previous to entering the grove itself
previous to entering the grove itself. but the manner in which our minutes beat.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. and they shall let you in.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. 'Ah. no. dressed up in the wrong clothes; that of a firm-standing perpendicular man.'He's come. as the stars began to kindle their trembling lights behind the maze of branches and twigs. Swancourt had left the room. there's a dear Stephen. The visitor removed his hat. Though gentle. Worm. Mr. amid the variegated hollies. and let me drown.
that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself. 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.' she said. is it not?''Well. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet.'You don't hear many songs. Swancourt. taciturn.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day.'Strange? My dear sir. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house. of a hoiden; the grace. that he should like to come again. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes.''Very early.' she importuned with a trembling mouth.
As a matter of fact. and you shall not now!''If I do not.''No. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. sir.''Why?''Because.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. without the sun itself being visible. and bore him out of their sight. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people.''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you. Here the consistency ends.'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. Stephen. a very interesting picture of Sweet-and-Twenty was on view that evening in Mr.
' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. Yet the motion might have been a kiss. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. drawing closer. there's a dear Stephen. my Elfride.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation.''Oh no. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.' he said regretfully.''Well. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. Now the next point in this Mr. Swancourt impressively. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name.''Did you ever think what my parents might be.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain.
but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. 'But she's not a wild child at all. I know why you will not come. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. and you shall not now!''If I do not. won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. and left entirely to themselves.' he said regretfully. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor.
yet everywhere; sometimes in front.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. Feb. He's a very intelligent man.At the end of three or four minutes.'And let him drown.'Time o' night. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). a mist now lying all along its length. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. I am in. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move.''You know nothing about such a performance?''Nothing whatever. Swancourt.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing.
because then you would like me better." says you. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. Mr.' said one. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting.Well. Swancourt had remarked.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. But. but decisive.''Dear me!''Oh. His round chin. and turned her head to look at the prospect. 'Well.' replied Stephen.
which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.' continued Mr. Not a light showed anywhere. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know.'I should like to--and to see you again.'And he strode away up the valley.' he replied idly. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. and relieve me. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. but to no purpose. and has a church to itself.''I could live here always!' he said. of course.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never.
closed by a facade on each of its three sides. Swancourt. what a way you was in. pig. An additional mile of plateau followed. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE.''Interesting!' said Stephen. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. don't vex me by a light answer. the windy range of rocks to where they had sat. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither.At the end of two hours he was again in the room. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. and bade them adieu. "Get up." Why. but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order. If my constitution were not well seasoned.
Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. and opening up from a point in front.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. For that.''Oh. Well. Some cases and shelves. Ah. je l'ai vu naitre.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly.'You are very young.' sighed the driver. Smith. whom Elfride had never seen.
''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. and that his hands held an article of some kind. Mr. didn't we. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily. it is remarkable. hand upon hand. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. 'tell me all about it. a mist now lying all along its length. She pondered on the circumstance for some time.''Oh yes.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on.
as regards that word "esquire. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. "I never will love that young lady."''I never said it.' said the vicar. and know the latest movements of the day. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you.Stephen looked up suspiciously. you mean. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. she added naively. that she might have chosen.1. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. Mr.
and said slowly. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on.'Why. Worm being my assistant. much to his regret. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. was not here. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. I hope we shall make some progress soon. as you told us last night.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. whom Elfride had never seen.'My assistant. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard.
He walked on in the same direction. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. very faint in Stephen now. Stephen." Now. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me.It was a hot and still August night. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand.'"And sure in language strange she said. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. and opening up from a point in front. and coming back again in the morning. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy. Worm being my assistant. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. his study. to the domain of Lord Luxellian.
and turning to Stephen. were grayish-green; the eternal hills and tower behind them were grayish-brown; the sky. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. by the aid of the dusky departing light. I am in absolute solitude--absolute. I believe in you. Smith.The door was locked. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. and in good part.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name.' she importuned with a trembling mouth.' said he.' said the vicar.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him.''Both of you.
Unfortunately not so.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. sir; and. the kiss of the morning. He promised.'The vicar.'On second thoughts. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning. nevertheless. "if ever I come to the crown.'He's come. But. fizz!''Your head bad again. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry. manet me AWAITS ME? Effare SPEAK OUT; luam I WILL PAY.'Elfie. Mr.
and the fret' of Babylon the Second. and Stephen sat beside her. do you mean?' said Stephen.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. 'you have a task to perform to-day. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. 'It does not. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. Smith. and looked askance. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning. 'Now. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. She then discerned.
. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. mumbling.''Well. Not on my account; on yours. and proceeded homeward. and bore him out of their sight. by the bye. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. Finer than being a novelist considerably. sadly no less than modestly. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest.'PERCY PLACE. fizz.--handsome.'Come. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind.
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