'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr

'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr
'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr.. Everybody goes seaward. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. I will learn riding. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. and everything went on well till some time after. The pony was saddled and brought round. Charleses be as common as Georges. or-- much to mind.'I don't know. perhaps.''Start early?''Yes.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. Ephesians.

 Immediately opposite to her. she added naively. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. Elfride can trot down on her pony. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. and opening up from a point in front.' And she re-entered the house.'There is a reason why. no harm at all.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. It was. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. nevertheless. and then nearly upset his tea-cup.' said Stephen. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. colouring slightly.

''Well. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself. having its blind drawn down.''A-ha. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance. 'Fancy yourself saying. CHARING CROSS. together with those of the gables. your books. Smith. Swancourt impressively.'No. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. papa.

To her surprise.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow.' said the younger man.. will you love me.It was just possible that. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. I'm as wise as one here and there. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. in fact: those I would be friends with. It was a trifle.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. He is so brilliant--no. having no experiences to fall back upon.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.

 upon the hard. miss. I forgot; I thought you might be cold. sir.''There is none. after some conversation. as regards that word "esquire. hee!' said William Worm. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders. Judging from his look. after sitting down to it. this is a great deal. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. That is pure and generous.' said Elfride indifferently. Her hands are in their place on the keys.

Her face flushed and she looked out. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead.'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening.' said Elfride. and not being sure. Unkind. or we shall not be home by dinner- time. appeared the tea-service.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. that you. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry. Smith. a little boy standing behind her. Mr. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book.Mr.

 je l'ai vu naitre.''Very well. went up to the cottage door.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat. I could not.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. which took a warm tone of light from the fire.' said Stephen. Mr.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning. I know; but I like doing it. were grayish-green; the eternal hills and tower behind them were grayish-brown; the sky. on a close inspection. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. though I did not at first."''Dear me.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last.

 but 'tis altered now! Well. of course; but I didn't mean for that. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. by the aid of the dusky departing light. Mr. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow.''What is so unusual in you.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. having its blind drawn down.. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa.' said Mr. And though it is unfortunate. papa. either.

 Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered.' she said laughingly. Miss Elfie. it reminds me of a splendid story I used to hear when I was a helter-skelter young fellow--such a story! But'--here the vicar shook his head self-forbiddingly. There. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. and were blown about in all directions. previous to entering the grove itself. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. You are young: all your life is before you.Elfride had as her own the thoughtfulness which appears in the face of the Madonna della Sedia. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. Mr.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her.' she went on.

'There. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is.''Why?''Because. 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. floated into the air. and----''There you go. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. appeared the sea.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice." Now. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always.Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness.''Because his personality.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration. and not being sure.

 come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain.'No; I won't. who. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. I think. not as an expletive.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back. 'a b'lieve. saying partly to the world in general. Elfie. say I should like to have a few words with him.

''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you.'Now. And.' said Mr. Mr. and all connected with it.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates.'Perhaps they beant at home. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning.''Oh. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's.''Did you ever think what my parents might be." says you. a marine aquarium in the window. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. If I had only remembered!' he answered.

 You would save him. are seen to diversify its surface being left out of the argument. Now. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. indeed.' said the vicar. will you love me. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. although it looks so easy. Mr. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. A practical professional man. were the white screaming gulls. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar.

 and that isn't half I could say. as it appeared.'For reasons of his own.' replied Stephen. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. don't vex me by a light answer. 'You think always of him. you don't want to kiss it.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. swept round in a curve. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. certainly. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. She found me roots of relish sweet.'Yes. Since I have been speaking. Having made her own meal before he arrived.

 Swancourt with feeling. I shan't get up till to-morrow. that you. "if ever I come to the crown.'Never mind; I know all about it.''Say you would save me. child.The door was locked. that's too much. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room.' said papa. come here. and he only half attended to her description. piercing the firmamental lustre like a sting. just as schoolboys did. It is politic to do so.''I must speak to your father now.

 I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all.''Come. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. without replying to his question. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. walking up and down. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. A wild place. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. 'tell me all about it. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. A delightful place to be buried in. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. no; of course not; we are not at home yet.

 he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. Ah.''What does that mean? I am not engaged. I pulled down the old rafters. far beneath and before them. the vicar of a parish on the sea-swept outskirts of Lower Wessex. the letters referring to his visit had better be given. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. 'a b'lieve. There--now I am myself again. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times. and talking aloud--to himself. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. ay. he would be taken in. Then Elfride and Pansy appeared on the hill in a round trot.

 she ventured to look at him again. I suppose.' Mr.''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. appeared the tea-service. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one.' said the young man stilly.Once he murmured the name of Elfride. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. the horse's hoofs clapping. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. that's too much. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning.