late in the year to sit long out of doors: we ought to be
off this ledge before it gets too dark to let us see our footing. I
daresay the horse is impatient.'

Knight spoke the merest commonplace to her now. He had hoped to the
last moment that she would have volunteered the whole story of her first
attachment. It grew more and more distasteful to him that she should
have a secret of this nature. Such entire confidence as he had pictured
as about to exist between himself and the innocent young wife who had
known no lover's tones save his--was this its beginning? He lifted
her upon the horse, and they went along constrainedly. The poison of
suspicion was doing its work well.

An incident occurred on this homeward journey which was long remembered
by both, as adding shade to shadow. Knight could not keep from his
mind the words of Adam's reproach to Eve in PARADISE LOST, and at last
whispered them to himself--

'Fool'd and beguiled: by him thou, I by thee!'

'What did you say?' Elfride inquired timorously.

'It was only a quotation.'

They had now dropped into a hollow, and the church tower made its
appearance against the pale evening sky, its lower part being hidden by
some intervening trees. Elfride, being denied an answer, was looking at
the tower and trying to think of some contrasting quotation she might
use to regain his tenderness. After a little thought she said in winning
tones--

"Thou hast been my hope, and a strong tower for me against the enemy."'

They passed on. A few minutes later three or four birds were seen to fly
out of the tower.

'The strong tower moves,' said Knight, with surprise.

A corner of the square mass swayed forward, sank, and vanished. A loud
rumble followed, and a cloud of dust arose where all had previously been
so clear.

'The church restorers have done it!' said Elfride.

At this minute Mr. Swancourt was seen approaching them. He came up with
a bustling demeanour, apparently much engrossed by some business in
hand.

'We have got the tower down!' he exclaimed. 'It came rather quicker
than we intended it should. The first idea was to take it down stone by
stone, you know. In doing this the crack widened considerably, and it
was not believed safe for the men to stand upon the walls any longer.
Then we decided to undermine it, and three men set to work at the
weakest corner this afternoon. They had left off for the evening,
intending to give the final blow to-morr