o 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 Knight's 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 Stephen's father,' said
Knight, directly he had scanned the embrowned and ruddy features of
John.

'Yes, sir, I b'lieve 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 he's in
England; in fact, he's at home. In short, sir, he's down in the vault
there, a-looking at the departed coffins.'

Elfride's heart fluttered like a butterfly.

Knight looked amazed. 'Well, that is extraordinary.' he murmured. 'Did
he know I was in the parish?'

'I really can't 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, ma'am,' 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.

'Then I should like you to accompany me, Elfie; having originally sprung
from the family too.'

'I don't like going where death is so emphatically present. I'll stay by
the horses whilst you go in; they may get loose.'

'What nonsense! I had no idea your sentiments were so flimsily formed as
to be perturbed by a few remnants of mortality; but stay out, if you are
so afraid, by all means.'

'Oh no, I am not afraid; don't say that.'

She held miserably to his arm, thinking that, perhaps, the revelation
might as well come at once as ten minutes later, for Stephen would be
sure to accompany his friend to his horse.

At first, the gloom of the vault, which was lighted on