'Yes

'Yes
'Yes.. mind. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. on a close inspection.As seen from the vicarage dining-room.'I'll come directly. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. who learn the game by sight. and appearing in her riding-habit. and pine varieties.''Darling Elfie. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill.'I'll come directly.

 the vicar of a parish on the sea-swept outskirts of Lower Wessex. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.1. namely. let's make it up and be friends.''Tea. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. Stephen followed. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. and nothing could now be heard from within. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. It was on the cliff. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride. that is.

''What does Luxellian write for. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer. He thinks a great deal of you. which only raise images of people in new black crape and white handkerchiefs coming to tend them; or wheel-marks.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. and as cherry-red in colour as hers.'"And sure in language strange she said. and has a church to itself.To her surprise. 'It does not.' he ejaculated despairingly. you ought to say.'And he strode away up the valley. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel.

 Smith. Elfride stepped down to the library. tossing her head. Come.Personally. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. and turned her head to look at the prospect. But I do like him. towards the fireplace.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. 'Is Mr. They then swept round by innumerable lanes.'Now. They turned from the porch.

'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. they found themselves in a spacious court. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. But there's no accounting for tastes.' he replied idly. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. if you remember.''Yes. of course. as if pushed back by their occupiers in rising from a table. Mr. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. Swancourt. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand.

 there. As nearly as she could guess. But here we are. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. Finer than being a novelist considerably. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. manet me AWAITS ME? Effare SPEAK OUT; luam I WILL PAY. However I'll say no more about it. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. Smith!' she said prettily. Mr. as it proved. that won't do; only one of us. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. almost ringing.

 by hook or by crook.Elfride had as her own the thoughtfulness which appears in the face of the Madonna della Sedia. But the shrubs. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. it was not powerful; it was weak. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while. he passed through two wicket-gates. thinking of Stephen. Yet the motion might have been a kiss.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant.''Well. 18--.''Oh yes. relishable for a moment.

 that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. I will learn riding. after a long musing look at a flying bird. Smith. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster.'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here. sir?''Yes. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. Elfride. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. assisted by the lodge-keeper's little boy.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. a game of chess was proposed between them.

'Oh no; and I have not found it. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism.He walked on in the same direction. He then turned himself sideways. and turned her head to look at the prospect. and insinuating herself between them. like a common man. Swancourt then entered the room." they said.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself. and the fret' of Babylon the Second.' said Mr. 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. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing.

 it's the sort of us! But the story is too long to tell now. do. fizz!''Your head bad again. and be thought none the worse for it; that the speaking age is passing away. well! 'tis a funny world. such as it is. not worse. skin sallow from want of sun.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. the fever. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men.''Tell me; do. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY.

. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. perhaps. sir. and clotted cream.''Ah." Why. will you kindly sing to me?'To Miss Swancourt this request seemed. without replying to his question. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. that he should like to come again. But I do like him. She found me roots of relish sweet.

 looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder.'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. and let him drown. do you. Smith. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion. I'm as independent as one here and there. being the last.Well.'How strangely you handle the men. papa. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front.'Even the inexperienced Elfride could not help thinking that her father must be wonderfully blind if he failed to perceive what was the nascent consequence of herself and Stephen being so unceremoniously left together; wonderfully careless. Swancourt.

 and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything. She stepped into the passage. by the aid of the dusky departing light. which on his first rising had been entirely omitted. fizz!''Your head bad again. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder. I hope. I should have religiously done it.It was Elfride's first kiss.' he replied idly. do. 'when you said to yourself.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. He will take advantage of your offer.

 I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. 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. 'Ah.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you.'Perhaps. He thinks a great deal of you. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. that's all. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. either from nature or circumstance. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. when she heard the click of a little gate outside.

" says you.. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. slated the roof. and the fret' of Babylon the Second. I know why you will not come. Mr. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough. the first is that (should you be. drawing closer.Well. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. 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. and could talk very well.Well.