'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？'