第20章

\'No，Icannotsendyouaway:Icannot。Godknowswhatdarkfuturemayariseoutofthisevening\'swork；butIcannotsendyouaway!

Youmustsitdown，andIwillendeavourtocollectmythoughtsandseewhathadbetterbedone。

Atthatmomentaloudknockingatthehousedoorwasheardbyboth，accompaniedbyahurriedringingofthebellthatechoedfromattictobasement。Thedoorwasquicklyopened，andafterafewhastywordsofconverseinthehall，heavyfootstepsascendedthestairs。

ThefaceofMr。Swancourt，flushed，grieved，andstern，appearedroundthelandingofthestaircase。Hecamehigherup，andstoodbesidethem。GlancingoverandpastKnightwithsilentindignation，heturnedtothetremblinggirl。

\'OElfride!andhaveIfoundyouatlast？Aretheseyourtricks，madam？Whenwillyougetridofyouridiocies，andconductyourselflikeadecentwoman？Ismyfamilynameandhousetobedisgracedbyactsthatwouldbeascandaltoawasherwoman\'sdaughter？Comealong，madam；come!\'

\'Sheissoweary!\'saidKnight，inavoiceofintensestanguish。

\'Mr。Swancourt，don\'tbeharshwithher——letmebegofyoutobetenderwithher，andloveher!\'

\'Toyou，sir，\'saidMr。Swancourt，turningtohimasifbythesheerpressureofcircumstances，\'Ihavelittletosay。Icanonlyremark，thatthesoonerIcanretirefromyourpresencethebetterIshallbepleased。Whyyoucouldnotconductyourcourtshipofmydaughterlikeanhonestman，Idonotknow。Whyshe——afoolishinexperiencedgirl——shouldhavebeentemptedtothispieceoffolly，Idonotknow。Evenifshehadnotknownbetterthantoleaveherhome，youmighthave，Ishouldthink。\'

\'Itisnothisfault:hedidnottemptme，papa!Icame。\'

\'Ifyouwishedthemarriagebrokenoff，whydidn\'tyousaysoplainly？Ifyouneverintendedtomarry，whycouldyounotleaveheralone？Uponmysoul，itgratesmetothehearttobeobligedtothinksoillofamanIthoughtmyfriend!\'

Knight，soul-sickandwearyofhislife，didnotarousehimselftoutterawordinreply。HowshouldhedefendhimselfwhenhisdefencewastheaccusationofElfride？Onthataccounthefeltamiserablesatisfactioninlettingherfathergoonthinkingandspeakingwrongfully。Itwasafaintrayofpleasurestrayingintothegreatgloominessofhisbraintothinkthatthevicarmightneverknowbutthathe，asherlover，temptedheraway，whichseemedtobetheformMr。Swancourt\'smisapprehensionhadtaken。

\'Now，areyoucoming？\'saidMr。Swancourttoheragain。Hetookherunresistinghand，drewitwithinhisarm，andledherdownthestairs。Knight\'seyesfollowedher，thelastmomentbegettinginhimafrantichopethatshewouldturnherhead。Shepassedon，andneverlookedback。

Heheardthedooropen——closeagain。Thewheelsofacabgrazedthekerbstone，amurmureddirectionfollowed。Thedoorwasslammedtogether，thewheelsmoved，andtheyrolledaway。

FromthathourofherreappearanceadreadfulconflictragedwithinthebreastofHenryKnight。Hisinstinct，emotion，affectiveness——orwhateveritmaybecalled——urgedhimtostandforward，seizeuponElfride，andbehercherisherandprotectorthroughlife。ThencamethedevastatingthoughtthatElfride\'schildlike，unreasoning，andindiscreetactinflyingtohimonlyprovedthattheproprietiesmustbeadeadletterwithher；thattheunreserve，whichwasreallyartlessnesswithoutballast，meantindifferencetodecorum；andwhatsolikelyasthatsuchawomanhadbeendeceivedinthepast？Hesaidtohimself，inamoodofthebitterestcynicism:\'Thesuspiciousdiscreetwomanwhoimaginesdarkandevilthingsofallherfellow-creaturesisfartooshrewdtobedeludedbyman:trustingbeingslikeElfridearethewomenwhofall。\'

Hoursanddayswentby，andKnightremainedinactive。Lengtheningtime，whichmadefaintertheheart-awakeningpowerofherpresence，strengthenedthementalabilitytoreasonherdown。

Elfridelovedhim，heknew，andhecouldnotleaveofflovingherbutmarryherhewouldnot。IfshecouldbutbeagainhisownElfride——thewomanshehadseemedtobe——butthatwomanwasdeadandburied，andheknewhernomore!AndhowcouldhemarrythisElfride，onewho，ifhehadoriginallyseenherasshewas，wouldhavebeenbarelyaninterestingpitiableacquaintanceinhiseyes——

nomore？

Itcankeredhishearttothinkhewasconfrontedbytheclosestinstanceofaworsestateofthingsthananyhehadassumedinthepleasantsocialphilosophyandsatireofhisessays。

Themoralrightnessofthisman\'slifewasworthyofallpraise；

butinspiteofsomeintellectualacumen，Knighthadinhimamodicumofthatwrongheadednesswhichismostlyfoundinscrupulouslyhonestpeople。Withhim，truthseemedtoocleanandpureanabstractiontobesohopelesslychurnedinwitherroraspracticalpersonsfindit。HavingnowseenhimselfmistakeninsupposingElfridetobepeerless，nothingonearthcouldmakehimbelieveshewasnotsoverybadafterall。

Helingeredintownafortnight，doinglittleelsethanvibratebetweenpassionandopinions。Oneidearemainedintact——thatitwasbetterElfrideandhimselfshouldnotmeet。

Whenhesurveyedthevolumesonhisshelves——fewofwhichhadbeenopenedsinceElfridefirsttookpossessionofhisheart——theiruntouchedandorderlyarrangementreproachedhimasanapostatefromtheoldfaithofhisyouthandearlymanhood。Hehaddesertedthosenever-failingfriends，sotheyseemedtosay，foranunstabledelightinaductilewoman，whichhadendedallinbitterness。Thespiritofself-denial，vergingonasceticism，whichhadeveranimatedKnightinoldtimes，announceditselfashavingdepartedwiththebirthoflove，withithavinggonetheself-respectwhichhadcompensatedforthelackofself-

gratification。PoorlittleElfride，insteadofholding，asformerly，aplaceinhisreligion，begantoassumethehueofatemptation。PerhapsitwashumanandcorrectlynaturalthatKnightneveroncethoughtwhetherhedidnotoweheralittlesacrificeforheruncharydevotioninsavinghislife。

Withaconsciousnessofhavingthus，likeAntony，kissedawaykingdomsandprovinces，henextconsideredhowhehadrevealedhishighersecretsandintentionstoher，anunreservehewouldneverhaveallowedhimselfwithanymanliving。Howwasitthathehadnotbeenabletorefrainfromtellingherofadumbrationsheretoforelockedinthecloseststrongholdsofhismind？

Knight\'swasarobustintellect，whichcouldescapeoutsidetheatmosphereofheart，andperceivethathisownlove，aswellasotherpeople\'s，couldbereducedbychangeofsceneandcircumstances。Atthesametimetheperceptionwasasuperimposedsorrow:

\'Olastregret，regretcandie!\'

Butbeingconvincedthatthedeathofthisregretwasthebestthingforhim，hedidnotlongshrinkfromattemptingit。Heclosedhischambers，suspendedhisconnectionwitheditors，andleftLondonfortheContinent。Herewewillleavehimtowanderwithoutpurpose，beyondthenominaloneofencouragingobliviousnessofElfride。

ChapterXXXVI

\'Thepennie\'sthejewelthatbeautifiesa\'。\'

\'Ican\'tthinkwhat\'scomingtotheseSt。Launce\'speopleatallatall。\'

\'Withtheir"How-d\'ye-do\'s，"doyoumean？\'

\'Ay，withtheir"How-d\'ye-do\'s，"andshakingofhands，askingmein，andtenderinquiriesforyou，John。\'

ThesewordsformedpartofaconversationbetweenJohnSmithandhiswifeonaSaturdayeveninginthespringwhichfollowedKnight\'sdeparturefromEngland。StephenhadlongsincereturnedtoIndia；andtheperseveringcouplethemselveshadmigratedfromLordLuxellian\'sparkatEndelstowtoacomfortableroadsidedwellingaboutamileoutofSt。Launce\'s，whereJohnhadopenedasmallstoneandslateyardinhisownname。

\'Whenwecameheresixmonthsago，\'continuedMrs。Smith，\'thoughIhadpaidreadymoneysomanyyearsinthetown，myfriskiershopkeeperswouldonlyspeakoverthecounter。Meet\'eminthestreethalf-an-hourafter，andthey\'dtreatmewithstaringignoranceofmyface。\'

\'Lookthroughyeasthroughaglasswinder？\'

\'Yes，thebrazenoneswould。Thequietandcooloneswouldglanceoverthetopofmyhead，pastmyside，overmyshoulder，butnevermeetmyeye。Thegentle-modestwouldturntheirfacessouthifI

werecomingeast，flitdownapassageifIwereabouttohalvethepavementwiththem。Therewasthespruceyoungbooksellerwouldplaythesametricks；thebutcher\'sdaughters；theupholsterer\'syoungmen。Handinglovewhendoingbusinessoutofsightwithyou；butcaringnothingfora\'oldwomanwhenplayingthegenteelawayfromallsignsoftheirtrade。\'

\'Trueenough，Maria。\'

\'Well，to-day\'tisalldifferent。I\'dnosoonergottomarketthanMrs。Joakesrusheduptomeintheeyesofthetownandsaid，"MydearMrs。Smith，nowyoumustbetiredwithyourwalk!Comeinandhavesomelunch!Iinsistuponit；knowingyousomanyyearsasIhave!Don\'tyourememberwhenweusedtogolookingforowls\'

featherstogetherintheCastleruins？"There\'snoknowingwhatyoumayneed，soIansweredthewomancivilly。Ihadn\'tgottothecornerbeforethatthrivingyounglawyer，Sweet，who\'squitethedandy，ranaftermeoutofbreath。"Mrs。Smith，"hesays，"excusemyrudeness，butthere\'sabrambleonthetailofyourdress，whichyou\'vedraggedinfromthecountry；allowmetopullitoffforyou。”Ifyou\'llbelieveme，thiswasintheveryfrontoftheTownHall。What\'sthemeaningofsuchsuddenlovefora\'

oldwoman？\'

\'Can\'tsay；unless\'tisrepentance。\'

\'Repentance!wasthereeversuchafoolasyou。John？Didanybodyeverrepentwithmoneyin\'spocketandfiftyyearstolive？\'

\'Now，I\'vebeenthinkingtoo，\'saidJohn，passingoverthequeryashardlypertinent，\'thatI\'vehadmoreloving-kindnessfromfolksto-daythanIeverhavebeforesincewemovedhere。Why，oldAldermanTopewalkedouttothemiddleofthestreetwhereI

was，toshakehandswithme——so\'adid。Havingonmyworkingclothes，Ithought\'twasodd。Ay，andtherewasyoungWerrington。\'

\'Who\'she？\'

\'Why，themaninHillStreet，whoplaysandsellsflutes，trumpets，andfiddles，andgrandpehanners。HewastalkingtoEgloskerry，thatverysmallbachelor-manwithmoneyinthefunds。

Iwasgoingby，I\'msure，withoutthinkingorexpectinganodfrommenofthatglibkidneywheninmyworkingclothes——\'

\'Youalwayswillgopokingintotowninyourworkingclothes。BegyoutochangehowIwill，\'tisnouse。\'

\'Well，however，Iwasinmyworkingclothes。Werringtonsawme。

"Ah，Mr。Smith!afinemorning；excellentweatherforbuilding，"

sayshe，outasloudandfriendlyasifI\'dmethiminsomedeephollow，wherehecouldgetnobodyelsetospeaktoatall。\'Twasodd:forWerringtonisoneoftheveryringleadersofthefastclass。\'

Atthatmomentatapcametothedoor。ThedoorwasimmediatelyopenedbyMrs。Smithinperson。

\'You\'llexcuseus，I\'msure，Mrs。Smith，butthisbeautifulspringweatherwastoomuchforus。Yes，andwecouldstayinnolonger；

andItookMrs。Trewenuponmyarmdirectlywe\'dhadacupoftea，andoutwecame。Andseeingyourbeautifulcrocusesinsuchabloom，we\'vetakenthelibertytoenter。We\'llsteproundthegarden，ifyoudon\'tmind。\'

\'Notatall，\'saidMrs。Smith；andtheywalkedroundthegarden。

Sheliftedherhandsinamazementdirectlytheirbackswereturned。\'Goodnesssendusgrace!\'

Whobethey？\'saidherhusband。

\'ActuallyMr。Trewen，thebank-manager，andhiswife。\'

JohnSmith，staggeredinmind，wentoutofdoorsandlookedoverthegardengate，tocollecthisideas。Hehadnotbeentheretwominuteswhenwheelswereheard，andacarriageandpairrolledalongtheroad。Adistinguished-lookinglady，withthedemeanourofaduchess，reclinedwithin。WhenoppositeSmith\'sgatesheturnedherhead，andinstantlycommandedthecoachmantostop。

\'Ah，Mr。Smith，Iamgladtoseeyoulookingsowell。IcouldnothelpstoppingamomenttocongratulateyouandMrs。Smithuponthehappinessyoumustenjoy。Joseph，youmaydriveon。\'

AndthecarriagerolledawaytowardsSt。Launce\'s。

OutrushedMrs。Smithfrombehindalaurel-bush，whereshehadstoodpondering。

\'Justgoingtotouchmyhattoher，\'saidJohn；\'justforalltheworldasIwouldhavetopoorLadyLuxellianyearsago。\'

\'Lord!whoisshe？\'

\'Thepublic-housewoman——what\'shername？Mrs——Mrs——attheFalcon。\'

\'Public-housewoman。TheclumsinessoftheSmithfamily!YouMIGHTsaythelandladyoftheFalconHotel，sinceweareinforpoliteness。Thepeopleareridiculousenough，butgivethemtheirdue。\'

ThepossibilityisthatMrs。Smithwasgettingmollified，inspiteofherself，bytheseremarkablyfriendlyphenomenaamongthepeopleofSt。Launce\'s。Andinjusticetothemitwasquitedesirablethatsheshoulddoso。Theinterestwhichtheunpractisedonesofthistownexpressedsogrotesquelywasgenuineofitskind，andequalinintrinsicworthtothemorepolishedsmilesoflargercommunities。

BythistimeMr。andMrs。Trewenwerereturningfromthegarden。

\'I\'llask\'emflat，\'whisperedJohntohiswife。\'I\'llsay，"Webeinafog——you\'llexcusemyaskingaquestion，Mr。andMrs。

Trewen。Howisityouallbesofriendlyto-day？"Hey？\'Twouldsoundrightandsensible，wouldn\'tit？\'

\'Notaword!Goodmercy，whenwillthemanhavemanners!\'

\'Itmustbeaproudmomentforyou，Iamsure，Mr。andMrs。Smith，tohaveasonsocelebrated，\'saidthebank-manageradvancing。

\'Ah，\'tisStephen——Iknewit!\'saidMrs。Smithtriumphantlytoherself。

\'Wedon\'tknowparticulars，\'saidJohn。

\'Notknow!\'

\'No。\'

\'Why，\'tisallovertown。OurworthyMayoralludedtoitinaspeechatthedinnerlastnightoftheEvery-Man-his-own-MakerClub。\'

\'AndwhataboutStephen？\'urgedMrs。Smith。

\'Why，yoursonhasbeenfetedbydeputy-governorsandParseeprincesandnobody-knows-whoinIndia；ishandinglovewithnabobs，andistodesignalargepalace，andcathedral，andhospitals，colleges，halls，andfortifications，bythegeneralconsentoftherulingpowers，ChristianandPaganalike。\'

\'\'Twassuretocometotheboy，\'saidMr。Smithunassumingly。

\'\'Tisinyesterday\'sSt。Launce\'sChronicle；andourworthyMayorinthechairintroducedthesubjectintohisspeechlastnightinamasterlymanner。\'

\'\'TwasverygoodoftheworthyMayorinthechairI\'msure，\'saidStephen\'smother。\'Ihopetheboywillhavethesensetokeepwhathe\'sgot；butasformen，theyareasimplesex。Somewomanwillhookhim。\'

\'Well，Mr。andMrs。Smith，theeveningclosesin，andwemustbegoing；andrememberthis，thateverySaturdaywhenyoucomeintomarket，youaretomakeourhouseasyourown。Therewillbealwaysatea-cupandsaucerforyou，asyouknowtherehasbeenformonths，thoughyoumayhaveforgottenit。I\'maplain-

speakingwoman，andwhatIsayImean。\'

Whenthevisitorsweregone，andthesunhadset，andthemoon\'srayswerejustbeginningtoassertthemselvesuponthewallsofthedwelling，JohnSmithandhiswifesatdawntothenewspapertheyhadhastilyprocuredfromthetown。Andwhenthereadingwasdone，theyconsideredhowbesttomeetthenewsocialrequirementssettlinguponthem，whichMrs。Smithconsideredcouldbedonebynewfurnitureandhouseenlargementalone。

\'And，John，mindonething，\'shesaidinconclusion。\'InwritingtoStephen，neverbyanymeansmentionthenameofElfrideSwancourtagain。We\'velefttheplace，andknownomoreaboutherexceptbyhearsay。Heseemstobegettingfreeofher，andgladamIforit。Itwasacloudyhourforhimwhenhefirstseteyesuponthegirl。Thatfamily\'sbeennogoodtohim，firstorlast；

soletthemkeeptheirbloodtothemselvesiftheywantto。Hethinksofher，Iknow，butnotsohopelessly。Sodon\'ttrytoknowanythingabouther，andwecan\'tanswerhisquestions。Shemaydieoutofhismindthen。\'

\'Thatshallbeit，\'saidJohn。

ChapterXXXVII

\'Aftermanydays。\'

Knightroamedsouth，undercolourofstudyingContinentalantiquities。

HepacedtheloftyaislesofAmiens，loiteredbyArdennesAbbey，climbedintothestrangetowersofLaon，analyzedNoyonandRheims。ThenhewenttoChartres，andexamineditsscalyspiresandquaintcarvingthenheidledaboutCoutances。HerowedbeneaththebaseofMontSt。Michel，andcaughtthevariedskylineofthecrumblingedificesencrustingit。St。Ouen\'s，Rouen，knewhimfordays；sodidVezelay，Sens，andmanyahallowedmonumentbesides。AbandoningtheinspectionofearlyFrenchartwiththesamepurposelesshasteashehadshowninundertakingit，hewentfurther，andlingeredaboutFerrara，Padua，andPisa。Satiatedwithmediaevalism，hetriedtheRomanForum。NextheobservedmoonlightandstarlighteffectsbythebayofNaples。HeturnedtoAustria，becameenervatedanddepressedonHungarianandBohemianplains，andwasrefreshedagainbybreezesonthedeclivitiesoftheCarpathians。

ThenhefoundhimselfinGreece。HevisitedtheplainofMarathon，andstrovetoimaginethePersiandefeat；toMarsHill，topictureSt。PauladdressingtheancientAthenians；toThermopylaeandSalamis，torunthroughthefactsandtraditionsoftheSecondInvasion——theresultofhisendeavoursbeingmoreorlesschaotic。Knightgrewaswearyoftheseplacesasofallothers。ThenhefelttheshockofanearthquakeintheIonianIslands，andwenttoVenice。HereheshotingondolasupanddownthewindingthoroughfareoftheGrandCanal，andloiteredoncalleandpiazzaatnight，whenthelaguneswereundisturbedbyaripple，andnosoundwastobeheardbutthestrokeofthemidnightclock。Afterwardsheremainedforweeksinthemuseums，galleries，andlibrariesofVienna，Berlin，andParis；andthencecamehome。

TimethusrollsusontoaFebruaryafternoon，dividedbyfifteenmonthsfromthepartingofElfrideandherloverinthebrownstubblefieldtowardsthesea。

TwomenobviouslynotLondoners，andwithatouchofforeignnessintheirlook，metbyaccidentononeofthegravelwalksleadingacrossHydePark。Theyounger，moregiventolookingabouthimthanhisfellow，sawandnoticedtheapproachofhisseniorsometimebeforethelatterhadraisedhiseyesfromtheground，uponwhichtheywerebentinanabstractedgazethatseemedhabitualwithhim。

\'Mr。Knight——indeeditis!\'exclaimedtheyoungerman。

\'Ah，StephenSmith!\'saidKnight。

Simultaneousoperationsmightnowhavebeenobservedprogressinginboth，theresultbeingthatanexpressionlessfrankandimpulsivethanthefirsttookpossessionoftheirfeatures。Itwasmanifestthatthenextwordsutteredwereasuperficialcoveringtoconstraintonbothsides。

\'HaveyoubeeninEnglandlong？\'saidKnight。

\'Onlytwodays，\'saidSmith。Indiaeversince？\'

\'Nearlyeversince。\'

\'TheyweremakingafussaboutyouatSt。Launce\'slastyear。I

fancyIsawsomethingofthesortinthepapers。\'

\'Yes；Ibelievesomethingwassaidaboutme。\'

\'Imustcongratulateyouonyourachievements。\'

\'Thanks，buttheyarenothingveryextraordinary。Anaturalprofessionalprogresswheretherewasnoopposition。\'

Therefollowedthatwantofwordswhichwillalwaysassertitselfbetweennominalfriendswhofindtheyhaveceasedtoberealones，andhavenotyetsunktothelevelofmereacquaintance。EachlookedupanddownthePark。KnightmaypossiblyhaveborneinmindduringtheinterveningmonthsStephen\'smannertowardshimthelasttimetheyhadmet，andmayhaveencouragedhisformerinterestinStephen\'swelfaretodieoutofhimasmisplaced。

StephencertainlywasfullofthefeelingsbegottenbythebeliefthatKnighthadtakenawaythewomanhelovedsowell。

StephenSmiththenaskedaquestion，adoptingacertainrecklessnessofmannerandtonetohide，ifpossible，thefactthatthesubjectwasamuchgreateronetohimthanhisfriendhadeversupposed。

\'Areyoumarried？\'

\'Iamnot。\'

Knightspokeinanindescribabletoneofbitternessthatwasalmostmoroseness。

\'AndInevershallbe，\'headdeddecisively。\'Areyou？\'

\'No，\'saidStephen，sadlyandquietly，likeamaninasick-room。

TotallyignorantwhetherornotKnightknewofhisownpreviousclaimsuponElfride，heyetresolvedtohazardafewmorewordsuponthetopicwhichhadanachingfascinationforhimevennow。

\'ThenyourengagementtoMissSwancourtcametonothing，\'hesaid。

\'YourememberImetyouwithheronce？\'

Stephen\'svoicegavewayalittlehere，indefianceofhisfirmestwilltothecontrary。Indianaffairshadnotyetloweredthoseemotionsdowntothepointofcontrol。

\'Itwasbrokenoff，\'camequicklyfromKnight。\'Engagementstomarryoftenendlikethat——forbetterorforworse。\'

\'Yes；sotheydo。Andwhathaveyoubeendoinglately？\'

\'Doing？Nothing。\'

\'Wherehaveyoubeen？\'

\'Icanhardlytellyou。Inthemain，goingaboutEurope；anditmayperhapsinterestyoutoknowthatIhavebeenattemptingtheseriousstudyofContinentalartoftheMiddleAges。MynotesoneachexampleIvisitedareatyourservice。Theyareofnousetome。\'

\'Ishallbegladwiththem……Oh，travellingfarandnear!\'

\'Notfar，\'saidKnight，withmoodycarelessness。\'Youknow，I

daresay，thatsheepoccasionallybecomegiddy——hydatidsinthehead，\'tiscalled，inwhichtheirbrainsbecomeeatenup，andtheanimalexhibitsthestrangepeculiarityofwalkingroundandroundinacirclecontinually。Ihavetravelledjustinthesameway——

roundandroundlikeagiddyram。\'

Thereckless，bitter，andramblingstyleinwhichKnighttalked，asifrathertoventhisimagesthantoconveyanyideastoStephen，strucktheyoungmanpainfully。Hisformerfriend\'sdayshadbecomecankeredinsomeway:Knightwasachangedman。Hehimselfhadchangedmuch，butnotasKnighthadchanged。

\'YesterdayIcamehome，\'continuedKnight，\'withouthaving，tothebestofmybelief，imbibedhalf-a-dozenideasworthretaining。\'

\'Youout-HamletHamletinmorbidnessofmood，\'saidStephen，withregretfulfrankness。

Knightmadenoreply。

\'Doyouknow，\'Stephencontinued，\'Icouldalmosthaveswornthatyouwouldbemarriedbeforethistime，fromwhatIsaw？\'

Knight\'sfacegrewharder。\'Couldyou？\'hesaid。

Stephenwaspowerlesstoforsakethedepressing，luringsubject。

\'Yes；andIsimplywonderatit。\'

\'Whomdidyouexpectmetomarry？\'

\'HerIsawyouwith。\'

\'Thankyouforthatwonder。\'

\'Didshejiltyou？\'

\'Smith，nowonewordtoyou，\'Knightreturnedsteadily。\'Don\'tyoueverquestionmeonthatsubject。Ihaveareasonformakingthisrequest，mind。Andifyoudoquestionme，youwillnotgetananswer。\'

\'Oh，Idon\'tforamomentwishtoaskwhatisunpleasanttoyou——

notI。IhadamomentaryfeelingthatIshouldliketoexplainsomethingonmyside，andhearasimilarexplanationonyours。

Butletitgo，letitgo，byallmeans。\'

\'Whatwouldyouexplain？\'

\'IlostthewomanIwasgoingtomarry:youhavenotmarriedasyouintended。Wemighthavecomparednotes。\'

\'Ihaveneveraskedyouawordaboutyourcase。\'

\'Iknowthat。\'

\'Andtheinferenceisobvious。\'

\'Quiteso。\'

\'Thetruthis，Stephen，Ihavedoggedlyresolvednevertoalludetothematter——forwhichIhaveaverygoodreason。\'

\'Doubtless。Asgoodareasonasyouhadfornotmarryingher。\'

\'Youtalkinsidiously。Ihadagoodone——amiserablygoodone!\'

Smith\'sanxietyurgedhimtoventureonemorequestion。

\'Didshenotloveyouenough？\'Hedrewhisbreathinaslowandattenuatedstream，ashewaitedintimoroushopefortheanswer。

\'Stephen，youratherstrainordinarycourtesyinpressingquestionsofthatkindafterwhatIhavesaid。Icannotunderstandyouatall。Imustgoonnow。\'

\'Why，goodGod!\'exclaimedStephenpassionately，\'youtalkasifyouhadn\'tatalltakenherawayfromanybodywhohadbetterclaimstoherthanyou!\'

\'Whatdoyoumeanbythat？\'saidKnight，withapuzzledair。

\'Whathaveyouheard？\'

\'Nothing。Itoomustgoon。Good-day。\'

\'Ifyouwillgo，\'saidKnight，reluctantlynow，\'youmust，I

suppose。IamsureIcannotunderstandwhyyoubehaveso。\'

\'NorIwhyyoudo。Ihavealwaysbeengratefultoyou，andasfarasIamconcernedweneedneverhavebecomesoestrangedaswehave。\'

\'AndhaveIeverbeenanythingbutwell-disposedtowardsyou，Stephen？SurelyyouknowthatIhavenot!Thesystemofreservebeganwithyou:youknowthat。\'

\'No，no!Youaltogethermistakeourposition。Youwerealwaysfromthefirstreservedtome，thoughIwasconfidentialtoyou。

Thatwas，Isuppose，thenaturalissueofourdifferingpositionsinlife。AndwhenI，thepupil，becamereservedlikeyou，themaster，youdidnotlikeit。However，Iwasgoingtoaskyoutocomeroundandseeme。\'

\'Whereareyoustaying？\'

\'AttheGrosvenorHotel，Pimlico。\'

\'SoamI。\'

\'That\'sconvenient，nottosayodd。Well，IamdetainedinLondonforadayortwo；thenIamgoingdowntoseemyfatherandmother，wholiveatSt。Launce\'snow。Willyouseemethisevening？\'

\'Imay；butIwillnotpromise。Iwaswishingtobealoneforanhourortwo；butIshallknowwheretofindyou，atanyrate。

Good-bye。\'

ChapterXXXVIII

\'Jealousyiscruelasthegrave。\'

Stephenponderednotalittleonthismeetingwithhisoldfriendandonce-belovedexemplar。Hewasgrieved，foramidallthedistractionsofhislatteryearsastillsmallvoiceoffidelitytoKnighthadlingeredoninhim。PerhapsthisstaunchnesswasbecauseKnightevertreatedhimasameredisciple——eventosnubbinghimsometimes；andhadatlast，thoughunwittingly，inflicteduponhimthegreatestsnubofall，thatoftakingawayhissweetheart。Theemotionalsideofhisconstitutionwasbuiltratherafterafemininethanamalemodel；andthattremendouswoundfromKnight\'shandmayhavetendedtokeepaliveawarmthwhichsolicitousnesswouldhaveextinguishedaltogether。

Knight，onhispart，wasvexed，aftertheyhadparted，thathehadnottakenStepheninhandalittleaftertheoldmanner。ThosewordswhichSmithhadletfallconcerningsomebodyhavingapriorclaimtoElfride，would，ifutteredwhenthemanwasyounger，haveprovokedsuchaqueryas，\'Come，tellmeallaboutit，mylad，\'

fromKnight，andStephenwouldstraightwayhavedeliveredhimselfofallheknewonthesubject。

Stephentheingenuousboy，thoughnowobliteratedexternallybyStephenthecontrivingman，returnedtoKnight\'smemoryvividlythatafternoon。HewasatpresentbutasojournerinLondon；andafterattendingtothetwoorthreemattersofbusinesswhichremainedtobedonethatday，hewalkedabstractedlyintothegloomycorridorsoftheBritishMuseumforthehalf-hourprevioustotheirclosing。ThatmeetingwithSmithhadreunitedthepresentwiththepast，closingupthechasmofhisabsencefromEnglandasifithadneverexisted，untilthefinalcircumstancesofhisprevioustimeofresidenceinLondonformedbutayesterdaytothecircumstancesnow。TheconflictthatthenhadragedinhimconcerningElfrideSwancourtrevived，strengthenedbyitssleep。

Indeed，inthosemanymonthsofabsence，thoughquellingtheintentiontomakeherhiswife，hehadneverforgottenthatshewasthetypeofwomanadaptedtohisnature；andinsteadoftryingtoobliteratethoughtsofheraltogether，hehadgrowntoregardthemasaninfirmityitwasnecessarytotolerate。

Knightreturnedtohishotelmuchearlierintheeveningthanhewouldhavedoneintheordinarycourseofthings。Hedidnotcaretothinkwhetherthisarosefromafriendlywishtoclosethegapthathadslowlybeenwideningbetweenhimselfandhisearliestacquaintance，orfromahankeringdesiretohearthemeaningofthedarkoraclesStephenhadhastilypronounced，betokeningthatheknewsomethingmoreofElfridethanKnighthadsupposed。

Hemadeahastydinner，inquiredforSmith，andsoonwasusheredintotheyoungman\'spresence，whomhefoundsittinginfrontofacomfortablefire，besideatablespreadwithafewscientificperiodicalsandartreviews。

\'Ihavecometoyou，afterall，\'saidKnight。\'Mymannerwasoddthismorning，anditseemeddesirabletocall；butthatyouhadtoomuchsensetonotice，Stephen，Iknow。PutitdowntomywanderingsinFranceandItaly。\'

\'Don\'tsayanotherword，butsitdown。Iamonlytoogladtoseeyouagain。\'

StephenwouldhardlyhavecaredtotellKnightjustthenthattheminutebeforeKnightwasannouncedhehadbeenreadingoversomeoldlettersofElfride\'s。Theywerenotmany；anduntilto-nighthadbeensealedup，andstowedawayinacornerofhisleathertrunk，withafewothermementoesandrelicswhichhadaccompaniedhiminhistravels。ThefamiliarsightsandsoundsofLondon，themeetingwithhisfriend，hadwithhimalsorevivedthatsenseofabidingcontinuitywithregardtoElfrideandlovewhichhisabsenceattheothersideoftheworldhadtosomeextentsuspended，thoughneverruptured。Heatfirstintendedonlytolookovertheselettersontheoutside；thenhereadone；thenanother；untilthewholewasthusre-usedasastimulustosadmemories。Hefoldedthemawayagain，placedtheminhispocket，andinsteadofgoingonwithanexaminationintothestateoftheartisticworld，hadremainedmusingonthestrangecircumstancethathehadreturnedtofindKnightnotthehusbandofElfrideafterall。

Thepossibilityofanygivengratificationbegetsacumulativesenseofitsnecessity。Stephengavethereintohisimagination，andfeltmoreintenselythanhehadfeltformanymonthsthat，withoutElfride，hislifewouldneverbeanygreatpleasuretohimself，orhonourtohisMaker。

Theysatbythefire，chattingonexternalandrandomsubjects，neithercaringtobethefirsttoapproachthemattereachmostlongedtodiscuss。Onthetablewiththeperiodicalslaytwoorthreepocket-books，oneofthembeingopen。Knightseeingfromtheexposedpagethatthecontentsweresketchesonly，beganturningtheleavesovercarelesslywithhisfinger。When，sometimelater，Stephenwasoutoftheroom，Knightproceededtopasstheintervalbylookingatthesketchesmorecarefully。

Thefirstcrudeideas，pertainingtodwellingsofallkinds，wereroughlyoutlinedonthedifferentpages。Antiquitieshadbeencopied；fragmentsofIndiancolumns，colossalstatues，andoutlandishornamentfromthetemplesofElephantaandKenneri，werecarelesslyintrudeduponbyoutlinesofmoderndoors，windows，roofs，cooking-stoves，andhouseholdfurniture；

everything，inshort，whichcomeswithintherangeofapractisingarchitect\'sexperience，whotravelswithhiseyesopen。Amongtheseoccasionallyappearedroughdelineationsofmediaevalsubjectsforcarvingorillumination——headsofVirgins，Saints，andProphets。

Stephenwasnotprofessedlyafree-handdraughtsman，buthedrewthehumanfigurewithcorrectnessandskill。Initsnumerousrepetitionsonthesidesandedgesoftheleaves，Knightbegantonoticeapeculiarity。Allthefemininesaintshadonetypeoffeature。Therewerelargenimbiandsmallnimbiabouttheirdroopingheads，butthefacewasalwaysthesame。Thatprofile——

howwellKnightknewthatprofile!

Hadtherebeenbutonespecimenofthefamiliarcountenance，hemighthavepassedovertheresemblanceasaccidental；butarepetitionmeantmore。KnightthoughtanewofSmith\'shastywordsearlierintheday，andlookedatthesketchesagainandagain。

Ontheyoungman\'sentry，Knightsaidwithpalpableagitation——

\'Stephen，whoarethoseintendedfor？\'

Stephenlookedoverthebookwithutterunconcern，\'Saintsandangels，doneinmyleisuremoments。TheywereintendedasdesignsforthestainedglassofanEnglishchurch。\'

\'ButwhomdoyouidealizebythattypeofwomanyoualwaysadoptfortheVirgin？\'

\'Nobody。\'

AndthenathoughtracedalongStephen\'smindandhelookedupathisfriend。

Thetruthis，Stephen\'sintroductionofElfride\'slineamentshadbeensounconsciousthathehadnotatfirstunderstoodhiscompanion\'sdrift。Thehand，likethetongue，easilyacquiresthetrickofrepetitionbyrote，withoutcallinginthemindtoassistatall；andthishadbeenthecasehere。YoungmenwhocannotwriteversesabouttheirLovesgenerallytaketoportrayingthem，andintheearlydaysofhisattachmentSmithhadneverbeenwearyofoutliningElfride。Thelay-figureofStephen\'ssketchesnowinitiatedanadjustmentofmanythings。Knighthadrecognizedher。Theopportunityofcomparingnoteshadcomeunsought。

\'ElfrideSwancourt，towhomIwasengaged，\'hesaidquietly。

\'Stephen!\'

\'Iknowwhatyoumeanbyspeakinglikethat。\'

\'WasitElfride？YOUtheman，Stephen？\'

\'Yes；andyouarethinkingwhydidIconcealthefactfromyouthattimeatEndelstow，areyounot？\'

\'Yes，andmore——more。\'

\'Ididitforthebest；blamemeifyouwill；Ididitforthebest。AndnowsayhowcouldIbewithyouafterwardsasIhadbeenbefore？\'

\'Idon\'tknowatall；Ican\'tsay。\'

Knightremainedfixedinthought，andoncehemurmured——

\'Ihadasuspicionthisafternoonthattheremightbesomesuchmeaninginyourwordsaboutmytakingheraway。ButIdismissedit。Howcameyoutoknowher？\'hepresentlyasked，inalmostaperemptorytone。

\'Iwentdownaboutthechurch；yearsagonow。\'