\'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。
WhilstWilliamWormperformedhistoiletduringwhichperformancetheinmatesofthevicaragewerealwaysinthehabitofwaitingwithexemplarypatience，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。SmithI
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；andbeingherselfabsolutelyindifferentastotheresultherplayingwasabovetheaverageamongwomen，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!\'