The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender, which explained that why she had seen no rays from the window was because the candles had only just been lighted.
'I'll come directly,' said the vicar.

'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr.Smith.' Even the inexperienced Elfride could not help thinking that her father must be wonderfully blind if he failed to perceive what was the nascent consequence of herself and Stephen being so unceremoniously left together; wonderfully careless, if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good, if, as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition, he saw it and thought about it and approved of it.

These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch, silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight, that had begun to creep through the trees.
'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn ?' she asked abruptly, almost passionately.
'Kiss on the lawn ?' 'Yes!' she said, imperiously now.
'I didn't comprehend your meaning, nor do I now exactly.

I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn, if that is really what you want to know, Elfride.' 'You know nothing about such a performance ?' 'Nothing whatever.

What makes you ask ?' 'Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance.