第15章

"Oh，no，no!Iwon"thavethat。"KnightendeavouredtogivehisreplyalaughingtoneinElfride"sears，andanearnestnessinStephen"s:inbothwhicheffortshesignallyfailed，andproducedaforcedspeechpleasanttoneither。"Well，letusgointotheopenairagain；MissSwancourt，youareparticularlysilent。Youmustn"tmindSmith。Ihaveknownhimforyears，asIhavetoldyou。"

"Yes，youhave，"shesaid。

"Tothinkshehasnevermentionedherknowledgeofme!"Smithmurmured，andthoughtwithsomeremorsehowmuchherconductresembledhisownonhisfirstarrivalatherhouseasastrangertotheplace。

Theyascendedtothedaylight，KnighttakingnofurthernoticeofElfride"smanner，which，asusual，heattributedtothenaturalshynessofayoungwomanatbeingdiscoveredwalkingwithhimontermswhichleftnotmuchdoubtoftheirmeaning。Elfridesteppedalittleinadvance，andpassedthroughthechurchyard。

"Youarechangedveryconsiderably，Smith，"saidKnight，"andI

supposeitisnomorethanwastobeexpected。However，don"timaginethatIshallfeelanythelessinterestinyouandyourfortuneswheneveryoucaretoconfidethemtome。IhavenotforgottentheattachmentyouspokeofasyourreasonforgoingawaytoIndia。ALondonyounglady，wasitnot？Ihopeallisprosperous？"

"No:thematchisbrokenoff。"

Itbeingalwaysdifficulttoknowwhethertoexpresssorroworgladnessundersuchcircumstances——alldependinguponthecharacterofthematch——Knighttookshelterinthesafewords:"I

trustitwasforthebest。"

"Ihopeitwas。ButIbegthatyouwillnotpressmefurther:no，youhavenotpressedme——Idon"tmeanthat——butIwouldrathernotspeakuponthesubject。"

Stephen"swordswerehurried。

Knightsaidnomore，andtheyfollowedinthefootstepsofElfride，whostillkeptsomepacesinadvance，andhadnotheardKnight"sunconsciousallusiontoher。Stephenbadehimadieuatthechurchyard-gatewithoutgoingoutside，andwatchedwhilstheandhissweetheartmountedtheirhorses。

"Goodheavens，Elfride，"Knightexclaimed，"howpaleyouare!I

supposeIoughtnottohavetakenyouintothatvault。Whatisthematter？"

"Nothing，"saidElfridefaintly。"Ishallbemyselfinamoment。

Allwassostrangeandunexpecteddownthere，thatitmademeunwell。"

"Ithoughtyousaidverylittle。ShallIgetsomewater？"

"No，no。"

"Doyouthinkitissafeforyoutomount？"

"Quite——indeeditis，"shesaid，withalookofappeal。

"Nowthen——upshegoes!"whisperedKnight，andliftedhertenderlyintothesaddle。

Heroldloverstilllookedonattheperformanceasheleantoverthegateadozenyardsoff。Onceinthesaddle，andhavingafirmgripofthereins，sheturnedherheadasifbyaresistlessfascination，andforthefirsttimesincethatmemorablepartingonthemooroutsideSt。Launce"safterthepassionateattemptatmarriagewithhim，Elfridelookedinthefaceoftheyoungmanshefirsthadloved。Hewastheyouthwhohadcalledherhisinseparablewifemanyatime，andwhomshehadevenaddressedasherhusband。Theireyesmet。Measurementoflifeshouldbeproportionedrathertotheintensityoftheexperiencethantoitsactuallength。Theirglance，butamomentchronologically，wasaseasonintheirhistory。ToElfridetheintenseagonyofreproachinStephen"seyewasanailpiercingherheartwithadeadlinessnowordscandescribe。Withaspasmodiceffortshewithdrewhereyes，urgedonthehorse，andinthechaosofperturbedmemorieswasobliviousofanypresencebesideher。Thedeedofdeceptionwascomplete。

Gainingaknollonwhichtheparktransformeditselfintowoodandcopse，Knightcamestillclosertoherside，andsaid，"Areyoubetternow，dearest？"

"Ohyes。"Shepressedahandtohereyes，asiftoblotouttheimageofStephen。Avividscarletspotnowshonewithpreternaturalbrightnessinthecentreofeachcheek，leavingtheremainderofherfacelily-whiteasbefore。

"Elfride，"saidKnight，ratherinhisoldtoneofmentor，"youknowIdon"tforamomentchideyou，butistherenotagreatdealofunwomanlyweaknessinyourallowingyourselftobesooverwhelmedbythesightofwhat，afterall，isnonovelty？Everywomanworthyofthenameshould，Ithink，beabletolookupondeathwithsomethinglikecomposure。Surelyyouthinksotoo？"

"Yes；Iownit。"

Hisobtusenesstothecauseofherindisposition，byevidencinghisentirefreedomfromthesuspicionofanythingbehindthescenes，showedhowincapableKnightwasofdeceptionhimself，ratherthananyinherentdulnessinhimregardinghumannature。

This，clearlyperceivedbyElfride，addedpoignancytoherself-

reproach，andsheidolizedhimthemorebecauseoftheirdifference。EventherecentsightofStephen"sfaceandthesoundofhisvoice，whichforamomenthadstirredachordortwoofancientkindness，wereunabletokeepdowntheadorationre-

existentnowthathewasagainoutofview。

ShehadrepliedtoKnight"squestionhastily，andimmediatelywentontospeakofindifferentsubjects。Aftertheyhadreachedhomeshewasapartfromhimtilldinner-time。Whendinnerwasover，andtheywerewatchingtheduskinthedrawing-room，Knightsteppedoutupontheterrace。Elfridewentafterhimverydecisively，onthespurofavirtuousintention。

"Mr。Knight，Iwanttotellyousomething，"shesaid，withquietfirmness。

"Andwhatisitabout？"gailyreturnedherlover。"Happiness，I

hope。Donotletanythingkeepyousosadasyouseemtohavebeento-day。"

"IcannotmentionthematteruntilItellyouthewholesubstanceofit，"shesaid。"AndthatIwilldoto-morrow。Ihavebeenremindedofitto-day。ItisaboutsomethingIoncedid，anddon"tthinkIoughttohavedone。"

This，itmustbesaid，wasratheramildwayofreferringtoafranticpassionandflight，which，muchorlittleinitself，onlyaccidenthadsavedfrombeingascandalinthepubliceye。

Knightthoughtthemattersometrifle，andsaidpleasantly:

"ThenIamnottohearthedreadfulconfessionnow？"

"No，notnow。Ididnotmeanto-night，"Elfrideresponded，withaslightdeclineinthefirmnessofhervoice。"Itisnotlightasyouthinkit——ittroublesmeagreatdeal。"Fearingnowtheeffectofherownearnestness，sheaddedforcedly，"Though，perhaps，youmaythinkitlightafterall。"

"Butyouhavenotsaidwhenitistobe？"

"To-morrowmorning。Nameatime，willyou，andbindmetoit？I

wantyoutofixanhour，becauseIamweak，andmayotherwisetrytogetoutofit。"Sheaddedalittleartificiallaugh，whichshowedhowtimorousherresolutionwasstill。

"Well，sayafterbreakfast——ateleveno"clock。"

"Yes，eleveno"clock。Ipromiseyou。Bindmestrictlytomyword。"

ChapterXXVIII

"Ilullafancy，trouble-tost。"

MissSwancourt，itiseleveno"clock。"

Shewaslookingoutofherdressing-roomwindowonthefirstfloor，andKnightwasregardingherfromtheterracebalustrade，uponwhichhehadbeenidlysittingforsometime——dividingtheglancesofhiseyebetweenthepagesofabookinhishand，thebrillianthuesofthegeraniumsandcalceolarias，andtheopenwindowabove-mentioned。

"Yes，itis，Iknow。Iamcoming。"

Hedrewcloser，andunderthewindow。

"Howareyouthismorning，Elfride？Youlooknobetterforyourlongnight"srest。"

Sheappearedatthedoorshortlyafter，tookhisofferedarm，andtogethertheywalkedslowlydownthegravelpathleadingtotheriverandawayunderthetrees。

Herresolution，sustainedduringthelastfifteenhours，hadbeentotellthewholetruth，andnowthemomenthadcome。

Stepbysteptheyadvanced，andstillshedidnotspeak。Theywerenearlyattheendofthewalk，whenKnightbrokethesilence。

"Well，whatistheconfession，Elfride？"

Shepausedamoment，drewalongbreath；andthisiswhatshesaid:

"Itoldyouoneday——orratherIgaveyoutounderstand——whatwasnottrue。IfancyyouthoughtmetomeanIwasnineteenmynextbirthday，butitwasmylastIwasnineteen。"

Themomenthadbeentoomuchforher。Nowthatthecrisishadcome，noqualmsofconscience，noloveofhonesty，noyearningtomakeaconfidenceandobtainforgivenesswithakiss，couldstringElfrideuptotheventure。Herdreadlestheshouldbeunforgivingwasheightenedbythethoughtofyesterday"sartifice，whichmightpossiblyadddisgusttohisdisappointment。Thecertaintyofonemoreday"saffection，whichshegainedbysilence，outvaluedthehopeofaperpetuitycombinedwiththeriskofall。

Thetrepidationcausedbythesethoughtsonwhatshehadintendedtosayshooksonaturallythewordsshedidsay，thatKnightneverforamomentsuspectedthemtobealastmoment"ssubstitution。

Hesmiledandpressedherhandwarmly。

"MydearElfie——yes，youarenow——noprotestation——whatawinninglittlewomanyouare，tobesoabsurdlyscrupulousaboutamereiota!Really，Ineveroncehavethoughtwhetheryournineteenthyearwasthelastorthepresent。And，byGeorge，wellImaynot；

foritwouldneverdoforastaidfogeyadozenyearsoldertostanduponsuchatrifleasthat。"

"Don"tpraiseme——don"tpraiseme!ThoughIprizeitfromyourlips，Idon"tdeserveitnow。"

ButKnight，beinginanexceptionallygenialmood，merelysawthisdistressfulexclamationasmodesty。"Well，"headded，afteraminute，"Ilikeyouallthebetter，youknow，forsuchmoralprecision，althoughIcalleditabsurd。"Hewentonwithtenderearnestness:"For，Elfride，thereisonethingIdolovetoseeinawoman——thatis，asoultruthfulandclearasheaven"slight。I

couldputupwithanythingifIhadthat——forgivenothingifIhaditnot。Elfride，youhavesuchasoul，ifeverwomanhad；andhavingit，retainit，anddon"teverlistentothefashionabletheoriesofthedayaboutawoman"sprivilegesandnaturalrighttopractisewiles。Dependuponit，mydeargirl，thatanoblewomanmustbeashonestasanobleman。Ispeciallymeanbyhonesty，fairnessnotonlyinmattersofbusinessandsocialdetail，butinallthedelicatedealingsoflove，towhichthelicencegiventoyoursexparticularlyrefers。"

Elfridelookedtroublouslyatthetrees。

"Nowletusgoontotheriver，Elfie。"

"IwouldifIhadahaton，"shesaidwithasortofsuppressedwoe。

"Iwillgetitforyou，"saidKnight，verywillingtopurchasehercompanionshipatsocheapaprice。"Yousitdownthereaminute。"

Andheturnedandwalkedrapidlybacktothehouseforthearticleinquestion。

Elfridesatdownupononeoftherusticbencheswhichadornedthisportionofthegrounds，andremainedwithhereyesuponthegrass。

Shewasinducedtoliftthembyhearingthebrushoflightandirregularfootstepshardby。Passingalongthepathwhichintersectedtheoneshewasinandtraversedtheoutershrubberies，Elfridebeheldthefarmer"swidow，Mrs。Jethway。

BeforeshenoticedElfride，shepausedtolookatthehouse，portionsofwhichwerevisiblethroughthebushes。Elfride，shrinkingback，hopedtheunpleasantwomanmightgoonwithoutseeingher。ButMrs。Jethway，silentlyapostrophizingthehouse，withactionswhichseemeddictatedbyahalf-overturnedreason，haddiscernedthegirl，andimmediatelycameupandstoodinfrontofher。

"Ah，MissSwancourt!Whydidyoudisturbme？Mustn"tItrespasshere？"

"Youmaywalkhereifyoulike，Mrs。Jethway。Idonotdisturbyou。"

"Youdisturbmymind，andmymindismywholelife；formyboyistherestill，andheisgonefrommybody。"

"Yes，pooryoungman。Iwassorrywhenhedied。"

"Doyouknowwhathediedof？"

"Consumption。"

"Ohno，no!"saidthewidow。"Thatword"consumption"coversagooddeal。Hediedbecauseyouwerehisownwell-agreedsweetheart，andthenprovedfalse——anditkilledhim。Yes，MissSwancourt，"shesaidinanexcitedwhisper，"youkilledmyson!"

"Howcanyoubesowickedandfoolish!"repliedElfride，risingindignantly。Butindignationwasnotnaturaltoher，andhavingbeensowornandharrowedbylateevents，shelostanypowersofdefencethatmoodmighthavelenther。"Icouldnothelphislovingme，Mrs。Jethway!"

"That"sjustwhatyoucouldhavehelped。Youknowhowitbegan，MissElfride。Yes:yousaidyoulikedthenameofFelixbetterthananyothernameintheparish，andyouknewitwashisname，andthatthoseyousaidittowouldreportittohim。"

"Iknewitwashisname——ofcourseIdid；butIamsure，Mrs。

Jethway，Ididnotintendanybodytotellhim。"

"Butyouknewtheywould。"

"No，Ididn"t。"

"Andthen，afterthat，whenyouwereridingonRevels-daybyourhouse，andtheladsweregatheredthere，andyouwantedtodismount，whenJimDrakeandGeorgeUpwayandthreeorfourmoreranforwardtoholdyourpony，andFelixstoodbacktimid，whydidyoubeckontohim，andsayyouwouldratherheheldit？"

"OMrs。Jethway，youdothinksomistakenly!Ilikedhimbest——

that"swhyIwantedhimtodoit。Hewasgentleandnice——I

alwaysthoughthimso——andIlikedhim。"

"Thenwhydidyoulethimkissyou？"

"Itisafalsehood；oh，itis，itis!"saidElfride，weepingwithdesperation。"Hecamebehindme，andattemptedtokissme；andthatwaswhyItoldhimnevertoletmeseehimagain。"

"Butyoudidnottellyourfatheroranybody，asyouwouldhaveifyouhadlookeduponitthenastheinsultyounowpretenditwas。"

"Hebeggedmenottotell，andfoolishlyenoughIdidnot。AndI

wishIhadnow。Ilittleexpectedtobescourgedwithmyownkindness。Prayleaveme，Mrs。Jethway。"Thegirlonlyexpostulatednow。

"Well，youharshlydismissedhim，andhedied。Andbeforehisbodywascold，youtookanothertoyourheart。Thenascarelesslysenthimabouthisbusiness，andtookathird。Andifyouconsiderthatnothing，MissSwancourt，"shecontinued，drawingcloser；"itledontowhatwasveryseriousindeed。Haveyouforgottenthewould-berunawaymarriage？ThejourneytoLondon，andthereturnthenextdaywithoutbeingmarried，andthatthere"senoughdisgraceinthattoruinawoman"sgoodnamefarlesslightthanyours？Youmayhave:Ihavenot。Ficklenesstowardsaloverisbad，butficklenessafterplayingthewifeiswantonness。"

"Oh，it"sawickedcruellie!Donotsayit；oh，donot!"

"Doesyournewmanknowofit？Ithinknot，orhewouldbenomanofyours!Asmuchofthestoryaswasknowniscreepingabouttheneighbourhoodevennow；butIknowmorethananyofthem，andwhyshouldIrespectyourlove？"

"Idefyyou!"criedElfridetempestuously。"Doandsayallyoucantoruinme；try；putyourtongueatwork；Iinviteit!Idefyyouasaslanderouswoman!Look，therehecomes。"AndhervoicetrembledgreatlyasshesawthroughtheleavesthebelovedformofKnightcomingfromthedoorwithherhatinhishand。"Tellhimatonce；Icanbearit。"

"Notnow，"saidthewoman，anddisappeareddownthepath。

TheexcitementofherlatterwordshadrestoredcolourtoElfride"scheeks；andhastilywipinghereyes，shewalkedfartheron，sothatbythetimeherloverhadovertakenherthetracesofemotionhadnearlydisappearedfromherface。Knightputthehatuponherhead，tookherhand，anddrewitwithinhisarm。

ItwasthelastdaybutoneprevioustotheirdepartureforSt。

Leonards；andKnightseemedtohaveapurposeinbeingmuchinhercompanythatday。Theyrambledalongthevalley。Theseasonwasthatperiodintheautumnwhenthefoliagealoneofanordinaryplantationisrichenoughinhuestoexhaustthechromaticcombinationsofanartist"spalette。Mostlustrousofallarethebeeches，graduatingfrombrightrustyredattheextremityoftheboughstoabrightyellowattheirinnerparts；youngoaksarestillofaneutralgreen；Scotchfirsandholliesarenearlyblue；

whilstoccasionaldottingsofothervarietiesgivemaroonsandpurplesofeverytinge。

Theriver——suchasitwas——herepursueditscourseamidflagstonesaslevelasapavement，butdividedbycrevicesofirregularwidth。Withthesummerdroughtthetorrenthadnarrowedtillitwasnowbutathreadofcrystalclearness，meanderingalongacentralchannelintherockybedofthewintercurrent。Knightscrambledthroughthebusheswhichatthispointnearlycoveredthebrookfromsight，andleaptdownuponthedryportionoftheriverbottom。

"Elfride，Ineversawsuchasight!"heexclaimed。"Thehazelsoverhangtheriver"scourseinaperfectarch，andthefloorisbeautifullypaved。Theplaceremindsoneofthepassagesofacloister。Letmehelpyoudown。"

Heassistedherthroughthemarginalunderwoodanddowntothestones。Theywalkedontogethertoatinycascadeaboutafootwideandhigh，andsatdownbesideitontheflagsthatforninemonthsintheyearweresubmergedbeneathagushingbourne。Fromtheirfeettrickledtheattenuatedthreadofwaterwhichaloneremainedtotelltheintentandreasonofthisleaf-coveredaisle，andjourneyedoninazigzaglinetilllostintheshade。

Knight，leaningonhiselbow，aftercontemplatingallthis，lookedcriticallyatElfride。

"Doesnotsuchaluxuriantheadofhairexhaustitselfandgetthinastheyearsgoonfromeighteentoeight-and-twenty？"heaskedatlength。

"Ohno!"shesaidquickly，withavisibledisinclinationtoharboursuchathought，whichcameuponherwithanunpleasantnesswhoseforceitwouldbedifficultformentounderstand。Sheaddedafterwards，withsmoulderinguneasiness，"Doyoureallythinkthatagreatabundanceofhairismorelikelytogetthinthanamoderatequantity？"

"Yes，Ireallydo。Ibelieve——amalmostsure，infact——thatifstatisticscouldbeobtainedonthesubject，youwouldfindthepersonswiththinhairwerethosewhohadasuperabundanceoriginally，andthatthosewhostartwithamoderatequantityretainitwithoutmuchloss。"

Elfride"stroublessatuponherfaceaswellasinherheart。

Perhapstoawomanitisalmostasdreadfultothinkoflosingherbeautyasoflosingherreputation。Atanyrate，shelookedquiteasgloomyasshehadlookedatanyminutethatday。

"Youshouldn"tbesotroubledaboutamerepersonaladornment，"

saidKnight，withsomeoftheseverityoftonethathadbeencustomarybeforeshehadbeguiledhimintosoftness。

"Ithinkitisawoman"sdutytobeasbeautifulasshecan。IfI

wereascholar，IwouldgiveyouchapterandverseforitfromoneofyourownLatinauthors。Iknowthereissuchapassage，forpapahasalludedtoit。"

""Munditiae，etornatus，etcultus，"&c——isthatit？ApassageinLivywhichisnodefenceatall。"

"No，itisnotthat。"

"Nevermind，then；forIhaveareasonfornottakingupmyoldcudgelsagainstyou，Elfie。Canyouguesswhatthereasonis？"

"No；butIamgladtohearit，"shesaidthankfully。"Foritisdreadfulwhenyoutalkso。Forwhateverdreadfulnametheweaknessmaydeserve，ImustcandidlyownthatIamterrifiedtothinkmyhairmayevergetthin。"

"Ofcourse；asensiblewomanwouldratherloseherwitsthanherbeauty。"

"Idon"tcareifyoudosaysatireandjudgemecruelly。Iknowmyhairisbeautiful；everybodysaysso。"

"Why，mydearMissSwancourt，"hetenderlyreplied，"Ihavenotsaidanythingagainstit。Butyouknowwhatissaidabouthandsomebeingandhandsomedoing。"

"PoorMissHandsome-doescutsbutasorryfigurebesideMissHandsome-isineveryman"seyes，yourownnotexcepted，Mr。

Knight，thoughitpleasesyoutothrowoffso，"saidElfridesaucily。Andloweringhervoice:"Yououghtnottohavetakensomuchtroubletosavemefromfallingoverthecliff，foryoudon"tthinkminealifeworthmuchtroubleevidently。"

"Perhapsyouthinkminewasnotworthyours。"

"Itwasworthanybody"s!"

Herhandwasplashinginthelittlewaterfall，andhereyeswerebentthesameway。

"Youtalkaboutmyseveritywithyou，Elfride。Youareunkindtome，youknow。"

"How？"sheasked，lookingupfromheridleoccupation。

"Aftermytakingtroubletogetjewellerytopleaseyou，youwouldn"tacceptit。"

"PerhapsIwouldnow；perhapsIwantto。"

"Do!"saidKnight。

Andthepacketwaswithdrawnfromhispocketandpresentedthethirdtime。Elfridetookitwithdelight。Theobstaclewasrentintwain，andthesignificantgiftwashers。

"I"lltakeouttheseuglyonesatonce，"sheexclaimed，"andI"llwearyours——shallI？"

"Ishouldbegratified。"

Now，thoughitmayseemunlikely，consideringhowfarthetwohadgoneinconverse，KnighthadneveryetventuredtokissElfride。

FarslowerwashethanStephenSmithinmatterslikethat。TheutmostadvancehehadmadeinsuchdemonstrationshadbeentothedegreewitnessedbyStepheninthesummer-house。SoElfride"scheekbeingstillforbiddenfruittohim，hesaidimpulsively。

"Elfie，Ishouldliketotouchthatseductiveearofyours。Thosearemygifts；soletmedressyouinthem。"

Shehesitatedwithastimulatinghesitation。

"Letmeputjustoneinitsplace，then？"

Herfacegrewmuchwarmer。

"Idon"tthinkitwouldbequitetheusualorpropercourse，"shesaid，suddenlyturningandresumingheroperationofplashingintheminiaturecataract。

Thestillnessofthingswasdisturbedbyabirdcomingtothestreamlettodrink。Afterwatchinghimdiphisbill，sprinklehimself，andflyintoatree，Knightreplied，withthecourteousbrusquenessshesomuchlikedtohear——

"Elfride，nowyoumayaswellbefair。Youwouldmindmydoingitbutlittle，Ithink；sogivemeleave，do。"

"Iwillbefair，then，"shesaidconfidingly，andlookinghimfullintheface。Itwasaparticularpleasuretohertobeabletodoalittlehonestywithoutfear。"Ishouldnotmindyourdoingso——

Ishouldlikesuchanattention。Mythoughtwas，woulditberighttoletyou？"

"ThenIwill!"herejoined，withthatsingularearnestnessaboutasmallmatter——intheeyesofaladies"manbutamomentarypegforflirtationorjest——whichisonlyfoundindeepnatureswhohavebeenwhollyunusedtotoyingwithwomankind，andwhich，fromitsunwontedness，isinitselfatributethemostpreciousthatcanberendered，andhomagethemostexquisitetobereceived。

"Andyoushall，"shewhispered，withoutreserve，andnolongermistressoftheceremonies。AndthenElfrideinclinedherselftowardshim，thrustbackherhair，andpoisedherheadsideways。

Indoingthisherarmandshouldernecessarilyrestedagainsthisbreast。

Atthetouch，thesensationofbothseemedtobeconcentratedatthepointofcontact。AllthetimehewasperformingthedelicatemanoeuvreKnighttrembledlikeayoungsurgeoninhisfirstoperation。

"Nowtheother，"saidKnightinawhisper。

"No，no。"

"Whynot？"

"Idon"tknowexactly。"

"Youmustknow。"

"Yourtouchagitatesmeso。Letusgohome。"

"Don"tsaythat，Elfride。Whatisit，afterall？Amerenothing。

Nowturnround，dearest。"

Shewaspowerlesstodisobey，andturnedforthwith；andthen，withoutanydefinedintentionineither"smind，hisfaceandhersdrewclosertogether；andhesupportedherthere，andkissedher。

Knightwasatoncethemostardentandthecoolestmanalive。

Whenhisemotionsslumberedheappearedalmostphlegmatic；whentheyweremovedhewasnolessthanpassionate。Andnow，withouthavingquiteintendedanearlymarriage，heputthequestionplainly。Itcamewithalltheardourwhichwastheaccumulationoflongyearsbehindanaturalreserve。

"Elfride，whenshallwebemarried？"

Thewordsweresweettoher；buttherewasabitterinthesweet。

Thesenewly-overtactsofhis，whichhadculminatedinthisplainquestion，comingontheverydayofMrs。Jethway"sblastingreproaches，painteddistinctlyherficklenessasanenormity。

Lovinghiminsecrethadnotseemedsuchthorough-goinginconstancyasthesameloverecognizedandacteduponinthefaceofthreats。Herdistractionwasinterpretedbyhimathersideastheoutwardsignsofanunwontedexperience。

"Idon"tpressyouforananswernow，darling，"hesaid，seeingshewasnotlikelytogivealucidreply。"Takeyourtime。"

Knightwasashonourableamanaswaseverlovedanddeludedbywoman。Itmaybesaidthathisblindnessinloveprovedthepoint，forshrewdnessinloveusuallygoeswithmeannessingeneral。Oncethepassionhadmasteredhim，theintellecthadgonefornaught。Knight，asalover，wasmoresingle-mindedandfarsimplerthanhisfriendStephen，whoinothercapacitieswasshallowbesidehim。

Withoutsayingmoreonthesubjectoftheirmarriage，Knightheldheratarm"slength，asifshehadbeenalargebouquet，andlookedatherwithcriticalaffection。

"Doesyourprettygiftbecomeme？"sheinquired，withtearsofexcitementonthefringesofhereyes。

"Undoubtedly，perfectly!"saidherlover，adoptingalightertonetoputheratherease。"Ah，youshouldseethem；youlookshinierthanever。FancythatIhavebeenabletoimproveyou!"

"AmIreallysonice？Iamgladforyoursake。IwishIcouldseemyself。"

"Youcan"t。Youmustwaittillwegethome。"

"Ishallneverbeable，"shesaid，laughing。"Look:here"saway。"

"Sothereis。Welldone，woman"swit!"

"Holdmesteady!"

"Ohyes。"

"Anddon"tletmefall，willyou？"

"Bynomeans。"

Belowtheirseatthethreadofwaterpausedtospreadoutintoasmoothsmallpool。Knightsupportedherwhilstshekneltdownandleantoverit。

"Icanseemyself。Really，tryasreligiouslyasIwill，Icannothelpadmiringmyappearanceinthem。"

"Doubtless。Howcanyoubesofondoffinery？Ibelieveyouarecorruptingmeintoatasteforit。IusedtohateeverysuchthingbeforeIknewyou。"

"Ilikeornaments，becauseIwantpeopletoadmirewhatyoupossess，andenvyyou，andsay，"IwishIwashe。”"

"IsupposeIoughtnottoobjectafterthat。Andhowmuchlongerareyougoingtolookinthereatyourself？"

"Untilyouaretiredofholdingme？Oh，Iwanttoaskyousomething。"Andsheturnedround。"Nowtelltruly，won"tyou？

Whatcolourofhairdoyoulikebestnow？"

Knightdidnotansweratthemoment。

"Saylight，do!"shewhisperedcoaxingly。"Don"tsaydark，asyoudidthattime。"

"Light-brown，then。Exactlythecolourofmysweetheart"s。"

"Really？"saidElfride，enjoyingastruthwhatsheknewtobeflattery。

"Yes。"

"Andblueeyes，too，nothazel？Sayyes，sayyes!"

"Onerecantationisenoughforto-day。"

"No，no。"

"Verywell，blueeyes。"AndKnightlaughed，anddrewhercloseandkissedherthesecondtime，whichoperationsheperformedwiththecarefulnessofafruiterertouchingabunchofgrapessoasnottodisturbtheirbloom。

Elfrideobjectedtoasecond，andflungawayherface，themovementcausingaslightdisarrangementofhatandhair。Hardlythinkingwhatshesaidinthetrepidationofthemoment，sheexclaimed，clappingherhandtoherear——

"Ah，wemustbecareful!Ilosttheotherearringdoinglikethis。"

Nosoonerdidsherealisethesignificantwordsthanatroubledlookpassedacrossherface，andsheshutherlipsasiftokeepthemback。

"Doinglikewhat？"saidKnight，perplexed。

"Oh，sittingdownoutofdoors，"sherepliedhastily。

ChapterXXIX

"Care，thoucanker。"

ItisaneveningatthebeginningofOctober，andthemellowestofautumnsunsetsirradiatesLondon，eventoitsuttermosteasternend。BetweentheeyeandtheflamingWest，columnsofsmokestandupinthestillairliketalltrees。Everythingintheshadeisrichandmistyblue。

Mr。andMrs。SwancourtandElfridearelookingattheselustrousandluridcontrastsfromthewindowofalargehotelnearLondonBridge。ThevisittotheirfriendsatSt。Leonardsisover，andtheyarestayingadayortwointhemetropolisontheirwayhome。

KnightspentthesameintervaloftimeincrossingovertoBrittanybywayofJerseyandSt。Malo。HethenpassedthroughNormandy，andreturnedtoLondonalso，hisarrivaltherehavingbeentwodayslaterthanthatofElfrideandherparents。

SotheeveningofthisOctoberdaysawthemallmeetingattheabove-mentionedhotel，wheretheyhadpreviouslyengagedapartments。DuringtheafternoonKnighthadbeentohislodgingsatRichmondtomakealittlechangeinthenatureofhisbaggage；

andoncomingupagaintherewasneverusheredbyablandwaiterintoacomfortableroomahappiermanthanKnightwhenshowntowhereElfrideandherstep-motherweresittingafterafatiguingdayofshopping。

Elfridelookednonethebetterforherchange:Knightwasasbrownasanut。Theyweresoonengagedbythemselvesinacorneroftheroom。Nowthatthepreciouswordsofpromisehadbeenspoken，theyounggirlhadnoideaofkeepingupherpricebythesystemofreservewhichothermoreaccomplishedmaidensuse。Herloverwaswithheragain，anditwasenough:shemadeherheartovertohimentirely。

Dinnerwassoondespatched。Andwhenapreliminaryroundofconversationconcerningtheirdoingssincethelastpartinghadbeenconcluded，theyrevertedtothesubjectofto-morrow"sjourneyhome。

"ThatenervatingridethroughthemyrtleclimateofSouthDevon——

howIdreaditto-morrow!"Mrs。Swancourtwassaying。"Ihadhopedtheweatherwouldhavebeencoolerbythistime。"

"Didyouevergobywater？"saidKnight。

"Never——bynever，Imeannotsincethetimeofrailways。"

"Thenifyoucanaffordanadditionalday，Iproposethatwedoit，"saidKnight。"TheChannelislikealakejustnow。WeshouldreachPlymouthinaboutfortyhours，Ithink，andtheboatsstartfromjustbelowthebridgehere"(pointingoverhisshouldereastward)。

"Hear，hear!"saidthevicar。

"It"sanidea，certainly，"saidhiswife。

"Ofcoursethesecoastersarerathertubby，"saidKnight。"Butyouwouldn"tmindthat？"

"No:wewouldn"tmind。"

"Andthesaloonisaplacelikethefishmarketofaninth-ratecountrytown，butthatwouldn"tmatter？"

"Ohdear，no。Ifwehadonlythoughtofitsoonenough，wemighthavehadtheuseofLordLuxellian"syacht。Butnevermind，we"llgo。WeshallescapetheworryingrattlethroughthewholelengthofLondonto-morrowmorning——nottomentiontheriskofbeingkilledbyexcursiontrains，whichisnotalittleoneatthistimeoftheyear，ifthepapersaretrue。"

Elfride，too，thoughtthearrangementdelightful；andaccordingly，teno"clockthefollowingmorningsawtwocabscrawlingroundbytheMint，andbetweenthepreternaturallyhighwallsofNightingaleLanetowardstheriverside。

Thefirstvehiclewasoccupiedbythetravellersinperson，andthesecondbroughtuptheluggage，underthesupervisionofMrs。

Snewson，Mrs。Swancourt"smaid——andforthelastfortnightElfride"salso；foralthoughtheyoungerladyhadneverbeenaccustomedtoanysuchattendantatrobingtimes，herstepmotherforcedherintoasemblanceoffamiliaritywithonewhentheywereawayfromhome。

Presentlywaggons，bales，andsmellsofalldescriptionsincreasedtosuchanextentthattheadvanceofthecabswasattheslowestpossiblerate。Atintervalsitwasnecessarytohaltentirely，thattheheavyvehiclesunloadinginfrontmightbemovedaside，afeatwhichwasnotaccomplishedwithoutadealofswearingandnoise。Thevicarputhisheadoutofthewindow。

"Surelytheremustbesomemistakeintheway，"hesaidwithgreatconcern，drawinginhisheadagain。"There"snotarespectableconveyancetobeseenhereexceptours。I"veheardthattherearestrangedensinthispartofLondon，intowhichpeoplehavebeenentrappedandmurdered——surelythereisnoconspiracyonthepartofthecabman？"

"Ohno，no。Itisallright，"saidMr。Knight，whowasasplacidasdewyevebythesideofElfride。

"ButwhatIarguefrom，"saidthevicar，withagreateremphasisofuneasiness，"areplainappearances。Thiscan"tbethehighwayfromLondontoPlymouthbywater，becauseitisnowayatalltoanyplace。Weshallmissoursteamerandourtraintoo——that"swhatIthink。"

"Dependuponitweareright。Infact，hereweare。"

"Trimmer"sWharf，"saidthecabman，openingthedoor。

Nosoonerhadtheyalightedthantheyperceivedatusslegoingonbetweenthehindmostcabmanandacrowdoflightporterswhohadchargedhimincolumn，toobtainpossessionofthebagsandboxes，Mrs。Snewson"shandsbeingseenstretchedtowardsheaveninthemidstofthemelee。Knightadvancedgallantly，andafterahardstrugglereducedthecrowdtotwo，uponwhoseshouldersandtrucksthegoodsvanishedawayinthedirectionofthewater"sedgewithstartlingrapidity。

Thenmoreofthesametribe，whohadrunonahead，wereheardshoutingtoboatmen，threeofwhompulledalongside，andtwobeingvanquished，theluggagewenttumblingintotheremainingone。

"Neversawsuchadreadfulsceneinmylife——never!"saidMr。

Swancourt，flounderingintotheboat。"WorsethanFamineandSworduponone。Ithoughtsuchcustomswereconfinedtocontinentalports。Aren"tyouastonished，Elfride？"

"Ohno，"saidElfride，appearingamidthedingyscenelikearainbowinamurkysky。"Itisapleasantnovelty，Ithink。"

"Whereinthewideoceanisoursteamer？"thevicarinquired。"I

canseenothingbutoldhulks，forthelifeofme。"

"Justbehindthatone，"saidKnight；"weshallsoonberoundunderher。"

Theobjectoftheirsearchwassoonafterdisclosedtoview——agreatlumberingformofinkyblackness，whichlookedasifithadneverknownthetouchofapaint-brushforfiftyyears。Itwaslyingbesidejustsuchanother，andthewayonboardwasdownanarrowlaneofwaterbetweenthetwo，aboutayardandahalfwideatoneend，andgraduallyconvergingtoapoint。Atthemomentoftheirentryintothisnarrowpassage，abrilliantlypaintedrivalpaddleddowntheriverlikeatrottingsteed，creatingsuchaseriesofwavesandsplashesthattheirfrailwherrywastossedlikeateacup，andthevicarandhiswifeslantedthiswayandthat，incliningtheirheadsintocontactwithaPunch-and-Judyairandcountenance，thewaveletsstrikingthesidesofthetwohulls，andflappingbackintotheirlaps。

"Dreadful!horrible!"Mr。Swancourtmurmuredprivately；andsaidaloud，Ithoughtwewalkedonboard。Idon"tthinkreallyI

shouldhavecome，ifIhadknownthistroublewasattachedtoit。"

"Iftheymustsplash，Iwishtheywouldsplashuswithcleanwater，"saidtheoldlady，wipingherdresswithherhandkerchief。

"Ihopeitisperfectlysafe，"continuedthevicar。

"Opapa!youarenotverybrave，"criedElfridemerrily。

"Braveryisonlyobtusenesstotheperceptionofcontingencies，"

Mr。Swancourtseverelyanswered。

Mrs。Swancourtlaughed，andElfridelaughed，andKnightlaughed，inthemidstofwhichpleasantnessamanshoutedtothemfromsomepositionbetweentheirheadsandthesky，andtheyfoundtheywereclosetotheJuliet，intowhichtheyquiveringlyascended。

Ithavingbeenfoundthatthelownessofthetidewouldpreventtheirgettingoffforanhour，theSwancourts，havingnothingelsetodo，allowedtheireyestoidleuponmeninbluejerseysperformingmysteriousmendingoperationswithtar-twine；theyturnedtolookatthedashesofluridsunlight，likeburnishedcopperstarsafloatontheripples，whichdancedintoandtantalizedtheirvision；orlistenedtotheloudmusicofasteam-

craneatworkcloseby；ortosighingsoundsfromthefunnelsofpassingsteamers，gettingdeadastheygrewmoredistant；ortoshoutsfromthedecksofdifferentcraftintheirvicinity，allofthemassumingtheformof"Ah-he-hay!"

Half-pastten:notyetoff。Mr。Swancourtbreathedabreathofweariness，andlookedathisfellow-travellersingeneral。Theirfaceswerecertainlynotworthlookingat。Theexpression"Waiting"waswrittenuponthemsoabsolutelythatnothingmorecouldbediscernedthere。AllanimationwassuspendedtillProvidenceshouldraisethewaterandletthemgo。

"Ihavebeenthinking，"saidKnight，"thatwehavecomeamongsttherarestclassofpeopleinthekingdom。Ofallhumancharacteristics，alowopinionofthevalueofhisowntimebyanindividualmustbeamongthestrangesttofind。Hereweseenumbersofthatpatientandhappyspecies。Rovers，asdistinctfromtravellers。"

"Buttheyarepleasure-seekers，towhomtimeisofnoimportance。"

"Ohno。Thepleasure-seekerswemeetonthegrandroutesaremoreanxiousthancommercialtravellerstorushon。Andaddedtothelossoftimeingettingtotheirjourney"send，theseexceptionalpeopletaketheirchanceofsea-sicknessbycomingthisway。"

"Canitbe？"inquiredthevicarwithapprehension。"Surelynot，Mr。Knight，justhereinourEnglishChannel——closeatourdoors，asImaysay。"

"Entrancepassagesareverydraughtyplaces，andtheChannelisliketherest。Itruinsthetemperofsailors。IthasbeencalculatedbyphilosophersthatmoredamnsgouptoheavenfromtheChannel，inthecourseofayear，thanfromallthefiveoceansputtogether。"

Theyreallystartnow，andthedeadlooksofallthethrongcometolifeimmediately。Themanwhohasbeenfranticallyhaulinginaropethatbadefairtohavenoendceaseshislabours，andtheyglidedowntheserpentinebendsoftheThames。

AnythinganywherewasamineofinteresttoElfride，andsowasthis。

"Itiswellenoughnow，"saidMrs。Swancourt，aftertheyhadpassedtheNore，"butIcan"tsayIhavecaredformyvoyagehitherto。"Forbeingnowintheopenseaaslightbreezehadsprungup，whichcheeredheraswellashertwoyoungercompanions。Butunfortunatelyithadareverseeffectuponthevicar，who，afterturningasortofapricotjamcolour，interspersedwithdashesofraspberry，pleadedindisposition，andvanishedfromtheirsight。

Theafternoonworeon。Mrs。Swancourtkindlysatapartbyherselfreading，andthebetrothedpairwerelefttothemselves。ElfrideclungtrustinglytoKnight"sarm，andproudwasshetowalkwithhimupanddownthedeck，ortogoforward，andleaningwithhimagainsttheforecastlerails，watchthesettingsungraduallywithdrawingitselfovertheirsternintoahugebankoflividcloudwithgoldenedgesthatrosetomeetit。