'Yourheadbadagain，Worm？'saidMr。Swancourt。'Whatwasthatnoiseweheardintheyard？'
　　'Ay，sir，aweakwamblingmanamI；andthefryinghavebeengoingoninmypoorheadallthroughthelongnightandthismorningasusual；andIwassodazedwi'itthatdownfellapieceofleg-
　　woodacrosstheshaftofthepony-shay，andsplintereditoff。
　　"Ay，"saysI，"Ifeelitasif'twasmyownshay；andthoughI'vedoneit，andparishpayismylotifIgofromhere，perhapsIamasindependentasonehereandthere。”'
　　'Dearme，theshaftofthecarriagebroken!'criedElfride。Shewasdisappointed:Stephendoublyso。Thevicarshowedmorewarmthoftemperthantheaccidentseemedtodemand，muchtoStephen'suneasinessandrathertohissurprise。Hehadnotsupposedsomuchlatentsternnesscouldco-existwithMr。Swancourt'sfranknessandgood-nature。
　　'Youshallnotbedisappointed，'saidthevicaratlength。'Itisalmosttoolongadistanceforyoutowalk。Elfridecantrotdownonherpony，andyoushallhavemyoldnag，Smith。'
　　Elfrideexclaimedtriumphantly，'Youhaveneverseenmeonhorseback——Oh，youmust!'ShelookedatStephenandreadhisthoughtsimmediately。'Ah，youdon'tride，Mr。Smith？'
　　'IamsorrytosayIdon't。'
　　'Fancyamannotabletoride!'saidsheratherpertly。
　　Thevicarcametohisrescue。'That'scommonenough；hehashadotherlessonstolearn。Now，Irecommendthisplan:letElfriderideonhorseback，andyou，Mr。Smith，walkbesideher。'
　　ThearrangementwaswelcomedwithsecretdelightbyStephen。ItseemedtocombineinitselfalltheadvantagesofalongslowramblewithElfride，withoutthecontingentpossibilityoftheenjoymentbeingspoiltbyherbecomingweary。Theponywassaddledandbroughtround。
　　'Now，Mr。Smith，'saidtheladyimperatively，comingdownstairs，andappearinginherriding-habit，asshealwaysdidinachangeofdress，likeaneweditionofadelightfulvolume，'youhaveatasktoperformto-day。Theseearringsaremyveryfavouritedarlingones；buttheworstofitisthattheyhavesuchshorthooksthattheyareliabletobedroppedifItossmyheadaboutmuch，andwhenIamridingIcan'tgivemymindtothem。Itwouldbedoingmeknightserviceifyoukeepyoureyesfixeduponthem，andrememberthemeveryminuteoftheday，andtellmedirectlyI
　　dropone。Theyhavehadsuchhairbreadthescapes，haven'tthey，Unity？'shecontinuedtotheparlour-maidwhowasstandingatthedoor。
　　'Yes，miss，thattheyhave!'saidUnitywithround-eyedcommiseration。
　　'Once'twasinthelanethatIfoundoneofthem，'pursuedElfridereflectively。
　　'Andthen'twasbythegateintoEighteenAcres，'Unitychimedin。
　　'Andthen'twasonthecarpetinmyownroom，'rejoinedElfridemerrily。
　　'Andthen'twasdanglingontheembroideryofyourpetticoat，miss；andthen'twasdownyourback，miss，wasn'tit？Andoh，whatawayyouwasin，miss，wasn'tyou？my!untilyoufoundit!'
　　StephentookElfride'sslightfootuponhishand:'One，two，three，andup!'shesaid。
　　Unfortunatelynotso。Hestaggeredandlifted，andthehorseedgedround；andElfridewasultimatelydepositeduponthegroundrathermoreforciblythanwaspleasant。Smithlookedallcontrition。
　　'Nevermind，'saidthevicarencouragingly；'tryagain!'Tisalittleaccomplishmentthatrequiressomepractice，althoughitlookssoeasy。Standclosertothehorse'shead，Mr。Smith。'
　　'Indeed，Ishan'tlethimtryagain，'saidshewithamicroscopiclookofindignation。'Worm，comehere，andhelpmetomount。'
　　Wormsteppedforward，andshewasinthesaddleinatrice。
　　Thentheymovedon，goingforsomedistanceinsilence，thehotairofthevalleybeingoccasionallybrushedfromtheirfacesbyacoolbreeze，whichwounditswayalongravinesleadingupfromthesea。
　　'Isuppose，'saidStephen，'thatamanwhocanneithersitinasaddlehimselfnorhelpanotherpersonintooneseemsauselessincumbrance；but，MissSwancourt，I'lllearntodoitallforyoursake；Iwill，indeed。'
　　'Whatissounusualinyou，'shesaid，inadidactictonejustifiableinahorsewoman'saddresstoabenightedwalker，'isthatyourknowledgeofcertainthingsshouldbecombinedwithyourignoranceofcertainotherthings。'
　　Stephenliftedhiseyesearnestlytohers。
　　'Youknow，'hesaid，'itissimplybecausetherearesomanyotherthingstobelearntinthiswideworldthatIdidn'ttroubleaboutthatparticularbitofknowledge。Ithoughtitwouldbeuselesstome；butIdon'tthinksonow。Iwilllearnriding，andallconnectedwithit，becausethenyouwouldlikemebetter。Doyoulikememuchlessforthis？'
　　Shelookedsidewaysathimwithcriticalmeditationtenderlyrendered。
　　'DoIseemlikeLABELLEDAMESANSMERCI？'shebegansuddenly，withoutreplyingtohisquestion。'Fancyyourselfsaying，Mr。
　　Smith:
　　"Isatheronmypacingsteed，Andnothingelsesawalldaylong，Forsidelongwouldshebend，andsingAfairy'ssong，Shefoundmerootsofrelishsweet，Andhoneywild，andmannadew；"
　　andthat'sallshedid。'
　　'No，no，'saidtheyoungmanstilly，andwitharisingcolour。
　　'"Andsureinlanguagestrangeshesaid，Ilovetheetrue。”'
　　'Notatall，'sherejoinedquickly。'SeehowIcangallop。Now，Pansy，off!'AndElfridestarted；andStephenbeheldherlightfigurecontractingtothedimensionsofabirdasshesankintothedistance——herhairflowing。
　　Hewalkedoninthesamedirection，andforaconsiderabletimecouldseenosignsofherreturning。Dullasaflowerwithoutthesunhesatdownuponastone，andnotforfifteenminuteswasanysoundofhorseorridertobeheard。ThenElfrideandPansyappearedonthehillinaroundtrot。
　　'Suchadelightfulscamperaswehavehad!'shesaid，herfaceflushedandhereyessparkling。Sheturnedthehorse'shead，Stephenarose，andtheywentonagain。
　　'Well，whathaveyoutosaytome，Mr。Smith，aftermylongabsence？'
　　'Doyourememberaquestionyoucouldnotexactlyanswerlastnight——whetherIwasmoretoyouthananybodyelse？'saidhe。
　　'Icannotexactlyanswernow，either。'
　　'Whycan'tyou？'
　　'BecauseIdon'tknowifIammoretoyouthananyoneelse。'
　　'Yes，indeed，youare!'heexclaimedinavoiceofintensestappreciation，atthesametimeglidingroundandlookingintoherface。
　　'Eyesineyes，'hemurmuredplayfully；andsheblushinglyobeyed，lookingbackintohis。
　　'Andwhynotlipsonlips？'continuedStephendaringly。
　　'No，certainlynot。Anybodymightlook；anditwouldbethedeathofme。Youmaykissmyhandifyoulike。'
　　Heexpressedbyalookthattokissahandthroughaglove，andthatariding-glove，wasnotagreattreatunderthecircumstances。
　　'There，then；I'lltakemygloveoff。Isn'titaprettywhitehand？Ah，youdon'twanttokissit，andyoushallnotnow!'
　　'IfIdonot，mayIneverkissagain，yousevereElfride!YouknowIthinkmoreofyouthanIcantell；thatyouaremyqueen。I
　　woulddieforyou，Elfride!'
　　Arapidredagainfilledhercheeks，andshelookedathimmeditatively。WhataproudmomentitwasforElfridethen!Shewasrulingaheartwithabsolutedespotismforthefirsttimeinherlife。
　　Stephenstealthilypounceduponherhand。
　　'No；Iwon't，Iwon't!'shesaidintractably；'andyoushouldn'ttakemebysurprise。'
　　Thereensuedamildformoftussleforabsolutepossessionofthemuch-covetedhand，inwhichtheboisterousnessofboyandgirlwasfarmoreprominentthanthedignityofmanandwoman。ThenPansybecamerestless。Elfriderecoveredherpositionandrememberedherself。
　　'Youmakemebehaveinnotanicewayatall!'sheexclaimed，inatoneneitherofpleasurenoranger，butpartakingofboth。'I
　　oughtnottohaveallowedsucharomp!Wearetoooldnowforthatsortofthing。'
　　'Ihopeyoudon'tthinkmetoo——toomuchofacreeping-roundsortofman，'saidheinapenitenttone，consciousthathetoohadlostalittledignitybytheproceeding。
　　'Youaretoofamiliar；andIcan'thaveit!Consideringtheshortnessofthetimewehaveknowneachother，Mr。Smith，youtaketoomuchuponyou。YouthinkIamacountrygirl，anditdoesn'tmatterhowyoubehavetome!'
　　'Iassureyou，MissSwancourt，thatIhadnoideaoffreakinmymind。Iwantedtoimprintasweet——seriouskissuponyourhand；
　　andthat'sall。'
　　'Now，that'screepingroundagain!Andyoumustn'tlookintomyeyesso，'shesaid，shakingherheadathim，andtrottingonafewpacesinadvance。Thussheledthewayoutofthelaneandacrosssomefieldsinthedirectionofthecliffs。Attheboundaryofthefieldsnearesttheseasheexpressedawishtodismount。Thehorsewastiedtoapost。andtheybothfollowedanirregularpath，whichultimatelyterminateduponaflatledgepassingroundthefaceofthehugeblue-blackrockataheightaboutmidwaybetweentheseaandthetopmostverge。There，farbeneathandbeforethem，laytheeverlastingstretchofocean；there，upondetachedrocks，werethewhitescreaminggulls，seemingeverintendingtosettle，andyetalwayspassingon。Rightandleftrankedthetoothedandzigzaglineofstorm-tornheights，formingtheserieswhichculminatedintheonebeneaththeirfeet。
　　Behindtheyouthandmaidenwasatemptingalcoveandseat，formednaturallyinthebeetlingmass，andwideenoughtoadmittwoorthreepersons。Elfridesatdown，andStephensatbesideher。
　　'Iamafraiditishardlyproperofustobehere，either，'shesaidhalfinquiringly。'Wehavenotknowneachotherlongenoughforthiskindofthing，havewe!'
　　'Ohyes，'herepliedjudicially；'quitelongenough。'
　　'Howdoyouknow？'
　　'Itisnotlengthoftime，butthemannerinwhichourminutesbeat，thatmakesenoughornotenoughinouracquaintanceship。'
　　'Yes，Iseethat。ButIwishpapasuspectedorknewwhataVERY
　　NEWTHINGIamdoing。Hedoesnotthinkofitatall。'
　　'DarlingElfie，Iwishwecouldbemarried!Itiswrongformetosayit——Iknowitis——beforeyouknowmore；butIwishwemightbe，allthesame。Doyoulovemedeeply，deeply？'
　　'No!'shesaidinafluster。
　　Atthispoint-blankdenial，Stephenturnedhisfaceawaydecisively，andpreservedanominoussilence；theonlyobjectsofinterestonearthforhimbeingapparentlythethreeorfour-scoresea-birdscirclingintheairafaroff。
　　'Ididn'tmeantostopyouquite，'shefalteredwithsomealarm；
　　andseeingthathestillremainedsilent，sheaddedmoreanxiously，'Ifyousaythatagain，perhaps，Iwillnotbequite——
　　quitesoobstinate——if——ifyoudon'tlikemetobe。'
　　'Oh，myElfride!'heexclaimed，andkissedher。
　　ItwasElfride'sfirstkiss。Andsoawkwardandunusedwasshe；
　　fullofstriving——norelenting。Therewasnoneofthoseapparentstrugglestogetoutofthetrapwhichonlyresultsingettingfurtherin:nofinalattitudeofreceptivity:noeasycloseofshouldertoshoulder，handuponhand，faceuponface，and，inspiteofcoyness，thelipsintherightplaceatthesuprememoment。Thatgracefulthoughapparentlyaccidentalfallingintoposition，whichmanyhavenoticedasprecipitatingtheendandmakingsweetheartsthesweeter，wasnothere。Why？Becauseexperiencewasabsent。Awomanmusthavehadmanykissesbeforeshekisseswell。
　　Infact，theartoftenderingthelipsfortheseamatorysalutesfollowstheprincipleslaiddownintreatisesonlegerdemainforperformingthetrickcalledForcingaCard。Thecardistobeshiftednimbly，withdrawn，edgedunder，andwithalnottobeofferedtillthemomenttheunsuspectingperson'shandreachesthepack；thisforcingtobedonesomodestlyandyetsocoaxingly，thatthepersontrifledwithimaginesheisreallychoosingwhatisinfactthrustintohishand。
　　Well，therewerenosuchfacilitiesnow；andStephenwasconsciousofit——firstwithamomentaryregretthathiskissshouldbespoiltbyherconfusedreceiptofit，andthenwiththepleasantperceptionthatherawkwardnesswashercharm。
　　'Andyoudocareformeandloveme？'saidhe。
　　'Yes。'
　　'Verymuch？'
　　'Yes。'
　　'AndImustn'taskyouifyou'llwaitforme，andbemywifesomeday？'
　　'Whynot？'shesaidnaively。
　　'Thereisareasonwhy，myElfride。'
　　'NotanyonethatIknowof。'
　　'Supposethereissomethingconnectedwithmewhichmakesitalmostimpossibleforyoutoagreetobemywife，orforyourfathertocountenancesuchanidea？'
　　'Nothingshallmakemeceasetoloveyou:noblemishcanbefounduponyourpersonalnature。Thatispureandgenerous，Iknow；andhavingthat，howcanIbecoldtoyou？'
　　'Andshallnothingelseaffectus——shallnothingbeyondmynaturebeapartofmyqualityinyoureyes，Elfie？'
　　'Nothingwhatever，'shesaidwithabreathofrelief。'Isthatall？Someoutsidecircumstance？WhatdoIcare？'
　　'Youcanhardlyjudge，dear，tillyouknowwhathastobejudged。
　　Forthat，wewillstoptillwegethome。Ibelieveinyou，butI
　　cannotfeelbright。'
　　'Loveisnew，andfreshtousasthedew；andwearetogether。Asthelover'sworldgoes，thisisagreatdeal。Stephen，IfancyI
　　seethedifferencebetweenmeandyou——betweenmenandwomengenerally，perhaps。Iamcontenttobuildhappinessonanyaccidentalbasisthatmaylienearathand；youareformakingaworldtosuityourhappiness。'
　　'Elfride，yousometimessaythingswhichmakeyouseemsuddenlytobecomefiveyearsolderthanyouare，orthanIam；andthatremarkisone。Icouldn'tthinksoOLDasthat，tryhowI
　　might……Andnoloverhaseverkissedyoubefore？'
　　'Never。'
　　'Iknewthat；youweresounused。Youridewell，butyoudon'tkissnicelyatall；andIwastoldonce，bymyfriendKnight，thatthatisanexcellentfaultinwoman。'
　　'Now，come；Imustmountagain，orweshallnotbehomebydinner-
　　time。'AndtheyreturnedtowherePansystoodtethered。'Insteadofentrustingmyweighttoayoungman'sunstablepalm，'shecontinuedgaily，'Ipreferasurer"upping-stock"asthevillagerscallit，intheformofagate。There——nowIammyselfagain。'
　　Theyproceededhomewardatthesamewalkingpace。
　　HerblithenesswonStephenoutofhisthoughtfulness，andeachforgoteverythingbutthetoneofthemoment。
　　'Whatdidyoulovemefor？'shesaid，afteralongmusinglookataflyingbird。
　　'Idon'tknow，'herepliedidly。
　　'Ohyes，youdo，'insistedElfride。
　　'Perhaps，foryoureyes。'
　　'Whatofthem？——now，don'tvexmebyalightanswer。Whatofmyeyes？'
　　'Oh，nothingtobementioned。Theyareindifferentlygood。'
　　'Come，Stephen，Iwon'thavethat。Whatdidyoulovemefor？'
　　'Itmighthavebeenforyourmouth？'
　　'Well，whataboutmymouth？'
　　'Ithoughtitwasapassablemouthenough——'
　　'That'snotverycomforting。'
　　'Withaprettypoutandsweetlips；butactually，nothingmorethanwhateverybodyhas。'
　　'Don'tmakeupthingsoutofyourheadasyougoon，there'sadearStephen。Now——what——did——you——love——me——for？'
　　'Perhaps，'twasforyourneckandhair；thoughIamnotsure:orforyouridleblood，thatdidnothingbutwanderawayfromyourcheeksandbackagain；butIamnotsure。Oryourhandsandarms，thattheyeclipsedallotherhandsandarms；oryourfeet，thattheyplayedaboutunderyourdresslikelittlemice；oryourtongue，thatitwasofadeardelicatetone。ButIamnotaltogethersure。'
　　'Ah，that'sprettytosay；butIdon'tcareforyourlove，ifitmadeamereflatpictureofmeinthatway，andnotbeingsure，andsuchcoldreasoning；butwhatyouFELTIwas，youknow，Stephen'atthisastealthylaughandfriskylookintohisface，'whenyousaidtoyourself，"I'llcertainlylovethatyounglady。”'
　　'Ineversaidit。'
　　'Whenyousaidtoyourself，then，"Ineverwilllovethatyounglady。”'
　　'Ididn'tsaythat，either。'
　　'Thenwasit，"IsupposeImustlovethatyounglady？"'
　　'No。'
　　'What，then？'
　　''Twasmuchmorefluctuating——notsodefinite。'
　　'Tellme；do，do。'
　　'ItwasthatIoughtnottothinkaboutyouifIlovedyoutruly。'
　　'Ah，thatIdon'tunderstand。There'snogettingitoutofyou。
　　AndI'llnotaskyoueveranymore——nevermore——tosayoutofthedeeprealityofyourheartwhatyoulovedmefor。'
　　'Sweettantalizer，what'stheuse？Itcomestothissolesimplething:ThatatonetimeIhadneverseenyou，andIdidn'tloveyou；thatthenIsawyou，andIdidloveyou。Isthatenough？'
　　'Yes；Iwillmakeitdo……Iknow，Ithink，whatIloveyoufor。
　　Youarenice-looking，ofcourse；butIdidn'tmeanforthat。Itisbecauseyouaresodocileandgentle。'
　　'Thosearenotquitethecorrectqualitiesforamantobelovedfor，'saidStephen，inratheradissatisfiedtoneofself-
　　criticism。'Well，nevermind。Imustaskyourfathertoallowustobeengageddirectlywegetindoors。Itwillbeforalongtime。'
　　'Ilikeitthebetter……Stephen，don'tmentionittillto-
　　morrow。'
　　'Why？'
　　'Because，ifheshouldobject——Idon'tthinkhewill；butifheshould——weshallhaveadaylongerofhappinessfromourignorance……Well，whatareyouthinkingofsodeeply？'
　　'IwasthinkinghowmydearfriendKnightwouldenjoythisscene。
　　Iwishhecouldcomehere。'
　　'Youseemverymuchengrossedwithhim，'sheanswered，withajealouslittletoss。'Hemustbeaninterestingmantotakeupsomuchofyourattention。'
　　'Interesting!'saidStephen，hisfaceglowingwithhisfervour；
　　'noble，yououghttosay。'
　　'Ohyes，yes；Iforgot，'shesaidhalfsatirically。'ThenoblestmaninEngland，asyoutolduslastnight。'
　　'Heisafinefellow，laughasyouwill，MissElfie。'
　　'Iknowheisyourhero。Butwhatdoeshedo？anything？'
　　'Hewrites。'
　　'Whatdoeshewrite？Ihaveneverheardofhisname。'
　　'Becausehispersonality，andthatofseveralotherslikehim，isabsorbedintoahugeWE，namely，theimpalpableentitycalledthePRESENT——asocialandliteraryReview。'
　　'Isheonlyareviewer？'
　　'ONLY，Elfie!Why，IcantellyouitisafinethingtobeonthestaffofthePRESENT。Finerthanbeinganovelistconsiderably。'
　　'That'sahitatme，andmypoorCOURTOFKELLYONCASTLE。'
　　'No，Elfride，'hewhispered；'Ididn'tmeanthat。Imeanthatheisreallyaliterarymanofsomeeminence，andnotaltogetherareviewer。Hewritesthingsofahigherclassthanreviews，thoughhereviewsabookoccasionally。Hisordinaryproductionsaresocialandethicalessays——allthatthePRESENTcontainswhichisnotliteraryreviewing。'
　　'IadmithemustbetalentedifhewritesforthePRESENT。Wehaveitsenttousirregularly。Iwantpapatobeasubscriber，buthe'ssoconservative。NowthenextpointinthisMr。Knight——
　　Isupposeheisaverygoodman。'
　　'Anexcellentman。Ishalltrytobehisintimatefriendsomeday。'
　　'Butaren'tyounow？'
　　'No；notsomuchasthat，'repliedStephen，asifsuchasuppositionwereextravagant。'Yousee，itwasinthisway——hecameoriginallyfromthesameplaceasI，andtaughtmethings；
　　butIamnotintimatewithhim。Shan'tIbegladwhenIgetricherandbetterknown，andhobandnobwithhim!'Stephen'seyessparkled。
　　ApoutbegantoshapeitselfuponElfride'ssoftlips。'Youthinkalwaysofhim，andlikehimbetterthanyoudome!'
　　'No，indeed，Elfride。Thefeelingisdifferentquite。ButIdolikehim，andhedeservesevenmoreaffectionfrommethanI
　　give。'
　　'Youarenotnicenow，andyoumakemeasjealousaspossible!'
　　sheexclaimedperversely。'Iknowyouwillneverspeaktoanythirdpersonofmesowarmlyasyoudotomeofhim。'
　　'Butyoudon'tunderstand，Elfride，'hesaidwithananxiousmovement。'Youshallknowhimsomeday。Heissobrilliant——no，itisn'texactlybrilliant；sothoughtful——nordoesthoughtfulexpresshim——thatitwouldcharmyoutotalktohim。He'samostdesirablefriend，andthatisn'thalfIcouldsay。'
　　'Idon'tcarehowgoodheis；Idon'twanttoknowhim，becausehecomesbetweenmeandyou。Youthinkofhimnightandday，eversomuchmorethanofanybodyelse；andwhenyouarethinkingofhim，Iamshutoutofyourmind。'
　　'No，dearElfride；Iloveyoudearly。'
　　'AndIdon'tlikeyoutotellmesowarmlyabouthimwhenyouareinthemiddleoflovingme。Stephen，supposethatIandthismanKnightofyourswerebothdrowning，andyoucouldonlysaveoneofus——'
　　'Yes——thestupidoldproposition——whichwouldIsave？
　　'Well，which？Notme。'
　　'Bothofyou，'hesaid，pressingherpendenthand。
　　'No，thatwon'tdo；onlyoneofus。'
　　'Icannotsay；Idon'tknow。Itisdisagreeable——quiteahorridideatohavetohandle。'
　　'A-ha，Iknow。Youwouldsavehim，andletmedrown，drown，drown；andIdon'tcareaboutyourlove!'
　　Shehadendeavouredtogiveaplayfultonetoherwords，butthelatterspeechwasratherforcedinitsgaiety。
　　Atthispointinthediscussionshetrottedofftoturnacornerwhichwasavoidedbythefootpath，theroadandthepathreunitingatapointalittlefurtheron。Onagainmakingherappearanceshecontinuallymanagedtolookinadirectionawayfromhim，andlefthiminthecoolshadeofherdispleasure。Stephenwassoonbeatenatthisgameofindifference。Hewentroundandenteredtherangeofhervision。
　　'Areyouoffended，Elfie？Whydon'tyoutalk？'
　　'Saveme，then，andletthatMr。Cleverofyoursdrown。Ihatehim。Now，whichwouldyou？'
　　'Really，Elfride，youshouldnotpresssuchahardquestion。Itisridiculous。'
　　'ThenIwon'tbealonewithyouanymore。Unkind，towoundmeso!'Shelaughedatherownabsurditybutpersisted。
　　'Come，Elfie，let'smakeitupandbefriends。'
　　'Sayyouwouldsaveme，then，andlethimdrown。'
　　'Iwouldsaveyou——andhimtoo。'
　　'Andlethimdrown。Come，oryoudon'tloveme!'sheteasinglywenton。
　　'Andlethimdrown，'heejaculateddespairingly。
　　'There；nowIamyours!'shesaid，andawoman'sflushoftriumphlithereyes。
　　'Onlyoneearring，miss，asI'malive，'saidUnityontheirenteringthehall。
　　Withafaceexpressiveofwretchedmisgiving，Elfride'shandflewlikeanarrowtoherear。
　　'There!'sheexclaimedtoStephen，lookingathimwitheyesfullofreproach。
　　'Iquiteforgot，indeed。IfIhadonlyremembered!'heanswered，withaconscience-strickenface。
　　Shewheeledherselfround，andturnedintotheshrubbery。Stephenfollowed。
　　'Ifyouhadtoldmetowatchanything，Stephen，Ishouldhavereligiouslydoneit，'shecapriciouslywenton，assoonassheheardhimbehindher。
　　'Forgettingisforgivable。'
　　'Well，youwillfindit，ifyouwantmetorespectyouandbeengagedtoyouwhenwehaveaskedpapa。'Sheconsideredamoment，andaddedmoreseriously，'IknownowwhereIdroppedit，Stephen。
　　Itwasonthecliff。Irememberafaintsensationofsomechangeaboutme，butIwastooabsenttothinkofitthen。Andthat'swhereitisnow，andyoumustgoandlookthere。'
　　'I'llgoatonce。'
　　Andhestrodeawayupthevalley，underabroilingsunandamidthedeathlikesilenceofearlyafternoon。Heascended，withgiddy-pacedhaste，thewindyrangeofrockstowheretheyhadsat，feltandpeeredaboutthestonesandcrannies，butElfride'sstrayjewelwasnowheretobeseen。NextStephenslowlyretracedhissteps，and，pausingatacross-roadtoreflectawhile，helefttheplateauandstruckdownwardsacrosssomefields，inthedirectionofEndelstowHouse。
　　Hewalkedalongthepathbytheriverwithouttheslightesthesitationastoitsbearing，apparentlyquitefamiliarwitheveryinchoftheground。Astheshadowsbegantolengthenandthesunlighttomellow，hepassedthroughtwowicket-gates，anddrewneartheoutskirtsofEndelstowPark。Therivernowranalongundertheparkfence，previoustoenteringthegroveitself，alittlefurtheron。
　　Herestoodacottage，betweenthefenceandthestream，onaslightlyelevatedspotofground，roundwhichtherivertookaturn。Thecharacteristicfeatureofthissnughabitationwasitsonechimneyinthegableend，itssquarenessofformdisguisedbyahugecloakofivy，whichhadgrownsoluxuriantlyandextendedsofarfromitsbase，astoincreasetheapparentbulkofthechimneytothedimensionsofatower。Somelittledistancefromthebackofthehouserosetheparkboundary，andoverthisweretobeseenthesycamoresofthegrove，makingslowinclinationstothejust-awakeningair。
　　Stephencrossedthelittlewoodbridgeinfront，wentuptothecottagedoor，andopeneditwithoutknockorsignalofanykind。
　　Exclamationsofwelcomeburstfromsomepersonorpersonswhenthedoorwasthrustajar，followedbythescrapeofchairsonastonefloor，asifpushedbackbytheiroccupiersinrisingfromatable。Thedoorwasclosedagain，andnothingcouldnowbeheardfromwithin，savealivelychatterandtherattleofplates。
　　ChapterVIII
　　'Allen-a-Daleisnobaronorlord。'
　　ThemistswerecreepingoutofpoolsandswampsfortheirpilgrimagesofthenightwhenStephencameuptothefrontdoorofthevicarage。Elfridewasstandingonthestepilluminatedbyalemon-huedexpanseofwesternsky。
　　'Youneverhavebeenallthistimelookingforthatearring？'shesaidanxiously。