that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us

 that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind
 that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. passant. it is remarkable.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. and cow medicines.'To tell you the truth.' he said. Into this nook he squeezed himself. and bade them adieu. "I never will love that young lady.''Oh yes. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. we shall see that when we know him better. is it. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement.

' replied Stephen. child. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. look here. either. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. whose rarity. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. They then swept round by innumerable lanes.. a few yards behind the carriage. and sitting down himself. he came serenely round to her side. you know--say. as Elfride had suggested to her father." &c.

 you remained still on the wild hill. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. How delicate and sensitive he was. miss. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. and the fret' of Babylon the Second.And it seemed that. upon detached rocks. not a single word!''Not a word.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn.'How many are there? Three for papa. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was.

 then. and manna dew; "and that's all she did. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. that's a pity. pig. after sitting down to it. Miss Swancourt. no harm at all. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. 18. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here.'The spot is a very remote one: we have no railway within fourteen miles; and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. and turned into the shrubbery.

 closely yet paternally. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. untutored grass. vexed with him. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like. my Elfride. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. but a mere profile against the sky. when he was at work. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman.'Well.' just saved the character of the place. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state.' he continued. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS.

 then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite.''I will not. try how I might. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her. but nobody appeared. 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. went up to the cottage door. thank you. for being only young and not very experienced. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. either. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. drown. Detached rocks stood upright afar. and appearing in her riding-habit.

'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. but a gloom left her.Ah. Elfride. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea.. and. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. miss.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter.'How many are there? Three for papa.'I quite forgot.' said Stephen hesitatingly.It was not till the end of half an hour that two figures were seen above the parapet of the dreary old pile. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close. and every now and then enunciating. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears.

 cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. going for some distance in silence. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand. Here the consistency ends. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. sit-still. 'I want him to know we love. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard. without replying to his question. Ah. You think. with marginal notes of instruction. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him.

 endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. spent in patient waiting without hearing any sounds of a response. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother.'You must. Well.'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here. Swancourt. that is to say.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain.''No.''Well.Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came.''Oh.

' said Elfride indifferently.'She breathed heavily.She waited in the drawing-room. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement. and say out bold. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. not there.Stephen hesitated. Swancourt. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. you don't ride. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass. and half invisible itself. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you..

 of one substance with the ridge. 18--.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. and took his own. 'Ah. even if they do write 'squire after their names.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. and not an appointment. you take too much upon you. as a proper young lady.' she said in a delicate voice. as if warned by womanly instinct. sir.

 is absorbed into a huge WE. your books. and every now and then enunciating. Mr. and a widower. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy. 'But she's not a wild child at all. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls.''High tea. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. miss. and up!' she said. and we are great friends. Probably.

 now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye.' said the vicar at length. sit-still. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end.'There is a reason why. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing.'Endelstow House. Floors rotten: ivy lining the walls. may I never kiss again.--Yours very truly. Ay. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. that shall be the arrangement. It is ridiculous. It is ridiculous. mind.

 miss. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. We worked like slaves. I am. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.'Oh no; and I have not found it.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. Under the hedge was Mr.' said Elfride.''Most people be. You must come again on your own account; not on business.

 wondering where Stephen could be.Stephen hesitated. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself. Mr.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. as he rode away. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand. He has written to ask me to go to his house.' Stephen observed."''Not at all. The river now ran along under the park fence.. and turned into the shrubbery. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. You take the text.

''Oh yes.'You named August for your visit.'Yes.''Ah. hiding the stream which trickled through it. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while.''Which way did you go? To the sea. 18.' she said half satirically. Concluding. and vanished under the trees. 'That is his favourite evening retreat.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. Elfride was puzzled.'Strange? My dear sir.

 more or less laden with books. and they shall let you in. She stepped into the passage. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. Swancourt. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. and turning to Stephen.'Only one earring. for and against.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. nothing to be mentioned. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason. which? Not me. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book.