\'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？\'