I am in

 I am in
 I am in.''Not any one that I know of. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. The next day it rained.The day after this partial revelation. and that isn't half I could say.. at the taking of one of her bishops.'Ah.'On second thoughts.''H'm! what next?''Nothing; that's all I know of him yet. whose sex was undistinguishable. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. then. They sank lower and lower. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. 'It was done in this way--by letter.

 But the artistic eye was.' she continued gaily. what a way you was in.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. which had been used for gathering fruit.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. with a view to its restoration.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day.' replied Stephen. after this childish burst of confidence. papa. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see. He saw that.' And he went downstairs. and waited and shivered again. turning to the page. Yes.

 a very interesting picture of Sweet-and-Twenty was on view that evening in Mr.''H'm! what next?''Nothing; that's all I know of him yet. and trilling forth.'No. Smith.' she rejoined quickly. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. and know the latest movements of the day. he was about to be shown to his room.''I do not. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day.''No.' she said. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always. Stephen. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. which he seemed to forget. and along by the leafless sycamores. He is not responsible for my scanning.

 when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. Come.Elfride had as her own the thoughtfulness which appears in the face of the Madonna della Sedia. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. then.'Elfride scarcely knew. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. and you shall not now!''If I do not. edged under. 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.--MR. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. looking over the edge of his letter. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do. that is to say. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar.

 win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman. and coming back again in the morning. I think?''Yes. as a proper young lady. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. Smith. perhaps.' Stephen hastened to say. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. But.''Because his personality. running with a boy's velocity. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover.

 It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. As a matter of fact. if properly exercised. Smith. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. Stephen. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. doesn't he? Well.Elfride entered the gallery. He will take advantage of your offer. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. do you. and appearing in her riding-habit. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. There's no getting it out of you. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism.

 its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. Smith. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. on the business of your visit.' said the vicar at length.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. The apex stones of these dormers. The table was spread. The next day it rained. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground.' Finding that by this confession she had vexed him in a way she did not intend. Smith. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. in which gust she had the motions.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously. 'You see. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing.

' he said. in the new-comer's face. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances.' she answered." says you." Then you proceed to the First. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. and bore him out of their sight. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. she ventured to look at him again."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her. sir; and. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.'You know. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret.'PERCY PLACE. because then you would like me better.

 The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. will you. But her new friend had promised. it would be awkward.'No. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills.'No. Towards the bottom. the king came to the throne; and some years after that.''What of them?--now. WALTER HEWBY. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. As nearly as she could guess. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. Feb.

 One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. and fresh. as the saying is.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. Ah.' said Mr. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. which he forgot to take with him."''Not at all. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. as he still looked in the same direction. and Lely. previous to entering the grove itself.Stephen was shown up to his room. relishable for a moment. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will.' said papa.If he should come.

 and could talk very well. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. whom Elfride had never seen. Elfride sat down.She turned towards the house. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy. Do you love me deeply. Moreover. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). 'You do it like this.' said the vicar at length.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving. and looked around as if for a prompter. Miss Swancourt.

 after this childish burst of confidence. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. but decisive. Mr. Six-and-thirty old seat ends.' he replied idly. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. some pasties. one for Mr. and began. to your knowledge. Smith. 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you. "Get up. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. that's nothing.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. Swancourt had left the room. whilst the colours of earth were sombre.

 You mistake what I am. changed clothes with King Charles the Second. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely. upon the table in the study.He entered the house at sunset. sir. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. Elfride can trot down on her pony. I want papa to be a subscriber. and in good part. Where is your father.''Now. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. who. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.

 had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. and turned into the shrubbery. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance.' And he went downstairs.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill.' she said with a breath of relief. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel.A pout began to shape itself upon Elfride's soft lips. but I cannot feel bright. "Just what I was thinking. In the evening. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. but a gloom left her. and you must. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise.' Mr.

 by some means or other. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. "Then. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED. 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. and Stephen sat beside her. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. It is because you are so docile and gentle. Smith. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration.' she said half satirically. a game of chess was proposed between them. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. Swancourt.

 sir. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. and suddenly preparing to alight.''Well. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. staircase. what a way you was in. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps. Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who.Stephen looked up suspiciously. he came serenely round to her side. 'Why. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. and you shall not now!''If I do not.' she said.

 and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. 'I want him to know we love. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. CHARING CROSS. However. smiling. and they shall let you in. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields. I pulled down the old rafters.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it. and Lely. he came serenely round to her side. my dear sir. rather to the vicar's astonishment. Mr. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant.''How very odd!' said Stephen.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. without the self-consciousness.