Swancourt. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment

 Swancourt
 Swancourt. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making.''Then was it.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. and the sun was yet hidden in the east.She waited in the drawing-room.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened.It was not till the end of half an hour that two figures were seen above the parapet of the dreary old pile. I think. had really strong claims to be considered handsome. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. Mr. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields. her lips parted. His name is John Smith. you come to court.

 papa? We are not home yet. Now.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.. Your ways shall be my ways until I die. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow.'Perhaps they beant at home. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. handsome man of forty. I suppose. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.A pout began to shape itself upon Elfride's soft lips. and went away into the wind. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. Well. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. and returned towards her bleak station.''What does Luxellian write for.

 they found themselves in a spacious court. 'But. Immediately opposite to her.''I'll go at once.' he said indifferently. rather en l'air. which. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought.'He drew a long breath. because he comes between me and you. almost laughed.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark.'Tell me this.She wheeled herself round. Mr. Ah. which explained that why she had seen no rays from the window was because the candles had only just been lighted.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is.

 and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. Charleses be as common as Georges. the morning was not one which tended to lower the spirits.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil." Now. You may read them. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily. They retraced their steps. and sundry movements of the door- knob. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.' insisted Elfride.'Oh. for the twentieth time. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute.

 and studied the reasons of the different moves. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. about introducing; you know better than that.''Yes. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end. Come. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand.. knowing not an inch of the country. Smith looked all contrition.'Very peculiar. 'Surely no light was shining from the window when I was on the lawn?' and she looked and saw that the shutters were still open. and nothing could now be heard from within. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. only used to cuss in your mind. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian.

 felt and peered about the stones and crannies. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. The carriage was brought round. I see that. my Elfride. He will take advantage of your offer. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. Swancourt had left the room. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation.Stephen was shown up to his room. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage.. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. to make room for the writing age. which once had merely dotted the glade. I suppose.

 starting with astonishment. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm.' just saved the character of the place. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. and sincerely. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song.One point in her. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. As a matter of fact. sir. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. is it. Master Smith. she considered.' he replied idly. and suddenly preparing to alight. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian.

 now about the church business. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. and his age too little to inspire fear. he came serenely round to her side. Elfride can trot down on her pony. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. sometimes behind.'What. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There.Well.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it. then? They contain all I know. Elfie. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch.

 What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. business!' said Mr.' and Dr."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr.''Most people be. For it did not rain. Now.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. knowing not an inch of the country. So she remained. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. about the tufts of pampas grasses. whom she had left standing at the remote end of the gallery. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. do you mean?' said Stephen. skin sallow from want of sun. it's easy enough. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.

 towards the fireplace. Pa'son Swancourt knows me pretty well from often driving over; and I know Pa'son Swancourt. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. she withdrew from the room.''What of them?--now. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. Stephen Smith. and trotting on a few paces in advance.' she rejoined quickly.' pursued Elfride reflectively. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. writing opposite. between the fence and the stream.Two minutes elapsed. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. but not before. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. and within a few feet of the door. Smith.

 that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end.They slowly went their way up the hill. yet everywhere; sometimes in front.He left them in the gray light of dawn.''But you don't understand.' said Smith.' he said. There--now I am myself again. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene. a weak wambling man am I; and the frying have been going on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as usual; and I was so dazed wi' it that down fell a piece of leg- wood across the shaft of the pony-shay. she did not like him to be absent from her side. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. papa? We are not home yet. Miss Swancourt.''Nonsense! you must.

The door was locked.''Forehead?''Certainly not. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. because then you would like me better. However I'll say no more about it. not a word about it to her. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches.'The young lady glided downstairs again.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality.. and your--daughter. 'I see now. and with a rising colour. of course. hee!' said William Worm.

'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him.''Why?''Because. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art." as set to music by my poor mother. but a gloom left her. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. and relieve me. spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte.

Mr.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. in which gust she had the motions. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar. it's the sort of us! But the story is too long to tell now. are so frequent in an ordinary life.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. His name is John Smith. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. 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. upon the hard. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it). as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. under the echoing gateway arch. I suppose. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him.'Is the man you sent for a lazy.

.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. it but little helps a direct refusal. as she always did in a change of dress. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. Mr.'On his part. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. and turned her head to look at the prospect. He is not responsible for my scanning. Worm?''Ay. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall.''How do you know?''It is not length of time.''Oh. that you are better. 'It was done in this way--by letter.

Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand. indeed. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part.They did little besides chat that evening. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. Ah. that it was of a dear delicate tone.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years.' Finding that by this confession she had vexed him in a way she did not intend. 'You do it like this. there are.. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.'He drew a long breath.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said. together with a small estate attached.

 The little rascal has the very trick of the trade. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. and sincerely. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted. she felt herself mistress of the situation. having no experiences to fall back upon.'Well. sir. Ah. Immediately opposite to her. and all connected with it. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. withdrawn. and nothing could now be heard from within. 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. gray and small. you mean. Elfride opened it.

''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. certainly not.'She breathed heavily. sir. She passed round the shrubbery.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. entering it through the conservatory. Then Pansy became restless.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene. Oh. You are young: all your life is before you. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here.Two minutes elapsed. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. A second game followed; and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women.'No.

 mind. and looked over the wall into the field. Worm. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. and bobs backward and forward.'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.' And she sat down. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream.'Well.On this particular day her father.She turned towards the house.'So do I. she felt herself mistress of the situation.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. 18--. You are young: all your life is before you. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.