lfride had closed the note-book, and was carrying it disdainfully by
the corner between her finger and thumb; her face wore a nettled look.
She silently extended the volume towards him, raising her eyes no higher
than her hand was lifted.

'Take it,' said Elfride quickly. 'I don't want to read it.'

'Could you understand it?' said Knight.

'As far as I looked. But I didn't care to read much.'

'Why, Miss Swancourt?'

'Only because I didn't wish to--that's all.'

'I warned you that you might not.'

'Yes, but I never supposed you would have put me there.'

'Your name is not mentioned once within the four corners.'

'Not my name--I know that.'

'Nor your description, nor anything by which anybody would recognize
you.'

'Except myself. For what is this?' she exclaimed, taking it from him and
opening a page. 'August 7. That's the day before yesterday. But I won't
read it,' Elfride said, closing the book again with pretty hauteur. 'Why
should I? I had no business to ask to see your book, and it serves me
right.'

Knight hardly recollected what he had written, and turned over the book
to see. He came to this:

'Aug. 7. Girl gets into her teens, and her self-consciousness is born.
After a certain interval passed in infantine helplessness it begins to
act. Simple, young, and inexperienced at first. Persons of observation
can tell to a nicety how old this consciousness is by the skill it has
acquired in the art necessary to its success--the art of hiding
itself. Generally begins career by actions which are popularly termed
showing-off. Method adopted depends in each case upon the disposition,
rank, residence, of the young lady attempting it. Town-bred girl will
utter some moral paradox on fast men, or love. Country miss adopts the
more material media of taking a ghastly fence, whistling, or making your
blood run cold by appearing to risk her neck. (MEM. On Endelstow Tower.)

'An innocent vanity is of course the origin of these displays. "Look
at me," say these youthful beginners in womanly artifice, without
reflecting whether or not it be to their advantage to show so very much
of themselves. (Amplify and correct for paper on Artless Arts.)'

'Yes, I remember now,' said Knight. 'The notes were certainly suggested
by your manoeuvre on the church tower. But you must not think too much
of such random observations,' he continued encouragingly, as he noticed
her injured looks. 'A mere fancy passing through my head as