'WhatmustIsay，then？'
'"LadiesandMEN"always。'
Atthismomentappearedinthestreamofvehiclesmovinginthecontrarydirectionachariotpresentinginitsgeneralsurfacetherichindigohueofamidnightsky，thewheelsandmarginsbeingpickedoutindelicatelinesofultramarine；theservants'
liveriesweredark-bluecoatsandsilverlace，andbreechesofneutralIndianred。Thewholeconcernformedanorganicwhole，andmovedalongbehindapairofdarkchestnutgeldings，whoadvancedinanindifferentlyzealoustrot，verydaintilyperformed，andoccasionallyshruggeddiverspointsoftheirveinysurfaceasiftheywereratherabovethebusiness。
Inthissatagentlemanwithnodecidedcharacteristicsmorethanthathesomewhatresembledagood-naturedcommercialtravellerofthesuperiorclass。Besidehimwasaladywithskim-milkyeyesandcomplexion，belongingtothe"interesting"classofwomen，wherethatclassmergesinthesickly，hergreatestpleasurebeingapparentlytoenjoynothing。Oppositethispairsattwolittlegirlsinwhitehatsandbluefeathers。
TheladysawElfride，smiledandbowed，andtouchedherhusband'selbow，whoturnedandreceivedElfride'smovementofrecognitionwithagallantelevationofhishat。ThenthetwochildrenhelduptheirarmstoElfride，andlaughedgleefully。
'Whoisthat？'
'Why，LordLuxellian，isn'tit？'saidMrs。Swancourt，whowiththevicarhadbeenseatedwithherbacktowardsthem。
'Yes，'repliedElfride。'HeistheonemanofthoseIhaveseenherewhomIconsiderhandsomerthanpapa。'
'Thankyou，dear，'saidMr。Swancourt。
'Yes；butyourfatherissomucholder。WhenLordLuxelliangetsalittlefurtheroninlife，hewon'tbehalfsogood-lookingasourman。'
'Thankyou，dear，likewise，'saidMr。Swancourt。
'See，'exclaimedElfride，stilllookingtowardsthem，'howthoselittledearswantme!Actuallyoneofthemiscryingformetocome。'
'Weweretalkingofbraceletsjustnow。LookatLadyLuxellian's，'saidMrs。Swancourt，asthatbaronessliftedupherarmtosupportoneofthechildren。'Itisslippingupherarm——
toolargebyhalf。Ihatetoseedaylightbetweenabraceletandawrist；Iwonderwomenhaven'tbettertaste。'
'Itisnotonthataccount，indeed，'Elfrideexpostulated。'Itisthatherarmhasgotthin，poorthing。Youcannotthinkhowmuchshehasalteredinthislasttwelvemonth。'
Thecarriageswerenownearertogether，andtherewasanexchangeofmorefamiliargreetingsbetweenthetwofamilies。ThentheLuxellianscrossedoveranddrewupundertheplane-trees，justintherearoftheSwancourts。LordLuxellianalighted，andcameforwardwithamusicallaugh。
Itwashisattractionasaman。Peoplelikedhimforthosetones，andforgotthathehadnotalents。AcquaintancesrememberedMr。
Swancourtbyhismanner；theyrememberedStephenSmithbyhisface，LordLuxellianbyhislaugh。
Mr。Swancourtmadesomefriendlyremarks——amongothersthingsupontheheat。
'Yes，'saidLordLuxellian，'weweredrivingbyafurrier'swindowthisafternoon，andthesightfilledusallwithsuchasenseofsuffocationthatweweregladtogetaway。Ha-ha!'HeturnedtoElfride。'MissSwancourt，Ihavehardlyseenorspokentoyousinceyourliteraryfeatwasmadepublic。IhadnoideaachielwastakingnotesdownatquietEndelstow，orIshouldcertainlyhaveputmyselfandfriendsuponourbestbehaviour。Swancourt，whydidn'tyougivemeahint!'
Elfridefluttered，blushed，laughed，saiditwasnothingtospeakof，&c。&c。
'Well，IthinkyouwereratherunfairlytreatedbythePRESENT，I
certainlydo。WritingaheavyreviewlikethatuponaneleganttrifleliketheCOURTOFKELLYONCASTLEwasabsurd。'
'What？'saidElfride，openinghereyes。'WasIreviewedinthePRESENT？'
'Ohyes；didn'tyouseeit？Why，itwasfourorfivemonthsago!'
'No，Ineversawit。HowsorryIam!Whatashameofmypublishers!Theypromisedtosendmeeverynoticethatappeared。'
'Ah，then，IamalmostafraidIhavebeengivingyoudisagreeableinformation，intentionallywithheldoutofcourtesy。Dependuponittheythoughtnogoodwouldcomeofsendingit，andsowouldnotpainyouunnecessarily。'
'Ohno；Iamindeedgladyouhavetoldme，LordLuxellian。Itisquiteamistakenkindnessontheirpart。Isthereviewsomuchagainstme？'sheinquiredtremulously。
'No，no；notthatexactly——thoughIalmostforgetitsexactpurportnow。Itwasmerely——merelysharp，youknow——ungenerous，I
mightsay。Butreallymymemorydoesnotenablemetospeakdecidedly。'
'We'lldrivetothePRESENToffice，andgetonedirectly；shallwe，papa？'
'Ifyouaresoanxious，dear，wewill，orsend。Butto-morrowwilldo。'
'Anddoobligemeinalittlematternow，Elfride，'saidLordLuxellianwarmly，andlookingasifheweresorryhehadbroughtnewsthatdisturbedher。'IaminrealitysenthereasaspecialmessengerbymylittlePollyandKatietoaskyoutocomeintoourcarriagewiththemforashorttime。IamjustgoingtowalkacrossintoPiccadilly，andmywifeisleftalonewiththem。Iamafraidtheyareratherspoiltchildren；butIhavehalfpromisedthemyoushallcome。'
Thestepswereletdown，andElfridewastransferred——totheintensedelightofthelittlegirls，andtothemildinterestofloungerswithredskinsandlongnecks，whocursorilyeyedtheperformancewiththeirwalking-stickstotheirlips，occasionallylaughingfromfardowntheirthroatsandwiththeireyes，theirmouthsnotbeingconcernedintheoperationatall。LordLuxellianthentoldthecoachmantodriveon，liftedhishat，smiledasmilethatmisseditsmarkandalightedonatotalstranger，whobowedinbewilderment。LordLuxellianlookedlongatElfride。
Thelookwasamanly，open，andgenuinelookofadmiration；amomentarytributeofakindwhichanyhonestEnglishmanmighthavepaidtofairnesswithoutbeingashamedofthefeeling，orpermittingittoencroachintheslightestdegreeuponhisemotionalobligationsasahusbandandheadofafamily。ThenLordLuxellianturnedaway，andwalkedmusinglytotheupperendofthepromenade。
Mr。SwancourthadalightedatthesametimewithElfride，crossingovertotheRowforafewminutestospeaktoafriendherecognizedthere；andhiswifewasthusleftsoletenantofthecarriage。
Now，whilstthislittleacthadbeenincourseofperformance，therestoodamongthepromenadingspectatorsamanofsomewhatdifferentdescriptionfromtherest。Behindthegeneralthrong，intherearofthechairs，andleaningagainstthetrunkofatree，helookedatElfridewithquietandcriticalinterest。
ThreepointsaboutthisunobtrusivepersonshowedpromptlytotheexercisedeyethathewasnotaRowmanpursang。First，anirrepressiblewrinkleortwointhewaistofhisfrock-coat——
denotingthathehadnotdamnedhistailorsufficientlytodrivethattradesmanuptotheorthodoxhighpressureofcunningworkmanship。Second，aslightslovenlinessofumbrella，occasionedbyitsowner'shabitofrestingheavilyuponit，andusingitasaveritablewalking-stick，insteadoflettingitspointtouchthegroundinthemostcoquettishofkisses，asistheproperRowmannertodo。Third，andchiefreason，thattryhowyoumight，youcouldscarcelyhelpsupposing，onlookingathisface，thatyoureyeswerenotfarfromawell-finishedmind，insteadofthewell-finishedskinetpraetereanihil，whichisbyrightstheMarkoftheRow。
Theprobabilityisthat，hadnotMrs。Swancourtbeenleftaloneinhercarriageunderthetree，thismanwouldhaveremainedinhisunobservedseclusion。Butseeingherthus，hecameroundtothefront，stoopedundertherail，andstoodbesidethecarriage-door。
Mrs。Swancourtlookedreflectivelyathimforaquarterofaminute，thenheldoutherhandlaughingly:
'Why，HenryKnight——ofcourseitis!My——second——third——fourthcousin——whatshallIsay？Atanyrate，mykinsman。'
'Yes，oneofaremnantnotyetcutoff。Iscarcelywascertainofyou，either，fromwhereIwasstanding。'
'IhavenotseenyousinceyoufirstwenttoOxford；considerthenumberofyears!Youknow，Isuppose，ofmymarriage？'
Andtheresprangupadialogueconcerningfamilymattersofbirth，death，andmarriage，whichitisnotnecessarytodetail。Knightpresentlyinquired:
'Theyoungladywhochangedintotheothercarriageis，then，yourstepdaughter？'
'Yes，Elfride。Youmustknowher。'
'AndwhowastheladyinthecarriageElfrideentered；whohadanill-definedandwaterylook，asifshewereonlythereflectionofherselfinapool？'
'LadyLuxellian；veryweakly，Elfridesays。Myhusbandisremotelyconnectedwiththem；butthereisnotmuchintimacyonaccountof。However，Henry，you'llcomeandseeus，ofcourse。24ChevronSquare。Comethisweek。Weshallonlybeintownaweekortwolonger。'
'Letmesee。I'vegottorunuptoOxfordto-morrow，whereI
shallbeforseveraldays；sothatImust，Ifear，losethepleasureofseeingyouinLondonthisyear。'
'ThencometoEndelstow；whynotreturnwithus？'
'IamafraidifIweretocomebeforeAugustIshouldhavetoleaveagaininadayortwo。Ishouldbedelightedtobewithyouatthebeginningofthatmonth；andIcouldstayanicelongtime。
Ihavethoughtofgoingwestwardallthesummer。'
'Verywell。Nowrememberthat'sacompact。Andwon'tyouwaitnowandseeMr。Swancourt？Hewillnotbeawaytenminuteslonger。'
'No；I'llbegtobeexcused；forImustgettomychambersagainthiseveningbeforeIgohome；indeed，Ioughttohavebeentherenow——Ihavesuchapressofmatterstoattendtojustatpresent。
Youwillexplaintohim，please。Good-bye。'
'Andletusknowthedayofyourappearanceassoonasyoucan。'
'Iwill'
ChapterXV
'Awanderingvoice。'
Thoughsheerandintelligiblegriefsarenotcharmedawaybybeingconfidedtomereacquaintances，theprocessisapalliativetocertainill-humours。Amongthese，perplexedvexationisone——aspeciesoftroublewhich，likeastream，getsshallowerbythesimpleoperationofwideningitinanyquarter。
OntheeveningofthedaysucceedingthatofthemeetinginthePark，ElfrideandMrs。Swancourtwereengagedinconversationinthedressing-roomofthelatter。Suchatreatmentofsuchacasewasincourseofadoptionhere。
ElfridehadjustbeforereceivedanaffectionateletterfromStephenSmithinBombay，whichhadbeenforwardedtoherfromEndelstow。Butsincethisisnotthecasereferredto，itisnotworthwhiletopryfurtherintothecontentsoftheletterthantodiscoverthat，withrashthoughpardonableconfidenceincomingtimes，headdressedherinhighspiritsashisdarlingfuturewife。Probablytherecannotbeinstancedabrieferandsurerrule-
of-thumbtestofaman'stemperament——sanguineorcautious——thanthis:didheordoesheante-datethewordwifeincorrespondingwithasweet-hearthehonestlyloves？
Shehadtakenthisepistleintoherownroom，readalittleofit，thenSAVEDtherestforto-morrow，notwishingtobesoextravagantastoconsumethepleasureallatonce。Nevertheless，shecouldnotresistthewishtoenjoyyetalittlemore，sooutcametheletteragain，andinspiteofmisgivingsastoprodigalitythewholewasdevoured。Theletterwasfinallyreperusedandplacedinherpocket。
Whatwasthis？AlsoanewspaperforElfride，whichshehadoverlookedinherhurrytoopentheletter。ItwastheoldnumberofthePRESENT，containingthearticleuponherbook，forwardedashadbeenrequested。
Elfridehadhastilyreaditthrough，shrunkperceptiblysmaller，andhadthengonewiththepaperinherhandtoMrs。Swancourt'sdressing-room，tolightenoratleastmodifyhervexationbyadiscriminatingestimatefromherstepmother。
Shewasnowlookingdisconsolatelyoutofthewindow。
'Nevermind，mychild，'saidMrs。Swancourtafteracarefulperusalofthematterindicated。'Idon'tseethatthereviewissuchaterribleone，afterall。Besides，everybodyhasforgottenaboutitbythistime。I'msuretheopeningisgoodenoughforanybookeverwritten。Justlisten——itsoundsbetterreadaloudthanwhenyouporeoveritsilently:"THECOURTOFKELLYONCASTLE。
AROMANCEOFTHEMIDDLEAGES。BYERNESTFIELD。Inthebeliefthatwewereforawhileescapingthemonotonousrepetitionofwearisomedetailsinmodernsocialscenery，analysesofuninterestingcharacter，ortheunnaturalunfoldingsofasensationplot，wetookthisvolumeintoourhandswithafeelingofpleasure。Weweredisposedtobeguileourselveswiththefancythatsomenewchangemightpossiblyberungupondonjonkeeps，chainandplatearmour，deeplyscarredcheeks，tendermaidensdisguisedaspages，towhichwehadnotlistenedlongago。”Now，that'saverygoodbeginning，inmyopinion，andonetobeproudofhavingbroughtoutofamanwhohasneverseenyou。'
'Ah，yes，'murmuredElfridewofully。'But，then，seefurtheron!'
'Wellthenextbitisratherunkind，Imustown，'saidMrs。
Swancourt，andreadon。'"Insteadofthiswefoundourselvesinthehandsofsomeyounglady，hardlyarrivedatyearsofdiscretion，tojudgebythesillydeviceithasbeenthoughtworthwhiletoadoptonthetitle-page，withtheideaofdisguisinghersex。”'
'Iamnot"silly"!'saidElfrideindignantly。'Hemighthavecalledmeanythingbutthat。'
'Youarenot，indeed。Well:——"Handsofayounglady……whosechaptersaresimplydevotedtoimpossibletournaments，towers，andescapades，whichreadlikeflatcopiesoflikescenesinthestoriesofMr。G。P。R。James，andthemostunrealportionsofIVANHOE。Thebaitissopalpablyartificialthatthemostcredulousgudgeonturnsaway。”Now，mydear，Idon'tseeovermuchtocomplainofinthat。ItprovesthatyouwerecleverenoughtomakehimthinkofSirWalterScott，whichisagreatdeal。'
'Ohyes；thoughIcannotromancemyself，Iamabletoremindhimofthosewhocan!'Elfrideintendedtohurlthesewordssarcasticallyatherinvisibleenemy，butasshehadnomoresatiricalpowerthanawood-pigeon，theymerelyfellinaprettymurmurfromlipsshapedtoapout。
'Certainly:andthat'ssomething。Yourbookisgoodenoughtobebadinanordinaryliterarymanner，anddoesn'tstandbyitselfinamelancholypositionaltogetherworsethanassailable——"Thatinterestinanhistoricalromancemaynowadayshaveanychanceofbeingsustained，itisindispensablethatthereaderfindhimselfundertheguidanceofsomenearlyextinctspeciesoflegendary，who，inadditiontoanimpulsetowardsantiquarianresearchandanunweakenedfaithinthemediaevalhalo，shallpossessaninventivefacultyinwhichdelicacyofsentimentisfarovertoppedbyapowerofweldingtostirringincidentaspiritedvarietyoftheelementaryhumanpassions。”Well，thatlong-windedeffusiondoesn'trefertoyouatall，Elfride，merelysomethingputintofillup。Letmesee，whendoeshecometoyouagain；……nottilltheveryend，actually。Hereyouarefinallypolishedoff:
'"Buttoreturntothelittleworkwehaveusedasthetextofthisarticle。Wearefarfromaltogetherdisparagingtheauthor'spowers。Shehasacertainversatilitythatenableshertousewitheffectastyleofnarrationpeculiartoherself，whichmaybecalledamurmuringofdelicateemotionaltrifles，theparticulargiftofthosetowhomthesocialsympathiesofapeacefultimeareasdailyfood。Hence，wheremattersofdomesticexperience，andthenaturaltoucheswhichmakepeoplereal，canbeintroducedwithoutanachronismstoostriking，sheisoccasionallyfelicitous；
anduponthewholewefeeljustifiedinsayingthatthebookwillbearlookingintoforthesakeofthoseportionswhichhavenothingwhatevertodowiththestory。”
'Well，Isupposeitisintendedforsatire；butdon'tthinkanythingmoreofitnow，mydear。Itisseveno'clock。'AndMrs。
Swancourtrangforhermaid。
Attackismorepiquantthanconcord。Stephen'sletterwasconcerningnothingbutonenesswithher:thereviewwastheveryreverse。Andastrangerwithneithernamenorshape，agenorappearance，butamightyvoice，isnaturallyratheraninterestingnoveltytoaladyhechoosestoaddress。WhenElfridefellasleepthatnightshewaslovingthewriteroftheletter，butthinkingofthewriterofthatarticle。
ChapterXVI
'Thenfancyshapes——asfancycan。'
Onadayaboutthreeweekslater，theSwancourttrioweresittingquietlyinthedrawing-roomofTheCrags，Mrs。Swancourt'shouseatEndelstow，chatting，andtakingeasefulsurveyoftheirpreviousmonthortwooftown——atangiblewearinesseventopeoplewhoseacquaintancestheremightbecountedonthefingers。
AmereseasoninLondonwithherpractisedstep-motherhadsoadvancedElfride'sperceptions，thathercourtshipbyStephenseemedemotionallymeagre，andtohavedriftedbackseveralyearsintoachildishpast。Inregardingourmentalexperiences，asinvisualobservation，ourownprogressreadslikeadwindlingofthatweprogressfrom。
Shewasseatedonalowchair，lookingoverherromancewithmelancholyinterestforthefirsttimesinceshehadbecomeacquaintedwiththeremarksofthePRESENTthereupon。
'Stillthinkingofthatreviewer，Elfie？'
'Notofhimpersonally；butIamthinkingofhisopinion。Really，onlookingintothevolumeafterthislongtimehaselapsed，heseemstohaveestimatedonepartofitfairlyenough。'
'No，no；Iwouldn'tshowthewhitefeathernow!Fancythatofallpeopleintheworldthewriterherselfshouldgoovertotheenemy。HowshallMonmouth'smenfightwhenMonmouthrunsaway？'
'Idon'tdothat。ButIthinkheisrightinsomeofhisarguments，thoughwronginothers。AndbecausehehassomeclaimtomyrespectIregretallthemorethatheshouldthinksomistakenlyofmymotivesinoneortwoinstances。Itismorevexingtobemisunderstoodthantobemisrepresented；andhemisunderstandsme。IcannotbeeasywhilstapersongoestorestnightafternightattributingtomeintentionsIneverhad。'
'Hedoesn'tknowyourname，oranythingaboutyou。Andhehasdoubtlessforgottenthereissuchabookinexistencebythistime。'
'Imyselfshouldcertainlylikehimtobeputrightupononeortwomatters，'saidthevicar，whohadhithertobeensilent。'Yousee，criticsgoonwriting，andarenevercorrectedorarguedwith，andthereforeareneverimproved。'
'Papa，'saidElfridebrightening，'writetohim!'
'Iwouldassoonwritetohimaslookathim，forthematterofthat，'saidMr。Swancourt。
'Do!Andsay，theyoungpersonwhowrotethebookdidnotadoptamasculinepseudonyminvanityorconceit，butbecauseshewasafraiditwouldbethoughtpresumptuoustopublishhername，andthatshedidnotmeanthestoryforsuchashe，butasasweetenerofhistoryforyoungpeople，whomighttherebyacquireatasteforwhatwentonintheirowncountryhundredsofyearsago，andbetemptedtodivedeeperintothesubject。Oh，thereissomuchtoexplain；IwishImightwritemyself!'
'Now，Elfie，I'lltellyouwhatwewilldo，'answeredMr。
Swancourt，tickledwithasortofbucolichumourattheideaofcriticizingthecritic。'Youshallwriteaclearaccountofwhatheiswrongin，andIwillcopyitandsenditasmine。'
'Yes，now，directly!'saidElfride，jumpingup。'Whenwillyousendit，papa？'
'Oh，inadayortwo，Isuppose，'hereturned。Thenthevicarpausedandslightlyyawned，andinthemannerofelderlypeoplebegantocoolfromhisardourfortheundertakingnowthatitcametothepoint。'But，really，itishardlyworthwhile，'hesaid。
'Opapa!'saidElfride，withmuchdisappointment。'Yousaidyouwould，andnowyouwon't。Thatisnotfair!'
'Buthowcanwesenditifwedon'tknowwhomtosenditto？'
'Ifyoureallywanttosendsuchathingitcaneasilybedone，'
saidMrs。Swancourt，comingtoherstep-daughter'srescue。'Anenvelopeaddressed，"TotheCriticofTHECOURTOFKELLYONCASTLE，careoftheEditorofthePRESENT，"wouldfindhim。'
'Yes，Isupposeitwould。'
'Whynotwriteyouransweryourself，Elfride？'Mrs。Swancourtinquired。
'Imight，'shesaidhesitatingly；'andsenditanonymously:thatwouldbetreatinghimashehastreatedme。'
'Nouseintheworld!'
'ButIdon'tliketolethimknowmyexactname。SupposeIputmyinitialsonly？Thelessyouareknownthemoreyouarethoughtof。'
'Yes；youmightdothat。'
Elfridesettoworkthereandthen。Heronedesireforthelastfortnightseemedlikelytoberealized。Ashappenswithsensitiveandsecludedminds，acontinualdwellinguponthesubjecthadmagnifiedtocolossalproportionsthespacesheassumedherselftooccupyortohaveoccupiedintheoccultcritic'smind。Atnoonandatnightshehadbeenpesteringherselfwithendeavourstoperceivemoredistinctlyhisconceptionofherasawomanapartfromanauthor:whetherhereallydespisedher；whetherhethoughtmoreorlessofherthanofordinaryyoungwomenwhoneverventuredintothefireofcriticismatall。Nowshewouldhavethesatisfactionoffeelingthatatanyrateheknewhertrueintentincrossinghispath，andannoyinghimsobyherperformance，andbetaughtperhapstodespiseitalittleless。
Fourdayslateranenvelope，directedtoMissSwancourtinastrangehand，madeitsappearancefromthepost-bag。
'0h，'saidElfride，herheartsinkingwithinher。'Canitbefromthatman——alectureforimpertinence？AndactuallyoneforMrs。
Swancourtinthesamehand-writing!'Shefearedtoopenhers。
'Yethowcanheknowmyname？No；itissomebodyelse。'
'Nonsense!'saidherfathergrimly。'Yousentyourinitials，andtheDirectorywasavailable。Thoughhewouldn'thavetakenthetroubletolookthereunlesshehadbeenthoroughlysavagewithyou。Ithoughtyouwrotewithrathermoreasperitythansimpleliterarydiscussionrequired。'Thistimelyclausewasintroducedtosavethecharacterofthevicar'sjudgmentunderanyissueofaffairs。
'Well，hereIgo，'saidElfride，desperatelytearingopentheseal。
'Tobesure，ofcourse，'exclaimedMrs。Swancourt；andlookingupfromherownletter。'Christopher，Iquiteforgottotellyou，whenImentionedthatIhadseenmydistantrelative，HarryKnight，thatIinvitedhimhereforwhateverlengthoftimehecouldspare。AndnowhesayshecancomeanydayinAugust。'
'Write，andsaythefirstofthemonth，'repliedtheindiscriminatevicar。
Shereadom'Goodnessme——andthatisn'tall。HeisactuallythereviewerofElfride'sbook。Howabsurd，tobesure!IhadnoideahereviewednovelsorhadanythingtodowiththePRESENT。Heisabarrister——andIthoughtheonlywroteintheQuarterlies。Why，Elfride，youhavebroughtaboutanoddentanglement!Whatdoeshesaytoyou？'
Elfridehadputdownherletterwithadissatisfiedflushonherface。'Idon'tknow。Theideaofhisknowingmynameandallaboutme!……Why，hesaysnothingparticular，onlythis——
'"MYDEARMADAM，——ThoughIamsorrythatmyremarksshouldhaveseemedharshtoyou，itisapleasuretofindthattheyhavebeenthemeansofbringingforthsuchaningeniouslyarguedreply。
Unfortunately，itissolongsinceIwrotemyreview，thatmymemorydoesnotservemesufficientlytosayasinglewordinmydefence，evensupposingthereremainsonetobesaid，whichisdoubtful。You，willfindfromaletterIhavewrittentoMrs。
Swancourt，thatwearenotsuchstrangerstoeachotheraswehavebeenimagining。Possibly，Imayhavethepleasureofseeingyousoon，whenanyargumentyouchoosetoadvanceshallreceivealltheattentionitdeserves。”
'Thatisdimsarcasm——Iknowitis。'
'Ohno，Elfride。'
'Andthen，hisremarksdidn'tseemharsh——ImeanIdidnotsayso。'
'Hethinksyouareinafrightfultemper，'saidMr。Swancourt，chucklinginundertones。
'Andhewillcomeandseeme，andfindtheauthoressascontemptibleinspeechasshehasbeenimpertinentinmanner。I
doheartilywishIhadneverwrittenawordtohim!'
'Nevermind，'saidMrs。Swancourt，alsolaughinginlowquietjerks；'itwillmakethemeetingsuchacomicalaffair，andaffordsplendidby-playforyourfatherandmyself。TheideaofourrunningourheadsagainstHarryKnightallthetime!Icannotgetoverthat。'
ThevicarhadimmediatelyrememberedthenametobethatofStephenSmith'spreceptorandfriend；buthavingceasedtoconcernhimselfinthematterhemadenoremarktothateffect，consistentlyforbearingtoalludetoanythingwhichcouldrestorerecollectionofthetohimdisagreeablemistakewithregardtopoorStephen'slineageandposition。Elfridehadofcourseperceivedthesamething，whichaddedtothecomplicationofrelationshipameshthatherstepmotherknewnothingof。
TheidentificationscarcelyheightenedKnight'sattractionsnow，thoughatwelvemonthagoshewouldonlyhavecaredtoseehimfortheinteresthepossessedasStephen'sfriend。FortunatelyforKnight'sadvent，suchareasonforwelcomehadonlybeguntobeawkwardtoheratatimewhentheinteresthehadacquiredonhisownaccountmadeitnolongernecessary。
Thesecoincidences，incommonwithallrelatingtohim，tendedtokeepElfride'sminduponthestretchconcerningKnight。Aswashercustomwhenuponthehornsofadilemma，shewalkedoffbyherselfamongthelaurelbushes，andthere，standingstillandsplittingupaleafwithoutremovingitfromitsstalk，fetchedbackrecollectionsofStephen'sfrequentwordsinpraiseofhisfriend，andwishedshehadlistenedmoreattentively。Then，stillpullingtheleaf，shewouldblushatsomefanciedmortificationthatwouldaccruetoherfromhiswordswhentheymet，inconsequenceofherintrusiveness，asshenowconsideredit，inwritingtohim。
Thenextdevelopmentofhermeditationswasthesubjectofwhatthisman'spersonalappearancemightbe——washetallorshort，darkorfair，gayorgrim？ShewouldhaveaskedMrs。Swancourtbutfortheriskshemighttherebyincurofsometeasingremarkbeingreturned。UltimatelyElfridewouldsay，'Oh，whataplaguethatrevieweristome!'andturnherfacetowheresheimaginedIndialay，andmurmurtoherself，'Ah，mylittlehusband，whatareyoudoingnow？Letmesee，whereareyou——south，east，where？Behindthathill，eversofarbehind!'
ChapterXVII
'Herwelcome，spokeinfalteringphrase。'
'ThereisHenryKnight，Ideclare!'saidMrs。Swancourtoneday。
TheyweregazingfromthejuttingangleofawildenclosurenotfarfromTheCrags，whichalmostoverhungthevalleyalreadydescribedasleadingupfromtheseaandlittleportofCastleBoterel。Thestonyescarpmentuponwhichtheystoodhadthecontourofaman'sface，anditwascoveredwithfurzeaswithabeard。Peopleinthefieldabovewerepreservedfromanaccidentalrolldowntheseprominencesandhollowsbyahedgeontheverycrest，whichwasdoingthatkindlyserviceforElfrideandhermothernow。
Scramblinghigherintothehedgeandstretchingherneckfurtheroverthefurze，Elfridebeheldtheindividualsignified。Hewaswalkingleisurelyalongthelittlegreenpathatthebottom，besidethestream，asatchelslunguponhislefthip，astoutwalking-stickinhishand，andabrown-hollandsun-hatuponhishead。Thesatchelwaswornandold，andtheouterpolishedsurfaceoftheleatherwascrackedandpeelingoff。
KnighthavingarrivedoverthehillstoCastleBotereluponthetopofacrazyomnibus，preferredtowalktheremainingtwomilesupthevalley，leavinghisluggagetobebroughton。
Behindhimwandered，helter-skelter，aboyofwhomKnighthadbrieflyinquiredthewaytoEndelstow；andbythatnaturallawofphysicswhichcauseslesserbodiestogravitatetowardsthegreater，thisboyhadkeptneartoKnight，andtrottedlikealittledogcloseathisheels，whistlingashewent，withhiseyesfixeduponKnight'sbootsastheyroseandfell。
WhentheyhadreachedapointpreciselyoppositethatinwhichMrs。andMissSwancourtlayinambush，Knightstoppedandturnedround。
'Lookhere，myboy，'hesaid。
Theboypartedhislips，openedhiseyes，andanswerednothing。
'Here'ssixpenceforyou，onconditionthatyoudon'tagaincomewithintwentyyardsofmyheels，allthewayupthevalley。'
Theboy，whoapparentlyhadnotknownhehadbeenlookingatKnight'sheelsatall，tookthesixpencemechanically，andKnightwentonagain，wraptinmeditation。
'Anicevoice，'Elfridethought；'butwhatasingulartemper!'
'Nowwemustgetindoorsbeforeheascendstheslope，'saidMrs。
Swancourtsoftly。Andtheywentacrossbyashortcutoverastile，enteringthelawnbyasidedoor，andsoontothehouse。
Mr。Swancourthadgoneintothevillagewiththecurate，andElfridefelttoonervoustoawaittheirvisitor'sarrivalinthedrawing-roomwithMrs。Swancourt。Sothatwhentheelderladyentered，Elfridemadesomepretenceofperceivinganewvarietyofcrimsongeranium，andlingeredbehindamongtheflowerbeds。
Therewasnothinggainedbythis，afterall，shethought；andafewminutesafterboldlycameintothehousebytheglassside-
door。Shewalkedalongthecorridor，andenteredthedrawing-
room。Nobodywasthere。
Awindowattheangleoftheroomopeneddirectlyintoanoctagonalconservatory，enclosingthecornerofthebuilding。
Fromtheconservatorycamevoicesinconversation——Mrs。
Swancourt'sandthestranger's。
Shehadexpectedhimtotalkbrilliantly。Tohersurprisehewasaskingquestionsinquitealearner'smanner，onsubjectsconnectedwiththeflowersandshrubsthatshehadknownforyears。Whenafterthelapseofafewminuteshespokeatsomelength，sheconsideredtherewasahardsquaredecisivenessintheshapeofhissentences，asif，unlikeherownandStephen's，theywerenotthereandthennewlyconstructed，butweredrawnforthfromalargestoreready-made。Theywerenowapproachingthewindowtocomeinagain。
'Thatisaflesh-colouredvariety，'saidMrs。Swancourt。'Butoleanders，thoughtheyaresuchbulkyshrubs，aresoveryeasilywoundedastobeunprunable——giantswiththesensitivenessofyoungladies。Oh，hereisElfride!'
ElfridelookedasguiltyandcrestfallenasLadyTeazleatthedroppingofthescreen。Mrs。Swancourtpresentedhimhalfcomically，andKnightinaminuteortwoplacedhimselfbesidetheyounglady。
AcomplexityofinstinctscheckedElfride'sconventionalsmilesofcomplaisanceandhospitality；and，tomakeherstilllesscomfortable，Mrs。Swancourtimmediatelyafterwardsleftthemtogethertoseekherhusband。Mr。Knight，however，didnotseematallincommodedbyhisfeelings，andhesaidwithlighteasefulness:
'So，MissSwancourt，Ihavemetyouatlast。YouescapedmebyafewminutesonlywhenwewereinLondon。'
'Yes。IfoundthatyouhadseenMrs。Swancourt。'
'Andnowreviewerandreviewedarefacetoface，'headdedunconcernedly。
'Yes:thoughthefactofyourbeingarelationofMrs。Swancourt'stakesofftheedgeofit。Itwasstrangethatyoushouldbeoneofherfamilyallthetime。'Elfridebegantorecoverherselfnow，andtolookintoKnight'sface。'IwasmerelyanxioustoletyouknowmyREALmeaninginwritingthebook——extremelyanxious。'
'Icanquiteunderstandthewish；andIwasgratifiedthatmyremarksshouldhavereachedhome。Theyveryseldomdo，Iamafraid。'
Elfridedrewherselfin。Herehewas，stickingtohisopinionsasfirmlyasiffriendshipandpolitenessdidnotintheleastrequireanimmediaterenunciationofthem。
'Youmademeveryuneasyandsorrybywritingsuchthings!'shemurmured，suddenlydroppingthemerecacueterieofafashionablefirstintroduction，andspeakingwithsomeofthedudgeonofachildtowardsasevereschoolmaster。
'Thatisrathertheobjectofhonestcriticsinsuchacase。Nottocauseunnecessarysorrow，but:"Tomakeyousorryafterapropermanner，thatyemayreceivedamagebyusinnothing，"asapowerfulpenoncewrotetotheGentiles。Areyougoingtowriteanotherromance？'
'Writeanother？'shesaid。'Thatsomebodymaypenacondemnationand"nail'twi'Scripture"again，asyoudonow，Mr。Knight？'
'Youmaydobetternexttime，'hesaidplacidly:'Ithinkyouwill。ButIwouldadviseyoutoconfineyourselftodomesticscenes。'
'Thankyou。Butneveragain!'
'Well，youmayberight。Thatayoungwomanhastakentowritingisnotbyanymeansthebestthingtohearabouther。'
'Whatisthebest？'
'Iprefernottosay。'
'Doyouknow？Then，dotellme，please。'
'Well'——Knightwasevidentlychanginghismeaning——'Isupposetohearthatshehasmarried。'
Elfridehesitated。'Andwhatwhenshehasbeenmarried？'shesaidatlast，partlyinordertowithdrawherownpersonfromtheargument。
'Thentohearnomoreabouther。ItisasSmeatonsaidofhislighthouse:hergreatestrealpraise，whenthenoveltyofherinaugurationhaswornoff，isthatnothinghappenstokeepthetalkofheralive。'
'Yes，Isee，'saidElfridesoftlyandthoughtfully。'Butofcourseitisdifferentquitewithmen。Whydon'tyouwritenovels，Mr。Knight？'
'BecauseIcouldn'twriteonethatwouldinterestanybody。'
'Why？'
'Forseveralreasons。Itrequiresajudiciousomissionofyourrealthoughtstomakeanovelpopular，foronething。'
'Isthatreallynecessary？Well，Iamsureyoucouldlearntodothatwithpractice，'saidElfridewithanex-cathedraair，asbecameapersonwhospokefromexperienceintheart。'Youwouldmakeagreatnameforcertain，'shecontinued。
'Somanypeoplemakeanamenowadays，thatitismoredistinguishedtoremaininobscurity。'
'Tellmeseriously——apartfromthesubject——whydon'tyouwriteavolumeinsteadofloosearticles？'sheinsisted。
'Sinceyouarepleasedtomakemetalkofmyself，Iwilltellyouseriously，'saidKnight，notlessamusedatthiscatechismbyhisyoungfriendthanhewasinterestedinherappearance。'AsIhaveimplied，Ihavenotthewish。AndifIhadthewish，Icouldnotnowconcentratesufficiently。Weallhaveonlyouronecruseofenergygivenustomakethebestof。Andwherethatenergyhasbeenleakedawayweekbyweek，quarterbyquarter，asminehasforthelastnineortenyears，thereisnotenoughdammedbackbehindthemillatanygivenperiodtosupplytheforceacompletebookonanysubjectrequires。Thenthereistheself-confidenceandwaitingpower。Wherequickresultshavegrowncustomary，theyarefataltoalivelyfaithinthefuture。'
'Yes，Icomprehend；andsoyouchoosetowriteinfragments？'
'No，Idon'tchoosetodoitinthesenseyoumean；choosingfromawholeworldofprofessions，allpossible。Itwasbytheconstraintofaccidentmerely。NotthatIobjecttotheaccident。'
'Whydon'tyouobject——Imean，whydoyoufeelsoquietaboutthings？'Elfridewashalfafraidtoquestionhimso，butherintensecuriositytoseewhattheinsideofliteraryMr。Knightwaslike，kepthergoingon。
Knightcertainlydidnotmindbeingfrankwithher。Instancesofthistraitinmenwhoarenotwithoutfeeling，butarereticentfromhabit，mayberecalledbyallofus。Whentheyfindalistenerwhocanbynopossibilitymakeuseofthem，rivalthem，orcondemnthem，reservedandevensuspiciousmenoftheworldbecomefrank，keenlyenjoyingtheinnersideoftheirfrankness。
'WhyIdon'tmindtheaccidentalconstraint，'hereplied，'isbecause，inmakingbeginnings，achancelimitationofdirectionisoftenbetterthanabsolutefreedom。'
'Isee——thatis，IshouldifIquiteunderstoodwhatallthosegeneralitiesmean。'
'Why，this:Thatanarbitraryfoundationforone'swork，whichnolengthofthoughtcanalter，leavestheattentionfreetofixitselfontheworkitself，andmakethebestofit。'
'Lateralcompressionforcingaltitude，aswouldbesaidinthattongue，'shesaidmischievously。'AndIsupposewherenolimitexists，asinthecaseofarichmanwithawidetastewhowantstodosomething，itwillbebettertochoosealimitcapriciouslythantohavenone。'
'Yes，'hesaidmeditatively。'Icangoasfarasthat。'
'Well，'resumedElfride，'Ithinkitbetterforaman'snatureifhedoesnothinginparticular。'
'Thereissuchacaseasbeingobligedto。'
'Yes，yes；Iwasspeakingofwhenyouarenotobligedforanyotherreasonthandelightintheprospectoffame。Ihavethoughtmanytimeslatelythatathinwidespreadhappiness，commencingnow，andofapiecewiththedaysofyourlife，ispreferabletoananticipatedheapfarawayinthefuture，andnonenow。'
'Why，that'stheverythingIsaidjustnowasbeingtheprincipleofallephemeraldoerslikemyself。'
'Oh，Iamsorrytohaveparodiedyou，'shesaidwithsomeconfusion。'Yes，ofcourse。Thatiswhatyoumeantaboutnottryingtobefamous。'Andsheadded，withthequicknessofconvictioncharacteristicofhermind:'Thereismuchlittlenessintryingtobegreat。Amanmustthinkagooddealofhimself，andbeconceitedenoughtobelieveinhimself，beforehetriesatall。'
'Butitissoonenoughtosaythereisharminaman'sthinkingagooddealofhimselfwhenitisprovedhehasbeenthinkingwrong，andtoosoonthensometimes。Besides，weshouldnotconcludethatamanwhostrivesearnestlyforsuccessdoessowithastrongsenseofhisownmerit。Hemayseehowlittlesuccesshastodowithmerit，andhismotivemaybehisveryhumility。'
ThismanneroftreatingherratherprovokedElfride。Nosoonerdidsheagreewithhimthanheceasedtoseemtowishit，andtooktheotherside。'Ah，'shethoughtinwardly，'Ishallhavenothingtodowithamanofthiskind，thoughheisourvisitor。'
'Ithinkyouwillfind，'resumedKnight，pursuingtheconversationmoreforthesakeoffinishingoffhisthoughtsonthesubjectthanforengagingherattention，'thatinactuallifeitismerelyamatterofinstinctwithmen——thistryingtopushon。Theyawaketoarecognitionthattheyhave，withoutpremeditation，beguntotryalittle，andtheysaytothemselves，"SinceIhavetriedthusmuch，Iwilltryalittlemore。”Theygoonbecausetheyhavebegun。'
Elfride，inherturn，wasnotparticularlyattendingtohiswordsatthismoment。Shehad，unconsciouslytoherself，awayofseizinganypointintheremarksofaninterlocutorwhichinterestedher，anddwellinguponit，andthinkingthoughtsofherownthereupon，totallyobliviousofallthathemightsayincontinuation。Onsuchoccasionssheartlesslysurveyedthepersonspeaking；andthentherewasatimeforapainter。Hereyesseemedtolookatyou，andpastyou，asyouwerethen，intoyourfuture；andpastyourfutureintoyoureternity——notreadingit，butgazinginanunused，unconsciousway——hermindstillclingingtoitsoriginalthought。
ThisishowshewaslookingatKnight。