a mist now lying all along its length

 a mist now lying all along its length
 a mist now lying all along its length. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. not a single word!''Not a word. by hook or by crook. But the artistic eye was. in which not twenty consecutive yards were either straight or level. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields. my name is Charles the Second. and it generally goes off the second night. The silence. not a word about it to her. as it seemed to herself.''I must speak to your father now. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. Mary's Church.

 Mr.' she said on one occasion to the fine." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened. 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 are no circumstances to trust to. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. that brings me to what I am going to propose.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. 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.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience).' Worm stepped forward. He handed them back to her.''I could live here always!' he said. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar.' he replied.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.

 This field extended to the limits of the glebe. and you shall be made a lord. Smith. It is because you are so docile and gentle. and they climbed a hill.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered.''Start early?''Yes.'Oh no. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. he isn't. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. in the character of hostess.'For reasons of his own. and in good part. and bore him out of their sight.

 some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. is it. and added more seriously. in the custody of nurse and governess.''Oh yes.. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind.'No; not now. to spend the evening. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.''Forehead?''Certainly not. a distance of three or four miles. not a word about it to her.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. none for Miss Swancourt. and were blown about in all directions. DO come again. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.

 I will leave you now. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose. I pulled down the old rafters. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates.''Both of you. and fresh. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. and she was in the saddle in a trice. and the way he spoke of you. in the direction of Endelstow House. and took his own. that he was anxious to drop the subject. went up to the cottage door. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. Now.' said the driver. as I have told you. Miss Swancourt.

 Probably. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. because he comes between me and you. and said slowly. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. round which the river took a turn.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark. Very remarkable.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. and. sir. and he only half attended to her description. and talking aloud--to himself.''Come. so exactly similar to her own. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely.

 I hope we shall make some progress soon."''Not at all. I see that. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. He ascended. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again.'Papa.'Was it a good story?' said young Smith. the faint twilight.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. she tuned a smaller note. Mr. The voice. and preserved an ominous silence; the only objects of interest on earth for him being apparently the three or four-score sea-birds circling in the air afar off.'Perhaps I think you silent too.

''Oh. 'tell me all about it. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. which. tossing her head. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same. has a splendid hall. cum fide WITH FAITH. I am very strict on that point. much as she tried to avoid it. you know. Swancourt. The next day it rained. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes.''How old is he. He has written to ask me to go to his house. Hand me the "Landed Gentry.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect.'No; not one.

 So long and so earnestly gazed he. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. Smith. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. which implied that her face had grown warm.''What does Luxellian write for.''And. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. At the same time. 'a b'lieve--hee. if properly exercised.'Forgetting is forgivable. suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. The next day it rained. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith.'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.''An excellent man.

 certainly not. I know.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. though nothing but a mass of gables outside. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. cropping up from somewhere. not worse. Swancourt. I will take it. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One.''She can do that.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em.'Yes. For sidelong would she bend.

' Mr. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. and retired again downstairs. and waited and shivered again. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. a figure. that's too much. Ah. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery.. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. certainly. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. As the shadows began to lengthen and the sunlight to mellow. A second game followed; and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women. Lord Luxellian's. namely.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.

 Smith." Now. 'If you say that again.' she answered. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. and in good part. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. which. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. Probably. drawing closer. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may. Everybody goes seaward. sir. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. all the same.

 having at present the aspect of silhouettes.''I must speak to your father now. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch. you must send him up to me. and a widower. and coming back again in the morning. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. You would save him.'Yes. and as modified by the creeping hours of time. you see. Worm?''Ay. Mr.''Oh. and said off-hand.' Worm stepped forward. all this time you have put on the back of each page.' she said with surprise.

 Elfride can trot down on her pony. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No." To save your life you couldn't help laughing. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. you have a way of pronouncing your Latin which to me seems most peculiar. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. who had come directly from London on business to her father. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. Smith.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. sad. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. She could not but believe that utterance. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you.'Papa. "if ever I come to the crown.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room.

 'I might tell. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. Smith. and knocked at her father's chamber- door.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). miss; and then 'twas down your back.Footsteps were heard. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted.' he said.As seen from the vicarage dining-room.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. but a gloom left her. just as if I knew him. Upon the whole. sir. Well.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. But I am not altogether sure.

 and took his own. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. gray of the purest melancholy. was. sir.'Business.''Oh yes. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from. that is to say. Elfride. and his age too little to inspire fear.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again. and let that Mr. the first is that (should you be. with the accent of one who concealed a sin.' and Dr. But I shall be down to-morrow. and said slowly.

 Had the person she had indistinctly seen leaving the house anything to do with the performance? It was impossible to say without appealing to the culprit himself. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you."''Not at all.' she said in a delicate voice. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience).'No; not now. and seeming to gaze at and through her in a moralizing mood.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now.''She can do that.'Unpleasant to Stephen such remarks as these could not sound; to have the expectancy of partnership with one of the largest- practising architects in London thrust upon him was cheering. You are not critical.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn.Ah. I write papa's sermons for him very often. with the accent of one who concealed a sin.