'What!andgetyouintotrouble？'
'Ideserveit。'
'No，indeed，Iwon't，'saidUnity。'Itisnotsuchamightymatter，MissElfride。Isaystomyself，master'stakingahollerday，andbecausehe'snotbeenkindlatelytoMissElfride，she——'
'Isimitatinghim。Well，doasyoulike。Andwillyounowbringmesomeluncheon？'
Aftersatisfyinganappetitewhichthefreshmarineairhadgivenherinitsvictoryoveranagitatedmind，sheputonherhatandwenttothegardenandsummer-house。Shesatdown，andleantwithherheadinacorner。Hereshefellasleep。
Half-awake，shehurriedlylookedatthetime。Shehadbeentherethreehours。Atthesamemomentsheheardtheoutergateswingtogether，andwheelssweeproundtheentrance；somepriornoisefromthesamesourcehavingprobablybeenthecauseofherawaking。Nextherfather'svoicewasheardcallingtoWorm。
Elfridepassedalongawalktowardsthehousebehindabeltofshrubs。Sheheardatongueholdingconversewithherfather，whichwasnotthatofeitheroftheservants。Herfatherandthestrangerwerelaughingtogether。Thentherewasarustlingofsilk，andMr。Swancourtandhiscompanion，orcompanions，toallseemingenteredthedoorofthehouse，fornothingmoreofthemwasaudible。Elfridehadturnedbacktomeditateonwhatfriendsthesecouldbe，whensheheardfootsteps，andherfatherexclaimingbehindher:
'OElfride，hereyouare!Ihopeyougotonwell？'
Elfride'sheartsmoteher，andshedidnotspeak。
'Comebacktothesummer-houseaminute，'continuedMr。Swancourt；
'IhavetotellyouofthatIpromisedto。'
Theyenteredthesummer-house，andstoodleaningovertheknottywoodworkofthebalustrade。
'Now，'saidherfatherradiantly，'guesswhatIhavetosay。'Heseemedtoberegardinghisownexistencesointently，thathetooknointerestinnorevensawthecomplexionofhers。
'Icannot，papa，'shesaidsadly。
'Try，dear。'
'Iwouldrathernot，indeed。'
'Youaretired。Youlookworn。Theridewastoomuchforyou。
Well，thisiswhatIwentawayfor。Iwenttobemarried!'
'Married!'shefaltered，andcouldhardlycheckaninvoluntary'SodidI。'Amomentafterandherresolvetoconfessperishedlikeabubble。
'Yes；towhomdoyouthink？Mrs。Troyton，thenewowneroftheestateoverthehedge，andoftheoldmanor-house。ItwasonlyfinallysettledbetweenuswhenIwenttoStratleighafewdaysago。'Heloweredhisvoicetoaslytoneofmerriment。'Now，astoyourstepmother，you'llfindsheisnotmuchtolookat，thoughagooddealtolistento。Sheistwentyyearsolderthanmyself，foronething。'
'YouforgetthatIknowher。Shecalledhereonce，afterwehadbeen，andfoundherawayfromhome。'
'Ofcourse，ofcourse。Well，whateverherlooksare，she'sasexcellentawomanaseverbreathed。Shehashadlatelyleftherasabsolutepropertythreethousandfivehundredayear，besidesthedeviseofthisestate——and，bytheway，alargelegacycametoherinsatisfactionofdower，asitiscalled。'
'Threethousandfivehundredayear!'
'Andalarge——well，afair-sized——mansionintown，andapedigreeaslongasmywalking-stick；thoughthatbearsevidenceofbeingratheraraked-upaffair——donesincethefamilygotrich——peopledothosethingsnowastheybuildruinsonmaidenestatesandcastantiquesatBirmingham。'
Elfridemerelylistenedandsaidnothing。
Hecontinuedmorequietlyandimpressively。'Yes，Elfride，sheiswealthyincomparisonwithus，thoughwithfewconnections。
However，shewillintroduceyoutotheworldalittle。WearegoingtoexchangeherhouseinBakerStreetforoneatKensington，foryoursake。Everybodyisgoingtherenow，shesays。AtEastersweshallflytotownfortheusualthreemonths——Ishallhaveacurateofcoursebythattime。Elfride，Iampastlove，youknow，andIhonestlyconfessthatImarriedherforyoursake。
Whyawomanofherstandingshouldhavethrownherselfawayuponme，Godknows。ButIsupposeherageandplainnessweretoopronouncedforatownman。Withyourgoodlooks，ifyounowplayyourcardswell，youmaymarryanybody。Ofcourse，alittlecontrivancewillbenecessary；butthere'snothingtostandbetweenyouandahusbandwithatitle，thatIcansee。LadyLuxellianwasonlyasquire'sdaughter。Now，don'tyouseehowfoolishtheoldfancywas？Butcome，sheisindoorswaitingtoseeyou。Itisasgoodasaplay，too，'continuedthevicar，astheywalkedtowardsthehouse。'Icourtedherthroughtheprivethedgeyonder:notentirely，youknow，butweusedtowalkthereofanevening——nearlyeveryeveningatlast。ButIneedn'ttellyoudetailsnow；everythingwasterriblymatter-of-fact，Iassureyou。
Atlast，thatdayIsawheratStratleigh，wedeterminedtosettleitoff-hand。'
'Andyouneversaidawordtome，'repliedElfride，notreproachfullyeitherintoneorthought。Indeed，herfeelingwastheveryreverseofreproachful。Shefeltrelievedandeventhankful。Whereconfidencehadnotbeengiven，howcouldconfidencebeexpected？
Herfathermistookherdispassionatenessforaveilofpolitenessoverasenseofill-usage。'Iamnotaltogethertoblame，'hesaid。'Thereweretwoorthreereasonsforsecrecy。Onewastherecentdeathofherrelativethetestator，thoughthatdidnotapplytoyou。Butremember，Elfride，'hecontinuedinastiffertone，'youhadmixedyourselfupsofoolishlywiththoselowpeople，theSmiths——anditwasjust，too，whenMrs。Troytonandmyselfwerebeginningtounderstandeachother——thatIresolvedtosaynothingeventoyou。HowdidIknowhowfaryouhadgonewiththemandtheirson？Youmighthavemadeapointoftakingteawiththemeveryday，forallthatIknew。'
Elfrideswallowedherfeelingsasshebestcould，andlanguidlythoughflatlyaskedaquestion。
'DidyoukissMrs。Troytononthelawnaboutthreeweeksago？ThateveningIcameintothestudyandfoundyouhadjusthadcandlesin？'
Mr。Swancourtlookedratherredandabashed，asmiddle-agedloversareapttodowhencaughtinthetricksofyoungerones。
'Well，yes；IthinkIdid，'hestammered；'justtopleaseher，youknow。'Andthenrecoveringhimselfhelaughedheartily。
'AndwasthiswhatyourHoratianquotationreferredto？'
'Itwas，Elfride。'
Theysteppedintothedrawing-roomfromtheverandah。AtthatmomentMrs。Swancourtcamedownstairs，andenteredthesameroombythedoor。
'Here，Charlotte，ismylittleElfride，'saidMr。Swancourt，withtheincreasedaffectionoftoneoftenadoptedtowardsrelationswhennewlyproduced。
PoorElfride，notknowingwhattodo，didnothingatall；butstoodreceptiveofallthatcametoherbysight，hearing，andtouch。
Mrs。Swancourtmovedforward，tookherstep-daughter'shand，thenkissedher。
'Ah，darling!'sheexclaimedgood-humouredly，'youdidn'tthinkwhenyoushowedastrangeoldwomanovertheconservatoryamonthortwoago，andexplainedtheflowerstohersoprettily，thatshewouldsosoonbehereinnewcolours。Nordidshe，Iamsure。'
ThenewmotherhadbeentruthfullyenoughdescribedbyMr。
Swancourt。Shewasnotphysicallyattractive。Shewasdark——verydark——incomplexion，portlyinfigure，andwithaplentifulresiduumofhairintheproportionofhalfadozenwhiteonestohalfadozenblackones，thoughthelatterwereblackindeed。Nofurtherobserved，shewasnotawomantolike。Buttherewasmoretosee。Tothemostsuperficialcriticitwasapparentthatshemadenoattempttodisguiseherage。Shelookedsixtyatthefirstglance，andcloseacquaintanceshipneverprovedherolder。
Anotherandstillmorewinningtraitwasoneattachingtothecornersofhermouth。Beforeshemadearemarktheseoftentwitchedgently:notbackwardsandforwards，theindexofnervousness；notdownuponthejaw，thesignofdetermination；butpalpablyupwards，inpreciselythecurveadoptedtorepresentmirthinthebroadcaricaturesofschoolboys。Onlythiselementinherfacewasexpressiveofanythingwithinthewoman，butitwasunmistakable。Itexpressedhumoursubjectiveaswellasobjective——whichcouldsurveythepeculiaritiesofselfinaswhimsicalalightasthoseofotherpeople。
ThisisnotallofMrs。Swancourt。ShehadheldouttoElfridehandswhosefingerswereliterallystiffwithrings，signisauroquerigentes，likeHelen'srobe。Theserowsofringswerenotworninvanityapparently。Theyweremostlyantiqueanddull，thoughafewwerethereverse。
RIGHTHAND。
1st。Plainlysetovalonyx，representingadevil'shead。2nd。
Greenjasperintaglio，withredveins。3rd。Entirelygold，bearingfigureofahideousgriffin。4th。Asea-greenmonsterdiamond，withsmalldiamondsroundit。5th。Antiquecornelianintaglioofdancingfigureofasatyr。6th。Anangularbandchasedwithdragons'heads。7th。Afacettedcarbuncleaccompaniedbytenlittletwinklingemeralds；&c。&c。
LEFTHAND。
1st。Areddish-yellowtoadstone。2nd。Aheavyringenamelledincolours，andbearingajacynth。3rd。Anamethystinesapphire。
4th。Apolishedruby，surroundedbydiamonds。5th。Theengravedringofanabbess。6th。Agloomyintaglio；&c。&c。
BeyondthisratherquaintarrayofstoneandmetalMrs。Swancourtworenoornamentwhatever。
ElfridehadbeenfavourablyimpressedwithMrs。Troytonattheirmeetingabouttwomonthsearlier；buttobepleasedwithawomanasamomentaryacquaintancewasdifferentfrombeingtakenwithherasastepmother。However，thesuspensionoffeelingwasbutforamoment。Elfridedecidedtolikeherstill。
Mrs。Swancourtwasawomanoftheworldastoknowledge，thereverseastoaction，ashermarriagesuggested。Elfrideandtheladyweresooninextricablyinvolvedinconversation，andMr。
Swancourtleftthemtothemselves。
'Andwhatdoyoufindtodowithyourselfhere？'Mrs。Swancourtsaid，afterafewremarksaboutthewedding。'Youride，Iknow。'
'Yes，Iride。Butnotmuch，becausepapadoesn'tlikemygoingalone。'
'Youmusthavesomebodytolookafteryou。'
'AndIread，andwritealittle。'
'Youshouldwriteanovel。Theregularresourceofpeoplewhodon'tgoenoughintotheworldtoliveanovelistowriteone。'
'Ihavedoneit，'saidElfride，lookingdubiouslyatMrs。
Swancourt，asifindoubtwhethershewouldmeetwithridiculethere。
'That'sright。Now，then，whatisitabout，dear？'
'About——well，itisaromanceoftheMiddleAges。'
'Knowingnothingofthepresentage，whicheverybodyknowsabout，forsafetyyouchoseanageknownneithertoyounorotherpeople。
That'sit，eh？No，no；Idon'tmeanit，dear。'
'Well，IhavehadsomeopportunitiesofstudyingmediaevalartandmannersinthelibraryandprivatemuseumatEndelstowHouse，andIthoughtIshouldliketotrymyhanduponafiction。Iknowthetimeforthesetalesispast；butIwasinterestedinit，verymuchinterested。'
'Whenisittoappear？'
'Oh，never，Isuppose。'
'Nonsense，mydeargirl。Publishit，byallmeans。Allladiesdothatsortofthingnow；notforprofit，youknow，butasaguaranteeofmentalrespectabilitytotheirfuturehusbands。'
'Anexcellentideaofusladies。'
'ThoughIamafraiditratherresemblesthemelancholyruseofthrowingloavesovercastle-wallsatbesiegers，andsuggestsdesperationratherthanplentyinside。'
'Didyouevertryit？'
'No；Iwastoofargoneevenforthat。'
'Papasaysnopublisherwilltakemybook。'
'Thatremainstobeproved。I'llgivemyword，mydear，thatbythistimenextyearitshallbeprinted。'
'Willyou，indeed？'saidElfride，partiallybrighteningwithpleasure，thoughshewassadenoughinherdepths。'Ithoughtbrainsweretheindispensable，eveniftheonly，qualificationforadmissiontotherepublicofletters。Amerecommonplacecreaturelikemewillsoonbeturnedoutagain。'
'Ohno；onceyouarethereyou'llbelikeadropofwaterinapieceofrock-crystal——yourmediumwilldignifyyourcommonness。'
'Itwillbeagreatsatisfaction，'Elfridemurmured，andthoughtofStephen，andwishedshecouldmakeagreatfortunebywritingromances，andmarryhimandlivehappily。
'Andthenwe'llgotoLondon，andthentoParis，'saidMrs。
Swancourt。'Ihavebeentalkingtoyourfatheraboutit。Butwehavefirsttomoveintothemanor-house，andwethinkofstayingatTorquaywhilstthatisgoingon。Meanwhile，insteadofgoingonahoneymoonscamperbyourselves，wehavecomehometofetchyou，andgoalltogethertoBathfortwoorthreeweeks。'
Elfrideassentedpleasantly，evengladly；butshesawthat，bythismarriage，herfatherandherselfhadceasedforevertobethecloserelationstheyhadbeenuptoafewweeksago。ItwasimpossiblenowtotellhimthetaleofherwildelopementwithStephenSmith。
Hewasstillsnuglyhousedinherheart。HisabsencehadregainedforhimmuchofthataureolaofsaintshipwhichhadbeennearlyabstractedduringherreproachfulmoodonthatmiserablejourneyfromLondon。Raptureisoftencooledbycontactwithitscause，especiallyifunderawkwardconditions。AndthatlastexperiencewithStephenhaddoneanythingbutmakehimshineinhereyes。
Hisverykindnessinlettingherreturnwashisoffence。Elfridehadhersex'sloveofsheerforceinaman，howeverill-directed；
andatthatcriticaljunctureinLondonStephen'sonlychanceofretainingtheascendancyoverherthathisfaceandnothispartshadacquiredforhim，wouldhavebeenbydoingwhat，foronething，hewastooyouthfultoundertake——thatwas，draggingherbythewristtotherailsofsomealtar，andperemptorilymarryingher。Decisiveactionisseenbyappreciativemindstobefrequentlyobjectless，andsometimesfatal；butdecision，howeversuicidal，hasmorecharmforawomanthanthemostunequivocalFabiansuccess。
However，someoftheunpleasantaccessoriesofthatoccasionwerenowoutofsightagain，andStephenhadresumednotafewofhisfancycolours。
ChapterXIII
'Hesetinordermanyproverbs。'
ItisLondoninOctober——twomonthsfurtheroninthestory。
Bede'sInnhasthispeculiarity，thatitfaces，receivesfrom，anddischargesintoabustlingthoroughfarespeakingonlyofwealthandrespectability，whilstitsposternabutsonascrowdedandpoverty-strickenanetworkofalleysasaretobefoundanywhereinthemetropolis。Themoralconsequencesare，first，thatthosewhooccupychambersintheInnmayseeagreatdealofshirtlesshumanity'shabitsandenjoymentswithoutdoingmorethanlookdownfromabackwindow；andsecondtheymayhearwholesomethoughunpleasantsocialremindersthroughthemediumofaharshvoice，anunequalfootstep，theechoofabloworafall，whichoriginatesinthepersonofsomedrunkardorwife-beater，ashecrossesandinterfereswiththequietofthesquare。CharactersofthiskindfrequentlypassthroughtheInnfromalittlefoxholeofanalleyattheback，buttheyneverloiterthere。
ItishardlynecessarytostatethatallthesightsandmovementspropertotheInnaremostorderly。OnthefineOctobereveningonwhichwefollowStephenSmithtothisplace，aplacidporterissittingonastoolunderasycamore-treeinthemidst，withalittlecaneinhishand。Wenoticethethickcoatofsootuponthebranches，hangingunderneaththeminflakes，asinachimney。
Theblacknessoftheseboughsdoesnotatpresentimprovethetree——nearlyforsakenbyitsleavesasitis——butinthespringtheirgreenfreshbeautyismadedoublybeautifulbythecontrast。
Withintherailingsisaflower-gardenofrespectabledahliasandchrysanthemums，whereamanissweepingtheleavesfromthegrass。
Stephenselectsadoorway，andascendsanoldthoughwidewoodenstaircase，withmouldedbalustersandhandrail，whichinacountrymanor-housewouldbeconsideredanoteworthyspecimenofRenaissanceworkmanship。Hereachesadooronthefirstfloor，overwhichispainted，inblackletters，'Mr。HenryKnight'——
'Barrister-at-law'beingunderstoodbutnotexpressed。Thewallisthick，andthereisadooratitsouterandinnerface。Theouteronehappenstobeajar:Stephengoestotheother，andtaps。
'Comein!'fromdistantpenetralia。
Firstwasasmallanteroom，dividedfromtheinnerapartmentbyawainscotedarchwaytwoorthreeyardswide。Acrossthisarchwayhungapairofdark-greencurtains，makingamysteryofallwithinthearchexceptthespasmodicscratchingofaquillpen。Herewasgroupedachaoticassemblageofarticles——mainlyoldframedprintsandpaintings——leaningedgewiseagainstthewall，likeroofingslatesinabuilder'syard。Allthebooksvisibleherewerefoliostoobigtobestolen——somelyingonaheavyoaktableinonecorner，someontheflooramongthepictures，thewholeintermingledwitholdcoats，hats，umbrellas，andwalking-sticks。
Stephenpushedasidethecurtain，andbeforehimsatamanwritingawayasifhislifedependeduponit——whichitdid。
Amanofthirtyinaspeckledcoat，withdarkbrownhair，curlybeard，andcrispmoustache:thelatterrunningintothebeardoneachsideofthemouth，and，asusual，hidingtherealexpressionofthatorganunderachronicaspectofimpassivity。
'Ah，mydearfellow，Iknew'twasyou，'saidKnight，lookingupwithasmile，andholdingouthishand。
Knight'smouthandeyescametoviewnow。Bothfeaturesweregood，andhadthepeculiarityofappearingyoungerandfresherthanthebrowandfacetheybelongedto，whichweregettingsickliedo'erbytheunmistakablepalecast。Themouthhadnotquiterelinquishedrotundityofcurveforthefirmangularitiesofmiddlelife；andtheeyes，thoughkeen，permeatedratherthanpenetrated:whattheyhadlostoftheirboy-timebrightnessbyadozenyearsofhardreadinglendingaquietnesstotheirgazewhichsuitedthemwell。
Aladywouldhavesaidtherewasasmelloftobaccointheroom:amanthattherewasnot。
Knightdidnotrise。Helookedatatimepieceonthemantelshelf，thenturnedagaintohisletters，pointingtoachair。
'Well，Iamgladyouhavecome。Ionlyreturnedtotownyesterday；now，don'tspeak，Stephen，fortenminutes；Ihavejustthattimetothelatepost。Attheeleventhminute，I'myourman。'
Stephensatdownasifthiskindofreceptionwasbynomeansnew，andawaywentKnight'spen，beatingupanddownlikeashipinastorm。
Cicerocalledthelibrarythesoulofthehouse；herethehousewasallsoul。Portionsofthefloor，andhalfthewall-space，weretakenupbybook-shelvesordinaryandextraordinary；theremainingparts，togetherwithbrackets，side-tables，&c。，beingoccupiedbycasts，statuettes，medallions，andplaquesofvariousdescriptions，pickedupbytheownerinhiswanderingsthroughFranceandItaly。
Onestreamonlyofeveningsunlightcameintotheroomfromawindowquiteinthecorner，overlookingacourt。Anaquariumstoodinthewindow。Itwasadullparallelopipedonenoughforlivingcreaturesatmosthoursoftheday；butforafewminutesintheevening，asnow，anerrant，kindlyraylightedupandwarmedthelittleworldtherein，whenthemany-colouredzoophytesopenedandputforththeirarms，theweedsacquiredarichtransparency，theshellsgleamedofamoregoldenyellow，andthetimidcommunityexpressedgladnessmoreplainlythaninwords。
WithintheprescribedtenminutesKnightflungdownhispen，rangfortheboytotaketheletterstothepost，andattheclosingofthedoorexclaimed，'There；thankGod，that'sdone。Now，Stephen，pullyourchairround，andtellmewhatyouhavebeendoingallthistime。HaveyoukeptupyourGreek？'
'No。'
'How'sthat？'
'Ihaven'tenoughsparetime。'
'That'snonsense。'
'Well，Ihavedoneagreatmanythings，ifnotthat。AndIhavedoneoneextraordinarything。'
KnightturnedfulluponStephen。'Ah-ha!Now，then，letmelookintoyourface，puttwoandtwotogether，andmakeashrewdguess。'
Stephenchangedtoareddercolour。
'Why，Smith，'saidKnight，afterholdinghimrigidlybytheshoulders，andkeenlyscrutinisinghiscountenanceforaminuteinsilence，'youhavefalleninlove。'
'Well——thefactis——'
'Now，outwithit。'ButseeingthatStephenlookedratherdistressed，hechangedtoakindlytone。'NowSmith，mylad，youknowmewellenoughbythistime，oryououghtto；andyouknowverywellthatifyouchoosetogivemeadetailedaccountofthephenomenonwithinyou，Ishalllisten；ifyoudon't，Iamthelastmanintheworldtocaretohearit。'
'I'lltellthismuch:IHAVEfalleninlove，andIwanttobeMARRIED。'
KnightlookedominousasthispassedStephen'slips。
'Don'tjudgemebeforeyouhaveheardmore，'criedStephenanxiously，seeingthechangeinhisfriend'scountenance。
'Idon'tjudge。Doesyourmotherknowaboutit？'
'Nothingdefinite。'
'Father？'
'No。ButI'lltellyou。Theyoungperson——'
'Come，that'sdreadfullyungallant。ButperhapsIunderstandtheframeofmindalittle，sogoon。Yoursweetheart——'
'SheisratherhigherintheworldthanIam。'
'Asitshouldbe。'
'Andherfatherwon'thearofit，asInowstand。'
'Notanuncommoncase。'
'AndnowcomeswhatIwantyouradviceupon。Somethinghashappenedatherhousewhichmakesitoutofthequestionforustoaskherfatheragainnow。Sowearekeepingsilent。InthemeantimeanarchitectinIndiahasjustwrittentoMr。HewbytoaskwhetherhecanfindforhimayoungassistantwillingtogoovertoBombaytopreparedrawingsforworkformerlydonebytheengineers。Thesalaryheoffersis350rupeesamonth，orabout35Pounds。Hewbyhasmentionedittome，andIhavebeentoDr。
Wray，whosaysIshallacclimatisewithoutmuchillness。Now，wouldyougo？'
'Youmeantosay，becauseitisapossibleroadtotheyounglady。'
'Yes；IwasthinkingIcouldgooverandmakealittlemoney，andthencomebackandaskforher。Ihavetheoptionofpractisingformyselfafterayear。'
'Wouldshebestaunch？'
'Ohyes!Forever——totheendofherlife!'
'Howdoyouknow？'
'Why，howdopeopleknow？Ofcourse，shewill。'
Knightleantbackinhischair。'Now，thoughIknowherthoroughlyassheexistsinyourheart，Stephen，Idon'tknowherintheflesh。AllIwanttoaskis，isthisideaofgoingtoIndiabasedentirelyuponabeliefinherfidelity？'
'Yes；Ishouldnotgoifitwerenotforher。'
'Well，Stephen，youhaveputmeinratheranawkwardposition。IfIgivemytruesentiments，Ishallhurtyourfeelings；ifIdon't，Ishallhurtmyownjudgment。Andremember，Idon'tknowmuchaboutwomen。'
'Butyouhavehadattachments，althoughyoutellmeverylittleaboutthem。'
'AndIonlyhopeyou'llcontinuetoprospertillItellyoumore。'
Stephenwincedatthisrap。'Ihaveneverformedadeepattachment，'continuedKnight。'Ineverhavefoundawomanworthit。NorhaveIbeenonceengagedtobemarried。'
'Youwriteasifyouhadbeenengagedahundredtimes，ifImaybeallowedtosayso，'saidStepheninaninjuredtone。
'Yes，thatmaybe。But，mydearStephen，itisonlythosewhohalfknowathingthatwriteaboutit。Thosewhoknowitthoroughlydon'ttakethetrouble。AllIknowaboutwomen，ormeneither，isamassofgeneralities。Iplodalong，andoccasionallyliftmyeyesandskimthewelteringsurfaceofmankindlyingbetweenmeandthehorizon，asacrowmight；nomore。'
Knightstoppedasifhehadfallenintoatrainofthought，andStephenlookedwithaffectionateaweatamasterwhosemind，hebelieved，couldswallowupatonemealallthathisownheadcontained。
Therewasaffectivesympathy，butnogreatintellectualfellowship，betweenKnightandStephenSmith。Knighthadseenhisyoungfriendwhenthelatterwasacherry-cheekedhappyboy，hadbeeninterestedinhim，hadkepthiseyeuponhim，andgenerouslyhelpedtheladtobooks，tillthemereconnectionofpatronagegrewtoacquaintance，andthatripenedtofriendship。Andso，thoughSmithwasnotatallthemanKnightwouldhavedeliberatelychosenasafriend——orevenforoneofagroupofadozenfriends——
hesomehowwashisfriend。Circumstance，asusual，diditall。
Howmanyofuscansayofourmostintimatealterego，leavingalonefriendsoftheoutercircle，thatheisthemanweshouldhavechosen，asembodyingthenetresultafteraddingupallthepointsinhumannaturethatwelove，andprincipleswehold，andsubtractingallthatwehate？Themanisreallysomebodywegottoknowbymerephysicaljuxtapositionlongmaintained，andwastakenintoourconfidence，andevenheart，asamakeshift。
'Andwhatdoyouthinkofher？'Stephenventuredtosay，afterasilence。
'Takinghermeritsontrustfromyou，'saidKnight，'aswedothoseoftheRomanpoetsofwhomweknownothingbutthattheylived，Istillthinkshewillnotsticktoyouthrough，say，threeyearsofabsenceinIndia。'
'Butshewill!'criedStephendesperately。'Sheisagirlalldelicacyandhonour。Andnowomanofthatkind，whohascommittedherselfsointoaman'shandsasshehasintomine，couldpossiblymarryanother。'
'Howhasshecommittedherself？'askedKnightcunously。
Stephendidnotanswer。Knighthadlookedonhislovesoscepticallythatitwouldnotdotosayallthathehadintendedtosaybyanymeans。
'Well，don'ttell，'saidKnight。'Butyouarebeggingthequestion，whichis，Isuppose，inevitableinlove。'
'AndI'lltellyouanotherthing，'theyoungermanpleaded。'Yourememberwhatyousaidtomeonceaboutwomenreceivingakiss。
Don'tyou？Why，thatinsteadofourbeingcharmedbythefascinationoftheirbearingatsuchatime，weshouldimmediatelydoubtthemiftheirconfusionhasanyGRACEinit——thatawkwardbunglingwasthetruecharmoftheoccasion，implyingthatwearethefirstwhohasplayedsuchapartwiththem。'
'Itistrue，quite，'saidKnightmusingly。
Itoftenhappenedthatthedisciplethusrememberedthelessonsofthemasterlongafterthemasterhimselfhadforgottenthem。
'Well，thatwaslikeher!'criedStephentriumphantly。'Shewasinsuchaflurrythatshedidn'tknowwhatshewasdoing。'
'Splendid，splendid!'saidKnightsoothingly。'SothatallIhavetosayis，thatifyouseeagoodopeninginBombaythere'snoreasonwhyyoushouldnotgowithouttroublingtodrawfinedistinctionsastoreasons。Nomanfullyrealizeswhatopinionsheactsupon，orwhathisactionsmean。'
'Yes；IgotoBombay。I'llwriteanotehere，ifyoudon'tmind。'
'Sleepoverit——itisthebestplan——andwriteto-morrow。
Meantime，gotheretothatwindowandsitdown，andlookatmyHumanityShow。Iamgoingtodineoutthisevening，andhavetodresshereoutofmyportmanteau。IbringupmythingslikethistosavethetroubleofgoingdowntomyplaceatRichmondandbackagain。'
Knightthenwenttothemiddleoftheroomandflungopenhisportmanteau，andStephendrewnearthewindow。Thestreakofsunlighthadcreptupward，edgedaway，andvanished；thezoophytesslept:aduskygloompervadedtheroom。Andnowanothervolumeoflightshoneoverthewindow。
'There!'saidKnight，'whereisthereinEnglandaspectacletoequalthat？IsitthereandwatchthemeverynightbeforeIgohome。Softlyopenthesash。'
Beneaththemwasanalleyrunninguptothewall，andthenceturningsidewaysandpassingunderanarch，sothatKnight'sbackwindowwasimmediatelyovertheangle，andcommandedaviewofthealleylengthwise。Crowds——mostlyofwomen——weresurging，bustling，andpacingupanddown。Gaslightsglaredfrombutchers'
stalls，illuminatingthelumpsoffleshtosplotchesoforangeandvermilion，likethewildcolouringofTurner'slaterpictures，whilstthepurlandbabbleoftonguesofeverypitchandmoodwastothishumanwild-woodwhattherippleofabrookistothenaturalforest。
Nearlytenminutespassed。ThenKnightalsocametothewindow。
'Well，now，IcallacabandvanishdownthestreetinthedirectionofBerkeleySquare，'hesaid，buttoninghiswaistcoatandkickinghismorningsuitintoacorner。Stephenrosetoleave。
'Whataheapofliterature!'remarkedtheyoungman，takingafinallongingsurveyroundtheroom，asiftoabidethereforeverwouldbethegreatpleasureofhislife，yetfeelingthathehadalmostoutstayedhiswelcome-while。Hiseyesresteduponanarm-
chairpiledfullofnewspapers，magazines，andbrightnewvolumesingreenandred。
'Yes，'saidKnight，alsolookingatthemandbreathingasighofweariness；'somethingmustbedonewithseveralofthemsoon，I
suppose。Stephen，youneedn'thurryawayforafewminutes，youknow，ifyouwanttostay；Iamnotquiteready。OverhaulthosevolumeswhilstIputonmycoat，andI'llwalkalittlewaywithyou。'
Stephensatdownbesidethearm-chairandbegantotumblethebooksabout。Amongtheresthefoundanoveletteinonevolume，THECOURTOFKELLYONCASTLE。ByErnestField。
'Areyougoingtoreviewthis？'inquiredStephenwithapparentunconcern，andholdingupElfride'seffusion。
'Which？Oh，that!Imay——thoughIdon'tdomuchlightreviewingnow。Butitisreviewable。'
'Howdoyoumean？'
Knightneverlikedtobeaskedwhathemeant。'Mean!Imeanthatthemajorityofbookspublishedareneithergoodenoughnorbadenoughtoprovokecriticism，andthatthatbookdoesprovokeit。'
'Byitsgoodnessoritsbadness？'StephensaidwithsomeanxietyonpoorlittleElfride'sscore。
'Itsbadness。Itseemstobewrittenbysomegirlinherteens。'
Stephensaidnotanotherword。HedidnotcaretospeakplainlyofElfrideafterthatunfortunatesliphistonguehadmadeinrespectofherhavingcommittedherself；and，apartfromthat，Knight'ssevere——almostdoggedandself-willed——honestyincriticizingwasunassailablebythehumblewishofayouthfulfriendlikeStephen。
Knightwasnowready。Turningoffthegas，andslammingtogetherthedoor，theywentdownstairsandintothestreet。
ChapterXIV
'Wefrolicwhile'tisMay。'
Ithasnowtoberealizedthatnearlythree-quartersofayearhavepassedaway。Inplaceoftheautumnalscenerywhichformedasettingtothepreviousenactments，wehavetheculminatingbloomsofsummerintheyearfollowing。
StephenisinIndia，slavingawayatanofficeinBombay；
occasionallygoingupthecountryonprofessionalerrands，andwonderingwhypeoplewhohadbeentherelongerthanhecomplainedsomuchoftheeffectoftheclimateupontheirconstitutions。
NeverhadayoungmanafinerstartthanseemednowtopresentitselftoStephen。ItwasjustinthatexceptionalheydayofprosperitywhichshoneoverBombaysomefewyearsago，thathearrivedonthescene。Buildingandengineeringpartookofthegeneralimpetus。Speculationmovedwithanacceleratedvelocityeverysuccessiveday，theonlydisagreeablecontingencyconnectedwithitbeingthepossibilityofacollapse。
Elfridehadnevertoldherfatherofthefour-and-twenty-hours'
escapadewithStephen，norhadit，toherknowledge，cometohisearsbyanyotherroute。Itwasasecrettroubleandgrieftothegirlforashorttime，andStephen'sdeparturewasanotheringredientinhersorrow。ButElfridepossessedspecialfacilitiesforgettingridoftroubleafteradecentinterval。
Whilstaslownaturewasimbibingamisfortunelittlebylittle，shehadswallowedthewholeagonyofitatadraughtandwasbrighteningagain。Shecouldsloughoffasadnessandreplaceitbyahopeaseasilyasalizardrenewsadiseasedlimb。
Andtwosuchexcellentdistractionshadpresentedthemselves。Onewasbringingouttheromanceandlookingfornoticesinthepapers，which，thoughtheyhadbeensignificantlyshortsofar，hadservedtodivertherthoughts。TheotherwasmigratingfromthevicaragetothemorecommodiousoldhouseofMrs。Swancourt's，overlookingthesamevalley。Mr。Swancourtatfirstdislikedtheideaofbeingtransplantedtofemininesoil，buttheobviousadvantagesofsuchanaccessionofdignityreconciledhimtothechange。Sotherewasaradical'move；'thetwoladiesstayingatTorquayashadbeenarranged，thevicargoingtoandfro。
Mrs。SwancourtconsiderablyenlargedElfride'sideasinanaristocraticdirection，andshebegantoforgiveherfatherforhispoliticmarriage。Certainly，inaworldlysense，ahandsomefaceatthree-and-fortyhadneverservedamaninbetterstead。
ThenewhouseatKensingtonwasready，andtheywereallintown。
TheHydeParkshrubshadbeentransplantedasusual，thechairsrankedinline，thegrassedgingstrimmed，theroadsmadetolookasiftheyweresufferingfromaheavythunderstorm；carriageshadbeencalledforbytheeaseful，horsesbythebrisk，andtheDriveandRowwereagainthegrooveofgaietyforanhour。Wegazeuponthespectacle，atsixo'clockonthismidsummerafternoon，inamelon-frameatmosphereandbeneathavioletsky。TheSwancourtequipageformedoneinthestream。
Mrs。Swancourtwasatalkeroftalkoftheincisivekind，whichherlowmusicalvoice——theonlybeautifulpointintheoldwoman——
preventedfrombeingwearisome。
'Now，'shesaidtoElfride，who，likeAEneasatCarthage，wasfullofadmirationforthebrilliantscene，'youwillfindthatourcompanionlessstatewillgiveus，asitdoeseverybody，anextraordinarypowerinreadingthefeaturesofourfellow-
creatureshere。Ialwaysamalistenerinsuchplacesasthese——
nottothenarrativestoldbymyneighbours'tongues，butbytheirfaces——theadvantageofwhichis，thatwhetherIaminRow，Boulevard，Rialto，orPrado，theyallspeakthesamelanguage。I
mayhaveacquiredsomeskillinthispracticethroughhavingbeenanuglylonelywomanforsomanyyears，withnobodytogivemeinformation；athingyouwillnotconsiderstrangewhentheparallelcaseisborneinmind，——howtrulypeoplewhohavenoclockswilltellthetimeofday。'
'Ay，thattheywill，'saidMr。Swancourtcorroboratively。'IhaveknownlabouringmenatEndelstowandotherfarmswhohadframedcompletesystemsofobservationforthatpurpose。Bymeansofshadows，winds，clouds，themovementsofsheepandoxen，thesingingofbirds，thecrowingofcocks，andahundredothersightsandsoundswhichpeoplewithwatchesintheirpocketsneverknowtheexistenceof，theyareabletopronouncewithintenminutesofthehouralmostatanyrequiredinstant。ThatremindsmeofanoldstorywhichI'mafraidistoobad——toobadtorepeat。'Herethevicarshookhisheadandlaughedinwardly。
'Tellit——do!'saidtheladies。
'Imustn'tquitetellit。'
'That'sabsurd，'saidMrs。Swancourt。
'Itwasonlyaboutamanwho，bythesamecarefulsystemofobservation，wasknowntodeceivepersonsformorethantwoyearsintothebeliefthathekeptabarometerbystealth，soexactlydidheforetellallchangesintheweatherbythebrayingofhisassandthetemperofhiswife。'
Elfridelaughed。
'Exactly，'saidMrs。Swancourt。'Andinjustthewaythatthoselearntthesignsofnature，Ihavelearntthelanguageofherillegitimatesister——artificiality；andthefibbingofeyes，thecontemptofnose-tips，theindignationofbackhair，thelaughterofclothes，thecynicismoffootsteps，andthevariousemotionslyinginwalking-sticktwirls，hat-liftings，theelevationofparasols，thecarriageofumbrellas，becomeasABCtome。
'Justlookatthatdaughter'ssisterclassofmammainthecarriageacrossthere，'shecontinuedtoElfride，pointingwithmerelyaturnofhereye。'Theabsorbingself-consciousnessofherpositionthatisshownbyhercountenanceismosthumiliatingtoaloverofone'scountry。Youwouldhardlybelieve，wouldyou，thatmembersofaFashionableWorld，whoseprofessedzeroisfarabovethehighestdegreeofthehumble，couldbesoignorantoftheelementaryinstinctsofreticence。'
'How？'
'Why，tobearontheirfaces，asplainlyasonaphylactery，theinscription，"Do，pray，lookatthecoronetonmypanels。”'
'Really，Charlotte，'saidthevicar，'youseeasmuchinfacesasMr。PuffsawinLordBurleigh'snod。'
Elfridecouldnotbutadmirethebeautyofherfellowcountrywomen，especiallysinceherselfandherownfewacquaintanceshadalwaysbeenslightlysunburntormarkedonthebackofthehandsbyabramble-scratchatthistimeoftheyear。
'Andwhatlovelyflowersandleavestheywearintheirbonnets!'
sheexclaimed。
'Ohyes，'returnedMrs。Swancourt。'Someofthemareevenmorestrikingincolourthananyrealones。Lookatthatbeautifulrosewornbytheladyinsidetherails。Elegantvine-tendrilsintroduceduponthestemasanimprovementuponprickles，andallgrowingsonaturallyjustoverherear——Isaygrowingadvisedly，forthepinkofthepetalsandthepinkofherhandsomecheeksareequallyfromNature'shandtotheeyesofthemostcasualobserver。'
'Butpraisethemalittle，theydodeserveit!'saidgenerousElfride。
'Well，Ido。SeehowtheDuchessof——wavestoandfroinherseat，utilizingtheswayofherlandaubylookingaroundonlywhenherheadisswungforward，withapassivepridewhichforbidsaresistancetotheforceofcircumstance。Lookattheprettypoutonthemouthsofthatfamilythere，retainingnotracesofbeingarrangedbeforehand，sowellisitdone。Lookatthedemurecloseofthelittlefistsholdingtheparasols；thetinyalertthumb，stickinguperectagainsttheivorystemasknowingascanbe，thesatinoftheparasolinvariablymatchingthecomplexionofthefacebeneathit，yetseeminglybyanaccident，whichmakesthethingsoattractive。There'stheredbooklyingontheoppositeseat，bespeakingthevastnumbersoftheiracquaintance。AndI
particularlyadmiretheaspectofthatabundantlydaughteredwomanontheotherside——Imeanherlookofunconsciousnessthatthegirlsarestaredatbythewalkers，andaboveallthelookofthegirlsthemselves——losingtheirgazeinthedepthsofhandsomemen'seyeswithoutappearingtonoticewhethertheyareobservingmasculineeyesortheleavesofthetrees。There'spraiseforyou。ButIamonlyjesting，child——youknowthat。'
'Piph-ph-ph——howwarmitis，tobesure!'saidMr。Swancourt，asifhismindwerealongdistancefromallhesaw。'IdeclarethatmywatchissohotthatIcanscarcelybeartotouchittoseewhatthetimeis，andalltheworldsmellsliketheinsideofahat。'
'Howthemenstareatyou，Elfride!'saidtheelderlady。'Youwillkillmequite，Iamafraid。'
'Killyou？'
'Asadiamondkillsanopalinthesamesetting。'
'Ihavenoticedseveralladiesandgentlemenlookingatme，'saidElfrideartlessly，showingherpleasureatbeingobserved。
'Mydear，youmustn'tsay"gentlemen"nowadays，'herstepmotheransweredinthetonesofarchconcernthatsowellbecameherugliness。'Wehavehandedover"gentlemen"tothelowermiddleclass，wherethewordisstilltobeheardattradesmen'sballsandprovincialtea-parties，Ibelieve。Itisdonewithhere。'