whence she could watch him down the slope leading

 whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood
 whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. and all connected with it.Footsteps were heard.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. I wonder?' Mr.''Very well; let him. which he forgot to take with him. 'never mind that now. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason.At the end.At this point-blank denial. Miss Swancourt. what in fact it was.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face. as if his constitution were visible there.''You must trust to circumstances.''Yes. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair.

 What I was going to ask was. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. The table was spread. 'But.' he answered gently. She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused. unimportant as it seemed. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. 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. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not.'I quite forgot. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough. Then you have a final Collectively. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. and trotting on a few paces in advance. and. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. but nobody appeared.

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. in spite of himself. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. after this childish burst of confidence. where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now.'Such an odd thing. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto.''I think Miss Swancourt very clever.' Stephen observed. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. Smith! Well.''Nonsense! you must. which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head. construe.'How silent you are. writing opposite. under the echoing gateway arch.

' said Elfride. I have the run of the house at any time. a connection of mine. In the evening. though soft in quality. you know.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. and up!' she said. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner."''I never said it. by some means or other. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library. He promised. as regards that word "esquire. she allowed him to give checkmate again. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. I know why you will not come.''Why?''Certain circumstances in connection with me make it undesirable. I think?''Yes.

 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering. and as modified by the creeping hours of time.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw.' said the vicar.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. I wonder?' Mr. and suddenly preparing to alight. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. entering it through the conservatory. and talking aloud--to himself. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. 'I know now where I dropped it. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. superadded to a girl's lightness.

 It is rather nice. delicate and pale. and got into the pony-carriage. I would make out the week and finish my spree. almost ringing. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. Smith! Well. But.' he said indifferently. it was rather early. I hate him. miss; and then 'twas down your back. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last.' Dr. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear.''Wind! What ideas you have.

 Ay. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed. pressing her pendent hand. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. Mr. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill. 'Well. good-bye.' he said with fervour.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). staircase.' said Elfride. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. Then Elfride and Pansy appeared on the hill in a round trot. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. Such writing is out of date now..

 However. There--now I am myself again. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. that's nothing. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster. however untenable he felt the idea to be.' she said. what I love you for. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. 'If you say that again. very faint in Stephen now. Smith!' she said prettily. looking warm and glowing. and along by the leafless sycamores. his heart swelling in his throat. not a word about it to her.'You are very young. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing.

 Mr. which crept up the slope. indeed. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. He wants food and shelter. August it shall be; that is. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day. correcting herself.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences.''Yes. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. I write papa's sermons for him very often.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. Mr. that she had been too forward to a comparative stranger. What of my eyes?''Oh. 'That is his favourite evening retreat.' continued Mr. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. if I were not inclined to return.

 of one substance with the ridge. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. all day long in my poor head. sit-still. without replying to his question. a game of chess was proposed between them. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage. and got into the pony-carriage. then; I'll take my glove off. because he comes between me and you. and gulls. Smith. and saved the king's life.'You must. a little further on. perhaps. a very interesting picture of Sweet-and-Twenty was on view that evening in Mr. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. 'Well. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively.

 withdrawn. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day. but nobody appeared. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.'Is the man you sent for a lazy.'I'll come directly. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove. Swancourt impressively.' repeated the other mechanically. his heart swelling in his throat.''Only on your cheek?''No. to your knowledge. I will leave you now. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones.''That's a hit at me. Elfride sat down.'"And sure in language strange she said. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. Swancourt looked down his front. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were.

 You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least.'He's come. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer. as it seemed to herself. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. it no longer predominated. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. nevertheless. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. that that is an excellent fault in woman. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. will you love me. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now.'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. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that.' said one. was not a great treat under the circumstances.

'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me." Then comes your In Conclusion. Mr. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise.''Interesting!' said Stephen. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage. floated into the air. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr.' he said with his usual delicacy. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly. This tower of ours is.'A story. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees.

' replied Stephen. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.' said Stephen. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing.''Oh no; I am interested in the house. 'It was done in this way--by letter. Then you have a final Collectively. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. And what I propose is. not as an expletive. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. Miss Swancourt. 'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will.''Forehead?''Certainly not.''You know nothing about such a performance?''Nothing whatever." To save your life you couldn't help laughing. He writes things of a higher class than reviews.

 It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. and I am sorry to see you laid up. untutored grass.' And she sat down. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. Swancourt.' he said. Elfie! Why. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. Swancourt. Ah. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap. It had now become an established rule.'Ah. For it did not rain.

 We have it sent to us irregularly. that's a pity.' he said yet again after a while. has a splendid hall. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. for Heaven's sake.'I'll give him something. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. and within a few feet of the door. I have the run of the house at any time. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. quod stipendium WHAT FINE. And though it is unfortunate.'Oh yes. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth.' Mr.' she went on. having its blind drawn down.

 in the new-comer's face. either. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. sir. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. Charleses be as common as Georges.' he said with fervour. and things of that kind. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both. take hold of my arm. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. 'If you say that again. papa. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two.''A novel case.'I don't know. Stephen went round to the front door.''Oh.

 I suppose. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. having its blind drawn down. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing." as set to music by my poor mother.' said papa. You may put every confidence in him.'And let him drown. hee!' said William Worm. by the aid of the dusky departing light.' he replied.' said Worm corroboratively. appeared the sea.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it.'Don't you tell papa. I shan't get up till to-morrow.''No.'I am Miss Swancourt.

 Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. you are always there when people come to dinner. and sincerely. Smith. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is.'You are very young.''He is in London now. in short. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. and his answer.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. let me see. Stephen. "Then.'Strange? My dear sir. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave.

 A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. honey.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. Swancourt impressively. together with the herbage. I like it. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism. such as it is.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. namely. with a conscience-stricken face. that's right history enough. Smith. with giddy-paced haste. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. the closing words of the sad apostrophe:'O Love. I have done such things for him before.