Footsteps were heard. Mr. Swancourt then entered the room, and
their private colloquy ended.
The day after this partial revelation, Mr. Swancourt proposed a
drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay, a distance of three or four
miles.
Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the
back yard, and presently Worm came in, saying partly to the world
in general, part]y to himself, and slightly to his auditors:
'Ay, ay, sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William
Worm. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz, fizz,
fizz!'
'Your head bad again, Worm?' said Mr. Swancourt. 'What was that
noise we heard in the yard?'
'Ay, sir, a weak wambling man am I; and the frying have been going
on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as
usual; and I was so dazed wi' it that down fell a piece of leg-
wood across the shaft of the pony-shay, and splintered it off.
"Ay," says I, "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've
done it, and parish pay is my lot if I go from here, perhaps I am
as independent as one here and there."'
'Dear me, the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. She
was disappointed: Stephen doubly so. The vicar showed more warmth
of temper than the accident seemed to demand, much to Stephen's
uneasiness and rather to his surprise. He had not supposed so
much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. Swancourt's
frankness and good-nature.
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