.

'Elfride, when shall we be married?'

The words were sweet to her; but there was a bitter in the sweet. These
newly-overt acts of his, which had culminated in this plain question,
coming on the very day of Mrs. Jethway's blasting reproaches, painted
distinctly her fickleness as an enormity. Loving him in secret had not
seemed such thorough-going inconstancy as the same love recognized and
acted upon in the face of threats. Her distraction was interpreted by
him at her side as the outward signs of an unwonted experience.

'I don't press you for an answer now, darling,' he said, seeing she was
not likely to give a lucid reply. 'Take your time.'

Knight was as honourable a man as was ever loved and deluded by
woman. It may be said that his blindness in love proved the point,
for shrewdness in love usually goes with meanness in general. Once the
passion had mastered him, the intellect had gone for naught. Knight, as
a lover, was more single-minded and far simpler than his friend Stephen,
who in other capacities was shallow beside him.

Without saying more on the subject of their marriage, Knight held her at
arm's length, as if she had been a large bouquet, and looked at her with
critical affection.

'Does your pretty gift become me?' she inquired, with tears of
excitement on the fringes of her eyes.

'Undoubtedly, perfectly!' said her lover, adopting a lighter tone to put
her at her ease. 'Ah, you should see them; you look shinier than ever.
Fancy that I have been able to improve you!'

'Am I really so nice? I am glad for your sake. I wish I could see
myself.'

'You can't. You must wait till we get home.'

'I shall never be able,' she said, laughing. 'Look: here's a way.'

'So there is. Well done, woman's wit!'

'Hold me steady!'

'Oh yes.'

'And don't let me fall, will you?'

'By no means.'

Below their seat the thread of water paused to spread out into a smooth
small pool. Knight supported her whilst she knelt down and leant over
it.

'I can see myself. Really, try as religiously as I will, I cannot help
admiring my appearance in them.'

'Doubtless. How can you be so fond of finery? I believe you are
corrupting me into a taste for it. I used to hate every such thing
before I knew you.'

'I like ornaments, because I want people to admire what you possess, and
envy you, and say, "I wish I was he."'

'I suppose I ought not to object after that. And how much longer are you
going to look in there