第14章

ThesuddennessofElfride\'srenunciationofhimselfwasfoodformoretorture。Toanunimpassionedoutsider，itadmittedofatleasttwointerpretations——itmighteitherhaveproceededfromanendeavourtobefaithfultoherfirstchoice，tilltheloverseenabsolutelyoverpoweredtheloverremembered，orfromawishnottolosehislovetillsureoftheloveofanother。ButtoStephenSmiththemotiveinvolvedinthelatteralternativemadeituntenablewhereElfridewastheactor。

Hemusedonherletterstohim，inwhichshehadnevermentionedasyllableconcerningKnight。Itisdesirable，however，toobservethatonlyintwoletterscouldshepossiblyhavedoneso。OnewaswrittenaboutaweekbeforeKnight\'sarrival，when，thoughshedidnotmentionhispromisedcomingtoStephen，shehadhardlyadefinitereasoninhermindforneglectingtodoit。InthenextshedidcasuallyalludetoKnight。ButStephenhadleftBombaylongbeforethatletterarrived。

Stephenlookedattheblackformoftheadjacenthouse，whereitcutadarkpolygonalnotchoutofthesky，andfeltthathehatedthespot。Hedidnotknowmanyfactsofthecase，butcouldnothelpinstinctivelyassociatingElfride\'sficklenesswiththemarriageofherfather，andtheirintroductiontoLondonsociety。

Heclosedtheirongateboundingtheshrubberyasnoiselesslyashehadopenedit，andwentintothegrassyfield。Herehecouldseetheoldvicarage，thehousealonethatwasassociatedwiththesweetpleasanttimeofhisincipientloveforElfride。Turningsadlyfromtheplacethatwasnolongeranookinwhichhisthoughtsmightnestlewhenhewasfaraway，hewanderedinthedirectionoftheeastvillage，toreachhisfather\'shousebeforetheyretiredtorest。

Thenearestwaytothecottagewasbycrossingthepark。Hedidnothurry。Happinessfrequentlyhasreasonforhaste，butitisseldomthatdesolationneedscrambleorstrain。Sometimeshepausedunderthelow-hangingarmsofthetrees，lookingvacantlyontheground。

Stephenwasstandingthus，scarcelylesscrippledinthoughtthanhewasblankinvision，whenaclearsoundpermeatedthequietairabouthim，andspreadonfarbeyond。ThesoundwasthestrokeofabellfromthetowerofEastEndelstowChurch，whichstoodinadellnotfortyyardsfromLordLuxellian\'smansion，andwithintheparkenclosure。Anotherstrokegreetedhisear，andgavecharactertoboth:thencameaslowsuccessionofthem。

\'Somebodyisdead，\'hesaidaloud。

Thedeath-knellofaninhabitantoftheeasternparishwasbeingtolled。

AnunusualfeatureinthetollingwasthatithadnotbeenbegunaccordingtothecustominEndelstowandotherparishesintheneighbourhood。Ateverydeaththesexandageofthedeceasedwereannouncedbyasystemofchanges。Threetimesthreestrokessignifiedthatthedepartedonewasaman；threetimestwo，awoman；twicethree，aboy；twicetwo，agirl。Theregularcontinuityofthetollingsuggestedthatitwastheresumptionratherthanthebeginningofaknell——theopeningportionofwhichStephenhadnotbeennearenoughtohear。

Themomentaryanxietyhehadfeltwithregardtohisparentspassedaway。Hehadlefttheminperfecthealth，andhadanyseriousillnessseizedeither，acommunicationwouldhavereachedhimerethis。Atthesametime，sincehiswayhomewardlayunderthechurchyardyews，heresolvedtolookintothebelfryinpassingby，andspeakawordtoMartinCannister，whowouldbethere。

Stephenreachedthebrowofthehill，andfeltinclinedtorenouncehisidea。Hismoodwassuchthattalkingtoanypersontowhomhecouldnotunburdenhimselfwouldbewearisome。

However，beforehecouldputanyinclinationintoeffect，theyoungmansawfromamidthetreesabrightlightshining，theraysfromwhichradiatedlikeneedlesthroughthesadplumyfoliageoftheyews。Itsdirectionwasfromthecentreofthechurchyard。

Stephenmechanicallywentforward。Nevercouldtherebeagreatercontrastbetweentwoplacesoflikepurposethanbetweenthisgraveyardandthatofthefurthervillage。Herethegrasswascarefullytended，andformedvirtuallyapartofthemanor-houselawn；flowersandshrubsbeingplantedindiscriminatelyoverboth，whilstthefewgravesvisibleweremathematicallyexactinshapeandsmoothness，appearinginthedaytimelikechinsnewlyshaven。

Therewasnowall，thedivisionbetweenGod\'sAcreandLordLuxellian\'sbeingmarkedonlybyafewsquarestonessetatequidistantpoints。Amongthosepersonswhohaveromanticsentimentsonthesubjectoftheirlastdwelling-place，probablythegreaternumberwouldhavechosensuchaspotasthisinpreferencetoanyother:afewwouldhavefanciedaconstraintinitstrimneatness，andwouldhavepreferredthewildhill-topoftheneighbouringsite，withNatureinhermostnegligentattire。

Thelightinthechurchyardhenextdiscoveredtohaveitssourceinapointveryneartheground，andStephenimagineditmightcomefromalanternintheinteriorofapartly-duggrave。Butanearerapproachshowedhimthatitspositionwasimmediatelyunderthewalloftheaisle，andwithinthemouthofanarchway。Hecouldnowhearvoices，andthetruthofthewholematterbegantodawnuponhim。Walkingontowardstheopening，Smithdiscernedonhislefthandaheapofearth，andbeforehimaflightofstonestepswhichtheremovedearthhaduncovered，leadingdownundertheedifice。Itwastheentrancetoalargefamilyvault，extendingunderthenorthaisle。

Stephenhadneverbeforeseenitopen，anddescendingoneortwostepsstoopedtolookunderthearch。Thevaultappearedtobecrowdedwithcoffins，withtheexceptionofanopencentralspace，whichhadbeennecessarilykeptfreeforingressandaccesstothesides，roundthreeofwhichthecoffinswerestackedinstonebinsorniches。

Theplacewaswelllightedwithcandlesstuckinslipsofwoodthatwerefastenedtothewall。Onmakingthedescentofanotherstepthelivinginhabitantsofthevaultwererecognizable。Theywerehisfatherthemaster-mason，anunder-mason，MartinCannister，andtwoorthreeyoungandoldlabouring-men。Crowbarsandworkmen\'shammerswerescatteredabout。Thewholecompany，sittingroundoncoffinswhichhadbeenremovedfromtheirplaces，apparentlyforsomealterationorenlargementofthevault，wereeatingbreadandcheese，anddrinkingalefromacupwithtwohandles，passedroundfromeachtoeach。

\'Whoisdead？\'Stepheninquired，steppingdown。

ChapterXXVI

\'Tothatlastnothingunderearth。\'

AlleyeswereturnedtotheentranceasStephenspoke，andtheancient-manneredconclavescrutinizedhiminquiringly。

\'Why，\'tisourStephen!\'saidhisfather，risingfromhisseat；

and，stillretainingthefrothymuginhislefthand，heswungforwardhisrightforagrasp。\'Yourmotherisexpectingye——

thoughtyouwouldhavecomeaforedark。Butyou\'llwaitandgohomewithme？Ihaveallbutdonefortheday，andwasgoingdirectly。\'

\'Yes，\'tisMasterStephy，sureenough。Gladtoseeyousosoonagain，MasterSmith，\'saidMartinCannister，chasteningthegladnessexpressedinhiswordsbyastrictneutralityofcountenance，inordertoharmonizethefeelingasmuchaspossiblewiththesolemnityofafamilyvault。

\'Thesametoyou，Martin；andyou，William，\'saidStephen，noddingaroundtotherest，who，havingtheirmouthsfullofbreadandcheese，wereofnecessitycompelledtoreplymerelybycompressingtheireyestofriendlylinesandwrinkles。

\'Andwhoisdead？\'Stephenrepeated。

\'LadyLuxellian，poorgentlewoman，asweallshall，saidtheunder-mason。\'Ay，andwebegoingtoenlargethevaulttomakeroomforher。\'

\'Whendidshedie？\'

\'Earlythismorning，\'hisfatherreplied，withanappearanceofrecurringtoachronicthought。\'Yes，thismorning。Martinhevbeentollingeversince，almost。There，\'twasexpected。Shewasverylimber。\'

\'Ay，poorsoul，thismorning，\'resumedtheunder-mason，amarvellouslyoldman，whoseskinseemedsomuchtoolargeforhisbodythatitwouldnotstayinposition。\'Shemustknowbythistimewhethershe\'stogoupordown，poorwoman。\'

\'Whatwasherage？\'

\'Notmorethansevenoreightandtwentybycandlelight。But，Lord!byday\'awasfortyif\'awereanhour。\'

\'Ay，night-timeorday-timemakesadifferenceoftwentyyearstorichfeymels，\'observedMartin。

\'Shewasoneandthirtyreally，\'saidJohnSmith。\'Ihaditfromthemthatknow。\'

\'Notmorethanthat!\'

\'\'Alookedverybad，poorlady。Infaith，yemightsayshewasdeadforyearsafore\'awouldownit。\'

\'Asmyoldfatherusedtosay，"dead，butwouldn\'tdropdown。”\'

\'Iseedher，poorsoul，\'saidalabourerfrombehindsomeremovedcoffins，\'onlybutlastValentine\'s-dayofalltheworld。\'Awasarmincrookwi\'mylord。Isaystomyself，"YoubeticketedChurchyard，mynoblelady，althoughyoudon\'tdreamon\'t。”\'

\'Isupposemylordwillwritetoalltheotherlordsanointedinthenation，tolet\'emknowthatshethatwasisnownomore？\'

\'\'Tisdoneandpast。Iseeabundleoflettersgooffanhourafterthedeath。Sichwonderfulblackrimsastheylettershad——

half-an-inchwide，attheveryleast。\'

\'Toomuch，\'observedMartin。\'Inshort，\'tisoutofthequestionthatahumanbeingcanbesomournfulasblackedgeshalf-an-inchwide。I\'msurepeopledon\'tfeelmorethanaverynarrowborderwhentheyfeelsmostofall。\'

\'Andtherearetwolittlegirls，aretherenot？\'saidStephen。

\'Niceclanelittlefaces!——leftmotherlessnow。\'

\'TheyusedtocometoParsonSwancourt\'stoplaywithMissElfridewhenIwerethere，\'saidWilliamWorm。\'Ah，theydidso\'s!\'Thelattersentencewasintroducedtoaddthenecessarymelancholytoaremarkwhich，intrinsically，couldhardlybemadetopossessenoughfortheoccasion。\'Yes，\'continuedWorm，\'they\'drunupstairs，they\'drundown；flittingaboutwithhereverywhere。

Veryfondofher，theywere。Ah，well!\'

\'Fonderthanevertheywereoftheirmother，so\'tissaidhereandthere，\'addedalabourer。

\'Well，yousee，\'tisnatural。LadyLuxellianstoodalooffrom\'emso——wassodrowsy-like，thattheycouldn\'tloveherinthejolly-

companionwaychildrenwanttolikefolks。OnlylastwinterI

seedMissElfridetalkingtomyladyandthetwochildren，andMissElfridewipedtheirnosesforem\'SOcareful——myladyneveronceseeingthatitwanteddoing；and，naturally，childrentaketopeoplethat\'stheirbestfriend。\'

\'Beas\'twill，thewomanisdeadandgone，andwemustmakeaplaceforher，\'saidJohn。\'Come，lads，drinkupyourale，andwe\'lljustridthiscorner，soastohaveallclearforbeginningatthewall，assoonas\'tislightto-morrow。\'

StephenthenaskedwhereLadyLuxellianwastolie。

\'Here，\'saidhisfather。\'Wearegoingtosetbackthiswallandmakearecess；and\'tisenoughforustodobeforethefuneral。

Whenmylord\'smotherdied，shesaid，"John，theplacemustbeenlargedbeforeanothercanbeputin。”But\'aneverexpected\'twouldbewantedsosoon。BettermoveLordGeorgefirst，I

suppose，Simeon？\'

Hepointedwithhisfoottoaheavycoffin，coveredwithwhathadoriginallybeenredvelvet，thecolourofwhichcouldonlyjustbedistinguishednow。

\'Justasyethinkbest，MasterJohn，\'repliedtheshrivelledmason。\'Ah，poorLordGeorge!\'hecontinued，lookingcontemplativelyatthehugecoffin；\'heandIwereasbitterenemiesonceasanycouldbewhenoneisalordandt\'otheronlyamortalman。Poorfellow!He\'dclaphishanduponmyshoulderandcussmeasfamilialandneighbourlyasifhe\'dbeenacommonchap。

Ay，\'acussedmeuphilland\'acussedmedown；andthen\'awouldraveoutagain，andthegooldclampsofhisfinenewteethwouldglisteninthesunlikefettersofbrass，whileI，beingasmallmanandpoor，wasfaintosaynothingatall。Suchastrappenfinegentlemanashewastoo!Yes，Iratherlikedensometimes。

Butoncenowandthen，whenIlookedathistoweringheight，I\'dthinkinmyinside，"Whataweightyou\'llbe，mylord，forourarmstolowerundertheaisleofEndelstowChurchsomeday!"\'

\'Andwashe？\'inquiredayounglabourer。

\'Hewas。Hewasfivehundredweightif\'awereapound。Whatwithhislead，andhisoak，andhishandles，andhisonethingandt\'other\'——heretheancientmanslappedhishanduponthecoverwithaforcethatcausedarattleamongthebonesinside——\'hehalfbrokemybackwhenItookhisfeettolowerendownthestepsthere。"Ah，"saithItoJohnthere——didn\'tI，John？——"thateveroneman\'sgloryshouldbesuchaweightuponanotherman!"Butthere，IlikedmylordGeorgesometimes。\'

\'\'Tisastrangethought，\'saidanother，\'thatwhiletheybeallhereunderoneroof，asnugunitedfamilyo\'Luxellians，theybereallyscatteredmilesawayfromoneanotherintheformofgoodsheepandwickedgoats，isn\'tit？\'

\'True；\'tisathoughttolookat。\'

\'Andthatone，ifhe\'sgoneupward，don\'tknowwhathiswifeisdoingnomorethanthemaninthemoonifshe\'sgonedownward。

Andthatsomeunfortunateoneinthehotplaceisa-holleringacrosstoaluckyoneupintheclouds，andquiteforgettingtheirbodiesbeboxedclosetogetherallthetime。\'

\'Ay，\'tisathoughttolookat，too，thatIcansay"Hullo!"closetofieryLordGeorge，and\'acan\'thearme。\'

\'AndthatIbeeatingmyonionclosetodaintyLadyJane\'snose，andshecan\'tsmellme。\'

\'Whatdo\'emputalltheirheadsonewayfor？\'inquiredayoungman。

\'Because\'tischurchyardlaw，yousimple。Thelawofthelivingis，thatamanshallbeuprightanddown-right，andthelawofthedeadis，thatamanshallbeeastandwest。Everystateofsocietyhaveitslaws。\'

\'Wemustbreakthelawwi\'afewofthepoorsouls，however。

Come，buckleto，\'saidthemaster-mason。

Andtheysettoworkanew。

Theorderofintermentcouldbedistinctlytracedbyobservingtheappearanceofthecoffinsastheylaypiledaround。Onthosewhichhadbeenstandingtherebutagenerationortwothetrappingsstillremained。Thoseofanearlierperiodshowedbarewood，withafewtatteredragsdanglingtherefrom。Earlierstill，thewoodlayinfragmentsontheflooroftheniche，andthecoffinconsistedofnakedleadalone；whilstinthecaseoftheveryoldest，eventheleadwasbulgingandcrackinginpieces，revealingtothecuriouseyeaheapofdustwithin。Theshieldsuponmanywerequiteloose，andremovablebythehand，theirlustrelesssurfacesstillindistinctlyexhibitingthenameandtitleofthedeceased。

Overheadthegroinsandconcavitiesofthearchescurvedinalldirections，droppinglowtowardsthewalls，wheretheheightwasnomorethansufficienttoenableapersontostandupright。

ThebodyofGeorgethefourteenthbaron，togetherwithtwoorthreeothers，allofmorerecentdatethanthegreatbulkofcoffinspiledthere，had，forwantofroom，beenplacedattheendofthevaultontressels，andnotinnichesliketheothers。

Theseitwasnecessarytoremove，toformbehindthemthechamberinwhichtheywereultimatelytobedeposited。Stephen，findingtheplaceandproceedingsinkeepingwiththesombrecoloursofhismind，waitedtherestill。

\'Simeon，IsupposeyoucanmindpoorLadyElfride，andhowsheranawaywiththeactor？\'saidJohnSmith，afterawhile。\'Ithinkitfelluponthetimemyfatherwassextonhere。Letussee——whereisshe？\'

\'Heresomewhere，\'returnedSimeon，lookingroundhim。

\'Why，I\'vegotmyarmsroundtheverygentlewomanatthismoment。\'

Heloweredtheendofthecoffinhewasholding，wipedhisface，andthrowingamorselofrottenwooduponanotherasanindicator，continued:\'That\'sherhusbandthere。Theywasasfairacoupleasyoushouldseeanywhereroundabout；andagood-heartedpairlikewise。Ay，Icanmindit，thoughIwasbutachielatthetime。Shefellinlovewiththisyoungmanofhers，andtheirbannswereaskedinsomechurchinLondon；andtheoldlordherfatheractuallyheard\'emaskedthethreetimes，anddidn\'tnoticehername，beinggabbledonwi\'ahostofothers。Whenshehadmarriedshetoldherfather，and\'afleedintoamonstrousrage，andsaidsheshouldn\'haeafarthing。LadyElfridesaidshedidn\'tthinkofwishingit；ifhe\'dforgieher\'twasallsheasked，andasforaliving，shewascontenttoplayplayswithherhusband。Thisfrightenedtheoldlord，and\'agie\'d\'emahousetolivein，andagreatgarden，andalittlefieldortwo，andacarriage，andagoodfewguineas。Well，thepoorthingdiedatherfirstgossiping，andherhusband——whowasastender-heartedamanasevereatmeat，andwouldhavediedforher——wentwildinhismind，andbrokehisheart(so\'twassaid)。Anyhow，theywereburiedthesameday——fatherandmother——butthebabylived。Ay，mylord\'sfamilymademuchofthatmanthen，andputhimherewithhiswife，andthereinthecornerthemanisnow。TheSundayaftertherewasafuneralsermon:thetextwas，"Oreverthesilvercordbeloosed，orthegoldenbowlbebroken；"andwhen\'twaspreachingthemendrewtheirhandsacrosstheireyesseveraltimes，andeverywomancriedoutloud。\'

\'Andwhatbecameofthebaby？\'saidStephen，whohadfrequentlyheardportionsofthestory。

\'Shewasbroughtupbyhergrandmother，andaprettymaidshewere。Andshemustneedsrunawaywiththecurate——ParsonSwancourtthatisnow。Thenhergrandmotherdied，andthetitleandeverythingwentawaytoanotherbranchofthefamilyaltogether。ParsonSwancourtwastedagooddealofhiswife\'smoney，andshelefthimMissElfride。Thattrickofrunningawayseemstobehandeddowninfamilies，likecrazinessorgout。Andtheytwowomenbealikeaspeas。\'

\'Whichtwo？\'

\'LadyElfrideandyoungMissthat\'salivenow。Thesamehairandeyes:butMissElfride\'smotherwasdarkeragooddeal。\'

\'Life\'sastranglebubble，yesee，\'saidWilliamWormmusingly。

\'ForiftheLord\'sanointmenthaddescendeduponwomeninsteadofmen，MissElfridewouldbeLordLuxellian——Lady，Imane。Butasitis，thebloodisrunout，andshe\'snothingtotheLuxellianfamilybylaw，whatevershemaybebygospel。\'

\'Iusedtofancy，\'saidSimeon，\'whenIseedMissElfridehuggingthelittleladyships，thattherewasalikeness；butIsuppose\'twasonlymydream，foryearsmusthavealteredtheoldfamilyshape。\'

\'Andnowwe\'llmovethesetwo，andhome-along，\'interposedJohnSmith，reviving，asbecameamaster，thespiritoflabour，whichhadshowedunmistakablesignsofbeingnearlyvanquishedbythespiritofchat，\'Theflagonofalewedon\'twantwe\'llletbideheretillto-morrow；noneofthepoorsoulswilltouchit\'ab\'lieve。\'

Sotheevening\'sworkwasconcluded，andthepartydrewfromtheabodeofthequietdead，closingtheoldirondoor，andshootingthelockloudlyintothehugecopperstaple——anincongruousactofimprisonmenttowardsthosewhohadnodreamsofescape。

ChapterXXVII

\'HowshouldIgreetthee？\'

Lovefrequentlydiesoftimealone——muchmorefrequentlyofdisplacement。WithElfrideSwancourt，apowerfulreasonwhythedisplacementshouldbesuccessfulwasthatthenew-comerwasagreatermanthanthefirst。BythesideoftheinstructiveandpiquantsnubbingsshereceivedfromKnight，Stephen\'sgeneralagreeablenessseemedwatery；bythesideofKnight\'ssparelove-

making，Stephen\'scontinualoutflowseemedlackadaisical。Shehadbeguntosighforsomebodyfurtheroninmanhood。Stephenwashardlyenoughofaman。

Perhapstherewasapronenesstoinconstancyinhernature——anature，tothosewhocontemplateitfromastandpointbeyondtheinfluenceofthatinconstancy，themostexquisiteofallinitsplasticityandreadysympathies。Partly，too，Stephen\'sfailuretomakehisholdonherheartapermanentonewashistootimidhabitofdispraisinghimselfbesideher——apeculiaritywhich，exercisedtowardssensiblemen，stirsakindlychordofattachmentthatamarkedassertivenesswouldleaveuntouched，butinevitablyleadsthemostsensiblewomanintheworldtoundervaluehimwhopractisesit。Directlydomineeringceasesintheman，snubbingbeginsinthewoman；thetritebutnolessunfortunatefactbeingthatthegentlercreaturerarelyhasthecapacitytoappreciatefairtreatmentfromhernaturalcomplement。TheabidingperceptionofthepositionofStephen\'sparentshad，ofcourse，alittletodowithElfride\'srenunciation。Tosuchgirlspovertymaynotbe，astothemoreworldlymassesofhumanity，asininitself；butitisasin，becausegracefulanddaintymannersseldomexistinsuchanatmosphere。Fewwomenofoldfamilycanbethoroughlytaughtthatafinesoulmaywearasmock-frock，andanadmittedlycommonmaninoneisbutawormintheireyes。JohnSmith\'sroughhandsandclothes，hiswife\'sdialect，thenecessarynarrownessoftheirways，beingconstantlyunderElfride\'snotice，werenotwithouttheirdeflectinginfluence。

Onreachinghomeaftertheperilousadventurebythesea-shore，Knighthadfeltunwell，andretiredalmostimmediately。Theyoungladywhohadsomateriallyassistedhimhaddonethesame，butshereappeared，properlyclothed，aboutfiveo\'clock。Shewanderedrestlesslyaboutthehouse，butnotonaccountoftheirjointnarrowescapefromdeath。Thestormwhichhadtornthetreehadmerelybowedthereed，andwiththedeliveranceofKnightalldeepthoughtoftheaccidenthadlefther。Themutualavowalwhichithadbeenthemeansofprecipitatingoccupiedafarlongerlengthofhermeditations。

Elfride\'sdisquietnowwasonaccountofthatmiserablepromisetomeetStephen，whichreturnedlikeaspectreagainandagain。TheperceptionofhislittlenessbesideKnightgrewuponheralarmingly。Shenowthoughthowsoundhadbeenherfather\'sadvicetohertogivehimup，andwasaspassionatelydesirousoffollowingitasshehadhithertobeenaverse。PerhapsthereisnothingmorehardeningtothetoneofyoungmindsthanthustodiscoverhowtheirdearestandstrongestwishesbecomegraduallyattunedbyTimetheCynictotheverynoteofsomeselfishpolicywhichinearlierdaystheydespised。

Thehourofappointmentcame，andwithitacrisis；andwiththecrisisacollapse。

\'Godforgiveme——Ican\'tmeetStephen!\'sheexclaimedtoherself。

\'Idon\'tlovehimless，butIloveMr。Knightmore!\'

Yes:shewouldsaveherselffromamannotfitforher——inspiteofvows。Shewouldobeyherfather，andhavenomoretodowithStephenSmith。Thusthefickleresolveshowedsignsofassumingthecomplexionofavirtue。

ThefollowingdayswerepassedwithoutanydefiniteavowalfromKnight\'slips。SuchsolitarywalksandscenesasthatwitnessedbySmithinthesummer-housewerefrequent，buthecourtedhersointangiblythattoanybutsuchadelicateperceptionasElfride\'sitwouldhaveappearednocourtshipatall。Thetimenowreallybegantobesweetwithher。Shedismissedthesenseofsininherpastactions，andwasautomaticintheintoxicationofthemoment。

ThefactthatKnightmadenoactualdeclarationwasnodrawback。

Knowingsincethebetrayalofhissentimentsthatloveforherreallyexisted，shepreferreditforthepresentinitsformofessence，andwaswillingtoavoidforawhilethegrossermediumofwords。Theirfeelingshavingbeenforcedtoaratherprematuredemonstration，areactionwasindulgedinbyboth。

Butnosoonerhadshegotridofhertroubledconscienceonthematteroffaithlessnessthananewanxietyconfrontedher。ItwaslestKnightshouldaccidentallymeetStephenintheparish，andthatherselfshouldbethesubjectofdiscourse。

Elfride，learningKnightmorethoroughly，perceivedthat，farfromhavinganotionofStephen\'sprecedence，hehadnoideathatshehadeverbeenwooedbeforebyanybody。Onordinaryoccasionsshehadatonguesofrankastoshowherwholemind，andamindsostraightforwardastorevealherhearttoitsinnermostshrine。

Butthetimeforachangehadcome。SheneveralludedtoevenaknowledgeofKnight\'sfriend。Whenwomenaresecrettheyaresecretindeed；andmoreoftenthannottheyonlybegintobesecretwiththeadventofasecondlover。

Theelopementwasnowaspectreworsethanthefirst，and，liketheSpiritinGlenfinlas，itwaxedtallerwitheveryattempttolayit。HernaturalhonestyinvitedhertoconfideinKnight，andtrusttohisgenerosityforforgiveness:sheknewalsothatasmerepolicyitwouldbebettertotellhimearlyifhewastobetoldatall。Thelongerherconcealmentthemoredifficultwouldbetherevelation。Butsheputitoff。Theintensefearwhichaccompaniesintenseloveinyoungwomenwastoostrongtoallowtheexerciseofamoralqualityantagonistictoitself:

\'Whereloveisgreat，thelittlestdoubtsarefear；

Wherelittlefearsgrowgreat，greatlovegrowsthere。\'

Thematchwaslookeduponasmadebyherfatherandmother。Thevicarrememberedherpromisetorevealthemeaningofthetelegramshehadreceived，andtwodaysafterthesceneinthesummer-

house，askedherpointedly。Shewasfrankwithhimnow。

\'IhadbeencorrespondingwithStephenSmitheversinceheleftEngland，tilllately，\'shecalmlysaid。

\'What!\'criedthevicaraghast；\'undertheeyesofMr。Knight，too？\'

\'No；whenIfoundIcaredmostforMr。Knight，Iobeyedyou。\'

\'Youwereverykind，I\'msure。WhendidyoubegintolikeMr。

Knight？\'

\'Idon\'tseethatthatisapertinentquestion，papa；thetelegramwasfromtheshippingagent，andwasnotsentatmyrequest。Itannouncedthearrivalofthevesselbringinghimhome。\'

\'Home!What，ishehere？\'

\'Yes；inthevillage，Ibelieve。\'

\'Hashetriedtoseeyou？\'

\'Onlybyfairmeans。Butdon\'t，papa，questionmeso!Itistorture。\'

\'Iwillonlysayonewordmore，\'hereplied。\'Haveyoumethim？\'

\'Ihavenot。Icanassureyouthatatthepresentmomentthereisnomoreofanunderstandingbetweenmeandtheyoungmanyousomuchdislikedthanbetweenhimandyou。Youtoldmetoforgethim；andIhaveforgottenhim。\'

\'Oh，well；thoughyoudidnotobeymeinthebeginning，youareagoodgirl，Elfride，inobeyingmeatlast。\'

\'Don\'tcallme"good，"papa，\'shesaidbitterly；\'youdon\'tknow——

andthelesssaidaboutsomethingsthebetter。Remember，Mr。

Knightknowsnothingabouttheother。Oh，howwrongitallis!I

don\'tknowwhatIamcomingto。\'

\'Asmattersstand，Ishouldbeinclinedtotellhim；or，atanyrate，Ishouldnotalarmmyselfabouthisknowing。HefoundouttheotherdaythatthiswastheparishyoungSmith\'sfatherlivesin——whatputsyouinsuchaflurry？\'

\'Ican\'tsay；butpromise——praydon\'tlethimknow!Itwouldbemyruin!\'

\'Pooh，child。Knightisagoodfellowandacleverman；butatthesametimeitdoesnotescapemyperceptionsthatheisnogreatcatchforyou。Menofhisturnofmindarenothingsowonderfulinthewayofhusbands。Ifyouhadchosentowait，youmighthavematedwithamuchwealthierman。Butremember，Ihavenotawordtosayagainstyourhavinghim，ifyoulikehim。

Charlotteisdelighted，asyouknow。\'

\'Well，papa，\'shesaid，smilinghopefullythroughasigh，\'itisnicetofeelthatingivingwayto——tocaringforhim，Ihavepleasedmyfamily。ButIamnotgood；ohno，Iamveryfarfromthat!\'

\'Noneofusaregood，Iamsorrytosay，\'saidherfatherblandly；

\'butgirlshaveacharteredrighttochangetheirminds，youknow。

Ithasbeenrecognizedbypoetsfromtimeimmemorial。Catullussays，"Muliercupidoquoddicitamanti，invento——\'Whatamemorymineis!However，thepassageis，thatawoman\'swordstoaloverareasamatterofcoursewrittenonlyonwindandwater。Nowdon\'tbetroubledaboutthat，Elfride。\'

\'Ah，youdon\'tknow!\'

Theyhadbeenstandingonthelawn，andKnightwasnowseenlingeringsomewaydownawindingwalk。WhenElfridemethim，itwaswithamuchgreaterlightnessofheart；thingsweremorestraightforwardnow。Theresponsibilityofherficklenessseemedpartlyshiftedfromherownshoulderstoherfather\'s。Still，therewereshadows。

\'Ah，couldhehaveknownhowfarIwentwithStephen，andyethavesaidthesame，howmuchhappierIshouldbe!\'Thatwasherprevailingthought。

Intheafternoontheloverswentouttogetheronhorsebackforanhourortwo；andthoughnotwishingtobeobserved，byreasonofthelatedeathofLadyLuxellian，whosefuneralhadtakenplaceveryprivatelyonthepreviousday，theyyetfounditnecessarytopassEastEndelstowChurch。

Thestepstothevault，ashasbeenstated，wereontheoutsideofthebuilding，immediatelyundertheaislewall。Beingonhorseback，bothKnightandElfridecouldoverlooktheshrubswhichscreenedthechurch-yard。

\'Look，thevaultseemsstilltobeopen，\'saidKnight。

\'Yes，itisopen，\'sheanswered\'Whoisthatmanclosebyit？Themason，Isuppose？\'

\'Yes。\'

\'IwonderifitisJohnSmith，Stephen\'sfather？\'

\'Ibelieveitis，\'saidElfride，withapprehension。

\'Ah，andcanitbe？Ishouldliketoinquirehowhisson，mytruantprotege\'，isgoingon。Andfromyourfather\'sdescriptionofthevault，theinteriormustbeinteresting。Supposewegoin。\'

\'Hadwebetter，doyouthink？MaynotLordLuxellianbethere？\'

\'Itisnotatalllikely。\'

Elfridethenassented，sinceshecoulddonothingelse。Herheart，whichatfirsthadquailedinconsternation，recovereditselfwhensheconsideredthecharacterofJohnSmith。Aquietunassumingman，hewouldbesuretoacttowardsherasbeforethoselovepassageswithhisson，whichmighthavegivenamorepretentiousmechanicairs。SowithoutmuchalarmshetookKnight\'sarmafterdismounting，andwentwithhimbetweenandoverthegraves。Themaster-masonrecognizedherassheapproached，and，asusual，liftedhishatrespectfully。

\'IknowyoutobeMr。Smith，myformerfriendStephen\'sfather，\'

saidKnight，directlyhehadscannedtheembrownedandruddyfeaturesofJohn。

\'Yes，sir，Ib\'lieveIbe。\'

\'Howisyoursonnow？IhaveonlyonceheardfromhimsincehewenttoIndia。Idaresayyouhaveheardhimspeakofme——Mr。

Knight，whobecameacquaintedwithhimsomeyearsagoinExonbury。\'

\'Ay，thatIhave。Stephenisverywell，thankyou，sir，andhe\'sinEngland；infact，he\'sathome。Inshort，sir，he\'sdowninthevaultthere，a-lookingatthedepartedcoffins。\'

Elfride\'sheartflutteredlikeabutterfly。

Knightlookedamazed。\'Well，thatisextraordinary。\'hemurmured。

\'DidheknowIwasintheparish？\'

\'Ireallycan\'tsay，sir，\'saidJohn，wishinghimselfoutoftheentanglementherathersuspectedthanthoroughlyunderstood。

\'Woulditbeconsideredanintrusionbythefamilyifwewentintothevault？\'

\'Oh，blessye，no，sir；scoresoffolkhavebeensteppingdown。

\'Tisleftopena-purpose。\'

\'Wewillgodown，Elfride。\'

\'Iamafraidtheairisclose，\'shesaidappealingly。

\'Ohno，ma\'am，\'saidJohn。\'Wewhite-limedthewallsandarchestheday\'twasopened，aswealwaysdo，andagainonthemorningofthefuneral；theplaceisassweetasagranary。

\'ThenIshouldlikeyoutoaccompanyme，Elfie；havingoriginallysprungfromthefamilytoo。\'

\'Idon\'tlikegoingwheredeathissoemphaticallypresent。I\'llstaybythehorseswhilstyougoin；theymaygetloose。\'

\'Whatnonsense!Ihadnoideayoursentimentsweresoflimsilyformedastobeperturbedbyafewremnantsofmortality；butstayout，ifyouaresoafraid，byallmeans。\'

\'Ohno，Iamnotafraid；don\'tsaythat。\'

Sheheldmiserablytohisarm，thinkingthat，perhaps，therevelationmightaswellcomeatonceastenminuteslater，forStephenwouldbesuretoaccompanyhisfriendtohishorse。

Atfirst，thegloomofthevault，whichwaslightedonlybyacoupleofcandles，wastoogreattoadmitoftheirseeinganythingdistinctly；butwithafurtheradvanceKnightdiscerned，infrontoftheblackmassesliningthewalls，ayoungmanstanding，andwritinginapocket-book。

Knightsaidoneword:\'Stephen!\'

StephenSmith，notbeinginsuchabsoluteignoranceofKnight\'swhereaboutsasKnighthadbeenofSmith\'sinstantlyrecognizedhisfriend，andknewbyrotetheoutlinesofthefairwomanstandingbehindhim。

Stephencameforwardandshookhimbythehand，withoutspeaking。

\'Whyhaveyounotwritten，myboy？\'saidKnight，withoutinanywaysignifyingElfride\'spresencetoStephen。Totheessayist，Smithwasstillthecountryladwhomhehadpatronizedandtended；

onetowhomtheformalpresentationofaladybetrothedtohimselfwouldhaveseemedincongruousandabsurd。

\'Whyhaven\'tyouwrittentome？\'saidStephen。

\'Ah，yes。Whyhaven\'tI？whyhaven\'twe？That\'salwaysthequerywhichwecannotclearlyanswerwithoutanunsatisfactorysenseofourinadequacies。However，Ihavenotforgottenyou，Smith。Andnowwehavemet；andwemustmeetagain，andhavealongerchatthanthiscanconvenientlybe。Imustknowallyouhavebeendoing。Thatyonhavethriven，Iknow，andyoumustteachmetheway。\'

Elfridestoodinthebackground。Stephenhadreadthepositionataglance，andimmediatelyguessedthatshehadnevermentionedhisnametoKnight。Histactinavoidingcatastropheswasthechiefqualitywhichmadehimintellectuallyrespectable，inwhichqualityhefartranscendedKnight；andhedecidedthatatranquilissueoutoftheencounter，withoutanyharrowingofthefeelingsofeitherKnightorElfride，wastobeattemptedifpossible。HisoldsenseofindebtednesstoKnighthadneverwhollyforsakenhim；

hisloveforElfridewasgenerousnow。

Asfarashedaredlookathermovementshesawthatherbearingtowardshimwouldbedictatedbyhisowntowardsher；andifheactedasastrangershewoulddolikewiseasameansofdeliverance。Circumstancesfavouringthiscourse，itwasdesirablealsotoberatherreservedtowardsKnight，toshortenthemeetingasmuchaspossible。

\'Iamafraidthatmytimeisalmosttooshorttoallowevenofsuchapleasure，\'hesaid。\'Ileavehereto-morrow。AnduntilI

startfortheContinentandIndia，whichwillbeinafortnight，I

shallhavehardlyamomenttospare。\'

Knight\'sdisappointmentanddissatisfiedlooksatthisreplysentapangthroughStephenasgreatasanyhehadfeltatthesightofElfride。Thewordsaboutshortnessoftimewereliterallytrue，buttheirtonewasfarfrombeingso。HewouldhavebeengratifiedtotalkwithKnightasinpasttimes，andsawasadeadlosstohimselfthat，tosavethewomanwhocarednothingforhim，hewasdeliberatelythrowingawayhisfriend。

\'Oh，Iamsorrytohearthat，\'saidKnight，inachangedtone。

\'Butofcourse，ifyouhaveweightyconcernstoattendto，theymustnotbeneglected。Andifthisistobeourfirstandlastmeeting，letmesaythatIwishyousuccesswithallmyheart!\'

Knight\'swarmthrevivedtowardstheend；thesolemnimpressionshewasbeginningtoreceivefromthescenearoundthemabstractingfromhisheartasapuerilityanymomentaryvexationatwords。

\'Itisastrangeplaceforustomeetin，\'hecontinued，lookingroundthevault。

Stephenbrieflyassented，andtherewasasilence。Theblackenedcoffinswerenowrevealedmoreclearlythanatfirst，thewhitenedwallsandarchesthrowingthemforwardinstrongrelief。Itwasascenewhichwasrememberedbyallthreeasanindeliblemarkintheirhistory。Knight，withanabstractedface，wasstandingbetweenhiscompanions，thoughalittleinadvanceofthem，Elfridebeingonhisrighthand，andStephenSmithonhisleft。

Thewhitedaylightonhisrightsidegleamedfaintlyin，andwastonedtoabluenessbycontrastwiththeyellowraysfromthecandleagainstthewall。Elfride，timidlyshrinkingback，andnearesttheentrance，receivedmostofthelighttherefrom，whilstStephenwasentirelyincandlelight，andtohimthespotofouterskyvisibleabovethestepswasasasteelybluepatch，andnothingmore。

\'Ihavebeenheretwoorthreetimessinceitwasopened，\'saidStephen。\'Myfatherwasengagedinthework，youknow。\'

\'Yes。Whatareyoudoing？\'Knightinquired，lookingatthenote-

bookandpencilStephenheldinhishand。

\'Ihavebeensketchingafewdetailsinthechurch，andsincethenIhavebeencopyingthenamesfromsomeofthecoffinshere。

BeforeIleftEnglandIusedtodoagooddealofthissortofthing。\'

\'Yes；ofcourse。Ah，that\'spoorLadyLuxellian，Isuppose。\'

Knightpointedtoacoffinoflightsatin-wood，whichstoodonthestonesleepersinthenewniche。\'Andtheremainderofthefamilyareonthisside。Whoarethosetwo，sosnugandclosetogether？\'

Stephen\'svoicealteredslightlyashereplied\'That\'sLadyElfrideKingsmore——bornLuxellian，andthatisArthur，herhusband。Ihaveheardmyfathersaythatthey——he——ranawaywithher，andmarriedheragainstthewishofherparents。\'

\'ThenIimaginethistobewhereyougotyourChristianname，MissSwancourt？\'saidKnight，turningtoher。\'IthinkyoutoldmeitwasthreeorfourgenerationsagothatyourfamilybranchedofffromtheLuxellians？\'

\'Shewasmygrandmother，\'saidElfride，vainlyendeavouringtomoistenherdrylipsbeforeshespoke。Elfridehadthentheconscience-strickenlookofGuido\'sMagdalen，rendereduponamorechildlikeform。ShekeptherfacepartiallyawayfromKnightandStephen，andsethereyesupontheskyvisibleoutside，asifhersalvationdependeduponquicklyreachingit。HerlefthandrestedlightlywithinKnight\'sarm，halfwithdrawn，fromasenseofshameatclaiminghimbeforeheroldlover，yetunwillingtorenouncehim；sothatherglovemerelytouchedhissleeve。\'"Canonebepardoned，andretaintheoffence？"\'quotedElfride\'sheartthen。

Conversationseemedtohavenoself-sustainingpower，andwentonintheshapeofdisjointedremarks。\'One\'smindgetsthrongedwiththoughtswhilestandingsosolemnlyhere，\'Knightsaid，inameasuredquietvoice。\'Howmuchhasbeensaidondeathfromtimetotime!howmuchweourselvescanthinkuponit!Wemayfancyeachofthesewholieheresaying:

\'ForThou，tomakemyfallmoregreat，Didstliftmeuponhigh。\'

Whatcomesnext，Elfride？ItistheHundred-and-secondPsalmIamthinkingof。\'

\'Yes，Iknowit，\'shemurmured，andwentoninastilllowervoice，seeminglyafraidforanywordsfromtheemotionalsideofhernaturetoreachStephen:

\'"Mydays，justhasteningtotheirend，Arelikeaneveningshade；

Mybeautydoth，likewither\'dgrass，Withwaninglustrefade。”\'

\'Well，\'saidKnightmusingly，\'letusleavethem。Suchoccasionsastheseseemtocompelustoroamoutsideourselves，farawayfromthefragileframewelivein，andtoexpandtillourperceptiongrowssovastthatourphysicalrealitybearsnosortofproportiontoit。Welookbackupontheweakandminutestemonwhichthisluxuriantgrowthdepends，andask，Canitbepossiblethatsuchacapacityhasafoundationsosmall？MustI

againreturntomydailywalkinthatnarrowcell，ahumanbody，whereworldlythoughtscantortureme？Dowenot？\'

\'Yes，\'saidStephenandElfride。

\'Onehasasenseofwrong，too，thatsuchanappreciativebreadthasasentientbeingpossessesshouldbecommittedtothefrailcasketofabody。Whatweakensone\'sintentionsregardingthefuturelikethethoughtofthis？……However，letustuneourselvestoamorecheerfulchord，forthere\'sagreatdealtobedoneyetbyusall。\'

AsKnightmeditativelyaddressedhisjuniorsthus，unconsciousofthedeceptionpractised，fordifferentreasons，bytheseveredheartsathisside，andofthescenesthathadinearlierdaysunitedthem，eachonefeltthatheandshedidnotgainbycontrastwiththeirmusingmentor。Physicallynotsohandsomeaseithertheyouthfularchitectorthevicar\'sdaughter，thethoroughnessandintegrityofKnightilluminatedhisfeatureswithadignitynotevenincipientintheothertwo。Itisdifficulttoframeruleswhichshallapplytobothsexes，andElfride，anundevelopedgirl，must，perhaps，hardlybeladenwiththemoralresponsibilitieswhichattachtoamaninlikecircumstances。Thecharmofwoman，too，liespartlyinhersubtlenessinmattersoflove。Butifhonestyisavirtueinitself，Elfride，havingnoneofitnow，seemed，beingforbeing，scarcelygoodenoughforKnight。Stephen，thoughdeceptivefornounworthypurpose，wasdeceptiveafterall；andwhatevergoodresultsgracesuchstrategyifitsucceed，itseldomdrawsadmiration，especiallywhenitfails。

Onanordinaryoccasion，hadKnightbeenevenquitealonewithStephen，hewouldhardlyhavealludedtohispossiblerelationshiptoElfride。ButmovedbyattendantcircumstancesKnightwasimpelledtobeconfiding。

\'Stephen，\'hesaid，\'thisladyisMissSwancourt。Iamstayingatherfather\'shouse，asyouprobablyknow。\'HesteppedafewpacesnearertoSmith，andsaidinalowertone:\'Imayaswelltellyouthatweareengagedtobemarried。\'

Lowasthewordshadbeenspoken，Elfridehadheardthem，andawaitedStephen\'sreplyinbreathlesssilence，ifthatcouldbecalledsilencewhereElfride\'sdress，ateachthrobofherheart，shookandindicateditlikeapulse-glass，rustlingalsoagainstthewallinreplytothesamethrobbing。Therayofdaylightwhichreachedherfacelentitabluepallorincomparisonwiththoseoftheothertwo。

\'Icongratulateyou，\'Stephenwhispered；andsaidaloud，\'IknowMissSwancourt——alittle。YoumustrememberthatmyfatherisaparishionerofMr。Swancourt\'s。\'

\'Ithoughtyoumightpossiblynothavelivedathomesincetheyhavebeenhere。\'

\'Ihaveneverlivedathome，certainly，sincethattime。\'

\'IhaveseenMr。Smith，\'falteredElfride。

\'Well，thereisnoexcuseforme。AsstrangerstoeachotherI

ought，Isuppose，tohaveintroducedyou:asacquaintances，I

shouldnothavestoodsopersistentlybetweenyou。Butthefactis，Smith，youseemaboytome，evennow。\'

Stephenappearedtohaveamorethanpreviousconsciousnessoftheintensecrueltyofhisfateatthepresentmoment。Hecouldnotrepressthewords，utteredwithadimbitterness:

\'YoushouldhavesaidthatIseemedstilltheruralmechanic\'ssonIam，andhenceanunfitsubjectfortheceremonyofintroductions。\'