not to execute the
threats you have repeated to me. Do not, I beseech you, Mrs. Jethway,
let any one know I ran away from home! It would ruin me with him, and
break my heart. I will do anything for you, if you will be kind to
me. In the name of our common womanhood, do not, I implore you, make a
scandal of me.--Yours, E. SWANCOURT.'

She folded the note cornerwise, directed it, and placed it on the table.
Then again drawing the hood over her curly head she emerged silently as
she had come.

Whilst this episode had been in action at Mrs. Jethway's cottage, Knight
had gone from the dining-room into the drawing-room, and found Mrs.
Swancourt there alone.

'Elfride has vanished upstairs or somewhere,' she said.

'And I have been reading an article in an old number of the PRESENT that
I lighted on by chance a short time ago; it is an article you once told
us was yours. Well, Harry, with due deference to your literary powers,
allow me to say that this effusion is all nonsense, in my opinion.'

'What is it about?' said Knight, taking up the paper and reading.

'There: don't get red about it. Own that experience has taught you to
be more charitable. I have never read such unchivalrous sentiments in my
life--from a man, I mean. There, I forgive you; it was before you knew
Elfride.'

'Oh yes,' said Knight, looking up. 'I remember now. The text of that
sermon was not my own at all, but was suggested to me by a young man
named Smith--the same whom I have mentioned to you as coming from this
parish. I thought the idea rather ingenious at the time, and enlarged it
to the weight of a few guineas, because I had nothing else in my head.'

'Which idea do you call the text? I am curious to know that.'

'Well, this,' said Knight, somewhat unwillingly. 'That experience
teaches, and your sweetheart, no less than your tailor, is necessarily
very imperfect in her duties, if you are her first patron: and
conversely, the sweetheart who is graceful under the initial kiss must
be supposed to have had some practice in the trade.'

'And do you mean to say that you wrote that upon the strength of another
man's remark, without having tested it by practice?'

'Yes--indeed I do.'

'Then I think it was uncalled for and unfair. And how do you know it is
true? I expect you regret it now.'

'Since you bring me into a serious mood, I will speak candidly. I do
believe that remark to be perfectly true, and, having written it, I
would defend i