ght
from itself to Elfride and Knight, and coating them with rays in a few
minutes. The inferior dignitaries of the shore--Froward Point, Berry
Head, and Prawle--all had acquired their share of the illumination ere
this, and at length the very smallest protuberance of wave, cliff, or
inlet, even to the innermost recesses of the lovely valley of the Dart,
had its portion; and sunlight, now the common possession of all, ceased
to be the wonderful and coveted thing it had been a short half hour
before.

After breakfast, Plymouth arose into view, and grew distincter to their
nearing vision, the Breakwater appearing like a streak of phosphoric
light upon the surface of the sea. Elfride looked furtively around for
Mrs. Jethway, but could discern no shape like hers. Afterwards, in the
bustle of landing, she looked again with the same result, by which time
the woman had probably glided upon the quay unobserved. Expanding with
a sense of relief, Elfride waited whilst Knight looked to their luggage,
and then saw her father approaching through the crowd, twirling his
walking-stick to catch their attention. Elbowing their way to him they
all entered the town, which smiled as sunny a smile upon Elfride as it
had done between one and two years earlier, when she had entered it at
precisely the same hour as the bride-elect of Stephen Smith.

Chapter XXX

'Vassal unto Love.'

Elfride clung closer to Knight as day succeeded day. Whatever else might
admit of question, there could be no dispute that the allegiance she
bore him absorbed her whole soul and existence. A greater than Stephen
had arisen, and she had left all to follow him.

The unreserved girl was never chary of letting her lover discover how
much she admired him. She never once held an idea in opposition to
any one of his, or insisted on any point with him, or showed any
independence, or held her own on any subject. His lightest whim she
respected and obeyed as law, and if, expressing her opinion on a matter,
he took up the subject and differed from her, she instantly threw
down her own opinion as wrong and untenable. Even her ambiguities and
espieglerie were but media of the same manifestation; acted charades,
embodying the words of her prototype, the tender and susceptible
daughter-in-law of Naomi: 'Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for
that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto
thine handmaid.'

She was syringing the