It has now to be realized that nearly three-quarters of a year have passed away. In place of the autumnal scenery which formed a setting to the previous enactments, we have the culminating blooms of summer in the year following. + 

Stephen is in India, slaving away at an office in Bombay; occasionally going up the country on professional errands, and wondering why people who had been there longer than he complained so much of the effect of the climate upon their constitutions. Never had a young man a finer start than seemed now to present itself to Stephen. It was just in that exceptional heyday of prosperity which shone over Bombay some few years ago, that he arrived on the scene. Building and engineering partook of the general impetus. Speculation moved with an accelerated velocity every successive day, the only disagreeable contingency connected with it being the possibility of a collapse. + 

Elfride had never told her father of the four-and-twenty-hoursвАЩ escapade with Stephen, nor had it, to her knowledge, come to his ears by any other route. It was a secret trouble and grief to the girl for a short time, and StephenвАЩs departure was another ingredient in her sorrow. But Elfride possessed special facilities for getting rid of trouble after a decent interval. Whilst a slow nature was imbibing a misfortune little by little, she had swallowed the whole agony of it at a draught and was brightening again. She could slough off a sadness and replace it by a hope as easily as a lizard renews a diseased limb. + 

And two such excellent distractions had presented themselves. One was bringing out the romance and looking for notices in the papers, which, though they had been significantly short so far, had served to divert her thoughts. The other was migrating from the vicarage to the more commodious old house of Mrs.¬†SwancourtвАЩs, overlooking the same valley. Mr.¬†Swancourt at first disliked the idea of being transplanted to feminine soil, but the obvious advantages of such an accession of dignity reconciled him to the change. So there was a radical вАЬmove;вАЭ the two ladies staying at Torquay as had been arranged, the vicar going to and fro. + 

Mrs.¬†Swancourt considerably enlarged ElfrideвАЩs ideas in an aristocratic direction, and she began to forgive her father for his politic marriage. Certainly, in a worldly sense, a handsome face at three-and-forty had never served a man in better stead. + 

The new house at Kensington was ready, and they were all in town. + 

The Hyde Park shrubs had been transplanted as usual, the chairs ranked in line, the grass edgings trimmed, the roads made to look as if they were suffering from a heavy thunderstorm; carriages had been called for by the easeful, horses by the brisk, and the Drive and Row were again the groove of gaiety for an hour. We gaze upon the spectacle, at six oвАЩclock on this midsummer afternoon, in a melon-frame atmosphere and beneath a violet sky. The Swancourt equipage formed one in the stream. + 

Mrs.¬†Swancourt was a talker of talk of the incisive kind, which her low musical voiceвБ†вАФthe only beautiful point in the old womanвБ†вАФprevented from being wearisome. + 

вАЬNow,вАЭ she said to Elfride, who, like Aeneas at Carthage, was full of admiration for the brilliant scene, вАЬyou will find that our companionless state will give us, as it does everybody, an extraordinary power in reading the features of our fellow-creatures here. I always am a listener in such places as theseвБ†вАФnot to the narratives told by my neighboursвАЩ tongues, but by their facesвБ†вАФthe advantage of which is, that whether I am in Row, Boulevard, Rialto, or Prado, they all speak the same language. I may have acquired some skill in this practice through having been an ugly lonely woman for so many years, with nobody to give me information; a thing you will not consider strange when the parallel case is borne in mindвБ†вАФhow truly people who have no clocks will tell the time of day.вАЭ + 

вАЬAy, that they will,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Swancourt corroboratively. вАЬI have known labouring men at Endelstow and other farms who had framed complete systems of observation for that purpose. By means of shadows, winds, clouds, the movements of sheep and oxen, the singing of birds, the crowing of cocks, and a hundred other sights and sounds which people with watches in their pockets never know the existence of, they are able to pronounce within ten minutes of the hour almost at any required instant. That reminds me of an old story which IвАЩm afraid is too badвБ†вАФtoo bad to repeat.вАЭ Here the vicar shook his head and laughed inwardly. + 

вАЬTell itвБ†вАФdo!вАЭ said the ladies. + 

вАЬI mustnвАЩt quite tell it.вАЭ + 

вАЬThatвАЩs absurd,вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Swancourt. + 

вАЬIt was only about a man who, by the same careful system of observation, was known to deceive persons for more than two years into the belief that he kept a barometer by stealth, so exactly did he foretell all changes in the weather by the braying of his ass and the temper of his wife.вАЭ + 

Elfride laughed. + 

вАЬExactly,вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Swancourt. вАЬAnd in just the way that those learnt the signs of nature, I have learnt the language of her illegitimate sisterвБ†вАФartificiality; and the fibbing of eyes, the contempt of nose-tips, the indignation of back hair, the laughter of clothes, the cynicism of footsteps, and the various emotions lying in walking-stick twirls, hat-liftings, the elevation of parasols, the carriage of umbrellas, become as A B C to me. + 

вАЬJust look at that daughterвАЩs sister class of mamma in the carriage across there,вАЭ she continued to Elfride, pointing with merely a turn of her eye. вАЬThe absorbing self-consciousness of her position that is shown by her countenance is most humiliating to a lover of oneвАЩs country. You would hardly believe, would you, that members of a Fashionable World, whose professed zero is far above the highest degree of the humble, could be so ignorant of the elementary instincts of reticence.вАЭ + 

вАЬHow?вАЭ + 

вАЬWhy, to bear on their faces, as plainly as on a phylactery, the inscription, вАШDo, pray, look at the coronet on my panels.вАЩвАКвАЭ + 

вАЬReally, Charlotte,вАЭ said the vicar, вАЬyou see as much in faces as Mr.¬†Puff saw in Lord BurleighвАЩs nod.вАЭ + 

Elfride could not but admire the beauty of her fellow countrywomen, especially since herself and her own few acquaintances had always been slightly sunburnt or marked on the back of the hands by a bramble-scratch at this time of the year. + 

вАЬAnd what lovely flowers and leaves they wear in their bonnets!вАЭ she exclaimed. + 

вАЬOh yes,вАЭ returned Mrs.¬†Swancourt. вАЬSome of them are even more striking in colour than any real ones. Look at that beautiful rose worn by the lady inside the rails. Elegant vine-tendrils introduced upon the stem as an improvement upon prickles, and all growing so naturally just over her earвБ†вАФI say growing advisedly, for the pink of the petals and the pink of her handsome cheeks are equally from NatureвАЩs hand to the eyes of the most casual observer.вАЭ + 

вАЬBut praise them a little, they do deserve it!вАЭ said generous Elfride. + 

вАЬWell, I do. See how the Duchess of вЄї waves to and fro in her seat, utilizing the sway of her landau by looking around only when her head is swung forward, with a passive pride which forbids a resistance to the force of circumstance. Look at the pretty pout on the mouths of that family there, retaining no traces of being arranged beforehand, so well is it done. Look at the demure close of the little fists holding the parasols; the tiny alert thumb, sticking up erect against the ivory stem as knowing as can be, the satin of the parasol invariably matching the complexion of the face beneath it, yet seemingly by an accident, which makes the thing so attractive. ThereвАЩs the red book lying on the opposite seat, bespeaking the vast numbers of their acquaintance. And I particularly admire the aspect of that abundantly daughtered woman on the other sideвБ†вАФI mean her look of unconsciousness that the girls are stared at by the walkers, and above all the look of the girls themselvesвБ†вАФlosing their gaze in the depths of handsome menвАЩs eyes without appearing to notice whether they are observing masculine eyes or the leaves of the trees. ThereвАЩs praise for you. But I am only jesting, childвБ†вАФyou know that.вАЭ + 

вАЬPiphвАСphвАСphвБ†вАФhow warm it is, to be sure!вАЭ said Mr.¬†Swancourt, as if his mind were a long distance from all he saw. вАЬI declare that my watch is so hot that I can scarcely bear to touch it to see what the time is, and all the world smells like the inside of a hat.вАЭ + 

вАЬHow the men stare at you, Elfride!вАЭ said the elder lady. вАЬYou will kill me quite, I am afraid.вАЭ + 

вАЬKill you?вАЭ + 

вАЬAs a diamond kills an opal in the same setting.вАЭ + 

вАЬI have noticed several ladies and gentlemen looking at me,вАЭ said Elfride artlessly, showing her pleasure at being observed. + 

вАЬMy dear, you mustnвАЩt say вАШgentlemenвАЩ nowadays,вАЭ her stepmother answered in the tones of arch concern that so well became her ugliness. вАЬWe have handed over вАШgentlemenвАЩ to the lower middle class, where the word is still to be heard at tradesmenвАЩs balls and provincial tea-parties, I believe. It is done with here.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhat must I say, then?вАЭ + 

вАЬвАКвАШLadies and menвАЩ always.вАЭ + 

At this moment appeared in the stream of vehicles moving in the contrary direction a chariot presenting in its general surface the rich indigo hue of a midnight sky, the wheels and margins being picked out in delicate lines of ultramarine; the servantsвАЩ liveries were dark-blue coats and silver lace, and breeches of neutral Indian red. The whole concern formed an organic whole, and moved along behind a pair of dark chestnut geldings, who advanced in an indifferently zealous trot, very daintily performed, and occasionally shrugged divers points of their veiny surface as if they were rather above the business. + 

In this sat a gentleman with no decided characteristics more than that he somewhat resembled a good-natured commercial traveller of the superior class. Beside him was a lady with skim-milky eyes and complexion, belonging to the вАЬinterestingвАЭ class of women, where that class merges in the sickly, her greatest pleasure being apparently to enjoy nothing. Opposite this pair sat two little girls in white hats and blue feathers. + 

The lady saw Elfride, smiled and bowed, and touched her husbandвАЩs elbow, who turned and received ElfrideвАЩs movement of recognition with a gallant elevation of his hat. Then the two children held up their arms to Elfride, and laughed gleefully. + 

вАЬWho is that?вАЭ + 

вАЬWhy, Lord Luxellian, isnвАЩt it?вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Swancourt, who with the vicar had been seated with her back towards them. + 

вАЬYes,вАЭ replied Elfride. вАЬHe is the one man of those I have seen here whom I consider handsomer than papa.вАЭ + 

вАЬThank you, dear,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Swancourt. + 

вАЬYes; but your father is so much older. When Lord Luxellian gets a little further on in life, he wonвАЩt be half so good-looking as our man.вАЭ + 

вАЬThank you, dear, likewise,вАЭ said Mr.¬†Swancourt. + 

вАЬSee,вАЭ exclaimed Elfride, still looking towards them, вАЬhow those little dears want me! Actually one of them is crying for me to come.вАЭ + 

вАЬWe were talking of bracelets just now. Look at Lady LuxellianвАЩs,вАЭ said Mrs.¬†Swancourt, as that baroness lifted up her arm to support one of the children. вАЬIt is slipping up her armвБ†вАФtoo large by half. I hate to see daylight between a bracelet and a wrist; I wonder women havenвАЩt better taste.вАЭ + 

вАЬIt is not on that account, indeed,вАЭ Elfride expostulated. вАЬIt is that her arm has got thin, poor thing. You cannot think how much she has altered in this last twelvemonth.вАЭ + 

The carriages were now nearer together, and there was an exchange of more familiar greetings between the two families. Then the Luxellians crossed over and drew up under the plane-trees, just in the rear of the Swancourts. Lord Luxellian alighted, and came forward with a musical laugh. + 

It was his attraction as a man. People liked him for those tones, and forgot that he had no talents. Acquaintances remembered Mr.¬†Swancourt by his manner; they remembered Stephen Smith by his face, Lord Luxellian by his laugh. + 

Mr.¬†Swancourt made some friendly remarksвБ†вАФamong others things upon the heat. + 

вАЬYes,вАЭ said Lord Luxellian, вАЬwe were driving by a furrierвАЩs window this afternoon, and the sight filled us all with such a sense of suffocation that we were glad to get away. Ha-ha!вАЭ He turned to Elfride. вАЬMiss Swancourt, I have hardly seen or spoken to you since your literary feat was made public. I had no idea a chiel was taking notes down at quiet Endelstow, or I should certainly have put myself and friends upon our best behaviour. Swancourt, why didnвАЩt you give me a hint!вАЭ + 

Elfride fluttered, blushed, laughed, said it was nothing to speak of, etc. etc. + 

вАЬWell, I think you were rather unfairly treated by The Present; I certainly do. Writing a heavy review like that upon an elegant trifle like The Court of Kellyon Castle was absurd.вАЭ + 

вАЬWhat?вАЭ said Elfride, opening her eyes. вАЬWas I reviewed in The Present?вАЭ + 

вАЬOh yes; didnвАЩt you see it? Why, it was four or five months ago!вАЭ + 

вАЬNo, I never saw it. How sorry I am! What a shame of my publishers! They promised to send me every notice that appeared.вАЭ + 

вАЬAh, then, I am almost afraid I have been giving you disagreeable information, intentionally withheld out of courtesy. Depend upon it they thought no good would come of sending it, and so would not pain you unnecessarily.вАЭ + 

вАЬOh no; I am indeed glad you have told me, Lord Luxellian. It is quite a mistaken kindness on their part. Is the review so much against me?вАЭ she inquired tremulously. + 

вАЬNo, no; not that exactlyвБ†вАФthough I almost forget its exact purport now. It was merelyвБ†вАФmerely sharp, you knowвБ†вАФungenerous, I might say. But really my memory does not enable me to speak decidedly.вАЭ + 

вАЬWeвАЩll drive to The Present office, and get one directly; shall we, papa?вАЭ + 

вАЬIf you are so anxious, dear, we will, or send. But tomorrow will do.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd do oblige me in a little matter now, Elfride,вАЭ said Lord Luxellian warmly, and looking as if he were sorry he had brought news that disturbed her. вАЬI am in reality sent here as a special messenger by my little Polly and Katie to ask you to come into our carriage with them for a short time. I am just going to walk across into Piccadilly, and my wife is left alone with them. I am afraid they are rather spoilt children; but I have half promised them you shall come.вАЭ + 

The steps were let down, and Elfride was transferredвБ†вАФto the intense delight of the little girls, and to the mild interest of loungers with red skins and long necks, who cursorily eyed the performance with their walking-sticks to their lips, occasionally laughing from far down their throats and with their eyes, their mouths not being concerned in the operation at all. Lord Luxellian then told the coachman to drive on, lifted his hat, smiled a smile that missed its mark and alighted on a total stranger, who bowed in bewilderment. Lord Luxellian looked long at Elfride. + 

The look was a manly, open, and genuine look of admiration; a momentary tribute of a kind which any honest Englishman might have paid to fairness without being ashamed of the feeling, or permitting it to encroach in the slightest degree upon his emotional obligations as a husband and head of a family. Then Lord Luxellian turned away, and walked musingly to the upper end of the promenade. + 

Mr.¬†Swancourt had alighted at the same time with Elfride, crossing over to the Row for a few minutes to speak to a friend he recognized there; and his wife was thus left sole tenant of the carriage. + 

Now, whilst this little act had been in course of performance, there stood among the promenading spectators a man of somewhat different description from the rest. Behind the general throng, in the rear of the chairs, and leaning against the trunk of a tree, he looked at Elfride with quiet and critical interest. + 

Three points about this unobtrusive person showed promptly to the exercised eye that he was not a Row man pur sang. First, an irrepressible wrinkle or two in the waist of his frock-coatвБ†вАФdenoting that he had not damned his tailor sufficiently to drive that tradesman up to the orthodox high pressure of cunning workmanship. Second, a slight slovenliness of umbrella, occasioned by its ownerвАЩs habit of resting heavily upon it, and using it as a veritable walking-stick, instead of letting its point touch the ground in the most coquettish of kisses, as is the proper Row manner to do. Third, and chief reason, that try how you might, you could scarcely help supposing, on looking at his face, that your eyes were not far from a well-finished mind, instead of the well-finished skin et praeterea nihil, which is by rights the Mark of the Row. + 

The probability is that, had not Mrs.¬†Swancourt been left alone in her carriage under the tree, this man would have remained in his unobserved seclusion. But seeing her thus, he came round to the front, stooped under the rail, and stood beside the carriage-door. + 

Mrs.¬†Swancourt looked reflectively at him for a quarter of a minute, then held out her hand laughingly: + 

вАЬWhy, Henry KnightвБ†вАФof course it is! MyвБ†вАФsecondвБ†вАФthirdвБ†вАФfourth cousinвБ†вАФwhat shall I say? At any rate, my kinsman.вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, one of a remnant not yet cut off. I scarcely was certain of you, either, from where I was standing.вАЭ + 

вАЬI have not seen you since you first went to Oxford; consider the number of years! You know, I suppose, of my marriage?вАЭ + 

And there sprang up a dialogue concerning family matters of birth, death, and marriage, which it is not necessary to detail. Knight presently inquired: + 

вАЬThe young lady who changed into the other carriage is, then, your stepdaughter?вАЭ + 

вАЬYes, Elfride. You must know her.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd who was the lady in the carriage Elfride entered; who had an ill-defined and watery look, as if she were only the reflection of herself in a pool?вАЭ + 

вАЬLady Luxellian; very weakly, Elfride says. My husband is remotely connected with them; but there is not much intimacy on account ofвБ†вАФ. However, Henry, youвАЩll come and see us, of course. 24 Chevron Square. Come this week. We shall only be in town a week or two longer.вАЭ + 

вАЬLet me see. IвАЩve got to run up to Oxford tomorrow, where I shall be for several days; so that I must, I fear, lose the pleasure of seeing you in London this year.вАЭ + 

вАЬThen come to Endelstow; why not return with us?вАЭ + 

вАЬI am afraid if I were to come before August I should have to leave again in a day or two. I should be delighted to be with you at the beginning of that month; and I could stay a nice long time. I have thought of going westward all the summer.вАЭ + 

вАЬVery well. Now remember thatвАЩs a compact. And wonвАЩt you wait now and see Mr.¬†Swancourt? He will not be away ten minutes longer.вАЭ + 

вАЬNo; IвАЩll beg to be excused; for I must get to my chambers again this evening before I go home; indeed, I ought to have been there nowвБ†вАФI have such a press of matters to attend to just at present. You will explain to him, please. Goodbye.вАЭ + 

вАЬAnd let us know the day of your appearance as soon as you can.вАЭ + 

вАЬI will.вАЭ + 