第16章

Shewaschildishlyfulloflifeandspirits，thoughinwalkingupanddownwithhimbeforetheotherpassengers，andgettingnoticedbythem，shewasatstartingratherconfused，itbeingthefirsttimeshehadshownherselfsoopenlyunderthatkindofprotection。\'Iexpecttheyareenviousandsayingthingsaboutus，don\'tyou？\'shewouldwhispertoKnightwithastealthysmile。

\'Ohno，\'hewouldanswerunconcernedly。\'Whyshouldtheyenvyus，andwhatcantheysay？\'

\'Notanyharm，ofcourse，\'Elfridereplied，\'exceptsuchasthis:

"Howhappythosetwoare!sheisproudenoughnow。”Whatmakesitworse，\'shecontinuedintheextremityofconfidence，\'Iheardthosetwocricketingmensayjustnow，"She\'sthenobbiestgirlontheboat。”ButIdon\'tmindit，youknow，Harry。\'

\'Ishouldhardlyhavesupposedyoudid，evenifyouhadnottoldme，\'saidKnightwithgreatblandness。

Shewasnevertiredofaskingherloverquestionsandadmiringhisanswers，good，bad，orindifferentastheymightbe。Theeveninggrewdarkandnightcameon，andlightsshoneuponthemfromthehorizonandfromthesky。

\'Nowlookthereaheadofus，atthathalointheair，ofsilverybrightness。Watchit，andyouwillseewhatitcomesto。\'

Shewatchedforafewminutes，whentwowhitelightsemergedfromthesideofahill，andshowedthemselvestobetheoriginofthehalo。

\'Whatadazzlingbrilliance!Whatdotheymark？\'

\'TheSouthForeland:theywerepreviouslycoveredbythecliff。\'

\'Whatisthatlevellineoflittlesparkles——atown，Isuppose？\'

\'That\'sDover。\'

Allthistime，andlater，softsheetlightningexpandedfromacloudintheirpath，enkindlingtheirfacesastheypacedupanddown，shiningoverthewater，and，foramoment，showingthehorizonasakeenline。

Elfridesleptsoundlythatnight。HerfirstthoughtthenextmorningwasthethrillingonethatKnightwasascloseathandaswhentheywereathomeatEndelstow，andherfirstsight，onlookingoutofthecabinwindow，wastheperpendicularfaceofBeachyHead，gleamingwhiteinabrilliantsix-o\'clock-in-the-

morningsun。Thisfairdaybreak，however，soonchangeditsaspect。Acoldwindandapalemistdescendeduponthesea，andseemedtothreatenadrearyday。

WhentheywerenearingSouthampton，Mrs。Swancourtcametosaythatherhusbandwassoillthathewishedtobeputonshorehere，andlefttodotheremainderofthejourneybyland。\'Hewillbeperfectlywelldirectlyhetreadsfirmgroundagain。

Whichshallwedo——gowithhim，orfinishourvoyageasweintended？\'

ElfridewascomfortablyhousedunderanumbrellawhichKnightwasholdingoverhertokeepoffthewind。\'Oh，don\'tletusgoonshore!\'shesaidwithdismay。\'Itwouldbesuchapity!\'

\'That\'sveryfine，\'saidMrs。Swancourtarchly，astoachild。

\'See，thewindhasincreasedhercolour，theseaherappetiteandspirits，andsomebodyherhappiness。Yes，itwouldbeapity，certainly。\'

\'\'Tismymisfortunetobealwaysspokentofromapedestal，\'

sighedElfride。

\'Well，wewilldoasyoulike，Mrs。Swancourt，\'saidKnight，\'but——\'

\'Imyselfwouldratherremainonboard，\'interruptedtheelderlady。\'AndMr。Swancourtparticularlywishestogobyhimself。

Sothatshallsettlethematter。\'

Thevicar，nowadrabcolour，wasputashore，andbecameaswellaseverforthwith。

Elfride，sittingaloneinaretiredpartofthevessel，sawaveiledwomanwalkaboardamongtheverylatestarrivalsatthisport。Shewasclothedinblacksilk，andcarriedadarkshawluponherarm。Thewoman，withoutlookingaroundher，turnedtothequarterallottedtothesecond-cabinpassengers。AllthecarnationMrs。Swancourthadcomplimentedherstep-daughteruponpossessingleftElfride\'scheeks，andshetrembledvisibly。

Sherantotheothersideoftheboat，whereMrs。Swancourtwasstanding。

\'Letusgohomebyrailwaywithpapa，afterall，\'shepleadedearnestly。\'Iwouldrathergowithhim——shallwe？\'

Mrs。Swancourtlookedaroundforamoment，asifunabletodecide。

\'Ah，\'sheexclaimed，\'itistoolatenow。Whydidnotyousaysobefore，whenwehadplentyoftime？\'

TheJuliethadatthatminuteletgo，theengineshadstarted，andtheywereglidingslowlyawayfromthequay。Therewasnohelpforitbuttoremain，unlesstheJulietcouldbemadetoputback，andthatwouldcreateagreatdisturbance。Elfridegaveuptheideaandsubmittedquietly。Herhappinesswassadlymutilatednow。

ThewomanwhosepresencehadsodisturbedherwasexactlylikeMrs。Jethway。SheseemedtohauntElfridelikeashadow。Afterseveralminutes\'vainendeavourtoaccountforanydesignMrs。

Jethwaycouldhaveinwatchingher，Elfridedecidedtothinkthat，ifitwerethewidow，theencounterwasaccidental。SherememberedthatthewidowinherrestlessnesswasoftenvisitingthevillagenearSouthampton，whichwasheroriginalhome，anditwaspossiblethatshechosewater-transitwiththeideaofsavingexpense。

\'Whatisthematter，Elfride？\'Knightinquired，standingbeforeher。

\'NothingmorethanthatIamratherdepressed。\'

\'Idon\'tmuchwonderatit；thatwharfwasdepressing。Weseemedunderneathandinferiortoeverythingaroundus。Butweshallbeintheseabreezeagainsoon，andthatwillfreshenyou，dear。\'

TheeveningclosedinandduskincreasedastheymadewaydownSouthamptonWaterandthroughtheSolent。Elfride\'sdisturbanceofmindwassuchthatherlightspiritsoftheforegoingfourandtwentyhourshadentirelydesertedher。Theweathertoohadgrownmoregloomy，forthoughtheshowersofthemorninghadceased，theskywascoveredmorecloselythaneverwithdenseleadenclouds。

HowbeautifulwasthesunsetwhentheyroundedtheNorthForelandthepreviousevening!nowitwasimpossibletotellwithinhalfanhourthetimeoftheluminary\'sgoingdown。Knightledherabout，andbeingbythistimeaccustomedtohersuddenchangesofmood，overlookedthenecessityofacauseinregardingtheconditions——

impressionablenessandelasticity。

Elfridelookedstealthilytotheotherendofthevessel。Mrs。

Jethway，orherdouble，wassittingatthestern——hereyesteadilyregardingElfride。

\'Letusgototheforepart，\'shesaidquicklytoKnight。\'Seethere——themanisfixingthelightsforthenight。\'

Knightassented，andafterwatchingtheoperationoffixingtheredandthegreenlightsontheportandstarboardbows，andthehoistingofthewhitelighttothemasthead，hewalkedupanddownwithhertilltheincreaseofwindrenderedpromenadingdifficult。

Elfride\'seyeswereoccasionallytobefoundfurtivelygazingabaft，tolearnifherenemywerereallythere。Nobodywasvisiblenow。

\'Shallwegobelow？\'saidKnight，seeingthatthedeckwasnearlydeserted。

\'No，\'shesaid。\'IfyouwillkindlygetmearugfromMrs。

Swancourt，Ishouldlike，ifyoudon\'tmind，tostayhere。\'ShehadrecentlyfanciedtheassumedMrs。Jethwaymightbeafirst-

classpassenger，anddreadedmeetingherbyaccident。

Knightappearedwiththerug，andtheysatdownbehindaweather-

clothonthewindwardside，justasthetworedeyesoftheNeedlesglareduponthemfromthegloom，theirpointedsummitsrisinglikeshadowyphantomfiguresagainstthesky。Itbecamenecessarytogobelowtoaneight-o\'clockmealofnondescriptkind，andElfridewasimmenselyrelievedatfindingnosignofMrs。Jethwaythere。Theyagainascended，andremainedabovetillMrs。SnewsonstaggereduptothemwiththemessagethatMrs。

SwancourtthoughtitwastimeforElfridetocomebelow。Knightaccompaniedherdown，andreturnedagaintopassalittlemoretimeondeck。

Elfridepartlyundressedherselfandlaydown，andsoonbecameunconscious，thoughhersleepwaslightHowlongshehadlain，sheknewnot，whenbyslowdegreesshebecamecognizantofawhisperinginherear。

\'Youarewellonwithhim，Icansee。Well，provokemenow，butmydaywillcome，youwillfind。\'Thatseemedtobetheutterance，orwordstothateffect。

Elfridebecamebroadawakeandterrified。Sheknewthewords，ifreal，couldbeonlythoseofoneperson，andthatpersonthewidowJethway。

Thelamphadgoneoutandtheplacewasindarkness。Inthenextberthshecouldhearherstepmotherbreathingheavily，furtheronSnewsonbreathingmoreheavilystill。Theseweretheonlyotherlegitimateoccupantsofthecabin，andMrs。Jethwaymusthavestealthilycomeinbysomemeansandretreatedagain，orelseshehadenteredanemptyberthnextSnewson\'s。ThefearthatthiswasthecaseincreasedElfride\'sperturbation，tillitassumedthedimensionsofacertainty，forhowcouldastrangerfromtheotherendoftheshippossiblycontrivetogetin？Couldithavebeenadream？

Elfrideraisedherselfhigherandlookedoutofthewindow。Therewasthesea，flounderingandrushingagainsttheship\'ssidejustbyherhead，andthencestretchingaway，dimandmoaning，intoanexpanseofindistinctness；andfarbeyondallthistwoplacidlightslikeraylessstars。Nowalmostfearingtoturnherfaceinwardsagain，lestMrs。Jethwayshouldappearatherelbow，ElfridemeditateduponwhethertocallSnewsontokeephercompany。\'Fourbells\'sounded，andsheheardvoices，whichgaveheralittlecourage。ItwasnotworthwhiletocallSnewson。

AtanyrateElfridecouldnotstaytherepantinglonger，attheriskofbeingagaindisturbedbythatdreadfulwhispering。Sowrappingherselfuphurriedlysheemergedintothepassage，andbytheaidofafaintlightburningattheentrancetothesaloonfoundthefootofthestairs，andascendedtothedeck。Drearytheplacewasintheextreme。Itseemedanewspotaltogetherincontrastwithitsdaytimeself。Shecouldseetheglowwormlightfromthebinnacle，andthedimoutlineofthemanatthewheel；

alsoaformatthebows。Notanothersoulwasapparentfromstemtostern。

Yes，thereweretwomore——bythebulwarks。OneprovedtobeherHarry，theotherthemate。Shewasgladindeed，andondrawingcloserfoundtheywereholdingalowslowchataboutnauticalaffairs。SheranupandslippedherhandthroughKnight\'sarm，partlyforlove，partlyforstability。

\'Elfie!notasleep？\'saidKnight，aftermovingafewstepsasidewithher。

\'No:Icannotsleep。MayIstayhere？Itissodismaldownthere，and——andIwasafraid。Wherearewenow？\'

\'DuesouthofPortlandBill。Thosearethelightsabeamofus:

look。Aterriblespot，that，onastormynight。Anddoyouseeaverysmalllightthatdipsandrisestotheright？That\'salight-

shiponthedangerousshoalcalledtheShambles，wheremanyagoodvesselhasgonetopieces。BetweenitandourselvesistheRace——

aplacewhereantagonisticcurrentsmeetandformwhirlpools——aspotwhichisroughinthesmoothestweather，andterrificinawind。Thatdark，drearyhorizonwejustdiscerntotheleftistheWestBay，terminatedlandwardsbytheChesilBeach。\'

\'Whattimeisit，Harry？\'

\'Justpasttwo。\'

\'Areyougoingbelow？\'

\'Ohno；notto-night。Ipreferpureair。\'

Shefanciedhemightbedispleasedwithherforcomingtohimatthisunearthlyhour。\'Ishouldliketostayheretoo，ifyouwillallowme，\'shesaidtimidly。

\'Iwanttoaskyouthings。\'

\'Allowyou，Elfie!\'saidKnight，puttinghisarmroundheranddrawinghercloser。\'Iamtwiceashappywithyoubymyside。

Yes:wewillstay，andwatchtheapproachofday。\'

Sotheyagainsoughtouttheshelterednook，andsittingdownwrappedthemselvesintherugasbefore。

\'Whatwereyougoingtoaskme？\'heinquired，astheyundulatedupanddown。

\'Oh，itwasnotmuch——perhapsathingIoughtnottoask，\'shesaidhesitatingly。Hersuddenwishhadreallybeentodiscoveratoncewhetherhehadeverbeforebeenengagedtobemarried。Ifhehad，shewouldmakethatagroundfortellinghimalittleofherconductwithStephen。Mrs。Jethway\'sseemingwordshadsodepressedthegirlthatsheherselfnowpaintedherflightinthedarkestcolours，andlongedtoeaseherburdenedmindbyaninstantconfession。IfKnighthadeverbeenimprudenthimself，hemight，shehoped，forgiveall。

\'Iwantedtoaskyou，\'shewenton，\'if——youhadeverbeenengagedbefore。\'Sheaddedtremulously，\'Ihopeyouhave——Imean，Idon\'tmindatallifyouhave。\'

\'No，Ineverwas，\'Knightinstantlyandheartilyreplied。

\'Elfride\'——andtherewasacertainhappyprideinhistone——\'Iamtwelveyearsolderthanyou，andIhavebeenabouttheworld，and，inaway，intosociety，andyouhavenot。AndyetIamnotsounfitforyouasstrict-thinkingpeoplemightimagine，whowouldassumethedifferenceinagetosignifymostsurelyanequaladditiontomypracticeinlove-making。\'

Elfrideshivered。

\'Youarecold——isthewindtoomuchforyou？\'

\'No，\'shesaidgloomily。Thebeliefwhichhadbeenhersheet-

anchorinhopingforforgivenesshadprovedfalse。Thisaccountoftheexceptionalnatureofhisexperience，amatterwhichwouldhavesetherrejoicingtwoyearsago，chilledhernowlikeafrost。

\'Youdon\'tmindmyaskingyou？\'shecontinued。

\'Ohno——notatall。\'

\'Andhaveyouneverkissedmanyladies？\'shewhispered，hopinghewouldsayahundredattheleast。

Thetime，thecircumstances，andthesceneweresuchastodrawconfidencesfromthemostreserved。\'Elfride，\'whisperedKnightinreply，\'itisstrangeyoushouldhaveaskedthatquestion。ButI\'llanswerit，thoughIhavenevertoldsuchathingbefore。I