defence at all.'

'No, it is not that.'

'Never mind, then; for I have a reason for not taking up my old cudgels
against you, Elfie. Can you guess what the reason is?'

'No; but I am glad to hear it,' she said thankfully. 'For it is dreadful
when you talk so. For whatever dreadful name the weakness may deserve,
I must candidly own that I am terrified to think my hair may ever get
thin.'

'Of course; a sensible woman would rather lose her wits than her
beauty.'

'I don't care if you do say satire and judge me cruelly. I know my hair
is beautiful; everybody says so.'

'Why, my dear Miss Swancourt,' he tenderly replied, 'I have not said
anything against it. But you know what is said about handsome being and
handsome doing.'

'Poor Miss Handsome-does cuts but a sorry figure beside Miss Handsome-is
in every man's eyes, your own not excepted, Mr. Knight, though it
pleases you to throw off so,' said Elfride saucily. And lowering her
voice: 'You ought not to have taken so much trouble to save me from
falling over the cliff, for you don't think mine a life worth much
trouble evidently.'

'Perhaps you think mine was not worth yours.'

'It was worth anybody's!'

Her hand was plashing in the little waterfall, and her eyes were bent
the same way.

'You talk about my severity with you, Elfride. You are unkind to me, you
know.'

'How?' she asked, looking up from her idle occupation.

'After my taking trouble to get jewellery to please you, you wouldn't
accept it.'

'Perhaps I would now; perhaps I want to.'

'Do!' said Knight.

And the packet was withdrawn from his pocket and presented the third
time. Elfride took it with delight. The obstacle was rent in twain, and
the significant gift was hers.

'I'll take out these ugly ones at once,' she exclaimed, 'and I'll wear
yours--shall I?'

'I should be gratified.'

Now, though it may seem unlikely, considering how far the two had gone
in converse, Knight had never yet ventured to kiss Elfride. Far slower
was he than Stephen Smith in matters like that. The utmost advance he
had made in such demonstrations had been to the degree witnessed by
Stephen in the summer-house. So Elfride's cheek being still forbidden
fruit to him, he said impulsively.

'Elfie, I should like to touch that seductive ear of yours. Those are my
gifts; so let me dress you in them.'

She hesitated with a stimulating hesitation.

'Let me put just one in its place, then?'

Her face grew mu