'On my return, sir, will you kindly grant me a few minutes' private conversation ?' 'Certainly.

Though antecedently it does not seem possible that there can be anything of the nature of private business between us.' Mr.Swancourt put on his straw hat, crossed the drawing-room, into which the moonlight was shining, and stepped out of the French window into the verandah.

It required no further effort to perceive what, indeed, reasoning might have foretold as the natural colour of a mind whose pleasures were taken amid genealogies, good dinners, and patrician reminiscences, that Mr.Swancourt's prejudices were too strong for his generosity, and that Stephen's moments as his friend and equal were numbered, or had even now ceased.
Stephen moved forward as if he would follow the vicar, then as if he would not, and in absolute perplexity whither to turn himself, went awkwardly to the door.

Elfride followed lingeringly behind him.

Before he had receded two yards from the doorstep, Unity and Ann the housemaid came home from their visit to the village.
'Have you heard anything about John Smith?
The accident is not so bad as was reported, is it ?' said Elfride intuitively.
'Oh no; the doctor says it is only a bad bruise.' 'I thought so!' cried Elfride gladly.
'He says that, although Nat believes he did not check the beetle as it came down, he must have done so without knowing it--checked it very considerably too; for the full blow would have knocked his hand abroad, and in reality it is only made black-and-blue like.' 'How thankful I am!' said Stephen.
The perplexed Unity looked at him with her mouth rather than with her eyes.
'That will do, Unity,' said Elfride magisterially; and the two maids passed on.
'Elfride, do you forgive me ?' said Stephen with a faint smile.