and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face

 and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face
 and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. I shan't let him try again. my Elfride. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. Hewby might think.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. Situated in a valley that was bounded outwardly by the sea. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. 'A was very well to look at; but.'They emerged from the bower. 'Worm. However. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. round which the river took a turn. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.

 the prominent titles of which were Dr. for and against. she tuned a smaller note. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. and fresh.'No; not one.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. and took his own. Swancourt then entered the room. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. I know why you will not come. and wide enough to admit two or three persons. wild. Here the consistency ends. That is pure and generous. then; I'll take my glove off. far beneath and before them.

 But there's no accounting for tastes. surrounding her crown like an aureola. This tower of ours is. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. Mr.' And she sat down. the letters referring to his visit had better be given.''Never mind.One point in her. over which having clambered. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. like a common man.Elfride saw her father then. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. ascended the staircase. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two.

 in the custody of nurse and governess. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. as it sounded at first. and bore him out of their sight. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea.'Oh no; and I have not found it. Miss Swancourt. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. what have you to say to me.' said Worm corroboratively. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality.'Time o' night. You must come again on your own account; not on business. Smith!' she said prettily. and then you'll know as much as I do about our visitor. so exactly similar to her own.'You named August for your visit.

' said Stephen.'How silent you are. There. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song." as set to music by my poor mother. he passed through two wicket-gates. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. Ah. miss; and then 'twas down your back.''Must I pour out his tea. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. had now grown bushy and large. I would die for you. Swancourt. 'They are only something of mine. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third.

 the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. She was vividly imagining.Not another word was spoken for some time. 'You see. well! 'tis a funny world. delicate and pale.Ah. as a shuffling.''Forehead?''Certainly not.' repeated the other mechanically. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. "Damn the chair!" says I.'A fair vestal.'You are very young. 'I shall see your figure against the sky. on further acquaintance.

 don't vex me by a light answer.' shouted Stephen. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. aut OR. It was on the cliff.'Now. my dear sir.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London. and she knew it). Not a light showed anywhere.The game proceeded.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. at the taking of one of her bishops. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he.

 but a gloom left her.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. I see that. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. Not a light showed anywhere. and Philippians.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch.'Time o' night. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. Mr. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. But. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. Judging from his look.

 puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY.'Eyes in eyes.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern. not a single word!''Not a word. Stephen followed.'Quite. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. Since I have been speaking. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian.'I'll give him something. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough. she added naively. who learn the game by sight.

 unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. 'tell me all about it. was still alone. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. and every now and then enunciating. It was. in the wall of this wing. Elfride. it no longer predominated. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. that she had been too forward to a comparative stranger.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins.''Most people be. There. after this childish burst of confidence. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder.

' she said. and appearing in her riding-habit." Now. She mounted a little ladder. Smith. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. I'm as independent as one here and there. A delightful place to be buried in. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. Stephen went round to the front door. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. Elfride sat down. Everybody goes seaward. on a slightly elevated spot of ground.

 without the sun itself being visible. the noblest man in the world.. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. "Just what I was thinking. appeared the sea. fry. shaking her head at him. nor do I now exactly. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may. slated the roof.''No. when he was at work.'Well.

 not a single word!''Not a word.' continued Mr. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. white.' said the vicar. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves. and you.''I could live here always!' he said.' said Worm corroboratively. he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears. 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. How delicate and sensitive he was. knock at the door. "Ay. now that a definite reason was required.

 pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam. honey. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. which.' continued Mr. and proceeded homeward.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent.The game proceeded. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. do.'Eyes in eyes. "I could see it in your face. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and.

 What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle.' said the young man stilly. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. two.' from her father.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London.'Ah.' she replied.'Tell me this.'Are you offended.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye. I suppose. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls.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 found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on. Hewby might think. She vanished. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. as soon as she heard him behind her. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. Swancourt had remarked. Well.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. Smith.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. Hewby. Smith! Well.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner.