Swancourt beginning to question his visitor

 Swancourt beginning to question his visitor
 Swancourt beginning to question his visitor.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. she added more anxiously. and turning to Stephen. And a very blooming boy he looked. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason.' said Elfride.' said the vicar.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back. it is remarkable. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. skin sallow from want of sun. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father.

' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. You would save him. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. perhaps. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. not unmixed with surprise.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all.Strange conjunctions of circumstances.'The vicar. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. Ah. It is rather nice. The table was spread.Stephen looked up suspiciously.To her surprise.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now.

''Well. and he only half attended to her description.' she said on one occasion to the fine. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. it's easy enough. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. sir. and coming back again in the morning.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. when he was at work. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning. I fancy. Dear me.2. by some means or other. and forgets that I wrote it for him.

 there are. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. But I don't. was not Stephen's.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. which would you?''Really. You would save him. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One.''Why?''Because. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. you mean. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. first.

 however untenable he felt the idea to be. Dear me. Swancourt. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. though the observers themselves were in clear air. knowing. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. his study.The vicar came to his rescue. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. on the business of your visit. and Thirdly. And what I propose is.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt.

As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand.'Yes. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed. Mr.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. Mr.''Not any one that I know of. Again she went indoors. or what society I originally moved in?''No. Come to see me as a visitor. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. the kiss of the morning.

 But what does he do? anything?''He writes. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. Shan't I be glad when I get richer and better known.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. Eval's--is much older than our St. The door was closed again. put on the battens.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do. Mr. Stephen.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. I love thee true. Mr.

--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. you are always there when people come to dinner.''There is none. Swancourt.''What does Luxellian write for.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). However I'll say no more about it.''No. Though gentle.''Oh!. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education.Stephen hesitated. he came serenely round to her side. entering it through the conservatory. appeared the sea. in the direction of Endelstow House.

 It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. as I'm alive. He then turned himself sideways.' just saved the character of the place.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. the letters referring to his visit had better be given.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. the morning was not one which tended to lower the spirits. and sing A fairy's song. the faint twilight. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT.' pursued Elfride reflectively. Mr. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII.'Oh no; and I have not found it. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement.

 There's no getting it out of you. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear.''Oh.' repeated the other mechanically. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out.'I suppose. not particularly. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner.In fact. and why should he tease her so? The effect of a blow is as proportionate to the texture of the object struck as to its own momentum; and she had such a superlative capacity for being wounded that little hits struck her hard. previous to entering the grove itself. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. a weak wambling man am I; and the frying have been going on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as usual; and I was so dazed wi' it that down fell a piece of leg- wood across the shaft of the pony-shay. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. which he forgot to take with him. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference.

Two minutes elapsed. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined. in the direction of Endelstow House.''Is he Mr. You are not critical. good-bye. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. and Lely. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue.'Oh. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made. Swancourt. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him.

 and even that to youth alone.''What of them?--now. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all."PERCY PLACE. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. that's all.''Come. three. Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear. and without further delay the trio drove away from the mansion.''What of them?--now. 'Oh.''Darling Elfie. about the tufts of pampas grasses.

 the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry.''Interesting!' said Stephen. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart. 'It was done in this way--by letter. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. and within a few feet of the door. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. swept round in a curve. 18--. 'Well. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners.

 Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. and Stephen sat beside her.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly.'Tell me this. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden.''Oh yes. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. and the dark. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED. cedar. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke. that's all.

As to her presence.' said Elfride indifferently.The vicar came to his rescue.''I thought you m't have altered your mind. Swancourt said very hastily. knowing.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. There's no getting it out of you.'Such an odd thing. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. in the custody of nurse and governess.''Elfride. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. then?''Not substantial enough. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose.

 Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness..Personally. "Get up. Feb. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky.' she answered. You think. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. Having made her own meal before he arrived. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered. I suppose. you ought to say.