carestohearme。'
Everywomanwhomakesapermanentimpressiononamanisusuallyrecalledtohismind'seyeassheappearedinoneparticularscene，whichseemsordainedtobeherspecialformofmanifestationthroughoutthepagesofhismemory。AsthepatronSainthasherattitudeandaccessoriesinmediaevalillumination，sothesweetheartmaybesaidtohavehersuponthetableofhertrueLove'sfancy，withoutwhichsheisrarelyintroducedthereexceptbyeffort；andthisthoughshemay，onfurtheracquaintance，havebeenobservedinmanyotherphaseswhichonewouldimaginetobefarmoreappropriatetolove'syoungdream。
MissElfride'simagechosetheforminwhichshewasbeheldduringtheseminutesofsinging，forherpermanentattitudeofvisitationtoStephen'seyesduringhissleepingandwakinghoursinafterdays。Theprofileisseenofayoungwomaninapalegraysilkdresswithtrimmingsofswan's-down，andopeningupfromapointinfront，likeawaistcoatwithoutashirt；thecoolcolourcontrastingadmirablywiththewarmbloomofherneckandface。
Thefurthermostcandleonthepianocomesimmediatelyinalinewithherhead，andhalfinvisibleitself，formstheaccidentallyfrizzledhairintoanebuloushazeoflight，surroundinghercrownlikeanaureola。Herhandsareintheirplaceonthekeys，herlipsparted，andtrillingforth，inatenderdiminuendo，theclosingwordsofthesadapostrophe:
'OLove，whobewailestThefrailtyofallthingshere，WhychooseyouthefrailestForyourcradle，yourhome，andyourbier!'
Herheadisforwardalittle，andhereyesdirectedkeenlyupwardtothetopofthepageofmusicconfrontingher。ThencomesarapidlookintoStephen'sface，andastillmorerapidlookbackagaintoherbusiness，herfacehavingdroppeditssadness，andacquiredacertainexpressionofmischievousarchnessthewhile；
whichlingeredthereforsometime，butwasneverdevelopedintoapositivesmileofflirtation。
Stephensuddenlyshiftedhispositionfromherrighthandtoherleft，wheretherewasjustroomenoughforasmallottomantostandbetweenthepianoandthecorneroftheroom。Intothisnookhesqueezedhimself，andgazedwistfullyupintoElfride'sface。Solongandsoearnestlygazedhe，thathercheekdeepenedtoamoreandmorecrimsontintaseachlinewasaddedtohersong。Concluding，andpausingmotionlessafterthelastwordforaminuteortwo，sheventuredtolookathimagain。Hisfeaturesworeanexpressionofunutterableheaviness。
'Youdon'thearmanysongs，doyou，Mr。Smith，totakesomuchnoticeoftheseofmine？'
'PerhapsitwasthemeansandvehicleofthesongthatIwasnoticing:Imeanyourself，'heansweredgently。
'Now，Mr。Smith!'
'Itisperfectlytrue；Idon'thearmuchsinging。YoumistakewhatIam，Ifancy。BecauseIcomeasastrangertoasecludedspot，youthinkImustneedscomefromalifeofbustle，andknowthelatestmovementsoftheday。ButIdon't。Mylifeisasquietasyours，andmoresolitary；solitaryasdeath。'
'Thedeathwhichcomesfromaplethoraoflife？Butseriously，I
canquiteseethatyouarenottheleastwhatIthoughtyouwouldbebeforeIsawyou。Youarenotcritical，orexperienced，or——
muchtomind。That'swhyIdon'tmindsingingairstoyouthatI
onlyhalfknow。'Findingthatbythisconfessionshehadvexedhiminawayshedidnotintend，sheaddednaively，'Imean，Mr。
Smith，thatyouarebetter，notworse，forbeingonlyyoungandnotveryexperienced。Youdon'tthinkmylifeheresoverytameanddull，Iknow。'
'Idonot，indeed，'hesaidwithfervour。'Itmustbedelightfullypoetical，andsparkling，andfresh，and——'
'Thereyougo，Mr。Smith!Well，menofanotherkind，whenIgetthemtobehonestenoughtoownthetruth，thinkjustthereverse:
thatmylifemustbeadreadfulboreinitsnormalstate，thoughpleasantfortheexceptionalfewdaystheypasshere。'
'Icouldliveherealways!'hesaid，andwithsuchatoneandlookofunconsciousrevelationthatElfridewasstartledtofindthatherharmonieshadfiredasmallTroy，intheshapeofStephen'sheart。Shesaidquickly:
'Butyoucan'tliveherealways。'
'Ohno。'Andhedrewhimselfinwiththesensitivenessofasnail。
Elfride'semotionsweresuddenashisinkindling，buttheleastofwoman'slesserinfirmities——loveofadmiration——causedaninflammabledispositiononhispart，soexactlysimilartoherown，toappearasmeritoriousinhimasmodestymadeherownseemculpableinher。
ChapterIV
'Whereheavestheturfinmanyamould'ringheap。'
Forreasonsofhisown，StephenSmithwasstirringashorttimeafterdawnthenextmorning。Fromthewindowofhisroomhecouldsee，first，twoboldescarpmentsslopingdowntogetherliketheletterV。Towardsthebottom，likeliquidinafunnel，appearedthesea，grayandsmall。Onthebrowofonehill，ofrathergreateraltitudethanitsneighbour，stoodthechurchwhichwastobethesceneofhisoperations。Thelonelyedificewasblackandbare，cuttingupintotheskyfromtheverytipofthehill。Ithadasquaremoulderingtower，owningneitherbattlementnorpinnacle，andseemedamonolithictermination，ofonesubstancewiththeridge，ratherthanastructureraisedthereon。Roundthechurchranalowwall；over-toppingthewallingenerallevelwasthegraveyard；notasagraveyardusuallyis，afragmentoflandscapewithitsduevarietyofchiaro-oscuro，butamereprofileagainstthesky，serratedwiththeoutlinesofgravesandaveryfewmemorialstones。Notatreecouldexistupthere:
nothingbutthemonotonousgray-greengrass。
Fiveminutesafterthiscasualsurveywasmadehisbedroomwasempty，anditsoccupanthadvanishedquietlyfromthehouse。
Attheendoftwohourshewasagainintheroom，lookingwarmandglowing。Henowpursuedtheartisticdetailsofdressing，whichonhisfirstrisinghadbeenentirelyomitted。Andaverybloomingboyhelooked，afterthatmysteriousmorningscamper。
Hismouthwasatriumphofitsclass。Itwasthecleanly-cut，piquantlypursed-upmouthofWilliamPitt，asrepresentedinthewellorlittleknownbustbyNollekens——amouthwhichisinitselfayoungman'sfortune，ifproperlyexercised。Hisroundchin，whereitsupperpartturnedinward，stillcontinueditsperfectandfullcurve，seemingtopressintoapointthebottomofhisnetherlipattheirplaceofjunction。
OncehemurmuredthenameofElfride。Ah，thereshewas!Onthelawninaplaindress，withouthatorbonnet，runningwithaboy'svelocity，superaddedtoagirl'slightness，afteratamerabbitshewasendeavouringtocapture，herstrategicintonationsofcoaxingwordsalternatingwithdesperaterushessomuchoutofkeepingwiththem，thatthehollownessofsuchexpressionswasbuttooevidenttoherpet，whodartedanddodgedincarefullytimedcounterpart。
Thescenedowntherewasaltogetherdifferentfromthatofthehills。Athicketofshrubsandtreesenclosedthefavouredspotfromthewildernesswithout；evenatthistimeoftheyearthegrasswasluxuriantthere。Nowindblewinsidetheprotectingbeltofevergreens，wastingitsforceuponthehigherandstrongertreesformingtheoutermarginofthegrove。
Thenheheardaheavypersonshufflingaboutinslippers，andcalling'Mr。Smith!'Smithproceededtothestudy，andfoundMr。
Swancourt。Theyoungmanexpressedhisgladnesstoseehishostdownstairs。
'Ohyes；IknewIshouldsoonberightagain。Ihavenotmadetheacquaintanceofgoutformorethantwoyears，anditgenerallygoesoffthesecondnight。Well，wherehaveyoubeenthismorning？Isawyoucomeinjustnow，Ithink!'
'Yes；Ihavebeenforawalk。'
'Startearly？'
'Yes。'
'Veryearly，Ithink？'
'Yes，itwasratherearly。'
'Whichwaydidyougo？Tothesea，Isuppose。Everybodygoesseaward。'
'No；Ifolloweduptheriverasfarastheparkwall。'
'Youaredifferentfromyourkind。Well，Isupposesuchawildplaceisanovelty，andsotemptedyououtofbed？'
'Notaltogetheranovelty。Ilikeit。'
Theyouthseemedaversetoexplanation。
'Youmust，youmust；togocock-watchingthemorningafterajourneyoffourteenorsixteenhours。Butthere'snoaccountingfortastes，andIamgladtoseethatyoursarenomeaner。Afterbreakfast，butnotbefore，Ishallbegoodforatenmiles'walk，MasterSmith。'
Certainlythereseemednothingexaggeratedinthatassertion。Mr。
Swancourtbydaylightshowedhimselftobeamanwho，incommonwiththeothertwopeopleunderhisroof，hadreallystrongclaimstobeconsideredhandsome，——handsome，thatis，inthesenseinwhichthemoonisbright:theravinesandvalleyswhich，onacloseinspection，areseentodiversifyitssurfacebeingleftoutoftheargument。Hisfacewasofatintthatneverdeepeneduponhischeeksnorlighteneduponhisforehead，butremaineduniformthroughout；theusualneutralsalmon-colourofamanwhofeedswell——nottosaytoowell——anddoesnotthinkhard；everyporebeinginvisibleworkingorder。Histoutensemblewasthatofahighlyimprovedclassoffarmer，dressedupinthewrongclothes；
thatofafirm-standingperpendicularman，whosefallwouldhavebeenbackwardsindirectionifhehadeverlosthisbalance。
Thevicar'sbackgroundwasatpresentwhatavicar'sbackgroundshouldbe，hisstudy。Heretheconsistencyends。Allalongthechimneypiecewererangedbottlesofhorse，pig，andcowmedicines，andagainstthewallwasahightable，madeupofthefragmentsofanoldoakIychgate。Uponthisstoodstuffedspecimensofowls，divers，andgulls，andoverthembunchesofwheatandbarleyears，labelledwiththedateoftheyearthatproducedthem。
Somecasesandshelves，moreorlessladenwithbooks，theprominenttitlesofwhichwereDr。Brown's'NotesontheRomans，'Dr。Smith's'NotesontheCorinthians，'andDr。Robinson's'NotesontheGalatians，Ephesians，andPhilippians，'justsavedthecharacteroftheplace，inspiteofagirl'sdoll's-housestandingabovethem，amarineaquariuminthewindow，andElfride'shathangingonitscorner。
'Business，business!'saidMr。Swancourtafterbreakfast。Hebegantofinditnecessarytoactthepartofafly-wheeltowardsthesomewhatirregularforcesofhisvisitor。
Theypreparedtogotothechurch；thevicar，onsecondthoughts，mountinghiscoal-blackmaretoavoidexertinghisfoottoomuchatstarting。Stephensaidheshouldwantamantoassisthim。
'Worm!'thevicarshouted。
Aminuteortwoafteravoicewasheardroundthecornerofthebuilding，mumbling，'Ah，Iusedtobestrongenough，but'tisalterednow!Well，there，I'masindependentasonehereandthere，eveniftheydowrite'squireaftertheirnames。'
'What'sthematter？'saidthevicar，asWilliamWormappeared；
whentheremarkswererepeatedtohim。
'Wormsayssomeverytruethingssometimes，'Mr。Swancourtsaid，turningtoStephen。'Now，asregardsthatword"esquire。”Why，Mr。Smith，thatword"esquire"isgonetothedogs，——usedonthelettersofeveryjackanapeswhohasablackcoat。Anythingelse，Worm？'
'Ay，thefolkhavebegunfryingagain!'
'Dearme!I'msorrytohearthat。'
'Yes，'WormsaidgroaninglytoStephen，'I'vegotsuchanoiseinmyheadthatthere'snolivingnightnorday。'Tisjustforalltheworldlikepeoplefryingfish:fry，fry，fry，alldaylonginmypoorhead，tillIdon'tknowwhe'rI'mhereoryonder。There，GodA'mightywillfinditoutsoonerorlater，Ihope，andrelieveme。'
'Now，mydeafness，'saidMr。Swancourtimpressively，'isadeadsilence；butWilliamWorm'sisthatofpeoplefryingfishinhishead。Veryremarkable，isn'tit？'
'Icanhearthefrying-pana-fizzingasnaterelaslife，'saidWormcorroboratively。
'Yes，itisremarkable，'saidMr。Smith。
'Verypeculiar，verypeculiar，'echoedthevicar；andtheyallthenfollowedthepathupthehill，boundedoneachsidebyalittlestonewall，fromwhichgleamedfragmentsofquartzandblood-redmarbles，apparentlyofinestimablevalue，intheirsettingofbrownalluvium。Stephenwalkedwiththedignityofamanclosetothehorse'shead，Wormstumbledalongastone'sthrowintherear，andElfridewasnowhereinparticular，yeteverywhere；sometimesinfront，sometimesbehind，sometimesatthesides，hoveringabouttheprocessionlikeabutterfly；notdefinitelyengagedintravelling，yetsomehowchiminginatpointswiththegeneralprogress。
Thevicarexplainedthingsashewenton:'Thefactis，Mr。Smith，Ididn'twantthisbotherofchurchrestorationatall，butitwasnecessarytodosomethinginself-defence，onaccountofthosed——
dissenters:Iusethewordinitsscripturalmeaning，ofcourse，notasanexpletive。'
'Howveryodd!'saidStephen，withtheconcerndemandedofseriousfriendliness。
'Odd？That'snothingtohowitisintheparishofTwinkley。Boththechurchwardensare——；there，Iwon'tsaywhattheyare；andtheclerkandthesextonaswell。'
'Howverystrange!'saidStephen。
'Strange？Mydearsir，that'snothingtohowitisintheparishofSinnerton。However，astoourownparish，Ihopeweshallmakesomeprogresssoon。'
'Youmusttrusttocircumstances。'
'Therearenocircumstancestotrustto。WemayaswelltrustinProvidenceifwetrustatall。Buthereweare。Awildplace，isn'tit？ButIlikeitonsuchdaysasthese。'
Thechurchyardwasenteredonthissidebyastonestile，overwhichhavingclambered，youremainedstillonthewildhill，thewithinnotbeingsodividedfromthewithoutastoobliteratethesenseofopenfreedom。Adelightfulplacetobeburiedin，postulatingthatdelightcanaccompanyamantohistombunderanycircumstances。Therewasnothinghorribleinthischurchyard，intheshapeoftightmoundsbondedwithsticks，whichshoutimprisonmentintheearsratherthanwhisperrest；ortrimgarden-
flowers，whichonlyraiseimagesofpeopleinnewblackcrapeandwhitehandkerchiefscomingtotendthem；orwheel-marks，whichremindusofhearsesandmourningcoaches；orcypress-bushes，whichmakeaparadeofsorrow；orcoffin-boardsandboneslyingbehindtrees，showingthatweareonlyleaseholdersofourgraves。
No；nothingbutlong，wild，untutoredgrass，diversifyingtheformsofthemoundsitcovered，——themselvesirregularlyshaped，withnoeyetoeffect；theimpressivepresenceoftheoldmountainthatallthiswasapartofbeingnowhereexcludedbydisguisingart。Outsideweresimilarslopesandsimilargrass；andthenthesereneimpassivesea，visibletoawidthofhalfthehorizon，andmeetingtheeyewiththeeffectofavastconcave，liketheinteriorofabluevessel。Detachedrocksstooduprightafar，acollaroffoamgirdingtheirbases，andrepeatinginitswhitenesstheplumageofacountlessmultitudeofgullsthatrestlesslyhoveredabout。
'Now，Worm!'saidMr。Swancourtsharply；andWormstartedintoanattitudeofattentionatoncetoreceiveorders。Stephenandhimselfwerethenleftinpossession，andtheworkwentontillearlyintheafternoon，whendinnerwasannouncedbyUnityofthevicaragekitchenrunningupthehillwithoutabonnet。
Elfridedidnotmakeherappearanceinsidethebuildingtilllateintheafternoon，andcamethenbyspecialinvitationfromStephenduringdinner。ShelookedsointenselyLIVINGandfullofmovementasshecameintotheoldsilentplace，thatyoungSmith'sworldbegantobelitby'thepurplelight'inallitsdefiniteness。Wormwasgotridofbysendinghimtomeasuretheheightofthetower。
Whatcouldshedobutcomeclose——soclosethataminutearcofherskirttouchedhisfoot——andaskedhimhowhewasgettingonwithhissketches，andsetherselftolearntheprinciplesofpracticalmensurationasappliedtoirregularbuildings？Thenshemustascendthepulpittore-imagineforthehundredthtimehowitwouldseemtobeapreacher。
Presentlysheleantoverthefrontofthepulpit。
'Don'tyoutellpapa，willyou，Mr。Smith，ifItellyousomething？'shesaidwithasuddenimpulsetomakeaconfidence。
'Ohno，thatIwon't，'saidhe，staringup。
'Well，Iwritepapa'ssermonsforhimveryoften，andhepreachesthembetterthanhedoeshisown；andthenafterwardshetalkstopeopleandtomeaboutwhathesaidinhissermonto-day，andforgetsthatIwroteitforhim。Isn'titabsurd？'
'Howcleveryoumustbe!'saidStephen。'Icouldn'twriteasermonfortheworld。'
'Oh，it'seasyenough，'shesaid，descendingfromthepulpitandcomingclosetohimtoexplainmorevividly。'Youdoitlikethis。Didyoueverplayagameofforfeitscalled"Whenisit？
whereisit？whatisit？"'
'No，never。'
'Ah，that'sapity，becausewritingasermonisverymuchlikeplayingthatgame。Youtakethetext。Youthink，whyisit？whatisit？andsoon。Youputthatdownunder"Generally。”ThenyouproceedtotheFirst，Secondly，andThirdly。Papawon'thaveFourthlys——saystheyareallmyeye。ThenyouhaveafinalCollectively，severalpagesofthisbeingputingreatblackbrackets，writingopposite，"LEAVETHISOUTIFTHEFARMERSARE
FALLINGASLEEP。”ThencomesyourInConclusion，thenAFewWordsAndIHaveDone。Well，allthistimeyouhaveputonthebackofeachpage，"KEEPYOURVOICEDOWN"——Imean，'sheadded，correctingherself，'that'showIdoinpapa'ssermon-book，becauseotherwisehegetslouderandlouder，tillatlastheshoutslikeafarmerupa-field。Oh，papaissofunnyinsomethings!'
Then，afterthischildishburstofconfidence，shewasfrightened，asifwarnedbywomanlyinstinct，whichforthemomentherardourhadoutrun，thatshehadbeentooforwardtoacomparativestranger。
Elfridesawherfatherthen，andwentawayintothewind，beingcaughtbyagustassheascendedthechurchyardslope，inwhichgustshehadthemotions，withoutthemotives，ofahoiden；thegrace，withouttheself-consciousness，ofapirouetter。Sheconversedforaminuteortwowithherfather，andproceededhomeward，Mr。SwancourtcomingontothechurchtoStephen。Thewindhadfreshenedhiswarmcomplexionasitfreshenstheglowofabrand。Hewasinamoodofjollity，andwatchedElfridedownthehillwithasmile。
'Youlittleflyaway!youlookwildenoughnow，'hesaid，andturnedtoStephen。'Butshe'snotawildchildatall，Mr。Smith。
Assteadyasyou；andthatyouaresteadyIseefromyourdiligencehere。'
'IthinkMissSwancourtveryclever，'Stephenobserved。
'Yes，sheis；certainly，sheis，'saidpapa，turninghisvoiceasmuchaspossibletotheneutraltoneofdisinterestedcriticism。
'Now，Smith，I'lltellyousomething；butshemustn'tknowitfortheworld——notfortheworld，mind，forsheinsistsuponkeepingitadeadsecret。Why，SHEWRITESMYSERMONSFORMEOFTEN，andaverygoodjobshemakesofthem!'
'Shecandoanything。'
'Shecandothat。Thelittlerascalhastheverytrickofthetrade。But，mindyou，Smith，notawordaboutittoher，notasingleword!'
'Notaword，'saidSmith。
'Lookthere，'saidMr。Swancourt。'Whatdoyouthinkofmyroofing？'Hepointedwithhiswalking-stickatthechancelroof'Didyoudothat，sir？'
'Yes，Iworkedinshirt-sleevesallthetimethatwasgoingon。I
pulleddowntheoldrafters，fixedthenewones，putonthebattens，slatedtheroof，allwithmyownhands，Wormbeingmyassistant。Weworkedlikeslaves，didn'twe，Worm？'
'Ay，sure，wedid；harderthansomehereandthere——hee，hee!'
saidWilliamWorm，croppingupfromsomewhere。'Likeslaves，'ab'lieve——hee，hee!Andweren'tyefoamingmad，sir，whenthenailswouldn'tgostraight？MightyI!There，'tisn'tsobadtocussandkeepitinastocussandletitout，isit，sir？'
'Well——why？'
'Becauseyou，sir，whenyewerea-puttingontheroof，onlyusedtocussinyourmind，whichis，Isuppose，noharmatall。'
'Idon'tthinkyouknowwhatgoesoninmymind，Worm。'
'Oh，doan'tI，sir——hee，hee!MaybeI'mbutapoorwamblingthing，sir，andcan'treadmuch；butIcanspellaswellassomehereandthere。Doan'tyemind，sir，thatblustrousnightwhenyeaskedmetoholdthecandletoyeinyerworkshop，whenyouweremakinganewchairforthechancel？'
'Yes；whatofthat？'
'Istoodwiththecandle，andyousaidyoulikedcompany，if'twasonlyadogorcat——maningme；andthechairwouldn'tdonohow。'
'Ah，Iremember。'
'No；thechairwouldn'tdonohow。'Awasverywelltolookat；
but，Lord!——'
'Worm，howoftenhaveIcorrectedyouforirreverentspeaking？'
'——'Awasverywelltolookat，butyoucouldn'tsitinthechairnohow。'Twasalla-twistwi'thechair，liketheletterZ，directlyyousatdownuponthechair。"Getup，Worm，"saysyou，whenyouseedthechairgoalla-swaywi'me。Upyoutookthechair，andflungenlikefireandbrimstonetot'otherendofyourshop——allinapassion。"Damnthechair!"saysI。"JustwhatI
wasthinking，"saysyou，sir。"Icouldseeitinyourface，sir，"
saysI，"andIhopeyouandGodwillforgi'emeforsayingwhatyouwouldn't。”Tosaveyourlifeyoucouldn'thelplaughing，sir，atapoorwamblerreadingyourthoughtssoplain。Ay，I'maswiseasonehereandthere。'
'Ithoughtyouhadbetterhaveapracticalmantogooverthechurchandtowerwithyou，'Mr。SwancourtsaidtoStephenthefollowingmorning，'soIgotLordLuxellian'spermissiontosendforamanwhenyoucame。Itoldhimtobethereatteno'clock。
He'saveryintelligentman，andhewilltellyouallyouwanttoknowaboutthestateofthewalls。HisnameisJohnSmith。'
ElfridedidnotliketobeseenagainatthechurchwithStephen。
'Iwillwatchhereforyourappearanceatthetopofthetower，'
shesaidlaughingly。'Ishallseeyourfigureagainstthesky。'
'AndwhenIamupthereI'llwavemyhandkerchieftoyou，MissSwancourt，'saidStephen。'Intwelveminutesfromthispresentmoment，'headded，lookingathiswatch，'I'llbeatthesummitandlookoutforyou。'
Shewentroundtothecornerofthesbrubbery，whenceshecouldwatchhimdowntheslopeleadingtothefootofthehillonwhichthechurchstood。Thereshesawwaitingforhimawhitespot——amasoninhisworkingclothes。Stephenmetthismanandstopped。
Tohersurprise，insteadoftheirmovingontothechurchyard，theybothleisurelysatdownuponastoneclosebytheirmeeting-
place，andremainedasifindeepconversation。Elfridelookedatthetime；nineofthetwelveminuteshadpassed，andStephenshowednosignsofmoving。Moreminutespassed——shegrewcoldwithwaiting，andshivered。Itwasnottilltheendofaquarterofanhourthattheybegantoslowlywendupthehillatasnail'space。
'Rudeandunmannerly!'shesaidtoherself，colouringwithpique。
'Anybodywouldthinkhewasinlovewiththathorridmasoninsteadofwith——'
Thesentenceremainedunspoken，thoughnotunthought。
Shereturnedtotheporch。
'Isthemanyousentforalazy，sit-still，do-nothingkindofman？'sheinquiredofherfather。
'No，'hesaidsurprised；'quitethereverse。HeisLordLuxellian'smaster-mason，JohnSmith。'
'Oh，'saidElfrideindifferently，andreturnedtowardsherbleakstation，andwaitedandshiveredagain。Itwasatrifle，afterall——achildishthing——lookingoutfromatowerandwavingahandkerchief。Buthernewfriendhadpromised，andwhyshouldheteaseherso？Theeffectofablowisasproportionatetothetextureoftheobjectstruckastoitsownmomentum；andshehadsuchasuperlativecapacityforbeingwoundedthatlittlehitsstruckherhard。
Itwasnottilltheendofhalfanhourthattwofigureswereseenabovetheparapetofthedrearyoldpile，motionlessasbitternsonaruinedmosque。EventhenStephenwasnottrueenoughtoperformwhathewassocourteoustopromise，andhevanishedwithoutmakingasign。
Hereturnedatmidday。Elfridelookedvexedwhenunconsciousthathiseyeswereuponher；whenconscious，severe。However，herattitudeofcoldnesshadlongoutlivedthecoldnessitself，andshecouldnolongerutterfeignedwordsofindifference。
'Ah，youweren'tkindtokeepmewaitinginthecold，andbreakyourpromise，'shesaidatlastreproachfully，intonestoolowforherfather'spowersofhearing。
'Forgive，forgiveme!'saidStephenwithdismay。'Ihadforgotten——quiteforgotten!Somethingpreventedmyremembering。'
'Anyfurtherexplanation？'saidMissCapricious，pouting。
Hewassilentforafewminutes，andlookedaskance。
'None，'hesaid，withtheaccentofonewhoconcealedasin。
ChapterV
'Bosom'dhighintuftedtrees。'
Itwasbreakfasttime。
Asseenfromthevicaragedining-room，whichtookawarmtoneoflightfromthefire，theweatherandsceneoutsideseemedtohavestereotypedthemselvesinunrelievedshadesofgray。Thelong-
armedtreesandshrubsofjuniper，cedar，andpinevarieties，weregrayishblack；thoseofthebroad-leavedsort，togetherwiththeherbage，weregrayish-green；theeternalhillsandtowerbehindthemweregrayish-brown；thesky，droppingbehindall，grayofthepurestmelancholy。
Yetinspiteofthissombreartisticeffect，themorningwasnotonewhichtendedtolowerthespirits。Itwasevencheering。Foritdidnotrain，norwasrainlikelytofallformanydaystocome。
Elfridehadturnedfromthetabletowardsthefireandwasidlyelevatingahand-screenbeforeherface，whensheheardtheclickofalittlegateoutside。
'Ah，here'sthepostman!'shesaid，asashuffling，activemancamethroughanopeningintheshrubberyandacrossthelawn。Shevanished，andmethimintheporch，afterwardscominginwithherhandsbehindherback。
'Howmanyarethere？Threeforpapa，oneforMr。Smith，noneforMissSwancourt。And，papa，lookhere，oneofyoursisfrom——whomdoyouthink？——LordLuxellian。AndithassomethingHARDinit——alumpofsomething。I'vebeenfeelingitthroughtheenvelope，andcan'tthinkwhatitis。'
'WhatdoesLuxellianwritefor，Iwonder？'Mr。Swancourthadsaidsimultaneouslywithherwords。HehandedStephenhisletter，andtookhisown，puttingonhiscountenanceahigherclassoflookthanwascustomary，asbecameapoorgentlemanwhowasgoingtoreadaletterfromapeer。
Stephenreadhismissivewithacountenancequitethereverseofthevicar's。
'PERCYPLACE，ThursdayEvening。
'DEARSMITH，——OldH。isinatoweringragewithyouforbeingsolongaboutthechurchsketches。Swearsyouaremoretroublethanyouareworth。HesaysIamtowriteandsayyouaretostaynolongeronanyconsideration——thathewouldhavedoneitallinthreehoursveryeasily。Itoldhimthatyouwerenotlikeanexperiencedhand，whichheseemedtoforget，butitdidnotmakemuchdifference。However，betweenyouandmeprivately，ifIwereyouIwouldnotalarmmyselfforadayorso，ifIwerenotinclinedtoreturn。Iwouldmakeouttheweekandfinishmyspree。HewillblowupjustasmuchifyouappearhereonSaturdayasifyoukeepawaytillMondaymorning——Yoursverytruly，'SIMPKINSJENKINS。
'Dearme——veryawkward!'saidStephen，ratherenl'air，andconfusedwiththekindofconfusionthatassailsanunderstrapperwhenhehasbeenenlargedbyaccidenttothedimensionsofasuperior，andissomewhatrudelypareddowntohisoriginalsize。
'Whatisawkward？'saidMissSwancourt。
Smithbythistimerecoveredhisequanimity，andwithittheprofessionaldignityofanexperiencedarchitect。
'ImportantbusinessdemandsmyimmediatepresenceinLondon，I
regrettosay，'hereplied。
'What!Mustyougoatonce？'saidMr。Swancourt，lookingovertheedgeofhisletter。'Importantbusiness？Ayoungfellowlikeyoutohaveimportantbusiness!'
'Thetruthis，'saidStephenblushing，andratherashamedofhavingpretendedevensoslightlytoaconsequencewhichdidnotbelongtohim，——'thetruthis，Mr。HewbyhassenttosayIamtocomehome；andImustobeyhim。'
'Isee；Isee。Itispolitictodoso，youmean。NowIcanseemorethanyouthink。Youaretobehispartner。IbookedyouforthatdirectlyIreadhislettertometheotherday，andthewayhespokeofyou。Hethinksagreatdealofyou，Mr。Smith，orhewouldn'tbesoanxiousforyourreturn。'
UnpleasanttoStephensuchremarksasthesecouldnotsound；tohavetheexpectancyofpartnershipwithoneofthelargest-
practisingarchitectsinLondonthrustuponhimwascheering，howeveruntenablehefelttheideatobe。Hesawthat，whateverMr。Hewbymightthink，Mr。Swancourtcertainlythoughtmuchofhimtoentertainsuchanideaonsuchslendergroundastobeabsolutelynogroundatall。Andthen，unaccountably，hisspeakingfaceexhibitedacloudofsadness，whichareflectionontheremotenessofanysuchcontingencycouldhardlyhavesufficedtocause。
Elfridewasstruckwiththatlookofhis；evenMr。Swancourtnoticedit。
'Well，'hesaidcheerfully，'nevermindthatnow。Youmustcomeagainonyourownaccount；notonbusiness。Cometoseemeasavisitor，youknow——say，inyourholidays——allyoutownmenhaveholidayslikeschoolboys。Whenarethey？'
'InAugust，Ibelieve。'
'Verywell；comeinAugust；andthenyouneednothurryawayso。
Iamgladtogetsomebodydecenttotalkto，orat，inthisoutlandishultimaThule。But，bythebye，Ihavesomethingtosay——youwon'tgoto-day？'
'No；Ineednot，'saidStephenhesitatingly。'IamnotobligedtogetbackbeforeMondaymorning。'
'Verywell，then，thatbringsmetowhatIamgoingtopropose。
ThisisaletterfromLordLuxellian。Ithinkyouheardmespeakofhimastheresidentlandownerinthisdistrict，andpatronofthisliving？'
'I——knowofhim。'
'HeisinLondonnow。Itseemsthathehasrunuponbusinessforadayortwo，andtakenLadyLuxellianwithhim。Hehaswrittentoaskmetogotohishouse，andsearchforapaperamonghisprivatememoranda，whichheforgottotakewithhim。'
'Whatdidhesendintheletter？'inquiredElfride。
'Thekeyofaprivatedeskinwhichthepapersare。Hedoesn'tliketotrustsuchamattertoanybodyelse。Ihavedonesuchthingsforhimbefore。AndwhatIproposeis，thatwemakeanafternoonofit——allthreeofus。GoforadrivetoTarganBay，comehomebywayofEndelstowHouse；andwhilstIamlookingoverthedocumentsyoucanrambleabouttheroomswhereyoulike。I
havetherunofthehouseatanytime，youknow。Thebuilding，thoughnothingbutamassofgablesoutside，hasasplendidhall，staircase，andgallerywithin；andthereareafewgoodpictures。'
'Yes，thereare，'saidStephen。
'Haveyouseentheplace，then？
'IsawitasIcameby，'hesaidhastily。
'Ohyes；butIwasalludingtotheinterior。Andthechurch——St。
Eval's——ismucholderthanourSt。Agnes'here。Idodutyinthatandthisalternately，youknow。Thefactis，Ioughttohavesomehelp；ridingacrossthatparkfortwomilesonawetmorningisnotatallthething。Ifmyconstitutionwerenotwellseasoned，asthankGoditis，'——hereMr。Swancourtlookeddownhisfront，asifhisconstitutionwerevisiblethere，——'Ishouldbecoughingandbarkingalltheyearround。Andwhenthefamilygoesaway，thereareonlyaboutthreeservantstopreachtowhenIgetthere。
Well，thatshallbethearrangement，then。Elfride，youwillliketogo？'
Elfrideassented；andthelittlebreakfast-partyseparated。
Stephenrosetogoandtakeafewfinalmeasurementsatthechurch，thevicarfollowinghimtothedoorwithamysteriousexpressionofinquiryonhisface。
'You'llputupwithournothavingfamilyprayerthismorning，I
hope？'hewhispered。