第96章

The match was looked upon as made by her father and mother.The vicar remembered her promise to reveal the meaning of the telegram she had received,and two days after the scene in the summer-house,asked her pointedly.She was frank with him now.

I had been corresponding with Stephen Smith ever since he left England,till lately,she calmly said.

What!cried the vicar aghast;under the eyes of Mr.Knight,too?

No;when I found I cared most for Mr.Knight,I obeyed you.

You were very kind,Im sure.When did you begin to like Mr.

Knight?

I dont see that that is a pertinent question,papa;the telegram was from the shipping agent,and was not sent at my request.It announced the arrival of the vessel bringing him home.

Home!What,is he here?

Yes;in the village,I believe.

Has he tried to see you?

Only by fair means.But dont,papa,question me so!It is torture.

I will only say one word more,he replied.Have you met him?

I have not.I can assure you that at the present moment there is no more of an understanding between me and the young man you so much disliked than between him and you.You told me to forget him;and I have forgotten him.

Oh,well;though you did not obey me in the beginning,you are a good girl,Elfride,in obeying me at last.

Dont call me "good,"papa,she said bitterly;you dont know--and the less said about some things the better.Remember,Mr.

Knight knows nothing about the other.Oh,how wrong it all is!I dont know what I am coming to.

As matters stand,I should be inclined to tell him;or,at any rate,I should not alarm myself about his knowing.He found out the other day that this was the parish young Smiths father lives in--what puts you in such a flurry?

I cant say;but promise--pray dont let him know!It would be my ruin!

Pooh,child.Knight is a good fellow and a clever man;but at the same time it does not escape my perceptions that he is no great catch for you.Men of his turn of mind are nothing so wonderful in the way of husbands.If you had chosen to wait,you might have mated with a much wealthier man.But remember,I have not a word to say against your having him,if you like him.

Charlotte is delighted,as you know.

Well,papa,she said,smiling hopefully through a sigh,it is nice to feel that in giving way to--to caring for him,I have pleased my family.But I am not good;oh no,I am very far from that!

None of us are good,I am sorry to say,said her father blandly;but girls have a chartered right to change their minds,you know.

It has been recognized by poets from time immemorial.Catullus says,"Mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,in vento--What a memory mine is!However,the passage is,that a womans words to a lover are as a matter of course written only on wind and water.Now dont be troubled about that,Elfride.

Ah,you dont know!

They had been standing on the lawn,and Knight was now seen lingering some way down a winding walk.When Elfride met him,it was with a much greater lightness of heart;things were more straightforward now.The responsibility of her fickleness seemed partly shifted from her own shoulders to her fathers.Still,there were shadows.

Ah,could he have known how far I went with Stephen,and yet have said the same,how much happier I should be!That was her prevailing thought.

In the afternoon the lovers went out together on horseback for an hour or two;and though not wishing to be observed,by reason of the late death of Lady Luxellian,whose funeral had taken place very privately on the previous day,they yet found it necessary to pass East Endelstow Church.

The steps to the vault,as has been stated,were on the outside of the building,immediately under the aisle wall.Being on horseback,both Knight and Elfride could overlook the shrubs which screened the church-yard.

Look,the vault seems still to be open,said Knight.

Yes,it is open,she answered Who is that man close by it?The mason,I suppose?

Yes.

I wonder if it is John Smith,Stephens father?

I believe it is,said Elfride,with apprehension.

Ah,and can it be?I should like to inquire how his son,my truant protege,is going on.And from your fathers deion of the vault,the interior must be interesting.Suppose we go in.

Had we better,do you think?May not Lord Luxellian be there?

It is not at all likely.

Elfride then assented,since she could do nothing else.Her heart,which at first had quailed in consternation,recovered itself when she considered the character of John Smith.A quiet unassuming man,he would be sure to act towards her as before those love passages with his son,which might have given a more pretentious mechanic airs.So without much alarm she took Knights arm after dismounting,and went with him between and over the graves.The master-mason recognized her as she approached,and,as usual,lifted his hat respectfully.

I know you to be Mr.Smith,my former friend Stephens father,said Knight,directly he had scanned the embrowned and ruddy features of John.

Yes,sir,I blieve I be.

How is your son now?I have only once heard from him since he went to India.I daresay you have heard him speak of me--Mr.

Knight,who became acquainted with him some years ago in Exonbury.

Ay,that I have.Stephen is very well,thank you,sir,and hes in England;in fact,hes at home.In short,sir,hes down in the vault there,a-looking at the departed coffins.

Elfrides heart fluttered like a butterfly.

Knight looked amazed.Well,that is extraordinary.he murmured.

Did he know I was in the parish?

I really cant say,sir,said John,wishing himself out of the entanglement he rather suspected than thoroughly understood.

Would it be considered an intrusion by the family if we went into the vault?

Oh,bless ye,no,sir;scores of folk have been stepping down.

Tis left open a-purpose.

We will go down,Elfride.

I am afraid the air is close,she said appealingly.

Oh no,maam,said John.We white-limed the walls and arches the day twas opened,as we always do,and again on the morning of the funeral;the place is as sweet as a granary.