddy，asItoldyou，"hecried，andvanishedoverthelittlebankafterhishat。

Elfridewaitedoneminute；hedidnotreturn。Shewaitedanother，andtherewasnosignofhim。

Afewdropsofrainfell，thenasuddenshower。

Shearose，andlookedoverthebank。Ontheothersideweretwoorthreeyardsoflevelground——thenashortsteeppreparatoryslope——thenthevergeoftheprecipice。

OntheslopewasKnight，hishatonhishead。Hewasonhishandsandknees，tryingtoclimbbacktothelevelground。Therainhadwettedtheshalysurfaceoftheincline。Aslightsuperficialwettingofthesoilhereaboutmadeitfarmoreslipperytostandonthanthesamesoilthoroughlydrenched。Theinnersubstancewasstillhard，andwaslubricatedbythemoistenedfilm。

"Ifindadifficultyingettingback，"saidKnight。

Elfride"sheartfelllikelead。

"Butyoucangetback？"shewildlyinquired。

Knightstrovewithallhismightfortwoorthreeminutes，andthedropsofperspirationbegantobeadhisbrow。

"No，Iamunabletodoit，"heanswered。

Elfride，byawrenchofthought，forcedawayfromhermindthesensationthatKnightwasinbodilydanger。Butattempttohelphimshemust。Sheventureduponthetreacherousincline，proppedherselfwiththeclosedtelescope，andgavehimherhandbeforehesawhermovements。

"OElfride!whydidyou？"saidhe。"Iamafraidyouhaveonlyendangeredyourself。"

Andasiftoprovehisstatement，inmakinganendeavourbyherassistancetheybothslippedlower，andthenhewasagainstayed。

Hisfootwasproppedbyabracketofquartzrock，balancedonthevergeoftheprecipice。Fixedbythis，hesteadiedher，herheadbeingaboutafootbelowthebeginningoftheslope。Elfridehaddroppedtheglass；itrolledtotheedgeandvanishedoveritintoanethersky。

"Holdtightlytome，"hesaid。

Sheflungherarmsroundhisneckwithsuchafirmgraspthatwhilstheremaineditwasimpossibleforhertofall。

"Don"tbeflurried，"Knightcontinued。"Solongaswestayabovethisblockweareperfectlysafe。WaitamomentwhilstIconsiderwhatwehadbetterdo。"

Heturnedhiseyestothedizzydepthsbeneaththem，andsurveyedthepositionofaffairs。

Twoglancestoldhimatalewithghastlydistinctness。Itwasthat，unlesstheyperformedtheirfeatofgettinguptheslopewiththeprecisionofmachines，theywereovertheedgeandwhirlinginmid-air。

Forthispurposeitwasnecessarythatheshouldrecoverthebreathandstrengthwhichhispreviouseffortshadcosthim。Sohestillwaited，andlookedinthefaceoftheenemy。

Thecrestofthisterriblenaturalfacadepassedamongtheneighbouringinhabitantsasbeingsevenhundredfeetabovethewateritoverhung。Ithadbeenprovedbyactualmeasurementtobenotafootlessthansixhundredandfifty。

Thatistosay，itisnearlythreetimestheheightofFlamborough，halfashighagainastheSouthForeland，ahundredfeethigherthanBeachyHead——theloftiestpromontoryontheeastorsouthsideofthisisland——twicetheheightofSt。Aldhelm"s，thriceashighastheLizard，andjustdoubletheheightofSt。

Bee"s。Onesea-bordpointonthewesterncoastisknowntosurpassitinaltitude，butonlybyafewfeet。ThisisGreatOrme"sHead，inCaernarvonshire。

Anditmustberememberedthatthecliffexhibitsanintensifyingfeaturewhichsomeofthosearewithout——sheerperpendicularityfromthehalf-tidelevel。

Yetthisremarkablerampartformsnoheadland:itratherwallsinaninlet——thepromontoryoneachsidebeingmuchlower。Thus，farfrombeingsalient，itshorizontalsectionisconcave。Thesea，rollingdirectfromtheshoresofNorthAmerica，hasinfacteatenachasmintothemiddleofahill，andthegiant，embayedandunobtrusive，standsintherearofpigmysupporters。Notleastsingularly，neitherhill，chasm，norprecipicehasaname。OnthisaccountIwillcalltheprecipicetheCliffwithoutaName。*

*SeePrefaceWhatgaveanaddedterrortoitsheightwasitsblackness。Anduponthisdarkfacethebeatingoftenthousandwestwindshadformedakindofbloom，whichhadavisualeffectnotunlikethatofaHambro"grape。Moreoveritseemedtofloatoffintotheatmosphere，andinspireterrorthroughthelungs。

"Thispieceofquartz，supportingmyfeet，isontheverynoseofthecliff，"saidKnight，breakingthesilenceafterhisrigidstoicalmeditation。"Nowwhatyouaretodoisthis。Clamberupmybodytillyourfeetareonmyshoulders:whenyouarethereyouwill，Ithink，beabletoclimbontolevelground。"

"Whatwillyoudo？"

"Waitwhilstyourunforassistance。"

"Ioughttohavedonethatinthefirstplace，oughtInot？"

"Iwasintheactofslipping，andshouldhavereachednostand-

pointwithoutyourweight，inallprobability。Butdon"tletustalk。Bebrave，Elfride，andclimb。"

Shepreparedtoascend，saying，"ThisisthemomentIanticipatedwhenonthetower。Ithoughtitwouldcome!"

"Thisisnotatimeforsuperstition，"saidKnight。"Dismissallthat。"

"Iwill，"shesaidhumbly。

"Nowputyourfootintomyhand:nexttheother。That"sgood——

welldone。Holdtomyshoulder。"

Sheplacedherfeetuponthestirruphemadeofhishand，andwashighenoughtogetaviewofthenaturalsurfaceofthehilloverthebank。

"Canyounowclimbontolevelground？"

"Iamafraidnot。Iwilltry。"

"Whatcanyousee？"

"Theslopingcommon。"

"Whatuponit？"

"Purpleheatherandsomegrass。"

"Nothingmore——nomanorhumanbeingofanykind？"

"Nobody。"

"Nowtrytogethigherinthisway。Youseethattuftofsea-pinkaboveyou。Getthatwellintoyourhand，butdon"ttrusttoitentirely。Thenstepuponmyshoulder，andIthinkyouwillreachthetop。"

Withtremblinglimbsshedidexactlyashetoldher。Thepreternaturalquietandsolemnityofhismanneroverspreaduponherself，andgaveheracouragenotherown。Shemadeaspringfromthetopofhisshoulder，andwasup。

Thensheturnedtolookathim。

Byanillfate，theforcedownwardsofherbound，addedtohisownweight，hadbeentoomuchfortheblockofquartzuponwhichhisfeetdepended。Itwas，indeed，originallyanigneousprotrusionintotheenormousmassesofblackstrata，whichhadsincebeenwornawayfromthesidesofthealienfragmentbycenturiesoffrostandrain，andnowleftitwithoutmuchsupport。

Itmoved。Knightseizedatuftofsea-pinkwitheachhand。

Thequartzrockwhichhadbeenhissalvationwasworsethanuselessnow。Itrolledover，outofsight，andawayintothesamenetherskythathadengulfedthetelescope。

Oneofthetuftsbywhichheheldcameoutattheroot，andKnightbegantofollowthequartz。Itwasaterriblemoment。Elfrideutteredalowwildwailofagony，bowedherhead，andcoveredherfacewithherhands。

Betweentheturf-coveredslopeandthegiganticperpendicularrockintervenedaweather-wornseriesofjaggededges，formingafaceyetsteeperthantheformerslope。Asheslowlyslidinchbyinchuponthese，Knightmadealastdesperatedashatthelowesttuftofvegetation——thelastoutlyingknotofstarvedherbageeretherockappearedinallitsbareness。Itarrestedhisfurtherdescent。Knightwasnowliterallysuspendedbyhisarms；buttheinclineofthebrowbeingwhatengineerswouldcallaboutaquarterinone，itwassufficienttorelievehisarmsofaportionofhisweight，butwasveryfarfromofferinganadequatelyflatfacetosupporthim。

Inspiteofthisdreadfultensionofbodyandmind，Knightfoundtimeforamomentofthankfulness。Elfridewassafe。

Shelayonhersideabovehim——herfingersclasped。Seeinghimagainsteady，shejumpeduponherfeet。

"Now，ifIcanonlysaveyoubyrunningforhelp!"shecried。

"Oh，Iwouldhavediedinstead!Whydidyoutrysohardtodeliverme？"Andsheturnedawaywildlytorunforassistance。

"Elfride，howlongwillittakeyoutoruntoEndelstowandback？"

"Three-quartersofanhour。"

"Thatwon"tdo；myhandswillnotholdouttenminutes。Andistherenobodynearer？"

"No；unlessachancepassermayhappentobe。"

"Hewouldhavenothingwithhimthatcouldsaveme。Isthereapoleorstickofanykindonthecommon？"

Shegazedaround。Thecommonwasbareofeverythingbutheatherandgrass。

Aminute——perhapsmoretime——waspassedinmutethoughtbyboth。

Onasuddentheblankandhelplessagonyleftherface。Shevanishedoverthebankfromhissight。

Knightfelthimselfinthepresenceofapersonalizedlonliness。

ChapterXXII

"Awoman"sway。"

Haggardcliffs，ofeveryuglyaltitude，areascommonassea-fowlalongthelineofcoastbetweenExmoorandLand"sEnd；butthisoutflankedandencompassedspecimenwastheugliestofthemall。

Theirsummitsarenotsafeplacesforscientificexperimentontheprinciplesofair-currents，asKnighthadnowfound，tohisdismay。

Hestillclutchedthefaceoftheescarpment——notwiththefrenziedholdofdespair，butwithadoggeddeterminationtomakethemostofhiseveryjotofendurance，andsogivethelongestpossiblescopetoElfride"sintentions，whatevertheymightbe。

Hereclinedhandinhandwiththeworldinitsinfancy。Notablade，notaninsect，whichspokeofthepresent，wasbetweenhimandthepast。Theinveterateantagonismoftheseblackprecipicestoallstrugglersforlifeisinnowaymoreforciblysuggestedthanbythepaucityoftuftsofgrass，lichens，orconfervaeontheiroutermostledges。

KnightponderedonthemeaningofElfride"shastydisappearance，butcouldnotavoidaninstinctiveconclusionthatthereexistedbutadoubtfulhopeforhim。Asfarashecouldjudge，hissolechanceofdeliverancelayinthepossibilityofaropeorpolebeingbrought；andthispossibilitywasremoteindeed。Thesoiluponthesehighdownswasleftsountendedthattheywereunenclosedformiles，exceptbyacasualbankordrywall，andwererarelyvisitedbutforthepurposeofcollectingorcountingtheflockwhichfoundascantymeansofsubsistencethereon。

Atfirst，whendeathappearedimprobable，becauseithadnevervisitedhimbefore，Knightcouldthinkofnofuture，norofanythingconnectedwithhispast。HecouldonlylooksternlyatNature"streacherousattempttoputanendtohim，andstrivetothwarther。

Fromthefactthatthecliffformedtheinnerfaceofthesegmentofahugecylinder，havingtheskyforatopandtheseaforabottom，whichenclosedthecovetotheextentofmorethanasemicircle，hecouldseetheverticalfacecurvingroundoneachsideofhim。Helookedfardownthefacade，andrealizedmorethoroughlyhowitthreatenedhim。Grimnesswasineveryfeature，andtoitsverybowelstheinimicalshapewasdesolation。

Byoneofthosefamiliarconjunctionsofthingswherewiththeinanimateworldbaitsthemindofmanwhenhepausesinmomentsofsuspense，oppositeKnight"seyeswasanimbeddedfossil，standingforthinlowrelieffromtherock。Itwasacreaturewitheyes。

Theeyes，deadandturnedtostone，wereevennowregardinghim。

ItwasoneoftheearlycrustaceanscalledTrilobites。Separatedbymillionsofyearsintheirlives，Knightandthisunderlingseemedtohavemetintheirdeath。Itwasthesingleinstancewithinreachofhisvisionofanythingthathadeverbeenaliveandhadhadabodytosave，ashehimselfhadnow。

Thecreaturerepresentedbutalowtypeofanimalexistence，forneverintheirvernalyearshadtheplainsindicatedbythosenumberlessslatylayersbeentraversedbyanintelligenceworthyofthename。Zoophytes，mollusca，shell-fish，werethehighestdevelopmentsofthoseancientdates。Theimmenselapsesoftimeeachformationrepresentedhadknownnothingofthedignityofman。Theyweregrandtimes，buttheyweremeantimestoo，andmeanweretheirrelics。Hewastobewiththesmallinhisdeath。

Knightwasageologist；andsuchisthesupremacyofhabitoveroccasion，asapioneerofthethoughtsofmen，thatatthisdreadfuljuncturehismindfoundtimetotakein，byamomentarysweep，thevariedscenesthathadhadtheirdaybetweenthiscreature"sepochandhisown。Thereisnoplacelikeacleftlandscapeforbringinghomesuchimaginingsasthese。

Timecloseduplikeafanbeforehim。Hesawhimselfatoneextremityoftheyears，facetofacewiththebeginningandalltheintermediatecenturiessimultaneously。Fiercemen，clothedinthehidesofbeasts，andcarrying，fordefenceandattack，hugeclubsandpointedspears，rosefromtherock，likethephantomsbeforethedoomedMacbeth。Theylivedinhollows，woods，andmudhuts——perhapsincavesoftheneighbouringrocks。Behindthemstoodanearlierband。Nomanwasthere。Hugeelephantineforms，themastodon，thehippopotamus，thetapir，antelopesofmonstroussize，themegatherium，andthemyledon——all，forthemoment，injuxtaposition。Furtherback，andoverlappedbythese，wereperchedhuge-billedbirdsandswinishcreaturesaslargeashorses。Stillmoreshadowywerethesinistercrocodilianoutlines——alligatorsandotheruncouthshapes，culminatinginthecolossallizard，theiguanodon。Foldedbehindweredragonformsandcloudsofflyingreptiles:stillunderneathwerefishybeingsoflowerdevelopment；andsoon，tillthelifetimescenesofthefossilconfrontinghimwereapresentandmodernconditionofthings。TheseimagespassedbeforeKnight"sinnereyeinlessthanhalfaminute，andhewasagainconsideringtheactualpresent。Washetodie？ThementalpictureofElfrideintheworld，withouthimselftocherishher，smotehisheartlikeawhip。Hehadhopedfordeliverance，butwhatcouldagirldo？Hedarednotmoveaninch。WasDeathreallystretchingouthishand？

Theprevioussensation，thatitwasimprobablehewoulddie，wasfainternow。

However，Knightstillclungtothecliff。

Tothosemusingweather-beatenWest-countryfolkwhopassthegreaterpartoftheirdaysandnightsoutofdoors，Natureseemstohavemoodsinotherthanapoeticalsense:predilectionsforcertaindeedsatcertaintimes，withoutanyapparentlawtogovernorseasontoaccountforthem。Sheisreadasapersonwithacurioustemper；asonewhodoesnotscatterkindnessesandcrueltiesalternately，impartially，andinorder，butheartlessseveritiesoroverwhelminggenerositiesinlawlesscaprice。Man"scaseisalwaysthatoftheprodigal"sfavouriteorthemiser"spensioner。Inherunfriendlymomentsthereseemsafelinefuninhertricks，begottenbyaforetasteofherpleasureinswallowingthevictim。

SuchawayofthinkinghadbeenabsurdtoKnight，buthebegantoadoptitnow。Hewasfirstspittedontoarock。Newtorturesfollowed。Therainincreased，andpersecutedhimwithanexceptionalpersistencywhichhewasmovedtobelieveoweditscausetothefactthathewasinsuchawretchedstatealready。

Anentirelyneworderofthingscouldbeobservedinthisintroductionofrainuponthescene。Itrainedupwardsinsteadofdown。Thestrongascendingaircarriedtherain-dropswithitinitsraceuptheescarpment，comingtohimwithsuchvelocitythattheystuckintohisfleshlikecoldneedles。Eachdropwasvirtuallyashaft，anditpiercedhimtohisskin。Thewater-

shaftsseemedtolifthimontheirpoints:nodownwardraineverhadsuchatorturingeffect。Inabriefspacehewasdrenched，exceptintwoplaces。Thesewereonthetopofhisshouldersandonthecrownofhishat。

Thewind，thoughnotintenseinothersituationswasstronghere。

Ittuggedathiscoatandliftedit。Wearemostlyaccustomedtolookuponalloppositionwhichisnotanimate，asthatofthestolid，inexorablehandofindifference，whichwearsoutthepatiencemorethanthestrength。Here，atanyrate，hostilitydidnotassumethatslowandsickeningform。Itwasacosmicagency，active，lashing，eagerforconquest:determination；notaninsensatestandingintheway。

Knighthadover-estimatedthestrengthofhishands。Theyweregettingweakalready。"Shewillnevercomeagain；shehasbeengonetenminutes，"hesaidtohimself。

Thismistakearosefromtheunusualcompressionofhisexperiencesjustnow:shehadreallybeengonebutthree。

"Asmanymoreminuteswillbemyend，"hethought。

Nextcameanotherinstanceoftheincapacityofthemindtomakecomparisonsatsuchtimes。

"Thisisasummerafternoon，"hesaid，"andtherecanneverhavebeensuchaheavyandcoldrainonasummerdayinmylifebefore。"

Hewasagainmistaken。Therainwasquiteordinaryinquantity；

theairintemperature。Itwas，asisusual，themenacingattitudeinwhichtheyapproachedhimthatmagnifiedtheirpowers。

Heagainlookedstraightdownwards，thewindandthewater-dashesliftinghismoustache，scuddinguphischeeks，underhiseyelids，andintohiseyes。Thisiswhathesawdownthere:thesurfaceofthesea——visuallyjustpasthistoes，andunderhisfeet；actuallyone-eighthofamile，ormorethantwohundredyards，belowthem。

Wecolouraccordingtoourmoodstheobjectswesurvey。Theseawouldhavebeenadeepneutralblue，hadhappierauspicesattendedthegazeritwasnownootherwisethandistinctlyblacktohisvision。Thatnarrowwhiteborderwasfoam，heknewwell；butitsboisteroustossesweresodistantastoappearapulsationonly，anditsplashingwasbarelyaudible。Awhitebordertoablacksea——hisfuneralpallanditsedging。

Theworldwastosomeextentturnedupsidedownforhim。Raindescendedfrombelow。Beneathhisfeetwasaerialspaceandtheunknown；abovehimwasthefirm，familiarground，anduponitallthathelovedbest。

Pitilessnaturehadthentwovoices，andtwoonly。Thenearerwasthevoiceofthewindinhisearsrisingandfallingasitmauledandthrusthimhardorsoftly。Thesecondanddistantonewasthemoanofthatunplummettedoceanbelowandafar——rubbingitsrestlessflankagainsttheCliffwithoutaName。

Knightperseveringlyheldfast。HadheanyfaithinElfride？

Perhaps。Loveisfaith，andfaith，likeagatheredflower，willrootlesslyliveon。

Nobodywouldhaveexpectedthesuntoshineonsuchaneveningasthis。Yetitappeared，lowdownuponthesea。Notwithitsnaturalgoldenfringe，sweepingthefurthestendsofthelandscape，notwiththestrangeglareofwhitenesswhichitsometimesputsonasanalternativetocolour，butasasplotchofvermilionreduponaleadenground——aredfacelookingonwithadrunkenleer。

Mostmenwhohavebrainsknowit，andfewaresofoolishastodisguisethisfactfromthemselvesorothers，eventhoughanostentatiousdisplaymaybecalledself-conceit。Knight，withoutshowingitmuch，knewthathisintellectwasabovetheaverage。

Andhethought——hecouldnothelpthinking——thathisdeathwouldbeadeliberatelosstoearthofgoodmaterial；thatsuchanexperimentinkillingmighthavebeenpractiseduponsomelessdevelopedlife。

Afancysomepeoplehold，wheninabittermood，isthatinexorablecircumstanceonlytriestopreventwhatintelligenceattempts。Renounceadesireforalong-contestedposition，andgoonanothertack，andafterawhiletheprizeisthrownatyou，seeminglyindisappointmentthatnomoretantalizingispossible。

Knightgaveupthoughtsoflifeutterlyandentirely，andturnedtocontemplatetheDarkValleyandtheunknownfuturebeyond。

Intotheshadowydepthsofthesespeculationswewillnotfollowhim。Letitsufficetostatewhatensued。

Atthatmomentoftakingnomorethoughtforthislife，somethingdisturbedtheoutlineofthebankabovehim。Aspotappeared。ItwastheheadofElfride。

Knightimmediatelypreparedtowelcomelifeagain。

Theexpressionofafaceconsignedtoutterloneliness，whenafriendfirstlooksinuponit，ismovingintheextreme。Inrowingseawardtoalight-shiporsea-girtlighthouse，where，withoutanyimmediateterrorofdeath，theinmatesexperiencethegloomofmonotonousseclusion，thegratefuleloquenceoftheircountenancesatthegreeting，expressiveofthankfulnessforthevisit，isenoughtostirtheemotionsofthemostcarelessobserver。

Knight"supwardlookatElfridewasofanaturewith，butfartranscending，suchaninstanceasthis。Thelinesofhisfacehaddeepenedtofurrows，andeveryoneofthemthankedhervisibly。

Hislipsmovedtotheword"Elfride，"thoughtheemotionevolvednosound。Hiseyespassedalldescriptionintheircombinationofthewholediapasonofeloquence，fromlover"sdeeplovetofellow-

man"sgratitudeforatokenofremembrancefromoneofhiskind。

Elfridehadcomeback。Whatshehadcometodohedidnotknow。

Shecouldonlylookonathisdeath，perhaps。Still，shehadcomeback，andnotdesertedhimutterly，anditwasmuch。

ItwasanoveltyintheextremetoseeHenryKnight，towhomElfridewasbutachild，whohadswayedherasatreeswaysabird"snest，whomasteredherandmadeherweepmostbitterlyatherowninsignificance，thusthankfulforasightofherface。

Shelookeddownuponhim，herfaceglisteningwithrainandtears。

Hesmiledfaintly。

"Howcalmheis!"shethought。"Howgreatandnobleheistobesocalm!"Shewouldhavediedtentimesforhimthen。

Theglidingformofthesteamboatcaughthereye:sheheededitnolonger。

"Howmuchlongercanyouwait？"camefromherpalelipsandalongthewindtohisposition。

"Fourminutes，"saidKnightinaweakervoicethanherown。

"Butwithagoodhopeofbeingsaved？"

"Sevenoreight。"

Henownoticedthatinherarmssheboreabundleofwhitelinen，andthatherformwassingularlyattenuated。SopreternaturallythinandflexiblewasElfrideatthismoment，thatsheappearedtobendunderthelightblowsoftherain-shafts，astheystruckintohersidesandbosom，andsplinteredintosprayonherface。Thereisnothinglikeathoroughdrenchingforreducingtheprotuberancesofclothes，butElfride"sseemedtoclingtoherlikeaglove。

Withoutheedingtheattackofthecloudsfurtherthanbyraisingherhandandwipingawaythespirtsofrainwhentheywentmoreparticularlyintohereyes，shesatdownandhurriedlybeganrendingthelinenintostrips。Thesesheknottedendtoend，andafterwardstwistedthemlikethestrandsofacord。Inashortspaceoftimeshehadformedaperfectropebythismeans，sixorsevenyardslong。

"CanyouwaitwhileIbindit？"shesaid，anxiouslyextendinghergazedowntohim。

"Yes，ifnotverylong。Hopehasgivenmeawonderfulinstalmentofstrength。"

Elfridedroppedhereyesagain，toretheremainingmaterialintonarrowtape-likeligaments，knottedeachtoeachasbefore，butonasmallerscale，andwoundthelengthystringshehadthusformedroundandroundthelinenrope，which，withoutthisbinding，hadatendencytospreadabroad。

"Now，"saidKnight，who，watchingtheproceedingsintently，hadbythistimenotonlygraspedherscheme，butreasonedfurtheron，"I

canholdthreeminuteslongeryet。Anddoyouusethetimeintestingthestrengthoftheknots，onebyone。"

Sheatonceobeyed，testedeachsinglybyputtingherfootontheropebetweeneachknot，andpullingwithherhands。Oneoftheknotsslipped。

"Oh，think!Itwouldhavebrokenbutforyourforethought，"

Elfrideexclaimedapprehensively。

Sheretiedthetwoends。Theropewasnowfirmineverypart。

"Whenyouhaveletitdown，"saidKnight，alreadyresuminghispositionofrulingpower，"gobackfromtheedgeoftheslope，andoverthebankasfarastheropewillallowyou。Thenleandown，andholdtheendwithbothhands。"

Hehadfirstthoughtofasaferplanforhisowndeliverance，butitinvolvedthedisadvantageofpossiblyendangeringherlife。

"Ihavetieditroundmywaist，"shecried，"andIwillleandirectlyuponthebank，holdingwithmyhandsaswell。"

Itwasthearrangementhehadthoughtof，butwouldnotsuggest。

"IwillraiseanddropitthreetimeswhenIambehindthebank，"

shecontinued，"tosignifythatIamready。Takecare，oh，takethegreatestcare，Ibegyou!"

Shedroppedtheropeoverhim，tolearnhowmuchofitslengthitwouldbenecessarytoexpendonthatsideofthebank，wentback，anddisappearedasshehaddonebefore。

TheropewastrailingbyKnight"sshoulders。Inafewmomentsittwitchedthreetimes。

Hewaitedyetasecondortwo，thenlaidhold。

Theinclineofthisupperportionoftheprecipice，tothelengthonlyofafewfeet，uselesstoaclimberempty-handed，wasinvaluablenow。Notmorethanhalfhisweightdependedentirelyonthelinenrope。Halfadozenextensionsofthearms，alternatingwithhalfadozenseizuresoftheropewithhisfeet，broughthimuptothelevelofthesoil。

Hewassaved，andbyElfride。

Heextendedhiscrampedlimbslikeanawakenedsleeper，andsprangoverthebank。

Atsightofhimsheleapttoherfeetwithalmostashriekofjoy。

Knight"seyesmethers，andwithsupremeeloquencetheglanceofeachtoldalong-concealedtaleofemotioninthatshorthalf-

moment。Movedbyanimpulseneithercouldresist，theyrantogetherandintoeachother"sarms。

Atthemomentofembracing，Elfride"seyesinvoluntarilyflashedtowardsthePuffinsteamboat。Ithaddoubledthepoint，andwasnolongertobeseen。

Anoverwhelmingrushofexultationathavingdeliveredthemanshereveredfromoneofthemostterribleformsofdeath，shookthegentlegirltothecentreofhersoul。ItmergedinadefianceofdutytoStephen，andatotalrecklessnessastoplightedfaith。

Everynerveofherwillwasnowinentiresubjectiontoherfeeling——volitionasaguidingpowerhadforsakenher。Toremainpassive，assheremainednow，encircledbyhisarms，wasasufficientlycompleteresult——agloriouscrowntoalltheyearsofherlife。Perhapshewasonlygrateful，anddidnotloveher。Nomatter:itwasinfinitelymoretobeeventheslaveofthegreaterthanthequeenoftheless。Somesuchsensationasthis，thoughitwasnotrecognizedasafinishedthought，racedalongtheimpressionablesoulofElfride。

Regardingtheirattitude，itwasimpossiblefortwopersonstogonearertoakissthanwentKnightandElfrideduringthoseminutesofimpulsiveembraceinthepeltingrain。Yettheydidnotkiss。

Knight"speculiarityofnaturewassuchthatitwouldnotallowhimtotakeadvantageoftheunguardedandpassionateavowalshehadtacitlymade。

Elfriderecoveredherself，andgentlystruggledtobefree。

Hereluctantlyrelinquishedher，andthensurveyedherfromcrowntotoe。Sheseemedassmallasaninfant。Heperceivedwhenceshehadobtainedtherope。

"Elfride，myElfride!"heexclaimedingratifiedamazement。

"Imustleaveyounow，"shesaid，herfacedoublingitsred，withanexpressionbetweengladnessandshame"Youfollowme，butatsomedistance。"

"Therainandwindpierceyouthrough；thechillwillkillyou。

Godblessyouforsuchdevotion!Takemycoatandputiton。"

"No；Ishallgetwarmrunning。"

Elfridehadabsolutelynothingbetweenherandtheweatherbutherexteriorrobeor"costume。"Thedoorhadbeenmadeuponawoman"swit，andithadfounditswayout。Behindthebank，whilstKnightreclineduponthedizzyslopewaitingfordeath，shehadtakenoffherwholeclothing，andreplacedonlyherouterbodiceandskirt。

Everythreadoftheremainderlayuponthegroundintheformofawoollenandcottonrope。

"Iamusedtobeingwetthrough，"sheadded。"IhavebeendrenchedonPansydozensoftimes。Good-byetillwemeet，clothedandinourrightminds，bythefiresideathome!"

Shethenranofffromhimthroughthepeltingrainlikeahare；ormorelikeapheasantwhen，scamperingawaywithaloweredtail，ithasamindtofly，butdoesnot。Elfridewassoonoutofsight。