第1章

Thefollowingchapterswerewrittenatatimewhenthecrazeforindiscriminatechurch-restorationhadjustreachedtheremotestnooksofwesternEngland，wherethewildandtragicfeaturesofthecoasthadlongcombinedinperfectharmonywiththecrudeGothicArtoftheecclesiasticalbuildingsscatteredalongit，throwingintoextraordinarydiscordallarchitecturalattemptsatnewnessthere。Torestorethegreycarcasesofamediaevalismwhosespirithadfled，seemedanotlessincongruousactthantosetaboutrenovatingtheadjoiningcragsthemselves。

Henceithappenedthatanimaginaryhistoryofthreehumanhearts，whoseemotionswerenotwithoutcorrespondencewiththesematerialcircumstances，foundintheordinaryincidentsofsuchchurch-

renovationsafittingframeforitspresentation。

Theshoreandcountryabout\'CastleBoterel\'isnowgettingwellknown，andwillbereadilyrecognized。Thespotis，Imayadd，thefurthestwestwardofallthoseconvenientcornerswhereinI

haveventuredtoerectmytheatrefortheseimperfectlittledramasofcountrylifeandpassions；anditliesnearto，ornogreatwaybeyond，thevagueborderoftheWessexkingdomonthatside，which，likethewesteringvergeofmodernAmericansettlements，wasprogressiveanduncertain。

This，however，isoflittleimportance。Theplaceispre-

eminently(foronepersonatleast)theregionofdreamandmystery。Theghostlybirds，thepall-likesea，thefrothywind，theeternalsoliloquyofthewaters，thebloomofdarkpurplecast，thatseemstoexhalefromtheshorewardprecipices，inthemselveslendtothesceneanatmospherelikethetwilightofanightvision。

Oneenormoussea-bordcliffinparticularfiguresinthenarrative；andforsomeforgottenreasonorotherthiscliffwasdescribedinthestoryasbeingwithoutaname。Accuracywouldrequirethestatementtobethataremarkablecliffwhichresemblesinmanypointsthecliffofthedescriptionbearsanamethatnoeventhasmadefamous。

T。H。

March1899

THEPERSONS

ELFRIDESWANCOURTayoungLadyCHRISTOPHERSWANCOURTaClergymanSTEPHENSMITHanArchitectHENRYKNIGHTaReviewerandEssayistCHARLOTTETROYTONarichWidowGERTRUDEJETHWAYapoorWidowSPENSERHUGOLUXELLIANaPeerLADYLUXELLIANhisWifeMARYANDKATEtwolittleGirlsWILLIAMWORMadazedFactotumJOHNSMITHaMaster-masonJANESMITHhisWifeMARTINCANNISTERaSextonUNITYaMaid-servantOtherservants，masons，labourers，grooms，nondescripts，etc。，etc。

THESCENE

MostlyontheoutskirtsofLowerWessex。

ChapterI

\'Afairvestal，thronedinthewest\'

ElfrideSwancourtwasagirlwhoseemotionslayverynearthesurface。Theirnaturemoreprecisely，andasmodifiedbythecreepinghoursoftime，wasknownonlytothosewhowatchedthecircumstancesofherhistory。

Personally，shewasthecombinationofveryinterestingparticulars，whoserarity，however，layinthecombinationitselfratherthanintheindividualelementscombined。Asamatteroffact，youdidnotseetheformandsubstanceofherfeatureswhenconversingwithher；andthischarmingpowerofpreventingamaterialstudyofherlineamentsbyaninterlocutor，originatednotinthecloakingeffectofawell-formedmanner(forhermannerwaschildishandscarcelyformed)，butintheattractivecrudenessoftheremarksthemselves。Shehadlivedallherlifeinretirement——themonstrarigigitoofidlemenhadnotflatteredher，andattheageofnineteenortwentyshewasnofurtheroninsocialconsciousnessthananurbanyoungladyoffifteen。

Onepointinher，however，youdidnotice:thatwashereyes。Inthemwasseenasublimationofallofher；itwasnotnecessarytolookfurther:thereshelived。

Theseeyeswereblue；blueasautumndistance——blueastheblueweseebetweentheretreatingmouldingsofhillsandwoodyslopesonasunnySeptembermorning。Amistyandshadyblue，thathadnobeginningorsurface，andwaslookedINTOratherthanAT。

Astoherpresence，itwasnotpowerful；itwasweak。Somewomencanmaketheirpersonalitypervadetheatmosphereofawholebanquetinghall；Elfride\'swasnomorepervasivethanthatofakitten。

ElfridehadasherownthethoughtfulnesswhichappearsinthefaceoftheMadonnadellaSedia，withoutitsrapture:thewarmthandspiritofthetypeofwoman\'sfeaturemostcommontothebeauties——mortalandimmortal——ofRubens，withouttheirinsistentfleshiness。ThecharacteristicexpressionofthefemalefacesofCorreggio——thatoftheyearninghumanthoughtsthatlietoodeepfortears——washerssometimes，butseldomunderordinaryconditions。

ThepointinElfrideSwancourt\'slifeatwhichadeepercurrentmaybesaidtohavepermanentlysetin，wasonewinterafternoonwhenshefoundherselfstanding，inthecharacterofhostess，facetofacewithamanshehadneverseenbefore——moreover，lookingathimwithaMiranda-likecuriosityandinterestthatshehadneveryetbestowedonamortal。

Onthisparticulardayherfather，thevicarofaparishonthesea-sweptoutskirtsofLowerWessex，andawidower，wassufferingfromanattackofgout。AfterfinishingherhouseholdsupervisionsElfridebecamerestless，andseveraltimeslefttheroom，ascendedthestaircase，andknockedatherfather\'schamber-

door。

\'Comein!\'wasalwaysansweredinaheartyout-of-doorvoicefromtheinside。

\'Papa，\'shesaidononeoccasiontothefine，red-faced，handsomemanofforty，who，puffingandfizzinglikeaburstingbottle，layonthebedwrappedinadressing-gown，andeverynowandthenenunciating，inspiteofhimself，aboutoneletterofsomewordorwordsthatwerealmostoaths；\'papa，willyounotcomedownstairsthisevening？\'Shespokedistinctly:hewasratherdeaf。

\'Afraidnot——eh-hh!——verymuchafraidIshallnot，Elfride。

Piph-ph-ph!Ican\'tbearevenahandkerchiefuponthisdeucedtoeofmine，muchlessastockingorslipper——piph-ph-ph!There\'tisagain!No，Ishan\'tgetuptillto-morrow。\'

\'ThenIhopethisLondonmanwon\'tcome；forIdon\'tknowwhatI

shoulddo，papa。\'

\'Well，itwouldbeawkward，certainly。\'

\'Ishouldhardlythinkhewouldcometo-day。\'

\'Why？\'

\'Becausethewindblowsso。\'

\'Wind!Whatideasyouhave，Elfride!Whoeverheardofwindstoppingamanfromdoinghisbusiness？Theideaofthistoeofminecomingonsosuddenly!……Ifheshouldcome，youmustsendhimuptome，Isuppose，andthengivehimsomefoodandputhimtobedinsomeway。Dearme，whatanuisanceallthisis!\'

\'Musthehavedinner？\'

\'Tooheavyforatiredmanattheendofatediousjourney。\'

\'Tea，then？\'

\'Notsubstantialenough。\'

\'Hightea，then？Thereiscoldfowl，rabbit-pie，somepasties，andthingsofthatkind。\'

\'Yes，hightea。\'

\'MustIpourouthistea，papa？\'

\'Ofcourse；youarethemistressofthehouse。\'

\'What!sitthereallthetimewithastranger，justasifIknewhim，andnotanybodytointroduceus？\'

\'Nonsense，child，aboutintroducing；youknowbetterthanthat。A

practicalprofessionalman，tiredandhungry，whohasbeentravellingeversincedaylightthismorning，willhardlybeinclinedtotalkandaircourtesiesto-night。Hewantsfoodandshelter，andyoumustseethathehasit，simplybecauseIamsuddenlylaidupandcannot。Thereisnothingsodreadfulinthat，Ihope？Yougetallkindsofstuffintoyourheadfromreadingsomanyofthosenovels。\'

\'Ohno；thereisnothingdreadfulinitwhenitbecomesplainlyacaseofnecessitylikethis。But，yousee，youarealwaystherewhenpeoplecometodinner，evenifweknowthem；andthisissomestrangeLondonmanoftheworld，whowillthinkitodd，perhaps。\'

\'Verywell；lethim。\'

\'IsheMr。Hewby\'spartner？\'

\'Ishouldscarcelythinkso:hemaybe。\'

\'Howoldishe，Iwonder？\'

\'ThatIcannottell。YouwillfindthecopyofmylettertoMr。

Hewby，andhisanswer，uponthetableinthestudy。Youmayreadthem，andthenyou\'llknowasmuchasIdoaboutourvisitor。\'

\'Ihavereadthem。\'

\'Well，what\'stheuseofaskingquestions，then？TheycontainallIknow。Ugh-h-h!……Odplagueyou，youyoungscamp!don\'tputanythingthere!Ican\'tbeartheweightofafly。\'

\'Oh，Iamsorry，papa。Iforgot；Ithoughtyoumightbecold，\'

shesaid，hastilyremovingtherugshehadthrownuponthefeetofthesufferer；andwaitingtillshesawthatconsciousnessofheroffencehadpassedfromhisface，shewithdrewfromtheroom，andretiredagaindownstairs。

ChapterII

\'Twasontheeveningofawinter\'sday。\'

Whentwoorthreeadditionalhourshadmergedthesameafternooninevening，somemovingoutlinesmighthavebeenobservedagainsttheskyonthesummitofawildlonehillinthatdistrict。Theycircumscribedtwomen，havingatpresenttheaspectofsilhouettes，sittinginadog-cartandpushingalongintheteethofthewind。Scarcelyasolitaryhouseormanhadbeenvisiblealongthewholedrearydistanceofopencountrytheyweretraversing；andnowthatnighthadbeguntofall，thefainttwilight，whichstillgaveanideaofthelandscapetotheirobservation，wasenlivenedbythequietappearanceoftheplanetJupiter，momentarilygleaminginintenserbrilliancyinfrontofthem，andbySiriussheddinghisraysinrivalryfromhispositionovertheirshoulders。

Theonlylightsapparentonearthweresomespotsofdullred，glowinghereandthereuponthedistanthills，which，asthedriverofthevehiclegratuitouslyremarkedtothehirer，weresmoulderingfiresfortheconsumptionofpeatandgorse-roots，wherethecommonwasbeingbrokenupforagriculturalpurposes。Thewindprevailedwithbutlittleabatementfromitsdaytimeboisterousness，threeorfoursmallclouds，delicateandpale，creepingalongundertheskysouthwardtotheChannel。

Fourteenofthesixteenmilesinterveningbetweentherailwayterminusandtheendoftheirjourneyhadbeengoneover，whentheybegantopassalongthebrinkofavalleysomemilesinextent，whereinthewintryskeletonsofamoreluxuriantvegetationthanhadhithertosurroundedthemproclaimedanincreasedrichnessofsoil，whichshowedsignsoffarmorecarefulenclosureandmanagementthanhadanyslopestheyhadyetpassed。

Alittlefarther，andanopeningintheelmsstretchingupfromthisfertilevalleyrevealedamansion。

\'That\'sEndelstowHouse，LordLuxellian\'s，\'saidthedriver。

\'EndelstowHouse，LordLuxellian\'s，\'repeatedtheothermechanically。Hethenturnedhimselfsideways，andkeenlyscrutinizedthealmostinvisiblehousewithaninterestwhichtheindistinctpictureitselfseemedfarfromadequatetocreate。

\'Yes，that\'sLordLuxellian\'s，\'hesaidyetagainafterawhile，ashestilllookedinthesamedirection。

\'What，bewegoingthere？\'

\'No；EndelstowVicarage，asIhavetoldyou。\'

\'Ithoughtyoum\'thavealteredyourmind，sir，asyehavestaredthatwayatnothingsolong。\'

\'Ohno；Iaminterestedinthehouse，that\'sall。\'

\'Mostpeoplebe，asthesayingis。\'

\'NotinthesensethatIam。\'

\'Oh!……Well，hisfamilyisnobetterthanmyown，\'ab\'lieve。\'

\'Howisthat？\'

\'Hedgersandditchersbyrights。Butonceinancienttimesoneof\'em，whenhewasatwork，changedclotheswithKingCharlestheSecond，andsavedtheking\'slife。KingCharlescameuptohimlikeacommonman，andsaidoff-hand，"Maninthesmock-frock，mynameisCharlestheSecond，andthat\'sthetruthon\'t。Willyoulendmeyourclothes？""Idon\'tmindifIdo，"saidHedgerLuxellian；andtheychangedthereandthen。"Nowmindye，"KingCharlestheSecondsaid，likeacommonman，asherodeaway，"ifeverIcometothecrown，youcometocourt，knockatthedoor，andsayoutbold，\'IsKingCharlestheSecondathome？\'Tellyourname，andtheyshallletyouin，andyoushallbemadealord。”

Now，thatwasveryniceofMasterCharley？\'

\'Veryniceindeed。\'

\'Well，asthestoryis，thekingcametothethrone；andsomeyearsafterthat，awaywentHedgerLuxellian，knockedattheking\'sdoor，andaskedifKingCharlestheSecondwasin。"No，heisn\'t，"theysaid。"Then，isCharlestheThird？"saidHedgerLuxellian。"Yes，"saidayoungfellerstandingbylikeacommonman，onlyhehadacrownon，"mynameisCharlestheThird。”And——\'

\'Ireallyfancythatmustbeamistake。Idon\'trecollectanythinginEnglishhistoryaboutCharlestheThird，\'saidtheotherinatoneofmildremonstrance。

\'Oh，that\'srighthistoryenough，only\'twasn\'tprented；hewasratheraqueer-temperedman，ifyouremember。\'

\'Verywell；goon。\'

\'And，byhookorbycrook，HedgerLuxellianwasmadealord，andeverythingwentonwelltillsometimeafter，whenhegotintoamostterriblerowwithKingCharlestheFourth\'Ican\'tstandCharlestheFourth。Uponmyword，that\'stoomuch。\'

\'Why？TherewasaGeorgetheFourth，wasn\'tthere？\'

\'Certainly。\'

\'Well，CharlesesbeascommonasGeorges。HoweverI\'llsaynomoreaboutit……Ah，well!\'tisthefunniestworldeverIlivedin——uponmylife\'tis。Ah，thatsuchshouldbe!\'

Theduskhadthickenedintodarknesswhiletheythusconversed，andtheoutlineandsurfaceofthemansiongraduallydisappeared。

Thewindows，whichhadbeforebeenasblackblotsonalighterexpanseofwall，becameilluminated，andweretransfiguredtosquaresoflightonthegeneraldarkbodyofthenightlandscapeasitabsorbedtheoutlinesoftheedificeintoitsgloomymonochrome。

Notanotherwordwasspokenforsometime，andtheyclimbedahill，thenanotherhillpiledonthesummitofthefirst。Anadditionalmileofplateaufollowed，fromwhichcouldbediscernedtwolight-housesonthecoasttheywerenearing，reposingonthehorizonwithacalmlustreofbenignity。Anotheroasiswasreached；alittledelllaylikeanestattheirfeet，towardswhichthedriverpulledthehorseatasharpangle，anddescendedasteepslopewhichdivedunderthetreeslikearabbit\'sburrow。

Theysanklowerandlower。

\'EndelstowVicarageisinsidehere，\'continuedthemanwiththereins。\'ThispartabouthereisWestEndelstow；LordLuxellian\'sisEastEndelstow，andhasachurchtoitself。Pa\'sonSwancourtisthepa\'sonofboth，andbobsbackwardandforward。Ah，well!

\'tisafunnyworld。\'Ab\'lievetherewasonceaquarrywherethishousestands。Themanwhobuiltitinpasttimescrapedalltheglebeforearthtoputroundthevicarage，andlaidoutalittleparadiseofflowersandtreesinthesoilhehadgottogetherinthisway，whilstthefieldshescrapedhavebeengoodfornothingeversince。\'

\'Howlonghasthepresentincumbentbeenhere？\'

\'Maybeaboutayear，orayearandhalf:\'tisn\'ttwoyears；fortheydon\'tscandalizehimyet；and，asarule，aparishbeginstoscandalizethepa\'sonattheendoftwoyearsamong\'emfamiliar。

Buthe\'saveryniceparty。Ay，Pa\'sonSwancourtknowsmeprettywellfromoftendrivingover；andIknowPa\'sonSwancourt。\'

Theyemergedfromthebower，sweptroundinacurve，andthechimneysandgablesofthevicaragebecamedarklyvisible。Notalightshowedanywhere。Theyalighted；themanfelthiswayintotheporch，andrangthebell。

Attheendofthreeorfourminutes，spentinpatientwaitingwithouthearinganysoundsofaresponse，thestrangeradvancedandrepeatedthecallinamoredecidedmanner。Hethenfanciedheheardfootstepsinthehall，andsundrymovementsofthedoor-

knob，butnobodyappeared。

\'Perhapstheybeantathome，\'sighedthedriver。\'AndIpromisedmyselfabitofsupperinPa\'sonSwancourt\'skitchen。Sichlovelymate-pizeandfiggedkeakes，andcider，anddropso\'cordialthattheydokeephere!\'

\'Allright，naibours!Beyerichmenorbeyepoormen，thatyemustneedscometotheworld\'sendatthistimeo\'night？\'

exclaimedavoiceatthisinstant；and，turningtheirheads，theysawaricketyindividualshamblingroundfromthebackdoorwithahornlanterndanglingfromhishand。

\'Timeo\'night，\'ab\'lieve!andtheclockonlygonesevenof\'em。

Showalight，andletusin，WilliamWorm。\'

\'Oh，thatyou，RobertLickpan？\'

\'Nobodyelse，WilliamWorm。\'

\'Andisthevisitingmana-come？\'

\'Yes，\'saidthestranger。\'IsMr。Swancourtathome？\'

\'That\'ais，sir。Andwouldyemindcomingroundbythebackway？

Thefrontdoorisgotstuckwi\'thewet，ashewilldosometimes；

andtheTurkcan\'topenen。IknowIamonlyapoorwamblingmanthat\'illneverpaytheLordformymaking，sir；butIcanshowthewayin，sir。\'

Thenewarrivalfollowedhisguidethroughalittledoorinawall，andthenpromenadedasculleryandakitchen，alongwhichhepassedwitheyesrigidlyfixedinadvance，aninbredhorrorofpryingforbiddinghimtogazearoundapartmentsthatformedthebacksideofthehouseholdtapestry。Enteringthehall，hewasabouttobeshowntohisroom，whenfromtheinnerlobbyofthefrontentrance，whithershehadgonetolearnthecauseofthedelay，sailedforththeformofElfride。Herstartofamazementatthesightofthevisitorcomingforthfromunderthestairsprovedthatshehadnotbeenexpectingthissurprisingflankmovement，whichhadbeenoriginatedentirelybytheingenuityofWilliamWorm。

Sheappearedintheprettiestofallfeminineguises，thatistosay，indemi-toilette，withplentyofloosecurlyhairtumblingdownabouthershoulders。Anexpressionofuneasinesspervadedhercountenance；andaltogethershescarcelyappearedwomanenoughforthesituation。Thevisitorremovedhishat，andthefirstwordswerespoken；Elfrideprelusivelylookingwithadealofinterest，notunmixedwithsurprise，atthepersontowardswhomshewastodothedutiesofhospitality。

\'IamMr。Smith，\'saidthestrangerinamusicalvoice。

\'IamMissSwancourt，\'saidElfride。

Herconstraintwasover。Thegreatcontrastbetweentherealityshebeheldbeforeher，andthedark，taciturn，sharp，elderlymanofbusinesswhohadlurkedinherimagination——amanwithclothessmellingofcitysmoke，skinsallowfromwantofsun，andtalkflavouredwithepigram——wassucharelieftoherthatElfridesmiled，almostlaughed，inthenew-comer\'sface。

StephenSmith，whohashithertobeenhiddenfromusbythedarkness，wasatthistimeofhislifebutayouthinappearance，andbarelyamaninyears。Judgingfromhislook，Londonwasthelastplaceintheworldthatonewouldhaveimaginedtobethesceneofhisactivities:

suchafacesurelycouldnotbenourishedamidsmokeandmudandfoganddust；suchanopencountenancecouldneverevenhaveseenanythingof\'theweariness，thefever，andthefret\'ofBabylontheSecond。

HiscomplexionwasasfineasElfride\'sown；thepinkofhischeeksasdelicate。HismouthasperfectasCupid\'sbowinform，andascherry-redincolourashers。Brightcurlyhair；brightsparklingblue-grayeyes；aboy\'sblushandmanner；neitherwhiskernormoustache，unlessalittlelight-brownfuronhisupperlipdeservedthelattertitle:thiscomposedtheLondonprofessionalman，theprospectofwhoseadventhadsotroubledElfride。

ElfridehastenedtosayshewassorrytotellhimthatMr。

Swancourtwasnotabletoreceivehimthatevening，andgavethereasonwhy。Mr。Smithreplied，inavoiceboyishbynatureandmanlybyart，thathewasverysorrytohearthisnews；butthatasfarashisreceptionwasconcerned，itdidnotmatterintheleast。

Stephenwasshownuptohisroom。InhisabsenceElfridestealthilyglidedintoherfather\'s。

\'He\'scome，papa。Suchayoungmanforabusinessman!\'

\'Oh，indeed!\'

\'Hisfaceis——well——PRETTY；justlikemine。\'

\'H\'m!whatnext？\'

\'Nothing；that\'sallIknowofhimyet。Itisrathernice，isitnot？\'

\'Well，weshallseethatwhenweknowhimbetter。Godownandgivethepoorfellowsomethingtoeatanddrink，forHeaven\'ssake。Andwhenhehasdoneeating，sayIshouldliketohaveafewwordswithhim，ifhedoesn\'tmindcominguphere。\'

Theyoungladyglideddownstairsagain，andwhilstsheawaitsyoungSmith\'sentry，thelettersreferringtohisvisithadbetterbegiven。

1——MR。SWANCOURTTOMR。HEWBY。

\'ENDELSTOWVICARAGE，Feb。18，18。

\'SIR，——Wearethinkingofrestoringthetowerandaisleofthechurchinthisparish；andLordLuxellian，thepatronoftheliving，hasmentionedyournameasthatofatrustworthyarchitectwhomitwouldbedesirabletoasktosuperintendthework。

\'Iamexceedinglyignorantofthenecessarypreliminarysteps。

Probably，however，thefirstisthat(shouldyoube，asLordLuxelliansaysyouare，disposedtoassistus)yourselforsomememberofyourstaffcomeandseethebuilding，andreportthereuponforthesatisfactionofparishionersandothers。

\'Thespotisaveryremoteone:wehavenorailwaywithinfourteenmiles；andthenearestplaceforputtingupat——calledatown，thoughmerelyalargevillage——isCastleBoterel，twomilesfurtheron；sothatitwouldbemostconvenientforyoutostayatthevicarage——whichIamgladtoplaceatyourdisposal——insteadofpushingontothehotelatCastleBoterel，andcomingbackagaininthemorning。

\'Anydayofthenextweekthatyouliketonameforthevisitwillfindusquitereadytoreceiveyou——Yoursverytruly，CHRISTOPHER

SWANCOURT。

2——MR。HEWBYTOMR。SWANCOURT。

"PERCYPLACE，CHARINGCROSS，Feb。20，18。

\'DEARSIR，——Agreeablytoyourrequestofthe18thinstant，Ihavearrangedtosurveyandmakedrawingsoftheaisleandtowerofyourparishchurch，andofthedilapidationswhichhavebeensufferedtoaccruethereto，withaviewtoitsrestoration。

\'Myassistant，Mr。StephenSmith，willleaveLondonbytheearlytrainto-morrowmorningforthepurpose。Manythanksforyourproposaltoaccommodatehim。Hewilltakeadvantageofyouroffer，andwillprobablyreachyourhouseatsomehouroftheevening。Youmayputeveryconfidenceinhim，andmayrelyuponhisdiscernmentinthematterofchurcharchitecture。

\'Trustingthattheplansfortherestoration，whichIshallpreparefromthedetailsofhissurvey，willprovesatisfactorytoyourselfandLordLuxellian，Iam，dearsir，yoursfaithfully，WALTERHEWBY。\'

ChapterIII

\'Melodiousbirdssingmadrigals\'

ThatfirstrepastinEndelstowVicaragewasaveryagreeableonetoyoungStephenSmith。Thetablewasspread，asElfridehadsuggestedtoherfather，withthematerialsfortheheterogeneousmealcalledhightea——aclassofrefectionwelcometoallwhenawayfrommenandtowns，andparticularlyattractivetoyouthfulpalates。Thetablewasprettilydeckedwithwinterflowersandleaves，amidwhichtheeyewasgreetedbychops，chicken，pie，&c。，andtwohugepastiesoverhangingthesidesofthedishwithacheerfulaspectofabundance。

Attheend，towardsthefireplace，appearedthetea-service，ofold-fashionedWorcesterporcelain，andbehindthisarosetheslightformofElfride，attemptingtoaddmatronlydignitytothemovementofpouringouttea，andtohaveaweightyandconcernedlookinmattersofmarmalade，honey，andclottedcream。Havingmadeherownmealbeforehearrived，shefoundtoherembarrassmentthattherewasnothingleftforhertodobuttalkwhennotassistinghim。Sheaskedhimifhewouldexcuseherfinishingalettershehadbeenwritingataside-table，and，aftersittingdowntoit，tingledwithasenseofbeinggrosslyrude。However，seeingthathenoticednothingpersonallywronginher，andthathetoowasembarrassedwhensheattentivelywatchedhiscuptorefillit，Elfridebecamebetteratease；

andwhenfurthermoreheaccidentallykickedthelegofthetable，andthennearlyupsethistea-cup，justasschoolboysdid，shefeltherselfmistressofthesituation，andcouldtalkverywell。Inafewminutesingenuousnessandacommontermofyearsobliteratedallrecollectionthattheywerestrangersjustmet。Stephenbegantowaxeloquentonextremelyslightexperiencesconnectedwithhisprofessionalpursuits；andshe，havingnoexperiencestofallbackupon，recountedwithmuchanimationstoriesthathadbeenrelatedtoherbyherfather，whichwouldhaveastonishedhimhadheheardwithwhatfidelityofactionandtonetheywererendered。Uponthewhole，averyinterestingpictureofSweet-and-TwentywasonviewthateveninginMr。Swancourt\'shouse。

UltimatelyStephenhadtogoupstairsandtalkloudtothevicar，receivingfromhimbetweenhispuffsagreatmanyapologiesforcallinghimsounceremoniouslytoastranger\'sbedroom。\'But，\'

continuedMr。Swancourt，\'IfeltthatIwantedtosayafewwordstoyoubeforethemorning，onthebusinessofyourvisit。One\'spatiencegetsexhaustedbystayingaprisonerinbedalldaythroughasuddenfreakofone\'senemy——newtome，though——forI

haveknownverylittleofgoutasyet。However，he\'sgonetomyothertoeinaverymildmanner，andIexpecthe\'llslinkoffaltogetherbythemorning。Ihopeyouhavebeenwellattendedtodownstairs？\'

\'Perfectly。Andthoughitisunfortunate，andIamsorrytoseeyoulaidup，Ibegyouwillnottaketheslightestnoticeofmybeinginthehousethewhile。\'

\'Iwillnot。ButIshallbedownto-morrow。Mydaughterisanexcellentdoctor。Adoseortwoofhermildmixtureswillfetchmeroundquickerthanallthedrugstuffintheworld。Well，nowaboutthechurchbusiness。Takeaseat，do。Wecan\'taffordtostanduponceremonyinthesepartsasyousee，andforthisreason，thatacivilizedhumanbeingseldomstayslongwithus；

andsowecannotwastetimeinapproachinghim，orhewillbegonebeforewehavehadthepleasureofcloseacquaintance。Thistowerofoursis，asyouwillnotice，entirelygonebeyondthepossibilityofrestoration；butthechurchitselfiswellenough。

Youshouldseesomeofthechurchesinthiscounty。Floorsrotten:ivyliningthewalls。\'

\'Dearme!\'

\'Oh，that\'snothing。Thecongregationofaneighbourofmine，wheneverastormofraincomesonduringservice，opentheirumbrellasandholdthemuptillthedrippingceasesfromtheroof。

Now，ifyouwillkindlybringmethosepapersandlettersyouseelyingonthetable，Iwillshowyouhowfarwehavegot。\'

Stephencrossedtheroomtofetchthem，andthevicarseemedtonoticemoreparticularlytheslimfigureofhisvisitor。

\'Isupposeyouarequitecompetent？\'hesaid。

\'Quite，\'saidtheyoungman，colouringslightly。

\'Youareveryyoung，Ifancy——Ishouldsayyouarenotmorethannineteen？\'

Iamnearlytwenty-one。\'

\'Exactlyhalfmyage；Iamforty-two。\'

\'Bytheway，\'saidMr。Swancourt，aftersomeconversation，\'yousaidyourwholenamewasStephenFitzmaurice，andthatyourgrandfathercameoriginallyfromCaxbury。SinceIhavebeenspeaking，ithasoccurredtomethatIknowsomethingofyou。Youbelongtoawell-knownancientcountyfamily——notordinarySmithsintheleast。\'

\'Idon\'tthinkwehaveanyoftheirbloodinourveins。\'

\'Nonsense!youmust。Handmethe"LandedGentry。”Now，letmesee。There，StephenFitzmauriceSmith——heliesinSt。Mary\'sChurch，doesn\'the？Well，outofthatfamilySprangtheLeaseworthySmiths，andcollaterallycameGeneralSirStephenFitzmauriceSmithofCaxbury——\'

\'Yes；Ihaveseenhismonumentthere，\'shoutedStephen。\'Butthereisnoconnectionbetweenhisfamilyandmine:therecannotbe。\'

\'Thereisnone，possibly，toyourknowledge。Butlookatthis，mydearsir，\'saidthevicar，strikinghisfistuponthebedpostforemphasis。\'Hereareyou，StephenFitzmauriceSmith，livinginLondon，butspringingfromCaxbury。HereinthisbookisagenealogicaltreeoftheStephenFitzmauriceSmithsofCaxburyManor。Youmaybeonlyafamilyofprofessionalmennow——Iamnotinquisitive:Idon\'taskquestionsofthatkind；itisnotinmetodoso——butitisasplainasthenoseinyourfacethatthere\'syourorigin!And，Mr。Smith，Icongratulateyouuponyourblood；

blueblood，sir；and，uponmylife，averydesirablecolour，astheworldgoes。\'

\'Iwishyoucouldcongratulatemeuponsomemoretangiblequality，\'saidtheyoungerman，sadlynolessthanmodestly。

\'Nonsense!thatwillcomewithtime。Youareyoung:allyourlifeisbeforeyou。Nowlook——seehowfarbackinthemistsofantiquitymyownfamilyofSwancourthavearoot。Here，yousee，\'

hecontinued，turningtothepage，\'isGeoffrey，theoneamongmyancestorswholostabaronybecausehewouldcuthisjoke。Ah，it\'sthesortofus!Butthestoryistoolongtotellnow。Ay，I\'mapoorman——apoorgentleman，infact:thoseIwouldbefriendswith，won\'tbefriendswithme；thosewhoarewillingtobefriendswithme，Iamabovebeingfriendswith。Beyonddiningwithaneighbouringincumbentortwo。andanoccasionalchat——

sometimesdinner——withLordLuxellian，aconnectionofmine，Iaminabsolutesolitude——absolute。\'

\'Youhaveyourstudies，yourbooks，andyour——daughter。\'

\'Ohyes，yes；andIdon\'tcomplainofpoverty。Cantocoramlatrone。Well，Mr。Smith，don\'tletmedetainyouanylongerinasickroom。Ha!thatremindsmeofastoryIonceheardinmyyoungerdays。\'Herethevicarbeganaseriesofsmallprivatelaughs，andStephenlookedinquiry。\'Oh，no，no!itistoobad——

toobadtotell!\'continuedMr。Swancourtinundertonesofgrimmirth。\'Well，godownstairs；mydaughtermustdothebestshecanwithyouthisevening。Askhertosingtoyou——sheplaysandsingsverynicely。Good-night；IfeelasifIhadknownyouforfiveorsixyears。I\'llringforsomebodytoshowyoudown。\'

\'Nevermind，\'saidStephen，\'Icanfindtheway。\'Andhewentdownstairs，thinkingofthedelightfulfreedomofmannerintheremotercountiesincomparisonwiththereserveofLondon。

\'Iforgottotellyouthatmyfatherwasratherdeaf，\'saidElfrideanxiously，whenStephenenteredthelittledrawing-room。

\'Nevermind；Iknowallaboutit，andwearegreatfriends，\'themanofbusinessrepliedenthusiastically。\'And，MissSwancourt，willyoukindlysingtome？\'

ToMissSwancourtthisrequestseemed，whatinfactitwas，exceptionallypoint-blank；thoughsheguessedthatherfatherhadsomehandinframingit，knowing，rathertohercost，ofhisunceremoniouswayofutilizingherforthebenefitofdullsojourners。Atthesametime，asMr。Smith\'smannerwastoofranktoprovokecriticism，andhisagetoolittletoinspirefear，shewasready——nottosaypleased——toaccede。Selectingfromthecanterburysomeoldfamilyditties，thatinyearsgonebyhadbeenplayedandsungbyhermother，Elfridesatdowntothepianoforte，andbegan，"Twasontheeveningofawinter\'sday，\'inaprettycontraltovoice。

\'Doyoulikethatoldthing，Mr。Smith？\'shesaidattheend。

\'Yes，Idomuch，\'saidStephen——wordshewouldhaveuttered，andsincerely，toanythingonearth，fromgleetorequiem，thatshemighthavechosen。

\'YoushallhavealittleonebyDeLeyre，thatwasgivenmebyayoungFrenchladywhowasstayingatEndelstowHouse:

\'"Jel\'aiplante，jel\'aivunaitre，Cebeaurosieroulesoiseaux，"&c。；

andthenIshallwanttogiveyoumyownfavouritefortheverylast，Shelley\'s"Whenthelampisshattered，"assettomusicbymypoormother。IsomuchlikesingingtoanybodywhoREALLY