ash was heard in the back
yard, and presently Worm came in, saying partly to the world in general,
partly 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 wi' it 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 I've 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 Stephen's uneasiness and
rather to his surprise. He had not supposed so much latent sternness
could co-exist with Mr. Swancourt's 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 don't ride, Mr. Smith?'

'I am sorry to say I don't.'

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

The vicar came to his rescue. 'That's 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.

'Now, Mr. Smith,' said the lady imperatively, coming downstairs, and
appearing in her riding-habit, as she always did in a change of dress,
like a new edition of a delightful volume, 'you have a task to perform
to-day. These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst
of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be
dropped if I toss my head about much