That is pure and generous, I know; and
having that, how can I be cold to you?'
'And shall nothing else affect us--shall nothing beyond my nature
be a part of my quality in your eyes, Elfie?'
'Nothing whatever,' she said with a breath of relief. 'Is that
all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?'
'You can hardly judge, dear, till you know what has to be judged.
For that, we will stop till we get home. I believe in you, but I
cannot feel bright.'
'Love is new, and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. As
the lover's world goes, this is a great deal. Stephen, I fancy I
see the difference between me and you--between men and women
generally, perhaps. I am content to build happiness on any
accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a
world to suit your happiness.'
'Elfride, you sometimes say things which make you seem suddenly to
become five years older than you are, or than I am; and that
remark is one. I couldn't think so OLD as that, try how I
might....And no lover has ever kissed you before?'
'Never.'
'I knew that; you were so unused. You ride well, but you don't
kiss nicely at all; and I was told once, by my friend Knight, that
that is an excellent fault in woman.'
'Now, come; I must mount again, or we shall not be home by dinner-
time.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. 'Instead
of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm,' she
continued gaily, 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the
villagers call it), in the form of a gate.
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