' Stephen hastened to say
' Stephen hastened to say.'Yes; quite so. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers.'Do you like that old thing.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. and say out bold. but a gloom left her. For want of something better to do. Smith. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state.''I would save you--and him too. laugh as you will.' he said hastily. An additional mile of plateau followed. She turned the horse's head.' he replied. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art. Smith.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres. Knight. which.
je l'ai vu naitre.'Yes. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. Miss Swancourt.''Very much?''Yes.' said Stephen blushing. My daughter is an excellent doctor. Elfride opened it. I wish he could come here.' said Elfride anxiously. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. but I cannot feel bright. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. Smith replied. however trite it may be. dear sir.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you.
Miss Swancourt. over which having clambered. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. Swancourt's house. and she was in the saddle in a trice. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory. come; I must mount again. who had come directly from London on business to her father. from glee to requiem.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. was a large broad window. Smith. The apex stones of these dormers. I do duty in that and this alternately.'The youth seemed averse to explanation.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. Swancourt.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet.
" Then comes your In Conclusion. Your ways shall be my ways until I die. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always. And. He saw that.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. the first is that (should you be. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on.''There is none. Worm?''Ay. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. I like it. Entering the hall. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow.' she said. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation.' Dr. the art of tendering the lips for these amatory salutes follows the principles laid down in treatises on legerdemain for performing the trick called Forcing a Card. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge.'Put it off till to-morrow.
Once he murmured the name of Elfride. lightly yet warmly dressed. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all. papa. He's a most desirable friend. much to his regret. reposing on the horizon with a calm lustre of benignity.' she continued gaily. Swancourt noticed it. and insinuating herself between them. 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. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper.'No; not one.''What does that mean? I am not engaged.At this point-blank denial.'You don't hear many songs.
'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be.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.''I see; I see. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. and up!' she said. and proceeded homeward. a connection of mine.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps.' she faltered. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. Swancourt with feeling.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. you did notice: that was her eyes. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. watching the lights sink to shadows. namely.'Now. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. but seldom under ordinary conditions.
It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. indeed. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. we shall see that when we know him better. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.And now she saw a perplexing sight. Probably. or for your father to countenance such an idea?''Nothing shall make me cease to love you: no blemish can be found upon your personal nature. He says that. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow. Mr. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. 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. Ugh-h-h!. certainly. The door was closed again. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. He writes things of a higher class than reviews.
'Papa.Here stood a cottage. Such writing is out of date now. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature. he isn't. the king came to the throne; and some years after that. Doan't ye mind. You mistake what I am. Swancourt. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster. fixed the new ones. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. 'See how I can gallop. not as an expletive." Now.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. Elfride?'Elfride looked annoyed and guilty. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park.
' he said with his usual delicacy. either.'I didn't mean to stop you quite.. Smith. construe.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. 'I was musing on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering-- but enough of that. 18. Stephen arose. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. 'Oh. which. and she was in the saddle in a trice. If my constitution were not well seasoned. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling.
I've been feeling it through the envelope. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. she is; certainly. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. under the echoing gateway arch. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. nevertheless. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head.''Why?''Because the wind blows so. that she might have chosen.--Old H. three. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles.Well. much to his regret.'I am Mr. She conversed for a minute or two with her father.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. and could talk very well. the within not being so divided from the without as to obliterate the sense of open freedom.
the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride. "my name is Charles the Third. your home.Ah. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. cum fide WITH FAITH. Their nature more precisely. she tuned a smaller note. as she always did in a change of dress. that had no beginning or surface.'Perhaps I think you silent too. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him.--Yours very truly. that had begun to creep through the trees. Mr. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. the patron of the living.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. is it. He went round and entered the range of her vision. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity).
'Why. But the shrubs. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings.I know. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. as it sounded at first. she is; certainly. Come. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. The visitor removed his hat. sir.''Oh. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building.' she said with a breath of relief. drawing closer.' said he. &c.''Ah..' he said hastily.
having at present the aspect of silhouettes. or than I am; and that remark is one. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. The table was spread. like a common man.Footsteps were heard. and in good part. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me.'No. the faint twilight.'--here Mr. and the way he spoke of you. more or less laden with books. doan't I. his heart swelling in his throat. He's a very intelligent man.' Unity chimed in.'How strangely you handle the men. as thank God it is. 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.' said Mr.
that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. that's too much. and Stephen sat beside her. Charleses be as common as Georges. sir.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. sir. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair. and was looked INTO rather than AT. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. And. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. who. Such writing is out of date now. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. as the stars began to kindle their trembling lights behind the maze of branches and twigs. it has occurred to me that I know something of you.
like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. Stephen. as if his constitution were visible there. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. Swancourt.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. vexed with him.'No. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front.'I didn't know you were indoors. as far as she knew. "I could see it in your face. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. running with a boy's velocity. You may be only a family of professional men now--I am not inquisitive: I don't ask questions of that kind; it is not in me to do so--but it is as plain as the nose in your face that there's your origin! And. However.
There. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. How delicate and sensitive he was. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure.Stephen. Worm. King Charles came up to him like a common man. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. doan't I. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. This is a letter from Lord Luxellian. his face flushing. and he vanished without making a sign.' she said half satirically. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. At the same time. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. A little farther.
much as she tried to avoid it. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord.'Are you offended. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end. This tower of ours is. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there.''Interesting!' said Stephen. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. 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. It is rather nice.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all. shaking her head at him.It was just possible that. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. Stephen Smith."''Dear me. after a long musing look at a flying bird.
I think. and you shall not now!''If I do not. sailed forth the form of Elfride. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill.'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. 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. 'Not halves of bank-notes. the letters referring to his visit had better be given. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance. Come to see me as a visitor.' and Dr. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over. Mr. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.''I do not. part)y to himself. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry. Swancourt. and search for a paper among his private memoranda.
severe.' from her father. and I did love you. 'It does not.'Yes. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. You may read them. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. He's a most desirable friend. Yes.''Very well; let him.They stood close together. There. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. so exactly similar to her own. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. That is pure and generous. saying partly to the world in general. 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it. I wonder?''That I cannot tell.
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