Shewaschildishlyfulloflifeandspirits，thoughinwalkingupanddownwithhimbeforetheotherpassengers，andgettingnoticedbythem，shewasatstartingratherconfused，itbeingthefirsttimeshehadshownherselfsoopenlyunderthatkindofprotection。'Iexpecttheyareenviousandsayingthingsaboutus，don'tyou？'shewouldwhispertoKnightwithastealthysmile。
　　'Ohno，'hewouldanswerunconcernedly。'Whyshouldtheyenvyus，andwhatcantheysay？'
　　'Notanyharm，ofcourse，'Elfridereplied，'exceptsuchasthis:
　　"Howhappythosetwoare!sheisproudenoughnow。”Whatmakesitworse，'shecontinuedintheextremityofconfidence，'Iheardthosetwocricketingmensayjustnow，"She'sthenobbiestgirlontheboat。”ButIdon'tmindit，youknow，Harry。'
　　'Ishouldhardlyhavesupposedyoudid，evenifyouhadnottoldme，'saidKnightwithgreatblandness。
　　Shewasnevertiredofaskingherloverquestionsandadmiringhisanswers，good，bad，orindifferentastheymightbe。Theeveninggrewdarkandnightcameon，andlightsshoneuponthemfromthehorizonandfromthesky。
　　'Nowlookthereaheadofus，atthathalointheair，ofsilverybrightness。Watchit，andyouwillseewhatitcomesto。'
　　Shewatchedforafewminutes，whentwowhitelightsemergedfromthesideofahill，andshowedthemselvestobetheoriginofthehalo。
　　'Whatadazzlingbrilliance!Whatdotheymark？'
　　'TheSouthForeland:theywerepreviouslycoveredbythecliff。'
　　'Whatisthatlevellineoflittlesparkles——atown，Isuppose？'
　　'That'sDover。'
　　Allthistime，andlater，softsheetlightningexpandedfromacloudintheirpath，enkindlingtheirfacesastheypacedupanddown，shiningoverthewater，and，foramoment，showingthehorizonasakeenline。
　　Elfridesleptsoundlythatnight。HerfirstthoughtthenextmorningwasthethrillingonethatKnightwasascloseathandaswhentheywereathomeatEndelstow，andherfirstsight，onlookingoutofthecabinwindow，wastheperpendicularfaceofBeachyHead，gleamingwhiteinabrilliantsix-o'clock-in-the-
　　morningsun。Thisfairdaybreak，however，soonchangeditsaspect。Acoldwindandapalemistdescendeduponthesea，andseemedtothreatenadrearyday。
　　WhentheywerenearingSouthampton，Mrs。Swancourtcametosaythatherhusbandwassoillthathewishedtobeputonshorehere，andlefttodotheremainderofthejourneybyland。'Hewillbeperfectlywelldirectlyhetreadsfirmgroundagain。
　　Whichshallwedo——gowithhim，orfinishourvoyageasweintended？'
　　ElfridewascomfortablyhousedunderanumbrellawhichKnightwasholdingoverhertokeepoffthewind。'Oh，don'tletusgoonshore!'shesaidwithdismay。'Itwouldbesuchapity!'
　　'That'sveryfine，'saidMrs。Swancourtarchly，astoachild。
　　'See，thewindhasincreasedhercolour，theseaherappetiteandspirits，andsomebodyherhappiness。Yes，itwouldbeapity，certainly。'
　　''Tismymisfortunetobealwaysspokentofromapedestal，'
　　sighedElfride。
　　'Well，wewilldoasyoulike，Mrs。Swancourt，'saidKnight，'but——'
　　'Imyselfwouldratherremainonboard，'interruptedtheelderlady。'AndMr。Swancourtparticularlywishestogobyhimself。
　　Sothatshallsettlethematter。'
　　Thevicar，nowadrabcolour，wasputashore，andbecameaswellaseverforthwith。
　　Elfride，sittingaloneinaretiredpartofthevessel，sawaveiledwomanwalkaboardamongtheverylatestarrivalsatthisport。Shewasclothedinblacksilk，andcarriedadarkshawluponherarm。Thewoman，withoutlookingaroundher，turnedtothequarterallottedtothesecond-cabinpassengers。AllthecarnationMrs。Swancourthadcomplimentedherstep-daughteruponpossessingleftElfride'scheeks，andshetrembledvisibly。
　　Sherantotheothersideoftheboat，whereMrs。Swancourtwasstanding。
　　'Letusgohomebyrailwaywithpapa，afterall，'shepleadedearnestly。'Iwouldrathergowithhim——shallwe？'
　　Mrs。Swancourtlookedaroundforamoment，asifunabletodecide。
　　'Ah，'sheexclaimed，'itistoolatenow。Whydidnotyousaysobefore，whenwehadplentyoftime？'
　　TheJuliethadatthatminuteletgo，theengineshadstarted，andtheywereglidingslowlyawayfromthequay。Therewasnohelpforitbuttoremain，unlesstheJulietcouldbemadetoputback，andthatwouldcreateagreatdisturbance。Elfridegaveuptheideaandsubmittedquietly。Herhappinesswassadlymutilatednow。
　　ThewomanwhosepresencehadsodisturbedherwasexactlylikeMrs。Jethway。SheseemedtohauntElfridelikeashadow。Afterseveralminutes'vainendeavourtoaccountforanydesignMrs。
　　Jethwaycouldhaveinwatchingher，Elfridedecidedtothinkthat，ifitwerethewidow，theencounterwasaccidental。SherememberedthatthewidowinherrestlessnesswasoftenvisitingthevillagenearSouthampton，whichwasheroriginalhome，anditwaspossiblethatshechosewater-transitwiththeideaofsavingexpense。
　　'Whatisthematter，Elfride？'Knightinquired，standingbeforeher。
　　'NothingmorethanthatIamratherdepressed。'
　　'Idon'tmuchwonderatit；thatwharfwasdepressing。Weseemedunderneathandinferiortoeverythingaroundus。Butweshallbeintheseabreezeagainsoon，andthatwillfreshenyou，dear。'
　　TheeveningclosedinandduskincreasedastheymadewaydownSouthamptonWaterandthroughtheSolent。Elfride'sdisturbanceofmindwassuchthatherlightspiritsoftheforegoingfourandtwentyhourshadentirelydesertedher。Theweathertoohadgrownmoregloomy，forthoughtheshowersofthemorninghadceased，theskywascoveredmorecloselythaneverwithdenseleadenclouds。
　　HowbeautifulwasthesunsetwhentheyroundedtheNorthForelandthepreviousevening!nowitwasimpossibletotellwithinhalfanhourthetimeoftheluminary'sgoingdown。Knightledherabout，andbeingbythistimeaccustomedtohersuddenchangesofmood，overlookedthenecessityofacauseinregardingtheconditions——
　　impressionablenessandelasticity。
　　Elfridelookedstealthilytotheotherendofthevessel。Mrs。
　　Jethway，orherdouble，wassittingatthestern——hereyesteadilyregardingElfride。
　　'Letusgototheforepart，'shesaidquicklytoKnight。'Seethere——themanisfixingthelightsforthenight。'
　　Knightassented，andafterwatchingtheoperationoffixingtheredandthegreenlightsontheportandstarboardbows，andthehoistingofthewhitelighttothemasthead，hewalkedupanddownwithhertilltheincreaseofwindrenderedpromenadingdifficult。
　　Elfride'seyeswereoccasionallytobefoundfurtivelygazingabaft，tolearnifherenemywerereallythere。Nobodywasvisiblenow。
　　'Shallwegobelow？'saidKnight，seeingthatthedeckwasnearlydeserted。
　　'No，'shesaid。'IfyouwillkindlygetmearugfromMrs。
　　Swancourt，Ishouldlike，ifyoudon'tmind，tostayhere。'ShehadrecentlyfanciedtheassumedMrs。Jethwaymightbeafirst-
　　classpassenger，anddreadedmeetingherbyaccident。
　　Knightappearedwiththerug，andtheysatdownbehindaweather-
　　clothonthewindwardside，justasthetworedeyesoftheNeedlesglareduponthemfromthegloom，theirpointedsummitsrisinglikeshadowyphantomfiguresagainstthesky。Itbecamenecessarytogobelowtoaneight-o'clockmealofnondescriptkind，andElfridewasimmenselyrelievedatfindingnosignofMrs。Jethwaythere。Theyagainascended，andremainedabovetillMrs。SnewsonstaggereduptothemwiththemessagethatMrs。
　　SwancourtthoughtitwastimeforElfridetocomebelow。Knightaccompaniedherdown，andreturnedagaintopassalittlemoretimeondeck。
　　Elfridepartlyundressedherselfandlaydown，andsoonbecameunconscious，thoughhersleepwaslightHowlongshehadlain，sheknewnot，whenbyslowdegreesshebecamecognizantofawhisperinginherear。
　　'Youarewellonwithhim，Icansee。Well，provokemenow，butmydaywillcome，youwillfind。'Thatseemedtobetheutterance，orwordstothateffect。
　　Elfridebecamebroadawakeandterrified。Sheknewthewords，ifreal，couldbeonlythoseofoneperson，andthatpersonthewidowJethway。
　　Thelamphadgoneoutandtheplacewasindarkness。Inthenextberthshecouldhearherstepmotherbreathingheavily，furtheronSnewsonbreathingmoreheavilystill。Theseweretheonlyotherlegitimateoccupantsofthecabin，andMrs。Jethwaymusthavestealthilycomeinbysomemeansandretreatedagain，orelseshehadenteredanemptyberthnextSnewson's。ThefearthatthiswasthecaseincreasedElfride'sperturbation，tillitassumedthedimensionsofacertainty，forhowcouldastrangerfromtheotherendoftheshippossiblycontrivetogetin？Couldithavebeenadream？
　　Elfrideraisedherselfhigherandlookedoutofthewindow。Therewasthesea，flounderingandrushingagainsttheship'ssidejustbyherhead，andthencestretchingaway，dimandmoaning，intoanexpanseofindistinctness；andfarbeyondallthistwoplacidlightslikeraylessstars。Nowalmostfearingtoturnherfaceinwardsagain，lestMrs。Jethwayshouldappearatherelbow，ElfridemeditateduponwhethertocallSnewsontokeephercompany。'Fourbells'sounded，andsheheardvoices，whichgaveheralittlecourage。ItwasnotworthwhiletocallSnewson。
　　AtanyrateElfridecouldnotstaytherepantinglonger，attheriskofbeingagaindisturbedbythatdreadfulwhispering。Sowrappingherselfuphurriedlysheemergedintothepassage，andbytheaidofafaintlightburningattheentrancetothesaloonfoundthefootofthestairs，andascendedtothedeck。Drearytheplacewasintheextreme。Itseemedanewspotaltogetherincontrastwithitsdaytimeself。Shecouldseetheglowwormlightfromthebinnacle，andthedimoutlineofthemanatthewheel；
　　alsoaformatthebows。Notanothersoulwasapparentfromstemtostern。
　　Yes，thereweretwomore——bythebulwarks。OneprovedtobeherHarry，theotherthemate。Shewasgladindeed，andondrawingcloserfoundtheywereholdingalowslowchataboutnauticalaffairs。SheranupandslippedherhandthroughKnight'sarm，partlyforlove，partlyforstability。
　　'Elfie!notasleep？'saidKnight，aftermovingafewstepsasidewithher。
　　'No:Icannotsleep。MayIstayhere？Itissodismaldownthere，and——andIwasafraid。Wherearewenow？'
　　'DuesouthofPortlandBill。Thosearethelightsabeamofus:
　　look。Aterriblespot，that，onastormynight。Anddoyouseeaverysmalllightthatdipsandrisestotheright？That'salight-
　　shiponthedangerousshoalcalledtheShambles，wheremanyagoodvesselhasgonetopieces。BetweenitandourselvesistheRace——
　　aplacewhereantagonisticcurrentsmeetandformwhirlpools——aspotwhichisroughinthesmoothestweather，andterrificinawind。Thatdark，drearyhorizonwejustdiscerntotheleftistheWestBay，terminatedlandwardsbytheChesilBeach。'
　　'Whattimeisit，Harry？'
　　'Justpasttwo。'
　　'Areyougoingbelow？'
　　'Ohno；notto-night。Ipreferpureair。'
　　Shefanciedhemightbedispleasedwithherforcomingtohimatthisunearthlyhour。'Ishouldliketostayheretoo，ifyouwillallowme，'shesaidtimidly。
　　'Iwanttoaskyouthings。'
　　'Allowyou，Elfie!'saidKnight，puttinghisarmroundheranddrawinghercloser。'Iamtwiceashappywithyoubymyside。
　　Yes:wewillstay，andwatchtheapproachofday。'
　　Sotheyagainsoughtouttheshelterednook，andsittingdownwrappedthemselvesintherugasbefore。
　　'Whatwereyougoingtoaskme？'heinquired，astheyundulatedupanddown。
　　'Oh，itwasnotmuch——perhapsathingIoughtnottoask，'shesaidhesitatingly。Hersuddenwishhadreallybeentodiscoveratoncewhetherhehadeverbeforebeenengagedtobemarried。Ifhehad，shewouldmakethatagroundfortellinghimalittleofherconductwithStephen。Mrs。Jethway'sseemingwordshadsodepressedthegirlthatsheherselfnowpaintedherflightinthedarkestcolours，andlongedtoeaseherburdenedmindbyaninstantconfession。IfKnighthadeverbeenimprudenthimself，hemight，shehoped，forgiveall。
　　'Iwantedtoaskyou，'shewenton，'if——youhadeverbeenengagedbefore。'Sheaddedtremulously，'Ihopeyouhave——Imean，Idon'tmindatallifyouhave。'
　　'No，Ineverwas，'Knightinstantlyandheartilyreplied。
　　'Elfride'——andtherewasacertainhappyprideinhistone——'Iamtwelveyearsolderthanyou，andIhavebeenabouttheworld，and，inaway，intosociety，andyouhavenot。AndyetIamnotsounfitforyouasstrict-thinkingpeoplemightimagine，whowouldassumethedifferenceinagetosignifymostsurelyanequaladditiontomypracticeinlove-making。'
　　Elfrideshivered。
　　'Youarecold——isthewindtoomuchforyou？'
　　'No，'shesaidgloomily。Thebeliefwhichhadbeenhersheet-
　　anchorinhopingforforgivenesshadprovedfalse。Thisaccountoftheexceptionalnatureofhisexperience，amatterwhichwouldhavesetherrejoicingtwoyearsago，chilledhernowlikeafrost。
　　'Youdon'tmindmyaskingyou？'shecontinued。
　　'Ohno——notatall。'
　　'Andhaveyouneverkissedmanyladies？'shewhispered，hopinghewouldsayahundredattheleast。
　　Thetime，thecircumstances，andthesceneweresuchastodrawconfidencesfromthemostreserved。'Elfride，'whisperedKnightinreply，'itisstrangeyoushouldhaveaskedthatquestion。ButI'llanswerit，thoughIhavenevertoldsuchathingbefore。I