第4章

\'Yourheadbadagain，Worm？\'saidMr。Swancourt。\'Whatwasthatnoiseweheardintheyard？\'

\'Ay，sir，aweakwamblingmanamI；andthefryinghavebeengoingoninmypoorheadallthroughthelongnightandthismorningasusual；andIwassodazedwi\'itthatdownfellapieceofleg-

woodacrosstheshaftofthepony-shay，andsplintereditoff。

"Ay，"saysI，"Ifeelitasif\'twasmyownshay；andthoughI\'vedoneit，andparishpayismylotifIgofromhere，perhapsIamasindependentasonehereandthere。”\'

\'Dearme，theshaftofthecarriagebroken!\'criedElfride。Shewasdisappointed:Stephendoublyso。Thevicarshowedmorewarmthoftemperthantheaccidentseemedtodemand，muchtoStephen\'suneasinessandrathertohissurprise。Hehadnotsupposedsomuchlatentsternnesscouldco-existwithMr。Swancourt\'sfranknessandgood-nature。

\'Youshallnotbedisappointed，\'saidthevicaratlength。\'Itisalmosttoolongadistanceforyoutowalk。Elfridecantrotdownonherpony，andyoushallhavemyoldnag，Smith。\'

Elfrideexclaimedtriumphantly，\'Youhaveneverseenmeonhorseback——Oh，youmust!\'ShelookedatStephenandreadhisthoughtsimmediately。\'Ah，youdon\'tride，Mr。Smith？\'

\'IamsorrytosayIdon\'t。\'

\'Fancyamannotabletoride!\'saidsheratherpertly。

Thevicarcametohisrescue。\'That\'scommonenough；hehashadotherlessonstolearn。Now，Irecommendthisplan:letElfriderideonhorseback，andyou，Mr。Smith，walkbesideher。\'

ThearrangementwaswelcomedwithsecretdelightbyStephen。ItseemedtocombineinitselfalltheadvantagesofalongslowramblewithElfride，withoutthecontingentpossibilityoftheenjoymentbeingspoiltbyherbecomingweary。Theponywassaddledandbroughtround。

\'Now，Mr。Smith，\'saidtheladyimperatively，comingdownstairs，andappearinginherriding-habit，asshealwaysdidinachangeofdress，likeaneweditionofadelightfulvolume，\'youhaveatasktoperformto-day。Theseearringsaremyveryfavouritedarlingones；buttheworstofitisthattheyhavesuchshorthooksthattheyareliabletobedroppedifItossmyheadaboutmuch，andwhenIamridingIcan\'tgivemymindtothem。Itwouldbedoingmeknightserviceifyoukeepyoureyesfixeduponthem，andrememberthemeveryminuteoftheday，andtellmedirectlyI

dropone。Theyhavehadsuchhairbreadthescapes，haven\'tthey，Unity？\'shecontinuedtotheparlour-maidwhowasstandingatthedoor。

\'Yes，miss，thattheyhave!\'saidUnitywithround-eyedcommiseration。

\'Once\'twasinthelanethatIfoundoneofthem，\'pursuedElfridereflectively。

\'Andthen\'twasbythegateintoEighteenAcres，\'Unitychimedin。

\'Andthen\'twasonthecarpetinmyownroom，\'rejoinedElfridemerrily。

\'Andthen\'twasdanglingontheembroideryofyourpetticoat，miss；andthen\'twasdownyourback，miss，wasn\'tit？Andoh，whatawayyouwasin，miss，wasn\'tyou？my!untilyoufoundit!\'

StephentookElfride\'sslightfootuponhishand:\'One，two，three，andup!\'shesaid。

Unfortunatelynotso。Hestaggeredandlifted，andthehorseedgedround；andElfridewasultimatelydepositeduponthegroundrathermoreforciblythanwaspleasant。Smithlookedallcontrition。

\'Nevermind，\'saidthevicarencouragingly；\'tryagain!\'Tisalittleaccomplishmentthatrequiressomepractice，althoughitlookssoeasy。Standclosertothehorse\'shead，Mr。Smith。\'

\'Indeed，Ishan\'tlethimtryagain，\'saidshewithamicroscopiclookofindignation。\'Worm，comehere，andhelpmetomount。\'

Wormsteppedforward，andshewasinthesaddleinatrice。

Thentheymovedon，goingforsomedistanceinsilence，thehotairofthevalleybeingoccasionallybrushedfromtheirfacesbyacoolbreeze，whichwounditswayalongravinesleadingupfromthesea。

\'Isuppose，\'saidStephen，\'thatamanwhocanneithersitinasaddlehimselfnorhelpanotherpersonintooneseemsauselessincumbrance；but，MissSwancourt，I\'lllearntodoitallforyoursake；Iwill，indeed。\'

\'Whatissounusualinyou，\'shesaid，inadidactictonejustifiableinahorsewoman\'saddresstoabenightedwalker，\'isthatyourknowledgeofcertainthingsshouldbecombinedwithyourignoranceofcertainotherthings。\'

Stephenliftedhiseyesearnestlytohers。

\'Youknow，\'hesaid，\'itissimplybecausetherearesomanyotherthingstobelearntinthiswideworldthatIdidn\'ttroubleaboutthatparticularbitofknowledge。Ithoughtitwouldbeuselesstome；butIdon\'tthinksonow。Iwilllearnriding，andallconnectedwithit，becausethenyouwouldlikemebetter。Doyoulikememuchlessforthis？\'

Shelookedsidewaysathimwithcriticalmeditationtenderlyrendered。

\'DoIseemlikeLABELLEDAMESANSMERCI？\'shebegansuddenly，withoutreplyingtohisquestion。\'Fancyyourselfsaying，Mr。

Smith:

"Isatheronmypacingsteed，Andnothingelsesawalldaylong，Forsidelongwouldshebend，andsingAfairy\'ssong，Shefoundmerootsofrelishsweet，Andhoneywild，andmannadew；"

andthat\'sallshedid。\'

\'No，no，\'saidtheyoungmanstilly，andwitharisingcolour。

\'"Andsureinlanguagestrangeshesaid，Ilovetheetrue。”\'

\'Notatall，\'sherejoinedquickly。\'SeehowIcangallop。Now，Pansy，off!\'AndElfridestarted；andStephenbeheldherlightfigurecontractingtothedimensionsofabirdasshesankintothedistance——herhairflowing。

Hewalkedoninthesamedirection，andforaconsiderabletimecouldseenosignsofherreturning。Dullasaflowerwithoutthesunhesatdownuponastone，andnotforfifteenminuteswasanysoundofhorseorridertobeheard。ThenElfrideandPansyappearedonthehillinaroundtrot。

\'Suchadelightfulscamperaswehavehad!\'shesaid，herfaceflushedandhereyessparkling。Sheturnedthehorse\'shead，Stephenarose，andtheywentonagain。

\'Well，whathaveyoutosaytome，Mr。Smith，aftermylongabsence？\'

\'Doyourememberaquestionyoucouldnotexactlyanswerlastnight——whetherIwasmoretoyouthananybodyelse？\'saidhe。

\'Icannotexactlyanswernow，either。\'

\'Whycan\'tyou？\'

\'BecauseIdon\'tknowifIammoretoyouthananyoneelse。\'

\'Yes，indeed，youare!\'heexclaimedinavoiceofintensestappreciation，atthesametimeglidingroundandlookingintoherface。

\'Eyesineyes，\'hemurmuredplayfully；andsheblushinglyobeyed，lookingbackintohis。

\'Andwhynotlipsonlips？\'continuedStephendaringly。

\'No，certainlynot。Anybodymightlook；anditwouldbethedeathofme。Youmaykissmyhandifyoulike。\'

Heexpressedbyalookthattokissahandthroughaglove，andthatariding-glove，wasnotagreattreatunderthecircumstances。

\'There，then；I\'lltakemygloveoff。Isn\'titaprettywhitehand？Ah，youdon\'twanttokissit，andyoushallnotnow!\'

\'IfIdonot，mayIneverkissagain，yousevereElfride!YouknowIthinkmoreofyouthanIcantell；thatyouaremyqueen。I

woulddieforyou，Elfride!\'

Arapidredagainfilledhercheeks，andshelookedathimmeditatively。WhataproudmomentitwasforElfridethen!Shewasrulingaheartwithabsolutedespotismforthefirsttimeinherlife。

Stephenstealthilypounceduponherhand。

\'No；Iwon\'t，Iwon\'t!\'shesaidintractably；\'andyoushouldn\'ttakemebysurprise。\'

Thereensuedamildformoftussleforabsolutepossessionofthemuch-covetedhand，inwhichtheboisterousnessofboyandgirlwasfarmoreprominentthanthedignityofmanandwoman。ThenPansybecamerestless。Elfriderecoveredherpositionandrememberedherself。

\'Youmakemebehaveinnotanicewayatall!\'sheexclaimed，inatoneneitherofpleasurenoranger，butpartakingofboth。\'I

oughtnottohaveallowedsucharomp!Wearetoooldnowforthatsortofthing。\'

\'Ihopeyoudon\'tthinkmetoo——toomuchofacreeping-roundsortofman，\'saidheinapenitenttone，consciousthathetoohadlostalittledignitybytheproceeding。

\'Youaretoofamiliar；andIcan\'thaveit!Consideringtheshortnessofthetimewehaveknowneachother，Mr。Smith，youtaketoomuchuponyou。YouthinkIamacountrygirl，anditdoesn\'tmatterhowyoubehavetome!\'

\'Iassureyou，MissSwancourt，thatIhadnoideaoffreakinmymind。Iwantedtoimprintasweet——seriouskissuponyourhand；

andthat\'sall。\'

\'Now，that\'screepingroundagain!Andyoumustn\'tlookintomyeyesso，\'shesaid，shakingherheadathim，andtrottingonafewpacesinadvance。Thussheledthewayoutofthelaneandacrosssomefieldsinthedirectionofthecliffs。Attheboundaryofthefieldsnearesttheseasheexpressedawishtodismount。Thehorsewastiedtoapost。andtheybothfollowedanirregularpath，whichultimatelyterminateduponaflatledgepassingroundthefaceofthehugeblue-blackrockataheightaboutmidwaybetweentheseaandthetopmostverge。There，farbeneathandbeforethem，laytheeverlastingstretchofocean；there，upondetachedrocks，werethewhitescreaminggulls，seemingeverintendingtosettle，andyetalwayspassingon。Rightandleftrankedthetoothedandzigzaglineofstorm-tornheights，formingtheserieswhichculminatedintheonebeneaththeirfeet。

Behindtheyouthandmaidenwasatemptingalcoveandseat，formednaturallyinthebeetlingmass，andwideenoughtoadmittwoorthreepersons。Elfridesatdown，andStephensatbesideher。

\'Iamafraiditishardlyproperofustobehere，either，\'shesaidhalfinquiringly。\'Wehavenotknowneachotherlongenoughforthiskindofthing，havewe!\'

\'Ohyes，\'herepliedjudicially；\'quitelongenough。\'

\'Howdoyouknow？\'

\'Itisnotlengthoftime，butthemannerinwhichourminutesbeat，thatmakesenoughornotenoughinouracquaintanceship。\'

\'Yes，Iseethat。ButIwishpapasuspectedorknewwhataVERY

NEWTHINGIamdoing。Hedoesnotthinkofitatall。\'

\'DarlingElfie，Iwishwecouldbemarried!Itiswrongformetosayit——Iknowitis——beforeyouknowmore；butIwishwemightbe，allthesame。Doyoulovemedeeply，deeply？\'

\'No!\'shesaidinafluster。

Atthispoint-blankdenial，Stephenturnedhisfaceawaydecisively，andpreservedanominoussilence；theonlyobjectsofinterestonearthforhimbeingapparentlythethreeorfour-scoresea-birdscirclingintheairafaroff。

\'Ididn\'tmeantostopyouquite，\'shefalteredwithsomealarm；

andseeingthathestillremainedsilent，sheaddedmoreanxiously，\'Ifyousaythatagain，perhaps，Iwillnotbequite——

quitesoobstinate——if——ifyoudon\'tlikemetobe。\'

\'Oh，myElfride!\'heexclaimed，andkissedher。

ItwasElfride\'sfirstkiss。Andsoawkwardandunusedwasshe；

fullofstriving——norelenting。Therewasnoneofthoseapparentstrugglestogetoutofthetrapwhichonlyresultsingettingfurtherin:nofinalattitudeofreceptivity:noeasycloseofshouldertoshoulder，handuponhand，faceuponface，and，inspiteofcoyness，thelipsintherightplaceatthesuprememoment。Thatgracefulthoughapparentlyaccidentalfallingintoposition，whichmanyhavenoticedasprecipitatingtheendandmakingsweetheartsthesweeter，wasnothere。Why？Becauseexperiencewasabsent。Awomanmusthavehadmanykissesbeforeshekisseswell。

Infact，theartoftenderingthelipsfortheseamatorysalutesfollowstheprincipleslaiddownintreatisesonlegerdemainforperformingthetrickcalledForcingaCard。Thecardistobeshiftednimbly，withdrawn，edgedunder，andwithalnottobeofferedtillthemomenttheunsuspectingperson\'shandreachesthepack；thisforcingtobedonesomodestlyandyetsocoaxingly，thatthepersontrifledwithimaginesheisreallychoosingwhatisinfactthrustintohishand。

Well，therewerenosuchfacilitiesnow；andStephenwasconsciousofit——firstwithamomentaryregretthathiskissshouldbespoiltbyherconfusedreceiptofit，andthenwiththepleasantperceptionthatherawkwardnesswashercharm。

\'Andyoudocareformeandloveme？\'saidhe。

\'Yes。\'

\'Verymuch？\'

\'Yes。\'

\'AndImustn\'taskyouifyou\'llwaitforme，andbemywifesomeday？\'

\'Whynot？\'shesaidnaively。

\'Thereisareasonwhy，myElfride。\'

\'NotanyonethatIknowof。\'

\'Supposethereissomethingconnectedwithmewhichmakesitalmostimpossibleforyoutoagreetobemywife，orforyourfathertocountenancesuchanidea？\'

\'Nothingshallmakemeceasetoloveyou:noblemishcanbefounduponyourpersonalnature。Thatispureandgenerous，Iknow；andhavingthat，howcanIbecoldtoyou？\'

\'Andshallnothingelseaffectus——shallnothingbeyondmynaturebeapartofmyqualityinyoureyes，Elfie？\'

\'Nothingwhatever，\'shesaidwithabreathofrelief。\'Isthatall？Someoutsidecircumstance？WhatdoIcare？\'

\'Youcanhardlyjudge，dear，tillyouknowwhathastobejudged。

Forthat，wewillstoptillwegethome。Ibelieveinyou，butI

cannotfeelbright。\'

\'Loveisnew，andfreshtousasthedew；andwearetogether。Asthelover\'sworldgoes，thisisagreatdeal。Stephen，IfancyI

seethedifferencebetweenmeandyou——betweenmenandwomengenerally，perhaps。Iamcontenttobuildhappinessonanyaccidentalbasisthatmaylienearathand；youareformakingaworldtosuityourhappiness。\'

\'Elfride，yousometimessaythingswhichmakeyouseemsuddenlytobecomefiveyearsolderthanyouare，orthanIam；andthatremarkisone。Icouldn\'tthinksoOLDasthat，tryhowI

might……Andnoloverhaseverkissedyoubefore？\'

\'Never。\'

\'Iknewthat；youweresounused。Youridewell，butyoudon\'tkissnicelyatall；andIwastoldonce，bymyfriendKnight，thatthatisanexcellentfaultinwoman。\'

\'Now，come；Imustmountagain，orweshallnotbehomebydinner-

time。\'AndtheyreturnedtowherePansystoodtethered。\'Insteadofentrustingmyweighttoayoungman\'sunstablepalm，\'shecontinuedgaily，\'Ipreferasurer"upping-stock"(asthevillagerscallit)，intheformofagate。There——nowIammyselfagain。\'

Theyproceededhomewardatthesamewalkingpace。

HerblithenesswonStephenoutofhisthoughtfulness，andeachforgoteverythingbutthetoneofthemoment。

\'Whatdidyoulovemefor？\'shesaid，afteralongmusinglookataflyingbird。

\'Idon\'tknow，\'herepliedidly。

\'Ohyes，youdo，\'insistedElfride。

\'Perhaps，foryoureyes。\'

\'Whatofthem？——now，don\'tvexmebyalightanswer。Whatofmyeyes？\'

\'Oh，nothingtobementioned。Theyareindifferentlygood。\'

\'Come，Stephen，Iwon\'thavethat。Whatdidyoulovemefor？\'

\'Itmighthavebeenforyourmouth？\'

\'Well，whataboutmymouth？\'

\'Ithoughtitwasapassablemouthenough——\'

\'That\'snotverycomforting。\'

\'Withaprettypoutandsweetlips；butactually，nothingmorethanwhateverybodyhas。\'

\'Don\'tmakeupthingsoutofyourheadasyougoon，there\'sadearStephen。Now——what——did——you——love——me——for？\'

\'Perhaps，\'twasforyourneckandhair；thoughIamnotsure:orforyouridleblood，thatdidnothingbutwanderawayfromyourcheeksandbackagain；butIamnotsure。Oryourhandsandarms，thattheyeclipsedallotherhandsandarms；oryourfeet，thattheyplayedaboutunderyourdresslikelittlemice；oryourtongue，thatitwasofadeardelicatetone。ButIamnotaltogethersure。\'

\'Ah，that\'sprettytosay；butIdon\'tcareforyourlove，ifitmadeamereflatpictureofmeinthatway，andnotbeingsure，andsuchcoldreasoning；butwhatyouFELTIwas，youknow，Stephen\'(atthisastealthylaughandfriskylookintohisface)，\'whenyousaidtoyourself，"I\'llcertainlylovethatyounglady。”\'

\'Ineversaidit。\'

\'Whenyousaidtoyourself，then，"Ineverwilllovethatyounglady。”\'

\'Ididn\'tsaythat，either。\'

\'Thenwasit，"IsupposeImustlovethatyounglady？"\'

\'No。\'

\'What，then？\'

\'\'Twasmuchmorefluctuating——notsodefinite。\'

\'Tellme；do，do。\'

\'ItwasthatIoughtnottothinkaboutyouifIlovedyoutruly。\'

\'Ah，thatIdon\'tunderstand。There\'snogettingitoutofyou。

AndI\'llnotaskyoueveranymore——nevermore——tosayoutofthedeeprealityofyourheartwhatyoulovedmefor。\'

\'Sweettantalizer，what\'stheuse？Itcomestothissolesimplething:ThatatonetimeIhadneverseenyou，andIdidn\'tloveyou；thatthenIsawyou，andIdidloveyou。Isthatenough？\'

\'Yes；Iwillmakeitdo……Iknow，Ithink，whatIloveyoufor。

Youarenice-looking，ofcourse；butIdidn\'tmeanforthat。Itisbecauseyouaresodocileandgentle。\'

\'Thosearenotquitethecorrectqualitiesforamantobelovedfor，\'saidStephen，inratheradissatisfiedtoneofself-

criticism。\'Well，nevermind。Imustaskyourfathertoallowustobeengageddirectlywegetindoors。Itwillbeforalongtime。\'

\'Ilikeitthebetter……Stephen，don\'tmentionittillto-

morrow。\'

\'Why？\'

\'Because，ifheshouldobject——Idon\'tthinkhewill；butifheshould——weshallhaveadaylongerofhappinessfromourignorance……Well，whatareyouthinkingofsodeeply？\'

\'IwasthinkinghowmydearfriendKnightwouldenjoythisscene。

Iwishhecouldcomehere。\'

\'Youseemverymuchengrossedwithhim，\'sheanswered，withajealouslittletoss。\'Hemustbeaninterestingmantotakeupsomuchofyourattention。\'

\'Interesting!\'saidStephen，hisfaceglowingwithhisfervour；

\'noble，yououghttosay。\'

\'Ohyes，yes；Iforgot，\'shesaidhalfsatirically。\'ThenoblestmaninEngland，asyoutolduslastnight。\'

\'Heisafinefellow，laughasyouwill，MissElfie。\'

\'Iknowheisyourhero。Butwhatdoeshedo？anything？\'

\'Hewrites。\'

\'Whatdoeshewrite？Ihaveneverheardofhisname。\'

\'Becausehispersonality，andthatofseveralotherslikehim，isabsorbedintoahugeWE，namely，theimpalpableentitycalledthePRESENT——asocialandliteraryReview。\'

\'Isheonlyareviewer？\'

\'ONLY，Elfie!Why，IcantellyouitisafinethingtobeonthestaffofthePRESENT。Finerthanbeinganovelistconsiderably。\'

\'That\'sahitatme，andmypoorCOURTOFKELLYONCASTLE。\'

\'No，Elfride，\'hewhispered；\'Ididn\'tmeanthat。Imeanthatheisreallyaliterarymanofsomeeminence，andnotaltogetherareviewer。Hewritesthingsofahigherclassthanreviews，thoughhereviewsabookoccasionally。Hisordinaryproductionsaresocialandethicalessays——allthatthePRESENTcontainswhichisnotliteraryreviewing。\'

\'IadmithemustbetalentedifhewritesforthePRESENT。Wehaveitsenttousirregularly。Iwantpapatobeasubscriber，buthe\'ssoconservative。NowthenextpointinthisMr。Knight——

Isupposeheisaverygoodman。\'

\'Anexcellentman。Ishalltrytobehisintimatefriendsomeday。\'

\'Butaren\'tyounow？\'

\'No；notsomuchasthat，\'repliedStephen，asifsuchasuppositionwereextravagant。\'Yousee，itwasinthisway——hecameoriginallyfromthesameplaceasI，andtaughtmethings；

butIamnotintimatewithhim。Shan\'tIbegladwhenIgetricherandbetterknown，andhobandnobwithhim!\'Stephen\'seyessparkled。

ApoutbegantoshapeitselfuponElfride\'ssoftlips。\'Youthinkalwaysofhim，andlikehimbetterthanyoudome!\'

\'No，indeed，Elfride。Thefeelingisdifferentquite。ButIdolikehim，andhedeservesevenmoreaffectionfrommethanI

give。\'

\'Youarenotnicenow，andyoumakemeasjealousaspossible!\'

sheexclaimedperversely。\'Iknowyouwillneverspeaktoanythirdpersonofmesowarmlyasyoudotomeofhim。\'

\'Butyoudon\'tunderstand，Elfride，\'hesaidwithananxiousmovement。\'Youshallknowhimsomeday。Heissobrilliant——no，itisn\'texactlybrilliant；sothoughtful——nordoesthoughtfulexpresshim——thatitwouldcharmyoutotalktohim。He\'samostdesirablefriend，andthatisn\'thalfIcouldsay。\'

\'Idon\'tcarehowgoodheis；Idon\'twanttoknowhim，becausehecomesbetweenmeandyou。Youthinkofhimnightandday，eversomuchmorethanofanybodyelse；andwhenyouarethinkingofhim，Iamshutoutofyourmind。\'

\'No，dearElfride；Iloveyoudearly。\'

\'AndIdon\'tlikeyoutotellmesowarmlyabouthimwhenyouareinthemiddleoflovingme。Stephen，supposethatIandthismanKnightofyourswerebothdrowning，andyoucouldonlysaveoneofus——\'

\'Yes——thestupidoldproposition——whichwouldIsave？

\'Well，which？Notme。\'

\'Bothofyou，\'hesaid，pressingherpendenthand。

\'No，thatwon\'tdo；onlyoneofus。\'

\'Icannotsay；Idon\'tknow。Itisdisagreeable——quiteahorridideatohavetohandle。\'

\'A-ha，Iknow。Youwouldsavehim，andletmedrown，drown，drown；andIdon\'tcareaboutyourlove!\'

Shehadendeavouredtogiveaplayfultonetoherwords，butthelatterspeechwasratherforcedinitsgaiety。

Atthispointinthediscussionshetrottedofftoturnacornerwhichwasavoidedbythefootpath，theroadandthepathreunitingatapointalittlefurtheron。Onagainmakingherappearanceshecontinuallymanagedtolookinadirectionawayfromhim，andlefthiminthecoolshadeofherdispleasure。Stephenwassoonbeatenatthisgameofindifference。Hewentroundandenteredtherangeofhervision。

\'Areyouoffended，Elfie？Whydon\'tyoutalk？\'

\'Saveme，then，andletthatMr。Cleverofyoursdrown。Ihatehim。Now，whichwouldyou？\'

\'Really，Elfride，youshouldnotpresssuchahardquestion。Itisridiculous。\'

\'ThenIwon\'tbealonewithyouanymore。Unkind，towoundmeso!\'Shelaughedatherownabsurditybutpersisted。

\'Come，Elfie，let\'smakeitupandbefriends。\'

\'Sayyouwouldsaveme，then，andlethimdrown。\'

\'Iwouldsaveyou——andhimtoo。\'

\'Andlethimdrown。Come，oryoudon\'tloveme!\'sheteasinglywenton。

\'Andlethimdrown，\'heejaculateddespairingly。

\'There；nowIamyours!\'shesaid，andawoman\'sflushoftriumphlithereyes。

\'Onlyoneearring，miss，asI\'malive，\'saidUnityontheirenteringthehall。

Withafaceexpressiveofwretchedmisgiving，Elfride\'shandflewlikeanarrowtoherear。

\'There!\'sheexclaimedtoStephen，lookingathimwitheyesfullofreproach。

\'Iquiteforgot，indeed。IfIhadonlyremembered!\'heanswered，withaconscience-strickenface。

Shewheeledherselfround，andturnedintotheshrubbery。Stephenfollowed。

\'Ifyouhadtoldmetowatchanything，Stephen，Ishouldhavereligiouslydoneit，\'shecapriciouslywenton，assoonassheheardhimbehindher。

\'Forgettingisforgivable。\'

\'Well，youwillfindit，ifyouwantmetorespectyouandbeengagedtoyouwhenwehaveaskedpapa。\'Sheconsideredamoment，andaddedmoreseriously，\'IknownowwhereIdroppedit，Stephen。

Itwasonthecliff。Irememberafaintsensationofsomechangeaboutme，butIwastooabsenttothinkofitthen。Andthat\'swhereitisnow，andyoumustgoandlookthere。\'

\'I\'llgoatonce。\'

Andhestrodeawayupthevalley，underabroilingsunandamidthedeathlikesilenceofearlyafternoon。Heascended，withgiddy-pacedhaste，thewindyrangeofrockstowheretheyhadsat，feltandpeeredaboutthestonesandcrannies，butElfride\'sstrayjewelwasnowheretobeseen。NextStephenslowlyretracedhissteps，and，pausingatacross-roadtoreflectawhile，helefttheplateauandstruckdownwardsacrosssomefields，inthedirectionofEndelstowHouse。

Hewalkedalongthepathbytheriverwithouttheslightesthesitationastoitsbearing，apparentlyquitefamiliarwitheveryinchoftheground。Astheshadowsbegantolengthenandthesunlighttomellow，hepassedthroughtwowicket-gates，anddrewneartheoutskirtsofEndelstowPark。Therivernowranalongundertheparkfence，previoustoenteringthegroveitself，alittlefurtheron。

Herestoodacottage，betweenthefenceandthestream，onaslightlyelevatedspotofground，roundwhichtherivertookaturn。Thecharacteristicfeatureofthissnughabitationwasitsonechimneyinthegableend，itssquarenessofformdisguisedbyahugecloakofivy，whichhadgrownsoluxuriantlyandextendedsofarfromitsbase，astoincreasetheapparentbulkofthechimneytothedimensionsofatower。Somelittledistancefromthebackofthehouserosetheparkboundary，andoverthisweretobeseenthesycamoresofthegrove，makingslowinclinationstothejust-awakeningair。

Stephencrossedthelittlewoodbridgeinfront，wentuptothecottagedoor，andopeneditwithoutknockorsignalofanykind。

Exclamationsofwelcomeburstfromsomepersonorpersonswhenthedoorwasthrustajar，followedbythescrapeofchairsonastonefloor，asifpushedbackbytheiroccupiersinrisingfromatable。Thedoorwasclosedagain，andnothingcouldnowbeheardfromwithin，savealivelychatterandtherattleofplates。

ChapterVIII

\'Allen-a-Daleisnobaronorlord。\'

ThemistswerecreepingoutofpoolsandswampsfortheirpilgrimagesofthenightwhenStephencameuptothefrontdoorofthevicarage。Elfridewasstandingonthestepilluminatedbyalemon-huedexpanseofwesternsky。

\'Youneverhavebeenallthistimelookingforthatearring？\'shesaidanxiously。