第14章

ThesuddennessofElfride"srenunciationofhimselfwasfoodformoretorture。Toanunimpassionedoutsider，itadmittedofatleasttwointerpretations——itmighteitherhaveproceededfromanendeavourtobefaithfultoherfirstchoice，tilltheloverseenabsolutelyoverpoweredtheloverremembered，orfromawishnottolosehislovetillsureoftheloveofanother。ButtoStephenSmiththemotiveinvolvedinthelatteralternativemadeituntenablewhereElfridewastheactor。

Hemusedonherletterstohim，inwhichshehadnevermentionedasyllableconcerningKnight。Itisdesirable，however，toobservethatonlyintwoletterscouldshepossiblyhavedoneso。OnewaswrittenaboutaweekbeforeKnight"sarrival，when，thoughshedidnotmentionhispromisedcomingtoStephen，shehadhardlyadefinitereasoninhermindforneglectingtodoit。InthenextshedidcasuallyalludetoKnight。ButStephenhadleftBombaylongbeforethatletterarrived。

Stephenlookedattheblackformoftheadjacenthouse，whereitcutadarkpolygonalnotchoutofthesky，andfeltthathehatedthespot。Hedidnotknowmanyfactsofthecase，butcouldnothelpinstinctivelyassociatingElfride"sficklenesswiththemarriageofherfather，andtheirintroductiontoLondonsociety。

Heclosedtheirongateboundingtheshrubberyasnoiselesslyashehadopenedit，andwentintothegrassyfield。Herehecouldseetheoldvicarage，thehousealonethatwasassociatedwiththesweetpleasanttimeofhisincipientloveforElfride。Turningsadlyfromtheplacethatwasnolongeranookinwhichhisthoughtsmightnestlewhenhewasfaraway，hewanderedinthedirectionoftheeastvillage，toreachhisfather"shousebeforetheyretiredtorest。

Thenearestwaytothecottagewasbycrossingthepark。Hedidnothurry。Happinessfrequentlyhasreasonforhaste，butitisseldomthatdesolationneedscrambleorstrain。Sometimeshepausedunderthelow-hangingarmsofthetrees，lookingvacantlyontheground。

Stephenwasstandingthus，scarcelylesscrippledinthoughtthanhewasblankinvision，whenaclearsoundpermeatedthequietairabouthim，andspreadonfarbeyond。ThesoundwasthestrokeofabellfromthetowerofEastEndelstowChurch，whichstoodinadellnotfortyyardsfromLordLuxellian"smansion，andwithintheparkenclosure。Anotherstrokegreetedhisear，andgavecharactertoboth:thencameaslowsuccessionofthem。

"Somebodyisdead，"hesaidaloud。

Thedeath-knellofaninhabitantoftheeasternparishwasbeingtolled。

AnunusualfeatureinthetollingwasthatithadnotbeenbegunaccordingtothecustominEndelstowandotherparishesintheneighbourhood。Ateverydeaththesexandageofthedeceasedwereannouncedbyasystemofchanges。Threetimesthreestrokessignifiedthatthedepartedonewasaman；threetimestwo，awoman；twicethree，aboy；twicetwo，agirl。Theregularcontinuityofthetollingsuggestedthatitwastheresumptionratherthanthebeginningofaknell——theopeningportionofwhichStephenhadnotbeennearenoughtohear。

Themomentaryanxietyhehadfeltwithregardtohisparentspassedaway。Hehadlefttheminperfecthealth，andhadanyseriousillnessseizedeither，acommunicationwouldhavereachedhimerethis。Atthesametime，sincehiswayhomewardlayunderthechurchyardyews，heresolvedtolookintothebelfryinpassingby，andspeakawordtoMartinCannister，whowouldbethere。

Stephenreachedthebrowofthehill，andfeltinclinedtorenouncehisidea。Hismoodwassuchthattalkingtoanypersontowhomhecouldnotunburdenhimselfwouldbewearisome。

However，beforehecouldputanyinclinationintoeffect，theyoungmansawfromamidthetreesabrightlightshining，theraysfromwhichradiatedlikeneedlesthroughthesadplumyfoliageoftheyews。Itsdirectionwasfromthecentreofthechurchyard。

Stephenmechanicallywentforward。Nevercouldtherebeagreatercontrastbetweentwoplacesoflikepurposethanbetweenthisgraveyardandthatofthefurthervillage。Herethegrasswascarefullytended，andformedvirtuallyapartofthemanor-houselawn；flowersandshrubsbeingplantedindiscriminatelyoverboth，whilstthefewgravesvisibleweremathematicallyexactinshapeandsmoothness，appearinginthedaytimelikechinsnewlyshaven。

Therewasnowall，thedivisionbetweenGod"sAcreandLordLuxellian"sbeingmarkedonlybyafewsquarestonessetatequidistantpoints。Amongthosepersonswhohaveromanticsentimentsonthesubjectoftheirlastdwelling-place，probablythegreaternumberwouldhavechosensuchaspotasthisinpreferencetoanyother:afewwouldhavefanciedaconstraintinitstrimneatness，andwouldhavepreferredthewildhill-topoftheneighbouringsite，withNatureinhermostnegligentattire。

Thelightinthechurchyardhenextdiscoveredtohaveitssourceinapointveryneartheground，andStephenimagineditmightcomefromalanternintheinteriorofapartly-duggrave。Butanearerapproachshowedhimthatitspositionwasimmediatelyunderthewalloftheaisle，andwithinthemouthofanarchway。Hecouldnowhearvoices，andthetruthofthewholematterbegantodawnuponhim。Walkingontowardstheopening，Smithdiscernedonhislefthandaheapofearth，andbeforehimaflightofstonestepswhichtheremovedearthhaduncovered，leadingdownundertheedifice。Itwastheentrancetoalargefamilyvault，extendingunderthenorthaisle。

Stephenhadneverbeforeseenitopen，anddescendingoneortwostepsstoopedtolookunderthearch。Thevaultappearedtobecrowdedwithcoffins，withtheexceptionofanopencentralspace，whichhadbeennecessarilykeptfreeforingressandaccesstothesides，roundthreeofwhichthecoffinswerestackedinstonebinsorniches。

Theplacewaswelllightedwithcandlesstuckinslipsofwoodthatwerefastenedtothewall。Onmakingthedescentofanotherstepthelivinginhabitantsofthevaultwererecognizable。Theywerehisfatherthemaster-mason，anunder-mason，MartinCannister，andtwoorthreeyoungandoldlabouring-men。Crowbarsandworkmen"shammerswerescatteredabout。Thewholecompany，sittingroundoncoffinswhichhadbeenremovedfromtheirplaces，apparentlyforsomealterationorenlargementofthevault，wereeatingbreadandcheese，anddrinkingalefromacupwithtwohandles，passedroundfromeachtoeach。

"Whoisdead？"Stepheninquired，steppingdown。

ChapterXXVI

"Tothatlastnothingunderearth。"

AlleyeswereturnedtotheentranceasStephenspoke，andtheancient-manneredconclavescrutinizedhiminquiringly。

"Why，"tisourStephen!"saidhisfather，risingfromhisseat；

and，stillretainingthefrothymuginhislefthand，heswungforwardhisrightforagrasp。"Yourmotherisexpectingye——

thoughtyouwouldhavecomeaforedark。Butyou"llwaitandgohomewithme？Ihaveallbutdonefortheday，andwasgoingdirectly。"

"Yes，"tisMasterStephy，sureenough。Gladtoseeyousosoonagain，MasterSmith，"saidMartinCannister，chasteningthegladnessexpressedinhiswordsbyastrictneutralityofcountenance，inordertoharmonizethefeelingasmuchaspossiblewiththesolemnityofafamilyvault。

"Thesametoyou，Martin；andyou，William，"saidStephen，noddingaroundtotherest，who，havingtheirmouthsfullofbreadandcheese，wereofnecessitycompelledtoreplymerelybycompressingtheireyestofriendlylinesandwrinkles。

"Andwhoisdead？"Stephenrepeated。

"LadyLuxellian，poorgentlewoman，asweallshall，saidtheunder-mason。"Ay，andwebegoingtoenlargethevaulttomakeroomforher。"

"Whendidshedie？"

"Earlythismorning，"hisfatherreplied，withanappearanceofrecurringtoachronicthought。"Yes，thismorning。Martinhevbeentollingeversince，almost。There，"twasexpected。Shewasverylimber。"

"Ay，poorsoul，thismorning，"resumedtheunder-mason，amarvellouslyoldman，whoseskinseemedsomuchtoolargeforhisbodythatitwouldnotstayinposition。"Shemustknowbythistimewhethershe"stogoupordown，poorwoman。"

"Whatwasherage？"

"Notmorethansevenoreightandtwentybycandlelight。But，Lord!byday"awasfortyif"awereanhour。"

"Ay，night-timeorday-timemakesadifferenceoftwentyyearstorichfeymels，"observedMartin。

"Shewasoneandthirtyreally，"saidJohnSmith。"Ihaditfromthemthatknow。"

"Notmorethanthat!"

""Alookedverybad，poorlady。Infaith，yemightsayshewasdeadforyearsafore"awouldownit。"

"Asmyoldfatherusedtosay，"dead，butwouldn"tdropdown。”"

"Iseedher，poorsoul，"saidalabourerfrombehindsomeremovedcoffins，"onlybutlastValentine"s-dayofalltheworld。"Awasarmincrookwi"mylord。Isaystomyself，"YoubeticketedChurchyard，mynoblelady，althoughyoudon"tdreamon"t。”"

"Isupposemylordwillwritetoalltheotherlordsanointedinthenation，tolet"emknowthatshethatwasisnownomore？"

""Tisdoneandpast。Iseeabundleoflettersgooffanhourafterthedeath。Sichwonderfulblackrimsastheylettershad——

half-an-inchwide，attheveryleast。"

"Toomuch，"observedMartin。"Inshort，"tisoutofthequestionthatahumanbeingcanbesomournfulasblackedgeshalf-an-inchwide。I"msurepeopledon"tfeelmorethanaverynarrowborderwhentheyfeelsmostofall。"

"Andtherearetwolittlegirls，aretherenot？"saidStephen。

"Niceclanelittlefaces!——leftmotherlessnow。"

"TheyusedtocometoParsonSwancourt"stoplaywithMissElfridewhenIwerethere，"saidWilliamWorm。"Ah，theydidso"s!"Thelattersentencewasintroducedtoaddthenecessarymelancholytoaremarkwhich，intrinsically，couldhardlybemadetopossessenoughfortheoccasion。"Yes，"continuedWorm，"they"drunupstairs，they"drundown；flittingaboutwithhereverywhere。

Veryfondofher，theywere。Ah，well!"

"Fonderthanevertheywereoftheirmother，so"tissaidhereandthere，"addedalabourer。

"Well，yousee，"tisnatural。LadyLuxellianstoodalooffrom"emso——wassodrowsy-like，thattheycouldn"tloveherinthejolly-

companionwaychildrenwanttolikefolks。OnlylastwinterI

seedMissElfridetalkingtomyladyandthetwochildren，andMissElfridewipedtheirnosesforem"SOcareful——myladyneveronceseeingthatitwanteddoing；and，naturally，childrentaketopeoplethat"stheirbestfriend。"

"Beas"twill，thewomanisdeadandgone，andwemustmakeaplaceforher，"saidJohn。"Come，lads，drinkupyourale，andwe"lljustridthiscorner，soastohaveallclearforbeginningatthewall，assoonas"tislightto-morrow。"

StephenthenaskedwhereLadyLuxellianwastolie。

"Here，"saidhisfather。"Wearegoingtosetbackthiswallandmakearecess；and"tisenoughforustodobeforethefuneral。

Whenmylord"smotherdied，shesaid，"John，theplacemustbeenlargedbeforeanothercanbeputin。”But"aneverexpected"twouldbewantedsosoon。BettermoveLordGeorgefirst，I

suppose，Simeon？"

Hepointedwithhisfoottoaheavycoffin，coveredwithwhathadoriginallybeenredvelvet，thecolourofwhichcouldonlyjustbedistinguishednow。

"Justasyethinkbest，MasterJohn，"repliedtheshrivelledmason。"Ah，poorLordGeorge!"hecontinued，lookingcontemplativelyatthehugecoffin；"heandIwereasbitterenemiesonceasanycouldbewhenoneisalordandt"otheronlyamortalman。Poorfellow!He"dclaphishanduponmyshoulderandcussmeasfamilialandneighbourlyasifhe"dbeenacommonchap。

Ay，"acussedmeuphilland"acussedmedown；andthen"awouldraveoutagain，andthegooldclampsofhisfinenewteethwouldglisteninthesunlikefettersofbrass，whileI，beingasmallmanandpoor，wasfaintosaynothingatall。Suchastrappenfinegentlemanashewastoo!Yes，Iratherlikedensometimes。

Butoncenowandthen，whenIlookedathistoweringheight，I"dthinkinmyinside，"Whataweightyou"llbe，mylord，forourarmstolowerundertheaisleofEndelstowChurchsomeday!""

"Andwashe？"inquiredayounglabourer。

"Hewas。Hewasfivehundredweightif"awereapound。Whatwithhislead，andhisoak，andhishandles，andhisonethingandt"other"——heretheancientmanslappedhishanduponthecoverwithaforcethatcausedarattleamongthebonesinside——"hehalfbrokemybackwhenItookhisfeettolowerendownthestepsthere。"Ah，"saithItoJohnthere——didn"tI，John？——"thateveroneman"sgloryshouldbesuchaweightuponanotherman!"Butthere，IlikedmylordGeorgesometimes。"

""Tisastrangethought，"saidanother，"thatwhiletheybeallhereunderoneroof，asnugunitedfamilyo"Luxellians，theybereallyscatteredmilesawayfromoneanotherintheformofgoodsheepandwickedgoats，isn"tit？"

"True；"tisathoughttolookat。"

"Andthatone，ifhe"sgoneupward，don"tknowwhathiswifeisdoingnomorethanthemaninthemoonifshe"sgonedownward。

Andthatsomeunfortunateoneinthehotplaceisa-holleringacrosstoaluckyoneupintheclouds，andquiteforgettingtheirbodiesbeboxedclosetogetherallthetime。"

"Ay，"tisathoughttolookat，too，thatIcansay"Hullo!"closetofieryLordGeorge，and"acan"thearme。"

"AndthatIbeeatingmyonionclosetodaintyLadyJane"snose，andshecan"tsmellme。"

"Whatdo"emputalltheirheadsonewayfor？"inquiredayoungman。

"Because"tischurchyardlaw，yousimple。Thelawofthelivingis，thatamanshallbeuprightanddown-right，andthelawofthedeadis，thatamanshallbeeastandwest。Everystateofsocietyhaveitslaws。"

"Wemustbreakthelawwi"afewofthepoorsouls，however。

Come，buckleto，"saidthemaster-mason。

Andtheysettoworkanew。

Theorderofintermentcouldbedistinctlytracedbyobservingtheappearanceofthecoffinsastheylaypiledaround。Onthosewhichhadbeenstandingtherebutagenerationortwothetrappingsstillremained。Thoseofanearlierperiodshowedbarewood，withafewtatteredragsdanglingtherefrom。Earlierstill，thewoodlayinfragmentsontheflooroftheniche，andthecoffinconsistedofnakedleadalone；whilstinthecaseoftheveryoldest，eventheleadwasbulgingandcrackinginpieces，revealingtothecuriouseyeaheapofdustwithin。Theshieldsuponmanywerequiteloose，andremovablebythehand，theirlustrelesssurfacesstillindistinctlyexhibitingthenameandtitleofthedeceased。

Overheadthegroinsandconcavitiesofthearchescurvedinalldirections，droppinglowtowardsthewalls，wheretheheightwasnomorethansufficienttoenableapersontostandupright。

ThebodyofGeorgethefourteenthbaron，togetherwithtwoorthreeothers，allofmorerecentdatethanthegreatbulkofcoffinspiledthere，had，forwantofroom，beenplacedattheendofthevaultontressels，andnotinnichesliketheothers。

Theseitwasnecessarytoremove，toformbehindthemthechamberinwhichtheywereultimatelytobedeposited。Stephen，findingtheplaceandproceedingsinkeepingwiththesombrecoloursofhismind，waitedtherestill。

"Simeon，IsupposeyoucanmindpoorLadyElfride，andhowsheranawaywiththeactor？"saidJohnSmith，afterawhile。"Ithinkitfelluponthetimemyfatherwassextonhere。Letussee——whereisshe？"

"Heresomewhere，"returnedSimeon，lookingroundhim。

"Why，I"vegotmyarmsroundtheverygentlewomanatthismoment。"

Heloweredtheendofthecoffinhewasholding，wipedhisface，andthrowingamorselofrottenwooduponanotherasanindicator，continued:"That"sherhusbandthere。Theywasasfairacoupleasyoushouldseeanywhereroundabout；andagood-heartedpairlikewise。Ay，Icanmindit，thoughIwasbutachielatthetime。Shefellinlovewiththisyoungmanofhers，andtheirbannswereaskedinsomechurchinLondon；andtheoldlordherfatheractuallyheard"emaskedthethreetimes，anddidn"tnoticehername，beinggabbledonwi"ahostofothers。Whenshehadmarriedshetoldherfather，and"afleedintoamonstrousrage，andsaidsheshouldn"haeafarthing。LadyElfridesaidshedidn"tthinkofwishingit；ifhe"dforgieher"twasallsheasked，andasforaliving，shewascontenttoplayplayswithherhusband。Thisfrightenedtheoldlord，and"agie"d"emahousetolivein，andagreatgarden，andalittlefieldortwo，andacarriage，andagoodfewguineas。Well，thepoorthingdiedatherfirstgossiping，andherhusband——whowasastender-heartedamanasevereatmeat，andwouldhavediedforher——wentwildinhismind，andbrokehisheart(so"twassaid)。Anyhow，theywereburiedthesameday——fatherandmother——butthebabylived。Ay，mylord"sfamilymademuchofthatmanthen，andputhimherewithhiswife，andthereinthecornerthemanisnow。TheSundayaftertherewasafuneralsermon:thetextwas，"Oreverthesilvercordbeloosed，orthegoldenbowlbebroken；"andwhen"twaspreachingthemendrewtheirhandsacrosstheireyesseveraltimes，andeverywomancriedoutloud。"

"Andwhatbecameofthebaby？"saidStephen，whohadfrequentlyheardportionsofthestory。

"Shewasbroughtupbyhergrandmother，andaprettymaidshewere。Andshemustneedsrunawaywiththecurate——ParsonSwancourtthatisnow。Thenhergrandmotherdied，andthetitleandeverythingwentawaytoanotherbranchofthefamilyaltogether。ParsonSwancourtwastedagooddealofhiswife"smoney，andshelefthimMissElfride。Thattrickofrunningawayseemstobehandeddowninfamilies，likecrazinessorgout。Andtheytwowomenbealikeaspeas。"

"Whichtwo？"

"LadyElfrideandyoungMissthat"salivenow。Thesamehairandeyes:butMissElfride"smotherwasdarkeragooddeal。"

"Life"sastranglebubble，yesee，"saidWilliamWormmusingly。

"ForiftheLord"sanointmenthaddescendeduponwomeninsteadofmen，MissElfridewouldbeLordLuxellian——Lady，Imane。Butasitis，thebloodisrunout，andshe"snothingtotheLuxellianfamilybylaw，whatevershemaybebygospel。"

"Iusedtofancy，"saidSimeon，"whenIseedMissElfridehuggingthelittleladyships，thattherewasalikeness；butIsuppose"twasonlymydream，foryearsmusthavealteredtheoldfamilyshape。"

"Andnowwe"llmovethesetwo，andhome-along，"interposedJohnSmith，reviving，asbecameamaster，thespiritoflabour，whichhadshowedunmistakablesignsofbeingnearlyvanquishedbythespiritofchat，"Theflagonofalewedon"twantwe"llletbideheretillto-morrow；noneofthepoorsoulswilltouchit"ab"lieve。"

Sotheevening"sworkwasconcluded，andthepartydrewfromtheabodeofthequietdead，closingtheoldirondoor，andshootingthelockloudlyintothehugecopperstaple——anincongruousactofimprisonmenttowardsthosewhohadnodreamsofescape。

ChapterXXVII

"HowshouldIgreetthee？"

Lovefrequentlydiesoftimealone——muchmorefrequentlyofdisplacement。WithElfrideSwancourt，apowerfulreasonwhythedisplacementshouldbesuccessfulwasthatthenew-comerwasagreatermanthanthefirst。BythesideoftheinstructiveandpiquantsnubbingsshereceivedfromKnight，Stephen"sgeneralagreeablenessseemedwatery；bythesideofKnight"ssparelove-

making，Stephen"scontinualoutflowseemedlackadaisical。Shehadbeguntosighforsomebodyfurtheroninmanhood。Stephenwashardlyenoughofaman。

Perhapstherewasapronenesstoinconstancyinhernature——anature，tothosewhocontemplateitfromastandpointbeyondtheinfluenceofthatinconstancy，themostexquisiteofallinitsplasticityandreadysympathies。Partly，too，Stephen"sfailuretomakehisholdonherheartapermanentonewashistootimidhabitofdispraisinghimselfbesideher——apeculiaritywhich，exercisedtowardssensiblemen，stirsakindlychordofattachmentthatamarkedassertivenesswouldleaveuntouched，butinevitablyleadsthemostsensiblewomanintheworldtoundervaluehimwhopractisesit。Directlydomineeringceasesintheman，snubbingbeginsinthewoman；thetritebutnolessunfortunatefactbeingthatthegentlercreaturerarelyhasthecapacitytoappreciatefairtreatmentfromhernaturalcomplement。TheabidingperceptionofthepositionofStephen"sparentshad，ofcourse，alittletodowithElfride"srenunciation。Tosuchgirlspovertymaynotbe，astothemoreworldlymassesofhumanity，asininitself；butitisasin，becausegracefulanddaintymannersseldomexistinsuchanatmosphere。Fewwomenofoldfamilycanbethoroughlytaughtthatafinesoulmaywearasmock-frock，andanadmittedlycommonmaninoneisbutawormintheireyes。JohnSmith"sroughhandsandclothes，hiswife"sdialect，thenecessarynarrownessoftheirways，beingconstantlyunderElfride"snotice，werenotwithouttheirdeflectinginfluence。

Onreachinghomeaftertheperilousadventurebythesea-shore，Knighthadfeltunwell，andretiredalmostimmediately。Theyoungladywhohadsomateriallyassistedhimhaddonethesame，butshereappeared，properlyclothed，aboutfiveo"clock。Shewanderedrestlesslyaboutthehouse，butnotonaccountoftheirjointnarrowescapefromdeath。Thestormwhichhadtornthetreehadmerelybowedthereed，andwiththedeliveranceofKnightalldeepthoughtoftheaccidenthadlefther。Themutualavowalwhichithadbeenthemeansofprecipitatingoccupiedafarlongerlengthofhermeditations。

Elfride"sdisquietnowwasonaccountofthatmiserablepromisetomeetStephen，whichreturnedlikeaspectreagainandagain。TheperceptionofhislittlenessbesideKnightgrewuponheralarmingly。Shenowthoughthowsoundhadbeenherfather"sadvicetohertogivehimup，andwasaspassionatelydesirousoffollowingitasshehadhithertobeenaverse。PerhapsthereisnothingmorehardeningtothetoneofyoungmindsthanthustodiscoverhowtheirdearestandstrongestwishesbecomegraduallyattunedbyTimetheCynictotheverynoteofsomeselfishpolicywhichinearlierdaystheydespised。

Thehourofappointmentcame，andwithitacrisis；andwiththecrisisacollapse。

"Godforgiveme——Ican"tmeetStephen!"sheexclaimedtoherself。

"Idon"tlovehimless，butIloveMr。Knightmore!"

Yes:shewouldsaveherselffromamannotfitforher——inspiteofvows。Shewouldobeyherfather，andhavenomoretodowithStephenSmith。Thusthefickleresolveshowedsignsofassumingthecomplexionofavirtue。

ThefollowingdayswerepassedwithoutanydefiniteavowalfromKnight"slips。SuchsolitarywalksandscenesasthatwitnessedbySmithinthesummer-housewerefrequent，buthecourtedhersointangiblythattoanybutsuchadelicateperceptionasElfride"sitwouldhaveappearednocourtshipatall。Thetimenowreallybegantobesweetwithher。Shedismissedthesenseofsininherpastactions，andwasautomaticintheintoxicationofthemoment。

ThefactthatKnightmadenoactualdeclarationwasnodrawback。

Knowingsincethebetrayalofhissentimentsthatloveforherreallyexisted，shepreferreditforthepresentinitsformofessence，andwaswillingtoavoidforawhilethegrossermediumofwords。Theirfeelingshavingbeenforcedtoaratherprematuredemonstration，areactionwasindulgedinbyboth。

Butnosoonerhadshegotridofhertroubledconscienceonthematteroffaithlessnessthananewanxietyconfrontedher。ItwaslestKnightshouldaccidentallymeetStephenintheparish，andthatherselfshouldbethesubjectofdiscourse。

Elfride，learningKnightmorethoroughly，perceivedthat，farfromhavinganotionofStephen"sprecedence，hehadnoideathatshehadeverbeenwooedbeforebyanybody。Onordinaryoccasionsshehadatonguesofrankastoshowherwholemind，andamindsostraightforwardastorevealherhearttoitsinnermostshrine。

Butthetimeforachangehadcome。SheneveralludedtoevenaknowledgeofKnight"sfriend。Whenwomenaresecrettheyaresecretindeed；andmoreoftenthannottheyonlybegintobesecretwiththeadventofasecondlover。

Theelopementwasnowaspectreworsethanthefirst，and，liketheSpiritinGlenfinlas，itwaxedtallerwitheveryattempttolayit。HernaturalhonestyinvitedhertoconfideinKnight，andtrusttohisgenerosityforforgiveness:sheknewalsothatasmerepolicyitwouldbebettertotellhimearlyifhewastobetoldatall。Thelongerherconcealmentthemoredifficultwouldbetherevelation。Butsheputitoff。Theintensefearwhichaccompaniesintenseloveinyoungwomenwastoostrongtoallowtheexerciseofamoralqualityantagonistictoitself:

"Whereloveisgreat，thelittlestdoubtsarefear；

Wherelittlefearsgrowgreat，greatlovegrowsthere。"

Thematchwaslookeduponasmadebyherfatherandmother。Thevicarrememberedherpromisetorevealthemeaningofthetelegramshehadreceived，andtwodaysafterthesceneinthesummer-

house，askedherpointedly。Shewasfrankwithhimnow。

"IhadbeencorrespondingwithStephenSmitheversinceheleftEngland，tilllately，"shecalmlysaid。

"What!"criedthevicaraghast；"undertheeyesofMr。Knight，too？"

"No；whenIfoundIcaredmostforMr。Knight，Iobeyedyou。"

"Youwereverykind，I"msure。WhendidyoubegintolikeMr。

Knight？"

"Idon"tseethatthatisapertinentquestion，papa；thetelegramwasfromtheshippingagent，andwasnotsentatmyrequest。Itannouncedthearrivalofthevesselbringinghimhome。"

"Home!What，ishehere？"

"Yes；inthevillage，Ibelieve。"

"Hashetriedtoseeyou？"

"Onlybyfairmeans。Butdon"t，papa，questionmeso!Itistorture。"

"Iwillonlysayonewordmore，"hereplied。"Haveyoumethim？"

"Ihavenot。Icanassureyouthatatthepresentmomentthereisnomoreofanunderstandingbetweenmeandtheyoungmanyousomuchdislikedthanbetweenhimandyou。Youtoldmetoforgethim；andIhaveforgottenhim。"

"Oh，well；thoughyoudidnotobeymeinthebeginning，youareagoodgirl，Elfride，inobeyingmeatlast。"

"Don"tcallme"good，"papa，"shesaidbitterly；"youdon"tknow——

andthelesssaidaboutsomethingsthebetter。Remember，Mr。

Knightknowsnothingabouttheother。Oh，howwrongitallis!I

don"tknowwhatIamcomingto。"

"Asmattersstand，Ishouldbeinclinedtotellhim；or，atanyrate，Ishouldnotalarmmyselfabouthisknowing。HefoundouttheotherdaythatthiswastheparishyoungSmith"sfatherlivesin——whatputsyouinsuchaflurry？"

"Ican"tsay；butpromise——praydon"tlethimknow!Itwouldbemyruin!"

"Pooh，child。Knightisagoodfellowandacleverman；butatthesametimeitdoesnotescapemyperceptionsthatheisnogreatcatchforyou。Menofhisturnofmindarenothingsowonderfulinthewayofhusbands。Ifyouhadchosentowait，youmighthavematedwithamuchwealthierman。Butremember，Ihavenotawordtosayagainstyourhavinghim，ifyoulikehim。

Charlotteisdelighted，asyouknow。"

"Well，papa，"shesaid，smilinghopefullythroughasigh，"itisnicetofeelthatingivingwayto——tocaringforhim，Ihavepleasedmyfamily。ButIamnotgood；ohno，Iamveryfarfromthat!"

"Noneofusaregood，Iamsorrytosay，"saidherfatherblandly；

"butgirlshaveacharteredrighttochangetheirminds，youknow。

Ithasbeenrecognizedbypoetsfromtimeimmemorial。Catullussays，"Muliercupidoquoddicitamanti，invento——"Whatamemorymineis!However，thepassageis，thatawoman"swordstoaloverareasamatterofcoursewrittenonlyonwindandwater。Nowdon"tbetroubledaboutthat，Elfride。"

"Ah，youdon"tknow!"

Theyhadbeenstandingonthelawn，andKnightwasnowseenlingeringsomewaydownawindingwalk。WhenElfridemethim，itwaswithamuchgreaterlightnessofheart；thingsweremorestraightforwardnow。Theresponsibilityofherficklenessseemedpartlyshiftedfromherownshoulderstoherfather"s。Still，therewereshadows。

"Ah，couldhehaveknownhowfarIwentwithStephen，andyethavesaidthesame，howmuchhappierIshouldbe!"Thatwasherprevailingthought。

Intheafternoontheloverswentouttogetheronhorsebackforanhourortwo；andthoughnotwishingtobeobserved，byreasonofthelatedeathofLadyLuxellian，whosefuneralhadtakenplaceveryprivatelyonthepreviousday，theyyetfounditnecessarytopassEastEndelstowChurch。

Thestepstothevault，ashasbeenstated，wereontheoutsideofthebuilding，immediatelyundertheaislewall。Beingonhorseback，bothKnightandElfridecouldoverlooktheshrubswhichscreenedthechurch-yard。

"Look，thevaultseemsstilltobeopen，"saidKnight。

"Yes，itisopen，"sheanswered"Whoisthatmanclosebyit？Themason，Isuppose？"

"Yes。"

"IwonderifitisJohnSmith，Stephen"sfather？"

"Ibelieveitis，"saidElfride，withapprehension。

"Ah，andcanitbe？Ishouldliketoinquirehowhisson，mytruantprotege"，isgoingon。Andfromyourfather"sdescriptionofthevault，theinteriormustbeinteresting。Supposewegoin。"

"Hadwebetter，doyouthink？MaynotLordLuxellianbethere？"

"Itisnotatalllikely。"

Elfridethenassented，sinceshecoulddonothingelse。Herheart，whichatfirsthadquailedinconsternation，recovereditselfwhensheconsideredthecharacterofJohnSmith。Aquietunassumingman，hewouldbesuretoacttowardsherasbeforethoselovepassageswithhisson，whichmighthavegivenamorepretentiousmechanicairs。SowithoutmuchalarmshetookKnight"sarmafterdismounting，andwentwithhimbetweenandoverthegraves。Themaster-masonrecognizedherassheapproached，and，asusual，liftedhishatrespectfully。

"IknowyoutobeMr。Smith，myformerfriendStephen"sfather，"

saidKnight，directlyhehadscannedtheembrownedandruddyfeaturesofJohn。

"Yes，sir，Ib"lieveIbe。"

"Howisyoursonnow？IhaveonlyonceheardfromhimsincehewenttoIndia。Idaresayyouhaveheardhimspeakofme——Mr。

Knight，whobecameacquaintedwithhimsomeyearsagoinExonbury。"

"Ay，thatIhave。Stephenisverywell，thankyou，sir，andhe"sinEngland；infact，he"sathome。Inshort，sir，he"sdowninthevaultthere，a-lookingatthedepartedcoffins。"

Elfride"sheartflutteredlikeabutterfly。

Knightlookedamazed。"Well，thatisextraordinary。"hemurmured。

"DidheknowIwasintheparish？"

"Ireallycan"tsay，sir，"saidJohn，wishinghimselfoutoftheentanglementherathersuspectedthanthoroughlyunderstood。

"Woulditbeconsideredanintrusionbythefamilyifwewentintothevault？"

"Oh，blessye，no，sir；scoresoffolkhavebeensteppingdown。

"Tisleftopena-purpose。"

"Wewillgodown，Elfride。"

"Iamafraidtheairisclose，"shesaidappealingly。

"Ohno，ma"am，"saidJohn。"Wewhite-limedthewallsandarchestheday"twasopened，aswealwaysdo，andagainonthemorningofthefuneral；theplaceisassweetasagranary。

"ThenIshouldlikeyoutoaccompanyme，Elfie；havingoriginallysprungfromthefamilytoo。"

"Idon"tlikegoingwheredeathissoemphaticallypresent。I"llstaybythehorseswhilstyougoin；theymaygetloose。"

"Whatnonsense!Ihadnoideayoursentimentsweresoflimsilyformedastobeperturbedbyafewremnantsofmortality；butstayout，ifyouaresoafraid，byallmeans。"

"Ohno，Iamnotafraid；don"tsaythat。"

Sheheldmiserablytohisarm，thinkingthat，perhaps，therevelationmightaswellcomeatonceastenminuteslater，forStephenwouldbesuretoaccompanyhisfriendtohishorse。

Atfirst，thegloomofthevault，whichwaslightedonlybyacoupleofcandles，wastoogreattoadmitoftheirseeinganythingdistinctly；butwithafurtheradvanceKnightdiscerned，infrontoftheblackmassesliningthewalls，ayoungmanstanding，andwritinginapocket-book。

Knightsaidoneword:"Stephen!"

StephenSmith，notbeinginsuchabsoluteignoranceofKnight"swhereaboutsasKnighthadbeenofSmith"sinstantlyrecognizedhisfriend，andknewbyrotetheoutlinesofthefairwomanstandingbehindhim。

Stephencameforwardandshookhimbythehand，withoutspeaking。

"Whyhaveyounotwritten，myboy？"saidKnight，withoutinanywaysignifyingElfride"spresencetoStephen。Totheessayist，Smithwasstillthecountryladwhomhehadpatronizedandtended；

onetowhomtheformalpresentationofaladybetrothedtohimselfwouldhaveseemedincongruousandabsurd。

"Whyhaven"tyouwrittentome？"saidStephen。

"Ah，yes。Whyhaven"tI？whyhaven"twe？That"salwaysthequerywhichwecannotclearlyanswerwithoutanunsatisfactorysenseofourinadequacies。However，Ihavenotforgottenyou，Smith。Andnowwehavemet；andwemustmeetagain，andhavealongerchatthanthiscanconvenientlybe。Imustknowallyouhavebeendoing。Thatyonhavethriven，Iknow，andyoumustteachmetheway。"

Elfridestoodinthebackground。Stephenhadreadthepositionataglance，andimmediatelyguessedthatshehadnevermentionedhisnametoKnight。Histactinavoidingcatastropheswasthechiefqualitywhichmadehimintellectuallyrespectable，inwhichqualityhefartranscendedKnight；andhedecidedthatatranquilissueoutoftheencounter，withoutanyharrowingofthefeelingsofeitherKnightorElfride，wastobeattemptedifpossible。HisoldsenseofindebtednesstoKnighthadneverwhollyforsakenhim；

hisloveforElfridewasgenerousnow。

Asfarashedaredlookathermovementshesawthatherbearingtowardshimwouldbedictatedbyhisowntowardsher；andifheactedasastrangershewoulddolikewiseasameansofdeliverance。Circumstancesfavouringthiscourse，itwasdesirablealsotoberatherreservedtowardsKnight，toshortenthemeetingasmuchaspossible。

"Iamafraidthatmytimeisalmosttooshorttoallowevenofsuchapleasure，"hesaid。"Ileavehereto-morrow。AnduntilI

startfortheContinentandIndia，whichwillbeinafortnight，I

shallhavehardlyamomenttospare。"

Knight"sdisappointmentanddissatisfiedlooksatthisreplysentapangthroughStephenasgreatasanyhehadfeltatthesightofElfride。Thewordsaboutshortnessoftimewereliterallytrue，buttheirtonewasfarfrombeingso。HewouldhavebeengratifiedtotalkwithKnightasinpasttimes，andsawasadeadlosstohimselfthat，tosavethewomanwhocarednothingforhim，hewasdeliberatelythrowingawayhisfriend。

"Oh，Iamsorrytohearthat，"saidKnight，inachangedtone。

"Butofcourse，ifyouhaveweightyconcernstoattendto，theymustnotbeneglected。Andifthisistobeourfirstandlastmeeting，letmesaythatIwishyousuccesswithallmyheart!"

Knight"swarmthrevivedtowardstheend；thesolemnimpressionshewasbeginningtoreceivefromthescenearoundthemabstractingfromhisheartasapuerilityanymomentaryvexationatwords。

"Itisastrangeplaceforustomeetin，"hecontinued，lookingroundthevault。

Stephenbrieflyassented，andtherewasasilence。Theblackenedcoffinswerenowrevealedmoreclearlythanatfirst，thewhitenedwallsandarchesthrowingthemforwardinstrongrelief。Itwasascenewhichwasrememberedbyallthreeasanindeliblemarkintheirhistory。Knight，withanabstractedface，wasstandingbetweenhiscompanions，thoughalittleinadvanceofthem，Elfridebeingonhisrighthand，andStephenSmithonhisleft。

Thewhitedaylightonhisrightsidegleamedfaintlyin，andwastonedtoabluenessbycontrastwiththeyellowraysfromthecandleagainstthewall。Elfride，timidlyshrinkingback，andnearesttheentrance，receivedmostofthelighttherefrom，whilstStephenwasentirelyincandlelight，andtohimthespotofouterskyvisibleabovethestepswasasasteelybluepatch，andnothingmore。

"Ihavebeenheretwoorthreetimessinceitwasopened，"saidStephen。"Myfatherwasengagedinthework，youknow。"

"Yes。Whatareyoudoing？"Knightinquired，lookingatthenote-

bookandpencilStephenheldinhishand。

"Ihavebeensketchingafewdetailsinthechurch，andsincethenIhavebeencopyingthenamesfromsomeofthecoffinshere。

BeforeIleftEnglandIusedtodoagooddealofthissortofthing。"

"Yes；ofcourse。Ah，that"spoorLadyLuxellian，Isuppose。"

Knightpointedtoacoffinoflightsatin-wood，whichstoodonthestonesleepersinthenewniche。"Andtheremainderofthefamilyareonthisside。Whoarethosetwo，sosnugandclosetogether？"

Stephen"svoicealteredslightlyashereplied"That"sLadyElfrideKingsmore——bornLuxellian，andthatisArthur，herhusband。Ihaveheardmyfathersaythatthey——he——ranawaywithher，andmarriedheragainstthewishofherparents。"

"ThenIimaginethistobewhereyougotyourChristianname，MissSwancourt？"saidKnight，turningtoher。"IthinkyoutoldmeitwasthreeorfourgenerationsagothatyourfamilybranchedofffromtheLuxellians？"

"Shewasmygrandmother，"saidElfride，vainlyendeavouringtomoistenherdrylipsbeforeshespoke。Elfridehadthentheconscience-strickenlookofGuido"sMagdalen，rendereduponamorechildlikeform。ShekeptherfacepartiallyawayfromKnightandStephen，andsethereyesupontheskyvisibleoutside，asifhersalvationdependeduponquicklyreachingit。HerlefthandrestedlightlywithinKnight"sarm，halfwithdrawn，fromasenseofshameatclaiminghimbeforeheroldlover，yetunwillingtorenouncehim；sothatherglovemerelytouchedhissleeve。""Canonebepardoned，andretaintheoffence？""quotedElfride"sheartthen。

Conversationseemedtohavenoself-sustainingpower，andwentonintheshapeofdisjointedremarks。"One"smindgetsthrongedwiththoughtswhilestandingsosolemnlyhere，"Knightsaid，inameasuredquietvoice。"Howmuchhasbeensaidondeathfromtimetotime!howmuchweourselvescanthinkuponit!Wemayfancyeachofthesewholieheresaying:

"ForThou，tomakemyfallmoregreat，Didstliftmeuponhigh。"

Whatcomesnext，Elfride？ItistheHundred-and-secondPsalmIamthinkingof。"

"Yes，Iknowit，"shemurmured，andwentoninastilllowervoice，seeminglyafraidforanywordsfromtheemotionalsideofhernaturetoreachStephen:

""Mydays，justhasteningtotheirend，Arelikeaneveningshade；

Mybeautydoth，likewither"dgrass，Withwaninglustrefade。”"

"Well，"saidKnightmusingly，"letusleavethem。Suchoccasionsastheseseemtocompelustoroamoutsideourselves，farawayfromthefragileframewelivein，andtoexpandtillourperceptiongrowssovastthatourphysicalrealitybearsnosortofproportiontoit。Welookbackupontheweakandminutestemonwhichthisluxuriantgrowthdepends，andask，Canitbepossiblethatsuchacapacityhasafoundationsosmall？MustI

againreturntomydailywalkinthatnarrowcell，ahumanbody，whereworldlythoughtscantortureme？Dowenot？"

"Yes，"saidStephenandElfride。

"Onehasasenseofwrong，too，thatsuchanappreciativebreadthasasentientbeingpossessesshouldbecommittedtothefrailcasketofabody。Whatweakensone"sintentionsregardingthefuturelikethethoughtofthis？……However，letustuneourselvestoamorecheerfulchord，forthere"sagreatdealtobedoneyetbyusall。"

AsKnightmeditativelyaddressedhisjuniorsthus，unconsciousofthedeceptionpractised，fordifferentreasons，bytheseveredheartsathisside，andofthescenesthathadinearlierdaysunitedthem，eachonefeltthatheandshedidnotgainbycontrastwiththeirmusingmentor。Physicallynotsohandsomeaseithertheyouthfularchitectorthevicar"sdaughter，thethoroughnessandintegrityofKnightilluminatedhisfeatureswithadignitynotevenincipientintheothertwo。Itisdifficulttoframeruleswhichshallapplytobothsexes，andElfride，anundevelopedgirl，must，perhaps，hardlybeladenwiththemoralresponsibilitieswhichattachtoamaninlikecircumstances。Thecharmofwoman，too，liespartlyinhersubtlenessinmattersoflove。Butifhonestyisavirtueinitself，Elfride，havingnoneofitnow，seemed，beingforbeing，scarcelygoodenoughforKnight。Stephen，thoughdeceptivefornounworthypurpose，wasdeceptiveafterall；andwhatevergoodresultsgracesuchstrategyifitsucceed，itseldomdrawsadmiration，especiallywhenitfails。

Onanordinaryoccasion，hadKnightbeenevenquitealonewithStephen，hewouldhardlyhavealludedtohispossiblerelationshiptoElfride。ButmovedbyattendantcircumstancesKnightwasimpelledtobeconfiding。

"Stephen，"hesaid，"thisladyisMissSwancourt。Iamstayingatherfather"shouse，asyouprobablyknow。"HesteppedafewpacesnearertoSmith，andsaidinalowertone:"Imayaswelltellyouthatweareengagedtobemarried。"

Lowasthewordshadbeenspoken，Elfridehadheardthem，andawaitedStephen"sreplyinbreathlesssilence，ifthatcouldbecalledsilencewhereElfride"sdress，ateachthrobofherheart，shookandindicateditlikeapulse-glass，rustlingalsoagainstthewallinreplytothesamethrobbing。Therayofdaylightwhichreachedherfacelentitabluepallorincomparisonwiththoseoftheothertwo。

"Icongratulateyou，"Stephenwhispered；andsaidaloud，"IknowMissSwancourt——alittle。YoumustrememberthatmyfatherisaparishionerofMr。Swancourt"s。"

"Ithoughtyoumightpossiblynothavelivedathomesincetheyhavebeenhere。"

"Ihaveneverlivedathome，certainly，sincethattime。"

"IhaveseenMr。Smith，"falteredElfride。

"Well，thereisnoexcuseforme。AsstrangerstoeachotherI

ought，Isuppose，tohaveintroducedyou:asacquaintances，I

shouldnothavestoodsopersistentlybetweenyou。Butthefactis，Smith，youseemaboytome，evennow。"

Stephenappearedtohaveamorethanpreviousconsciousnessoftheintensecrueltyofhisfateatthepresentmoment。Hecouldnotrepressthewords，utteredwithadimbitterness:

"YoushouldhavesaidthatIseemedstilltheruralmechanic"ssonIam，andhenceanunfitsubjectfortheceremonyofintroductions。"