第3章

\'Yes；quiteso，\'saidStephen。

\'Totellyouthetruth，\'hecontinuedinthesameundertone，\'wedon\'tmakearegularthingofit；butwhenwehavestrangersvisitingus，Iamstronglyofopinionthatitistheproperthingtodo，andIalwaysdoit。Iamverystrictonthatpoint。Butyou，Smith，thereissomethinginyourfacewhichmakesmefeelquiteathome；nononsenseaboutyou，inshort。Ah，itremindsmeofasplendidstoryIusedtohearwhenIwasahelter-skelteryoungfellow——suchastory!But\'——herethevicarshookhisheadself-forbiddingly，andgrimlylaughed。

\'Wasitagoodstory？\'saidyoungSmith，smilingtoo。

\'Ohyes；but\'tistoobad——toobad!Couldn\'ttellittoyoufortheworld!\'

Stephenwentacrossthelawn，hearingthevicarchucklingprivatelyattherecollectionashewithdrew。

Theystartedatthreeo\'clock。Thegraymorninghadresolveditselfintoanafternoonbrightwithapalepervasivesunlight，withoutthesunitselfbeingvisible。Lightlytheytrottedalong——

thewheelsnearlysilent，thehorse\'shoofsclapping，almostringing，uponthehard，white，turnpikeroadasitfollowedthelevelridgeinaperfectlystraightline，seemingtobeabsorbedultimatelybythewhiteofthesky。

TarganBay——whichhadthemeritofbeingeasilygotat——wasdulyvisited。Theythensweptroundbyinnumerablelanes，inwhichnottwentyconsecutiveyardswereeitherstraightorlevel，tothedomainofLordLuxellian。Awomanwithadoublechinandthickneck，likeQueenAnnebyDahl，threwopenthelodgegate，alittleboystandingbehindher。

\'I\'llgivehimsomething，poorlittlefellow，\'saidElfride，pullingoutherpurseandhastilyopeningit。Fromtheinteriorofherpurseahostofbitsofpaper，likeaflockofwhitebirds，floatedintotheair，andwereblownaboutinalldirections。

\'Well，tobesure!\'saidStephenwithaslightlaugh。

\'Whatthedickensisallthat？\'saidMr。Swancourt。\'Nothalvesofbank-notes，Elfride？\'

Elfridelookedannoyedandguilty。\'Theyareonlysomethingofmine，papa，\'shefaltered，whilstStephenleaptout，and，assistedbythelodge-keeper\'slittleboy，creptaboutroundthewheelsandhorse\'shoofstillthepaperswereallgatheredtogetheragain。

Hehandedthembacktoher，andremounted。

\'Isupposeyouarewonderingwhatthosescrapswere？\'shesaid，astheybowledalongupthesycamoreavenue。\'AndsoImayaswelltellyou。TheyarenotesforaromanceIamwriting。\'

Shecouldnothelpcolouringattheconfession，muchasshetriedtoavoidit。

\'Astory，doyoumean？\'saidStephen，Mr。Swancourthalflistening，andcatchingawordoftheconversationnowandthen。

\'Yes；THECOURTOFKELLYONCASTLE；aromanceofthefifteenthcentury。Suchwritingisoutofdatenow，Iknow；butIlikedoingit。\'

\'Aromancecarriedinapurse!Ifahighwaymanweretorobyou，hewouldbetakenin。\'

\'Yes；that\'smywayofcarryingmanuscript。Therealreasonis，thatImostlywritebitsofitonscrapsofpaperwhenIamonhorseback；andIputthemthereforconvenience。\'

\'Whatareyougoingtodowithyourromancewhenyouhavewrittenit？\'saidStephen。

\'Idon\'tknow，\'shereplied，andturnedherheadtolookattheprospect。

ForbythistimetheyhadreachedtheprecinctsofEndelstowHouse。Drivingthroughanancientgate-wayofdun-colouredstone，spannedbythehigh-shoulderedTudorarch，theyfoundthemselvesinaspaciouscourt，closedbyafacadeoneachofitsthreesides。ThesubstantialportionsoftheexistingbuildingdatedfromthereignofHenryVIII。；butthepicturesqueandshelteredspothadbeenthesiteofanerectionofamuchearlierdate。A

licencetocrenellatemansuminframaneriumsuumwasgrantedbyEdwardII。to\'HugoLuxellenchivaler；\'butthoughthefaintoutlineoftheditchandmoundwasvisibleatpoints，nosignoftheoriginalbuildingremained。

Thewindowsonallsideswerelongandmany-mullioned；therooflinesbrokenupbydormerlightsofthesamepattern。Theapexstonesofthesedormers，togetherwiththoseofthegables，weresurmountedbygrotesquefiguresinrampant，passant，andcouchantvariety。Talloctagonalandtwistedchimneysthrustthemselveshighupintothesky，surpassedinheight，however，bysomepoplarsandsycamoresattheback，whichshowedtheirgentlyrockingsummitsoverridgeandparapet。Inthecornersofthecourtpolygonalbays，whosesurfaceswereentirelyoccupiedbybuttressesandwindows，brokeintothesquarenessoftheenclosure；andafar-projectingoriel，springingfromafantasticseriesofmouldings，overhungthearchwayofthechiefentrancetothehouse。

AsMr。Swancourthadremarked，hehadthefreedomofthemansionintheabsenceofitsowner。Uponastatementofhiserrandtheywerealladmittedtothelibrary，andleftentirelytothemselves。

Mr。Swancourtwassoonuptohiseyesintheexaminationofaheapofpapershehadtakenfromthecabinetdescribedbyhiscorrespondent。StephenandElfridehadnothingtodobuttowanderabouttillherfatherwasready。

Elfrideenteredthegallery，andStephenfollowedherwithoutseemingtodoso。Itwasalongsombreapartment，enrichedwithfittingsacenturyorsolaterinstylethanthewallsofthemansion。PilastersofRenaissanceworkmanshipsupportedacornicefromwhichsprangacurvedceiling，panelledintheawkwardtwistsandcurlsoftheperiod。TheoldGothicquarriesstillremainedintheupperportionofthelargewindowattheend，thoughtheyhadmadewayforamoremodernformofglazingelsewhere。

StephenwasatoneendofthegallerylookingtowardsElfride，whostoodinthemidst，beginningtofeelsomewhatdepressedbythesocietyofLuxellianshadesofcadaverouscomplexionfixedbyHolbein，Kneller，andLely，andseemingtogazeatandthroughherinamoralizingmood。Thesilence，whichcastalmostaspelluponthem，wasbrokenbythesuddenopeningofadooratthefarend。

Outboundedapairoflittlegirls，lightlyyetwarmlydressed。

Theireyesweresparkling；theirhairswingingaboutandaround；

theirredmouthslaughingwithunalloyedgladness。

\'Ah，MissSwancourt:dearestElfie!weheardyou。Areyougoingtostayhere？Youareourlittlemamma，areyounot——ourbigmammaisgonetoLondon，\'saidone。

\'Letmetissyou，\'saidtheother，inappearanceverymuchlikethefirst，buttoasmallerpattern。

TheirpinkcheeksandyellowhairwerespeedilyintermingledwiththefoldsofElfride\'sdress；shethenstoopedandtenderlyembracedthemboth。

\'Suchanoddthing，\'saidElfride，smiling，andturningtoStephen。\'Theyhavetakenitintotheirheadslatelytocallme"littlemamma，"becauseIamveryfondofthem，andworeadresstheotherdaysomethinglikeoneofLadyLuxellian\'s。\'

ThesetwoyoungcreaturesweretheHonourableMaryandtheHonourableKate——scarcelyappearinglargeenoughasyettobeartheweightofsuchponderousprefixes。TheyweretheonlytwochildrenofLordandLadyLuxellian，and，asitproved，hadbeenleftathomeduringtheirparents\'temporaryabsence，inthecustodyofnurseandgoverness。LordLuxellianwasdotinglyfondofthechildren；ratherindifferenttowardshiswife，sinceshehadbeguntoshowaninclinationnottopleasehimbygivinghimaboy。

AllchildreninstinctivelyranafterElfride，lookinguponhermoreasanunusuallynicelargespecimenoftheirowntribethanasagrown-upelder。Ithadnowbecomeanestablishedrule，thatwhenevershemetthem——indoorsorout-of-doors，weekdaysorSundays——theyweretobeseverallypressedagainstherfaceandbosomforthespaceofaquarterofaminute，andother——wisemademuchofonthedelightfulsystemofcumulativeepithetandcaresstowhichunpractisedgirlswilloccasionallyabandonthemselves。

Alookofmisgivingbytheyoungsterstowardsthedoorbywhichtheyhadentereddirectedattentiontoamaid-servantappearingfromthesamequarter，toputanendtothissweetfreedomofthepoorHonourablesMaryandKate。

\'Iwishyoulivedhere，MissSwancourt，\'pipedonelikeamelancholybullfinch。

\'SodoI，\'pipedtheotherlikearathermoremelancholybullfinch。\'Mammacan\'tplaywithussonicelyasyoudo。I

don\'tthinksheeverlearntplayingwhenshewaslittle。Whenshallwecometoseeyou？\'

\'Assoonasyoulike，dears。\'

\'Andsleepatyourhouseallnight？That\'swhatImeanbycomingtoseeyou。Idon\'tcaretoseepeoplewithhatsandbonnetson，andallstandingupandwalkingabout。\'

\'Assoonaswecangetmamma\'spermissionyoushallcomeandstayaslongaseveryoulike。Good-bye!\'

Theprisonerswerethenledoff，Elfrideagainturningherattentiontoherguest，whomshehadleftstandingattheremoteendofthegallery。Onlookingaroundforhimhewasnowheretobeseen。Elfridesteppeddowntothelibrary，thinkinghemighthaverejoinedherfatherthere。ButMr。Swancourt，nowcheerfullyilluminatedbyapairofcandles，wasstillalone，untyingpacketsoflettersandpapers，andtyingthemupagain。

AsElfridedidnotstandonasufficientlyintimatefootingwiththeobjectofherinteresttojustifyher，asaproperyounglady，tocommencetheactivesearchforhimthatyouthfulimpulsivenessprompted，andas，nevertheless，foranascentreasonconnectedwiththosedivinelycutlipsofhis，shedidnotlikehimtobeabsentfromherside，shewandereddesultorilybacktotheoakstaircase，poutingandcastinghereyesaboutinhopeofdiscerninghisboyishfigure。

Thoughdaylightstillprevailedintherooms，thecorridorswereinadepthofshadow——chill，sad，andsilent；anditwasonlybylookingalongthemtowardslightspacesbeyondthatanythingoranybodycouldbediscernedtherein。Oneoftheselightspotsshefoundtobecausedbyaside-doorwithglasspanelsintheupperpart。Elfrideopenedit，andfoundherselfconfrontingasecondaryorinnerlawn，separatedfromtheprincipallawnfrontbyashrubbery。

Andnowshesawaperplexingsight。Atrightanglestothefaceofthewingshehademergedfrom，andwithinafewfeetofthedoor，juttedoutanotherwingofthemansion，lowerandwithlessarchitecturalcharacter。Immediatelyoppositetoher，inthewallofthiswing，wasalargebroadwindow，havingitsblinddrawndown，andilluminatedbyalightintheroomitscreened。

Ontheblindwasashadowfromsomebodycloseinsideit——apersoninprofile。TheprofilewasunmistakablythatofStephen。Itwasjustpossibletoseethathisarmswereuplifted，andthathishandsheldanarticleofsomekind。Thenanothershadowappeared——

alsoinprofile——andcameclosetohim。Thiswastheshadowofawoman。SheturnedherbacktowardsStephen:heliftedandheldoutwhatnowprovedtobeashawlormantle——placeditcarefully——

socarefully——roundthelady；disappeared；reappearedinherfront——fastenedthemantle。Didhethenkissher？Surelynot。

Yetthemotionmighthavebeenakiss。Thenbothshadowsswelledtocolossaldimensions——grewdistorted——vanished。

Twominuteselapsed。

\'Ah，MissSwancourt!Iamsogladtofindyou。Iwaslookingforyou，\'saidavoiceatherelbow——Stephen\'svoice。Shesteppedintothepassage。

\'Doyouknowanyofthemembersofthisestablishment？\'saidshe。

\'Notasingleone:howshouldI？\'hereplied。

ChapterVI

\'Faretheeweelawhile!\'

SimultaneouslywiththeconclusionofStephen\'sremark，thesoundoftheclosingofanexternaldoorintheirimmediateneighbourhoodreachedElfride\'sears。Itcamefromthefurthersideofthewingcontainingtheilluminatedroom。Shethendiscerned，bytheaidoftheduskydepartinglight，afigure，whosesexwasundistinguishable，walkingdownthegravelledpathbytheparterretowardstheriver。Thefiguregrewfainter，andvanishedunderthetrees。

Mr。Swancourt\'svoicewasheardcallingouttheirnamesfromadistantcorridorinthebodyofthebuilding。Theyretracedtheirsteps，andfoundhimwithhiscoatbuttonedupandhishaton，awaitingtheiradventinamoodofself-satisfactionathavingbroughthissearchtoasuccessfulclose。Thecarriagewasbroughtround，andwithoutfurtherdelaythetriodroveawayfromthemansion，undertheechoinggatewayarch，andalongbytheleaflesssycamores，asthestarsbegantokindletheirtremblinglightsbehindthemazeofbranchesandtwigs。

Nowordswerespokeneitherbyyouthormaiden。Herunpractisedmindwascompletelyoccupiedinfathomingitsrecentacquisition。

Theyoungmanwhohadinspiredherwithsuchnoveltyoffeeling，whohadcomedirectlyfromLondononbusinesstoherfather，havingbeenbroughtbychancetoEndelstowHousehad，bysomemeansorother，acquiredtheprivilegeofapproachingsomeladyhehadfoundtherein，andofhonouringherbypetitssoinsofamarkedkind，——allinthespaceofhalfanhour。

Whatroomweretheystandingin？thoughtElfride。Asnearlyasshecouldguess，itwasLordLuxellian\'sbusiness-room，oroffice。

Whatpeoplewereinthehouse？Nonebutthegovernessandservants，asfarassheknew，andofthesehehadprofessedatotalignorance。Hadthepersonshehadindistinctlyseenleavingthehouseanythingtodowiththeperformance？Itwasimpossibletosaywithoutappealingtotheculprithimself，andthatshewouldneverdo。ThemoreElfridereflected，themorecertaindiditappearthatthemeetingwasachancerencounter，andnotanappointment。Ontheultimateinquiryastotheindividualityofthewoman，Elfrideatonceassumedthatshecouldnotbeaninferior。StephenSmithwasnotthemantocareaboutpassages-

at-lovewithwomenbeneathhim。Thoughgentle，ambitionwasvisibleinhiskindlingeyes；heevidentlyhopedformuch；hopedindefinitely，butextensively。Elfridewaspuzzled，andbeingpuzzled，was，byanaturalsequenceofgirlishsensations，vexedwithhim。Nomorepleasurecameinrecognizingthatfromlikingtoattracthimshewasgettingontolovehim，boyishashewasandinnocentashehadseemed。

Theyreachedthebridgewhichformedalinkbetweentheeasternandwesternhalvesoftheparish。Situatedinavalleythatwasboundedoutwardlybythesea，itformedapointofdepressionfromwhichtheroadascendedwithgreatsteepnesstoWestEndelstowandtheVicarage。Therewasnoabsolutenecessityforeitherofthemtoalight，butasitwasthevicar\'scustomafteralongjourneytohumourthehorseinmakingthiswindingascent，Elfride，movedbyanimitativeinstinct，suddenlyjumpedoutwhenPleasanthadjustbeguntoadoptthedeliberatestalkheassociatedwiththisportionoftheroad。

Theyoungmanseemedgladofanyexcuseforbreakingthesilence。

\'Why，MissSwancourt，whatariskythingtodo!\'heexclaimed，immediatelyfollowingherexamplebyjumpingdownontheotherside。

\'Ohno，notatall，\'repliedshecoldly；theshadowphenomenonatEndelstowHousestillparamountwithinher。

Stephenwalkedalongbyhimselffortwoorthreeminutes，wrappedintherigidreservedictatedbyhertone。Thenapparentlythinkingthatitwasonlyforgirlstopout，hecameserenelyroundtoherside，andofferedhisarmwithCastiliangallantry，toassistherinascendingtheremainingthree-quartersofthesteep。

Herewasatemptation:itwasthefirsttimeinherlifethatElfridehadbeentreatedasagrown-upwomaninthisway——offeredanarminamannerimplyingthatshehadarighttorefuseit。

Tillto-nightshehadneverreceivedmasculineattentionsbeyondthosewhichmightbecontainedinsuchhomelyremarksas\'Elfride，givemeyourhand；\'\'Elfride，takeholdofmyarm，\'fromherfather。Hercallowheartmadeanepochoftheincident；sheconsideredherarrayoffeelings，forandagainst。Collectivelytheywerefortakingthisofferedarm；thesingleoneofpiquedeterminedhertopunishStephenbyrefusing。

\'No，thankyou，Mr。Smith；Icangetalongbetterbymyself\'

ItwasElfride\'sfirstfragileattemptatbrowbeatingalover。

Fearingmoretheissueofsuchanundertakingthanwhatagentleyoungmanmightthinkofherwaywardness，sheimmediatelyafterwardsdeterminedtopleaseherselfbyreversingherstatement。

\'Onsecondthoughts，Iwilltakeit，\'shesaid。

Theyslowlywenttheirwayupthehill，afewyardsbehindthecarriage。

\'Howsilentyouare，MissSwancourt!\'Stephenobserved。

\'PerhapsIthinkyousilenttoo，\'shereturned。

\'Imayhavereasontobe。\'

\'Scarcely；itissadnessthatmakespeoplesilent，andyoucanhavenone。\'

\'Youdon\'tknow:Ihaveatrouble；thoughsomemightthinkitlessatroublethanadilemma。\'

\'Whatisit？\'sheaskedimpulsively。

Stephenhesitated。\'Imighttell，\'hesaid；\'atthesametime，perhaps，itisaswell——\'

Sheletgohisarmandimperativelypusheditfromher，tossingherhead。Shehadjustlearntthatagooddealofdignityislostbyaskingaquestiontowhichananswerisrefused，eveneversopolitely；forthoughpolitenessdoesgoodserviceincasesofrequisitionandcompromise，itbutlittlehelpsadirectrefusal。

\'Idon\'twishtoknowanythingofit；Idon\'twishit，\'shewenton。\'Thecarriageiswaitingforusatthetopofthehill；wemustgetin；\'andElfrideflittedtothefront。\'Papa，hereisyourElfride!\'sheexclaimedtotheduskyfigureoftheoldgentleman，asshesprangupandsankbyhissidewithoutdeigningtoacceptaidfromStephen。

\'Ah，yes!\'utteredthevicarinartificiallyalerttones，awakingfromamostprofoundsleep，andsuddenlypreparingtoalight。

\'Why，whatareyoudoing，papa？Wearenothomeyet。\'

\'Ohno，no；ofcoursenot；wearenotathomeyet，\'Mr。Swancourtsaidveryhastily，endeavouringtododgebacktohisoriginalpositionwiththeairofamanwhohadnotmovedatall。\'ThefactisIwassolostindeepmeditationthatIforgotwhereaboutswewere。\'Andinaminutethevicarwassnoringagain。

Thatevening，beingthelast，seemedtothrowanexceptionalshadeofsadnessoverStephenSmith，andtherepeatedinjunctionsofthevicar，thathewastocomeandrevisittheminthesummer，apparentlytendedlesstoraisehisspiritsthantounearthsomemisgiving。

Helefttheminthegraylightofdawn，whilstthecoloursofearthweresombre，andthesunwasyethiddenintheeast。Elfridehadfidgetedallnightinherlittlebedlestnoneofthehouseholdshouldbeawakesoonenoughtostarthim，andalsolestshemightmissseeingagainthebrighteyesandcurlyhair，towhichtheirowner\'spossessionofahiddenmysteryaddedadeepertingeofromance。Tosomeextent——sosoondoeswomanlyinteresttakeasolicitousturn——shefeltherselfresponsibleforhissafeconduct。Theybreakfastedbeforedaylight；Mr。Swancourt，beingmoreandmoretakenwithhisguest\'singenuousappearance，havingdeterminedtoriseearlyandbidhimafriendlyfarewell。Itwas，however，rathertothevicar\'sastonishment，thathesawElfridewalkintothebreakfast-table，candleinhand。

WhilstWilliamWormperformedhistoilet(duringwhichperformancetheinmatesofthevicaragewerealwaysinthehabitofwaitingwithexemplarypatience)，Elfridewandereddesultorilytothesummerhouse。Stephenfollowedherthither。Thecopse-coveredvalleywasvisiblefromthisposition，amistnowlyingallalongitslength，hidingthestreamwhichtrickledthroughit，thoughtheobserversthemselveswereinclearair。

Theystoodclosetogether，leaningovertherusticbalustradingwhichboundedthearbourontheoutwardside，andformedthecrestofasteepslopebeneathElfrideconstrainedlypointedoutsomefeaturesofthedistantuplandsrisingirregularlyopposite。Buttheartisticeyewas，eitherfromnatureorcircumstance，veryfaintinStephennow，andheonlyhalfattendedtoherdescription，asifhesparedtimefromsomeotherthoughtgoingonwithinhim。

\'Well，good-bye，\'hesaidsuddenly；\'Imustneverseeyouagain，I

suppose，MissSwancourt，inspiteofinvitations。\'

Hisgenuinetribulationplayeddirectlyuponthedelicatechordsofhernature。Shecouldaffordtoforgivehimforaconcealmentortwo。Moreover，theshynesswhichwouldnotallowhimtolookherinthefacelentbraverytoherowneyesandtongue。

\'Oh，DOcomeagain，Mr。Smith!\'shesaidprettily。

\'Ishoulddelightinit；butitwillbebetterifIdonot。\'

\'Why？\'

\'Certaincircumstancesinconnectionwithmemakeitundesirable。

Notonmyaccount；onyours。\'

\'Goodness!Asifanythinginconnectionwithyoucouldhurtme，\'

shesaidwithserenesupremacy；butseeingthatthisplanoftreatmentwasinappropriate，shetunedasmallernote。\'Ah，I

knowwhyyouwillnotcome。Youdon\'twantto。You\'llgohometoLondonandtoallthestirringpeoplethere，andwillneverwanttoseeusanymore!\'

\'YouknowIhavenosuchreason。\'

\'Andgoonwritingletterstotheladyyouareengagedto，justasbefore。\'

\'Whatdoesthatmean？Iamnotengaged。\'

\'YouwrotealettertoaMissSomebody；Isawitintheletter-

rack。\'

\'Pooh!anelderlywomanwhokeepsastationer\'sshop；anditwastotellhertokeepmynewspaperstillIgetback。\'

\'Youneedn\'thaveexplained:itwasnotmybusinessatall。\'MissElfridewasratherrelievedtohearthatstatement，nevertheless。

\'Andyouwon\'tcomeagaintoseemyfather？\'sheinsisted。

\'Ishouldliketo——andtoseeyouagain，but——\'

\'Willyourevealtomethatmatteryouhide？\'sheinterruptedpetulantly。

\'No；notnow。\'

Shecouldnotbutgoon，gracelessasitmightseem。

\'Tellmethis，\'sheimportunedwithatremblingmouth。\'DoesanymeetingofyourswithaladyatEndelstowVicarageclashwith——anyinterestyoumaytakeinme？\'

Hestartedalittle。\'Itdoesnot，\'hesaidemphatically；andlookedintothepupilsofhereyeswiththeconfidencethatonlyhonestycangive，andeventhattoyouthalone。

Theexplanationhadnotcome，butagloomlefther。Shecouldnotbutbelievethatutterance。Whateverenigmamightlieintheshadowontheblind，itwasnotanenigmaofunderhandpassion。

Sheturnedtowardsthehouse，enteringitthroughtheconservatory。Stephenwentroundtothefrontdoor。Mr。

Swancourtwasstandingonthestepinhisslippers。Wormwasadjustingabuckleintheharness，andmurmuringabouthispoorhead；andeverythingwasreadyforStephen\'sdeparture。

\'YounamedAugustforyourvisit。Augustitshallbe；thatis，ifyoucareforthesocietyofsuchafossilizedTory，\'saidMr。

Swancourt。

Mr。Smithonlyrespondedhesitatingly，thatheshouldliketocomeagain。

\'Yousaidyouwould，andyoumust，\'insistedElfride，comingtothedoorandspeakingunderherfather\'sarm。

Whateverreasontheyouthmayhavehadfornotwishingtoenterthehouseasaguest，itnolongerpredominated。Hepromised，andbadethemadieu，andgotintothepony-carriage，whichcreptuptheslope，andborehimoutoftheirsight。

\'IneverwassomuchtakenwithanybodyinmylifeasIamwiththatyoungfellow——never!Icannotunderstandit——can\'tunderstanditanyhow，\'saidMr。Swancourtquiteenergeticallytohimself；andwentindoors。

ChapterVII

\'Nomoreofmeyouknew，mylove!\'

StephenSmithrevisitedEndelstowVicarage，agreeablytohispromise。Hehadagenuineartisticreasonforcoming，thoughnosuchreasonseemedtoberequired。Six-and-thirtyoldseatends，ofexquisitefifteenth-centuryworkmanship，wererapidlydecayinginanaisleofthechurch；anditbecamepolitictomakedrawingsoftheirworm-eatencontourseretheywerebatteredpastrecognitionintheturmoiloftheso-calledrestoration。

Heenteredthehouseatsunset，andtheworldwaspleasantagaintothetwofair-hairedones。Amomentarypangofdisappointmenthad，nevertheless，passedthroughElfridewhenshecasuallydiscoveredthathehadnotcomethatminutepost-hastefromLondon，buthadreachedtheneighbourhoodthepreviousevening。

Surprisewouldhaveaccompaniedthefeeling，hadshenotrememberedthatseveraltouristswerehauntingthecoastatthisseason，andthatStephenmighthavechosentodolikewise。

Theydidlittlebesideschatthatevening，Mr。Swancourtbeginningtoquestionhisvisitor，closelyyetpaternally，andingoodpart，onhishopesandprospectsfromtheprofessionhehadembraced。

Stephengavevagueanswers。Thenextdayitrained。Intheevening，whentwenty-fourhoursofElfridehadcompletelyrekindledheradmirer\'sardour，agameofchesswasproposedbetweenthem。

Thegamehaditsvalueinhelpingonthedevelopmentsoftheirfuture。

Elfridesoonperceivedthatheropponentwasbutalearner。Shenextnoticedthathehadaveryoddwayofhandlingthepieceswhencastlingortakingaman。Antecedentlyshewouldhavesupposedthatthesameperformancemustbegonethroughbyallplayersinthesamemanner；shewastaughtbyhisdifferingactionthatallordinaryplayers，wholearnthegamebysight，unconsciouslytouchthemeninastereotypedway。ThisimpressionofindescribableoddnessinStephen\'stouchculminatedinspeechwhenshesawhim，atthetakingofoneofherbishops，pushitasidewiththetakingmaninsteadofliftingitasapreliminarytothemove。

\'Howstrangelyyouhandlethemen，Mr。Smith!\'

\'DoI？Iamsorryforthat。\'

\'Ohno——don\'tbesorry；itisnotamattergreatenoughforsorrow。Butwhotaughtyoutoplay？\'

\'Nobody，MissSwancourt，\'hesaid。\'IlearntfromabooklentmebymyfriendMr。Knight，thenoblestmanintheworld。\'

\'Butyouhaveseenpeopleplay？\'

\'Ihaveneverseentheplayingofasinglegame。ThisisthefirsttimeIeverhadtheopportunityofplayingwithalivingopponent。Ihaveworkedoutmanygamesfrombooks，andstudiedthereasonsofthedifferentmoves，butthatisall。\'

Thiswasafullexplanationofhismannerism；butthefactthatamanwiththedesireforchessshouldhavegrownupwithoutbeingabletoseeorengageinagameastonishedhernotalittle。Sheponderedonthecircumstanceforsometime，lookingintovacancyandhinderingtheplay。

Mr。Swancourtwassittingwithhiseyesfixedontheboard，butapparentlythinkingofotherthings。Halftohimselfhesaid，pendingthemoveofElfride:

\'"Quaefinisautquodmemanetstipendium？"\'

Stephenrepliedinstantly:

\'"Effare:jussascumfidepoenasluam。”\'

\'Excellent——prompt——gratifying!\'saidMr。Swancourtwithfeeling，bringingdownhishanduponthetable，andmakingthreepawnsandaknightdanceovertheirbordersbytheshaking。\'IwasmusingonthosewordsasapplicabletoastrangecourseIamsteering——

butenoughofthat。Iamdelightedwithyou，Mr。Smith，foritissoseldominthisdesertthatImeetwithamanwhoisgentlemanandscholarenoughtocontinueaquotation，howevertriteitmaybe。\'

\'Ialsoapplythewordstomyself，\'saidStephenquietly。

\'You？Thelastmanintheworldtodothat，Ishouldhavethought。\'

\'Come，\'murmuredElfridepoutingly，andinsinuatingherselfbetweenthem，\'tellmeallaboutit。Come，construe，construe!\'

Stephenlookedsteadfastlyintoherface，andsaidslowly，andinavoicefullofafar-offmeaningthatseemedquaintlyprematureinonesoyoung:

\'QuaefinisWHATWILLBETHEEND，autOR，quodstipendiumWHAT

FINE，manetmeAWAITSME？EffareSPEAKOUT；luamIWILLPAY，cumfideWITHFAITH，jussaspoenasTHEPENALTYREQUIRED。\'

Thevicar，whohadlistenedwithacriticalcompressionofthelipstothisschool-boyrecitation，andbyreasonofhisimperfecthearinghadmissedthemarkedrealismofStephen\'stoneintheEnglishwords，nowsaidhesitatingly:\'Bythebye，Mr。Smith(I

knowyou\'llexcusemycuriosity)，thoughyourtranslationwasunexceptionablycorrectandclose，youhaveawayofpronouncingyourLatinwhichtomeseemsmostpeculiar。Notthatthepronunciationofadeadlanguageisofmuchimportance；yetyouraccentsandquantitieshaveagrotesquesoundtomyears。I

thoughtfirstthatyouhadacquiredyourwayofbreathingthevowelsfromsomeofthenortherncolleges；butitcannotbesowiththequantities。WhatIwasgoingtoaskwas，ifyourinstructorintheclassicscouldpossiblyhavebeenanOxfordorCambridgeman？\'

\'Yes；hewasanOxfordman——FellowofSt。Cyprian\'s。\'

\'Really？\'

\'Ohyes；there\'snodoubtaboutit。

\'TheoddestthingeverIheardof!\'saidMr。Swancourt，startingwithastonishment。\'Thatthepupilofsuchaman——\'

\'ThebestandcleverestmaninEngland!\'criedStephenenthusiastically。

\'ThatthepupilofsuchamanshouldpronounceLatininthewayyoupronounceitbeatsallIeverheard。Howlongdidheinstructyou？\'

\'Fouryears。\'

\'Fouryears!\'

\'ItisnotsostrangewhenIexplain，\'Stephenhastenedtosay。

\'Itwasdoneinthisway——byletter。Isenthimexercisesandconstruingtwiceaweek，andtwiceaweekhesentthembacktomecorrected，withmarginalnotesofinstruction。ThatishowI

learntmyLatinandGreek，suchasitis。Heisnotresponsibleformyscanning。Hehasneverheardmescanaline。\'

\'Anovelcase，andasingularinstanceofpatience!\'criedthevicar。

\'Onhispart，notonmine。Ah，HenryKnightisoneinathousand!

Irememberhisspeakingtomeonthisverysubjectofpronunciation。Hesaysthat，muchtohisregret，heseesatimecomingwheneverymanwillpronounceeventhecommonwordsofhisowntongueasseemsrightinhisownears，andbethoughtnonetheworseforit；thatthespeakingageispassingaway，tomakeroomforthewritingage。\'

BothElfrideandherfatherhadwaitedattentivelytohearStephengoontowhatwouldhavebeenthemostinterestingpartofthestory，namely，whatcircumstancescouldhavenecessitatedsuchanunusualmethodofeducation。Butnofurtherexplanationwasvolunteered；andtheysaw，bytheyoungman\'smannerofconcentratinghimselfuponthechess-board，thathewasanxioustodropthesubject。

Thegameproceeded。Elfrideplayedbyrote；Stephenbythought。

Itwasthecruellestthingtocheckmatehimaftersomuchlabour，sheconsidered。Whatwasshedishonestenoughtodoinhercompassion？Tolethimcheckmateher。Asecondgamefollowed；andbeingherselfabsolutelyindifferentastotheresult(herplayingwasabovetheaverageamongwomen，andsheknewit)，sheallowedhimtogivecheckmateagain。Afinalgame，inwhichsheadoptedtheMuziogambitasheropening，wasterminatedbyElfride\'svictoryatthetwelfthmove。

Stephenlookedupsuspiciously。Hisheartwasthrobbingevenmoreexcitedlythanwashers，whichitselfhadquickenedwhensheseriouslysettoworkonthislastoccasion。Mr。Swancourthadlefttheroom。

\'Youhavebeentriflingwithmetillnow!\'heexclaimed，hisfaceflushing。\'Youdidnotplayyourbestinthefirsttwogames？\'

Elfride\'sguiltshowedinherface。Stephenbecamethepictureofvexationandsadness，which，relishableforamoment，causedherthenextinstanttoregretthemistakeshehadmade。

\'Mr。Smith，forgiveme!\'shesaidsweetly。\'Iseenow，thoughI

didnotatfirst，thatwhatIhavedoneseemslikecontemptforyourskill。But，indeed，Ididnotmeanitinthatsense。I

couldnot，uponmyconscience，winavictoryinthosefirstandsecondgamesoveronewhofoughtatsuchadisadvantageandsomanfully。\'

Hedrewalongbreath，andmurmuredbitterly，\'Ah，youareclevererthanI。Youcandoeverything——Icandonothing!OMissSwancourt!\'heburstoutwildly，hisheartswellinginhisthroat，\'ImusttellyouhowIloveyou!AllthesemonthsofmyabsenceI

haveworshippedyou。\'

Heleaptfromhisseatliketheimpulsiveladthathewas，slidroundtoherside，andalmostbeforeshesuspectedithisarmwasroundherwaist，andthetwosetsofcurlsintermingled。

Soentirelynewwasfull-blownlovetoElfride，thatshetrembledasmuchfromthenoveltyoftheemotionasfromtheemotionitself。Thenshesuddenlywithdrewherselfandstoodupright，vexedthatshehadsubmittedunresistinglyeventohismomentarypressure。Sheresolvedtoconsiderthisdemonstrationaspremature。

\'Youmustnotbeginsuchthingsasthose，\'shesaidwithcoquettishhauteurofaverytransparentnature\'And——youmustnotdosoagain——andpapaiscoming。\'

\'Letmekissyou——onlyalittleone，\'hesaidwithhisusualdelicacy，andwithoutreadingthefactitiousnessofhermanner。

\'No；notone。\'

\'Onlyonyourcheek？\'

\'No。\'

\'Forehead？\'

\'Certainlynot。\'

\'Youcareforsomebodyelse，then？Ah，Ithoughtso!\'

\'IamsureIdonot。\'

\'Norformeeither？\'

\'HowcanItell？\'shesaidsimply，thesimplicitylyingmerelyinthebroadoutlinesofhermannerandspeech。Therewerethesemitoneofvoiceandhalf-hiddenexpressionofeyeswhichtelltheinitiatedhowveryfragileistheiceofreserveatthesetimes。

Footstepswereheard。Mr。Swancourtthenenteredtheroom，andtheirprivatecolloquyended。

Thedayafterthispartialrevelation，Mr。SwancourtproposedadrivetothecliffsbeyondTarganBay，adistanceofthreeorfourmiles。

Halfanhourbeforethetimeofdepartureacrashwasheardinthebackyard，andpresentlyWormcamein，sayingpartlytotheworldingeneral，part]ytohimself，andslightlytohisauditors:

\'Ay，ay，sure!ThatfryingoffishwillbetheendofWilliamWorm。Theybeatitagainthismorning——sameasever——fizz，fizz，fizz!\'