\'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。