'Ohno；andIhavenotfoundit。'
　　'Nevermind。ThoughIammuchvexed；theyaremyprettiest。But，Stephen，whateverhaveyoubeendoing——wherehaveyoubeen？I
　　havebeensouneasy。Ifearedforyou，knowingnotaninchofthecountry。Ithought，supposehehasfallenoverthecliff!ButnowIaminclinedtoscoldyouforfrighteningmeso。'
　　'Imustspeaktoyourfathernow，'hesaidratherabruptly；'I
　　havesomuchtosaytohim——andtoyou，Elfride。'
　　'Willwhatyouhavetosayendangerthisnicetimeofours，andisitthatsameshadowysecretyoualludetosofrequently，andwillitmakemeunhappy？'
　　'Possibly。'
　　Shebreathedheavily，andlookedaroundasifforaprompter。
　　'Putitofftillto-morrow，'shesaid。
　　Heinvoluntarilysighedtoo。
　　'No；itmustcometo-night。Whereisyourfather，Elfride？'
　　'Somewhereinthekitchengarden，Ithink，'shereplied。'Thatishisfavouriteeveningretreat。Iwillleaveyounow。Sayallthat'stobesaid——doallthereistobedone。Thinkofmewaitinganxiouslyfortheend。'Andshere-enteredthehouse。
　　Shewaitedinthedrawing-room，watchingthelightssinktoshadows，theshadowssinktodarkness，untilherimpatiencetoknowwhathadoccurredinthegardencouldnolongerbecontrolled。Shepassedroundtheshrubbery，unlatchedthegardendoor，andskimmedwithherkeeneyesthewholetwilightedspacethatthefourwallsenclosedandsheltered:theywerenotthere。
　　Shemountedalittleladder，whichhadbeenusedforgatheringfruit，andlookedoverthewallintothefield。Thisfieldextendedtothelimitsoftheglebe，whichwasenclosedonthatsidebyaprivet-hedge。UnderthehedgewasMr。Swancourt，walkingupanddown，andtalkingaloud——tohimself，asitsoundedatfirst。No:anothervoiceshoutedoccasionalreplies；andthisinterlocutorseemedtobeontheothersideofthehedge。Thevoice，thoughsoftinquality，wasnotStephen's。
　　Thesecondspeakermusthavebeeninthelong-neglectedgardenofanoldmanor-househardby，which，togetherwithasmallestateattached，hadlatelybeenpurchasedbyapersonnamedTroyton，whomElfridehadneverseen。Herfathermighthavestruckupanacquaintanceshipwithsomememberofthatfamilythroughtheprivet-hedge，orastrangertotheneighbourhoodmighthavewanderedthither。
　　Well，therewasnonecessityfordisturbinghim。
　　Anditseemedthat，afterall，Stephenhadnotyetmadehisdesiredcommunicationtoherfather。Againshewentindoors，wonderingwhereStephencouldbe。Forwantofsomethingbettertodo，shewentupstairstoherownlittleroom。Hereshesatdownattheopenwindow，and，leaningwithherelbowonthetableandhercheekuponherhand，shefellintomeditation。
　　ItwasahotandstillAugustnight。Everydisturbanceofthesilencewhichrosetothedignityofanoisecouldbeheardformiles，andthemerestsoundforalongdistance。Sosheremained，thinkingofStephen，andwishinghehadnotdeprivedherofhiscompanytonopurpose，asitappeared。Howdelicateandsensitivehewas，shereflected；andyethewasmanenoughtohaveaprivatemystery，whichconsiderablyelevatedhiminhereyes。Thus，lookingatthingswithaninwardvision，shelostconsciousnessoftheflightoftime。
　　Strangeconjunctionsofcircumstances，particularlythoseofatrivialeverydaykind，aresofrequentinanordinarylife，thatwegrowusedtotheirunaccountableness，andforgetthequestionwhethertheverylongoddsagainstsuchjuxtapositionisnotalmostadisproofofitbeingamatterofchanceatall。WhatoccurredtoElfrideatthismomentwasacaseinpoint。Shewasvividlyimagining，forthetwentiethtime，thekissofthemorning，andputtingherlipstogetherinthepositionanothersuchaonewoulddemand，whensheheardtheidenticaloperationperformedonthelawn，immediatelybeneathherwindow。
　　Akiss——notofthequietandstealthykind，butdecisive，loud，andsmart。
　　Herfaceflushedandshelookedout，buttonopurpose。Thedarkrimoftheuplanddrewakeensadlineagainstthepaleglowofthesky，unbrokenexceptwhereayoungcedaronthelawn，thathadoutgrownitsfellowtrees，shotitspointedheadacrossthehorizon，piercingthefirmamentallustrelikeasting。
　　Itwasjustpossiblethat，hadanypersonsbeenstandingonthegrassyportionsofthelawn，Elfridemighthaveseentheirduskyforms。Buttheshrubs，whichoncehadmerelydottedtheglade，hadnowgrownbushyandlarge，tilltheyhidatleasthalftheenclosurecontainingthem。Thekissingpairmighthavebeenbehindsomeofthese；atanyrate，nobodywasinsight。
　　Hadnoenigmaeverbeenconnectedwithherloverbyhishintsandabsences，Elfridewouldneverhavethoughtofadmittingintohermindasuspicionthathemightbeconcernedintheforegoingenactment。Butthereservationsheatpresentinsistedon，whiletheyaddedtothemysterywithoutwhichperhapsshewouldneverhaveseriouslylovedhimatall，werecalculatedtonourishdoubtsofallkinds，andwithaslowflushofjealousysheaskedherself，mighthenotbetheculprit？
　　Elfrideglideddownstairsontiptoe，andouttotheprecisespotonwhichshehadpartedfromStephentoenablehimtospeakprivatelytoherfather。Thenceshewanderedintoallthenooksaroundtheplacefromwhichthesoundseemedtoproceed——amongthehugelaurestines，aboutthetuftsofpampasgrasses，amidthevariegatedhollies，undertheweepingwych-elm——nobodywasthere。
　　Returningindoorsshecalled'Unity!'
　　'Sheisgonetoheraunt's，tospendtheevening，'saidMr。
　　Swancourt，thrustinghisheadoutofhisstudydoor，andlettingthelightofhiscandlesstreamuponElfride'sface——lessrevealingthan，asitseemedtoherself，creatingtheblushofuneasyperplexitythatwasburninguponhercheek。
　　'Ididn'tknowyouwereindoors，papa，'shesaidwithsurprise。
　　'SurelynolightwasshiningfromthewindowwhenIwasonthelawn？'andshelookedandsawthattheshutterswerestillopen。
　　'Ohyes，Iamin，'hesaidindifferently。'WhatdidyouwantUnityfor？Ithinkshelaidsupperbeforeshewentout。'
　　'Didshe？——Ihavenotbeentosee——Ididn'twantherforthat。'
　　Elfridescarcelyknew，nowthatadefinitereasonwasrequired，whatthatreasonwas。Hermindforamomentstrayedtoanothersubject，unimportantasitseemed。Theredemberofamatchwaslyinginsidethefender，whichexplainedthatwhyshehadseennoraysfromthewindowwasbecausethecandleshadonlyjustbeenlighted。
　　'I'llcomedirectly，'saidthevicar。'IthoughtyouwereoutsomewherewithMr。Smith。'
　　EventheinexperiencedElfridecouldnothelpthinkingthatherfathermustbewonderfullyblindifhefailedtoperceivewhatwasthenascentconsequenceofherselfandStephenbeingsounceremoniouslylefttogether；wonderfullycareless，ifhesawitanddidnotthinkaboutit；wonderfullygood，if，asseemedtoherbyfarthemostprobablesupposition，hesawitandthoughtaboutitandapprovedofit。ThesereflectionswerecutshortbytheappearanceofStephenjustoutsidetheporch，silveredabouttheheadandshoulderswithtouchesofmoonlight，thathadbeguntocreepthroughthetrees。
　　'Hasyourtroubleanythingtodowithakissonthelawn？'sheaskedabruptly，almostpassionately。
　　'Kissonthelawn？'
　　'Yes!'shesaid，imperiouslynow。
　　'Ididn'tcomprehendyourmeaning，nordoInowexactly。I
　　certainlyhavekissednobodyonthelawn，ifthatisreallywhatyouwanttoknow，Elfride。'
　　'Youknownothingaboutsuchaperformance？'
　　'Nothingwhatever。Whatmakesyouask？'
　　'Don'tpressmetotell；itisnothingofimportance。And，Stephen，youhavenotyetspokentopapaaboutourengagement？'
　　'No，'hesaidregretfully，'Icouldnotfindhimdirectly；andthenIwentonthinkingsomuchofwhatyousaidaboutobjections，refusals——bitterwordspossibly——endingourhappiness，thatI
　　resolvedtoputitofftillto-morrow；thatgivesusonemoredayofdelight——delightofatremulouskind。'
　　'Yes；butitwouldbeimpropertobesilenttoolong，Ithink，'
　　shesaidinadelicatevoice，whichimpliedthatherfacehadgrownwarm。'Iwanthimtoknowwelove，Stephen。Whydidyouadoptasyourownmythoughtofdelay？'
　　'Iwillexplain；butIwanttotellyouofmysecretfirst——totellyounow。Itistwoorthreehoursyettobedtime。Letuswalkupthehilltothechurch。'
　　Elfridepassivelyassented，andtheywentfromthelawnbyasidewicket，andascendedintotheopenexpanseofmoonlightwhichstreamedaroundthelonelyedificeonthesummitofthehill。
　　Thedoorwaslocked。Theyturnedfromtheporch，andwalkedhandinhandtofindaresting-placeinthechurchyard。Stephenchoseaflattomb，showingitselftobenewerandwhiterthanthosearoundit，andsittingdownhimself，gentlydrewherhandtowardshim。
　　'No，notthere，'shesaid。
　　'Whynothere？'
　　'Amerefancy；butnevermind。'Andshesatdown。
　　'Elfie，willyouloveme，inspiteofeverythingthatmaybesaidagainstme？'
　　'OStephen，whatmakesyourepeatthatsocontinuallyandsosadly？YouknowIwill。Yes，indeed，'shesaid，drawingcloser，'whatevermaybesaidofyou——andnothingbadcanbe——Iwillclingtoyoujustthesame。YourwaysshallbemywaysuntilIdie。'
　　'Didyoueverthinkwhatmyparentsmightbe，orwhatsocietyI
　　originallymovedin？'
　　'No，notparticularly。Ihaveobservedoneortwolittlepointsinyourmannerswhichareratherquaint——nomore。Isupposeyouhavemovedintheordinarysocietyofprofessionalpeople。'
　　'SupposingIhavenot——thatnoneofmyfamilyhaveaprofessionexceptme？'
　　'Idon'tmind。Whatyouareonlyconcernsme。'
　　'WheredoyouthinkIwenttoschool——Imean，towhatkindofschool？'
　　'Dr。Somebody'sacademy，'shesaidsimply。
　　'No。Toadameschooloriginally，thentoanationalschool。'
　　'Onlytothose!Well，Iloveyoujustasmuch，Stephen，dearStephen，'shemurmuredtenderly，'Idoindeed。Andwhyshouldyoutellmethesethingssoimpressively？Whatdotheymattertome？'
　　Heheldhercloserandproceeded:
　　'Whatdoyouthinkmyfatheris——doesforhisliving，thatistosay？'
　　'Hepractisessomeprofessionorcalling，Isuppose。'
　　'No；heisamason。'
　　'AFreemason？'
　　'No；acottagerandjourneymanmason。'
　　Elfridesaidnothingatfirst。Afterawhileshewhispered:
　　'Thatisastrangeideatome。Butnevermind；whatdoesitmatter？'
　　'Butaren'tyouangrywithmefornottellingyoubefore？'
　　'No，notatall。Isyourmotheralive？'
　　'Yes。'
　　'Issheanicelady？'
　　'Very——thebestmotherintheworld。Herpeoplehadbeenwell-to-
　　doyeomenforcenturies，butshewasonlyadairymaid。'
　　'OStephen!'camefromherinwhisperedexclamation。
　　'Shecontinuedtoattendtoadairylongaftermyfathermarriedher，'pursuedStephen，withoutfurtherhesitation。'AndI
　　rememberverywellhow，whenIwasveryyoung，Iusedtogotothemilking，lookonattheskimming，sleepthroughthechurning，andmakebelieveIhelpedher。Ah，thatwasahappytimeenough!'
　　'No，never——nothappy。'
　　'Yes，itwas。'
　　'Idon'tseehowhappinesscouldbewherethedrudgeryofdairy-
　　workhadtobedoneforaliving——thehandsredandchapped，andtheshoesclogged……Stephen，Idoownthatitseemsoddtoregardyouinthelightof——of——havingbeensoroughinyouryouth，anddonemenialthingsofthatkind。'Stephenwithdrewaninchortwofromherside。'ButIDOLOVEYOUjustthesame，'shecontinued，gettingcloserunderhisshoulderagain，'andIdon'tcareanythingaboutthepast；andIseethatyouarealltheworthierforhavingpushedonintheworldinsuchaway。'
　　'Itisnotmyworthiness；itisKnight's，whopushedme。'
　　'Ah，alwayshe——alwayshe!'
　　'Yes，andproperlyso。Now，Elfride，youseethereasonofhisteachingmebyletter。IknewhimyearsbeforehewenttoOxford，butIhadnotgotfarenoughinmyreadingforhimtoentertaintheideaofhelpingmeinclassicstillhelefthome。ThenIwassentawayfromthevillage，andweveryseldommet；buthekeptupthissystemoftuitionbycorrespondencewiththegreatestregularity。Iwilltellyouallthestory，butnotnow。Thereisnothingmoretosaynow，beyondgivingplaces，persons，anddates。'Hisvoicebecametimidlyslowatthispoint。
　　'No；don'ttaketroubletosaymore。Youareadearhonestfellowtosaysomuchasyouhave；anditisnotsodreadfuleither。IthasbecomeanormalthingthatmillionairescommencebygoinguptoLondonwiththeirtoolsattheirback，andhalf-a-crownintheirpockets。Thatsortoforiginisgettingsorespected，'shecontinuedcheerfully，'thatitisacquiringsomeoftheodourofNormanancestry。'
　　'Ah，ifIhadMADEmyfortune，Ishouldn'tmind。ButIamonlyapossiblemakerofitasyet。'
　　'Itisquiteenough。AndsoTHISiswhatyourtroublewas？'
　　'IthoughtIwasdoingwronginlettingyoulovemewithouttellingyoumystory；andyetIfearedtodoso，Elfie。Idreadedtoloseyou，andIwascowardlyonthataccount。'
　　'Howplaineverythingaboutyouseemsafterthisexplanation!Yourpeculiaritiesinchess-playing，thepronunciationpapanoticedinyourLatin，youroddmixtureofbook-knowledgewithignoranceofordinarysocialaccomplishments，areaccountedforinamoment。
　　AndhasthisanythingtodowithwhatIsawatLordLuxellian's？'
　　'Whatdidyousee？'
　　'Isawtheshadowofyourselfputtingacloakroundalady。Iwasatthesidedoor；youtwowereinaroomwiththewindowtowardsme。Youcametomeamomentlater。'
　　'Shewasmymother。'
　　'YourmotherTHERE!'Shewithdrewherselftolookathimsilentlyinherinterest。
　　'Elfride，'saidStephen，'Iwasgoingtotellyoutheremainderto-morrow——Ihavebeenkeepingitback——Imusttellitnow，afterall。Theremainderofmyrevelationreferstowheremyparentsare。Wheredoyouthinktheylive？Youknowthem——bysightatanyrate。'
　　'Iknowthem!'shesaidinsuspendedamazement。
　　'Yes。MyfatherisJohnSmith，LordLuxellian'smaster-mason，wholivesundertheparkwallbytheriver。'
　　'OStephen!canitbe？'
　　'Hebuilt——orassistedatthebuildingofthehouseyoulivein，yearsago。HeputupthosestonegatepiersatthelodgeentrancetoLordLuxellian'spark。Mygrandfatherplantedthetreesthatbeltinyourlawn；mygrandmother——whoworkedinthefieldswithhim——heldeachtreeuprightwhilsthefilledintheearth:theytoldmesowhenIwasachild。Hewasthesexton，too，anddugmanyofthegravesaroundus。'
　　'Andwasyourunaccountablevanishingonthefirstmorningofyourarrival，andagainthisafternoon，aruntoseeyourfatherandmother？……Iunderstandnow；nowonderyouseemedtoknowyourwayaboutthevillage!'
　　'Nowonder。Butremember，IhavenotlivedheresinceIwasnineyearsold。Ithenwenttolivewithmyuncle，ablacksmith，nearExonbury，inordertobeabletoattendanationalschoolasadayscholar；therewasnoneonthisremotecoastthen。ItwasthereI
　　metwithmyfriendKnight。AndwhenIwasfifteenandhadbeenfairlyeducatedbytheschool-master——andmoreparticularlybyKnight——Iwasputasapupilinanarchitect'sofficeinthattown，becauseIwasskilfulintheuseofthepencil。Afullpremiumwaspaidbytheeffortsofmymotherandfather，ratheragainstthewishesofLordLuxellian，wholikesmyfather，however，andthinksagreatdealofhim。ThereIstayedtillsixmonthsago，whenIobtainedasituationasimprover，asitiscalled，inaLondonoffice。That'sallofme。'
　　'TothinkYOU，theLondonvisitor，thetownman，shouldhavebeenbornhere，andhaveknownthisvillagesomanyyearsbeforeIdid。
　　Howstrange——howverystrangeitseemstome!'shemurmured。
　　'MymothercurtseyedtoyouandyourfatherlastSunday，'saidStephen，withapainedsmileatthethoughtoftheincongruity。
　　'Andyourpapasaidtoher，"Iamgladtoseeyousoregularatchurch，JANE。”'
　　'Irememberit，butIhaveneverspokentoher。Wehaveonlybeenhereeighteenmonths，andtheparishissolarge。'
　　'Contrastwiththis，'saidStephen，withamiserablelaugh，'yourfather'sbeliefinmy"blueblood，"whichisstillprevalentinhismind。ThefirstnightIcame，heinsisteduponprovingmydescentfromoneofthemostancientwest-countyfamilies，onaccountofmysecondChristianname；whenthetruthis，itwasgivenmebecausemygrandfatherwasassistantgardenerintheFitzmaurice-Smithfamilyforthirtyyears。Havingseenyourface，mydarling，Ihadnothearttocontradicthim，andtellhimwhatwouldhavecutmeofffromafriendlyknowledgeofyou。'
　　Shesigheddeeply。'Yes，Iseenowhowthisinequalitymaybemadetotroubleus，'shemurmured，andcontinuedinalow，sadwhisper，'Iwouldn'thavemindediftheyhadlivedfaraway。Papamighthaveconsentedtoanengagementbetweenusifyourconnectionhadbeenwithvillagersahundredmilesoff；remotenesssoftensfamilycontrasts。Buthewillnotlike——OStephen，Stephen!whatcanIdo？'
　　'Do？'hesaidtentatively，yetwithheaviness。'Givemeup；letmegobacktoLondon，andthinknomoreofme。'
　　'No，no；Icannotgiveyouup!Thishopelessnessinouraffairsmakesmecaremoreforyou……Iseewhatdidnotstrikemeatfirst。Stephen，whydowetrouble？Whyshouldpapaobject？AnarchitectinLondonisanarchitectinLondon。Whoinquiresthere？Nobody。Weshalllivethere，shallwenot？Whyneedwebesoalarmed？'
　　'AndElfie，'saidStephen，hishopeskindlingwithhers，'Knightthinksnothingofmybeingonlyacottager'sson；hesaysIamasworthyofhisfriendshipasifIwerealord's；andifIamworthyofhisfriendship，Iamworthyofyou，amInot，Elfride？'
　　'Inotonlyhaveneverlovedanybodybutyou，'shesaid，insteadofgivingananswer，'butIhavenotevenformedastrongfriendship，suchasyouhaveforKnight。Iwishyouhadn't。Itdiminishesme。'
　　'Now，Elfride，youknowbetter，'hesaidwooingly。'Andhadyoureallyneveranysweetheartatall？'
　　'Nonethatwaseverrecognizedbymeassuch。'
　　'Butdidnobodyeverloveyou？'
　　'Yes——amandidonce；verymuch，hesaid。'
　　'Howlongago？'
　　'Oh，alongtime。'
　　'Howlong，dearest？
　　'Atwelvemonth。'
　　'That'snotVERYlong'ratherdisappointedly。
　　'Isaidlong，notverylong。'
　　'Anddidhewanttomarryyou？'
　　'Ibelievehedid。ButIdidn'tseeanythinginhim。Hewasnotgoodenough，evenifIhadlovedhim。'
　　'MayIaskwhathewas？'
　　'Afarmer。'
　　'Afarmernotgoodenough——howmuchbetterthanmyfamily!'
　　Stephenmurmured。
　　'Whereishenow？'hecontinuedtoElfride。
　　'HERE。'
　　'Here!whatdoyoumeanbythat？'
　　'Imeanthatheishere。'
　　'Wherehere？'
　　'Underus。Heisunderthistomb。Heisdead，andwearesittingonhisgrave。'
　　'Elfie，'saidtheyoungman，standingupandlookingatthetomb，'howoddandsadthatrevelationseems!Itquitedepressesmeforthemoment。'
　　'Stephen!Ididn'twishtosithere；butyouwoulddoso。'
　　'Youneverencouragedhim？'
　　'Neverbylook，word，orsign，'shesaidsolemnly。'Hediedofconsumption，andwasburiedthedayyoufirstcame。'
　　'Letusgoaway。Idon'tlikestandingbyHIM，evenifyouneverlovedhim。HewasBEFOREme。'
　　'Worriesmakeyouunreasonable，'shehalfpouted，followingStephenatthedistanceofafewsteps。'PerhapsIoughttohavetoldyoubeforewesatdown。Yes；letusgo。'
　　ChapterIX
　　'Herfatherdidfume'
　　Oppressed，inspiteofthemselves，byaforesightofimpendingcomplications，ElfrideandStephenreturneddownthehillhandinhand。Atthedoortheypausedwistfully，likechildrenlateatschool。
　　Womenaccepttheirdestinymorereadilythanmen。Elfridehadnowresignedherselftotheoverwhelmingideaofherlover'ssorryantecedents；StephenhadnotforgottenthetriflinggrievancethatElfridehadknownearlieradmirationthanhisown。
　　'Whatwasthatyoungman'sname？'heinquired。
　　'FelixJethway；awidow'sonlyson。'
　　'Irememberthefamily。'
　　'Shehatesmenow。ShesaysIkilledhim。'
　　Stephenmused，andtheyenteredtheporch。
　　'Stephen，Iloveonlyyou，'shetremulouslywhispered。Hepressedherfingers，andthetriflingshadowpassedaway，toadmitagainthemutualandmoretangibletrouble。
　　Thestudyappearedtobetheonlyroomlightedup。Theyentered，eachwithademeanourintendedtoconcealtheinconcealablefactthatreciprocallovewastheirdominantchord。Elfrideperceivedaman，sittingwithhisbacktowardsherself，talkingtoherfather。Shewouldhaveretired，butMr。Swancourthadseenher。
　　'Comein，'hesaid；'itisonlyMartinCannister，comeforacopyoftheregisterforpoorMrs。Jethway。'
　　MartinCannister，thesexton，wasratherafavouritewithElfride。
　　Heusedtoabsorbherattentionbytellingherofhisstrangeexperiencesindiggingupafterlongyearsthebodiesofpersonshehadknown，andrecognizingthembysomelittlesignthoughinrealityhehadneverrecognizedany。Hehadshrewdsmalleyesandagreatwealthofdoublechin，whichcompensatedinsomemeasureforconsiderablepovertyofnose。
　　TheappearanceofaslipofpaperinCannister'shand，andafewshillingslyingonthetableinfrontofhim，denotedthatthebusinesshadbeentransacted，andthetenoroftheirconversationwenttoshowthatasummaryofvillagenewswasnowengagingtheattentionofparishionerandparson。
　　Mr。Cannisterstoodupandtouchedhisforeheadoverhiseyewithhisfinger，inrespectfulsalutationofElfride，gavehalfasmuchsalutetoStephenwhomhe，incommonwithothervillagers，hadneverforamomentrecognized，thensatdownagainandresumedhisdiscourse。
　　'WherehadIgotonto，sir？'
　　'Todrivingthepile，'saidMr。Swancourt。
　　'Thepile'twas。So，asIwassaying，Natwasdrivingthepileinthismanner，asImightsay。'HereMr。Cannisterheldhiswalking-
　　stickscrupulouslyverticalwithhislefthand，andstruckablowwithgreatforceontheknobofthestickwithhisright。'Johnwassteadyingthepileso，asImightsay。'Herehegavethestickaslightshake，andlookedfirmlyinthevariouseyesaroundtoseethatbeforeproceedingfurtherhislistenerswellgraspedthesubjectatthatstage。'Well，whenNathadstrucksomehalf-dozenblowsmoreuponthepile，'astoppedforasecondortwo。John，thinkinghehaddonestriking，puthishanduponthetopo'thepiletogieenapull，andseeif'awerefirmintheground。'Mr。
　　Cannisterspreadhishandoverthetopofthestick，completelycoveringitwithhispalm。'Well，sotospeak，Nathadn'tmanedtostopstriking，andwhenJohnhadputhishanduponthepile，thebeetle——'
　　'Ohdreadful!'saidElfride。
　　'Thebeetlewasalreadycomingdown，yousee，sir。Natjustcaughtsightofhishand，butcouldn'tstoptheblowintime。
　　DowncamethebeetleuponpoorJohnSmith'shand，andsquashedentoapummy。'
　　'Dearme，dearme!poorfellow!'saidthevicar，withanintonationlikethegroansofthewoundedinapianoforteperformanceofthe'BattleofPrague。'
　　'JohnSmith，themaster-mason？'criedStephenhurriedly。
　　'Ay，noother；andabetter-heartedmanGodA'mightynevermade。'
　　'Ishesomuchhurt？'
　　'Ihaveheard，'saidMr。Swancourt，notnoticingStephen，'thathehasasoninLondon，averypromisingyoungfellow。'
　　'Oh，howhemustbehurt!'repeatedStephen。
　　'Abeetlecouldn'thurtverylittle。Well，sir，good-nightt'ye；
　　andye，sir；andyou，miss，I'msure。'
　　Mr。Cannisterhadbeenmakingunnoticeablemotionsofwithdrawal，andbythetimethisfarewellremarkcamefromhislipshewasjustoutsidethedooroftheroom。Hetrampedalongthehall，stayedmorethanaminuteendeavouringtoclosethedoorproperly，andthenwaslosttotheirhearing。
　　Stephenhadmeanwhileturnedandsaidtothevicar:
　　'Pleaseexcusemethisevening!Imustleave。JohnSmithismyfather。'
　　Thevicardidnotcomprehendatfirst。
　　'Whatdidyousay？'heinquired。
　　'JohnSmithismyfather，'saidStephendeliberately。
　　AsurplustingeofrednessrosefromMr。Swancourt'sneck，andcameroundoverhisface，thelinesofhisfeaturesbecamemorefirmlydefined，andhislipsseemedtogetthinner。Itwasevidentthataseriesoflittlecircumstances，hithertounheeded，werenowfittingthemselvestogether，andformingalucidpictureinMr。Swancourt'smindinsuchamannerastorenderuselessfurtherexplanationonStephen'spart。
　　'Indeed，'thevicarsaid，inavoicedryandwithoutinflection。
　　Thisbeingawordwhichdependsentirelyuponitstoneforitsmeaning，Mr。Swancourt'senunciationwasequivalenttonoexpressionatall。
　　'Ihavetogonow，'saidStephen，withanagitatedbearing，andamovementasifhescarcelyknewwhetherheoughttorunofforstaylonger。'Onmyreturn，sir，willyoukindlygrantmeafewminutes'privateconversation？'
　　'Certainly。Thoughantecedentlyitdoesnotseempossiblethattherecanbeanythingofthenatureofprivatebusinessbetweenus。'
　　Mr。Swancourtputonhisstrawhat，crossedthedrawing-room，intowhichthemoonlightwasshining，andsteppedoutoftheFrenchwindowintotheverandah。Itrequirednofurtherefforttoperceivewhat，indeed，reasoningmighthaveforetoldasthenaturalcolourofamindwhosepleasuresweretakenamidgenealogies，gooddinners，andpatricianreminiscences，thatMr。
　　Swancourt'sprejudicesweretoostrongforhisgenerosity，andthatStephen'smomentsashisfriendandequalwerenumbered，orhadevennowceased。
　　Stephenmovedforwardasifhewouldfollowthevicar，thenasifhewouldnot，andinabsoluteperplexitywhithertoturnhimself，wentawkwardlytothedoor。Elfridefollowedlingeringlybehindhim。Beforehehadrecededtwoyardsfromthedoorstep，UnityandAnnthehousemaidcamehomefromtheirvisittothevillage。
　　'HaveyouheardanythingaboutJohnSmith？Theaccidentisnotsobadaswasreported，isit？'saidElfrideintuitively。
　　'Ohno；thedoctorsaysitisonlyabadbruise。'
　　'Ithoughtso!'criedElfridegladly。
　　'Hesaysthat，althoughNatbelieveshedidnotcheckthebeetleasitcamedown，hemusthavedonesowithoutknowingit——checkeditveryconsiderablytoo；forthefullblowwouldhaveknockedhishandabroad，andinrealityitisonlymadeblack-and-bluelike。'
　　'HowthankfulIam!'saidStephen。
　　TheperplexedUnitylookedathimwithhermouthratherthanwithhereyes。
　　'Thatwilldo，Unity，'saidElfridemagisterially；andthetwomaidspassedon。
　　'Elfride，doyouforgiveme？'saidStephenwithafaintsmile。
　　'Nomanisfairinlove；'andhetookherfingerslightlyinhisown。
　　WithherheadthrownsidewaysintheGreuzeattitude，shelookedatenderreproachathisdoubtandpressedhishand。Stephenreturnedthepressurethreefold，thenhastilywentofftohisfather'scottagebythewallofEndelstowPark。
　　'Elfride，whathaveyoutosaytothis？'inquiredherfather，comingupimmediatelyStephenhadretired。
　　Withfemininequicknessshegraspedatanystrawthatwouldenablehertopleadhiscause。'Hehadtoldmeofit，'shefaltered；'sothatitisnotadiscoveryinspiteofhim。Hewasjustcomingintotellyou。'
　　'COMINGtotell!Whyhadn'thealreadytold？Iobjectasmuch，ifnotmore，tohisunderhandconcealmentofthis，thanIdotothefactitself。Itlooksverymuchlikehismakingafoolofme，andofyoutoo。Youandhehavebeenabouttogether，andcorrespondingtogether，inawayIdon'tatallapproveof——inamostunseemlyway。Youshouldhaveknownhowimpropersuchconductis。Awomancan'tbetoocarefulnottobeseenalonewithI-don't-know-whom。'
　　'Yousawus，papa，andhaveneversaidaword。'
　　'Myfault，ofcourse；myfault。WhatthedeucecouldIbethinkingof!He，avillager'sson；andwe，Swancourts，connectionsoftheLuxellians。Wehavebeencomingtonothingforcenturies，andnowIbelievewehavegotthere。WhatshallInextinvitehere，Iwonder!'
　　Elfridebegantocryatthisveryunpropitiousaspectofaffairs。
　　'Opapa，papa，forgivemeandhim!Wecaresomuchforoneanother，papa——O，somuch!Andwhathewasgoingtoaskyouis，ifyouwillallowofanengagementbetweenustillheisagentlemanasgoodasyou。Wearenotinahurry，dearpapa；wedon'twantintheleasttomarrynow；notuntilheisricher。Onlywillyouletusbeengaged，becauseIlovehimso，andhelovesme？'
　　Mr。Swancourt'sfeelingswerealittletouchedbythisappeal，andhewasannoyedthatsuchshouldbethecase。'Certainlynot!'hereplied。Hepronouncedtheinhibitionlengthilyandsonorously，sothatthe'not'soundedlike'n-o-o-o-t!'
　　'No，no，no；don'tsayit!'
　　'Foh!Afinestory。ItisnotenoughthatIhavebeendeludedanddisgracedbyhavinghimhere，——thesonofoneofmyvillagepeasants，——butnowIamtomakehimmyson-in-law!Heavensaboveus，areyoumad，Elfride？'