On reaching home after the perilous adventure by the sea-shore,
Knight had felt unwell, and retired almost immediately. The young
lady who had so materially assisted him had done the same, but she
reappeared, properly clothed, about five o'clock. She wandered
restlessly about the house, but not on account of their joint
narrow escape from death. The storm which had torn the tree had
merely bowed the reed, and with the deliverance of Knight all deep
thought of the accident had left her. The mutual avowal which it
had been the means of precipitating occupied a far longer length
of her meditations.
Elfride's disquiet now was on account of that miserable promise to
meet Stephen, which returned like a spectre again and again. The
perception of his littleness beside Knight grew upon her
alarmingly. She now thought how sound had been her father's
advice to her to give him up, and was as passionately desirous of
following it as she had hitherto been averse. Perhaps there is
nothing more hardening to the tone of young minds than thus to
discover how their dearest and strongest wishes become gradually
attuned by Time the Cynic to the very note of some selfish policy
which in earlier days they despised.
The hour of appointment came, and with it a crisis; and with the
crisis a collapse.
'God forgive me--I can't meet Stephen!' she exclaimed to herself.
'I don't love him less, but I love Mr.
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