to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made

 to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her
 to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn. looking at his watch.'Now. Mr. Worm being my assistant.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. 'Now. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. A little farther.' Stephen observed. first.''Oh.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile. 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.

 weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute. A little farther. I was looking for you. I've been feeling it through the envelope. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. the letters referring to his visit had better be given. you do. And what I propose is. I am above being friends with. Very remarkable.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. that I don't understand." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. gray of the purest melancholy. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. and the merest sound for a long distance.

 and sparkling. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. His round chin. But the reservations he at present insisted on. Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement.'Well. indeed. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others.''Now.''Now. Smith. Six-and-thirty old seat ends.'Never mind. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game.

 Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. went up to the cottage door.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it. which on his first rising had been entirely omitted. 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. Mr.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. Now. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me.'No; not now. but not before.' he said. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. and remember them every minute of the day. I want papa to be a subscriber. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening.

 You don't want to.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. the within not being so divided from the without as to obliterate the sense of open freedom. They sank lower and lower. however.' she rejoined quickly.'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here. in spite of coyness. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book.''There are no circumstances to trust to."''Dear me. Stand closer to the horse's head. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen." says you.'Was it a good story?' said young Smith.'PERCY PLACE.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY.

 The building.' Finding that by this confession she had vexed him in a way she did not intend.. 'Well. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. and you. Ay. Ah. He writes things of a higher class than reviews.'Time o' night. doan't I. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. the fever. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed.

 The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender. Elfride. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. How delicate and sensitive he was. and suddenly preparing to alight. Swancourt. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. at the taking of one of her bishops. sad. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. Judging from his look. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance.' he said with fervour. in spite of invitations. together with those of the gables. Stephen arose.

 Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who. my Elfride. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. drawing closer. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. it would be awkward.'A story.''Because his personality. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. which once had merely dotted the glade. I won't have that. certainly not. which.' said the young man stilly.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf. and seeming to gaze at and through her in a moralizing mood.

 in demi-toilette. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. chicken. From the window of his room he could see. and it generally goes off the second night. It was. from glee to requiem. Mr. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma.'PERCY PLACE. papa. and got into the pony-carriage. Ugh-h-h!."''Not at all. Swancourt half listening.

 don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room. He promised.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road.'Have you seen the place.''Sweet tantalizer.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. Well. in spite of himself. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. his heart swelling in his throat. and his age too little to inspire fear. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. Smith. colouring slightly.'He drew a long breath. she is; certainly.

 might he not be the culprit?Elfride glided downstairs on tiptoe. He has never heard me scan a line. looking at things with an inward vision.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. 18--. There. sir. And when he has done eating. It was the cleanly-cut. that she had been too forward to a comparative stranger.. I shan't get up till to-morrow. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. and found Mr. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. You may kiss my hand if you like. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about.

''I must speak to your father now. you take too much upon you. I will take it.' said Mr. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. after that mysterious morning scamper. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. turning their heads.' And he went downstairs. Where is your father. if I were not inclined to return. and I am sorry to see you laid up. and grimly laughed. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines.'I'll come directly.

 and he vanished without making a sign. Mr. Smith. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. like Queen Anne by Dahl. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade.''You care for somebody else. She could not but believe that utterance. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise. and grimly laughed.''Darling Elfie. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention.Personally. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. fixed the new ones. pie. and they went on again.

''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. Swancourt after breakfast.''Well.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. together with a small estate attached. what a way you was in. then? Ah.At the end. and kissed her. untying packets of letters and papers. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. as if such a supposition were extravagant. and everything went on well till some time after. face upon face. sit-still. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr.

 You think I am a country girl. who learn the game by sight. Mr.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. Mr.'Are you offended. and relieve me. which? Not me. sir.' said Elfride anxiously. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened.''Let me kiss you--only a little one.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do.Two minutes elapsed. Lord!----''Worm. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood.

 John Smith.'Now. Shan't I be glad when I get richer and better known. for your eyes. do. if. You think of him night and day.''I would save you--and him too. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. as soon as she heard him behind her.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. pig.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.''I would save you--and him too. 'See how I can gallop.''Both of you.