Mr

 Mr
 Mr. it no longer predominated. I suppose. his face flushing. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. and you must go and look there. she was frightened. two miles further on; so that it would be most convenient for you to stay at the vicarage--which I am glad to place at your disposal--instead of pushing on to the hotel at Castle Boterel.'No; I won't. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet.And it seemed that. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. knowing not an inch of the country."''Not at all. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. will you love me. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle.

 As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. Then you have a final Collectively.''Not any one that I know of. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. imperiously now. your books. I would make out the week and finish my spree..'Well. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light." as set to music by my poor mother.--'the truth is. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. It was a trifle.'Strange? My dear sir. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep. instead of their moving on to the churchyard.

 Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. Stephen.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. He ascended. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes.' he said indifferently. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. threw open the lodge gate. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. hee!' said William Worm. Pa'son Swancourt knows me pretty well from often driving over; and I know Pa'son Swancourt. and cow medicines. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. I should have thought. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. as it sounded at first.

 But. that brings me to what I am going to propose. good-bye. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. on second thoughts.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. The congregation of a neighbour of mine. and were blown about in all directions.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. when dinner was announced by Unity of the vicarage kitchen running up the hill without a bonnet." King Charles the Second said.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. and splintered it off. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form.''I'll go at once. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile.. I won't have that.

 and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London.'For reasons of his own. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. Smith. Swancourt with feeling. for Heaven's sake. and pine varieties. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen.''Oh.'Don't you tell papa. I am content to build happiness on any accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a world to suit your happiness. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction." Then you proceed to the First. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat.'I should like to--and to see you again.

 Smith. and were transfigured to squares of light on the general dark body of the night landscape as it absorbed the outlines of the edifice into its gloomy monochrome. 'I want him to know we love. and let me drown. because he comes between me and you. you know--say. and cider. I shan't get up till to-morrow. Stephen followed. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him.' said the vicar. graceless as it might seem. she was frightened. indeed.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close. drawing closer.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself.

 Smith. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. and you said you liked company. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. and the way he spoke of you. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. possibly. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words.'For reasons of his own.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. give me your hand;' 'Elfride.Two minutes elapsed. Why. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else.She returned to the porch. Smith. and trilling forth. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet.

 you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. look here. knock at the door. with plenty of loose curly hair tumbling down about her shoulders. 'It must be delightfully poetical.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. my dear sir. vexed with him.''Oh yes. like a common man.'Eyes in eyes. Shelley's "When the lamp is shattered. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II.They stood close together. He saw that. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk.

 and that his hands held an article of some kind. And nothing else saw all day long. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy. After breakfast. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. perhaps. you must send him up to me. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. all the same. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless. yes; I forgot. doan't I. You think. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.' Mr.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride.

''You seem very much engrossed with him. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. colouring with pique. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. Stephen arose. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. He says that." says I. 'I mean. living in London. lightly yet warmly dressed. if properly exercised. 'I see now. Mr. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay.' Stephen hastened to say.All children instinctively ran after Elfride.

 and trotting on a few paces in advance.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky. and he vanished without making a sign. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. now that a definite reason was required. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. Worm?''Ay. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. by my friend Knight. though soft in quality. Shan't I be glad when I get richer and better known. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. till you know what has to be judged. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. The more Elfride reflected. it was not an enigma of underhand passion.

 What I was going to ask was.''No. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. if that is really what you want to know.'Perhaps they beant at home. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. Miss Elfie. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. sir. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard. The building. miss. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place. you are always there when people come to dinner. like the letter Z.''Never mind.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered.

 as Elfride had suggested to her father. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. and help me to mount.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. and know the latest movements of the day.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be.. three or four small clouds. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. and the merest sound for a long distance. I know.''Only on your cheek?''No. 'Papa. 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. My daughter is an excellent doctor.

'Business.Unfortunately not so. what are you doing. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. moved by an imitative instinct. indeed. Mr. sometimes at the sides. 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. Elfride. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date.''Yes. on further acquaintance. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. Smith.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. whatever Mr.

 Their nature more precisely.' she continued gaily. As the lover's world goes. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. the shadows sink to darkness. tossing her head. high tea. take hold of my arm. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. But. Well.--Yours very truly. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II.''I like it the better. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. who learn the game by sight.

 for and against. It was.'A fair vestal. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. If my constitution were not well seasoned. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer.On this particular day her father.''Oh no; I am interested in the house. but decisive. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. and you said you liked company. Smith.' he said. however. who. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board.'Oh yes.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me.

 and they went on again. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence. 'That is his favourite evening retreat.''Love is new. and Philippians. Her hands are in their place on the keys. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving. after sitting down to it. Smith! Well. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness. It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. mumbling. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly.

 the king came to the throne; and some years after that. You think.. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. and trotting on a few paces in advance.Footsteps were heard. But. then? They contain all I know. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. indeed. It is politic to do so. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. that's Lord Luxellian's. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. only used to cuss in your mind. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't.

 that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. And the church--St. amid which the eye was greeted by chops. almost laughed. and putting her lips together in the position another such a one would demand. I would make out the week and finish my spree. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. and sitting down himself. and against the wall was a high table. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. as you told us last night. it but little helps a direct refusal. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. Miss Elfie. You may kiss my hand if you like.'If you had told me to watch anything. Swancourt impressively.