第5章

\'Ohno；andIhavenotfoundit。\'

\'Nevermind。ThoughIammuchvexed；theyaremyprettiest。But，Stephen，whateverhaveyoubeendoing——wherehaveyoubeen？I

havebeensouneasy。Ifearedforyou，knowingnotaninchofthecountry。Ithought，supposehehasfallenoverthecliff!ButnowIaminclinedtoscoldyouforfrighteningmeso。\'

\'Imustspeaktoyourfathernow，\'hesaidratherabruptly；\'I

havesomuchtosaytohim——andtoyou，Elfride。\'

\'Willwhatyouhavetosayendangerthisnicetimeofours，andisitthatsameshadowysecretyoualludetosofrequently，andwillitmakemeunhappy？\'

\'Possibly。\'

Shebreathedheavily，andlookedaroundasifforaprompter。

\'Putitofftillto-morrow，\'shesaid。

Heinvoluntarilysighedtoo。

\'No；itmustcometo-night。Whereisyourfather，Elfride？\'

\'Somewhereinthekitchengarden，Ithink，\'shereplied。\'Thatishisfavouriteeveningretreat。Iwillleaveyounow。Sayallthat\'stobesaid——doallthereistobedone。Thinkofmewaitinganxiouslyfortheend。\'Andshere-enteredthehouse。

Shewaitedinthedrawing-room，watchingthelightssinktoshadows，theshadowssinktodarkness，untilherimpatiencetoknowwhathadoccurredinthegardencouldnolongerbecontrolled。Shepassedroundtheshrubbery，unlatchedthegardendoor，andskimmedwithherkeeneyesthewholetwilightedspacethatthefourwallsenclosedandsheltered:theywerenotthere。

Shemountedalittleladder，whichhadbeenusedforgatheringfruit，andlookedoverthewallintothefield。Thisfieldextendedtothelimitsoftheglebe，whichwasenclosedonthatsidebyaprivet-hedge。UnderthehedgewasMr。Swancourt，walkingupanddown，andtalkingaloud——tohimself，asitsoundedatfirst。No:anothervoiceshoutedoccasionalreplies；andthisinterlocutorseemedtobeontheothersideofthehedge。Thevoice，thoughsoftinquality，wasnotStephen\'s。

Thesecondspeakermusthavebeeninthelong-neglectedgardenofanoldmanor-househardby，which，togetherwithasmallestateattached，hadlatelybeenpurchasedbyapersonnamedTroyton，whomElfridehadneverseen。Herfathermighthavestruckupanacquaintanceshipwithsomememberofthatfamilythroughtheprivet-hedge，orastrangertotheneighbourhoodmighthavewanderedthither。

Well，therewasnonecessityfordisturbinghim。

Anditseemedthat，afterall，Stephenhadnotyetmadehisdesiredcommunicationtoherfather。Againshewentindoors，wonderingwhereStephencouldbe。Forwantofsomethingbettertodo，shewentupstairstoherownlittleroom。Hereshesatdownattheopenwindow，and，leaningwithherelbowonthetableandhercheekuponherhand，shefellintomeditation。

ItwasahotandstillAugustnight。Everydisturbanceofthesilencewhichrosetothedignityofanoisecouldbeheardformiles，andthemerestsoundforalongdistance。Sosheremained，thinkingofStephen，andwishinghehadnotdeprivedherofhiscompanytonopurpose，asitappeared。Howdelicateandsensitivehewas，shereflected；andyethewasmanenoughtohaveaprivatemystery，whichconsiderablyelevatedhiminhereyes。Thus，lookingatthingswithaninwardvision，shelostconsciousnessoftheflightoftime。

Strangeconjunctionsofcircumstances，particularlythoseofatrivialeverydaykind，aresofrequentinanordinarylife，thatwegrowusedtotheirunaccountableness，andforgetthequestionwhethertheverylongoddsagainstsuchjuxtapositionisnotalmostadisproofofitbeingamatterofchanceatall。WhatoccurredtoElfrideatthismomentwasacaseinpoint。Shewasvividlyimagining，forthetwentiethtime，thekissofthemorning，andputtingherlipstogetherinthepositionanothersuchaonewoulddemand，whensheheardtheidenticaloperationperformedonthelawn，immediatelybeneathherwindow。

Akiss——notofthequietandstealthykind，butdecisive，loud，andsmart。

Herfaceflushedandshelookedout，buttonopurpose。Thedarkrimoftheuplanddrewakeensadlineagainstthepaleglowofthesky，unbrokenexceptwhereayoungcedaronthelawn，thathadoutgrownitsfellowtrees，shotitspointedheadacrossthehorizon，piercingthefirmamentallustrelikeasting。

Itwasjustpossiblethat，hadanypersonsbeenstandingonthegrassyportionsofthelawn，Elfridemighthaveseentheirduskyforms。Buttheshrubs，whichoncehadmerelydottedtheglade，hadnowgrownbushyandlarge，tilltheyhidatleasthalftheenclosurecontainingthem。Thekissingpairmighthavebeenbehindsomeofthese；atanyrate，nobodywasinsight。

Hadnoenigmaeverbeenconnectedwithherloverbyhishintsandabsences，Elfridewouldneverhavethoughtofadmittingintohermindasuspicionthathemightbeconcernedintheforegoingenactment。Butthereservationsheatpresentinsistedon，whiletheyaddedtothemysterywithoutwhichperhapsshewouldneverhaveseriouslylovedhimatall，werecalculatedtonourishdoubtsofallkinds，andwithaslowflushofjealousysheaskedherself，mighthenotbetheculprit？

Elfrideglideddownstairsontiptoe，andouttotheprecisespotonwhichshehadpartedfromStephentoenablehimtospeakprivatelytoherfather。Thenceshewanderedintoallthenooksaroundtheplacefromwhichthesoundseemedtoproceed——amongthehugelaurestines，aboutthetuftsofpampasgrasses，amidthevariegatedhollies，undertheweepingwych-elm——nobodywasthere。

Returningindoorsshecalled\'Unity!\'

\'Sheisgonetoheraunt\'s，tospendtheevening，\'saidMr。

Swancourt，thrustinghisheadoutofhisstudydoor，andlettingthelightofhiscandlesstreamuponElfride\'sface——lessrevealingthan，asitseemedtoherself，creatingtheblushofuneasyperplexitythatwasburninguponhercheek。

\'Ididn\'tknowyouwereindoors，papa，\'shesaidwithsurprise。

\'SurelynolightwasshiningfromthewindowwhenIwasonthelawn？\'andshelookedandsawthattheshutterswerestillopen。

\'Ohyes，Iamin，\'hesaidindifferently。\'WhatdidyouwantUnityfor？Ithinkshelaidsupperbeforeshewentout。\'

\'Didshe？——Ihavenotbeentosee——Ididn\'twantherforthat。\'

Elfridescarcelyknew，nowthatadefinitereasonwasrequired，whatthatreasonwas。Hermindforamomentstrayedtoanothersubject，unimportantasitseemed。Theredemberofamatchwaslyinginsidethefender，whichexplainedthatwhyshehadseennoraysfromthewindowwasbecausethecandleshadonlyjustbeenlighted。

\'I\'llcomedirectly，\'saidthevicar。\'IthoughtyouwereoutsomewherewithMr。Smith。\'

EventheinexperiencedElfridecouldnothelpthinkingthatherfathermustbewonderfullyblindifhefailedtoperceivewhatwasthenascentconsequenceofherselfandStephenbeingsounceremoniouslylefttogether；wonderfullycareless，ifhesawitanddidnotthinkaboutit；wonderfullygood，if，asseemedtoherbyfarthemostprobablesupposition，hesawitandthoughtaboutitandapprovedofit。ThesereflectionswerecutshortbytheappearanceofStephenjustoutsidetheporch，silveredabouttheheadandshoulderswithtouchesofmoonlight，thathadbeguntocreepthroughthetrees。

\'Hasyourtroubleanythingtodowithakissonthelawn？\'sheaskedabruptly，almostpassionately。

\'Kissonthelawn？\'

\'Yes!\'shesaid，imperiouslynow。

\'Ididn\'tcomprehendyourmeaning，nordoInowexactly。I

certainlyhavekissednobodyonthelawn，ifthatisreallywhatyouwanttoknow，Elfride。\'

\'Youknownothingaboutsuchaperformance？\'

\'Nothingwhatever。Whatmakesyouask？\'

\'Don\'tpressmetotell；itisnothingofimportance。And，Stephen，youhavenotyetspokentopapaaboutourengagement？\'

\'No，\'hesaidregretfully，\'Icouldnotfindhimdirectly；andthenIwentonthinkingsomuchofwhatyousaidaboutobjections，refusals——bitterwordspossibly——endingourhappiness，thatI

resolvedtoputitofftillto-morrow；thatgivesusonemoredayofdelight——delightofatremulouskind。\'

\'Yes；butitwouldbeimpropertobesilenttoolong，Ithink，\'

shesaidinadelicatevoice，whichimpliedthatherfacehadgrownwarm。\'Iwanthimtoknowwelove，Stephen。Whydidyouadoptasyourownmythoughtofdelay？\'

\'Iwillexplain；butIwanttotellyouofmysecretfirst——totellyounow。Itistwoorthreehoursyettobedtime。Letuswalkupthehilltothechurch。\'

Elfridepassivelyassented，andtheywentfromthelawnbyasidewicket，andascendedintotheopenexpanseofmoonlightwhichstreamedaroundthelonelyedificeonthesummitofthehill。

Thedoorwaslocked。Theyturnedfromtheporch，andwalkedhandinhandtofindaresting-placeinthechurchyard。Stephenchoseaflattomb，showingitselftobenewerandwhiterthanthosearoundit，andsittingdownhimself，gentlydrewherhandtowardshim。

\'No，notthere，\'shesaid。

\'Whynothere？\'

\'Amerefancy；butnevermind。\'Andshesatdown。

\'Elfie，willyouloveme，inspiteofeverythingthatmaybesaidagainstme？\'

\'OStephen，whatmakesyourepeatthatsocontinuallyandsosadly？YouknowIwill。Yes，indeed，\'shesaid，drawingcloser，\'whatevermaybesaidofyou——andnothingbadcanbe——Iwillclingtoyoujustthesame。YourwaysshallbemywaysuntilIdie。\'

\'Didyoueverthinkwhatmyparentsmightbe，orwhatsocietyI

originallymovedin？\'

\'No，notparticularly。Ihaveobservedoneortwolittlepointsinyourmannerswhichareratherquaint——nomore。Isupposeyouhavemovedintheordinarysocietyofprofessionalpeople。\'

\'SupposingIhavenot——thatnoneofmyfamilyhaveaprofessionexceptme？\'

\'Idon\'tmind。Whatyouareonlyconcernsme。\'

\'WheredoyouthinkIwenttoschool——Imean，towhatkindofschool？\'

\'Dr。Somebody\'sacademy，\'shesaidsimply。

\'No。Toadameschooloriginally，thentoanationalschool。\'

\'Onlytothose!Well，Iloveyoujustasmuch，Stephen，dearStephen，\'shemurmuredtenderly，\'Idoindeed。Andwhyshouldyoutellmethesethingssoimpressively？Whatdotheymattertome？\'

Heheldhercloserandproceeded:

\'Whatdoyouthinkmyfatheris——doesforhisliving，thatistosay？\'

\'Hepractisessomeprofessionorcalling，Isuppose。\'

\'No；heisamason。\'

\'AFreemason？\'

\'No；acottagerandjourneymanmason。\'

Elfridesaidnothingatfirst。Afterawhileshewhispered:

\'Thatisastrangeideatome。Butnevermind；whatdoesitmatter？\'

\'Butaren\'tyouangrywithmefornottellingyoubefore？\'

\'No，notatall。Isyourmotheralive？\'

\'Yes。\'

\'Issheanicelady？\'

\'Very——thebestmotherintheworld。Herpeoplehadbeenwell-to-

doyeomenforcenturies，butshewasonlyadairymaid。\'

\'OStephen!\'camefromherinwhisperedexclamation。

\'Shecontinuedtoattendtoadairylongaftermyfathermarriedher，\'pursuedStephen，withoutfurtherhesitation。\'AndI

rememberverywellhow，whenIwasveryyoung，Iusedtogotothemilking，lookonattheskimming，sleepthroughthechurning，andmakebelieveIhelpedher。Ah，thatwasahappytimeenough!\'

\'No，never——nothappy。\'

\'Yes，itwas。\'

\'Idon\'tseehowhappinesscouldbewherethedrudgeryofdairy-

workhadtobedoneforaliving——thehandsredandchapped，andtheshoesclogged……Stephen，Idoownthatitseemsoddtoregardyouinthelightof——of——havingbeensoroughinyouryouth，anddonemenialthingsofthatkind。\'(Stephenwithdrewaninchortwofromherside。)\'ButIDOLOVEYOUjustthesame，\'shecontinued，gettingcloserunderhisshoulderagain，\'andIdon\'tcareanythingaboutthepast；andIseethatyouarealltheworthierforhavingpushedonintheworldinsuchaway。\'

\'Itisnotmyworthiness；itisKnight\'s，whopushedme。\'

\'Ah，alwayshe——alwayshe!\'

\'Yes，andproperlyso。Now，Elfride，youseethereasonofhisteachingmebyletter。IknewhimyearsbeforehewenttoOxford，butIhadnotgotfarenoughinmyreadingforhimtoentertaintheideaofhelpingmeinclassicstillhelefthome。ThenIwassentawayfromthevillage，andweveryseldommet；buthekeptupthissystemoftuitionbycorrespondencewiththegreatestregularity。Iwilltellyouallthestory，butnotnow。Thereisnothingmoretosaynow，beyondgivingplaces，persons，anddates。\'Hisvoicebecametimidlyslowatthispoint。

\'No；don\'ttaketroubletosaymore。Youareadearhonestfellowtosaysomuchasyouhave；anditisnotsodreadfuleither。IthasbecomeanormalthingthatmillionairescommencebygoinguptoLondonwiththeirtoolsattheirback，andhalf-a-crownintheirpockets。Thatsortoforiginisgettingsorespected，\'shecontinuedcheerfully，\'thatitisacquiringsomeoftheodourofNormanancestry。\'

\'Ah，ifIhadMADEmyfortune，Ishouldn\'tmind。ButIamonlyapossiblemakerofitasyet。\'

\'Itisquiteenough。AndsoTHISiswhatyourtroublewas？\'

\'IthoughtIwasdoingwronginlettingyoulovemewithouttellingyoumystory；andyetIfearedtodoso，Elfie。Idreadedtoloseyou，andIwascowardlyonthataccount。\'

\'Howplaineverythingaboutyouseemsafterthisexplanation!Yourpeculiaritiesinchess-playing，thepronunciationpapanoticedinyourLatin，youroddmixtureofbook-knowledgewithignoranceofordinarysocialaccomplishments，areaccountedforinamoment。

AndhasthisanythingtodowithwhatIsawatLordLuxellian\'s？\'

\'Whatdidyousee？\'

\'Isawtheshadowofyourselfputtingacloakroundalady。Iwasatthesidedoor；youtwowereinaroomwiththewindowtowardsme。Youcametomeamomentlater。\'

\'Shewasmymother。\'

\'YourmotherTHERE!\'Shewithdrewherselftolookathimsilentlyinherinterest。

\'Elfride，\'saidStephen，\'Iwasgoingtotellyoutheremainderto-morrow——Ihavebeenkeepingitback——Imusttellitnow，afterall。Theremainderofmyrevelationreferstowheremyparentsare。Wheredoyouthinktheylive？Youknowthem——bysightatanyrate。\'

\'Iknowthem!\'shesaidinsuspendedamazement。

\'Yes。MyfatherisJohnSmith，LordLuxellian\'smaster-mason，wholivesundertheparkwallbytheriver。\'

\'OStephen!canitbe？\'

\'Hebuilt——orassistedatthebuildingofthehouseyoulivein，yearsago。HeputupthosestonegatepiersatthelodgeentrancetoLordLuxellian\'spark。Mygrandfatherplantedthetreesthatbeltinyourlawn；mygrandmother——whoworkedinthefieldswithhim——heldeachtreeuprightwhilsthefilledintheearth:theytoldmesowhenIwasachild。Hewasthesexton，too，anddugmanyofthegravesaroundus。\'

\'Andwasyourunaccountablevanishingonthefirstmorningofyourarrival，andagainthisafternoon，aruntoseeyourfatherandmother？……Iunderstandnow；nowonderyouseemedtoknowyourwayaboutthevillage!\'

\'Nowonder。Butremember，IhavenotlivedheresinceIwasnineyearsold。Ithenwenttolivewithmyuncle，ablacksmith，nearExonbury，inordertobeabletoattendanationalschoolasadayscholar；therewasnoneonthisremotecoastthen。ItwasthereI

metwithmyfriendKnight。AndwhenIwasfifteenandhadbeenfairlyeducatedbytheschool-master——andmoreparticularlybyKnight——Iwasputasapupilinanarchitect\'sofficeinthattown，becauseIwasskilfulintheuseofthepencil。Afullpremiumwaspaidbytheeffortsofmymotherandfather，ratheragainstthewishesofLordLuxellian，wholikesmyfather，however，andthinksagreatdealofhim。ThereIstayedtillsixmonthsago，whenIobtainedasituationasimprover，asitiscalled，inaLondonoffice。That\'sallofme。\'

\'TothinkYOU，theLondonvisitor，thetownman，shouldhavebeenbornhere，andhaveknownthisvillagesomanyyearsbeforeIdid。

Howstrange——howverystrangeitseemstome!\'shemurmured。

\'MymothercurtseyedtoyouandyourfatherlastSunday，\'saidStephen，withapainedsmileatthethoughtoftheincongruity。

\'Andyourpapasaidtoher，"Iamgladtoseeyousoregularatchurch，JANE。”\'

\'Irememberit，butIhaveneverspokentoher。Wehaveonlybeenhereeighteenmonths，andtheparishissolarge。\'

\'Contrastwiththis，\'saidStephen，withamiserablelaugh，\'yourfather\'sbeliefinmy"blueblood，"whichisstillprevalentinhismind。ThefirstnightIcame，heinsisteduponprovingmydescentfromoneofthemostancientwest-countyfamilies，onaccountofmysecondChristianname；whenthetruthis，itwasgivenmebecausemygrandfatherwasassistantgardenerintheFitzmaurice-Smithfamilyforthirtyyears。Havingseenyourface，mydarling，Ihadnothearttocontradicthim，andtellhimwhatwouldhavecutmeofffromafriendlyknowledgeofyou。\'

Shesigheddeeply。\'Yes，Iseenowhowthisinequalitymaybemadetotroubleus，\'shemurmured，andcontinuedinalow，sadwhisper，\'Iwouldn\'thavemindediftheyhadlivedfaraway。Papamighthaveconsentedtoanengagementbetweenusifyourconnectionhadbeenwithvillagersahundredmilesoff；remotenesssoftensfamilycontrasts。Buthewillnotlike——OStephen，Stephen!whatcanIdo？\'

\'Do？\'hesaidtentatively，yetwithheaviness。\'Givemeup；letmegobacktoLondon，andthinknomoreofme。\'

\'No，no；Icannotgiveyouup!Thishopelessnessinouraffairsmakesmecaremoreforyou……Iseewhatdidnotstrikemeatfirst。Stephen，whydowetrouble？Whyshouldpapaobject？AnarchitectinLondonisanarchitectinLondon。Whoinquiresthere？Nobody。Weshalllivethere，shallwenot？Whyneedwebesoalarmed？\'

\'AndElfie，\'saidStephen，hishopeskindlingwithhers，\'Knightthinksnothingofmybeingonlyacottager\'sson；hesaysIamasworthyofhisfriendshipasifIwerealord\'s；andifIamworthyofhisfriendship，Iamworthyofyou，amInot，Elfride？\'

\'Inotonlyhaveneverlovedanybodybutyou，\'shesaid，insteadofgivingananswer，\'butIhavenotevenformedastrongfriendship，suchasyouhaveforKnight。Iwishyouhadn\'t。Itdiminishesme。\'

\'Now，Elfride，youknowbetter，\'hesaidwooingly。\'Andhadyoureallyneveranysweetheartatall？\'

\'Nonethatwaseverrecognizedbymeassuch。\'

\'Butdidnobodyeverloveyou？\'

\'Yes——amandidonce；verymuch，hesaid。\'

\'Howlongago？\'

\'Oh，alongtime。\'

\'Howlong，dearest？

\'Atwelvemonth。\'

\'That\'snotVERYlong\'(ratherdisappointedly)。

\'Isaidlong，notverylong。\'

\'Anddidhewanttomarryyou？\'

\'Ibelievehedid。ButIdidn\'tseeanythinginhim。Hewasnotgoodenough，evenifIhadlovedhim。\'

\'MayIaskwhathewas？\'

\'Afarmer。\'

\'Afarmernotgoodenough——howmuchbetterthanmyfamily!\'

Stephenmurmured。

\'Whereishenow？\'hecontinuedtoElfride。

\'HERE。\'

\'Here!whatdoyoumeanbythat？\'

\'Imeanthatheishere。\'

\'Wherehere？\'

\'Underus。Heisunderthistomb。Heisdead，andwearesittingonhisgrave。\'

\'Elfie，\'saidtheyoungman，standingupandlookingatthetomb，\'howoddandsadthatrevelationseems!Itquitedepressesmeforthemoment。\'

\'Stephen!Ididn\'twishtosithere；butyouwoulddoso。\'

\'Youneverencouragedhim？\'

\'Neverbylook，word，orsign，\'shesaidsolemnly。\'Hediedofconsumption，andwasburiedthedayyoufirstcame。\'

\'Letusgoaway。Idon\'tlikestandingbyHIM，evenifyouneverlovedhim。HewasBEFOREme。\'

\'Worriesmakeyouunreasonable，\'shehalfpouted，followingStephenatthedistanceofafewsteps。\'PerhapsIoughttohavetoldyoubeforewesatdown。Yes；letusgo。\'

ChapterIX

\'Herfatherdidfume\'

Oppressed，inspiteofthemselves，byaforesightofimpendingcomplications，ElfrideandStephenreturneddownthehillhandinhand。Atthedoortheypausedwistfully，likechildrenlateatschool。

Womenaccepttheirdestinymorereadilythanmen。Elfridehadnowresignedherselftotheoverwhelmingideaofherlover\'ssorryantecedents；StephenhadnotforgottenthetriflinggrievancethatElfridehadknownearlieradmirationthanhisown。

\'Whatwasthatyoungman\'sname？\'heinquired。

\'FelixJethway；awidow\'sonlyson。\'

\'Irememberthefamily。\'

\'Shehatesmenow。ShesaysIkilledhim。\'

Stephenmused，andtheyenteredtheporch。

\'Stephen，Iloveonlyyou，\'shetremulouslywhispered。Hepressedherfingers，andthetriflingshadowpassedaway，toadmitagainthemutualandmoretangibletrouble。

Thestudyappearedtobetheonlyroomlightedup。Theyentered，eachwithademeanourintendedtoconcealtheinconcealablefactthatreciprocallovewastheirdominantchord。Elfrideperceivedaman，sittingwithhisbacktowardsherself，talkingtoherfather。Shewouldhaveretired，butMr。Swancourthadseenher。

\'Comein，\'hesaid；\'itisonlyMartinCannister，comeforacopyoftheregisterforpoorMrs。Jethway。\'

MartinCannister，thesexton，wasratherafavouritewithElfride。

Heusedtoabsorbherattentionbytellingherofhisstrangeexperiencesindiggingupafterlongyearsthebodiesofpersonshehadknown，andrecognizingthembysomelittlesign(thoughinrealityhehadneverrecognizedany)。Hehadshrewdsmalleyesandagreatwealthofdoublechin，whichcompensatedinsomemeasureforconsiderablepovertyofnose。

TheappearanceofaslipofpaperinCannister\'shand，andafewshillingslyingonthetableinfrontofhim，denotedthatthebusinesshadbeentransacted，andthetenoroftheirconversationwenttoshowthatasummaryofvillagenewswasnowengagingtheattentionofparishionerandparson。

Mr。Cannisterstoodupandtouchedhisforeheadoverhiseyewithhisfinger，inrespectfulsalutationofElfride，gavehalfasmuchsalutetoStephen(whomhe，incommonwithothervillagers，hadneverforamomentrecognized)，thensatdownagainandresumedhisdiscourse。

\'WherehadIgotonto，sir？\'

\'Todrivingthepile，\'saidMr。Swancourt。

\'Thepile\'twas。So，asIwassaying，Natwasdrivingthepileinthismanner，asImightsay。\'HereMr。Cannisterheldhiswalking-

stickscrupulouslyverticalwithhislefthand，andstruckablowwithgreatforceontheknobofthestickwithhisright。\'Johnwassteadyingthepileso，asImightsay。\'Herehegavethestickaslightshake，andlookedfirmlyinthevariouseyesaroundtoseethatbeforeproceedingfurtherhislistenerswellgraspedthesubjectatthatstage。\'Well，whenNathadstrucksomehalf-dozenblowsmoreuponthepile，\'astoppedforasecondortwo。John，thinkinghehaddonestriking，puthishanduponthetopo\'thepiletogieenapull，andseeif\'awerefirmintheground。\'Mr。

Cannisterspreadhishandoverthetopofthestick，completelycoveringitwithhispalm。\'Well，sotospeak，Nathadn\'tmanedtostopstriking，andwhenJohnhadputhishanduponthepile，thebeetle——\'

\'Ohdreadful!\'saidElfride。

\'Thebeetlewasalreadycomingdown，yousee，sir。Natjustcaughtsightofhishand，butcouldn\'tstoptheblowintime。

DowncamethebeetleuponpoorJohnSmith\'shand，andsquashedentoapummy。\'

\'Dearme，dearme!poorfellow!\'saidthevicar，withanintonationlikethegroansofthewoundedinapianoforteperformanceofthe\'BattleofPrague。\'

\'JohnSmith，themaster-mason？\'criedStephenhurriedly。

\'Ay，noother；andabetter-heartedmanGodA\'mightynevermade。\'

\'Ishesomuchhurt？\'

\'Ihaveheard，\'saidMr。Swancourt，notnoticingStephen，\'thathehasasoninLondon，averypromisingyoungfellow。\'

\'Oh，howhemustbehurt!\'repeatedStephen。

\'Abeetlecouldn\'thurtverylittle。Well，sir，good-nightt\'ye；

andye，sir；andyou，miss，I\'msure。\'

Mr。Cannisterhadbeenmakingunnoticeablemotionsofwithdrawal，andbythetimethisfarewellremarkcamefromhislipshewasjustoutsidethedooroftheroom。Hetrampedalongthehall，stayedmorethanaminuteendeavouringtoclosethedoorproperly，andthenwaslosttotheirhearing。

Stephenhadmeanwhileturnedandsaidtothevicar:

\'Pleaseexcusemethisevening!Imustleave。JohnSmithismyfather。\'

Thevicardidnotcomprehendatfirst。

\'Whatdidyousay？\'heinquired。

\'JohnSmithismyfather，\'saidStephendeliberately。

AsurplustingeofrednessrosefromMr。Swancourt\'sneck，andcameroundoverhisface，thelinesofhisfeaturesbecamemorefirmlydefined，andhislipsseemedtogetthinner。Itwasevidentthataseriesoflittlecircumstances，hithertounheeded，werenowfittingthemselvestogether，andformingalucidpictureinMr。Swancourt\'smindinsuchamannerastorenderuselessfurtherexplanationonStephen\'spart。

\'Indeed，\'thevicarsaid，inavoicedryandwithoutinflection。

Thisbeingawordwhichdependsentirelyuponitstoneforitsmeaning，Mr。Swancourt\'senunciationwasequivalenttonoexpressionatall。

\'Ihavetogonow，\'saidStephen，withanagitatedbearing，andamovementasifhescarcelyknewwhetherheoughttorunofforstaylonger。\'Onmyreturn，sir，willyoukindlygrantmeafewminutes\'privateconversation？\'

\'Certainly。Thoughantecedentlyitdoesnotseempossiblethattherecanbeanythingofthenatureofprivatebusinessbetweenus。\'

Mr。Swancourtputonhisstrawhat，crossedthedrawing-room，intowhichthemoonlightwasshining，andsteppedoutoftheFrenchwindowintotheverandah。Itrequirednofurtherefforttoperceivewhat，indeed，reasoningmighthaveforetoldasthenaturalcolourofamindwhosepleasuresweretakenamidgenealogies，gooddinners，andpatricianreminiscences，thatMr。

Swancourt\'sprejudicesweretoostrongforhisgenerosity，andthatStephen\'smomentsashisfriendandequalwerenumbered，orhadevennowceased。

Stephenmovedforwardasifhewouldfollowthevicar，thenasifhewouldnot，andinabsoluteperplexitywhithertoturnhimself，wentawkwardlytothedoor。Elfridefollowedlingeringlybehindhim。Beforehehadrecededtwoyardsfromthedoorstep，UnityandAnnthehousemaidcamehomefromtheirvisittothevillage。

\'HaveyouheardanythingaboutJohnSmith？Theaccidentisnotsobadaswasreported，isit？\'saidElfrideintuitively。

\'Ohno；thedoctorsaysitisonlyabadbruise。\'

\'Ithoughtso!\'criedElfridegladly。

\'Hesaysthat，althoughNatbelieveshedidnotcheckthebeetleasitcamedown，hemusthavedonesowithoutknowingit——checkeditveryconsiderablytoo；forthefullblowwouldhaveknockedhishandabroad，andinrealityitisonlymadeblack-and-bluelike。\'

\'HowthankfulIam!\'saidStephen。

TheperplexedUnitylookedathimwithhermouthratherthanwithhereyes。

\'Thatwilldo，Unity，\'saidElfridemagisterially；andthetwomaidspassedon。

\'Elfride，doyouforgiveme？\'saidStephenwithafaintsmile。

\'Nomanisfairinlove；\'andhetookherfingerslightlyinhisown。

WithherheadthrownsidewaysintheGreuzeattitude，shelookedatenderreproachathisdoubtandpressedhishand。Stephenreturnedthepressurethreefold，thenhastilywentofftohisfather\'scottagebythewallofEndelstowPark。

\'Elfride，whathaveyoutosaytothis？\'inquiredherfather，comingupimmediatelyStephenhadretired。

Withfemininequicknessshegraspedatanystrawthatwouldenablehertopleadhiscause。\'Hehadtoldmeofit，\'shefaltered；\'sothatitisnotadiscoveryinspiteofhim。Hewasjustcomingintotellyou。\'

\'COMINGtotell!Whyhadn\'thealreadytold？Iobjectasmuch，ifnotmore，tohisunderhandconcealmentofthis，thanIdotothefactitself。Itlooksverymuchlikehismakingafoolofme，andofyoutoo。Youandhehavebeenabouttogether，andcorrespondingtogether，inawayIdon\'tatallapproveof——inamostunseemlyway。Youshouldhaveknownhowimpropersuchconductis。Awomancan\'tbetoocarefulnottobeseenalonewithI-don\'t-know-whom。\'

\'Yousawus，papa，andhaveneversaidaword。\'

\'Myfault，ofcourse；myfault。WhatthedeucecouldIbethinkingof!He，avillager\'sson；andwe，Swancourts，connectionsoftheLuxellians。Wehavebeencomingtonothingforcenturies，andnowIbelievewehavegotthere。WhatshallInextinvitehere，Iwonder!\'

Elfridebegantocryatthisveryunpropitiousaspectofaffairs。

\'Opapa，papa，forgivemeandhim!Wecaresomuchforoneanother，papa——O，somuch!Andwhathewasgoingtoaskyouis，ifyouwillallowofanengagementbetweenustillheisagentlemanasgoodasyou。Wearenotinahurry，dearpapa；wedon\'twantintheleasttomarrynow；notuntilheisricher。Onlywillyouletusbeengaged，becauseIlovehimso，andhelovesme？\'

Mr。Swancourt\'sfeelingswerealittletouchedbythisappeal，andhewasannoyedthatsuchshouldbethecase。\'Certainlynot!\'hereplied。Hepronouncedtheinhibitionlengthilyandsonorously，sothatthe\'not\'soundedlike\'n-o-o-o-t!\'

\'No，no，no；don\'tsayit!\'

\'Foh!Afinestory。ItisnotenoughthatIhavebeendeludedanddisgracedbyhavinghimhere，——thesonofoneofmyvillagepeasants，——butnowIamtomakehimmyson-in-law!Heavensaboveus，areyoumad，Elfride？\'