Shewaschildishlyfulloflifeandspirits，thoughinwalkingupanddownwithhimbeforetheotherpassengers，andgettingnoticedbythem，shewasatstartingratherconfused，itbeingthefirsttimeshehadshownherselfsoopenlyunderthatkindofprotection。\'Iexpecttheyareenviousandsayingthingsaboutus，don\'tyou？\'shewouldwhispertoKnightwithastealthysmile。
\'Ohno，\'hewouldanswerunconcernedly。\'Whyshouldtheyenvyus，andwhatcantheysay？\'
\'Notanyharm，ofcourse，\'Elfridereplied，\'exceptsuchasthis:
\"Howhappythosetwoare!sheisproudenoughnow。”Whatmakesitworse，\'shecontinuedintheextremityofconfidence，\'Iheardthosetwocricketingmensayjustnow，\"She\'sthenobbiestgirlontheboat。”ButIdon\'tmindit，youknow，Harry。\'
\'Ishouldhardlyhavesupposedyoudid，evenifyouhadnottoldme，\'saidKnightwithgreatblandness。
Shewasnevertiredofaskingherloverquestionsandadmiringhisanswers，good，bad，orindifferentastheymightbe。Theeveninggrewdarkandnightcameon，andlightsshoneuponthemfromthehorizonandfromthesky。
\'Nowlookthereaheadofus，atthathalointheair，ofsilverybrightness。Watchit，andyouwillseewhatitcomesto。\'
Shewatchedforafewminutes，whentwowhitelightsemergedfromthesideofahill，andshowedthemselvestobetheoriginofthehalo。
\'Whatadazzlingbrilliance!Whatdotheymark？\'
\'TheSouthForeland:theywerepreviouslycoveredbythecliff。\'
\'Whatisthatlevellineoflittlesparkles——atown，Isuppose？\'
\'That\'sDover。\'
Allthistime，andlater，softsheetlightningexpandedfromacloudintheirpath，enkindlingtheirfacesastheypacedupanddown，shiningoverthewater，and，foramoment，showingthehorizonasakeenline。
Elfridesleptsoundlythatnight。HerfirstthoughtthenextmorningwasthethrillingonethatKnightwasascloseathandaswhentheywereathomeatEndelstow，andherfirstsight，onlookingoutofthecabinwindow，wastheperpendicularfaceofBeachyHead，gleamingwhiteinabrilliantsix-o\'clock-in-the-
morningsun。Thisfairdaybreak，however，soonchangeditsaspect。Acoldwindandapalemistdescendeduponthesea，andseemedtothreatenadrearyday。
WhentheywerenearingSouthampton，Mrs。Swancourtcametosaythatherhusbandwassoillthathewishedtobeputonshorehere，andlefttodotheremainderofthejourneybyland。\'Hewillbeperfectlywelldirectlyhetreadsfirmgroundagain。
Whichshallwedo——gowithhim，orfinishourvoyageasweintended？\'
ElfridewascomfortablyhousedunderanumbrellawhichKnightwasholdingoverhertokeepoffthewind。\'Oh，don\'tletusgoonshore!\'shesaidwithdismay。\'Itwouldbesuchapity!\'
\'That\'sveryfine，\'saidMrs。Swancourtarchly，astoachild。
\'See，thewindhasincreasedhercolour，theseaherappetiteandspirits，andsomebodyherhappiness。Yes，itwouldbeapity，certainly。\'
\'\'Tismymisfortunetobealwaysspokentofromapedestal，\'
sighedElfride。
\'Well，wewilldoasyoulike，Mrs。Swancourt，\'saidKnight，\'but——\'
\'Imyselfwouldratherremainonboard，\'interruptedtheelderlady。\'AndMr。Swancourtparticularlywishestogobyhimself。
Sothatshallsettlethematter。\'
Thevicar，nowadrabcolour，wasputashore，andbecameaswellaseverforthwith。
Elfride，sittingaloneinaretiredpartofthevessel，sawaveiledwomanwalkaboardamongtheverylatestarrivalsatthisport。Shewasclothedinblacksilk，andcarriedadarkshawluponherarm。Thewoman，withoutlookingaroundher，turnedtothequarterallottedtothesecond-cabinpassengers。AllthecarnationMrs。Swancourthadcomplimentedherstep-daughteruponpossessingleftElfride\'scheeks，andshetrembledvisibly。
Sherantotheothersideoftheboat，whereMrs。Swancourtwasstanding。
\'Letusgohomebyrailwaywithpapa，afterall，\'shepleadedearnestly。\'Iwouldrathergowithhim——shallwe？\'
Mrs。Swancourtlookedaroundforamoment，asifunabletodecide。
\'Ah，\'sheexclaimed，\'itistoolatenow。Whydidnotyousaysobefore，whenwehadplentyoftime？\'
TheJuliethadatthatminuteletgo，theengineshadstarted，andtheywereglidingslowlyawayfromthequay。Therewasnohelpforitbuttoremain，unlesstheJulietcouldbemadetoputback，andthatwouldcreateagreatdisturbance。Elfridegaveuptheideaandsubmittedquietly。Herhappinesswassadlymutilatednow。
ThewomanwhosepresencehadsodisturbedherwasexactlylikeMrs。Jethway。SheseemedtohauntElfridelikeashadow。Afterseveralminutes\'vainendeavourtoaccountforanydesignMrs。
Jethwaycouldhaveinwatchingher，Elfridedecidedtothinkthat，ifitwerethewidow，theencounterwasaccidental。SherememberedthatthewidowinherrestlessnesswasoftenvisitingthevillagenearSouthampton，whichwasheroriginalhome，anditwaspossiblethatshechosewater-transitwiththeideaofsavingexpense。
\'Whatisthematter，Elfride？\'Knightinquired，standingbeforeher。
\'NothingmorethanthatIamratherdepressed。\'
\'Idon\'tmuchwonderatit；thatwharfwasdepressing。Weseemedunderneathandinferiortoeverythingaroundus。Butweshallbeintheseabreezeagainsoon，andthatwillfreshenyou，dear。\'
TheeveningclosedinandduskincreasedastheymadewaydownSouthamptonWaterandthroughtheSolent。Elfride\'sdisturbanceofmindwassuchthatherlightspiritsoftheforegoingfourandtwentyhourshadentirelydesertedher。Theweathertoohadgrownmoregloomy，forthoughtheshowersofthemorninghadceased，theskywascoveredmorecloselythaneverwithdenseleadenclouds。
HowbeautifulwasthesunsetwhentheyroundedtheNorthForelandthepreviousevening!nowitwasimpossibletotellwithinhalfanhourthetimeoftheluminary\'sgoingdown。Knightledherabout，andbeingbythistimeaccustomedtohersuddenchangesofmood，overlookedthenecessityofacauseinregardingtheconditions——
impressionablenessandelasticity。
Elfridelookedstealthilytotheotherendofthevessel。Mrs。
Jethway，orherdouble，wassittingatthestern——hereyesteadilyregardingElfride。
\'Letusgototheforepart，\'shesaidquicklytoKnight。\'Seethere——themanisfixingthelightsforthenight。\'
Knightassented，andafterwatchingtheoperationoffixingtheredandthegreenlightsontheportandstarboardbows，andthehoistingofthewhitelighttothemasthead，hewalkedupanddownwithhertilltheincreaseofwindrenderedpromenadingdifficult。
Elfride\'seyeswereoccasionallytobefoundfurtivelygazingabaft，tolearnifherenemywerereallythere。Nobodywasvisiblenow。
\'Shallwegobelow？\'saidKnight，seeingthatthedeckwasnearlydeserted。
\'No，\'shesaid。\'IfyouwillkindlygetmearugfromMrs。
Swancourt，Ishouldlike，ifyoudon\'tmind，tostayhere。\'ShehadrecentlyfanciedtheassumedMrs。Jethwaymightbeafirst-
classpassenger，anddreadedmeetingherbyaccident。
Knightappearedwiththerug，andtheysatdownbehindaweather-
clothonthewindwardside，justasthetworedeyesoftheNeedlesglareduponthemfromthegloom，theirpointedsummitsrisinglikeshadowyphantomfiguresagainstthesky。Itbecamenecessarytogobelowtoaneight-o\'clockmealofnondescriptkind，andElfridewasimmenselyrelievedatfindingnosignofMrs。Jethwaythere。Theyagainascended，andremainedabovetillMrs。SnewsonstaggereduptothemwiththemessagethatMrs。
SwancourtthoughtitwastimeforElfridetocomebelow。Knightaccompaniedherdown，andreturnedagaintopassalittlemoretimeondeck。
Elfridepartlyundressedherselfandlaydown，andsoonbecameunconscious，thoughhersleepwaslightHowlongshehadlain，sheknewnot，whenbyslowdegreesshebecamecognizantofawhisperinginherear。
\'Youarewellonwithhim，Icansee。Well，provokemenow，butmydaywillcome，youwillfind。\'Thatseemedtobetheutterance，orwordstothateffect。
Elfridebecamebroadawakeandterrified。Sheknewthewords，ifreal，couldbeonlythoseofoneperson，andthatpersonthewidowJethway。
Thelamphadgoneoutandtheplacewasindarkness。Inthenextberthshecouldhearherstepmotherbreathingheavily，furtheronSnewsonbreathingmoreheavilystill。Theseweretheonlyotherlegitimateoccupantsofthecabin，andMrs。Jethwaymusthavestealthilycomeinbysomemeansandretreatedagain，orelseshehadenteredanemptyberthnextSnewson\'s。ThefearthatthiswasthecaseincreasedElfride\'sperturbation，tillitassumedthedimensionsofacertainty，forhowcouldastrangerfromtheotherendoftheshippossiblycontrivetogetin？Couldithavebeenadream？
Elfrideraisedherselfhigherandlookedoutofthewindow。Therewasthesea，flounderingandrushingagainsttheship\'ssidejustbyherhead，andthencestretchingaway，dimandmoaning，intoanexpanseofindistinctness；andfarbeyondallthistwoplacidlightslikeraylessstars。Nowalmostfearingtoturnherfaceinwardsagain，lestMrs。Jethwayshouldappearatherelbow，ElfridemeditateduponwhethertocallSnewsontokeephercompany。\'Fourbells\'sounded，andsheheardvoices，whichgaveheralittlecourage。ItwasnotworthwhiletocallSnewson。
AtanyrateElfridecouldnotstaytherepantinglonger，attheriskofbeingagaindisturbedbythatdreadfulwhispering。Sowrappingherselfuphurriedlysheemergedintothepassage，andbytheaidofafaintlightburningattheentrancetothesaloonfoundthefootofthestairs，andascendedtothedeck。Drearytheplacewasintheextreme。Itseemedanewspotaltogetherincontrastwithitsdaytimeself。Shecouldseetheglowwormlightfromthebinnacle，andthedimoutlineofthemanatthewheel；
alsoaformatthebows。Notanothersoulwasapparentfromstemtostern。
Yes，thereweretwomore——bythebulwarks。OneprovedtobeherHarry，theotherthemate。Shewasgladindeed，andondrawingcloserfoundtheywereholdingalowslowchataboutnauticalaffairs。SheranupandslippedherhandthroughKnight\'sarm，partlyforlove，partlyforstability。
\'Elfie!notasleep？\'saidKnight，aftermovingafewstepsasidewithher。
\'No:Icannotsleep。MayIstayhere？Itissodismaldownthere，and——andIwasafraid。Wherearewenow？\'
\'DuesouthofPortlandBill。Thosearethelightsabeamofus:
look。Aterriblespot，that，onastormynight。Anddoyouseeaverysmalllightthatdipsandrisestotheright？That\'salight-
shiponthedangerousshoalcalledtheShambles，wheremanyagoodvesselhasgonetopieces。BetweenitandourselvesistheRace——
aplacewhereantagonisticcurrentsmeetandformwhirlpools——aspotwhichisroughinthesmoothestweather，andterrificinawind。Thatdark，drearyhorizonwejustdiscerntotheleftistheWestBay，terminatedlandwardsbytheChesilBeach。\'
\'Whattimeisit，Harry？\'
\'Justpasttwo。\'
\'Areyougoingbelow？\'
\'Ohno；notto-night。Ipreferpureair。\'
Shefanciedhemightbedispleasedwithherforcomingtohimatthisunearthlyhour。\'Ishouldliketostayheretoo，ifyouwillallowme，\'shesaidtimidly。
\'Iwanttoaskyouthings。\'
\'Allowyou，Elfie!\'saidKnight，puttinghisarmroundheranddrawinghercloser。\'Iamtwiceashappywithyoubymyside。
Yes:wewillstay，andwatchtheapproachofday。\'
Sotheyagainsoughtouttheshelterednook，andsittingdownwrappedthemselvesintherugasbefore。
\'Whatwereyougoingtoaskme？\'heinquired，astheyundulatedupanddown。
\'Oh，itwasnotmuch——perhapsathingIoughtnottoask，\'shesaidhesitatingly。Hersuddenwishhadreallybeentodiscoveratoncewhetherhehadeverbeforebeenengagedtobemarried。Ifhehad，shewouldmakethatagroundfortellinghimalittleofherconductwithStephen。Mrs。Jethway\'sseemingwordshadsodepressedthegirlthatsheherselfnowpaintedherflightinthedarkestcolours，andlongedtoeaseherburdenedmindbyaninstantconfession。IfKnighthadeverbeenimprudenthimself，hemight，shehoped，forgiveall。
\'Iwantedtoaskyou，\'shewenton，\'if——youhadeverbeenengagedbefore。\'Sheaddedtremulously，\'Ihopeyouhave——Imean，Idon\'tmindatallifyouhave。\'
\'No，Ineverwas，\'Knightinstantlyandheartilyreplied。
\'Elfride\'——andtherewasacertainhappyprideinhistone——\'Iamtwelveyearsolderthanyou，andIhavebeenabouttheworld，and，inaway，intosociety，andyouhavenot。AndyetIamnotsounfitforyouasstrict-thinkingpeoplemightimagine，whowouldassumethedifferenceinagetosignifymostsurelyanequaladditiontomypracticeinlove-making。\'
Elfrideshivered。
\'Youarecold——isthewindtoomuchforyou？\'
\'No，\'shesaidgloomily。Thebeliefwhichhadbeenhersheet-
anchorinhopingforforgivenesshadprovedfalse。Thisaccountoftheexceptionalnatureofhisexperience，amatterwhichwouldhavesetherrejoicingtwoyearsago，chilledhernowlikeafrost。
\'Youdon\'tmindmyaskingyou？\'shecontinued。
\'Ohno——notatall。\'
\'Andhaveyouneverkissedmanyladies？\'shewhispered，hopinghewouldsayahundredattheleast。
Thetime，thecircumstances，andthesceneweresuchastodrawconfidencesfromthemostreserved。\'Elfride，\'whisperedKnightinreply，\'itisstrangeyoushouldhaveaskedthatquestion。ButI\'llanswerit，thoughIhavenevertoldsuchathingbefore。I
