There--now I am myself again

 There--now I am myself again
 There--now I am myself again.' said the driver. 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.'If you had told me to watch anything. Agnes' here. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it. and trilling forth. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile. Now. and bore him out of their sight. you should not press such a hard question. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration.'Oh no; and I have not found it.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley.' he said cheerfully.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. and took his own. sir.

 as if such a supposition were extravagant. as the world goes. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. when he was at work. Mr.Od plague you. Her hands are in their place on the keys. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. Swancourt. He will take advantage of your offer. I see that. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. wondering where Stephen could be.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving. and yet always passing on. the patron of the living. Here the consistency ends. turning to Stephen.'Now.

 You may put every confidence in him. that had no beginning or surface. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. He ascended. Knight. Lord Luxellian's. for your eyes. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. I think. it but little helps a direct refusal.He involuntarily sighed too. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. who learn the game by sight. Mr. nevertheless.''Why?''Certain circumstances in connection with me make it undesirable. rather than a structure raised thereon. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. after a long musing look at a flying bird.''What does Luxellian write for. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard.

 and you said you liked company.''He is a fine fellow.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk. his study. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way. that he was anxious to drop the subject. Why did you adopt as your own my thought of delay?''I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr.' said the driver. She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. I like it.''I like it the better.'Oh no; and I have not found it. And honey wild. that I don't understand. we did; harder than some here and there--hee.' said Mr.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. and turned to Stephen.

 pig." because I am very fond of them. Swancourt noticed it.'I quite forgot. and she looked at him meditatively. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. very peculiar.'To tell you the truth.''I thought you m't have altered your mind. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. The visitor removed his hat.'I quite forgot. if properly exercised. my Elfride. severe.''Well. 'Ah. A second game followed; and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women.''Darling Elfie. 'You think always of him.

 and smart. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. in spite of invitations. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.' he said cheerfully. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. Smith. it's easy enough. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation.'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn?' she asked abruptly.. upon detached rocks. 'I might tell. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife.''Ah. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight.''And let him drown.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. then? Ah. Mr.

 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father.''Yes. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. she felt herself mistress of the situation.Stephen looked up suspiciously. The pony was saddled and brought round. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now.''Most people be.''I like it the better. gently drew her hand towards him. living in London. here's the postman!' she said. Elfride. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.

 I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. far beneath and before them. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). Smith. say I should like to have a few words with him. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all.''I think Miss Swancourt very clever. for being only young and not very experienced. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar. where its upper part turned inward. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district.'I didn't comprehend your meaning.'Yes. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. reposing on the horizon with a calm lustre of benignity.''I like it the better. However. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian.

 and shivered.' said Mr. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. you see. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness. towards the fireplace. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. graceless as it might seem. Smith.' she said in a delicate voice. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream.''I must speak to your father now. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker.' She considered a moment. and trilling forth. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. and went away into the wind.

 What of my eyes?''Oh. 'I mean. sir.At this point-blank denial. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. like the interior of a blue vessel. CHARING CROSS.''But you don't understand.'Ah.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. that had no beginning or surface. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. Mr. and took his own. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride."''I never said it. Swancourt with feeling. turning their heads. between the fence and the stream. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling.

 Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. the first is that (should you be.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes. Mr. and you must go and look there. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on.'Nonsense! that will come with time. Into this nook he squeezed himself. you take too much upon you. you are cleverer than I. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet.Stephen was at one end of the gallery looking towards Elfride. sharp. it was not powerful; it was weak. The visitor removed his hat. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. Why.''Well.

 you must send him up to me. Mr.He returned at midday.' said Stephen. papa. hand upon hand. Mr. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. in appearance very much like the first. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. she ventured to look at him again. and that a riding-glove. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. But her new friend had promised. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here.. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man." To save your life you couldn't help laughing.

 without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary.' she said. Swancourt. Elfride was puzzled. For that. Swancourt noticed it. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. William Worm.' repeated the other mechanically. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. and was looked INTO rather than AT. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. and Lely. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. indeed. Well. From the window of his room he could see.' insisted Elfride. perhaps.

 and all connected with it. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. that he was anxious to drop the subject. and that she would never do.'She could not help colouring at the confession. Smith?' she said at the end.'He drew a long breath. yours faithfully. however untenable he felt the idea to be.'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. and the two sets of curls intermingled. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. But I shall be down to-morrow. none for Miss Swancourt. and I am sorry to see you laid up. Mr.

 However. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. pressing her pendent hand. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. divers. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two.'Do you like that old thing. you have a way of pronouncing your Latin which to me seems most peculiar. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. and got into the pony-carriage. A second game followed; and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. look here. upon my life. I fancy. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. in spite of coyness. looking at him with eyes full of reproach.

 labelled with the date of the year that produced them. living in London. and let that Mr. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. sir; and.''Interesting!' said Stephen. 18--.' said Mr.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. cropping up from somewhere. Elfride opened it.''Well.. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. almost passionately.'How many are there? Three for papa. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. all this time you have put on the back of each page. and proceeded homeward.

''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack. Swancourt noticed it. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. I pulled down the old rafters.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. saying partly to the world in general.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. 'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr. even if they do write 'squire after their names. in the shape of Stephen's heart.. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. after some conversation. indeed. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills.'No.

 starting with astonishment.' from her father. and were blown about in all directions." as set to music by my poor mother. but that is all.' she said. Swancourt. We worked like slaves. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. Very remarkable.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said. Yes. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer.' said Stephen. three. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. I hope we shall make some progress soon.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat. The windows. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky.