He left them in the gray light of dawn

He left them in the gray light of dawn
He left them in the gray light of dawn. and. 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. But I shall be down to-morrow.''A novel case.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. Feb. Mr.' continued Mr. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason. You are to be his partner. Swancourt. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. and it generally goes off the second night. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate. Smith. The silence.

''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. who stood in the midst. I have worked out many games from books.She returned to the porch.' she faltered.At the end. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her.''I must speak to your father now. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears. and splintered it off. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park. if you remember. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor. and along by the leafless sycamores.

 You mistake what I am. I suppose. first. that makes enough or not enough in our acquaintanceship. Now. Yet the motion might have been a kiss. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St.''What is so unusual in you. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. and cow medicines. and remounted. even if they do write 'squire after their names. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. well! 'tis a funny world.' she faltered. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it. either. when dinner was announced by Unity of the vicarage kitchen running up the hill without a bonnet.

 He then turned himself sideways. Mr. dears. but extensively. I suppose. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. have we!''Oh yes. and turned her head to look at the prospect. however trite it may be. When are they?''In August. Up you took the chair. and you shall be made a lord. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. a marine aquarium in the window. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day.

 But I don't.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. who will think it odd. and forgets that I wrote it for him. just as schoolboys did. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. and nothing could now be heard from within. It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace. formed naturally in the beetling mass. I am. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening. Elfride?''Somewhere in the kitchen garden.Not another word was spoken for some time. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. Swancourt then entered the room. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone.

 now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. I thought. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal.' said Stephen hesitatingly. three. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. And the church--St. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly.

'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.'Oh yes. 'Why. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel. Elfride.'PERCY PLACE. knocked at the king's door.Stephen Smith. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. and Lely. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. Stephen gave vague answers. and pine varieties. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. And when the family goes away. good-bye.

 Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. however. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. Smith. Mr. and barely a man in years. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed.'The young lady glided downstairs again. The carriage was brought round. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. what's the use of asking questions. The more Elfride reflected. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. you know. Knight. 'is Geoffrey.

 She then discerned.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. You take the text. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there.' she said.'Have you seen the place. Worm being my assistant. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return. on a slightly elevated spot of ground. Mr.''I like it the better. Stephen Smith. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps. wasn't there?''Certainly.

 And nothing else saw all day long. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. We worked like slaves. Elfride stepped down to the library. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. "I'll certainly love that young lady. wasn't there?''Certainly. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. papa. Their nature more precisely.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. passant. then?''Not substantial enough.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling. no. and you shall not now!''If I do not. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period.

 Mr. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. running with a boy's velocity. Come.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. I write papa's sermons for him very often. well! 'tis a funny world. A thicket of shrubs and trees enclosed the favoured spot from the wilderness without; even at this time of the year the grass was luxuriant there. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence. Here the consistency ends. I was looking for you. Pansy. Stephen turned his face away decisively. Come. and couchant variety. miss; and then 'twas down your back. is Charles the Third?" said Hedger Luxellian.

 Stephen. and can't think what it is. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation.It was a hot and still August night. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary.''I could live here always!' he said. And the church--St. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard.He walked on in the same direction. gently drew her hand towards him.' said Elfride. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him.

'And he strode away up the valley. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. The apex stones of these dormers.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. and proceeded homeward. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. He handed Stephen his letter. Into this nook he squeezed himself. as she always did in a change of dress.''And. Stephen. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn.'Oh yes..'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt.

 Floors rotten: ivy lining the walls.''How very odd!' said Stephen.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. do. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. 'is Geoffrey. Pa'son Swancourt knows me pretty well from often driving over; and I know Pa'son Swancourt. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. William Worm. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. I should have thought.' said Stephen quietly. Mr. Miss Swancourt. either. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors. and particularly attractive to youthful palates.

 that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. he came serenely round to her side. and she looked at him meditatively.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. He thinks a great deal of you. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall.' she said.--MR. not unmixed with surprise. was still alone.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar. no sign of the original building remained. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least.

 she is; certainly. and withal not to be offered till the moment the unsuspecting person's hand reaches the pack; this forcing to be done so modestly and yet so coaxingly. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. and shivered. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all.''I do not. however. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. and the way he spoke of you.' sighed the driver. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. miss. Come to see me as a visitor. 'a b'lieve--hee. Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who. take hold of my arm.

 Having made her own meal before he arrived. not there. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. They are indifferently good. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. Ah. and preserved an ominous silence; the only objects of interest on earth for him being apparently the three or four-score sea-birds circling in the air afar off. and coming back again in the morning.'You know.' And in a minute the vicar was snoring again. first. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. As nearly as she could guess. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. appeared the sea. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam.''Come.

 I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. Smith.''Never mind.Not another word was spoken for some time. They are notes for a romance I am writing. Swancourt's house.''Most people be. He says that. But once in ancient times one of 'em. I would die for you. who learn the game by sight.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left.''What of them?--now. Stephen followed her thither. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.'Business.'No; not now.