t does that mean? I am not engaged.'

'You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter-rack.'

'Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell
her to keep my newspapers till I get back.'

'You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all.' Miss
Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement, nevertheless. 'And
you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted.

'I should like to--and to see you again, but----'

'Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted
petulantly.

'No; not now.'

She could not but go on, graceless as it might seem.

'Tell me this,' she importuned with a trembling mouth. 'Does any meeting
of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you
may take in me?'

He started a little. 'It does not,' he said emphatically; and looked
into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can
give, and even that to youth alone.

The explanation had not come, but a gloom left her. She could not but
believe that utterance. Whatever enigma might lie in the shadow on the
blind, it was not an enigma of underhand passion.

She turned towards the house, entering it through the conservatory.
Stephen went round to the front door. Mr. Swancourt was standing on the
step in his slippers. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness, and
murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's
departure.

'You named August for your visit. August it shall be; that is, if you
care for the society of such a fossilized Tory,' said Mr. Swancourt.

Mr. Smith only responded hesitatingly, that he should like to come
again.

'You said you would, and you must,' insisted Elfride, coming to the door
and speaking under her father's arm.

Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the
house as a guest, it no longer predominated. He promised, and bade them
adieu, and got into the pony-carriage, which crept up the slope, and
bore him out of their sight.

'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that
young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it
anyhow,' said Mr. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went
indoors.

Chapter VII

'No more of me you knew, my love!'

Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage, agreeably to his promise. He
had a genuine artistic reason for coming, though no such reason
seemed to be required.