第21章

I remember his speaking to me on this very subject of pronunciation.He says that,much to his regret,he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears,and be thought none the worse for it;that the speaking age is passing away,to make room for the writing age.

Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story,namely,what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education.But no further explanation was volunteered;and they saw,by the young mans manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board,that he was anxious to drop the subject.

The game proceeded.Elfride played by rote;Stephen by thought.

It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour,she considered.What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion?To let him checkmate her.A second game followed;and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women,and she knew it),she allowed him to give checkmate again.A final game,in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening,was terminated by Elfrides victory at the twelfth move.

Stephen looked up suspiciously.His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers,which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.Mr.Swancourt had left the room.

You have been trifling with me till now!he exclaimed,his face flushing.You did not play your best in the first two games?

Elfrides guilt showed in her face.Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness,which,relishable for a moment,caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made.

Mr.Smith,forgive me!she said sweetly.I see now,though I

did not at first,that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill.But,indeed,I did not mean it in that sense.I

could not,upon my conscience,win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully.

He drew a long breath,and murmured bitterly,Ah,you are cleverer than I.You can do everything--I can do nothing!O Miss Swancourt!he burst out wildly,his heart swelling in his throat,I must tell you how I love you!All these months of my absence I

have worshipped you.

He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was,slid round to her side,and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist,and the two sets of curls intermingled.

So entirely new was full-blown love to Elfride,that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself.Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright,vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure.She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature.

You must not begin such things as those,she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming.

Let me kiss you--only a little one,he said with his usual delicacy,and without reading the factitiousness of her manner.

No;not one.

Only on your cheek?

No.

Forehead?

Certainly not.

You care for somebody else,then?Ah,I thought so!

I am sure I do not.

Nor for me either?

How can I tell?she said simply,the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech.There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times.

Footsteps were heard.Mr.Swancourt then entered the room,and their private colloquy ended.

The day after this partial revelation,Mr.Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay,a distance of three or four miles.

Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard,and presently Worm came in,saying partly to the world in general,part]y to himself,and slightly to his auditors:

Ay,ay,sure!That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm.They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz,fizz,fizz!

Your head bad again,Worm?said Mr.Swancourt.What was that noise we heard in the yard?

Ay,sir,a weak wambling man am I;and the frying have been going on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as usual;and I was so dazed wiit that down fell a piece of leg-wood across the shaft of the pony-shay,and splintered it off.

"Ay,"says I,"I feel it as if twas my own shay;and though Ive done it,and parish pay is my lot if I go from here,perhaps I am as independent as one here and there."

Dear me,the shaft of the carriage broken!cried Elfride.She was disappointed:Stephen doubly so.The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand,much to Stephens uneasiness and rather to his surprise.He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr.Swancourts frankness and good-nature.

You shall not be disappointed,said the vicar at length.It is almost too long a distance for you to walk.Elfride can trot down on her pony,and you shall have my old nag,Smith.

Elfride exclaimed triumphantly,You have never seen me on horseback--Oh,you must!She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately.Ah,you dont ride,Mr.Smith?

I am sorry to say I dont.

Fancy a man not able to ride!said she rather pertly.

The vicar came to his rescue.Thats common enough;he has had other lessons to learn.Now,I recommend this plan:let Elfride ride on horseback,and you,Mr.Smith,walk beside her.

The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen.It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride,without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary.The pony was saddled and brought round.