\'EventhoughIwishyouhadnevercaredforonebeforeme？\'
\'Yes。Andyoumustnotwishit。Don\'t!\'
\'I\'lltrynotto，Elfride。\'
Soshehoped，butherheartwastroubled。Ifhefeltsodeeplyonthispoint，whatwouldhesaydidheknowall，andseeitasMrs。
Jethwaysawit？Hewouldnevermakeherthehappiestgirlintheworldbytakinghertobehisownforaye。Thethoughtenclosedherasatombwheneveritpresenteditselftoherperturbedbrain。
ShetriedtobelievethatMrs。Jethwaywouldneverdohersuchacruelwrongastoincreasethebadappearanceofherfollybyinnuendoes；andconcludedthatconcealment，havingbeenbegun，mustbepersistedin，ifpossible。Forwhathemightconsiderasbadasthefact，washerpreviousconcealmentofitbystrategy。
ButElfrideknewMrs。Jethwaytobeherenemy，andtohateher。
Itwaspossibleshewoulddoherworst。Andshouldshedoit，allmightbeover。
Wouldthewomanlistentoreason，andbepersuadednottoruinonewhohadneverintentionallyharmedher？
ItwasnightinthevalleybetweenEndelstowCragsandtheshore。
Thebrookwhichtrickledthatwaytotheseawasdistinctinitsmurmursnow，andoverthelineofitscoursetherebegantohangawhiteribandoffog。Againstthesky，onthelefthandofthevale，theblackformofthechurchcouldbeseen。Ontheotherrosehazel-bushes，afewtrees，andwherethesewereabsent，furzetufts——astallasmen——onstemsnearlyasstoutastimber。Theshriekofsomebirdwasoccasionallyheard，asitflewterror-
strickenfromitsfirstroost，toseekanewsleeping-place，whereitmightpassthenightunmolested。
Intheeveningshade，somewaydownthevalley，andunderarowofscrubbyoaks，acottagecouldstillbediscerned。Itstoodabsolutelyalone。Thehousewasratherlarge，andthewindowsofsomeoftheroomswerenailedupwithboardsontheoutside，whichgaveaparticularlydesertedappearancetothewholeerection。
Fromthefrontdooranirregularseriesofroughandmisshapensteps，cutinthesolidrock，leddowntotheedgeofthestreamlet，which，attheirextremity，washollowedintoabasinthroughwhichthewatertrickled。Thiswasevidentlythemeansofwatersupplytothedwellerordwellersinthecottage。
Alightfootstepwashearddescendingfromthehigherslopesofthehillside。Indistinctinthepathwayappearedamovingfemaleshape，whoadvancedandknockedtimidlyatthedoor。Noanswerbeingreturnedtheknockwasrepeated，withthesameresult，anditwasthenrepeatedathirdtime。Thisalsowasunsuccessful。
Fromoneoftheonlytwowindowsonthegroundfloorwhichwerenotboardedupcameraysoflight，noshutterorcurtainobscuringtheroomfromtheeyesofapasserontheoutside。Sofewwalkedthatwayafternightfallthatanysuchmeanstosecuresecrecywereprobablydeemedunnecessary。
Theinequalityoftheraysfallinguponthetreesoutsidetoldthatthelighthaditsorigininaflickeringfireonly。Thevisitor，afterthethirdknocking，steppedalittletotheleftinordertogainaviewoftheinterior，andthrewbackthehoodfromherface。ThedancingyellowsheenrevealedthefairandanxiouscountenanceofElfride。
Insidethehousethisfirelightwasenoughtoilluminetheroomdistinctly，andtoshowthatthefurnitureofthecottagewassuperiortowhatmighthavebeenexpectedfromsounpromisinganexterior。ItalsoshowedtoElfridethattheroomwasempty。
Beyondthelightquiverandflapoftheflamesnothingmovedorwasaudibletherein。
Sheturnedthehandleandentered，throwingoffthecloakwhichenvelopedher，underwhichsheappearedwithouthatorbonnet，andinthesortofhalf-toilettecountrypeopleordinarilydinein。
Thenadvancingtothefootofthestaircaseshecalleddistinctly，butsomewhatfearfully，\'Mrs。Jethway!\'
Noanswer。
Withalookofreliefandregretcombined，denotingthateasecametotheheartanddisappointmenttothebrain，Elfridepausedforseveralminutes，asifundecidedhowtoact。Determiningtowait，shesatdownonachair。Theminutesdrewon，andaftersittingonthethornsofimpatienceforhalfanhour，shesearchedherpocket，tooktherefromaletter，andtoreofftheblankleaf。
Thentakingoutapencilshewroteuponthepaper:
\'DEARMRS。JETHWAY，——Ihavebeentovisityou。Iwantedmuchtoseeyou，butIcannotwaitanylonger。Icametobegyounottoexecutethethreatsyouhaverepeatedtome。Donot，Ibeseechyou，Mrs。Jethway，letanyoneknowIranawayfromhome!Itwouldruinmewithhim，andbreakmyheart。Iwilldoanythingforyou，ifyouwillbekindtome。Inthenameofourcommonwomanhood，donot，Iimploreyou，makeascandalofme——Yours，E。
SWANCOURT。\'
Shefoldedthenotecornerwise，directedit，andplaceditonthetable。Thenagaindrawingthehoodoverhercurlyheadsheemergedsilentlyasshehadcome。
WhilstthisepisodehadbeeninactionatMrs。Jethway\'scottage，Knighthadgonefromthedining-roomintothedrawing-room，andfoundMrs。Swancourttherealone。
\'Elfridehasvanishedupstairsorsomewhere，\'shesaid。
\'AndIhavebeenreadinganarticleinanoldnumberofthePRESENTthatIlightedonbychanceashorttimeago；itisanarticleyouoncetolduswasyours。Well，Harry，withduedeferencetoyourliterarypowers，allowmetosaythatthiseffusionisallnonsense，inmyopinion。\'
\'Whatisitabout？\'saidKnight，takingupthepaperandreading。
\'There:don\'tgetredaboutit。Ownthatexperiencehastaughtyoutobemorecharitable。Ihaveneverreadsuchunchivalroussentimentsinmylife——fromaman，Imean。There，Iforgiveyou；
itwasbeforeyouknewElfride。\'
\'Ohyes，\'saidKnight，lookingup。\'Iremembernow。Thetextofthatsermonwasnotmyownatall，butwassuggestedtomebyayoungmannamedSmith——thesamewhomIhavementionedtoyouascomingfromthisparish。Ithoughttheidearatheringeniousatthetime，andenlargedittotheweightofafewguineas，becauseIhadnothingelseinmyhead。\'
\'Whichideadoyoucallthetext？Iamcurioustoknowthat。\'
\'Well，this，\'saidKnight，somewhatunwillingly。\'Thatexperienceteaches，andyoursweetheart，nolessthanyourtailor，isnecessarilyveryimperfectinherduties，ifyouareherfirstpatron:andconversely，thesweetheartwhoisgracefulundertheinitialkissmustbesupposedtohavehadsomepracticeinthetrade。\'
\'Anddoyoumeantosaythatyouwrotethatuponthestrengthofanotherman\'sremark，withouthavingtesteditbypractice？\'
\'Yes——indeedIdo。\'
\'ThenIthinkitwasuncalledforandunfair。Andhowdoyouknowitistrue？Iexpectyouregretitnow。\'
\'Sinceyoubringmeintoaseriousmood，Iwillspeakcandidly。I
dobelievethatremarktobeperfectlytrue，and，havingwrittenit，Iwoulddefenditanywhere。ButIdooftenregrethavingeverwrittenit，aswellasothersofthesort。Ihavegrownoldersince，andIfindsuchatoneofwritingiscalculatedtodoharmintheworld。EveryliteraryJackbecomesagentlemanifhecanonlypenafewindifferentsatiresuponwomankind:womenthemselves，too，havetakentothetrick；andso，uponthewhole，Ibegintoberatherashamedofmycompanions。\'
\'Ah，Henry，youhavefalleninlovesinceanditmakesadifference，\'saidMrs。Swancourtwithafainttoneofbanter。
\'That\'strue；butthatisnotmyreason。\'
\'Havingfoundthat，inacaseofyourownexperience，aso-calledgoosewasaswan，itseemsabsurdtodenysuchapossibilityinothermen\'sexperiences。\'
\'Youcanhitpalpably，cousinCharlotte，\'saidKnight。\'Youareliketheboywhoputsastoneinsidehissnowball，andIshallplaywithyounolonger。Excuseme——Iamgoingformyeveningstroll。\'
ThoughKnighthadspokenjestingly，thisincidentandconversationhadcausedhimasuddendepression。Coming，rathersingularly，justafterhisdiscoverythatElfridehadknownwhatitwastolovewarmlybeforeshehadknownhim，hisminddweltuponthesubject，andthefamiliarpipehesmoked，whilstpacingupanddowntheshrubbery-path，failedtobeasolace。Hethoughtagainofthoseidlewords——hithertoquiteforgotten——aboutthefirstkissofagirl，andthetheoryseemedmorethanreasonable。OfcoursetheirstingnowlayintheirbearingonElfride。
Elfride，underKnight\'skiss，hadcertainlybeenaverydifferentwomanfromherselfunderStephen\'s。Whetherforgoodorforill，shehadmarvellouslywelllearntabetrothedlady\'spart；andthefascinatingfinishofherdeportmentinthissecondcampaigndidprobablyarisefromherunreservedencouragementofStephen。
Knight，withalltherapidityofjealoussensitiveness，pounceduponsomewordsshehadinadvertentlyletfallaboutanearring，whichhehadonlypartiallyunderstoodatthetime。Itwasduringthat\'initialkiss\'bythelittlewaterfall:
\'Wemustbecareful。Ilosttheotherbydoingthis!\'
Aflushwhichhadinitasmuchofwoundedprideasofsorrow，passedoverKnightashethoughtofwhathehadsofrequentlysaidtoherinhissimplicity。\'Ialwaysmeanttobethefirstcomerinawoman\'sheart，freshlipsornoneforme。\'Howchildishlyblindhemusthaveseemedtothismeregirl!Howshemusthavelaughedathiminwardly!Heabsolutelywrithedashethoughtoftheconfessionshehadwrungfromhimontheboatinthedarknessofnight。Theoneconceptionwhichhadsustainedhisdignitywhendrawnoutofhisshellonthatoccasion——thatofhercharmingignoranceofallsuchmatters——howabsurditwas!
Thisman，whoseimaginationhadbeenfeduptopreternaturalsizebylonelystudyandsilentobservationsofhiskind——whoseemotionshadbeendrawnoutlonganddelicatebyhisseclusion，likeplantsinacellar——wasnowabsolutelyinpain。Moreover，severalyearsofpoeticstudy，and，ifthetruthmustbetold，poeticefforts，hadtendedtodeveloptheaffectivesideofhisconstitutionstillfurther，inproportiontohisactivefaculties。
ItwashisbeliefintheabsolutenewnessofblandishmenttoElfridewhichhadconstitutedherprimarycharm。Hebegantothinkitwasashardtobeearliestinawoman\'sheartasitwastobefirstinthePoolofBethesda。
ThatKnightshouldhavebeenthusconstituted:thatElfride\'ssecondlovershouldnothavebeenoneofthegreatmassofbustlingmankind，littlegiventointrospection，whosegood-naturemighthavecompensatedforanylackofappreciativeness，wasthechanceofthings。Thatherthrobbing，self-confounding，indiscreetheartshouldhavetodefenditselfunaidedagainstthekeenscrutinyandlogicalpowerwhichKnight，nowthathissuspicionswereawakened，wouldsoonerorlaterbesuretoexerciseagainsther，washermisfortune。Amiserableincongruitywasapparentinthecircumstanceofastrongmindpractisingitsunerringarcheryuponaheartwhichtheownerofthatmindlovedbetterthanhisown。
Elfride\'sdociledevotiontoKnightwasnowitsownenemy。
Clingingtohimsodependently，shetaughthimintimetopresumeuponthatdevotion——alessonmenarenotslowtolearn。Aslightrebelliousnessoccasionallywouldhavedonehimnoharm，andwouldhavebeenaworldofadvantagetoher。Butsheidolizedhim，andwasproudtobehisbond-servant。
ChapterXXXI
\'Awormi\'thebud。\'
Onedaythereviewersaid，\'Letusgotothecliffsagain，Elfride；\'and，withoutconsultingherwishes，hemovedasiftostartatonce。
\'Thecliffofourdreadfuladventure？\'sheinquired，withashudder。\'Deathstaresmeinthefaceinthepersonofthatcliff。\'
Nevertheless，soentirelyhadshesunkherindividualityinhisthattheremarkwasnotutteredasanexpostulation，andsheimmediatelypreparedtoaccompanyhim。
\'No，notthatplace，\'saidKnight。\'Itisghastlytome，too。
Thatother，Imean；whatisitsname？——WindyBeak。\'
WindyBeakwasthesecondcliffinheightalongthatcoast，and，asisfrequentlythecasewiththenaturalfeaturesoftheglobenolessthanwiththeintellectualfeaturesofmen，itenjoyedthereputationofbeingthefirst。Moreover，itwastheclifftowhichElfridehadriddenwithStephenSmith，onawell-rememberedmorningofhissummervisit。
So，thoughthoughtoftheformercliffhadcausedhertoshudderattheperilstowhichherloverandherselfhadtherebeenexposed，bybeingassociatedwithKnightonlyitwasnotsoobjectionableasWindyBeak。Thatplacewasworsethangloomy，itwasaperpetualreproachtoher。
Butnotlikingtorefuse，shesaid，\'Itisfurtherthantheothercliff。\'
\'Yes；butyoucanride。\'
\'Andwillyoutoo？\'
\'No，I\'llwalk。\'
AduplicateofheroriginalarrangementwithStephen。Somefatalitymustbehangingoverherhead。Butsheceasedobjecting。
\'Verywell，Harry，I\'llride，\'shesaidmeekly。
Aquarterofanhourlatershewasinthesaddle。Buthowdifferentthemoodfromthatoftheformertime。Shehad，indeed，givenupherpositionasqueenofthelesstobevassalofthegreater。Herewasnoshowingoffnow；noscamperingoutofsightwithPansy，toperplexandtirehercompanion；nosaucyremarksonLABELLEDAMESANSMERCI。Elfridewasburdenedwiththeveryintensityofherlove。
Knightdidmostofthetalkingalongthejourney。Elfridesilentlylistened，andentirelyresignedherselftothemotionsoftheamblinghorseuponwhichshesat，alternatelyrisingandsinkinggently，likeaseabirduponaseawave。
Whentheyhadreachedthelimitofaquadruped\'spossibilitiesinwalking，Knighttenderlyliftedherfromthesaddle，tiedthehorse，andrambledonwithhertotheseatintherock。Knightsatdown，anddrewElfridedeftlybesidehim，andtheylookedoverthesea。
Twoorthreedegreesabovethatmelancholyandeternallylevelline，theoceanhorizon，hungasunofbrass，withnovisiblerays，inaskyofashenhue。Itwasaskythesundidnotilluminateorenkindle，asisusualatsunsets。Thissheetofskywasmetbythesaltmassofgraywater，fleckedhereandtherewithwhite。Awaftofdampnessoccasionallyrosetotheirfaces，whichwasprobablyrarefiedsprayfromtheblowsoftheseauponthefootofthecliff。
ElfridewisheditcouldbealongertimeagothatshehadsattherewithStephenasherlover，andagreedtobehiswife。Thesignificantclosenessofthattimetothepresentwasanotheritemtoaddtothelistofpassionatefearswhichwerechronicwithhernow。
YetKnightwasverytenderthisevening，andsustainedherclosetohimastheysat。
Notawordhadbeenutteredbyeithersincesittingdown，whenKnightsaidmusingly，lookingstillafar——
\'Iwonderifanyloversinpastyearseversatherewitharmslocked，aswedonow。Probablytheyhave，fortheplaceseemsformedforaseat。\'
Herrecollectionofawell-knownpairwhohad，andthemuch-
talked-oflosswhichhadensuedtherefrom，andhowtheyoungmanhadbeensentbacktolookforthemissingarticle，ledElfridetoglancedowntoherside，andbehindherback。Manypeoplewholoseatrinketinvoluntarilygiveamomentarylookforitinpassingthespoteversolongafterwards。Theydonotoftenfindit。Elfride，inturningherhead，sawsomethingshineweaklyfromacreviceintherockysedile。Onlyforafewminutesduringthedaydidthesunlightthealcovetoitsinnermostriftsandslits，buttheseweretheminutesnow，anditslevelraysdidElfridethegoodorevilturnofrevealingthelostornament。
Elfride\'sthoughtsinstantlyrevertedtothewordsshehadunintentionallyuttereduponwhathadbeengoingonwhentheearringwaslost。AndshewasimmediatelyseizedwithamisgivingthatKnight，onseeingtheobject，wouldberemindedofherwords。
Herinstinctiveactthereforewastosecureitprivately。
ItwassodeepinthecrackthatElfridecouldnotpullitoutwithherhand，thoughshemadeseveralsurreptitioustrials。
\'Whatareyoudoing，Elfie？\'saidKnight，noticingherattempts，andlookingbehindhimlikewise。
Shehadrelinquishedtheendeavour，buttoolate。
Knightpeeredintothejointfromwhichherhandhadbeenwithdrawn，andsawwhatshehadseen。Heinstantlytookapenknifefromhispocket，andbydintofprobingandscrapingbroughttheearringoutuponopenground。
\'Itisnotyours，surely？\'heinquired。
\'Yes，itis，\'shesaidquietly。
\'Well，thatisamostextraordinarything，thatweshouldfinditlikethis!\'Knightthenrememberedmorecircumstances；\'What，isittheoneyouhavetoldmeof？\'
\'Yes。\'
Theunfortunateremarkofhersatthekisscameintohismind，ifeyeswereeveranindextobetrusted。Tryingtorepressthewordsheyetspokeonthesubject，moretoobtainassurancethatwhatithadseemedtoimplywasnottruethanfromawishtopryintobygones。
\'Wereyoureallyengagedtobemarriedtothatlover？\'hesaid，lookingstraightforwardattheseaagain。
\'Yes——butnotexactly。YetIthinkIwas。\'
\'OElfride，engagedtobemarried!\'hemurmured。
\'Itwouldhavebeencalleda——secretengagement，Isuppose。Butdon\'tlooksodisappointed；don\'tblameme。\'
\'No，no。\'
\'Whydoyousay\"No，no，\"insuchaway？Sweetlyenough，butsobarely？\'
Knightmadenodirectreplytothis。\'Elfride，Itoldyouonce，\'
hesaid，followingouthisthoughts，\'thatIneverkissedawomanasasweetheartuntilIkissedyou。Akissisnotmuch，I
suppose，andithappenstofewyoungpeopletobeabletoavoidallblandishmentsandattentionsexceptfromtheonetheyafterwardsmarry。ButIhavepeculiarweaknesses，Elfride；andbecauseIhaveledapeculiarlife，Imustsufferforit，I
suppose。Ihadhoped——well，whatIhadnorighttohopeinconnectionwithyou。Younaturallygrantedyourformerlovertheprivilegesyougrantme。\'
A\'yes\'camefromherlikethelastsadwhisperofabreeze。
\'Andheusedtokissyou——ofcoursehedid。\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Andperhapsyouallowedhimamorefreemannerinhislove-makingthanIhaveshowninmine。\'
\'No，Ididnot。\'Thiswasrathermorealertlyspoken。
\'Butheadopteditwithoutbeingallowed？\'
\'Yes。\'
\'HowmuchIhavemadeofyou，Elfride，andhowIhavekeptaloof!\'
saidKnightindeepandshakentones。\'SomanydaysandhoursasIhavehopedinyou——Ihavefearedtokissyoumorethanthosetwotimes。Andhemadenoscruplesto……\'
Shecreptclosertohimandtrembledasifwithcold。Herdreadthatthewholestory，withrandomadditions，wouldbecomeknowntohim，causedhermannertobesoagitatedthatKnightwasalarmedandperplexedintostillness。Theactualinnocencewhichmadeherthinksofearfullyofwhat，astheworldgoes，wasnotagreatmatter，magnifiedherapparentguilt。ItmayhavesaidtoKnightthatawomanwhowassoflurriedinthepreliminariesmusthaveadreadfulsequeltohertale。
\'Iknow，\'continuedKnight，withanindescribabledragofmannerandintonation，——\'IknowIamabsurdlyscrupulousaboutyou——thatIwantyoutooexclusivelymine。Inyourpastbeforeyouknewme——
fromyourverycradle——Iwantedtothinkyouhadbeenmine。I
wouldmakeyouminebymainforce。Elfride，\'hewentonvehemently，\'Ican\'thelpthisjealousyoveryou!Itismynature，andmustbeso，andIHATEthefactthatyouhavebeencaressedbefore:yeshateit!\'
Shedrewalongdeepbreath，whichwashalfasob。Knight\'sfacewashard，andheneverlookedatheratall，stillfixinghisgazefarouttosea，whichthesunhadnowresignedtotheshade。Inhighplacesitisnotlongfromsunsettonight，duskbeinginameasurebanished，andthoughonlyeveningwheretheysat，ithadbeentwilightinthevalleysforhalfanhour。Uponthedullexpanseofseatheregraduallyintensifieditselfintoexistencethegleamofadistantlight-ship。
\'Whenthatloverfirstkissedyou，Elfridewasitinsuchaplaceasthis？\'
\'Yes，itwas。\'
\'Youdon\'ttellmeanythingbutwhatIwringoutofyou。Whyisthat？Whyhaveyousuppressedallmentionofthiswhencasualconfidencesofmineshouldhavesuggestedconfidenceinreturn？OnboardtheJuliet，whywereyousosecret？Itseemslikebeingmadeafoolof，Elfride，tothinkthat，whenIwasteachingyouhowdesirableitwasthatweshouldhavenosecretsfromeachother，youwereassentinginwords，butinactcontradictingme。
Confidencewouldhavebeensomuchmorepromisingforourhappiness。Ifyouhadhadconfidenceinme，andtoldmewillingly，Ishould——bedifferent。Butyousuppresseverything，andIshallquestionyou。DidyouliveatEndelstowatthattime？\'
\'Yes，\'shesaidfaintly。
\'Wherewereyouwhenhefirstkissedyou？\'
\'Sittinginthisseat。\'
\'Ah，Ithoughtso!\'saidKnight，risingandfacingher。
\'Andthataccountsforeverything——theexclamationwhichyouexplaineddeceitfully，andall!Forgivetheharshword，Elfride——
forgiveit。\'Hesmiledasurfacesmileashecontinued:\'WhatapoormortalIamtoplaysecondfiddleineverythingandtobedeludedbyfibs!\'
\'Oh，don\'tsayit；don\'t，Harry!\'
\'Wheredidhekissyoubesideshere？\'
\'Sittingon——atombinthe——churchyard——andotherplaces，\'sheansweredwithslowrecklessness。
\'Nevermind，nevermind，\'heexclaimed，onseeinghertearsandperturbation。\'Idon\'twanttogrieveyou。Idon\'tcare。\'
ButKnightdidcare。
\'Itmakesnodifference，youknow，\'hecontinued，seeingshedidnotreply。
\'Ifeelcold，\'saidElfride。\'Shallwegohome？\'
\'Yes；itislateintheyeartositlongoutofdoors:weoughttobeoffthisledgebeforeitgetstoodarktoletusseeourfooting。Idaresaythehorseisimpatient。\'
Knightspokethemerestcommonplacetohernow。Hehadhopedtothelastmomentthatshewouldhavevolunteeredthewholestoryofherfirstattachment。Itgrewmoreandmoredistastefultohimthatsheshouldhaveasecretofthisnature。Suchentireconfidenceashehadpicturedasabouttoexistbetweenhimselfandtheinnocentyoungwifewhohadknownnolover\'stonessavehis——wasthisitsbeginning？Heliftedheruponthehorse，andtheywentalongconstrainedly。Thepoisonofsuspicionwasdoingitsworkwell。
Anincidentoccurredonthishomewardjourneywhichwaslongrememberedbyboth，asaddingshadetoshadow。KnightcouldnotkeepfromhismindthewordsofAdam\'sreproachtoEveinPARADISE
LOST，andatlastwhisperedthemtohimself——
\'Fool\'dandbeguiled:byhimthou，Ibythee!\'
\'Whatdidyousay？\'Elfrideinquiredtimorously。
\'Itwasonlyaquotation。\'
Theyhadnowdroppedintoahollow，andthechurchtowermadeitsappearanceagainstthepaleeveningsky，itslowerpartbeinghiddenbysomeinterveningtrees。Elfride，beingdeniedananswer，waslookingatthetowerandtryingtothinkofsomecontrastingquotationshemightusetoregainhistenderness。
Afteralittlethoughtshesaidinwinningtones——
\"Thouhastbeenmyhope，andastrongtowerformeagainsttheenemy。”\'
Theypassedon。Afewminuteslaterthreeorfourbirdswereseentoflyoutofthetower。
\'Thestrongtowermoves，\'saidKnight，withsurprise。
Acornerofthesquaremassswayedforward，sank，andvanished。A
loudrumblefollowed，andacloudofdustarosewhereallhadpreviouslybeensoclear。
\'Thechurchrestorershavedoneit!\'saidElfride。
AtthisminuteMr。Swancourtwasseenapproachingthem。Hecameupwithabustlingdemeanour，apparentlymuchengrossedbysomebusinessinhand。
\'Wehavegotthetowerdown!\'heexclaimed。\'Itcameratherquickerthanweintendeditshould。Thefirstideawastotakeitdownstonebystone，youknow。Indoingthisthecrackwidenedconsiderably，anditwasnotbelievedsafeforthementostanduponthewallsanylonger。Thenwedecidedtoundermineit，andthreemensettoworkattheweakestcornerthisafternoon。Theyhadleftofffortheevening，intendingtogivethefinalblowto-
morrowmorning，andhadbeenhomeabouthalfanhour，whendownitcame。Averysuccessfuljob——averyfinejobindeed。Buthewasatougholdfellowinspiteofthecrack。\'HereMr。Swancourtwipedfromhisfacetheperspirationhisexcitementhadcausedhim。
\'Pooroldtower!\'saidElfride。
\'Yes，Iamsorryforit，\'saidKnight。\'Itwasaninterestingpieceofantiquity——alocalrecordoflocalart。\'
\'Ah，butmydearsir，weshallhaveanewone，expostulatedMr。
Swancourt；\'asplendidtower——designedbyafirst-rateLondonman——
intheneweststyleofGothicart，andfullofChristianfeeling。\'
\'Indeed!\'saidKnight。
\'Ohyes。Notinthebarbarousclumsyarchitectureofthisneighbourhood；youseenothingsoroughandpagananywhereelseinEngland。Whenthemenaregone，Iwouldadviseyoutogoandseethechurchbeforeanythingfurtherisdonetoit。Youcannowsitinthechancel，andlookdownthenavethroughthewestarch，andthroughthatfarouttosea。Infact，\'saidMr。Swancourtsignificantly，\'ifaweddingwereperformedatthealtarto-morrowmorning，itmightbewitnessedfromthedeckofashiponavoyagetotheSouthSeas，withagoodglass。However，afterdinner，whenthemoonhasrisen，goupandseeforyourselves。\'
Knightassentedwithfeverishreadiness。HehaddecidedwithinthelastfewminutesthathecouldnotrestanothernightwithoutfurthertalkwithElfrideuponthesubjectwhichnowdividedthem:
hewasdeterminedtoknowall，andrelievehisdisquietinsomeway。Elfridewouldgladlyhaveescapedfurtherconversealonewithhimthatnight，butitseemedinevitable。
Justaftermoonrisetheyleftthehouse。Howlittleanyexpectationofthemoonlightprospect——whichwastheostensiblereasonoftheirpilgrimage——hadtodowithKnight\'srealmotiveingettingthegentlegirlagainuponhisarm，Elfridenolessthanhimselfwellknew。
ChapterXXXII
\'HadIwistbeforeIkist\'
ItwasnowOctober，andthenightairwaschill。Afterlookingtoseethatshewaswellwrappedup，Knighttookheralongthehillsidepaththeyhadascendedsomanytimesineachother\'scompany，whendoubtwasathingunknown。Onreachingthechurchtheyfoundthatonesideofthetowerwas，asthevicarhadstated，entirelyremoved，andlyingintheshapeofrubbishattheirfeet。Thetoweronitseasternsidestillwasfirm，andmighthavewithstoodtheshockofstormsandthesiegeofbatteringyearsformanyagenerationevennow。Theyenteredbytheside-door，wenteastward，andsatdownbythealtar-steps。
Theheavyarchspanningthejunctionoftowerandnaveformedto-
nightablackframetoadistantmistyview，stretchingfarwestward。Justoutsidethearchcametheheapoffallenstones，thenaportionofmoonlitchurchyard，thenthewideandconvexseabehind。Itwasacoup-d\'oeilwhichhadneverbeenpossiblesincethemediaevalmasonsfirstattachedtheoldtowertotheolderchurchitdignified，andhencemustbesupposedtohavehadaninterestapartfromthatofsimplemoonlightonancientwallandseaandshore——anymentionofwhichhasbythistime，itistobefeared，becomeoneofthecuckoo-crieswhichareheardbutnotregarded。Raysofcrimson，blue，andpurpleshoneuponthetwainfromtheeastwindowbehindthem，whereinsaintsandangelsviedwitheachotherinprimitivesurroundingsoflandscapeandsky，andthrewuponthepavementatthesitters\'feetasofterreproductionofthesametranslucenthues，amidwhichtheshadowsofthetwolivingheadsofKnightandElfridewereopaqueandprominentblots。Presentlythemoonbecamecoveredbyacloud，andtheiridescencediedaway。
\'There，itisgone!\'saidKnight。\'I\'vebeenthinking，Elfride，thatthisplacewesitoniswherewemayhopetokneeltogethersoon。ButIamrestlessanduneasy，andyouknowwhy。\'
Beforesherepliedthemoonlightreturnedagain，irradiatingthatportionofchurchyardwithintheirview。Itbrightenedthenearpartfirst，andagainstthebackgroundwhichthecloud-shadowhadnotyetuncoveredstood，brightestofall，awhitetomb——thetombofyoungJethway。
Knight，stillaliveonthesubjectofElfride\'ssecret，thoughtofherwordsconcerningthekissthatitoncehadoccurredonatombinthischurchyard。
\'Elfride，\'hesaid，withasuperficialarchnesswhichdidnothalfcoveranundercurrentofreproach，\'doyouknow，Ithinkyoumighthavetoldmevoluntarilyaboutthatpast——ofkissesandbetrothing——withoutgivingmesomuchuneasinessandtrouble。Wasthatthetombyoualludedtoashavingsatonwithhim？\'
Shewaitedaninstant。\'Yes，\'shesaid。
ThecorrectnessofhisrandomshotstartledKnight；though，consideringthatalmostalltheothermemorialsinthechurchyardwereuprightheadstonesuponwhichnobodycouldpossiblysit，itwasnotsowonderful。
Elfridedidnotevennowgoonwiththeexplanationherexactingloverwishedtohave，andherreticencebegantoirritatehimasbefore。Hewasinclinedtoreadheralecture。
\'Whydon\'tyoutellmeall？\'hesaidsomewhatindignantly。
\'Elfride，thereisnotasinglesubjectuponwhichIfeelmorestronglythanuponthis——thateverythingoughttobeclearedupbetweentwopersonsbeforetheybecomehusbandandwife。Seehowdesirableandwisesuchacourseis，inordertoavoiddisagreeablecontingenciesintheformofdiscoveriesafterwards。
For，Elfride，asecretofnoimportanceatallmaybemadethebasisofsomefatalmisunderstandingonlybecauseitisdiscovered，andnotconfessed。Theysaythereneverwasacoupleofwhomonehadnotsomesecrettheotherneverkneworwasintendedtoknow。Thismayormaynotbetrue；butifitbetrue，somehavebeenhappyinspiteratherthaninconsequenceofit。
Ifamanweretoseeanothermanlookingsignificantlyathiswife，andshewereblushingcrimsonandappearingstartled，doyouthinkhewouldbesowellsatisfiedwith，forinstance，hertruthfulexplanationthatonce，tohergreatannoyance，sheaccidentallyfaintedintohisarms，asifshehadsaiditvoluntarilylongago，beforethecircumstanceoccurredwhichforceditfromher？Supposethatadmireryouspokeofinconnectionwiththetombyondershouldturnup，andbotherme。Itwouldembitterourlives，ifIwerethenhalfinthedark，asIamnow!\'
Knightspokethelattersentenceswithgrowingforce。
\'Itcannotbe，\'shesaid。
\'Whynot？\'heaskedsharply。
Elfridewasdistressedtofindhiminsosternamood，andshetrembled。Inaconfusionofideas，probablynotintendingawilfulprevarication，sheansweredhurriedly——
\'Ifhe\'sdead，howcanyoumeethim？\'
\'Ishedead？Oh，that\'sdifferentaltogether!\'saidKnight，immenselyrelieved。\'But，letmesee——whatdidyousayaboutthattombandhim？\'
\'That\'shistomb，\'shecontinuedfaintly。
\'What!washewholiesburiedtherethemanwhowasyourlover？\'
Knightaskedinadistinctvoice。
\'Yes；andIdidn\'tlovehimorencouragehim。\'
\'Butyoulethimkissyou——yousaidso，youknow，Elfride。\'
Shemadenoreply。
\'Why，\'saidKnight，recollectingcircumstancesbydegrees，\'yousurelysaidyouwereinsomedegreeengagedtohim——andofcourseyouwereifhekissedyou。Andnowyousayyouneverencouragedhim。AndIhavebeenfancyingyousaid——Iamalmostsureyoudid——
thatyouweresittingwithhimONthattomb。GoodGod!\'hecried，suddenlystartingupinanger，\'areyoutellingmeuntruths？Whyshouldyouplaywithmelikethis？I\'llhavetherightofit。Elfride，weshallneverbehappy!There\'sablightuponus，orme，oryou，anditmustbeclearedoffbeforewemarry。\'Knightmovedawayimpetuouslyasiftoleaveher。
Shejumpedupandclutchedhisarm\'Don\'tgo，Harry——don\'t!
\'Tellme，then，\'saidKnightsternly。\'Andrememberthis，nomorefibs，or，uponmysoul，Ishallhateyou。Heavens!thatIshouldcometothis，tobemadeafoolofbyagirl\'suntruths——\'
\'Don\'t，don\'ttreatmesocruelly!OHarry，Harry，havepity，andwithdrawthosedreadfulwords!Iamtruthfulbynature——Iam——andIdon\'tknowhowIcametomakeyoumisunderstand!ButIwasfrightened!\'Shequiveredsoinherperturbationthatsheshookhimwithher{Note:sentenceincompleteintext。}
\'Didyousayyouweresittingonthattomb？\'heaskedmoodily。
\'Yes；anditwastrue。\'
\'Thenhow，inthenameofHeaven，canamansituponhisowntomb？\'
\'Thatwasanotherman。Forgiveme，Harry，won\'tyou？\'
\'What，aloverinthetombandaloveronit？\'
\'Oh——Oh——yes!\'
\'Thenthereweretwobeforeme？
\'I——supposeso。\'
\'Now，don\'tbeasillywomanwithyoursupposing——Ihateallthat，\'saidKnightcontemptuouslyalmost。\'Well，welearnstrangethings。Idon\'tknowwhatImighthavedone——nomancansayintowhatshapecircumstancesmaywarphim——butIhardlythinkIshouldhavehadtheconsciencetoacceptthefavoursofanewloverwhilstsittingoverthepoorremainsoftheoldone；uponmysoul，Idon\'t。\'Knight，inmoodymeditation，continuedlookingtowardsthetomb，whichstoodstaringtheminthefacelikeanavengingghost。
\'Butyouwrongme——Oh，sogrievously!\"shecried。\'Ididnotmeditateanysuchthing:believeme，Harry，Ididnot。Itonlyhappenedso——quiteofitself。\'
\'Well，Isupposeyoudidn\'tINTENDsuchathing，\'hesaid。
\'Nobodyeverdoes，\'hesadlycontinued。
\'AndhiminthegraveIneveronceloved。\'
\'Isupposethesecondloverandyou，asyousatthere，vowedtobefaithfultoeachotherforever？\'
Elfrideonlyrepliedbyquickheavybreaths，showingshewasonthebrinkofasob。
\'Youdon\'tchoosetobeanythingbutreserved，then？\'hesaidimperatively。
\'Ofcoursewedid，\'sheresponded。
\'\"Ofcourse!\"Youseemtotreatthesubjectverylightly？\'
\'Itispast，andisnothingtousnow。\'
\'Elfride，itisanothingwhich，thoughitmaymakeacarelessmanlaugh，cannotbutmakeagenuineonegrieve。Itisaverygnawingpain。Tellmestraightthrough——allofit。\'
\'Never。OHarry!howcanyouexpectitwhensolittleofitmakesyousoharshwithme？\'
\'Now，Elfride，listentothis。Youknowthatwhatyouhavetoldonlyjarsthesubtlerfanciesinone，afterall。ThefeelingI
haveaboutitwouldbecalled，andis，meresentimentality；andI
don\'twantyoutosupposethatanordinarypreviousengagementofastraightforwardkindwouldmakeanypracticaldifferenceinmylove，ormywishtomakeyoumywife。Butyouseemtohavemoretotell，andthat\'swherethewrongis。Istheremore？\'
\'Notmuchmore，\'shewearilyanswered。
Knightpreservedagravesilenceforaminute。\'\"Notmuchmore，\"\'
hesaidatlast。\'Ishouldthinknot，indeed!\'Hisvoiceassumedalowandsteadypitch。\'Elfride，youmustnotmindmysayingastrange-soundingthing，forsayitIshall。Itisthis:thatifthereWEREmuchmoretoaddtoanaccountwhichalreadyincludesalltheparticularsthatabrokenmarriageengagementcouldpossiblyincludewithpropriety，itmustbesomeexceptionalthingwhichmightmakeitimpossibleformeoranyoneelsetoloveyouandmarryyou。\'
Knight\'sdisturbedmoodledhimmuchfurtherthanhewouldhavegoneinaquietermoment。And，evenasitwas，hadshebeenassertivetoanydegreehewouldnothavebeensoperemptory；andhadshebeenastrongercharacter——morepracticalandlessimaginative——shewouldhavemademoreuseofherpositioninhishearttoinfluencehim。Buttheconfidingtendernesswhichhadwonhimiseveraccompaniedbyasortofself-committaltothestreamofevents，leadingeverysuchwomantotrustmoretothekindnessoffateforgoodresultsthantoanyargumentofherown。
\'Well，well，\'hemurmuredcynically；\'Iwon\'tsayitisyourfault:itismyill-luck，Isuppose。Ihadnorealrighttoquestionyou——everybodywouldsayitwaspresuming。Butwhenwehavemisunderstood，wefeelinjuredbythesubjectofourmisunderstanding。Youneversaidyouhadhadnobodyelseheremakinglovetoyou，sowhyshouldIblameyou？Elfride，Ibegyourpardon。\'
\'No，no!Iwouldratherhaveyourangerthanthatcoolaggrievedpoliteness。Dodropthat，Harry!Whyshouldyouinflictthatuponme？Itreducesmetothelevelofamereacquaintance。\'
\'Youdothatwithme。Whynotconfidenceforconfidence？\'
\'Yes；butIdidn\'taskyouasinglequestionwithregardtoyourpast:Ididn\'twishtoknowaboutit。AllIcaredforwasthat，whereveryoucamefrom，whateveryouhaddone，whoeveryouhadloved，youweremineatlast。Harry，iforiginallyyouhadknownIhadloved，wouldyouneverhavecaredforme？\'
\'Iwon\'tquitesaythat。ThoughIownthattheideaofyourinexperiencedstatehadagreatcharmforme。ButIthinkthis:
thatifIhadknowntherewasanyphaseofyourpastloveyouwouldrefusetorevealifIaskedtoknowit，Ishouldneverhavelovedyou。\'
Elfridesobbedbitterly。\'AmIsucha——merecharacterlesstoy——astohavenoattrac——tioninme，apartfrom——freshness？Haven\'tI
brains？Yousaid——Iwascleverandingeniousinmythoughts，and——
isn\'tthatanything？HaveInotsomebeauty？IthinkIhavealittle——andIknowIhave——yes，Ido!Youhavepraisedmyvoice，andmymanner，andmyaccomplishments。YetallthesetogetheraresomuchrubbishbecauseI——accidentallysawamanbeforeyou!\'
\'Oh，come，Elfride。\"Accidentallysawaman\"isverycool。Youlovedhim，remember。\'——
\'Andlovedhimalittle!\'
\'Andrefusenowtoanswerthesimplequestionhowitended。Doyourefusestill，Elfride？\'
\'Youhavenorighttoquestionmeso——yousaidso。Itisunfair。
TrustmeasItrustyou。\'
\'That\'snotatall。\'
\'Ishallnotloveyouifyouaresocruel。Itiscrueltometoarguelikethis。\'
\'Perhapsitis。Yes，itis。Iwascarriedawaybymyfeelingforyou。HeavenknowsthatIdidn\'tmeanto；butIhavelovedyousothatIhaveusedyoubadly。\'
\'Idon\'tmindit，Harry!\'sheinstantlyanswered，creepingupandnestlingagainsthim；\'andIwillnotthinkatallthatyouusedmeharshlyifyouwillforgiveme，andnotbevexedwithmeanymore？IdowishIhadbeenexactlyasyouthoughtIwas，butI
couldnothelpit，youknow。IfIhadonlyknownyouhadbeencoming，whatanunneryIwouldhavelivedintohavebeengoodenoughforyou!\'
\'Well，nevermind，\'saidKnight；andheturnedtogo。Heendeavouredtospeaksportivelyastheywenton。\'DiogenesLaertiussaysthatphilosophersusedvoluntarilytodeprivethemselvesofsighttobeuninterruptedintheirmeditations。
Men，becominglovers，oughttodothesamething。\'
\'Why？——butnevermind——Idon\'twanttoknow。Don\'tspeaklaconicallytome，\'shesaidwithdeprecation。
\'Why？Becausetheywouldneverthenbedistractedbydiscoveringtheiridolwassecond-hand。\'