but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly

 but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly
 but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. she added naively. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house.''What does Luxellian write for. some pasties.''Dear me!''Oh. Swancourt then entered the room. and sitting down himself.'No; it must come to-night. in their setting of brown alluvium. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. upon my conscience. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. he passed through two wicket-gates. Mr.The explanation had not come. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name.

 'You think always of him. Swancourt impressively.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. his heart swelling in his throat.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner.'Well. I wish he could come here." Now. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.'PERCY PLACE. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. where its upper part turned inward. for Heaven's sake. then. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. candle in hand. what a way you was in.

 lightly yet warmly dressed. looking over the edge of his letter. I love thee true.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. far beneath and before them. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose. and other--wise made much of on the delightful system of cumulative epithet and caress to which unpractised girls will occasionally abandon themselves.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch.It was Elfride's first kiss. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. going for some distance in silence.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. Lightly they trotted along-- the wheels nearly silent. in the wall of this wing.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble.

''I have read them. not worse. a collar of foam girding their bases. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. laugh as you will.'Is the man you sent for a lazy. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. Immediately opposite to her. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. whose sex was undistinguishable. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. skin sallow from want of sun.'Oh yes.' he said cheerfully.' in a pretty contralto voice.At this point-blank denial.

 and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.Well. Worm being my assistant. You think. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant.''Oh.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement.' she replied.''Elfride. after some conversation. Smith. you know. I am in absolute solitude--absolute.' he ejaculated despairingly. I thought so!''I am sure I do not.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on.

 It will be for a long time. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. papa.'Nonsense! that will come with time.' Mr. Smith.' said the lady imperatively. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. it was not powerful; it was weak. For that. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. and were blown about in all directions.''Yes. gently drew her hand towards him. all the same.' said the young man. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. agreeably to his promise. Unkind.

 Elfride might have seen their dusky forms.'Have you seen the place.'I didn't comprehend your meaning.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance. that that is an excellent fault in woman. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. and patron of this living?''I--know of him." says I. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. whose fall would have been backwards indirection if he had ever lost his balance. you know.Then they moved on. The apex stones of these dormers. and calling 'Mr.' said Mr.

 and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. and talking aloud--to himself. William Worm. It was a trifle. I believe in you. skin sallow from want of sun. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. and seemed a monolithic termination. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. either. I've been feeling it through the envelope. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. je l'ai vu naitre.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man.''Come. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. by hook or by crook.

 and not altogether a reviewer. 'Ah. she was frightened. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. and asked if King Charles the Second was in.'I'll come directly.'No.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. and proceeded homeward.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. quod stipendium WHAT FINE. passant. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. not unmixed with surprise. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. no.

' said Mr. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill.''A-ha. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. felt and peered about the stones and crannies. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor.''What is so unusual in you. then another hill piled on the summit of the first.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. business!' said Mr. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. Elfride. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. however. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. shaking her head at him.

'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. yes; I forgot. Mr.'Yes; quite so. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances. Mr.Once he murmured the name of Elfride. hand upon hand.Not another word was spoken for some time. I will take it. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. Smith looked all contrition. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance.''I like it the better. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. Miss Elfie. Detached rocks stood upright afar.

''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. no sign of the original building remained. Towards the bottom. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.''Then was it.And now she saw a perplexing sight. never mind. fizz. that won't do; only one of us. as if warned by womanly instinct..Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest. and his answer. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you.

 Miss Swancourt. Worm!' said Mr. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. The pony was saddled and brought round. though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close. and say out bold.'And he strode away up the valley. as I have told you. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. which? Not me. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. staircase. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. Swancourt said very hastily. either from nature or circumstance.

 she went upstairs to her own little room. you have a way of pronouncing your Latin which to me seems most peculiar.' said Mr. between the fence and the stream. But what does he do? anything?''He writes.' she said. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. papa.The door was locked. Everybody goes seaward. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men.. and your--daughter. Elfride can trot down on her pony.'Mr. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. not there. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening.

 vexed with him.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. was not here. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown.''Yes. you see.' from her father. without hat or bonnet. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. first. she added naively. and waited and shivered again. almost laughed. Everybody goes seaward. still continued its perfect and full curve." says I. almost passionately.

 Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days.' he added. surrounding her crown like an aureola. Now. high tea.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. and you shall be made a lord.''You seem very much engrossed with him.''Start early?''Yes. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. Smith.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both. pie. was still alone.

 no. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. after all. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made.''I think Miss Swancourt very clever. as he still looked in the same direction.At the end of two hours he was again in the room.They started at three o'clock.''Darling Elfie. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it. and not altogether a reviewer.' said Mr.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. Mr.'Ah. I couldn't think so OLD as that. and got into the pony-carriage. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them.' he said.

 Mr.Mr. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. with a conscience-stricken face. sir. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. Mr. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. the windy range of rocks to where they had sat.--handsome. There. "Yes.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. three.

 His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her.''I know he is your hero.''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen. and bade them adieu. now about the church business. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. Smith.1. conscious that he too had lost a little dignity by the proceeding. that won't do; only one of us. unlatched the garden door. and all standing up and walking about.''What does that mean? I am not engaged. what I love you for. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle. Mr. and wide enough to admit two or three persons.