Thefollowingchapterswerewrittenatatimewhenthecrazeforindiscriminatechurch-restorationhadjustreachedtheremotestnooksofwesternEngland，wherethewildandtragicfeaturesofthecoasthadlongcombinedinperfectharmonywiththecrudeGothicArtoftheecclesiasticalbuildingsscatteredalongit，throwingintoextraordinarydiscordallarchitecturalattemptsatnewnessthere。Torestorethegreycarcasesofamediaevalismwhosespirithadfled，seemedanotlessincongruousactthantosetaboutrenovatingtheadjoiningcragsthemselves。

Henceithappenedthatanimaginaryhistoryofthreehumanhearts，whoseemotionswerenotwithoutcorrespondencewiththesematerialcircumstances，foundintheordinaryincidentsofsuchchurch-

renovationsafittingframeforitspresentation。

Theshoreandcountryabout'CastleBoterel'isnowgettingwellknown，andwillbereadilyrecognized。Thespotis，Imayadd，thefurthestwestwardofallthoseconvenientcornerswhereinI

haveventuredtoerectmytheatrefortheseimperfectlittledramasofcountrylifeandpassions；anditliesnearto，ornogreatwaybeyond，thevagueborderoftheWessexkingdomonthatside，which，likethewesteringvergeofmodernAmericansettlements，wasprogressiveanduncertain。

This，however，isoflittleimportance。Theplaceispre-

eminently(foronepersonatleast)theregionofdreamandmystery。Theghostlybirds，thepall-likesea，thefrothywind，theeternalsoliloquyofthewaters，thebloomofdarkpurplecast，thatseemstoexhalefromtheshorewardprecipices，inthemselveslendtothesceneanatmospherelikethetwilightofanightvision。

Oneenormoussea-bordcliffinparticularfiguresinthenarrative；andforsomeforgottenreasonorotherthiscliffwasdescribedinthestoryasbeingwithoutaname。Accuracywouldrequirethestatementtobethataremarkablecliffwhichresemblesinmanypointsthecliffofthedescriptionbearsanamethatnoeventhasmadefamous。

T。H。

March1899

THEPERSONS

ELFRIDESWANCOURTayoungLadyCHRISTOPHERSWANCOURTaClergymanSTEPHENSMITHanArchitectHENRYKNIGHTaReviewerandEssayistCHARLOTTETROYTONarichWidowGERTRUDEJETHWAYapoorWidowSPENSERHUGOLUXELLIANaPeerLADYLUXELLIANhisWifeMARYANDKATEtwolittleGirlsWILLIAMWORMadazedFactotumJOHNSMITHaMaster-masonJANESMITHhisWifeMARTINCANNISTERaSextonUNITYaMaid-servantOtherservants，masons，labourers，grooms，nondescripts，etc。，etc。

THESCENE

MostlyontheoutskirtsofLowerWessex。

ChapterI

'Afairvestal，thronedinthewest'

ElfrideSwancourtwasagirlwhoseemotionslayverynearthesurface。Theirnaturemoreprecisely，andasmodifiedbythecreepinghoursoftime，wasknownonlytothosewhowatchedthecircumstancesofherhistory。

Personally，shewasthecombinationofveryinterestingparticulars，whoserarity，however，layinthecombinationitselfratherthanintheindividualelementscombined。Asamatteroffact，youdidnotseetheformandsubstanceofherfeatureswhenconversingwithher；andthischarmingpowerofpreventingamaterialstudyofherlineamentsbyaninterlocutor，originatednotinthecloakingeffectofawell-formedmanner(forhermannerwaschildishandscarcelyformed)，butintheattractivecrudenessoftheremarksthemselves。Shehadlivedallherlifeinretirement——themonstrarigigitoofidlemenhadnotflatteredher，andattheageofnineteenortwentyshewasnofurtheroninsocialconsciousnessthananurbanyoungladyoffifteen。

Onepointinher，however，youdidnotice:thatwashereyes。Inthemwasseenasublimationofallofher；itwasnotnecessarytolookfurther:thereshelived。

Theseeyeswereblue；blueasautumndistance——blueastheblueweseebetweentheretreatingmouldingsofhillsandwoodyslopesonasunnySeptembermorning。Amistyandshadyblue，thathadnobeginningorsurface，andwaslookedINTOratherthanAT。

Astoherpresence，itwasnotpowerful；itwasweak。Somewomencanmaketheirpersonalitypervadetheatmosphereofawholebanquetinghall；Elfride'swasnomorepervasivethanthatofakitten。

ElfridehadasherownthethoughtfulnesswhichappearsinthefaceoftheMadonnadellaSedia，withoutitsrapture:thewarmthandspiritofthetypeofwoman'sfeaturemostcommontothebeauties——mortalandimmortal——ofRubens，withouttheirinsistentfleshiness。ThecharacteristicexpressionofthefemalefacesofCorreggio——thatoftheyearninghumanthoughtsthatlietoodeepfortears——washerssometimes，butseldomunderordinaryconditions。

ThepointinElfrideSwancourt'slifeatwhichadeepercurrentmaybesaidtohavepermanentlysetin，wasonewinterafternoonwhenshefoundherselfstanding，inthecharacterofhostess，facetofacewithamanshehadneverseenbefore——moreover，lookingathimwithaMiranda-likecuriosityandinterestthatshehadneveryetbestowedonamortal。

Onthisparticulardayherfather，thevicarofaparishonthesea-sweptoutskirtsofLowerWessex，andawidower，wassufferingfromanattackofgout。AfterfinishingherhouseholdsupervisionsElfridebecamerestless，andseveraltimeslefttheroom，ascendedthestaircase，andknockedatherfather'schamber-

door。

'Comein!'wasalwaysansweredinaheartyout-of-doorvoicefromtheinside。

'Papa，'shesaidononeoccasiontothefine，red-faced，handsomemanofforty，who，puffingandfizzinglikeaburstingbottle，layonthebedwrappedinadressing-gown，andeverynowandthenenunciating，inspiteofhimself，aboutoneletterofsomewordorwordsthatwerealmostoaths；'papa，willyounotcomedownstairsthisevening？'Shespokedistinctly:hewasratherdeaf。

'Afraidnot——eh-hh!——verymuchafraidIshallnot，Elfride。

Piph-ph-ph!Ican'tbearevenahandkerchiefuponthisdeucedtoeofmine，muchlessastockingorslipper——piph-ph-ph!There'tisagain!No，Ishan'tgetuptillto-morrow。'

'ThenIhopethisLondonmanwon'tcome；forIdon'tknowwhatI

shoulddo，papa。'

'Well，itwouldbeawkward，certainly。'

'Ishouldhardlythinkhewouldcometo-day。'

'Why？'

'Becausethewindblowsso。'

'Wind!Whatideasyouhave，Elfride!Whoeverheardofwindstoppingamanfromdoinghisbusiness？Theideaofthistoeofminecomingonsosuddenly!……Ifheshouldcome，youmustsendhimuptome，Isuppose，andthengivehimsomefoodandputhimtobedinsomeway。Dearme，whatanuisanceallthisis!'

'Musthehavedinner？'

'Tooheavyforatiredmanattheendofatediousjourney。'

'Tea，then？'

'Notsubstantialenough。'

'Hightea，then？Thereiscoldfowl，rabbit-pie，somepasties，andthingsofthatkind。'

'Yes，hightea。'

'MustIpourouthistea，papa？'

'Ofcourse；youarethemistressofthehouse。'

'What!sitthereallthetimewithastranger，justasifIknewhim，andnotanybodytointroduceus？'

'Nonsense，child，aboutintroducing；youknowbetterthanthat。A

practicalprofessionalman，tiredandhungry，whohasbeentravellingeversincedaylightthismorning，willhardlybeinclinedtotalkandaircourtesiesto-night。Hewantsfoodandshelter，andyoumustseethathehasit，simplybecauseIamsuddenlylaidupandcannot。Thereisnothingsodreadfulinthat，Ihope？Yougetallkindsofstuffintoyourheadfromreadingsomanyofthosenovels。'

'Ohno；thereisnothingdreadfulinitwhenitbecomesplainlyacaseofnecessitylikethis。But，yousee，youarealwaystherewhenpeoplecometodinner，evenifweknowthem；andthisissomestrangeLondonmanoftheworld，whowillthinkitodd，perhaps。'

'Verywell；lethim。'

'IsheMr。Hewby'spartner？'

'Ishouldscarcelythinkso:hemaybe。'

'Howoldishe，Iwonder？'

'ThatIcannottell。YouwillfindthecopyofmylettertoMr。

Hewby，andhisanswer，uponthetableinthestudy。Youmayreadthem，andthenyou'llknowasmuchasIdoaboutourvisitor。'

'Ihavereadthem。'

'Well，what'stheuseofaskingquestions，then？TheycontainallIknow。Ugh-h-h!……Odplagueyou，youyoungscamp!don'tputanythingthere!Ican'tbeartheweightofafly。'

'Oh，Iamsorry，papa。Iforgot；Ithoughtyoumightbecold，'

shesaid，hastilyremovingtherugshehadthrownuponthefeetofthesufferer；andwaitingtillshesawthatconsciousnessofheroffencehadpassedfromhisface，shewithdrewfromtheroom，andretiredagaindownstairs。

ChapterII

'Twasontheeveningofawinter'sday。'

Whentwoorthreeadditionalhourshadmergedthesameafternooninevening，somemovingoutlinesmighthavebeenobservedagainsttheskyonthesummitofawildlonehillinthatdistrict。Theycircumscribedtwomen，havingatpresenttheaspectofsilhouettes，sittinginadog-cartandpushingalongintheteethofthewind。Scarcelyasolitaryhouseormanhadbeenvisiblealongthewholedrearydistanceofopencountrytheyweretraversing；andnowthatnighthadbeguntofall，thefainttwilight，whichstillgaveanideaofthelandscapetotheirobservation，wasenlivenedbythequietappearanceoftheplanetJupiter，momentarilygleaminginintenserbrilliancyinfrontofthem，andbySiriussheddinghisraysinrivalryfromhispositionovertheirshoulders。

Theonlylightsapparentonearthweresomespotsofdullred，glowinghereandthereuponthedistanthills，which，asthedriverofthevehiclegratuitouslyremarkedtothehirer，weresmoulderingfiresfortheconsumptionofpeatandgorse-roots，wherethecommonwasbeingbrokenupforagriculturalpurposes。Thewindprevailedwithbutlittleabatementfromitsdaytimeboisterousness，threeorfoursmallclouds，delicateandpale，creepingalongundertheskysouthwardtotheChannel。

Fourteenofthesixteenmilesinterveningbetweentherailwayterminusandtheendoftheirjourneyhadbeengoneover，whentheybegantopassalongthebrinkofavalleysomemilesinextent，whereinthewintryskeletonsofamoreluxuriantvegetationthanhadhithertosurroundedthemproclaimedanincreasedrichnessofsoil，whichshowedsignsoffarmorecarefulenclosureandmanagementthanhadanyslopestheyhadyetpassed。

Alittlefarther，andanopeningintheelmsstretchingupfromthisfertilevalleyrevealedamansion。

'That'sEndelstowHouse，LordLuxellian's，'saidthedriver。

'EndelstowHouse，LordLuxellian's，'repeatedtheothermechanically。Hethenturnedhimselfsideways，andkeenlyscrutinizedthealmostinvisiblehousewithaninterestwhichtheindistinctpictureitselfseemedfarfromadequatetocreate。

'Yes，that'sLordLuxellian's，'hesaidyetagainafterawhile，ashestilllookedinthesamedirection。

'What，bewegoingthere？'

'No；EndelstowVicarage，asIhavetoldyou。'

'Ithoughtyoum'thavealteredyourmind，sir，asyehavestaredthatwayatnothingsolong。'

'Ohno；Iaminterestedinthehouse，that'sall。'

'Mostpeoplebe，asthesayingis。'

'NotinthesensethatIam。'

'Oh!……Well，hisfamilyisnobetterthanmyown，'ab'lieve。'

'Howisthat？'

'Hedgersandditchersbyrights。Butonceinancienttimesoneof'em，whenhewasatwork，changedclotheswithKingCharlestheSecond，andsavedtheking'slife。KingCharlescameuptohimlikeacommonman，andsaidoff-hand，"Maninthesmock-frock，mynameisCharlestheSecond，andthat'sthetruthon't。Willyoulendmeyourclothes？""Idon'tmindifIdo，"saidHedgerLuxellian；andtheychangedthereandthen。"Nowmindye，"KingCharlestheSecondsaid，likeacommonman，asherodeaway，"ifeverIcometothecrown，youcometocourt，knockatthedoor，andsayoutbold，'IsKingCharlestheSecondathome？'Tellyourname，andtheyshallletyouin，andyoushallbemadealord。”

Now，thatwasveryniceofMasterCharley？'

'Veryniceindeed。'

'Well，asthestoryis，thekingcametothethrone；andsomeyearsafterthat，awaywentHedgerLuxellian，knockedattheking'sdoor，andaskedifKingCharlestheSecondwasin。"No，heisn't，"theysaid。"Then，isCharlestheThird？"saidHedgerLuxellian。"Yes，"saidayoungfellerstandingbylikeacommonman，onlyhehadacrownon，"mynameisCharlestheThird。”And——'

'Ireallyfancythatmustbeamistake。Idon'trecollectanythinginEnglishhistoryaboutCharlestheThird，'saidtheotherinatoneofmildremonstrance。

'Oh，that'srighthistoryenough，only'twasn'tprented；hewasratheraqueer-temperedman，ifyouremember。'

'Verywell；goon。'

'And，byhookorbycrook，HedgerLuxellianwasmadealord，andeverythingwentonwelltillsometimeafter，whenhegotintoamostterriblerowwithKingCharlestheFourth'Ican'tstandCharlestheFourth。Uponmyword，that'stoomuch。'

'Why？TherewasaGeorgetheFourth，wasn'tthere？'

'Certainly。'

'Well，CharlesesbeascommonasGeorges。HoweverI'llsaynomoreaboutit……Ah，well!'tisthefunniestworldeverIlivedin——uponmylife'tis。Ah，thatsuchshouldbe!'

Theduskhadthickenedintodarknesswhiletheythusconversed，andtheoutlineandsurfaceofthemansiongraduallydisappeared。

Thewindows，whichhadbeforebeenasblackblotsonalighterexpanseofwall，becameilluminated，andweretransfiguredtosquaresoflightonthegeneraldarkbodyofthenightlandscapeasitabsorbedtheoutlinesoftheedificeintoitsgloomymonochrome。

Notanotherwordwasspokenforsometime，andtheyclimbedahill，thenanotherhillpiledonthesummitofthefirst。Anadditionalmileofplateaufollowed，fromwhichcouldbediscernedtwolight-housesonthecoasttheywerenearing，reposingonthehorizonwithacalmlustreofbenignity。Anotheroasiswasreached；alittledelllaylikeanestattheirfeet，towardswhichthedriverpulledthehorseatasharpangle，anddescendedasteepslopewhichdivedunderthetreeslikearabbit'sburrow。

Theysanklowerandlower。

'EndelstowVicarageisinsidehere，'continuedthemanwiththereins。'ThispartabouthereisWestEndelstow；LordLuxellian'sisEastEndelstow，andhasachurchtoitself。Pa'sonSwancourtisthepa'sonofboth，andbobsbackwardandforward。Ah，well!

'tisafunnyworld。'Ab'lievetherewasonceaquarrywherethishousestands。Themanwhobuiltitinpasttimescrapedalltheglebeforearthtoputroundthevicarage，andlaidoutalittleparadiseofflowersandtreesinthesoilhehadgottogetherinthisway，whilstthefieldshescrapedhavebeengoodfornothingeversince。'

'Howlonghasthepresentincumbentbeenhere？'

'Maybeaboutayear，orayearandhalf:'tisn'ttwoyears；fortheydon'tscandalizehimyet；and，asarule，aparishbeginstoscandalizethepa'sonattheendoftwoyearsamong'emfamiliar。

Buthe'saveryniceparty。Ay，Pa'sonSwancourtknowsmeprettywellfromoftendrivingover；andIknowPa'sonSwancourt。'

Theyemergedfromthebower，sweptroundinacurve，andthechimneysandgablesofthevicaragebecamedarklyvisible。Notalightshowedanywhere。Theyalighted；themanfelthiswayintotheporch，andrangthebell。

Attheendofthreeorfourminutes，spentinpatientwaitingwithouthearinganysoundsofaresponse，thestrangeradvancedandrepeatedthecallinamoredecidedmanner。Hethenfanciedheheardfootstepsinthehall，andsundrymovementsofthedoor-

knob，butnobodyappeared。

'Perhapstheybeantathome，'sighedthedriver。'AndIpromisedmyselfabitofsupperinPa'sonSwancourt'skitchen。Sichlovelymate-pizeandfiggedkeakes，andcider，anddropso'cordialthattheydokeephere!'

'Allright，naibours!Beyerichmenorbeyepoormen，thatyemustneedscometotheworld'sendatthistimeo'night？'

exclaimedavoiceatthisinstant；and，turningtheirheads，theysawaricketyindividualshamblingroundfromthebackdoorwithahornlanterndanglingfromhishand。

'Timeo'night，'ab'lieve!andtheclockonlygonesevenof'em。

Showalight，andletusin，WilliamWorm。'

'Oh，thatyou，RobertLickpan？'

'Nobodyelse，WilliamWorm。'

'Andisthevisitingmana-come？'

'Yes，'saidthestranger。'IsMr。Swancourtathome？'

'That'ais，sir。Andwouldyemindcomingroundbythebackway？

Thefrontdoorisgotstuckwi'thewet，ashewilldosometimes；

andtheTurkcan'topenen。IknowIamonlyapoorwamblingmanthat'illneverpaytheLordformymaking，sir；butIcanshowthewayin，sir。'

Thenewarrivalfollowedhisguidethroughalittledoorinawall，andthenpromenadedasculleryandakitchen，alongwhichhepassedwitheyesrigidlyfixedinadvance，aninbredhorrorofpryingforbiddinghimtogazearoundapartmentsthatformedthebacksideofthehouseholdtapestry。Enteringthehall，hewasabouttobeshowntohisroom，whenfromtheinnerlobbyofthefrontentrance，whithershehadgonetolearnthecauseofthedelay，sailedforththeformofElfride。Herstartofamazementatthesightofthevisitorcomingforthfromunderthestairsprovedthatshehadnotbeenexpectingthissurprisingflankmovement，whichhadbeenoriginatedentirelybytheingenuityofWilliamWorm。

Sheappearedintheprettiestofallfeminineguises，thatistosay，indemi-toilette，withplentyofloosecurlyhairtumblingdownabouthershoulders。Anexpressionofuneasinesspervadedhercountenance；andaltogethershescarcelyappearedwomanenoughforthesituation。Thevisitorremovedhishat，andthefirstwordswerespoken；Elfrideprelusivelylookingwithadealofinterest，notunmixedwithsurprise，atthepersontowardswhomshewastodothedutiesofhospitality。

'IamMr。Smith，'saidthestrangerinamusicalvoice。

'IamMissSwancourt，'saidElfride。

Herconstraintwasover。Thegreatcontrastbetweentherealityshebeheldbeforeher，andthedark，taciturn，sharp，elderlymanofbusinesswhohadlurkedinherimagination——amanwithclothessmellingofcitysmoke，skinsallowfromwantofsun，andtalkflavouredwithepigram——wassucharelieftoherthatElfridesmiled，almostlaughed，inthenew-comer'sface。

StephenSmith，whohashithertobeenhiddenfromusbythedarkness，wasatthistimeofhislifebutayouthinappearance，andbarelyamaninyears。Judgingfromhislook，Londonwasthelastplaceintheworldthatonewouldhaveimaginedtobethesceneofhisactivities:

suchafacesurelycouldnotbenourishedamidsmokeandmudandfoganddust；suchanopencountenancecouldneverevenhaveseenanythingof'theweariness，thefever，andthefret'ofBabylontheSecond。

HiscomplexionwasasfineasElfride'sown；thepinkofhischeeksasdelicate。HismouthasperfectasCupid'sbowinform，andascherry-redincolourashers。Brightcurlyhair；brightsparklingblue-grayeyes；aboy'sblushandmanner；neitherwhiskernormoustache，unlessalittlelight-brownfuronhisupperlipdeservedthelattertitle:thiscomposedtheLondonprofessionalman，theprospectofwhoseadventhadsotroubledElfride。

ElfridehastenedtosayshewassorrytotellhimthatMr。

Swancourtwasnotabletoreceivehimthatevening，andgavethereasonwhy。Mr。Smithreplied，inavoiceboyishbynatureandmanlybyart，thathewasverysorrytohearthisnews；butthatasfarashisreceptionwasconcerned，itdidnotmatterintheleast。

Stephenwasshownuptohisroom。InhisabsenceElfridestealthilyglidedintoherfather's。

'He'scome，papa。Suchayoungmanforabusinessman!'

'Oh，indeed!'

'Hisfaceis——well——PRETTY；justlikemine。'

'H'm!whatnext？'

'Nothing；that'sallIknowofhimyet。Itisrathernice，isitnot？'

'Well，weshallseethatwhenweknowhimbetter。Godownandgivethepoorfellowsomethingtoeatanddrink，forHeaven'ssake。Andwhenhehasdoneeating，sayIshouldliketohaveafewwordswithhim，ifhedoesn'tmindcominguphere。'

Theyoungladyglideddownstairsagain，andwhilstsheawaitsyoungSmith'sentry，thelettersreferringtohisvisithadbetterbegiven。

1——MR。SWANCOURTTOMR。HEWBY。

'ENDELSTOWVICARAGE，Feb。18，18。

'SIR，——Wearethinkingofrestoringthetowerandaisleofthechurchinthisparish；andLordLuxellian，thepatronoftheliving，hasmentionedyournameasthatofatrustworthyarchitectwhomitwouldbedesirabletoasktosuperintendthework。

'Iamexceedinglyignorantofthenecessarypreliminarysteps。

Probably，however，thefirstisthat(shouldyoube，asLordLuxelliansaysyouare，disposedtoassistus)yourselforsomememberofyourstaffcomeandseethebuilding，andreportthereuponforthesatisfactionofparishionersandothers。

'Thespotisaveryremoteone:wehavenorailwaywithinfourteenmiles；andthenearestplaceforputtingupat——calledatown，thoughmerelyalargevillage——isCastleBoterel，twomilesfurtheron；sothatitwouldbemostconvenientforyoutostayatthevicarage——whichIamgladtoplaceatyourdisposal——insteadofpushingontothehotelatCastleBoterel，andcomingbackagaininthemorning。

'Anydayofthenextweekthatyouliketonameforthevisitwillfindusquitereadytoreceiveyou——Yoursverytruly，CHRISTOPHER

SWANCOURT。

2——MR。HEWBYTOMR。SWANCOURT。

"PERCYPLACE，CHARINGCROSS，Feb。20，18。

'DEARSIR，——Agreeablytoyourrequestofthe18thinstant，Ihavearrangedtosurveyandmakedrawingsoftheaisleandtowerofyourparishchurch，andofthedilapidationswhichhavebeensufferedtoaccruethereto，withaviewtoitsrestoration。

'Myassistant，Mr。StephenSmith，willleaveLondonbytheearlytrainto-morrowmorningforthepurpose。Manythanksforyourproposaltoaccommodatehim。Hewilltakeadvantageofyouroffer，andwillprobablyreachyourhouseatsomehouroftheevening。Youmayputeveryconfidenceinhim，andmayrelyuponhisdiscernmentinthematterofchurcharchitecture。

'Trustingthattheplansfortherestoration，whichIshallpreparefromthedetailsofhissurvey，willprovesatisfactorytoyourselfandLordLuxellian，Iam，dearsir，yoursfaithfully，WALTERHEWBY。'

ChapterIII

'Melodiousbirdssingmadrigals'

ThatfirstrepastinEndelstowVicaragewasaveryagreeableonetoyoungStephenSmith。Thetablewasspread，asElfridehadsuggestedtoherfather，withthematerialsfortheheterogeneousmealcalledhightea——aclassofrefectionwelcometoallwhenawayfrommenandtowns，andparticularlyattractivetoyouthfulpalates。Thetablewasprettilydeckedwithwinterflowersandleaves，amidwhichtheeyewasgreetedbychops，chicken，pie，&c。，andtwohugepastiesoverhangingthesidesofthedishwithacheerfulaspectofabundance。

Attheend，towardsthefireplace，appearedthetea-service，ofold-fashionedWorcesterporcelain，andbehindthisarosetheslightformofElfride，attemptingtoaddmatronlydignitytothemovementofpouringouttea，andtohaveaweightyandconcernedlookinmattersofmarmalade，honey，andclottedcream。Havingmadeherownmealbeforehearrived，shefoundtoherembarrassmentthattherewasnothingleftforhertodobuttalkwhennotassistinghim。Sheaskedhimifhewouldexcuseherfinishingalettershehadbeenwritingataside-table，and，aftersittingdowntoit，tingledwithasenseofbeinggrosslyrude。However，seeingthathenoticednothingpersonallywronginher，andthathetoowasembarrassedwhensheattentivelywatchedhiscuptorefillit，Elfridebecamebetteratease；

andwhenfurthermoreheaccidentallykickedthelegofthetable，andthennearlyupsethistea-cup，justasschoolboysdid，shefeltherselfmistressofthesituation，andcouldtalkverywell。Inafewminutesingenuousnessandacommontermofyearsobliteratedallrecollectionthattheywerestrangersjustmet。Stephenbegantowaxeloquentonextremelyslightexperiencesconnectedwithhisprofessionalpursuits；andshe，havingnoexperiencestofallbackupon，recountedwithmuchanimationstoriesthathadbeenrelatedtoherbyherfather，whichwouldhaveastonishedhimhadheheardwithwhatfidelityofactionandtonetheywererendered。Uponthewhole，averyinterestingpictureofSweet-and-TwentywasonviewthateveninginMr。Swancourt'shouse。

UltimatelyStephenhadtogoupstairsandtalkloudtothevicar，receivingfromhimbetweenhispuffsagreatmanyapologiesforcallinghimsounceremoniouslytoastranger'sbedroom。'But，'

continuedMr。Swancourt，'IfeltthatIwantedtosayafewwordstoyoubeforethemorning，onthebusinessofyourvisit。One'spatiencegetsexhaustedbystayingaprisonerinbedalldaythroughasuddenfreakofone'senemy——newtome，though——forI

haveknownverylittleofgoutasyet。However，he'sgonetomyothertoeinaverymildmanner，andIexpecthe'llslinkoffaltogetherbythemorning。Ihopeyouhavebeenwellattendedtodownstairs？'

'Perfectly。Andthoughitisunfortunate，andIamsorrytoseeyoulaidup，Ibegyouwillnottaketheslightestnoticeofmybeinginthehousethewhile。'

'Iwillnot。ButIshallbedownto-morrow。Mydaughterisanexcellentdoctor。Adoseortwoofhermildmixtureswillfetchmeroundquickerthanallthedrugstuffintheworld。Well，nowaboutthechurchbusiness。Takeaseat，do。Wecan'taffordtostanduponceremonyinthesepartsasyousee，andforthisreason，thatacivilizedhumanbeingseldomstayslongwithus；

andsowecannotwastetimeinapproachinghim，orhewillbegonebeforewehavehadthepleasureofcloseacquaintance。Thistowerofoursis，asyouwillnotice，entirelygonebeyondthepossibilityofrestoration；butthechurchitselfiswellenough。

Youshouldseesomeofthechurchesinthiscounty。Floorsrotten:ivyliningthewalls。'

'Dearme!'

'Oh，that'snothing。Thecongregationofaneighbourofmine，wheneverastormofraincomesonduringservice，opentheirumbrellasandholdthemuptillthedrippingceasesfromtheroof。

Now，ifyouwillkindlybringmethosepapersandlettersyouseelyingonthetable，Iwillshowyouhowfarwehavegot。'

Stephencrossedtheroomtofetchthem，andthevicarseemedtonoticemoreparticularlytheslimfigureofhisvisitor。

'Isupposeyouarequitecompetent？'hesaid。

'Quite，'saidtheyoungman，colouringslightly。

'Youareveryyoung，Ifancy——Ishouldsayyouarenotmorethannineteen？'

Iamnearlytwenty-one。'

'Exactlyhalfmyage；Iamforty-two。'

'Bytheway，'saidMr。Swancourt，aftersomeconversation，'yousaidyourwholenamewasStephenFitzmaurice，andthatyourgrandfathercameoriginallyfromCaxbury。SinceIhavebeenspeaking，ithasoccurredtomethatIknowsomethingofyou。Youbelongtoawell-knownancientcountyfamily——notordinarySmithsintheleast。'

'Idon'tthinkwehaveanyoftheirbloodinourveins。'

'Nonsense!youmust。Handmethe"LandedGentry。”Now，letmesee。There，StephenFitzmauriceSmith——heliesinSt。Mary'sChurch，doesn'the？Well，outofthatfamilySprangtheLeaseworthySmiths，andcollaterallycameGeneralSirStephenFitzmauriceSmithofCaxbury——'

'Yes；Ihaveseenhismonumentthere，'shoutedStephen。'Butthereisnoconnectionbetweenhisfamilyandmine:therecannotbe。'

'Thereisnone，possibly，toyourknowledge。Butlookatthis，mydearsir，'saidthevicar，strikinghisfistuponthebedpostforemphasis。'Hereareyou，StephenFitzmauriceSmith，livinginLondon，butspringingfromCaxbury。HereinthisbookisagenealogicaltreeoftheStephenFitzmauriceSmithsofCaxburyManor。Youmaybeonlyafamilyofprofessionalmennow——Iamnotinquisitive:Idon'taskquestionsofthatkind；itisnotinmetodoso——butitisasplainasthenoseinyourfacethatthere'syourorigin!And，Mr。Smith，Icongratulateyouuponyourblood；

blueblood，sir；and，uponmylife，averydesirablecolour，astheworldgoes。'

'Iwishyoucouldcongratulatemeuponsomemoretangiblequality，'saidtheyoungerman，sadlynolessthanmodestly。

'Nonsense!thatwillcomewithtime。Youareyoung:allyourlifeisbeforeyou。Nowlook——seehowfarbackinthemistsofantiquitymyownfamilyofSwancourthavearoot。Here，yousee，'

hecontinued，turningtothepage，'isGeoffrey，theoneamongmyancestorswholostabaronybecausehewouldcuthisjoke。Ah，it'sthesortofus!Butthestoryistoolongtotellnow。Ay，I'mapoorman——apoorgentleman，infact:thoseIwouldbefriendswith，won'tbefriendswithme；thosewhoarewillingtobefriendswithme，Iamabovebeingfriendswith。Beyonddiningwithaneighbouringincumbentortwo。andanoccasionalchat——

sometimesdinner——withLordLuxellian，aconnectionofmine，Iaminabsolutesolitude——absolute。'

'Youhaveyourstudies，yourbooks，andyour——daughter。'

'Ohyes，yes；andIdon'tcomplainofpoverty。Cantocoramlatrone。Well，Mr。Smith，don'tletmedetainyouanylongerinasickroom。Ha!thatremindsmeofastoryIonceheardinmyyoungerdays。'Herethevicarbeganaseriesofsmallprivatelaughs，andStephenlookedinquiry。'Oh，no，no!itistoobad——

toobadtotell!'continuedMr。Swancourtinundertonesofgrimmirth。'Well，godownstairs；mydaughtermustdothebestshecanwithyouthisevening。Askhertosingtoyou——sheplaysandsingsverynicely。Good-night；IfeelasifIhadknownyouforfiveorsixyears。I'llringforsomebodytoshowyoudown。'

'Nevermind，'saidStephen，'Icanfindtheway。'Andhewentdownstairs，thinkingofthedelightfulfreedomofmannerintheremotercountiesincomparisonwiththereserveofLondon。

'Iforgottotellyouthatmyfatherwasratherdeaf，'saidElfrideanxiously，whenStephenenteredthelittledrawing-room。

'Nevermind；Iknowallaboutit，andwearegreatfriends，'themanofbusinessrepliedenthusiastically。'And，MissSwancourt，willyoukindlysingtome？'

ToMissSwancourtthisrequestseemed，whatinfactitwas，exceptionallypoint-blank；thoughsheguessedthatherfatherhadsomehandinframingit，knowing，rathertohercost，ofhisunceremoniouswayofutilizingherforthebenefitofdullsojourners。Atthesametime，asMr。Smith'smannerwastoofranktoprovokecriticism，andhisagetoolittletoinspirefear，shewasready——nottosaypleased——toaccede。Selectingfromthecanterburysomeoldfamilyditties，thatinyearsgonebyhadbeenplayedandsungbyhermother，Elfridesatdowntothepianoforte，andbegan，"Twasontheeveningofawinter'sday，'inaprettycontraltovoice。

'Doyoulikethatoldthing，Mr。Smith？'shesaidattheend。

'Yes，Idomuch，'saidStephen——wordshewouldhaveuttered，andsincerely，toanythingonearth，fromgleetorequiem，thatshemighthavechosen。

'YoushallhavealittleonebyDeLeyre，thatwasgivenmebyayoungFrenchladywhowasstayingatEndelstowHouse:

'"Jel'aiplante，jel'aivunaitre，Cebeaurosieroulesoiseaux，"&c。；

andthenIshallwanttogiveyoumyownfavouritefortheverylast，Shelley's"Whenthelampisshattered，"assettomusicbymypoormother。IsomuchlikesingingtoanybodywhoREALLY

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读