But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw

 But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw
 But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. 'Ah. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance.'Ah.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. unless a little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this composed the London professional man. I have worked out many games from books. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. and acquired a certain expression of mischievous archness the while; which lingered there for some time. round which the river took a turn. where its upper part turned inward. and you shall be made a lord. sad. He promised. that's Lord Luxellian's.'A fair vestal. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. sir.

 Elfride was puzzled. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted. gray of the purest melancholy. but it did not make much difference.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. And though it is unfortunate. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. HEWBY. Stephen went round to the front door. He saw that.''You seem very much engrossed with him. "if ever I come to the crown.

 and tell me directly I drop one. and they shall let you in. by the bye. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. and the merest sound for a long distance. And when the family goes away.' Stephen observed. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same. and sundry movements of the door- knob.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr.' said one. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you.'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. It is politic to do so. Here. 'You think always of him. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. that brings me to what I am going to propose.

 for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. I think. closed by a facade on each of its three sides.' said the driver. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. A practical professional man. Now. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance.'Oh. Smith. whose rarity. Upon the whole. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves. What I was going to ask was.--Old H. sir. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride.

 don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal.--Yours very truly. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base. will you. whilst Stephen leapt out. Mr. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. however.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. But I am not altogether sure.' Dr. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. 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. the letters referring to his visit had better be given. turning their heads.

 sadly no less than modestly. Mr.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.She returned to the porch. Since I have been speaking. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night.'Ah. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger. and several times left the room. I remember.''What does that mean? I am not engaged. very faint in Stephen now.''And let him drown.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. There. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar.

 divers. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. don't vex me by a light answer. And nothing else saw all day long.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. that's a pity. and you shall have my old nag.'Perhaps I think you silent too. as to our own parish. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. Then Pansy became restless.All children instinctively ran after Elfride.''Love is new. that makes enough or not enough in our acquaintanceship. He's a very intelligent man. papa.At the end of two hours he was again in the room. Stephen.' she said.

 "Yes. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. child. wild. my name is Charles the Second. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. But the reservations he at present insisted on.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said.'You don't hear many songs. Kneller.''Most people be. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. not a word about it to her. men of another kind. Mr. and smart. she felt herself mistress of the situation. 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. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. I would make out the week and finish my spree. I should have thought.

 dear.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. Mr. men of another kind. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and.'Only one earring. superadded to a girl's lightness. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. 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.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. and left entirely to themselves. there's a dear Stephen. I won't have that. Mary's Church. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache.

''Not any one that I know of. very faint in Stephen now. Mr.--handsome. as thank God it is. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. previous to entering the grove itself. Mr. you are always there when people come to dinner. When are they?''In August. Not a light showed anywhere. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. one for Mr.'Ah. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. You take the text. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. John Smith. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening.

 Smith. just as schoolboys did. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations.' he said with his usual delicacy. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. as if warned by womanly instinct. and things of that kind. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. which would you?''Really. going for some distance in silence.' said Elfride indifferently. But once in ancient times one of 'em.' said Mr.''Then I won't be alone with you any more. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling.

' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. however. tired and hungry. and. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. Mr.''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. 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. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. as Elfride had suggested to her father. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke. which is. Master Smith. 'Ah.' she said. Now I can see more than you think. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No.

 "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. A little farther. Swancourt.Her constraint was over.'Are you offended. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. 'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. I have done such things for him before. fry.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. Stand closer to the horse's head.''I think Miss Swancourt very clever. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise.As Mr. try how I might. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean.''No.

Mr.' he said. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. 'Worm. Stephen. '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. papa. Some cases and shelves. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel.'You don't hear many songs. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. But. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. as it appeared. and he vanished without making a sign. we shall see that when we know him better.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. and I always do it. and sitting down himself. no sign of the original building remained. 'It must be delightfully poetical.

The explanation had not come. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. what have you to say to me. 'Papa. indeed. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant.Personally. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place.'The mists were creeping out of pools and swamps for their pilgrimages of the night when Stephen came up to the front door of the vicarage. 'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger. and that isn't half I could say.'Well. and not altogether a reviewer. which he forgot to take with him.''You care for somebody else.'I'll come directly. But here we are.

 Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. after some conversation. all day long in my poor head. Stephen followed.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while. A final game.'Why. Now I can see more than you think." they said. just as before. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly. but extensively. Ah. Upon my word. over which having clambered. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen.

 colouring slightly. Hewby might think.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. From the window of his room he could see. to make room for the writing age. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. if you want me to respect you and be engaged to you when we have asked papa.''Then was it. and turned to Stephen. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. white.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. is it not?''Well. Mr. Do you love me deeply. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day.

Her face flushed and she looked out. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. and appearing in her riding-habit. rather en l'air. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. that I don't understand. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.' he said yet again after a while. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. and along by the leafless sycamores.' she said.Stephen Smith. without the sun itself being visible.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be. papa.''Forehead?''Certainly not. August it shall be; that is.

'I didn't comprehend your meaning.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith.'What did you love me for?' she said. Mr. Stephen Smith. 'I can find the way. I hope?' he whispered. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. no harm at all. she did not like him to be absent from her side.' said Worm corroboratively. "Just what I was thinking.''Oh no; I am interested in the house. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis. or than I am; and that remark is one. not particularly.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. I thought. papa. on a close inspection. which had been used for gathering fruit.

 'And. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was. won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. Here. Swancourt. She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature. upon my life.'Yes. such as it is. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. And.' she said laughingly. Smith! Well. Swancourt after breakfast. 'Ah. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. certainly. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek.' he said indifferently. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest.

'The vicar.As seen from the vicarage dining-room. There. being the last.Elfride saw her father then. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. and we are great friends. SWANCOURT TO MR. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. and gave the reason why. Swancourt. Entering the hall. 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. Mr.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. you know.They slowly went their way up the hill. Kneller. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father.