'Yes；quiteso，'saidStephen。
'Totellyouthetruth，'hecontinuedinthesameundertone，'wedon'tmakearegularthingofit；butwhenwehavestrangersvisitingus，Iamstronglyofopinionthatitistheproperthingtodo，andIalwaysdoit。Iamverystrictonthatpoint。Butyou，Smith，thereissomethinginyourfacewhichmakesmefeelquiteathome；nononsenseaboutyou，inshort。Ah，itremindsmeofasplendidstoryIusedtohearwhenIwasahelter-skelteryoungfellow——suchastory!But'——herethevicarshookhisheadself-forbiddingly，andgrimlylaughed。
'Wasitagoodstory？'saidyoungSmith，smilingtoo。
'Ohyes；but'tistoobad——toobad!Couldn'ttellittoyoufortheworld!'
Stephenwentacrossthelawn，hearingthevicarchucklingprivatelyattherecollectionashewithdrew。
Theystartedatthreeo'clock。Thegraymorninghadresolveditselfintoanafternoonbrightwithapalepervasivesunlight，withoutthesunitselfbeingvisible。Lightlytheytrottedalong——
thewheelsnearlysilent，thehorse'shoofsclapping，almostringing，uponthehard，white，turnpikeroadasitfollowedthelevelridgeinaperfectlystraightline，seemingtobeabsorbedultimatelybythewhiteofthesky。
TarganBay——whichhadthemeritofbeingeasilygotat——wasdulyvisited。Theythensweptroundbyinnumerablelanes，inwhichnottwentyconsecutiveyardswereeitherstraightorlevel，tothedomainofLordLuxellian。Awomanwithadoublechinandthickneck，likeQueenAnnebyDahl，threwopenthelodgegate，alittleboystandingbehindher。
'I'llgivehimsomething，poorlittlefellow，'saidElfride，pullingoutherpurseandhastilyopeningit。Fromtheinteriorofherpurseahostofbitsofpaper，likeaflockofwhitebirds，floatedintotheair，andwereblownaboutinalldirections。
'Well，tobesure!'saidStephenwithaslightlaugh。
'Whatthedickensisallthat？'saidMr。Swancourt。'Nothalvesofbank-notes，Elfride？'
Elfridelookedannoyedandguilty。'Theyareonlysomethingofmine，papa，'shefaltered，whilstStephenleaptout，and，assistedbythelodge-keeper'slittleboy，creptaboutroundthewheelsandhorse'shoofstillthepaperswereallgatheredtogetheragain。
Hehandedthembacktoher，andremounted。
'Isupposeyouarewonderingwhatthosescrapswere？'shesaid，astheybowledalongupthesycamoreavenue。'AndsoImayaswelltellyou。TheyarenotesforaromanceIamwriting。'
Shecouldnothelpcolouringattheconfession，muchasshetriedtoavoidit。
'Astory，doyoumean？'saidStephen，Mr。Swancourthalflistening，andcatchingawordoftheconversationnowandthen。
'Yes；THECOURTOFKELLYONCASTLE；aromanceofthefifteenthcentury。Suchwritingisoutofdatenow，Iknow；butIlikedoingit。'
'Aromancecarriedinapurse!Ifahighwaymanweretorobyou，hewouldbetakenin。'
'Yes；that'smywayofcarryingmanuscript。Therealreasonis，thatImostlywritebitsofitonscrapsofpaperwhenIamonhorseback；andIputthemthereforconvenience。'
'Whatareyougoingtodowithyourromancewhenyouhavewrittenit？'saidStephen。
'Idon'tknow，'shereplied，andturnedherheadtolookattheprospect。
ForbythistimetheyhadreachedtheprecinctsofEndelstowHouse。Drivingthroughanancientgate-wayofdun-colouredstone，spannedbythehigh-shoulderedTudorarch，theyfoundthemselvesinaspaciouscourt，closedbyafacadeoneachofitsthreesides。ThesubstantialportionsoftheexistingbuildingdatedfromthereignofHenryVIII。；butthepicturesqueandshelteredspothadbeenthesiteofanerectionofamuchearlierdate。A
licencetocrenellatemansuminframaneriumsuumwasgrantedbyEdwardII。to'HugoLuxellenchivaler；'butthoughthefaintoutlineoftheditchandmoundwasvisibleatpoints，nosignoftheoriginalbuildingremained。
Thewindowsonallsideswerelongandmany-mullioned；therooflinesbrokenupbydormerlightsofthesamepattern。Theapexstonesofthesedormers，togetherwiththoseofthegables，weresurmountedbygrotesquefiguresinrampant，passant，andcouchantvariety。Talloctagonalandtwistedchimneysthrustthemselveshighupintothesky，surpassedinheight，however，bysomepoplarsandsycamoresattheback，whichshowedtheirgentlyrockingsummitsoverridgeandparapet。Inthecornersofthecourtpolygonalbays，whosesurfaceswereentirelyoccupiedbybuttressesandwindows，brokeintothesquarenessoftheenclosure；andafar-projectingoriel，springingfromafantasticseriesofmouldings，overhungthearchwayofthechiefentrancetothehouse。
AsMr。Swancourthadremarked，hehadthefreedomofthemansionintheabsenceofitsowner。Uponastatementofhiserrandtheywerealladmittedtothelibrary，andleftentirelytothemselves。
Mr。Swancourtwassoonuptohiseyesintheexaminationofaheapofpapershehadtakenfromthecabinetdescribedbyhiscorrespondent。StephenandElfridehadnothingtodobuttowanderabouttillherfatherwasready。
Elfrideenteredthegallery，andStephenfollowedherwithoutseemingtodoso。Itwasalongsombreapartment，enrichedwithfittingsacenturyorsolaterinstylethanthewallsofthemansion。PilastersofRenaissanceworkmanshipsupportedacornicefromwhichsprangacurvedceiling，panelledintheawkwardtwistsandcurlsoftheperiod。TheoldGothicquarriesstillremainedintheupperportionofthelargewindowattheend，thoughtheyhadmadewayforamoremodernformofglazingelsewhere。
StephenwasatoneendofthegallerylookingtowardsElfride，whostoodinthemidst，beginningtofeelsomewhatdepressedbythesocietyofLuxellianshadesofcadaverouscomplexionfixedbyHolbein，Kneller，andLely，andseemingtogazeatandthroughherinamoralizingmood。Thesilence，whichcastalmostaspelluponthem，wasbrokenbythesuddenopeningofadooratthefarend。
Outboundedapairoflittlegirls，lightlyyetwarmlydressed。
Theireyesweresparkling；theirhairswingingaboutandaround；
theirredmouthslaughingwithunalloyedgladness。
'Ah，MissSwancourt:dearestElfie!weheardyou。Areyougoingtostayhere？Youareourlittlemamma，areyounot——ourbigmammaisgonetoLondon，'saidone。
'Letmetissyou，'saidtheother，inappearanceverymuchlikethefirst，buttoasmallerpattern。
TheirpinkcheeksandyellowhairwerespeedilyintermingledwiththefoldsofElfride'sdress；shethenstoopedandtenderlyembracedthemboth。
'Suchanoddthing，'saidElfride，smiling，andturningtoStephen。'Theyhavetakenitintotheirheadslatelytocallme"littlemamma，"becauseIamveryfondofthem，andworeadresstheotherdaysomethinglikeoneofLadyLuxellian's。'
ThesetwoyoungcreaturesweretheHonourableMaryandtheHonourableKate——scarcelyappearinglargeenoughasyettobeartheweightofsuchponderousprefixes。TheyweretheonlytwochildrenofLordandLadyLuxellian，and，asitproved，hadbeenleftathomeduringtheirparents'temporaryabsence，inthecustodyofnurseandgoverness。LordLuxellianwasdotinglyfondofthechildren；ratherindifferenttowardshiswife，sinceshehadbeguntoshowaninclinationnottopleasehimbygivinghimaboy。
AllchildreninstinctivelyranafterElfride，lookinguponhermoreasanunusuallynicelargespecimenoftheirowntribethanasagrown-upelder。Ithadnowbecomeanestablishedrule，thatwhenevershemetthem——indoorsorout-of-doors，weekdaysorSundays——theyweretobeseverallypressedagainstherfaceandbosomforthespaceofaquarterofaminute，andother——wisemademuchofonthedelightfulsystemofcumulativeepithetandcaresstowhichunpractisedgirlswilloccasionallyabandonthemselves。
Alookofmisgivingbytheyoungsterstowardsthedoorbywhichtheyhadentereddirectedattentiontoamaid-servantappearingfromthesamequarter，toputanendtothissweetfreedomofthepoorHonourablesMaryandKate。
'Iwishyoulivedhere，MissSwancourt，'pipedonelikeamelancholybullfinch。
'SodoI，'pipedtheotherlikearathermoremelancholybullfinch。'Mammacan'tplaywithussonicelyasyoudo。I
don'tthinksheeverlearntplayingwhenshewaslittle。Whenshallwecometoseeyou？'
'Assoonasyoulike，dears。'
'Andsleepatyourhouseallnight？That'swhatImeanbycomingtoseeyou。Idon'tcaretoseepeoplewithhatsandbonnetson，andallstandingupandwalkingabout。'
'Assoonaswecangetmamma'spermissionyoushallcomeandstayaslongaseveryoulike。Good-bye!'
Theprisonerswerethenledoff，Elfrideagainturningherattentiontoherguest，whomshehadleftstandingattheremoteendofthegallery。Onlookingaroundforhimhewasnowheretobeseen。Elfridesteppeddowntothelibrary，thinkinghemighthaverejoinedherfatherthere。ButMr。Swancourt，nowcheerfullyilluminatedbyapairofcandles，wasstillalone，untyingpacketsoflettersandpapers，andtyingthemupagain。
AsElfridedidnotstandonasufficientlyintimatefootingwiththeobjectofherinteresttojustifyher，asaproperyounglady，tocommencetheactivesearchforhimthatyouthfulimpulsivenessprompted，andas，nevertheless，foranascentreasonconnectedwiththosedivinelycutlipsofhis，shedidnotlikehimtobeabsentfromherside，shewandereddesultorilybacktotheoakstaircase，poutingandcastinghereyesaboutinhopeofdiscerninghisboyishfigure。
Thoughdaylightstillprevailedintherooms，thecorridorswereinadepthofshadow——chill，sad，andsilent；anditwasonlybylookingalongthemtowardslightspacesbeyondthatanythingoranybodycouldbediscernedtherein。Oneoftheselightspotsshefoundtobecausedbyaside-doorwithglasspanelsintheupperpart。Elfrideopenedit，andfoundherselfconfrontingasecondaryorinnerlawn，separatedfromtheprincipallawnfrontbyashrubbery。
Andnowshesawaperplexingsight。Atrightanglestothefaceofthewingshehademergedfrom，andwithinafewfeetofthedoor，juttedoutanotherwingofthemansion，lowerandwithlessarchitecturalcharacter。Immediatelyoppositetoher，inthewallofthiswing，wasalargebroadwindow，havingitsblinddrawndown，andilluminatedbyalightintheroomitscreened。
Ontheblindwasashadowfromsomebodycloseinsideit——apersoninprofile。TheprofilewasunmistakablythatofStephen。Itwasjustpossibletoseethathisarmswereuplifted，andthathishandsheldanarticleofsomekind。Thenanothershadowappeared——
alsoinprofile——andcameclosetohim。Thiswastheshadowofawoman。SheturnedherbacktowardsStephen:heliftedandheldoutwhatnowprovedtobeashawlormantle——placeditcarefully——
socarefully——roundthelady；disappeared；reappearedinherfront——fastenedthemantle。Didhethenkissher？Surelynot。
Yetthemotionmighthavebeenakiss。Thenbothshadowsswelledtocolossaldimensions——grewdistorted——vanished。
Twominuteselapsed。
'Ah，MissSwancourt!Iamsogladtofindyou。Iwaslookingforyou，'saidavoiceatherelbow——Stephen'svoice。Shesteppedintothepassage。
'Doyouknowanyofthemembersofthisestablishment？'saidshe。
'Notasingleone:howshouldI？'hereplied。
ChapterVI
'Faretheeweelawhile!'
SimultaneouslywiththeconclusionofStephen'sremark，thesoundoftheclosingofanexternaldoorintheirimmediateneighbourhoodreachedElfride'sears。Itcamefromthefurthersideofthewingcontainingtheilluminatedroom。Shethendiscerned，bytheaidoftheduskydepartinglight，afigure，whosesexwasundistinguishable，walkingdownthegravelledpathbytheparterretowardstheriver。Thefiguregrewfainter，andvanishedunderthetrees。
Mr。Swancourt'svoicewasheardcallingouttheirnamesfromadistantcorridorinthebodyofthebuilding。Theyretracedtheirsteps，andfoundhimwithhiscoatbuttonedupandhishaton，awaitingtheiradventinamoodofself-satisfactionathavingbroughthissearchtoasuccessfulclose。Thecarriagewasbroughtround，andwithoutfurtherdelaythetriodroveawayfromthemansion，undertheechoinggatewayarch，andalongbytheleaflesssycamores，asthestarsbegantokindletheirtremblinglightsbehindthemazeofbranchesandtwigs。
Nowordswerespokeneitherbyyouthormaiden。Herunpractisedmindwascompletelyoccupiedinfathomingitsrecentacquisition。
Theyoungmanwhohadinspiredherwithsuchnoveltyoffeeling，whohadcomedirectlyfromLondononbusinesstoherfather，havingbeenbroughtbychancetoEndelstowHousehad，bysomemeansorother，acquiredtheprivilegeofapproachingsomeladyhehadfoundtherein，andofhonouringherbypetitssoinsofamarkedkind，——allinthespaceofhalfanhour。
Whatroomweretheystandingin？thoughtElfride。Asnearlyasshecouldguess，itwasLordLuxellian'sbusiness-room，oroffice。
Whatpeoplewereinthehouse？Nonebutthegovernessandservants，asfarassheknew，andofthesehehadprofessedatotalignorance。Hadthepersonshehadindistinctlyseenleavingthehouseanythingtodowiththeperformance？Itwasimpossibletosaywithoutappealingtotheculprithimself，andthatshewouldneverdo。ThemoreElfridereflected，themorecertaindiditappearthatthemeetingwasachancerencounter，andnotanappointment。Ontheultimateinquiryastotheindividualityofthewoman，Elfrideatonceassumedthatshecouldnotbeaninferior。StephenSmithwasnotthemantocareaboutpassages-
at-lovewithwomenbeneathhim。Thoughgentle，ambitionwasvisibleinhiskindlingeyes；heevidentlyhopedformuch；hopedindefinitely，butextensively。Elfridewaspuzzled，andbeingpuzzled，was，byanaturalsequenceofgirlishsensations，vexedwithhim。Nomorepleasurecameinrecognizingthatfromlikingtoattracthimshewasgettingontolovehim，boyishashewasandinnocentashehadseemed。
Theyreachedthebridgewhichformedalinkbetweentheeasternandwesternhalvesoftheparish。Situatedinavalleythatwasboundedoutwardlybythesea，itformedapointofdepressionfromwhichtheroadascendedwithgreatsteepnesstoWestEndelstowandtheVicarage。Therewasnoabsolutenecessityforeitherofthemtoalight，butasitwasthevicar'scustomafteralongjourneytohumourthehorseinmakingthiswindingascent，Elfride，movedbyanimitativeinstinct，suddenlyjumpedoutwhenPleasanthadjustbeguntoadoptthedeliberatestalkheassociatedwiththisportionoftheroad。
Theyoungmanseemedgladofanyexcuseforbreakingthesilence。
'Why，MissSwancourt，whatariskythingtodo!'heexclaimed，immediatelyfollowingherexamplebyjumpingdownontheotherside。
'Ohno，notatall，'repliedshecoldly；theshadowphenomenonatEndelstowHousestillparamountwithinher。
Stephenwalkedalongbyhimselffortwoorthreeminutes，wrappedintherigidreservedictatedbyhertone。Thenapparentlythinkingthatitwasonlyforgirlstopout，hecameserenelyroundtoherside，andofferedhisarmwithCastiliangallantry，toassistherinascendingtheremainingthree-quartersofthesteep。
Herewasatemptation:itwasthefirsttimeinherlifethatElfridehadbeentreatedasagrown-upwomaninthisway——offeredanarminamannerimplyingthatshehadarighttorefuseit。
Tillto-nightshehadneverreceivedmasculineattentionsbeyondthosewhichmightbecontainedinsuchhomelyremarksas'Elfride，givemeyourhand；''Elfride，takeholdofmyarm，'fromherfather。Hercallowheartmadeanepochoftheincident；sheconsideredherarrayoffeelings，forandagainst。Collectivelytheywerefortakingthisofferedarm；thesingleoneofpiquedeterminedhertopunishStephenbyrefusing。
'No，thankyou，Mr。Smith；Icangetalongbetterbymyself'
ItwasElfride'sfirstfragileattemptatbrowbeatingalover。
Fearingmoretheissueofsuchanundertakingthanwhatagentleyoungmanmightthinkofherwaywardness，sheimmediatelyafterwardsdeterminedtopleaseherselfbyreversingherstatement。
'Onsecondthoughts，Iwilltakeit，'shesaid。
Theyslowlywenttheirwayupthehill，afewyardsbehindthecarriage。
'Howsilentyouare，MissSwancourt!'Stephenobserved。
'PerhapsIthinkyousilenttoo，'shereturned。
'Imayhavereasontobe。'
'Scarcely；itissadnessthatmakespeoplesilent，andyoucanhavenone。'
'Youdon'tknow:Ihaveatrouble；thoughsomemightthinkitlessatroublethanadilemma。'
'Whatisit？'sheaskedimpulsively。
Stephenhesitated。'Imighttell，'hesaid；'atthesametime，perhaps，itisaswell——'
Sheletgohisarmandimperativelypusheditfromher，tossingherhead。Shehadjustlearntthatagooddealofdignityislostbyaskingaquestiontowhichananswerisrefused，eveneversopolitely；forthoughpolitenessdoesgoodserviceincasesofrequisitionandcompromise，itbutlittlehelpsadirectrefusal。
'Idon'twishtoknowanythingofit；Idon'twishit，'shewenton。'Thecarriageiswaitingforusatthetopofthehill；wemustgetin；'andElfrideflittedtothefront。'Papa，hereisyourElfride!'sheexclaimedtotheduskyfigureoftheoldgentleman，asshesprangupandsankbyhissidewithoutdeigningtoacceptaidfromStephen。
'Ah，yes!'utteredthevicarinartificiallyalerttones，awakingfromamostprofoundsleep，andsuddenlypreparingtoalight。
'Why，whatareyoudoing，papa？Wearenothomeyet。'
'Ohno，no；ofcoursenot；wearenotathomeyet，'Mr。Swancourtsaidveryhastily，endeavouringtododgebacktohisoriginalpositionwiththeairofamanwhohadnotmovedatall。'ThefactisIwassolostindeepmeditationthatIforgotwhereaboutswewere。'Andinaminutethevicarwassnoringagain。
Thatevening，beingthelast，seemedtothrowanexceptionalshadeofsadnessoverStephenSmith，andtherepeatedinjunctionsofthevicar，thathewastocomeandrevisittheminthesummer，apparentlytendedlesstoraisehisspiritsthantounearthsomemisgiving。
Helefttheminthegraylightofdawn，whilstthecoloursofearthweresombre，andthesunwasyethiddenintheeast。Elfridehadfidgetedallnightinherlittlebedlestnoneofthehouseholdshouldbeawakesoonenoughtostarthim，andalsolestshemightmissseeingagainthebrighteyesandcurlyhair，towhichtheirowner'spossessionofahiddenmysteryaddedadeepertingeofromance。Tosomeextent——sosoondoeswomanlyinteresttakeasolicitousturn——shefeltherselfresponsibleforhissafeconduct。Theybreakfastedbeforedaylight；Mr。Swancourt，beingmoreandmoretakenwithhisguest'singenuousappearance，havingdeterminedtoriseearlyandbidhimafriendlyfarewell。Itwas，however，rathertothevicar'sastonishment，thathesawElfridewalkintothebreakfast-table，candleinhand。
WhilstWilliamWormperformedhistoilet(duringwhichperformancetheinmatesofthevicaragewerealwaysinthehabitofwaitingwithexemplarypatience)，Elfridewandereddesultorilytothesummerhouse。Stephenfollowedherthither。Thecopse-coveredvalleywasvisiblefromthisposition，amistnowlyingallalongitslength，hidingthestreamwhichtrickledthroughit，thoughtheobserversthemselveswereinclearair。
Theystoodclosetogether，leaningovertherusticbalustradingwhichboundedthearbourontheoutwardside，andformedthecrestofasteepslopebeneathElfrideconstrainedlypointedoutsomefeaturesofthedistantuplandsrisingirregularlyopposite。Buttheartisticeyewas，eitherfromnatureorcircumstance，veryfaintinStephennow，andheonlyhalfattendedtoherdescription，asifhesparedtimefromsomeotherthoughtgoingonwithinhim。
'Well，good-bye，'hesaidsuddenly；'Imustneverseeyouagain，I
suppose，MissSwancourt，inspiteofinvitations。'
Hisgenuinetribulationplayeddirectlyuponthedelicatechordsofhernature。Shecouldaffordtoforgivehimforaconcealmentortwo。Moreover，theshynesswhichwouldnotallowhimtolookherinthefacelentbraverytoherowneyesandtongue。
'Oh，DOcomeagain，Mr。Smith!'shesaidprettily。
'Ishoulddelightinit；butitwillbebetterifIdonot。'
'Why？'
'Certaincircumstancesinconnectionwithmemakeitundesirable。
Notonmyaccount；onyours。'
'Goodness!Asifanythinginconnectionwithyoucouldhurtme，'
shesaidwithserenesupremacy；butseeingthatthisplanoftreatmentwasinappropriate，shetunedasmallernote。'Ah，I
knowwhyyouwillnotcome。Youdon'twantto。You'llgohometoLondonandtoallthestirringpeoplethere，andwillneverwanttoseeusanymore!'
'YouknowIhavenosuchreason。'
'Andgoonwritingletterstotheladyyouareengagedto，justasbefore。'
'Whatdoesthatmean？Iamnotengaged。'
'YouwrotealettertoaMissSomebody；Isawitintheletter-
rack。'
'Pooh!anelderlywomanwhokeepsastationer'sshop；anditwastotellhertokeepmynewspaperstillIgetback。'
'Youneedn'thaveexplained:itwasnotmybusinessatall。'MissElfridewasratherrelievedtohearthatstatement，nevertheless。
'Andyouwon'tcomeagaintoseemyfather？'sheinsisted。
'Ishouldliketo——andtoseeyouagain，but——'
'Willyourevealtomethatmatteryouhide？'sheinterruptedpetulantly。
'No；notnow。'
Shecouldnotbutgoon，gracelessasitmightseem。
'Tellmethis，'sheimportunedwithatremblingmouth。'DoesanymeetingofyourswithaladyatEndelstowVicarageclashwith——anyinterestyoumaytakeinme？'
Hestartedalittle。'Itdoesnot，'hesaidemphatically；andlookedintothepupilsofhereyeswiththeconfidencethatonlyhonestycangive，andeventhattoyouthalone。
Theexplanationhadnotcome，butagloomlefther。Shecouldnotbutbelievethatutterance。Whateverenigmamightlieintheshadowontheblind，itwasnotanenigmaofunderhandpassion。
Sheturnedtowardsthehouse，enteringitthroughtheconservatory。Stephenwentroundtothefrontdoor。Mr。
Swancourtwasstandingonthestepinhisslippers。Wormwasadjustingabuckleintheharness，andmurmuringabouthispoorhead；andeverythingwasreadyforStephen'sdeparture。
'YounamedAugustforyourvisit。Augustitshallbe；thatis，ifyoucareforthesocietyofsuchafossilizedTory，'saidMr。
Swancourt。
Mr。Smithonlyrespondedhesitatingly，thatheshouldliketocomeagain。
'Yousaidyouwould，andyoumust，'insistedElfride，comingtothedoorandspeakingunderherfather'sarm。
Whateverreasontheyouthmayhavehadfornotwishingtoenterthehouseasaguest，itnolongerpredominated。Hepromised，andbadethemadieu，andgotintothepony-carriage，whichcreptuptheslope，andborehimoutoftheirsight。
'IneverwassomuchtakenwithanybodyinmylifeasIamwiththatyoungfellow——never!Icannotunderstandit——can'tunderstanditanyhow，'saidMr。Swancourtquiteenergeticallytohimself；andwentindoors。
ChapterVII
'Nomoreofmeyouknew，mylove!'
StephenSmithrevisitedEndelstowVicarage，agreeablytohispromise。Hehadagenuineartisticreasonforcoming，thoughnosuchreasonseemedtoberequired。Six-and-thirtyoldseatends，ofexquisitefifteenth-centuryworkmanship，wererapidlydecayinginanaisleofthechurch；anditbecamepolitictomakedrawingsoftheirworm-eatencontourseretheywerebatteredpastrecognitionintheturmoiloftheso-calledrestoration。
Heenteredthehouseatsunset，andtheworldwaspleasantagaintothetwofair-hairedones。Amomentarypangofdisappointmenthad，nevertheless，passedthroughElfridewhenshecasuallydiscoveredthathehadnotcomethatminutepost-hastefromLondon，buthadreachedtheneighbourhoodthepreviousevening。
Surprisewouldhaveaccompaniedthefeeling，hadshenotrememberedthatseveraltouristswerehauntingthecoastatthisseason，andthatStephenmighthavechosentodolikewise。
Theydidlittlebesideschatthatevening，Mr。Swancourtbeginningtoquestionhisvisitor，closelyyetpaternally，andingoodpart，onhishopesandprospectsfromtheprofessionhehadembraced。
Stephengavevagueanswers。Thenextdayitrained。Intheevening，whentwenty-fourhoursofElfridehadcompletelyrekindledheradmirer'sardour，agameofchesswasproposedbetweenthem。
Thegamehaditsvalueinhelpingonthedevelopmentsoftheirfuture。
Elfridesoonperceivedthatheropponentwasbutalearner。Shenextnoticedthathehadaveryoddwayofhandlingthepieceswhencastlingortakingaman。Antecedentlyshewouldhavesupposedthatthesameperformancemustbegonethroughbyallplayersinthesamemanner；shewastaughtbyhisdifferingactionthatallordinaryplayers，wholearnthegamebysight，unconsciouslytouchthemeninastereotypedway。ThisimpressionofindescribableoddnessinStephen'stouchculminatedinspeechwhenshesawhim，atthetakingofoneofherbishops，pushitasidewiththetakingmaninsteadofliftingitasapreliminarytothemove。
'Howstrangelyyouhandlethemen，Mr。Smith!'
'DoI？Iamsorryforthat。'
'Ohno——don'tbesorry；itisnotamattergreatenoughforsorrow。Butwhotaughtyoutoplay？'
'Nobody，MissSwancourt，'hesaid。'IlearntfromabooklentmebymyfriendMr。Knight，thenoblestmanintheworld。'
'Butyouhaveseenpeopleplay？'
'Ihaveneverseentheplayingofasinglegame。ThisisthefirsttimeIeverhadtheopportunityofplayingwithalivingopponent。Ihaveworkedoutmanygamesfrombooks，andstudiedthereasonsofthedifferentmoves，butthatisall。'
Thiswasafullexplanationofhismannerism；butthefactthatamanwiththedesireforchessshouldhavegrownupwithoutbeingabletoseeorengageinagameastonishedhernotalittle。Sheponderedonthecircumstanceforsometime，lookingintovacancyandhinderingtheplay。
Mr。Swancourtwassittingwithhiseyesfixedontheboard，butapparentlythinkingofotherthings。Halftohimselfhesaid，pendingthemoveofElfride:
'"Quaefinisautquodmemanetstipendium？"'
Stephenrepliedinstantly:
'"Effare:jussascumfidepoenasluam。”'
'Excellent——prompt——gratifying!'saidMr。Swancourtwithfeeling，bringingdownhishanduponthetable，andmakingthreepawnsandaknightdanceovertheirbordersbytheshaking。'IwasmusingonthosewordsasapplicabletoastrangecourseIamsteering——
butenoughofthat。Iamdelightedwithyou，Mr。Smith，foritissoseldominthisdesertthatImeetwithamanwhoisgentlemanandscholarenoughtocontinueaquotation，howevertriteitmaybe。'
'Ialsoapplythewordstomyself，'saidStephenquietly。
'You？Thelastmanintheworldtodothat，Ishouldhavethought。'
'Come，'murmuredElfridepoutingly，andinsinuatingherselfbetweenthem，'tellmeallaboutit。Come，construe，construe!'
Stephenlookedsteadfastlyintoherface，andsaidslowly，andinavoicefullofafar-offmeaningthatseemedquaintlyprematureinonesoyoung:
'QuaefinisWHATWILLBETHEEND，autOR，quodstipendiumWHAT
FINE，manetmeAWAITSME？EffareSPEAKOUT；luamIWILLPAY，cumfideWITHFAITH，jussaspoenasTHEPENALTYREQUIRED。'
Thevicar，whohadlistenedwithacriticalcompressionofthelipstothisschool-boyrecitation，andbyreasonofhisimperfecthearinghadmissedthemarkedrealismofStephen'stoneintheEnglishwords，nowsaidhesitatingly:'Bythebye，Mr。Smith(I
knowyou'llexcusemycuriosity)，thoughyourtranslationwasunexceptionablycorrectandclose，youhaveawayofpronouncingyourLatinwhichtomeseemsmostpeculiar。Notthatthepronunciationofadeadlanguageisofmuchimportance；yetyouraccentsandquantitieshaveagrotesquesoundtomyears。I
thoughtfirstthatyouhadacquiredyourwayofbreathingthevowelsfromsomeofthenortherncolleges；butitcannotbesowiththequantities。WhatIwasgoingtoaskwas，ifyourinstructorintheclassicscouldpossiblyhavebeenanOxfordorCambridgeman？'
'Yes；hewasanOxfordman——FellowofSt。Cyprian's。'
'Really？'
'Ohyes；there'snodoubtaboutit。
'TheoddestthingeverIheardof!'saidMr。Swancourt，startingwithastonishment。'Thatthepupilofsuchaman——'
'ThebestandcleverestmaninEngland!'criedStephenenthusiastically。
'ThatthepupilofsuchamanshouldpronounceLatininthewayyoupronounceitbeatsallIeverheard。Howlongdidheinstructyou？'
'Fouryears。'
'Fouryears!'
'ItisnotsostrangewhenIexplain，'Stephenhastenedtosay。
'Itwasdoneinthisway——byletter。Isenthimexercisesandconstruingtwiceaweek，andtwiceaweekhesentthembacktomecorrected，withmarginalnotesofinstruction。ThatishowI
learntmyLatinandGreek，suchasitis。Heisnotresponsibleformyscanning。Hehasneverheardmescanaline。'
'Anovelcase，andasingularinstanceofpatience!'criedthevicar。
'Onhispart，notonmine。Ah，HenryKnightisoneinathousand!
Irememberhisspeakingtomeonthisverysubjectofpronunciation。Hesaysthat，muchtohisregret，heseesatimecomingwheneverymanwillpronounceeventhecommonwordsofhisowntongueasseemsrightinhisownears，andbethoughtnonetheworseforit；thatthespeakingageispassingaway，tomakeroomforthewritingage。'
BothElfrideandherfatherhadwaitedattentivelytohearStephengoontowhatwouldhavebeenthemostinterestingpartofthestory，namely，whatcircumstancescouldhavenecessitatedsuchanunusualmethodofeducation。Butnofurtherexplanationwasvolunteered；andtheysaw，bytheyoungman'smannerofconcentratinghimselfuponthechess-board，thathewasanxioustodropthesubject。
Thegameproceeded。Elfrideplayedbyrote；Stephenbythought。
Itwasthecruellestthingtocheckmatehimaftersomuchlabour，sheconsidered。Whatwasshedishonestenoughtodoinhercompassion？Tolethimcheckmateher。Asecondgamefollowed；andbeingherselfabsolutelyindifferentastotheresult(herplayingwasabovetheaverageamongwomen，andsheknewit)，sheallowedhimtogivecheckmateagain。Afinalgame，inwhichsheadoptedtheMuziogambitasheropening，wasterminatedbyElfride'svictoryatthetwelfthmove。
Stephenlookedupsuspiciously。Hisheartwasthrobbingevenmoreexcitedlythanwashers，whichitselfhadquickenedwhensheseriouslysettoworkonthislastoccasion。Mr。Swancourthadlefttheroom。
'Youhavebeentriflingwithmetillnow!'heexclaimed，hisfaceflushing。'Youdidnotplayyourbestinthefirsttwogames？'
Elfride'sguiltshowedinherface。Stephenbecamethepictureofvexationandsadness，which，relishableforamoment，causedherthenextinstanttoregretthemistakeshehadmade。
'Mr。Smith，forgiveme!'shesaidsweetly。'Iseenow，thoughI
didnotatfirst，thatwhatIhavedoneseemslikecontemptforyourskill。But，indeed，Ididnotmeanitinthatsense。I
couldnot，uponmyconscience，winavictoryinthosefirstandsecondgamesoveronewhofoughtatsuchadisadvantageandsomanfully。'
Hedrewalongbreath，andmurmuredbitterly，'Ah，youareclevererthanI。Youcandoeverything——Icandonothing!OMissSwancourt!'heburstoutwildly，hisheartswellinginhisthroat，'ImusttellyouhowIloveyou!AllthesemonthsofmyabsenceI
haveworshippedyou。'
Heleaptfromhisseatliketheimpulsiveladthathewas，slidroundtoherside，andalmostbeforeshesuspectedithisarmwasroundherwaist，andthetwosetsofcurlsintermingled。
Soentirelynewwasfull-blownlovetoElfride，thatshetrembledasmuchfromthenoveltyoftheemotionasfromtheemotionitself。Thenshesuddenlywithdrewherselfandstoodupright，vexedthatshehadsubmittedunresistinglyeventohismomentarypressure。Sheresolvedtoconsiderthisdemonstrationaspremature。
'Youmustnotbeginsuchthingsasthose，'shesaidwithcoquettishhauteurofaverytransparentnature'And——youmustnotdosoagain——andpapaiscoming。'
'Letmekissyou——onlyalittleone，'hesaidwithhisusualdelicacy，andwithoutreadingthefactitiousnessofhermanner。
'No；notone。'
'Onlyonyourcheek？'
'No。'
'Forehead？'
'Certainlynot。'
'Youcareforsomebodyelse，then？Ah，Ithoughtso!'
'IamsureIdonot。'
'Norformeeither？'
'HowcanItell？'shesaidsimply，thesimplicitylyingmerelyinthebroadoutlinesofhermannerandspeech。Therewerethesemitoneofvoiceandhalf-hiddenexpressionofeyeswhichtelltheinitiatedhowveryfragileistheiceofreserveatthesetimes。
Footstepswereheard。Mr。Swancourtthenenteredtheroom，andtheirprivatecolloquyended。
Thedayafterthispartialrevelation，Mr。SwancourtproposedadrivetothecliffsbeyondTarganBay，adistanceofthreeorfourmiles。
Halfanhourbeforethetimeofdepartureacrashwasheardinthebackyard，andpresentlyWormcamein，sayingpartlytotheworldingeneral，part]ytohimself，andslightlytohisauditors:
'Ay，ay，sure!ThatfryingoffishwillbetheendofWilliamWorm。Theybeatitagainthismorning——sameasever——fizz，fizz，fizz!'
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