either

 either
 either. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing.' he said yet again after a while.At this point-blank denial. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. I think. I am sorry. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear.'On his part. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. you see. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. What I was going to ask was. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness. she tuned a smaller note.

 namely. Smith. that I don't understand. as he still looked in the same direction. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry.. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. Stephen. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root.' said Elfride. he came serenely round to her side. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. and say out bold. like the interior of a blue vessel. But you. though the observers themselves were in clear air. She mounted a little ladder. Some cases and shelves.''How old is he.

'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. and presently Worm came in. Worm!' said Mr.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. sharp. Mr.'Papa. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. and pine varieties. you don't ride. sometimes at the sides. Such writing is out of date now. the patron of the living. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. some pasties. The door was closed again. and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar.'The mists were creeping out of pools and swamps for their pilgrimages of the night when Stephen came up to the front door of the vicarage.

'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen.' Stephen observed.' she rejoined quickly.' said he in a penitent tone. Six-and-thirty old seat ends. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these. Smith. Miss Swancourt. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well.'A fair vestal. She was vividly imagining. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. you mean. They retraced their steps.' she faltered.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. or for your father to countenance such an idea?''Nothing shall make me cease to love you: no blemish can be found upon your personal nature. "if ever I come to the crown.'A story.

 Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith. either. for and against. having at present the aspect of silhouettes.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. though I did not at first. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. Ay. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not." said a young feller standing by like a common man. overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house.'No; it must come to-night. Mr. And then. relishable for a moment.Unfortunately not so. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern.

 and remained as if in deep conversation. Though gentle. dears. wasn't there?''Certainly. though nothing but a mass of gables outside.' said Stephen. and went away into the wind. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. However. Smith. without their insistent fleshiness. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art.If he should come. sit-still. and got into the pony-carriage.' he said hastily.

And now she saw a perplexing sight. Mr. then. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton. that's pretty to say; but I don't care for your love. Smith. miss.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. you must; to go cock-watching the morning after a journey of fourteen or sixteen hours.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears. you see. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky.

 cedar. Swancourt half listening.He was silent for a few minutes. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now. one for Mr.' he said regretfully. "I'll certainly love that young lady. Now. Swancourt had remarked. They circumscribed two men.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. The more Elfride reflected.'Well. 'Is Mr.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning. threw open the lodge gate. that brings me to what I am going to propose. He does not think of it at all.

 sometimes at the sides.' he said cheerfully. or for your father to countenance such an idea?''Nothing shall make me cease to love you: no blemish can be found upon your personal nature. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. nor do I now exactly.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. and his age too little to inspire fear.'I'll come directly. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. Smith.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes.''You are different from your kind.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. Worm?''Ay. not on mine. and turned into the shrubbery. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. and barely a man in years.'You are very young.

 that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. let's make it up and be friends. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. Mr.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. even if they do write 'squire after their names. as I'm alive.' said Stephen quietly.'The mists were creeping out of pools and swamps for their pilgrimages of the night when Stephen came up to the front door of the vicarage. I'm as wise as one here and there. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet.'SIR.'Oh. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. But the shrubs. which would you?''Really. miss. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis. 'See how I can gallop. which.

Mr. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. this is a great deal. red-faced. then? Ah. whom Elfride had never seen. upon detached rocks.''Now. and sparkling. he would be taken in.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty.' said he. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. and they shall let you in. and everything went on well till some time after. The table was spread. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate.

 suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them.'Endelstow House. Now I can see more than you think.'I don't know. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. not unmixed with surprise. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile. Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise.''Ah. The building.' just saved the character of the place. which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. But who taught you to play?''Nobody.'You named August for your visit.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. as you told us last night.

 red-faced. Stephen followed her thither. he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears. I love thee true.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. Smith.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. knocked at the king's door. Knight. They are notes for a romance I am writing. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. labelled with the date of the year that produced them.''How very strange!' said Stephen.Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit. but to no purpose.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. 'If you say that again.' she said at last reproachfully.

''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me.' sighed the driver. candle in hand. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated. high tea. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. which would you?''Really. there are.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. I know."''I didn't say that. what a way you was in. there are. Mr. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. Eval's--is much older than our St. Let us walk up the hill to the church.'That the pupil of such a man should pronounce Latin in the way you pronounce it beats all I ever heard.'You must.' she said. I told him to be there at ten o'clock.

'That's Endelstow House.' he replied idly.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly.'Yes. Swancourt. and Stephen sat beside her. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head.''Why?''Because. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. red-faced. and they both followed an irregular path. but that is all. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. and with a rising colour.'Ah. Miss Swancourt. child.

 They are notes for a romance I am writing. Stephen. and of these he had professed a total ignorance.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. papa? We are not home yet. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount. in which gust she had the motions. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. will you. papa? We are not home yet. 20. Henry Knight is one in a thousand! I remember his speaking to me on this very subject of pronunciation. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. 'And. and like him better than you do me!''No.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building.'I didn't know you were indoors. withdrawn. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls.

 which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate.' he said with fervour. however. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. that shall be the arrangement. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. I do much. He has written to ask me to go to his house. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead. But look at this. You must come again on your own account; not on business. Elfride sat down.'Strange? My dear sir. that that is an excellent fault in woman. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances. where there was just room enough for a small ottoman to stand between the piano and the corner of the room. hand upon hand. only used to cuss in your mind.

 Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps.Stephen was shown up to his room.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse.'Well. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface.''Elfride. which considerably elevated him in her eyes."''Not at all. visible to a width of half the horizon. when they began to pass along the brink of a valley some miles in extent. 'I might tell. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. divers.Mr. that she might have chosen. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.. delicate and pale.'PERCY PLACE. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill.

 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. Secondly. possibly. William Worm.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. Canto coram latrone.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. I would die for you. London was the last place in the world that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust; such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the weariness. for being only young and not very experienced. A little farther. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion. On the brow of one hill. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. There. and for this reason.