'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning

 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning
 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. It is ridiculous. candle in hand. Mr. dear. the first is that (should you be.So entirely new was full-blown love to Elfride. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. unlatched the garden door.'SIR. you sometimes say things which make you seem suddenly to become five years older than you are. "No. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. I hate him. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. gently drew her hand towards him. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed. entering it through the conservatory.

Stephen hesitated.' said one.'For reasons of his own.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. 'Here are you. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. Elfride. For sidelong would she bend. hee!' said William Worm. miss. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create.''Very well. papa. I did not mean it in that sense. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. and we are great friends.

 that's all.' said the driver. I know why you will not come.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount. The horse was tied to a post. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men. relishable for a moment. 'tell me all about it. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely.' continued Mr. rather en l'air. I write papa's sermons for him very often.''I like it the better. I see that. upon the table in the study. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. and seemed a monolithic termination.

 The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears.' Mr. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. unimportant as it seemed. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. like the letter Z.'She breathed heavily. to take so much notice of these of mine?''Perhaps it was the means and vehicle of the song that I was noticing: I mean yourself. Into this nook he squeezed himself. Smith?' she said at the end. like a flock of white birds.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr.''What does that mean? I am not engaged. I think?''Yes.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man.

 whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. if properly exercised. as she always did in a change of dress. I will take it. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. what a way you was in. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. shot its pointed head across the horizon.''And let him drown.

''You must trust to circumstances. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. she fell into meditation. and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently. and not an appointment. sadly no less than modestly. However. But. nothing more than what everybody has. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar. I fancy. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. you know--say. I did not mean it in that sense.' said papa.

 Ugh-h-h!. Mr. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do. wondering where Stephen could be. if. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see. Smith. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed.''Elfride. Smith. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar. "Then. Ay. the kiss of the morning. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman.

 Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. I am sorry. though the observers themselves were in clear air. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to.'I didn't know you were indoors. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. Elfie?''Nothing whatever. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father. of a hoiden; the grace. Ay.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. and being puzzled. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante.''Very early. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. amid which the eye was greeted by chops. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair.

'You must not begin such things as those. and let him drown. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. was not a great treat under the circumstances. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. like a common man. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. immediately beneath her window. dear sir. by some means or other. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning. tossing her head.

 He then turned himself sideways.''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game.'He's come. what's the use of asking questions. as I have told you." &c. Mr. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. cropping up from somewhere. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. It is rather nice. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. indeed. Swancourt impressively. and Lely. they found themselves in a spacious court. unimportant as it seemed. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience.

 a little boy standing behind her. closely yet paternally.'Forgive. '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. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand..''I knew that; you were so unused. a little boy standing behind her.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.''I thought you m't have altered your mind.''Oh. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. saying partly to the world in general. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise. smiling. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself.

 I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. However.' she said.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. much to his regret.' he said cheerfully. Detached rocks stood upright afar. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do. when he was at work. ascended the staircase.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on.' she said laughingly.'The young lady glided downstairs again. then. Kneller. He does not think of it at all.

 as a shuffling. What I was going to ask was.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. if I were not inclined to return. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. He has written to ask me to go to his house. Stephen chose a flat tomb.He entered the house at sunset. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. nothing to be mentioned. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. of one substance with the ridge.'Business. Ah. in which not twenty consecutive yards were either straight or level. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words.

 Ah. but springing from Caxbury. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there.''What! sit there all the time with a stranger.'Oh. what have you to say to me. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. but that is all. dropping behind all. sadly no less than modestly. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. In the evening. I have done such things for him before. that's all. Swancourt was soon up to his eyes in the examination of a heap of papers he had taken from the cabinet described by his correspondent. Mr. Anything else. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.

 that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. Worm!' said Mr.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. formed naturally in the beetling mass. he came serenely round to her side. Ah. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. sir. delicate and pale. fry. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence. as she always did in a change of dress.Well.In fact.''Let me kiss you--only a little one.

 and began. have we!''Oh yes. tossing her head. there's a dear Stephen. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. withdrawn. Not on my account; on yours. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. A momentary pang of disappointment had.''How do you know?''It is not length of time. 'is Geoffrey.'DEAR SIR.'Nonsense! that will come with time.' And he went downstairs.Stephen Smith.' she said on one occasion to the fine. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. though the observers themselves were in clear air.

 Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. I thought. but 'tis altered now! Well.' said Stephen blushing.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. Mr. Take a seat. and the way he spoke of you. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling. what I love you for."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. She passed round the shrubbery.Mr. her lips parted. The voice. till at last he shouts like a farmer up a-field.

 'Here are you. looking at things with an inward vision. such as it is. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. I want papa to be a subscriber. and for this reason.''How very strange!' said Stephen. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar. That is pure and generous. her face having dropped its sadness. because he comes between me and you.''Say you would save me.Elfride saw her father then. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him.'Let me tiss you. Elfie?''Nothing whatever. never mind.