第16章

Shewaschildishlyfulloflifeandspirits，thoughinwalkingupanddownwithhimbeforetheotherpassengers，andgettingnoticedbythem，shewasatstartingratherconfused，itbeingthefirsttimeshehadshownherselfsoopenlyunderthatkindofprotection。"Iexpecttheyareenviousandsayingthingsaboutus，don"tyou？"shewouldwhispertoKnightwithastealthysmile。

"Ohno，"hewouldanswerunconcernedly。"Whyshouldtheyenvyus，andwhatcantheysay？"

"Notanyharm，ofcourse，"Elfridereplied，"exceptsuchasthis:

"Howhappythosetwoare!sheisproudenoughnow。”Whatmakesitworse，"shecontinuedintheextremityofconfidence，"Iheardthosetwocricketingmensayjustnow，"She"sthenobbiestgirlontheboat。”ButIdon"tmindit，youknow，Harry。"

"Ishouldhardlyhavesupposedyoudid，evenifyouhadnottoldme，"saidKnightwithgreatblandness。

Shewasnevertiredofaskingherloverquestionsandadmiringhisanswers，good，bad，orindifferentastheymightbe。Theeveninggrewdarkandnightcameon，andlightsshoneuponthemfromthehorizonandfromthesky。

"Nowlookthereaheadofus，atthathalointheair，ofsilverybrightness。Watchit，andyouwillseewhatitcomesto。"

Shewatchedforafewminutes，whentwowhitelightsemergedfromthesideofahill，andshowedthemselvestobetheoriginofthehalo。

"Whatadazzlingbrilliance!Whatdotheymark？"

"TheSouthForeland:theywerepreviouslycoveredbythecliff。"

"Whatisthatlevellineoflittlesparkles——atown，Isuppose？"

"That"sDover。"

Allthistime，andlater，softsheetlightningexpandedfromacloudintheirpath，enkindlingtheirfacesastheypacedupanddown，shiningoverthewater，and，foramoment，showingthehorizonasakeenline。

Elfridesleptsoundlythatnight。HerfirstthoughtthenextmorningwasthethrillingonethatKnightwasascloseathandaswhentheywereathomeatEndelstow，andherfirstsight，onlookingoutofthecabinwindow，wastheperpendicularfaceofBeachyHead，gleamingwhiteinabrilliantsix-o"clock-in-the-

morningsun。Thisfairdaybreak，however，soonchangeditsaspect。Acoldwindandapalemistdescendeduponthesea，andseemedtothreatenadrearyday。

WhentheywerenearingSouthampton，Mrs。Swancourtcametosaythatherhusbandwassoillthathewishedtobeputonshorehere，andlefttodotheremainderofthejourneybyland。"Hewillbeperfectlywelldirectlyhetreadsfirmgroundagain。

Whichshallwedo——gowithhim，orfinishourvoyageasweintended？"

ElfridewascomfortablyhousedunderanumbrellawhichKnightwasholdingoverhertokeepoffthewind。"Oh，don"tletusgoonshore!"shesaidwithdismay。"Itwouldbesuchapity!"

"That"sveryfine，"saidMrs。Swancourtarchly，astoachild。

"See，thewindhasincreasedhercolour，theseaherappetiteandspirits，andsomebodyherhappiness。Yes，itwouldbeapity，certainly。"

""Tismymisfortunetobealwaysspokentofromapedestal，"

sighedElfride。

"Well，wewilldoasyoulike，Mrs。Swancourt，"saidKnight，"but——"

"Imyselfwouldratherremainonboard，"interruptedtheelderlady。"AndMr。Swancourtparticularlywishestogobyhimself。

Sothatshallsettlethematter。"

Thevicar，nowadrabcolour，wasputashore，andbecameaswellaseverforthwith。

Elfride，sittingaloneinaretiredpartofthevessel，sawaveiledwomanwalkaboardamongtheverylatestarrivalsatthisport。Shewasclothedinblacksilk，andcarriedadarkshawluponherarm。Thewoman，withoutlookingaroundher，turnedtothequarterallottedtothesecond-cabinpassengers。AllthecarnationMrs。Swancourthadcomplimentedherstep-daughteruponpossessingleftElfride"scheeks，andshetrembledvisibly。

Sherantotheothersideoftheboat，whereMrs。Swancourtwasstanding。

"Letusgohomebyrailwaywithpapa，afterall，"shepleadedearnestly。"Iwouldrathergowithhim——shallwe？"

Mrs。Swancourtlookedaroundforamoment，asifunabletodecide。

"Ah，"sheexclaimed，"itistoolatenow。Whydidnotyousaysobefore，whenwehadplentyoftime？"

TheJuliethadatthatminuteletgo，theengineshadstarted，andtheywereglidingslowlyawayfromthequay。Therewasnohelpforitbuttoremain，unlesstheJulietcouldbemadetoputback，andthatwouldcreateagreatdisturbance。Elfridegaveuptheideaandsubmittedquietly。Herhappinesswassadlymutilatednow。

ThewomanwhosepresencehadsodisturbedherwasexactlylikeMrs。Jethway。SheseemedtohauntElfridelikeashadow。Afterseveralminutes"vainendeavourtoaccountforanydesignMrs。

Jethwaycouldhaveinwatchingher，Elfridedecidedtothinkthat，ifitwerethewidow，theencounterwasaccidental。SherememberedthatthewidowinherrestlessnesswasoftenvisitingthevillagenearSouthampton，whichwasheroriginalhome，anditwaspossiblethatshechosewater-transitwiththeideaofsavingexpense。

"Whatisthematter，Elfride？"Knightinquired，standingbeforeher。

"NothingmorethanthatIamratherdepressed。"

"Idon"tmuchwonderatit；thatwharfwasdepressing。Weseemedunderneathandinferiortoeverythingaroundus。Butweshallbeintheseabreezeagainsoon，andthatwillfreshenyou，dear。"

TheeveningclosedinandduskincreasedastheymadewaydownSouthamptonWaterandthroughtheSolent。Elfride"sdisturbanceofmindwassuchthatherlightspiritsoftheforegoingfourandtwentyhourshadentirelydesertedher。Theweathertoohadgrownmoregloomy，forthoughtheshowersofthemorninghadceased，theskywascoveredmorecloselythaneverwithdenseleadenclouds。

HowbeautifulwasthesunsetwhentheyroundedtheNorthForelandthepreviousevening!nowitwasimpossibletotellwithinhalfanhourthetimeoftheluminary"sgoingdown。Knightledherabout，andbeingbythistimeaccustomedtohersuddenchangesofmood，overlookedthenecessityofacauseinregardingtheconditions——

impressionablenessandelasticity。

Elfridelookedstealthilytotheotherendofthevessel。Mrs。

Jethway，orherdouble，wassittingatthestern——hereyesteadilyregardingElfride。

"Letusgototheforepart，"shesaidquicklytoKnight。"Seethere——themanisfixingthelightsforthenight。"

Knightassented，andafterwatchingtheoperationoffixingtheredandthegreenlightsontheportandstarboardbows，andthehoistingofthewhitelighttothemasthead，hewalkedupanddownwithhertilltheincreaseofwindrenderedpromenadingdifficult。

Elfride"seyeswereoccasionallytobefoundfurtivelygazingabaft，tolearnifherenemywerereallythere。Nobodywasvisiblenow。

"Shallwegobelow？"saidKnight，seeingthatthedeckwasnearlydeserted。

"No，"shesaid。"IfyouwillkindlygetmearugfromMrs。

Swancourt，Ishouldlike，ifyoudon"tmind，tostayhere。"ShehadrecentlyfanciedtheassumedMrs。Jethwaymightbeafirst-

classpassenger，anddreadedmeetingherbyaccident。

Knightappearedwiththerug，andtheysatdownbehindaweather-

clothonthewindwardside，justasthetworedeyesoftheNeedlesglareduponthemfromthegloom，theirpointedsummitsrisinglikeshadowyphantomfiguresagainstthesky。Itbecamenecessarytogobelowtoaneight-o"clockmealofnondescriptkind，andElfridewasimmenselyrelievedatfindingnosignofMrs。Jethwaythere。Theyagainascended，andremainedabovetillMrs。SnewsonstaggereduptothemwiththemessagethatMrs。

SwancourtthoughtitwastimeforElfridetocomebelow。Knightaccompaniedherdown，andreturnedagaintopassalittlemoretimeondeck。

Elfridepartlyundressedherselfandlaydown，andsoonbecameunconscious，thoughhersleepwaslightHowlongshehadlain，sheknewnot，whenbyslowdegreesshebecamecognizantofawhisperinginherear。

"Youarewellonwithhim，Icansee。Well，provokemenow，butmydaywillcome，youwillfind。"Thatseemedtobetheutterance，orwordstothateffect。

Elfridebecamebroadawakeandterrified。Sheknewthewords，ifreal，couldbeonlythoseofoneperson，andthatpersonthewidowJethway。

Thelamphadgoneoutandtheplacewasindarkness。Inthenextberthshecouldhearherstepmotherbreathingheavily，furtheronSnewsonbreathingmoreheavilystill。Theseweretheonlyotherlegitimateoccupantsofthecabin，andMrs。Jethwaymusthavestealthilycomeinbysomemeansandretreatedagain，orelseshehadenteredanemptyberthnextSnewson"s。ThefearthatthiswasthecaseincreasedElfride"sperturbation，tillitassumedthedimensionsofacertainty，forhowcouldastrangerfromtheotherendoftheshippossiblycontrivetogetin？Couldithavebeenadream？

Elfrideraisedherselfhigherandlookedoutofthewindow。Therewasthesea，flounderingandrushingagainsttheship"ssidejustbyherhead，andthencestretchingaway，dimandmoaning，intoanexpanseofindistinctness；andfarbeyondallthistwoplacidlightslikeraylessstars。Nowalmostfearingtoturnherfaceinwardsagain，lestMrs。Jethwayshouldappearatherelbow，ElfridemeditateduponwhethertocallSnewsontokeephercompany。"Fourbells"sounded，andsheheardvoices，whichgaveheralittlecourage。ItwasnotworthwhiletocallSnewson。

AtanyrateElfridecouldnotstaytherepantinglonger，attheriskofbeingagaindisturbedbythatdreadfulwhispering。Sowrappingherselfuphurriedlysheemergedintothepassage，andbytheaidofafaintlightburningattheentrancetothesaloonfoundthefootofthestairs，andascendedtothedeck。Drearytheplacewasintheextreme。Itseemedanewspotaltogetherincontrastwithitsdaytimeself。Shecouldseetheglowwormlightfromthebinnacle，andthedimoutlineofthemanatthewheel；

alsoaformatthebows。Notanothersoulwasapparentfromstemtostern。

Yes，thereweretwomore——bythebulwarks。OneprovedtobeherHarry，theotherthemate。Shewasgladindeed，andondrawingcloserfoundtheywereholdingalowslowchataboutnauticalaffairs。SheranupandslippedherhandthroughKnight"sarm，partlyforlove，partlyforstability。

"Elfie!notasleep？"saidKnight，aftermovingafewstepsasidewithher。

"No:Icannotsleep。MayIstayhere？Itissodismaldownthere，and——andIwasafraid。Wherearewenow？"

"DuesouthofPortlandBill。Thosearethelightsabeamofus:

look。Aterriblespot，that，onastormynight。Anddoyouseeaverysmalllightthatdipsandrisestotheright？That"salight-

shiponthedangerousshoalcalledtheShambles，wheremanyagoodvesselhasgonetopieces。BetweenitandourselvesistheRace——

aplacewhereantagonisticcurrentsmeetandformwhirlpools——aspotwhichisroughinthesmoothestweather，andterrificinawind。Thatdark，drearyhorizonwejustdiscerntotheleftistheWestBay，terminatedlandwardsbytheChesilBeach。"

"Whattimeisit，Harry？"

"Justpasttwo。"

"Areyougoingbelow？"

"Ohno；notto-night。Ipreferpureair。"

Shefanciedhemightbedispleasedwithherforcomingtohimatthisunearthlyhour。"Ishouldliketostayheretoo，ifyouwillallowme，"shesaidtimidly。

"Iwanttoaskyouthings。"

"Allowyou，Elfie!"saidKnight，puttinghisarmroundheranddrawinghercloser。"Iamtwiceashappywithyoubymyside。

Yes:wewillstay，andwatchtheapproachofday。"

Sotheyagainsoughtouttheshelterednook，andsittingdownwrappedthemselvesintherugasbefore。

"Whatwereyougoingtoaskme？"heinquired，astheyundulatedupanddown。

"Oh，itwasnotmuch——perhapsathingIoughtnottoask，"shesaidhesitatingly。Hersuddenwishhadreallybeentodiscoveratoncewhetherhehadeverbeforebeenengagedtobemarried。Ifhehad，shewouldmakethatagroundfortellinghimalittleofherconductwithStephen。Mrs。Jethway"sseemingwordshadsodepressedthegirlthatsheherselfnowpaintedherflightinthedarkestcolours，andlongedtoeaseherburdenedmindbyaninstantconfession。IfKnighthadeverbeenimprudenthimself，hemight，shehoped，forgiveall。

"Iwantedtoaskyou，"shewenton，"if——youhadeverbeenengagedbefore。"Sheaddedtremulously，"Ihopeyouhave——Imean，Idon"tmindatallifyouhave。"

"No，Ineverwas，"Knightinstantlyandheartilyreplied。

"Elfride"——andtherewasacertainhappyprideinhistone——"Iamtwelveyearsolderthanyou，andIhavebeenabouttheworld，and，inaway，intosociety，andyouhavenot。AndyetIamnotsounfitforyouasstrict-thinkingpeoplemightimagine，whowouldassumethedifferenceinagetosignifymostsurelyanequaladditiontomypracticeinlove-making。"

Elfrideshivered。

"Youarecold——isthewindtoomuchforyou？"

"No，"shesaidgloomily。Thebeliefwhichhadbeenhersheet-

anchorinhopingforforgivenesshadprovedfalse。Thisaccountoftheexceptionalnatureofhisexperience，amatterwhichwouldhavesetherrejoicingtwoyearsago，chilledhernowlikeafrost。

"Youdon"tmindmyaskingyou？"shecontinued。

"Ohno——notatall。"

"Andhaveyouneverkissedmanyladies？"shewhispered，hopinghewouldsayahundredattheleast。

Thetime，thecircumstances，andthesceneweresuchastodrawconfidencesfromthemostreserved。"Elfride，"whisperedKnightinreply，"itisstrangeyoushouldhaveaskedthatquestion。ButI"llanswerit，thoughIhavenevertoldsuchathingbefore。I