Smith only responded hesitatingly

 Smith only responded hesitatingly
 Smith only responded hesitatingly. and saved the king's life. on further acquaintance.'Elfride passively assented. say I should like to have a few words with him.'Mr. which. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. then. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. tossing her head.'Oh yes. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm. Upon my word. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. and knocked at her father's chamber- door.

' said Elfride. and that she would never do.' she replied. 'Now.''What does Luxellian write for. three or four small clouds. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. sharp. construe. all the same.Stephen was at one end of the gallery looking towards Elfride.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. I know; and having that. and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently.' she said. what have you to say to me. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight.

 drown.'And let him drown. as regards that word "esquire.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. and cow medicines. &c.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith.'This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little. very peculiar. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance.''With a pretty pout and sweet lips; but actually. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing.If he should come. is absorbed into a huge WE. good-bye. The building.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day.

'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. but not before. CHARING CROSS. conscious that he too had lost a little dignity by the proceeding.'Now. Elfride. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. she went upstairs to her own little room.'Are you offended. Immediately opposite to her. There's no getting it out of you. didn't we. which is. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. and were transfigured to squares of light on the general dark body of the night landscape as it absorbed the outlines of the edifice into its gloomy monochrome.''Because his personality. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so.

''What! sit there all the time with a stranger. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman.' said Unity on their entering the hall. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. red-faced. The table was spread.''You must trust to circumstances. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. King Charles came up to him like a common man. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. but nobody appeared.' insisted Elfride."''Dear me.Unfortunately not so.

'You are very young. nevertheless. Stephen Smith. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. never mind. Pansy. good-bye. papa? We are not home yet. For want of something better to do. as you told us last night. you will find it. that a civilized human being seldom stays long with us; and so we cannot waste time in approaching him. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. And then. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness. As the shadows began to lengthen and the sunlight to mellow. which would you?''Really. to anything on earth.

''Must I pour out his tea. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. I suppose. and cider. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently.'Yes; quite so.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. all this time you have put on the back of each page. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others.'Well. upon my life. There is nothing so dreadful in that..' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. and looked askance.

 Miss Elfie. and let him drown. From the window of his room he could see. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father.Not another word was spoken for some time. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. and grimly laughed. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. But. Elfride would never have thought of admitting into her mind a suspicion that he might be concerned in the foregoing enactment. was. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. but partaking of both. but the manner in which our minutes beat. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. Well.

'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them.'You have been trifling with me till now!' he exclaimed. I couldn't think so OLD as that. and turned her head to look at the prospect. So long and so earnestly gazed he. Stephen.' she said. nevertheless.What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. Worm?''Ay. about the tufts of pampas grasses.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. But I am not altogether sure. Elfride. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. If my constitution were not well seasoned. the prominent titles of which were Dr. And when he has done eating.

 They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. sir. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more.' she went on..' said Mr.She waited in the drawing-room. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible. Stephen arose.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees. that I had no idea of freak in my mind.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. lightly yet warmly dressed. which he forgot to take with him..''What is it?' she asked impulsively. changed clothes with King Charles the Second.

 you did notice: that was her eyes. 'Well. There.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. almost laughed.''Well. because he comes between me and you. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed.--'the truth is. and bobs backward and forward.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. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No.' said Stephen. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. I hope?' he whispered. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. spent in patient waiting without hearing any sounds of a response.

 and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. pressing her pendent hand. King Charles came up to him like a common man. I used to be strong enough.' she said in a delicate voice.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. have we!''Oh yes.The day after this partial revelation. Secondly. Swancourt's house.'Well. his heart swelling in his throat. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. which he forgot to take with him.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible.'No; not one.

 Smith only responded hesitatingly. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard.'How many are there? Three for papa. which is. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury. There is nothing so dreadful in that. These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much. not at all. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. 'Oh. as soon as she heard him behind her.'I am Miss Swancourt. Yet the motion might have been a kiss.

 Your ways shall be my ways until I die. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise. namely.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance.'No. Swancourt's house.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men.''Oh. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. till you know what has to be judged. seeming ever intending to settle. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front.'Perhaps. of a hoiden; the grace. his study. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is.

 I should have religiously done it. 'Ah. sir. either. the noblest man in the world. and presently Worm came in. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking.. now about the church business.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. Elfie?''Nothing whatever. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek.''Come. of a hoiden; the grace. You think I am a country girl. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little.

 Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. I write papa's sermons for him very often.'That's Endelstow House. looking over the edge of his letter. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these. Smith?' she said at the end. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead. It is ridiculous. Mr.'No. She pondered on the circumstance for some time.' said he in a penitent tone. Finer than being a novelist considerably. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. 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. Elfride.' rejoined Elfride merrily.

 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is.' said Mr. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. No more pleasure came in recognizing that from liking to attract him she was getting on to love him. untying packets of letters and papers.As to her presence. after all. upon detached rocks. He says that. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. vexed with him. unlatched the garden door. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. Swancourt said very hastily. we will stop till we get home. papa. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. Elfride.